April 10, 2012 – A year of portraits – Tony Gains

04.10.12 Tony Gains

This weeks portrait is of veteran Tony Gains of Henderson, Ky who was standing at parade rest waiting at the funeral of Spc. David Taylor of Dixon in Henderson. He was just one of several hundred that lined the street waiting for the funeral procession. Taylor was killed supporting ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, on March 29.

Camera: NIkon D700
Lens: Nikon 18mm f/2.8
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/800 @f/14
File Type: Raw
ISO: 800

Post Processing
Post processing was done with Photoshop CS5 using adjustment levels and some slight cropping.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Photo Pop

March 31, 2012 – A year of portraits – The Easter Bunny

03.31.12 Easter Bunny

Covering the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Madisonville City Park I bumped into the Easter Bunny and decided to use its picture for my portrait of the week for my year long photography project. I’m often tempted to ask the person to remove the head in these situations so I can get a picture of the person behind the character, but always opt not to not destroy the moment for the kids that are around.

Camera: NIkon D700
Lens: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 @56mm
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/500 @f/8
File Type: Raw

Post Processing
Post processing was done with Photoshop CS5 using adjustment levels and some slight cropping.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Photo Pop

March 26, 2012 – A year of portraits – Jim Pearson

03.26.12 Jim Pearson

Well, I’ve decided that I’m changing my year long portrait series to a weekly portrait upload instead of daily. My schedule and has been keeping me too busy and I feel that I’m not getting anything out of the portraits that I rush to shoot on a daily basis so my goal is to now publish one a week. Now, with that being said, it doesn’t mean if I come up with more than one that I like during the week that I might not throw another one or two into the mix.

The other reason is I want to take time to talk about some of the other pictures that I shoot as well as do more posts about the different apps and processes I use to achieve some of the results I get with my pictures. So, stay tuned… and keep clicking!

Camera: iPhone 4S Camera
Lens: no data
Exposure: no data
File Type: jpg

Post Processing
Post processing was done with the iPhone app Shakeitphoto.

Filters Applied
None

March 25, 2012 – A year of portraits – Anabelle

03.25.12 Anabelle

It may look like Anabelle is a slasher cat with this portrait, but I assure you she was just wanting me to stop taking pictures and pet her.

Camera: iPhone 4S Camera
Lens: no data
Exposure: no data
File Type: jpg

Post Processing
Post processing was done with the iPhone apps PerfectlyClr and Shakeitphoto.

Filters Applied
None

March 24, 2012 – A year of portraits – Xavier

03.24.12 Xavier Brantley

Today’s portrait is of my great-great nephew Xavier. He was sitting my sister’s lap just having a good time doing what kids his age do. Was fascinated by my iPhone already.

Camera: iPhone 4S Camera
Lens: no data
Exposure: no data
File Type: jpg

Post Processing
All post processing was done with the iPhone app called Shakeitphoto.

Filters Applied
None

March 23, 2012 – A year of portraits – Nyeem

03.23.12 Nyeem

Today I captured this environmental portrait of Nyeem as he bites into his second piece of turnip  Friday morning during lunch at Jesse Stuart Elementary School in Madisonville, Ky. He and his classmates are being introduced to new healthy foods throughout the month of March. He said he really liked it, as for myself, I tried it and wasn’t real impressed.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon 18mm f/2.8
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/125, f/5 with an ISO of 4,000, File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
Photo was processed in Photoshop CS5 where I cropped the photo and toned down the background and lightened the eyes slightly.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Photo Pop

March 22, 2012 – A year of portraits – Sherman

03.22.12 Sherman

Sherman is the fourth cat in my home. He’s the skiddish one that runs and hides when someone drops by for a visit and then comes out after a few minutes to see who it is. He also hides around corners and behind stuff to pounce on the other cats, which usually causes a screaming fit. Of course the other cats then sneak up on him and do the same thing. Just like kids…

Also, can’t say when he lost one of his K9 teeth as I’ve never noticed it till he let out this big yawn tonight.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon 50mm f/1.4
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/320, f/2.2with an ISO of 4,000, File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
Photo was processed in Photoshop CS5 where I cropped the photo and toned down the shadows slightly.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Photo Pop

March 21, 2012 – A year of portraits – Charles Hughes

03.21.12 Charles Hughes

I spotted Charles Hughes tilling a garden spot in Sturgis, Ky this afternoon and captured this portrait of him as we talked. He’s been planting a home garden for many years and with the unseasonal warm spring had started doing so a bit earlier than usual.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/400, f/10 with an ISO of 500
File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
Photo was processed in Photoshop CS5 where I cropped the photo and toned down the background and lightened up his face slightly due to the back lighting of the portrait.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Simple Pop

March 20, 2012 – A year of portraits – Lane Herold

03.20.12 Lane Herold

My Tuesday environmental portrait is of Hopkins County Central High School’s Lane Herold during the Storms game against Todd County at Mortons Gap, Ky.

