Waiting for the Sunset in Atlanta

When I was in Atlanta last year, I set up on the top floor of the W Hotel for a sunset shot. I was there with my friend Scott Kublin. So much of taking photos is just patience… in this case, I laid down for a bit to think about things. I didn’t realize it until just yesterday — but Scott took this photo of me! Anyway, I thought it came out kind of nice… and it shows that most of what I do is not really as exciting as it might seem.

And guess what? The sunset was really boring, so I never got a good photo. These things happen quite a bit… But I never have a photo to show of it… the absence of a photo is not a photo that is worth sharing…

HDR Camera Recs

I updated my camera recommendations page with the old good/better/best categorization. I’m sure not everyone agrees, but that’s okay! I could easily describe 10 different Nikon models, but that gets a little overwhelming for new people that are just getting into the sport.

But about that “Entry Level” option. Maybe you can make a case for a better one? I want to recommend something VERY inexpensive that can do bracketed JPEGs. Not everyone can afford $900+ for the better DSLRs, but they really want to make bracketed photos for HDR.

The Mysterious Chinese Woodwind

In one of the older areas of Beijing, I visited several different operas. Luckily, my team on the ground there was able to talk to the management to make sure I could walk around anywhere during the performance to find interesting things. I saw this woman playing this most unusual instrument, so I stayed in her area for a while until the light was right.

This opera had some very unusual instruments, and I heard sounds that were completely foreign to me. They say that these instruments and styles have been handed down over centuries, and I suppose that is why they sound so unique.

There’s one sound in particular, not made from the instrument, that I can’t ever forget. It sounds vaguely, forgive me, like a large metal mixing bowl, 1/3 full of water, that is struck with another, empty metal bowl. It’s a jarring but mystical sound… maybe you know the instrument I am talking about? Or maybe you recognize the one from this photo?

Edit: Smart Commenters below point out it is called a “The Chinese sheng” (Chinese: 笙; Pinyin shēng).

Filed under the categories: Beijing, China, Nikon D3X, Travel

Stuck In Customs Facebook page

I try to leave little surprises and stuff on the Stuck In Customs Facebook page. Be sure to come join to see the latest!

Daily Photo – The Mega Lobby

They don’t love it when you take photos in Vegas, but I love to take photos in Vegas, so this causes a bit of a problem. Since I am not objective about the situation, I go ahead with my side of the story and take photos when and how I choose. At least, until the authorities show up… I then go into Michael Weston mode and talk my way out of the situation.

This is the lobby of the Venetian, and it looks amazing from almost any angle. Just outside, you can often hear the valets singing a bit of opera… it’s very strange but kind of nice!

Filed under the categories: Las Vegas, Nevada, Nikon D3X, Travel

Multiple Layers in 100 Cameras

Now that the new version has multiple effects and an adjustment slider, I’m seeing all kinds of creative stuff! We’ve got thousands of people out there snapping up photos with 100 Cameras in 1, and it’s a blast to see some of the creations.

I saw this image on the right on Twitter.  It was created by Kamau Akabueze (click for his blog), and it came out pretty cool.  Although I’m not exactly sure how he made it, but I think he started with a black and white effect, and then started layering some of the hardlight or overlay effects before finally adding one of the heavy texture-effects.

Quick Mention on TapTapTap

Lisa Bettany’s finger looks better than mine, yes? Yes. There is little doubt about this.

She put together a video that shows off some of the cool stuff for Camera+ (You have that one too, yes? Go get it… these things are only a few dollars!)

See her video on TapTapTap.com about how to avoid blurry iPhone Photos.

Daily Photo – The Sharks are Circling Google

The very nice Cliff Redeker over at Google took me all around the campus after my Authors@Google talk. It’s a very cool campus, and I set up a for a bunch of fun shots.

I don’t know if this is supposed to be a shark fin or not, but it reminded me of all these silly recent news stories about everyone coming after Google. From the German government to other bureaucratic busybodies, things seem to be heating up. But don’t worry Google… I got your back… and so do all my friends here on StuckInCustoms!

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

Woopra Review

I still use Woopra quite a bit to make sure the site is nice, spiffy, and fun to everyone. It’s hard for me to tell what works and what doesn’t work unless I measure. I put this new video below on the Woopra Review page. It’s free for all the basic services (which is all most people need).

Daily Photo – Remote Farmhouse with Waterfall

On one of my first nights in Iceland, I was driving along the southern coast. Pristine farms are plopped along the side of the road every few miles. As I began to approach one of the volcanic areas, the terrain changed enough so there were huge waterfalls in many of the vistas. This one was nestled deep behind the farmhouse, and it seemed like a nice little spot for a photo.

Filed under the categories: Iceland, Nikon D3X, Travel, Vik, Wik

Angry Birds and the Evolution of Man

My friend Matt Ridley wrote this article in the WSJ called “Tracing Those Angry Birds to the Dawn of Man”. He was kind enough to mention me in the first paragraph – thanks! I have some of Matt’s books on Trey’s Book List page here on the site too that you may enjoy, if you’re into cross-over science kinda stuff.

