Unique Photography for Unique People
The Lonely but Beautiful Path
March 18th, 2010

The HDR Tutorial, Still Going Strong

I think it’s been over three years since I first posted the HDR Tutorial here on this site!  By the way, if you are new to the site, then what you are mostly seeing here is HDR Photography.

I go in and update the tutorial every three months or so, as I discover new techniques and further refine the process. We have SO many comments on there (especially on page 3 of the tutorial!) — I am not able to answer them all. But I am happy that so many people are learning this fun new sport. As usual, if you have any feedback, please let me know. The reason it is so good now is based on that very feedback, so keep it coming!

Daily Photo – The Lonely but Beautiful Path

I have a lot of alone time. When I am out shooting, I am totally in my own world. In fact, I’m even double-in-my-own-world because I have my iPod on and I drift away into pure right-brain mode. It’s quite nice, in a way, because I do achieve a zen-like peace where time does not matter.

I’ve worked with a few photographers that will copy and paste a sky from one photo and put it into another photo. I don’t do that stuff – that is waaaay too much editing for me. All the clouds and colors you see are true and wonderfully there. I even sat with a guy once who would take a perfect moon out of one photo and paste it into another! I simply can’t bring myself to do anything like that… it’s just too over-the-top!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this new photo from Florida… I’ve got some more beautiful ones coming up in the next week, so stay tuned!

from the categories: Florida, Nikon D3X, Palm Beach, Topaz Adjust, Travel | 9 Comments »

A Lonely Walk to the Ocean
September 20th, 2009

It was a lonely beach! So sad. I think I had a lot of things to talk about this day too! I can’t remember. Sometimes Twitter and Facebook just don’t cut it!

In other news, I’ll be at a charity function in Dallas next Saturday. They are auctioning off some of my art at my old school, Good Shepherd, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Now, anyone can buy raffle tickets ($15), even if you do have to go through a somewhat annoying registration process. I also understand they have a new library where one of my prints will be hung. I’ll try to nab a photo of it while there!

A Lonely Walk to the Ocean

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 15 Comments »

no pool this beautiful should be empty at a time like this
June 29th, 2009

I think the title says it all!

I’ve never been much of a swimmer. I mean, I can swim just fine and I’m as bouyant as anyone my age should be, but I don’t really like it as a form of exercise. THere is always so much that goes into the perparation bit of the exercise. Also, since I can’t liseten to my iPod while I swim, that’s kind of a deal-killer. I’ve heard they have some new water-proof MP3 players, but that just sounds like too much trouble all around.

Anyway, this was a 5-exposure HDR that went from -2 to +2. I’m convinced it’s the only way to shoot into the sun and get all the light levels of the details around the pool.

no pool this beautiful should be empty at a time like this (by Stuck in Customs)

from the categories: Florida, Nikon D2XS, Palm Beach, Travel | 19 Comments »

There’s a pool party at sunset – everyone mark your chair with a towel
February 6th, 2009

I have the pool reserved for us all. Be sure to mark down what you’ll be bringing along (and if you are on Flickr mark your chair with a note!

I think pretty much all kinds of food and drink are welcome. I’ll bring a BBQ pit and an ambulance in case there are any problems. And I hope someone brings a boom box. Are they still called that? I don’t know. Maybe that means it will be a lame party because I don’t even know if they are called boom boxes any more, but I’m sure I’m not the only one that will bring a bit of 80’s music.

There's a pool party at sunset - everyone mark your chair with a towel (by Stuck in Customs)

from the categories: Florida, Nikon D2XS, Palm Beach, Travel | 26 Comments »

The Light Sculptures in The Breakers
January 11th, 2009

These light sculptures are incredible to capture. I normally don’t like taking photos of “art”, and I rarely carry my camera around museums any more… I just feel strange taking a photo of something that is already a piece of art. I was explaining this to my mom a few weeks ago, and then she mentioned these shots from Palm Beach, which was a good example of where I go against my own rules. I think the asterisk here is that some pieces of art can be (and should be) captured to help the viewer evoke the same response that I did while I was there. I suppose you can say anything is art… lights, sculpture, architecture, and the like… And I shoot all of those things. Okay this is going too deep down a thread now, so I’ll just close it off by saying I don’t like taking photos of paintings on walls, but this kinda stuff seems fun and cool to me.

This first photo is a new one of this crazy-bizarre wall light. I don’t know what your Rorschach reaction to it might be… The other two photos are from the same restaurant there in The Breakers in Palm Beach. I didn’t eat in this restaurant… the first night I tried this other Italian restaurant that is part of the hotel called Mangia that had these bright yellow heirloom tomatoes with their caprese salad… they were the best tomatoes I had ever eaten… I had to go back the next night again since I couldn’t stand not tasting them again!

Edit: I found out these incredible sculptures are from an Israeli artist named Ayala Serfaty.