I found his safety glasses helped to make the portrait that much more interesting as does the ball he was trowing to first base.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon 300mm f/4
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/2500, f/4 with an ISO of 4,000
File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
Photo was processed in Photoshop CS5 where I cropped the photo and toned down the background slightly.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Photo Pop

 

March 19, 2012 – A year of portraits – Kyleigh Taylor

03.19.12 Kyleigh Taylor

Kyleigh Taylor is pitcher for the Madisonville-North Hopkins High School’s Lady Maroons. I captured this environmental portrait of her during the teams opening season win in 5 innings of play with a final score of 10-1.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon 200mm f/4
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/3200, f/3.5 with an ISO of 4,000
File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
Photo was processed in Photoshop CS5 where I cropped the photo from it’s original vertical format and toned down the background slightly.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Clarity

March 18, 2012 – A year of portraits – The Egbert Family

03.18.12 Jason, Jodi and Chase Egbert

This is a family portrait of Jason and Jodie Egbert with their son Chase. He is the pastor of the Lostcreek United Church of Christ in Casstown, Ohio where my sister, April and I attended services today with my aunt, Jean Hirsch.

We’d been here before on other occasions, but after talking with my aunt over the weekend about family history I found out that this is the first church I attended as a child with my family. In fact, Chase is the same age I was when our family moved back to Kentucky when I was 2 years old.

Great service and warm welcomes by everyone there. If you live in the area and are looking for a church home then I’d highly recommend it! Oh, almost forgot, they’re standing facing the sanctuary of the church and the clock above their heads was made by my uncle Lowell.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 @24mm
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/200, f/3.5 with an ISO of 4,000
File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
This image as shot as an 5 image HDR because I wanted to bring out the detail of the stain glass over the main door and the entry to the church and all the tonal detail that went with it. The tonemaping was done using Photomatix Pro. Final touches were In Photoshop CS5 using auto levels and some burning down on the edges of the photo.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Photo Pop

March 17, 2012 – A year of portraits – Jean Hirsch

03.17.12 Jean Hirsch

Today’s portrait is of my Aunt Jean. I spent the weekend visiting her in Piqua, Ohio where we worked on identifying a lot of people in old photos from my dad’s side of the family, of which she is the last surviving sibling of 15 brothers and sisters. We also spent several hours of videoing her talking about what it was like to grow up on a farm with so many brothers and sisters for a program I’m putting together for an upcoming family reunion.

Camera: iPhone 4S Camera
Lens: no data
Exposure: no data
File Type: jpg

Post Processing
All post processing was done with Photoshop CS5 where it was cropped slightly and burned down around the edges slightly to tone down what I felt was a distracting background.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust’s Photo Pop

March 16, 2012 – A year of portraits – Aubry and Lucy

03.16.12 Aubry and Lucy

I met Aubry and Lucy as they came into eat at Bob Evans, the restaurant we had dinner at Friday night in Piqua, Ohio. They came by our booth and one, not sure which, but one gave me a hi-five along with most of the other people that were seated in our area. They were bouncing all around there area visiting with everyone as their mom had smiles on her face and everyone in the section did as well. You just never know when a portrait will show up. I did have to be quick as they both wouldn’t sit or stand still for very long and I only got off about 3 photos with my iPhone 4s.

Camera: iPhone 4S Camera
Lens: no data
Exposure: no data
File Type: jpg

Post Processing
All post processing was done with the app called Snapseed were some burning in was done to tone down the background.

Filters Applied
Snapseed’s details and drama

March 15, 2012 – A year of portraits – Romeo

03.15.12 Romeo

Today’s portrait is of Romeo and needs a home! Yesterday’s photo assignment took me to the Hopkins County Humane Society in Madisonville, Ky where we were working on a story for the weekend’s paper. Our shelter may be a bit far for some of my viewers to come, but there’s a lot of you locally that might be in need of a good pet. I’d adopt him myself, but I already have four. If you don’t live in the area, drop by your local shelter and give a pet a home… they and you will be the better for it.

Camera: iPhone 4S Camera
Lens: no data
Exposure: no data
File Type: jpg

Post Processing
Levels were adjusted in Photoshop CS5 and a little dodging and burning.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Clarity

 

March 14, 2012 – A year of portraits – Jim Pearson

03.14.12 Jim Pearson, Self Portrait

Today I decided I wanted to do something different and so I’ve created this self portrait using eight photos shot on my iPhone 4S using the Shakeitphoto app. Now, of course I actually shot about 25 or 30 photos and then in the final portrait you see here I used eight that worked for the look I envisioned.

Each photo piece was brought into Photoshop CS5 and placed on a black background layer. I then played around with each picture on different layers until I had a look that I liked and that kinda made up my face, in an abstract sort of way.

