I’ve started putting the framework around a new Nikon Fisheye 16mm Lens Review. I’ve added many sample photos over there so you can take a look at the results of my experimentation and thoughts thus far…
Daily Photo – The Mysterious Places of Paris
Isn’t this room amazing? It’s not in the main part of the Paris Opera House, but it had the most ornate and Inception-esque room I’ve seen in a while. I took this photo while in the middle of experimenting with the Nikon fisheye lens. It seemed to fit the bill for these ornate grand locations that are still in a relatively confined space.
Well this one is kind of crazy. I checked my YouTube stats for the first time ever. I don’t add a lot of videos, but the ones I add are quite long. Anyway, this stat shows almost 10 million minutes of my videos have been watched – that is crazy! I don’t think I’m THAT entertaining on video… honestly… I’m not like, say, Flavor Flav or anything…
What Prints Hang in My Home?
I got this question the other day, so I thought I’d list them out here. I’m always changing them out… but here are some of my favorites, including the new one from Paris below, which I just had printed here in Queenstown at WePrint.
Our Prints page has more details. But you can order the Artist Proof series on metal. Each of those is in a limited quantity of 50, and each one is individually signed by me.
Anyway, here are a few of the prints that I have chosen to hang in my home:
Daily Photo – The Amazing Eiffel Tower in Romantic Paris
I shot this just recently with Tom Anderson. We almost didn’t leave the hotel because it was so stormy, but we had been watching the clouds all day. We started out with Miss Aniela at the Paris Opera before exploring the rest of the city. Sunset comes early here around this time of the year (about 5 PM or so), and it always sneaks up on us.
Some of the best sunsets come right after storms… so it’s always worth a little adventure if you don’t mind getting a little wet…
This is an interview I did with Stephan Bollinger — many things covered in here that you’ll find useful I hope! 🙂 I was impressed at how Stephen integrated the imagery back into the interview while we were talking… it must have taken him a long time to put this together!
Daily Photo – Where the Bloody Walls Screamed
Here is one of the many ill-forgotten and scary rooms in the chateau. Some were fully furnished and perfect, but others had fallen apart after years of neglect. Here is one of those many incredible rooms!
Want to see what we ate for lunch? It’s hard work, you know, shooting all day at a French chateau and then sitting around post-processing with wonderful people. Sometimes you have to take a break for a super-elongated French meal! You can see Tom Anderson’s fingers back there dancing away on his Mac in this photo taken by Daniel Hurtubise.
If you want to see a video from the event, come sign up at for the Newsletter so you can find out first once it is edited together…
Daily Photo – Sunset at the UFO Landing Zone
This was shot back behind the chateau after dusk settled into its final colors for the evening. All the light was so strange outside, from the blinding white near the fountain to the golden hues reflected off the chateau to the nebula purple from the dithering sky…
If you primarily use a Mac to edit your photos, then check out Aurora HDR Pro! I worked with Macphun for over a year to build the ultimate HDR software!
If you’re a Windows user, pick up Photomatix Pro. They gave me a code of TREY2012 for 25% off. When this coupon expires, the normal 15% discount for the code TREYRATCLIFF will continue. This is the software I use in the HDR Tutorial here on the site (in case you are new!).
More from The Opposite Hotel
This is the second photo I have posted from this hotel – you can see the other one here: The Opposite Hotel.
Daily Photo – Awesome Lobbies of Beijing – The Opposite Hotel
Everything about this hotel was pretty funky. Yes, they were trying too hard to be edgy-funky, but that’s okay, because it kinda worked. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there was subtlety here in the funkiness. The decision to be bold and different was evident in every little detail of the hotel.
Even if you don’t stay at the hotel, make sure you stop by and have a look inside!
I’m busy getting everything ready for the upcoming one-day event in Christchurch. I have a few surprises in mind, but they take a bit of preparation!
