Dream Tomorrow, Live Today, Cherish Yesterday

Street Rod

Street Rod

Canon 1D Mark III, 24-70mm F/2.8L, f/4.0, 1/200, iso 400

This is an image from one of this year's car shows, the one up in Auburn CA to be exact.  This was one cool machine obviously.  When I was looking for a composition, through the viewfinder, this point of view struck me as "in your face, sucka!"  That's one massive grill.  So the composition I was trying to create would feature the grill, and give it boldness.

In Lightroom, I have numerous presets to take a picture from color to B&W.  Lightroom has it's own, but you end up with a fairly dull image.  The one I chose is called Street Life, which seems so appropriate for this Street Rod.  Chrome and cars, they just go together!

Topaz Tuesday - in Coos Bay

Although I'm in Oregon right now, this picture was not taken this week. Rather, it was on one of my trips on the yacht Oasis.  We were pushed ashore due to weather, and stayed in Coos Bay for about a week. I was looking through my Oregon pictures and thought this one might make a good subject for Topaz processing (see www.topazlabs.com).

Sure enough I think the Topaz magic really works for this shot.  Unfortunately I did this one about a month ago, and didn't know at the time that I should be including the particular type of Topazzing I was doing in the file name, so that I could relay it here on the blog. I'm sure it was Topaz adjust.  Then the preset was probably spicify, but I'm not sure.  Charming effect, don't you think?

Elegance in Silver

 

Elegance in Silver

Canon 1D Mark III, 180mm F/3.5 Macro, f/5.6, 1/200, iso 400

At the recent street fair put on by The Tattered House, besides shooting the vendors and groups of people, I also spent time doing detail shots such as this one.

My MO here is much like being at a party or wedding. I try to slow down, and just get my head into the flow of what is going on.  Look around a lot. Get to different heights and angles.  Walk back and forth.  When something catches my eye - snap!

I was very taken with the beauty of these silver pieces.  I immediately thought "Fleur de lis," but now I'm not so sure. In any case, a couple of gorgeous candle holders, just waiting for me to come along and appreciate them. 

Back on the computer, I knew I wanted a black and white presentation. I played around with a few different Lightroom presets, then went with "Matts Artistic Tints-Yellow."  When I exported to Photoshop to put the frame on it, I noticed the silver areas on the right were a little blown out, so I used the Shadow/Highlight adjustment to tone down the highlights (which I could have done in LR, but I was already in PS).

More than anything, to me this subject is all about grace and craftsmanship.  Let me know what you think of the image, did I capture that?

A Portrait Speaks

A Portrait Speaks

Canon 1D Mark III, 15mm F/2.8 Fisheye, f/8.09, 1/100, iso 640

Lightroom preset: Seim Old Red II

As I mentioned in last Friday's post on the Dream Big shoot, a special portrait emerged. One that is speaking to me.  I have for some time been thinking about my photographic plans for a couple years down the road when I move to the California Central Coast and hopefully have more time for photography and travel.

With those plans rolling around my brain, this particular portrait is very special to me.  I'll have to find out her name, won't I? Snaphsot? Portrait? Something special? Let me know what this image does for you....

Road Trip! Oregon Bound

Oregon Riverside Factory

As you read this on Saturday, my wife and I are headed north to Oregon.  Our first multi-day road trip in quite a while.  Tonight we will end up in Astoria.  We also have lodging reserved in Cape Kiawanda, and in Bandon.  So after Astoria, we will work our way down the length of the Oregon coast. Eight days of vacation!  Unusual for me, although I hope to make it more usual in the future.

You have to know I'm pretty excited!  I bought a few books on photographing Oregon and it sure seems like it will be great.  Bandon is many people's favorite place on the entire West coast.

I'm sure I'll have some internet access from the road.  I'll be able to review comments, and respond to them.  But I don't think I'll put up any posts from the road, that can wait until I get home and I can do it properly.

But don't worry, you will have your Dream Tomorrow fix each and every day, as I have posts set up to publish themselves while I'm gone. 

The image above was taken while on one of my boat trips on board Oasis, when we had to duck in due to weather.  This tuesday's Topaz Tuesday post will also be from that trip, a lovely shot from Coos Bay.

If you have any photography tips for the Oregon coast, please share!  I will endeavour to get some wonderful photography while on this trip.  Cheers!

Dream Big

Dream Big - the Beginning

All shots with Canon 1D Mark III, most with the 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye

I was asked to be the volunteer photographer for an art event at a local kids program.  The program is for at risk latinos. It's a summer and after school program where kids of all ages can participate in a variety of events and classes.  Although I didn't speak to the director, it appears this is about keeping kids out of trouble and giving them life skills.

