Reminder on The Stuck in Customs Community on Google+

Last week I mentioned the Private Clubhouse that people can access when they purchase one of the tutorial products. But, also, there is a public Stuck In Customs community where you are welcome to join, share your photos, and see a bunch of other work from fellow community members! It is a fun way to get to know more people from around here!

Daily Photo – The Lonely Chair

This is a nice little object here, yes? I think it’s hard to find things that stand by themselves in the middle of an area that is normally cluttered.

The chair was found in one of the many decrepit and ghostly rooms inside that chateau I mentioned a few days ago. I tried to squeeze my way into every possible room, but some were too full of junk to get around. This one was well lit and ideal!

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D800, Paris, Travel

Did you miss the latest newsletter?

I hope not! It’s always free and we promise to never spam you! We send out one a month (or so!). Anyway, here’s a link to the April newsletter and be sure to sign up at StuckInCustoms.com/news if you have not already!

Our Austin PhotoWalk on the BBC

You’ll see a short interview with me in the middle of the first bit from the Austin Photowalk. You may see a lot of other familiar faces in here too! Thanks to LJ Rich from the BBC for putting together this piece – that was fun!

Daily Photo – Moonrise Kingdom

This is one of my favorite new pieces from this year! I just shot it a few days ago.

It was shot waaaay after the sun went down in Big Sur, California. This is a crazy waterfall that pours off onto the beach. You can’t see it from the road, and it requires a short walk. I found it thanks to Stuck On Earth, although I am sure other locals have known about this semi-secret place forever! You can go here too… it’s not terribly difficult. It’s called “McWay Falls” and it’s beautiful any time of the day.

Also, btw, I’d like to thank those of you that have been ordering more prints recently — I am honored! You can always click just below the photo to check sizes and prices to find something to fit your budget. Thanks again!

Filed under the categories: Big Sur, California, Nikon D800, Travel

Snow in HDR

This is a common question I get. Basically, I think it is a bad idea to HDR the snow and ice part. It just looks dirty. You want it looking nice and pristine, and the HDR will add a little too much texture and grit for me. This seems to happen to an alarming degree with human skin and snow (and a few other things). Anyway, using layers and masking in Photoshop is an easy way to slice-n-dice your way out of that problem!

Daily Photo – Snow over the Creek

There is a place called Pyramid Lake just past Glenorchy that is perfectly wonderful in the winter as long as you have the traction. This shot is from the end of last winter when I caught a little bit of snow. You’ll notice I don’t have a ton of snowy shots from NZ yet, but I think I’ll get a lot more this winter. I’m really looking forward to some good snowfalls, in fact! I’m sure if you’re in the northern hemisphere that you are sick of the cold and ready for the warm… but I really am looking forward to the change!

Filed under the categories: Glenorchy, New Zealand, Nikon D800, Photography Tips, Travel

The Midnight in Paris Tutorial

I’m afraid I’ve given the recent video series from Paris short shrift with all the emphasis on the New Zealand tutorial. It’s called Midnight in Paris (store link), and I think you will really enjoy it. It’s heavy on the post-processing and the instruction. Plus, you’ll learn all kinds of tricks from Miss Aniela that you never would have learned from me… so it’s like two in one!

Daily Photo – The Dramatic Chateau

I took photos of this side of the chateau twice. Once in the morning when the clouds were heavy, and once again in the afternoon when the clouds parted. I ended up liking this cloudy one better. There was a bit of a natural vignette, but I decided to enhance that a bit in the post processing.

Filed under the categories: France, Paris, Travel

Steam Games

I’ve been playing Left 4 Dead 2 a lot with my son. It’s good times. I’m playing Borderlands 2 on the XBox with Ethan, but it’s splitscreen and kinda crazy (but fun in co-op). But I was thinking of also getting it on Steam to play single player a bit. Other good games I’ve been playing are FTL and Civ 5 – always winners… You guys and gals playing anything lately?

Daily Photo – Another Road Through an Endless Valley

I rode down this one with Karen Hutton, Scott Kublin, and Curtis Simmons. Every five minutes they wanted to get out of the car and take a photo. I know the feeling! You see, I already have done this hundreds and hundreds of times… now I only get out on new roads or of the clouds/light is just different “enough”. It doesn’t take much, because there is a lot of variation. And, as most of you know, I’m not one to take a bunch of photos in the middle of a blue sunny day. But, on this day I was!

Filed under the categories: Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, New Zealand, Nikon D800, Travel

Your Irrational Fear?

Do you share my strange fear below? Do you have an equally strange one of your own you just can’t shake? Hehe… strange question, I know… I was just wondering if I was alone in this… !

Daily Photo – Kayaks Along Lake Wakatipu

I’ve never taken a kayak out onto that lake. I’m not much of a kayaker, but also, I’m not a big fan of deep bodies of water. Actually, I will just go all the way from “not a big fan” to “outright afraid”. You never know what kind of nonsense is happening underneath you, you know? I don’t like swimming to being in a little boat on top of deep water. I don’t mind being in a big, sea-worthy boat. That’s fine. But swimming and being in a little boat… that’s not for me. This is strange, because I know it’s irrational. And I don’t really have any other irrational fears… but I can’t figure out a way to get around this one (nor do I see the need to do so, which is probably part of the problem itself).

