HDR DVD and the Clubhouse

We are having a good time in The Clubhouse! I hope that everyone that received the HDR DVD has successfully signed up and entered the Clubhouse. If you have not, be sure to contact support AT stuckincustoms.com with the email address you used when ordering the DVD. They will be sure to get you set up!

Daily Photo – Sunrise in America

Early morning shoots are often coffee-challenging. The photography is fun and invigorating, but it can be a little distracting when half of your simian brain is thinking about warm drinks and food. Usually, these early mornings are a bit too early to get coffee from anyplace that sells the stuff. Sometimes, my hotel room will have some coffee inside, but not in a to-go cup. Besides, I have to wake up so early, I can’t imagine getting up an extra 30 minutes before just to have some coffee!

This was taken off the Florida coast on a warm summer morning. At this exact moment when the sun breaks the horizon — well, this is a time when I am not thinking of coffee.

Filed under the categories: Florida, Nikon D3X, Palm Beach

New Landscape Prints Available!

Since I’ve been busy lately, out in “content-collection-mode” in this 80-day around the world trip, I haven’t been giving regular updates on this topic. But, recently, we’ve had two great landscapes become available.

These are all Limited Edition — each one is numbered and unique. Our printing partner at Really Big Canvas does the paper and canvas versions. If you are looking for something very high-end, we have special prints on high white gloss aluminum in a different series. More about those on the Prints page.

The first print here is called “The Edge of Chile”, and it was taken at the very southern tip of Argentina. This peak, called Fitz Roy, is famous in the mountain-climbing community as one of the most dangerous and remote peaks in the world. After many days of hiking to get here, I believe it! Also, this place is covered in clouds 90% of the time, so this required a bit of patience.

The second is from Glacier National Park and is one of my biggest panoramas ever. It is comprised of 90 different photos. Really Big Canvas can make gigantic prints that are of walk-up detail quality.

Filed under the categories: Travel

Daily Photo – Google Street View Cars

After I was invited to speak at Google on HDR for their Authors@Google program, I visited another one of their buildings where I gave a little workshop. It was great fun! On the way over, I passed the fleet of Google Streetview cars. I set up for a shot in the awesome Mountain View afternoon skies.

I know there’s a lot of controversy over these cars. I think it’s all silly. Everyone is everywhere taking photos nowadays… whether with DSLRs, consumer cameras, or cell phones. The idea that Google can’t do what everyone else is doing in an organized way just doesn’t make any sense. I use Google street view all the time to help find my way around… it’s a huge time-saver! And, it’s super-cool on my Android phone, I must say…

Filed under the categories: California, Nikon D3X, San Jose

Daily Photo – Santa Monica Boulevard

You know those images we all have of Los Angeles, California?  Pretty roads, lined with palm trees, people on roller skates, and convertibles driving by without a care in the world?  Well that is only about 1% of Los Angeles.  The rest, sadly is not terribly exciting.

But, why not go ahead and take photos of the top 1%?  Yes, that’s what we do as photographers.  So, this is one of those pretty bits, right near the beach in Santa Monica, one of the prettier areas of Los Angeles.

Filed under the categories: California, LA, Nikon D3X, Travel

Compression

Do you enjoy taking photos while making use of compression?  It’s sort of a geeky photography technique that involves zoom levels beyond what the eye can do on its own.  These end up having a bit of an “interesting” look, just because these view cones are impossible to the naked eye.  Personally, I don’t do a lot of it because my wide-angle lens is usually on… but I do enjoy the look.

I have this photo included in the full Nikon 200-400 Review.

Daily Photo – Horse in Field

In the afternoon, the horses at the ranch where I was staying are let out of the corral to graze in the meadow.  The sun gets low, and just before sunset, everything is lit with a very strong light at a low level of incidence.

Filed under the categories: Montana, Nikon D3S, Travel, Wyoming, Yellowstone

China Interview Part 2

Here is Part 1 of the video interview that is continued below!

Daily Photo – The Amazing Airport

I went in and out of this airport in Beijing a few times. Some might argue a few too many times. That some might be me.

It’s an absolutely beautiful airport. It was so amazing in size and scope that I could not figure out what part to present to you first! But we’ll start with this one, at the entrance to the international terminal. This is near the dropoff area for the international departures. It’s the bit where you roll in your bags and try to figure out where the heck to find the counter for Air Sheep.

By the way, I took a ton of photos all over the Beijing airport.  No one ever gave me any grief for using my tripod.  As you might expect, HDR in this place is an absolute blast — and not having to worry about getting in trouble for using a tripod is even better!

Filed under the categories: Beijing, China, Nikon D3X