Nikon 28-300 Review Additions

As is the usual case, I continue to add photos and info to reviews after they are posted. So, in case you missed it or are looking for an update, check out the Nikon 28-300 Review here on the site.

Reminder- Full Size Photos and Sharing

Many of the regular visitors (hi y’all!) already these tips about the site, but I wanted to restate them:

• You can get the full size of any photo, just like the French train station below, by clicking on the photo, then clicking the tiny “O” (for Original) at the top
• You can download and use the photos for wallpapers, personal use, and this sort of thing
• You can use all the photos on your personal (non-commercial) websites, blogs, etc as long as you link back to http://www.StuckInCustoms.com and give credit – thanks!

Daily Photo – La Gare

I took the train from Paris to Nimes in the middle of the day, and ended up here with half an hour to spare. I had just enough time to get some pastries and some HDRs. What else does a man need in life?

Here is a little tip that I’m sure many of you already know… but I thought I would go ahead and say it anyway! If you want a symmetrical shot, get in the absolute center. And I mean absolute. Check your corners, count the girders, etc. You’ll have to get a little OCD if you want a perfectly centered shot!

Filed under the categories: France, Paris, Travel

Justin Arthur invited me downtown to be on the Beyond 6th podcast

Beyond 6th Podcast

The crew at a local podcast here in Austin called “Beyond 6th” invited me down a few weeks ago to sit in. It was a laid back discussion… cool people — happy to know them! It was strange because they had me read the “intro” — it was unexpected but I did my best! hehe… Click on the link there to have a listen.

Young Schoolgirl Returning Home in Tokyo

One thing I recommend to travelers as they go from point A to point B in an unpredictable manner. Whenever I want to hit an exact location, I tell the taxi to drop me off a few kilometers from the destination. Either that, or I exit the subway early. I then meander my way from street to street and feel my way to the final location. Usually, by taking these unpredictable paths, I end up seeing a lot of things that would have been left unseen.

That is how I found this little schoolgirl in Tokyo. I ended up on a busy street in the late afternoon, just as kids were running back to their homes.

Filed under the categories: Japan, Nikon D3S, Tokyo, Travel

What’s up Australia?

How did 100 Cameras in 1 get to be the #1 App for photography in Australia? This baffles me… I know we have I have a lot of internet-friends there (pretty much just as good as real friends!), but I still didn’t expect this. Thanks!

Daily Photo – Gardens in the Mist

The Li River valley is a beautiful and serene area of southern China that’s green, alive, and mysterious. The verdant limestone cliffs cover the landscape and give everything an ethereal feel.

After a trip down the river, I got off the boat and decided to hike back to the little village where I was staying. Along the way, I decided to hike down a side-road that went off into these little family-run farms. I set up for a shot on this quiet dirt road.

Filed under the categories: China, Li River, Nikon D3X, Travel

New Version in App Store!

The new 100 Cameras in 1 is now available! Here are some of the new features:

➤ Control each effect with a granular slider! (See Screenshot Right)
➤ Moving the slider will change the effect of the texture using overlay, hardlight, luminosity, the texture itself, or other methods depending on the nature of each unique effect
➤ Add and layer multiple effects with new “Add Effect” button!
➤ Add favorites right from the My Creation screen (see upper right of the My Creation screen)
➤ Hi-res cropping after you take a photo
➤ Also hi-res cropping after you select an existing photo from your library
➤ iOS 4.2 – Now you can Print! Via Share to AirPrint
➤ Optimizations to share to Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr
➤ B&W effect moved into first 10 effects
➤ Re-organized interface so that “Back” is always in the upper left
➤ Updated scoring feedback indicators
➤ Added new text to Effect #1 after you begin to “Add Effects” – now it says, “Original image with new effects”
➤ Removed “extra” pre-populated words when sharing to Facebook, Flickr, or Twitter. Now it just says, “My latest creation”
➤ Opt out of GameCenter whenever you click “Cancel” three times when it asks you to log in
➤ Increased rate with which the effect text fades from the My Creation screen
➤ “Saving” popup has been properly centered on the My Creation screen
➤ Adjusted GUI on Options screen
➤ Added user feedback when “Crop Image” is selected on Options screen

New Promo Video

I made a new version of the video that shows off the slider, multiple effects, and more. If you saw the previous video, then it’s not all that different except for those bits!

Daily Photo – The Orsay

One of my favorite museums! I’m a huge fan of Impressionism, and this museum has an amazing collection. It also houses one of the most famous paintings by Manet – Le dejeuner sur l’herbe (Wikipedia). I’ve always heard about and studied this painting, so it was of particular interest to me. When I saw it in person, it was absolutely striking… I did not expect to have a reaction like that.