The Rorschach Light (by Stuck in Customs)

The Glowing Alien infantsacs (by Stuck in Customs)

Shrooms in the Lounge (by Stuck in Customs)

from the categories: Florida, Nikon D2XS, Palm Beach, Travel | 23 Comments »

Alone at the Beach
November 26th, 2008

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spent mornings and evenings on the beach by myself. I think it’s quite alright, and I don’t entirely mind it at the time.

For me, it is even more strange, I think. Because I always have my camera with me, I suppose I’m not really alone because you are there too, along with the tens of thousands of others. We’re there at slightly different times, but still there together with the moment frozen. I’m not sure I can be good company to everyone at the same time, but there are always certain people with whom bare toes on the beach would be more than welcome.

Alone at the Beach

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 11 Comments »

Anyone care for a dance?
November 16th, 2008

I’ve got a great selection of music ready to go… I rented out the ballroom here at The Breakers for the grand event. Be sure to bring a few of your favorite MP3s on a thumbdrive and we’ll get em into the rotation!

Anyone care for a dance?

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 11 Comments »

Anyone want to join me at the beach for a good conversation?
November 10th, 2008

I’ll take the seat on the left… no… okay, the one on the right. It’s alright… sit in whichever one you like. Where should we put our drinks? Ahhh the grass will be fine… okay, now, what to discuss? So many places to start!

Anyone want to join me at the beach for a good conversation?

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 23 Comments »

The Storm at Sea
July 21st, 2008

It was a blustery day on the coast as I jumped out of the car between squalls to aim the camera in the most dangerous and interesting direction. This camera is fairly good at keeping out water, although I’ve never tested it in a torrent… nor do I want to… even though I do have the sweet Nikon D3x on my mind…

The Storm at Sea

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | No Comments »

The Worn Picket Fence
March 3rd, 2008

Shot across the bay between swells of the storm… The storm came across the sound very quickly right at sunset, so the fast-moving clouds made a new painting every few minutes… This one is my favorite from the batch I took.

The Worn Picket Fence

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 9 Comments »

The Glowing Alien Infantsacs
February 27th, 2008

Here are some nice textures, scattered around this unique restaurant in Palm Beach.

The Glowing Alien infantsacs

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 2 Comments »

The Rain and the Moon in the Sea
January 13th, 2008

An early morning thunderstorm comes across the Atlantic towards Palm Beach in Florida…

The Rain and the Moon in the Sea

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 3 Comments »

The Breakers Hotel
January 4th, 2008

It’s just slightly nicer than the Motel 6 way down the road, and they even let you play soccer there in the grass.

I was lucky that it was very stormy there and the rain let up right at dusk.

The Breakers Hotel

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 11 Comments »

The Lobby at the Breakers
December 15th, 2007

This is one of the most famous hotels in Palm Beach.

The Breakers Lobby

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 6 Comments »

The Evening Storm and the Jag
October 20th, 2007

I was about to take down the top but I was afraid of another swell rolling in!
Evening Storm and the Jag

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | No Comments »

The Alien Growth on the Wall
October 11th, 2007

Complete with deadly alien shadows…
The Alien Growth on the Wall

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 1 Comment »

The Jag at the Breakers
October 5th, 2007

This is the famous Breakers hotel in Palm Beach. I have a good friend and partner there that lets me borrow his Jag whenever I come into town, so it was better than the old economy mid-size from Avis that I was used to!

The Jag at the Breakers

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 4 Comments »

Shrooms in the Lounge
September 27th, 2007

The lounge area of the Breakers in Palm Beach has some very cool light-based sculptures. I’ve never seen anything quite like them. The hotel staff eyed me suspiciously as I went around with my tripod to get pictures. They kept looking at one another with a "I’m sure he got permission to do that" kinda look…
Shrooms in the Lounge

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 24 Comments »

The Calm After the Storm
September 24th, 2007

A few days ago I posted a picture of the storm at the airport here in Palm Beach. I was contemplating flying into the heart of the storm instead of sitting in a room full of attorneys for the day. Today I chose the latter and it was about as much fun as it sounds. It was my first time through this particular experience and it wasn’t what I would call a rockin’ good time. I wish I could have said, “Your honor, the witness (me) is being badgered” but there was no judge, just a bunch of lawyers quoting rules and regulations I’ve never heard of. I think, technically, lawyers have formed a sovereign nation who have created a set of rules that abstract them and all behavior from regular society. That’s another pseudo-sociological concept I am working on, but is a rather empty thing to really think about unless you are on a break in one of those badgering-sessions.

After the session, I headed out to get some pictures around Palm Beach. I twisted my ankle in an effort to get this one… that dock is even more uneven than it looks!
The Calm After the Storm

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 4 Comments »

A Storm at the Airport
September 22nd, 2007

This always causes mild panic that I will be delayed in the airport. This was taken in Palm Beach, where I will be for a few days to meet with some attorneys. I don’t know if I would rather be in a plane in that storm or in a room full of attorneys… tough choice, really.
A Storm at the Airport

from the categories: Florida, Palm Beach, Travel | 4 Comments »

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