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Thanksgiving Sunset

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Do you like HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography? I have made a point over the last few months to take all my photos as if I was going to make an HDR out of it. Now, that is with the exception of photos which I know will not make good HDR’s. Then again, some of my single exposures have made astonishing HDR’s. This means that for every photo I take, there are really three images (-2 to +2). Is this normal or am I alone in this thinking? I guess it helps to have a 32GB SD card too.

Today’s Photo: Thanksgiving Sunset

I love how the seasons change the time the sun rises and sets. I currently use LightTrac on the iPhone to get a graphical view of the sunrise and sunset. It is great for getting the right angle at the right time of the year. I have used this to scout locations before going to them for the first time. I also like to find if the sun will be where I want it also.

This photo was taken at Thanksgiving this last year. I am dying in the heat here and can’t wait until it gets cold. I really wish my wife would let us move to Alaska. I could be happy there. Too bad she is allergic to the cold.

Don’t say it…I know…Another Gate.

Thanksgiving Sunset

Another Sunrise

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How long does your iPhone last?  I got mine in March 2010.  It is now July 2011 and it seems like it will not keep a charge.  Sometimes the meter says 95% and then all the sudden, it crashes.  Sometimes it will restart and others it will not.  I am on it constantly and seem to run the battery out pretty quickly.  Does anyone have any suggestions for an extended battery?

Today’s Photo:  Another Sunrise

Any one who has read this blog for any amount of time knows of my fascination with gates.  I leave for work around sunrise each day.  Unfortunately, or fortunately, I pass this gate every morning.  This just happened to be one of the better mornings.

Another Sunrise

Abandoned House

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G+ iPhone App:  24 hours later

Okay, whomever the user interface programmer was for Google needs to be given a raise.  The simplicity and ease of use for this app is wonderful.  Each of the screens gives what you need, but not to the point you are overwhelmed.  So far, the only problems I have found have been posting links through the App and limiting your stream to individual circles.

Today’s Photo:  Abandoned House

My wife thinks I have a problem with stopping the car.  I told here it is not a problem with stopping the car, it was a problem not getting in position for the shot fast enough.  Am I the only one with this problem?  Surely there are more out there that drive twice the number of miles to get some place just because they are constantly turning around to go back and get the shot they just saw.  This was from one of those days.  The bad thing was, when I turned around for this shot, I saw another.  She was rather perturbed by the time we made it to town.

Abandoned House

The Lake

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Google+ iPhone App: First impressions

The iPhone Google+ app was released today.  This is a great improvement over the web app with which Google started.  So far, I have found that all the functionality which was not working in the web app appears to be fixed.  I am able to view my circles, add contacts to the circle I want, but the posting is still lacking.  I like to post links to photos instead of posting photos through Google+.  This is not available through the iPhone app.  I envision something like the facebook share button on a web page where it adds a link and you can type something short to go with it.

Overall, I really like the layout of the home screen for the app.  Google has manage to keep it simple and not add so many features that you can not use the app.

Today’s Photo:  The Lake

I could not help but post another photo of this lake.  I am fortunate enough to see it very often.  Okay, nearly everyday.  On nice puffy “Simpson” cloudy days, I love to sit and watch the reflections.  I just happened to stop being in awe long enough to get the camera for this and a few more shots.

The Lake ©2011 Just Shooting Memories (all rights reserved)

White Top

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I don’t know about you, but I take my camera everywhere.  Well maybe not to the bathroom.  However, I have it with me all the time.  I have had too many times when I said “I just wish I had my camera because that would make a great photo”.  So I have made it a point to eliminate that statement.  But, that has led to another problem altogether…Composition.  I routinely see fabulous sunsets (not sunrises because I can’t seem to get my wife up early so any sunrise is an event dedicated to just my photography) but most of the time, I find that I am not in a very conducive setting for a photo.  I usually am in a parking lot, along side the road, leaving a restaurant or traveling somewhere.  I seem to have trouble getting a good setting and then I get in the car and drive around like a mad man looking for the perfect setting while the sun is going down.  Today’s photo is one of those experiences.  How do you handle this?

Today’s Photo:  White Top

I went to eat with my family the other day.  When we left the restaurant, I noticed a beautiful sunset in the works.  Of course, I grabbed my camera and began the sunburst pattern (walking toward an object then away and repeat until the right angle is located.  Usually taking photos all during the process).  However, I found myself in the parking lot of a strip mall with tons of lamp posts and cars in the way.  I finally settled on what I thought would be a good shot.  I just loved the top edge of the thunderhead being a brilliant white where the sun hit it and then seeing the shadow lines cast through the air.  Click on the photo to see it in Flickr and then select the large size to see the detail at the top of the cloud.  I just loved it.

White Top

The Barn

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Nikon D90 Mini Review:

I have been fortunate enough to shoot both Canon and Nikon over the past several years.  I must say that I am impressed with both lines of cameras.  Most recently, I have settled on the Nikon D90 and have been shooting with it for over six months.  I must say, it is a very nice camera.  It has good functionality and decent speed with the “kit” lens (18 – 105).