Well, you aren’t supposed to take photos in here, but I just can’t help it. I think the rule is silly and somewhat insulting to he artist in me. I remember studying the Impressionists… Manet himself would come into museums and paint… so what is the difference? Nothing… I think my Impressionist heroes are looking down on me and smiling for defying such a silly rule. In this case, I did not use a tripod (would have been a bit obvious). So I cranked up the ISO on my camera to keep everything sharp. Also, I set my F stop at 2.8, which keeps a scene like this in focus when you’re using a wide angle lens, since everything is effectively at infinity.

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D3S, Paris, Travel

Animoto Review

I wrote up a full Animoto Review here on the site. If you want to read more about it, pros and cons, and more, check out the review. Below, I have placed one of the videos I made with Animoto.

You can also use the Animoto Coupon Code of “STUCKINCUSTOMS” to get 2 months free with a pro account… thanks for the team there for providing that for us!

The music has a nice, artistic story behind it. There is a big fan of the site here named Antonis Karalis, a musician from Greece. He put together this song — did all the instruments and voice himself. If you like his song and want to support another internet artist — click here to get it in iTunes!

Daily Photo – The Metal Ribbon

Here we have another stunning example of the fanciful architecture in Beijing. The opera house is a huge, cavernous complex. On the top level towards one side, there is an immense gathering area that’s used for banquets, parties, and other such events. Luckily, my translator and assistant had set everything up ahead of time, so we were able to get in for several hours before the big concert to take some photos in peace before the crowds arrived.

Filed under the categories: Beijing, China, Nikon D3X, Travel

Daily Photo–The Window of Life

The beautiful Bacelona is home for fanciful masterpieces of Antonio Gaudi. I thought I’d had pretty good grasp on the architectures of Gaudi’s but I didn’t anticipate the subtle interior design when I get into some of his buildings.

This is the fanciful Casa Batlló. I was surprised by every turn when I was inside, and it was always inspirational. I wonder whether you have ever played Myst? This place reminded me of Myst–except Gaudi had come up with the ideas so long ago–in 1877! And those designs were not only for beauty but large sums of functionality built-ins too. Simply moving cool air from room to room is stylish and unexpected.

I took lots of other photos in Barcelon that are coming up soon. I tried my best to take good photos at the places where I’d been but caught up by the flu. And that put my productivity into half–so that’s the bummer–yet also another good reason to go back!

Filed under the categories: Barcelona, Nikon D3S, Spain, Travel

My New Laptop Bag!

This is one of my favorite Christmas presents!  For the full scoop, see my Mark Nason Bags review here on the site…  My wife got this for me here on Zappos.com — it’s kind of expensive, but you can check out the pros and cons for yourself on the review page.

Here are a few images of the bag…  I think I have six or so on the review page.

One aspect this image doesn't portray is how soft this thing is. It is like a soft cuddly cow crawled up and died on your lap.

The big pouch on the outside is too small for most of my guns (perhaps a small ladies' gun), but it does fit a ziplock full of pork and beans for those lonely nights on the range... This side pocket is pretty handy too for your mobile phone or 18th-century Western iPod.

The bag is big enough for me to fit my 17" Macbook Pro. It's not big enough to also hold my camera equipment, but... that's not what I use it for...

Daily Photo – Liftoff at the Ranch

I ran out into the field to capture this just as the helicopter takes off after unloading another group of guests. The lighting and angle were perfect, so I was curious to see if I could catch the helicopter blade totally still. I did! A good experiment… note that many of my experiments fail… but this one worked out.

And yes, obviously, this is an HDR from a single RAW.

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

Daily Photo – Boats in Ancient China

This is the spot where I cracked a rib. I’ll tell that story in a moment… This is the ancient village of Feng Huang in distant southern China. I hired a local driver to get me there, and the ride was longer than most plane trips! And a lot less comfortable… Anyway, after arriving, I had a wonderful time exploring. One morning, the old town was covered with thick fog. And it’s that still, wet, timeless fog of China. When you are looking at it, you become convinced it will just never go away. I worked my way down one of the banks to an area where the local rivermen keep the boats to grab this shot. The morning was wet, obviously, and that was the downfall of my mishap. I stepped down onto what looked like damp, dirty concrete. I’ve done this a thousand times. I was carrying my D3X with 14-24mm lens on a tripod on my left hand and holding my D3S with 50mm 1.4 prime in my right hand. It turned out that I was stepping onto that super-slick wet clay. It was razor-thin and slicker than ice. I didn’t stand a chance. I fell right down, both cameras slamming into the ground. The D3X hit extra hard because the tripod gave it some painful torque. I landed on the D3S, it’s body caving in one of ribs… right in the middle of the man-nipple area. It was too bad because I’ve always treasured that area. I made reference to the injury when I was still unsure about it in this Part 2 China Interview.

Filed under the categories: China, Feng Huang, Nikon D3X, Travel