I know that there will be many skill levels that I need to work with, and that’s okay. I think we’ll start really slow, then start moving faster and faster. Even when it gets a bit complex, I still think it will be interesting to new people!
As for this photo below, I took it during the amazing light show from the Aurora Australis down here on the south island of New Zealand
Here is something MANY people have been asking for – a primer on social media! So, I’ve (somehow) gotten over 8 million followers on Google+, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest combined, and I just did this interview below about this. Many people ask me about social media, so now I am pointing you to Frederick Van’s Site to find out more.
If you find the talk below interesting, you should go check out more free stuff on Fred’s site or sign up for his course. If you enter STUCKINCUSTOMS, you’ll get $50 off he says – so go for it! 🙂
I don’t personally sell any ebooks or videos about social media, but you should really pay attention to Frederick Van here. I trust him, and you should too. If you’re looking to grow your knowledge and expertise in this area, Fred will get you set up! I know the course is called something like “Social Media for Photographers”, but I think it’s probably applicable to many disciplines… I should get him to change the name to make it more broad! 🙂
Daily Photo – Mont Saint Michel
After Paris, I rented a car with Tom and we drove off through France through Normandy. We finally arrived at this magical place — an amazing location I’ve always wanted to visit.
It’s a huge fortified monastery atop a fortified and walled city. At low-tide, you can walk out across the sand to get there, but in high tide, it becomes an island. Is there anything more awesome? I don’t think so!
This one is going to be great – I’ve never done anything quite like it! If you’re not doing anything in February of 2013, why not come do some intense photography with me? Now, after that very successful and fun event in Paris, I’m even MORE excited about this one.
I’ll be showing you amazing spots all around the South Island, and we’ll be taking some awesome road trips together. Just like with the Paris event, we’re doing everything in style with great hotels, food, the works! I want you to have the most amazing experience ever, and I’m sure you’ll come away with incredible photos and a whole new bag of tricks!
New Zealand Workshop – Special One Day Event in Christchurch
This one is really aimed at all my new neighbors (and future friends!) in New Zealand. It’s very very soon, so check out the Christchurch Workshop page for details. I wanted to put together something special here, and the NZIPP crew has been very helpful in getting this together (thus the special discount). I hope to see many of you soon in Christchurch! 🙂
Daily Photo – Bowen Falls in Milford Sound
This is one of many sights we’ll be seeing together if you come down here to New Zealand. This place is quite the turkey shoot! There’s beautiful bits all around.
The best way to get to this particular spot is to get off the walking path and work your way across the rocks. I prefer the view where you are looking across the water… The conditions change quite violently depending on the light and the amount of rain. Sometimes, after a fresh rain, that waterfall is absolutely insane! In this photo, it’s still pretty crazy, but only of average sanity.
Where should I go? There are many options… I’ll return many times especially because it is such a short flight… but I just can’t pick where to go next!
Daily Photo – Shopping in the Queen Victoria Building
Whenever anyone (non-photographers) sees me with my tripod in a shopping mall, they assume I must be on some kind of a commercial assignment! I guess there is still a general association of big equipment to commercial photography by those outside of our sport.
See that castle in the middle? Every so often, there is a little automated puppet show that delights the crowd. Everyone crowds around the rails to watch the event.
For the month of November we are running a photo contest to see all of the creative ways you use Trey’s Lightroom Presets. The winner will receive a $250 gift certificate from Adorama!
To enter, simply post your photo to Google+, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest and add the tag #TreysLightroomPresets along with the name of the preset you used to the photo’s description. You can post as many photos as you want during the month of November. On December 1, 2012 we’ll pick a random winner from the entries. Good luck and have fun!
Daily Photo – Crossing Monkey Creek
As you drive into Milford Sound, you may well decide that the drive itself is better than the destination. And that’s saying a lot, believe me!
I think one of the best unofficial hikes is right around Monkey Creek here. It’s certainly worth parking your car and spending a few hours walking around the area. Even without your camera, it’s still a feast for the eyes.