Camera: Shakeitphoto App
Lens: no data
Exposure: no data
File Type: jpg

Post Processing
Was done on the iPhone using  the Shakeitphoto app. The images were then opened in Photoshop CS5 placed and layered for effect and then flattened to produce the final photo. I then converted the image to black and white which I like better.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Clarity

March 13, 2012 – A year of portraits – TSgt Jesse Schartz

03.13.12 TSgt Jesse Schartz

TSgt. Jesse Schartz, playing a bassoon, is a member of the Air Force Band of Flight’s Huffman Prairie Winds ensemble from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He, along with other members of the group,  put on a concert for students at Hopkins County Central High School in Mortons Gap, Ky Tuesday afternoon.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 @145mm
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/160, f/2.8 with an ISO of 4,000 File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
Photoshop CS5 using levels and some dodging to lighten up the shadows in his eyes and a little burning in on the mid-tones around his jacket..

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Exposure Correction and Simple Pop

March 12, 2012 – A year of portraits – Hayden Marks

03.12.12 Hayden Marks

Today’s portrait is of Madisonville-North Hopkins’ Hayden Marks as he prepares to deliver a pitch during the fourth inning of play against Hopkinsville during the season opener for both teams Monday night at Elmer Kelley Stadium in Madisonville, Ky. I enjoy shooting basketball, but by the time the season is over I’m ready for a new sport.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon 300mm f/4
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/1250, f/4 with an ISO of 1,250
File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
Photoshop CS5 using auto levels and some dodging to lighten up the shadows on his face.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Exposure Correction and Photo Pop

March 11, 2012 – A year of portraits – Jeanne and David Wells

Today’s portrait is of my niece Jeanne and her husband David after dinner at their home in Madisonville. I watched Jeanne grow up over the years to become the beautiful and loving mother and wife she is today. I think David knew me perhaps before he knew Jeanne, as we used to chat during morning walks at the city park. When I heard they were dating I was thrilled and even more so when they were married. A loving couple and I’m proud of them both!

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 @70mm
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/60, f/2.8 with an ISO of 4,000
File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
Photoshop CS5 using auto levels and some burning down on the edges of the photo.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Exposure Correction and Simple Pop

March 10, 2012 – A year of portraits – Jonathan Ferrell

03.10.12 Jonathan Farrell

My Saturday environmental portrait is of Jonathan Ferrell, a blacksmith at The Homeplace located in Land Between The Lakes that runs through Kentucky and Tennessee. It’s a living history farm that shows life as it was in the 1800’s. Here he’s watching his fire as he heats up a piece of metal.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 @66mm
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/200, f/3.5 with an ISO of 4,000
File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
Photoshop CS5 using auto levels and some burning down on the edges of the photo.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Clarity

March 9, 2012 – A year of portraits – Anabelle

03.09.12 Anabelle

Anabelle is one of my four cats and probably the hardest one to get a good portrait of because she’s a all black cat. I’ve been trying to get one I like for awhile now and with this one it’s like she was posing, which all cat lovers know they never do.

Doesn’t really have much to do with this portrait, but I thought I’d mention that today is my 800th day of shooting a picture a day, without missing a day. I’m sure that it’s been longer, but that’s how long since I started doing a yearly picture project of shooting every day.

Has it made me a better photographer? I’d have to say the answer is yes. Really, how can it not. I’m always looking for a good picture, at least in my eyes, to capture all the time now days no matter where I’m at or what I’m doing. I know people say you can get burnout, but in reality I can’t remember ever going a day without shooting a picture except when I was in the hospital back in Germany.

I’ll admit that some days are easier than others, and some days I think, what in the world am I going to shoot today, but something always presents itself as long as I keep my eyes open photographically to the world around me. I highly recommend you take on a personal photography project and carry it through to the end. What is it about your photography that you feel you need to improve on or are passionate about? Take it on as a personal project and you’ll become a better photographer for it.

Technical Details:
iPhone 4s
Camera: 6×6
Lens: Built-In Camera lens
Exposure: The iPhone doesn’t record shutter speed or aperture information
Apps Used: 6×6, Snapseed and Photoshop CS5

March 8, 2012 – A year of portraits – Mike Stunson

03.08.12 Mike Stunson

Mike Stunson is one of our sports reporters at The Messenger Newspaper here in Madisonville, Ky. So, what does him standing among all these bags of clothes, water, paper towels and other such items say about him in this environmental portrait? Well, Mike is off work this weekend for three days because of his rotation with our other reporter and he’s decided to spend the weekend helping with tornado recovery in Henryville, Ind. and this is just some of the items that have been donated by the community for him to take along. A fine young man and good asset to our paper and the community.

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon 18mm f/2.8
Exposure: Matrix Metering, 1/80, f/4.5 with an ISO of 4,000
File Type: Nikon RAW

Post Processing
Photoshop CS5 using auto levels, some dodging to lighten up the shadows in the eyes and some burning down on the edges of the photo.

Filters Applied
Topaz Adjust, Clarity