Now, the bad.  To operate a camera effectively, the ability to change settings with out removing your eye from the view finder is a must for me.  Several of the button combinations to achieve some of my most used functions are awkward when trying to shoot.  For example: I routinely use exposure compensation.  To adjust the exposure compensation during shooting, you remove your finger from the shutter release and press the exposure compensation button just behind.  Then rotate the rear dial with the right thumb.  So, it takes two fingers from the same hand.  A better placement for the exposure compensation button would have been where it could have been operated with the right hand and then the left thumb could rotate the dial.

I have noticed a small amount of vignetting using the kit lens.  Maybe this is just a DX format thing.  However, it is easily fixed in Adobe Lightroom.

Now, for the Good…  This camera has been very rugged for me.  Traveling with two children and moving it between vehicles, it has shown that it can with stand a lot.  I have thrown this camera around, shot in the rain and generally put it through it’s paces and it is still working like the day I got it.

Overall, I would like to say that the D90 is a wonderful camera at a great price.  I keeps up easily with the other camera’s I have used.  I was sad to hear that Nikon has stopped production of this camera.

Today’s Photo: The Barn (again)

I think I may have used this name already for a photo.  Oh, well.  Maybe I should just call it “The Barn 2”?  What do you think? Any suggestions?  As I am writing this, my wife was suggesting something like “barny”, “barn number 2”, “barn fever” or “another barn”.  This is a sight I see every morning while driving to work.  I finally stopped and took a photo.  It turned out like I wanted and now I am going to begin a “Barn” series.  So, should I call it “The Barn” also?

The Barn ©2011 Just Shooting Memories (all rights reserved)

 

The Bench

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Google +, a mini review:

I was fortunate to get an invite to Google+ a couple of days after Google made invites available.  At the time and still, I think it is an amazing upgrade from Facebook, its closest rival.  However, I believe it has some growing still to do.  The number of people in the world with smart phones as compared to computers is huge and I believe the iPhone continues to hold a majority in that market.  I have found little fault in the Google+ interface on traditional computer browsers.  In fact, Google has put a lot of thought into giving people a different way of connecting with friend’s, family and acquaintances through circles.  The only problem I have had is that it takes work on the front end to make sure you place everyone into the proper circle.  It is time consuming to go back and re”circle” your friends.

My biggest problem with Google+ is the mobile interface.  Now, I have an iPhone and currently there is no app, although, it is “coming soon” according to Google, so I can’t offer input as to the functionality on the Android app.  For the iPhone, the streams work wonderfully and the ability to quickly check notifications is a plus.  On the other hand, posting from the mobile web app is less than what I would hope for.  I am frequently on the go and need to post links.  Through the mobile web app, I have yet to find a way to do this.  I am able to change from the mobile version to the desktop version to add a link, but then I am not able to add any comments to the posting of the link; just the link itself.

Another issue that I have heard of is that users who have created an account with a pseudonym or profile picture other than of a person, are being forced to change them.  I am at a loss as to why Google would be forcing this issue.  Anywhere else on the web you go, you can be known by whatever name you want to be.  Also, me being a photographer, the user agreement is not that friendly for anyone wanting to retain all rights to their photos.  I currently have my portfolio stored at Flickr and will keep it there until that changes.  However, photos which I do not think I will have a need for exclusive rights may still end up on Google+.

All in all, I have had an enjoyable experience with Google+.  I think the interface is outstanding and the concept behind the circles was genius.  I will continue to use Google+ and hope that some of the initial bugs get worked out.  I guess being an early adopter on the cutting edge has a tendency to come with it’s own issues.

Find me on Google+ as Daryl Clark or here for my Google+ profile.

Today’s Photo: The Bench

I was sitting on the porch at the house the other day when I noticed the clouds were beginning to look good for a few shots around the house.  This place happens to intense me into a creative mood no matter how the day starts out.  Not to mention, from spring to fall, there are constantly blooming flowers.  Everyday here is a new adventure.

The Bench©2011 Just Shooting Memories (all rights reserved)

Clouds over the Barn

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Have you made it on Google+ yet.  If you are look me up Daryl Clark.  Right now it is by invite only, but hopefully, it will be open soon.  They have an amazing interface and the idea of having circles of friends is interesting.  Occasionally invites are available.  Leave a comment with your e-mail address and I will try to get the first ten in.

Clouds over the Barn

Fortunately, I live only about an hour north of Atlanta, Georgia.  I think this gives me the best of both world, rural landscapes and big city urban areas.  The wonderful thing is, I get to drive through some very picturesque areas.  This happens to be one of them.  My only problems is that the sky does not always cooperate.  However, the cooperated this day.  I just wish they would hang around more often.

Clouds over barn

Just Another Sunrise

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This was another view of the sunrise from the top of Blood Mountain on the Appalachin trail.  This was a very exciting hike, when we got to the top, I was very afraid the sunrise was not going to be as good as predicted.  Thank goodness, it turned out good.  Otherwise, a long up hill hike would have turned into something other than planned.  But, I thought it worked out well.

Just_Another_Sunrise

Foggy Flower

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So, today has been havoc and I have not even had the time to think about what to write here, let alone think of processing images.  But, I have to confess, I was able to get a few photos today while racing around.

This image comes from my flower garden.  I was fortunate enough the other day to have been graced with some very heavy morning fog.  Dew was on everything giving it a glowing soft appearance.  Things just fell into place.  That was until I arrived late for the morning meeting I was going to.  They just don’t understand (exasperated sigh).

Foggy Flower

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