Filed under the categories: New Zealand, Nikon D800, Queenstown, Travel

True Origin of “Taken to the Woodshed?”

Well, this photo is a woolshed reminded me of that saying about being taken to the woodshed. I actually thought it was woolshed till I Googled it and felt dumb. Anyway, I started poking around to try to find the origin… I could not find it. I thought maybe it came from Dickens or Shakespeare, but I did not see anything definitive…. smart readers here can probably figure it out I bet!

Daily Photo – Road to the Woolshed

After shooting the sunset, the entire class and I walked down this road together to have dinner at the Wool Shed. It was a fun, catered event, and a great way to wrap up the week. We didn’t end up walking down the road at the same time. In fact, I’m surprised everyone found their way here. We were spread out all over creation (although I invited people to stay near me if they wished!). A few people stayed with me, but others went off to seek their fortune on other faraway hills around Bendemeer. I had trouble finding the spot, so maybe they did too!

Filed under the categories: Arrowtown, New Zealand, Nikon D800, Queenstown, Travel

Video from the Great Wall

Here’s a video I took while up here!

Daily Photo – The New Garden Path Along the Great Wall of China

Just to get to this point required a long walk through a rocky forest. It wasn’t like the super-pristine part of the Great Wall (which is actually quite fake and Disney-like) — where you can drive up in a huge tour bus and park in huge parking lot. No, it wasn’t like that at all. Instead, there was a “path” that was barely discernible (much less so when I walked back in the dark alone!) that wove up through a forest along an old creekbed. I’m not sure I could find it again if I had to!

Filed under the categories: Beijing, China, Nikon D800, Photography Tips, Travel

Photomatix Presets

Do you have (my!) Trey’s Photomatix Presets? I still use Photomatix all the time, as many of you noticed from my recent tutorial video. I think my presets are much more interesting than the ones that come with Photomatix, but you can be the judge! If you don’t agree, you can have all your money back… no problemo!

Here’s a screenshot for ya!

Daily Photo – The Skies of Sydney

Sydney? Check. Sunset? Check. Easy photo? Check!

Man, this was such a lay up… I can’t claim much credit for it. I just kinda walked up and it was like this. Good sunset shots are not always easy, but this one was… I admit it! Now, it was made a bit easier with post-processing through Photomatix, but I kind of take that for granted now.

Filed under the categories: Australia, Nikon D800, Photography Tips, Sydney, Travel

Looking at a new camera or lens?

I am always adding to the Reviews section of the website, which I heartily recommend if you are looking for a new camera or a new lens. I don’t review a ton of things, but I do try to review all the stuff I actually use on a regular basis.

Now, you’ll only see a few lens reviews there on that page. For the rest, just scroll down the right side.

If you’re thinking about the lens I used below, check out the Nikon 16mm Lens Review. I love it! It’s a strange lens because the first time I used it, it didn’t really float my boat. But now, I really enjoy it… I’m using it quite a bit to re-invent a lot of shots and be creative. It’s also come in really handy the past few times when my 14-24 lens has been broken.

Daily Photo – Fun with the Fisheye in Paris

This is a close up of one of the two chandeliers in the entry way of my hotel in Paris. I was still getting used to the fisheye at this point, so it took me about five shots to get this exact one I wanted.

By the way, I like how Paris likes to fill “empty space” with red velvet. It’s like the go-to thing for interior designers there…

Filed under the categories: France, Nikon D800, Paris, Travel

The Private Clubhouse

Those of you that bought the latest tutorial have been invited to the private Stuck In Customs Clubhouse community. If you are having any trouble getting in there (the Secret Knock!) then be sure to contact support@stuckincustoms.com — they’ll help get you goin!

Daily Photo – Hay for the Winter

You may also remember this photo from the recent tutorial video I released. I’m glad everyone is enjoying those videos btw!

This is my first Autumn in Queenstown. I watched these fields grow all summer long, and it’s cool to watch them all be cut down and rolled into these nice bales of hay. I notice that most farmers seem to wrap them up in plastic to protect them from the water… they are not as pretty then, so I was happy to get this photo before they were wrapped up!

Filed under the categories: New Zealand, Queenstown

SXSW Photowalk Winners

Congratulations to all of the winners from the SXSW Photowalk, and thanks to the sponsors below for providing the prizes!

Anthony Quintano won a Genie Syrp. (There’s a coupon code at that link too if you want to pick one up!)

Jesus Manuel Mena Garza won an FStop Loka Bag.

Michael Connell won a Really Right Stuff BH-40 LR Mid-sized ballhead.

Russell Pankratz and Matthew Southard each won a Padded Cordura Pouch from Really Right Stuff.

Jim Jochetz, Paul Johnston, and Alfredo Mora each won a XUME Adapter

And congratulations to those that received a $100 Gift Certificates from Adorama!
Richard Ramos
Andrea Bolognini
Cathy Malloy
Aniv Das
Kalyana Kavuri

Daily Photo – Driving High Along the Fjords

The roads in Iceland normally follow the bottom part of the valley. Here, in this particular area, the road was about halfway up one of the mountains, which gave me a bit of a downward perspective. Every few miles there is an interesting, old, weather-beaten barn like this one to set the scene. It may not even be so old, and maybe the weather there is so rough that it makes things look old before their time.

Filed under the categories: Akureyri, Iceland, Isafjordur, Travel