The particular event I was to photograph was a hands on session to learn graffiti art.  The artist is Shane Grammer (http://blog.shanegrammer.com/) who is an internationally known graffiti artist.

The fact that the theme is "Dream Big" interested me, and you know I love to do volunteer work, so I signed on.  The picture above is the outline, for the mural, which is about 25 feet long.  Click on the continue link for a bunch of fun pictures of this event.

 

Day of the Dahlia

Pretty in Pink

Canon 5D Mk II, 24-70mm F/2.8 L, f/5.0, 1/125, iso 100

Cruising blogs these days, you see a lot of dahlias.  So this must be their time of year, eh?  It is sure a photogenic flower. Thick, gorgeous petals, and all colors of the rainbow it seems.

Last week I was on a one day business trip over to Santa Rosa. I brought my camera and just the 24-70mm, intending on taking a picture of some new clients (for my day job).  We made good time getting over there, and along a little road was a large Dahlia farm. So I pulled over, asked if they would mind me taking a few pictures, and got busy.

Well, this is early September, and it was about 10:30 am, so the light was kind of harsh. I really do need to carry some kind of light filter thing with me to hold over flowers in this situation.

But the real bummer was my lack of lenses, specifically my 180mm Macro.  Which would have really shined here.  The 24-70 is a fine lens, but no zoom can match the 180mm.  I hadn't planned on doing any fine photography on this trip. And as you can see I have a new camera body!  For my upcoming trip (more on that soon) I thought it would be good to get a camera more suited to landscapes, and I'm also fascinated by the video capability of the 5D Mark II.  I got a pretty good deal on a very slightly used one, so if I don't like it that much I can just sell it and I won't lose any money.

The resolving power of the sensor in the 5D Mark II is so good, that it exposes weaknesses in lenses. The lenses become the limiting factor.  So I have to use my best lenses with this body, to achieve the kind of results I'm looking for.

We will see, on my upcoming trip, which I'll be telling you about on Saturday!  In the meantime, let me know what you think of the dahlia shot.

Check your October Architectural Digest

Check your October Architectural Digest, because your buddy Bob has made it in there again.

 

Here's the cover (no I didn't shoot this).

The ad on page 24, this is my shot.  I took this shot several years ago on a shoot for Savage Cabinets (www.savagecabinets.com).  It's kind of unusual for me at that time, because I did not often do "detail shots" like this, because this client was into showing off his entire creation, whereas a shot like this basically shows off the amazing work of Enkeboll (www.enkeboll.com). 

But later on when I hooked up with Enkeboll, they were very interested in the detail work.  I believe this is the fourth time my work has been featured in AD.  How much I would love to do an editorial shoot for them! But I don't have the time nor inclination any more to become a full time photographer for hire - and that's what it would take to get that kind of work.

Photography by Bob Towery - in AD - I like it!

Onset of Fall

Onset of Fall

Canon 1D Mark III, 70-200mm F/4.0L, f/6.3, 1/1250, iso 200

Yaaaay! First day of Fall.  I have never had better equipment than now. And with the blog, that much more motivation to get out there shooting (my primary reason for doing the blog).  We have some fine areas out here in the West, no doubt.  But I'd sure like to do a Smoky Mountains trip, or some spectacular place like that.

I know my friend Stephan is already chomping at the bit to do one of his productive Eastern Sierra trips.  Hopefully we are all making some plans, not just to get shooting, but do some shooting together, because it is always a lot more fun to do with fellow photographers.

Let's all make some significant additions to our Fall color portfolios this year! Use the comment to tell us where you plan to go, or link to one a nice Fall color shot of your own.

Won't someone love me?

One eyed bear, in need of good home

Canon 1D Mark III, 180mm F/3.5 Macro, f/7.1, 1/100, iso 200

The Tattered Ladies, of The Tattered House, ran a street fair yesterday in Roseville.  As their semi-official photographer, I was invited.  There were about 40-50 vendors, selling the "vintage home decor" that this group is all about.

I really had so much fun. One of the nice things about these people is that they are used to photographers. There wares are very good subjects.  And they don't mind one bit. There were several other photographers having a go, one even had a tripod.  The people into this decor are quite lovely.

Photographically, it's a "target rich environment," as they say.  I got lots and lots of them and I'll be sharing them with you.  The bear shot in today's post, well, I think it was one of the best.  Charming, interesting light, bokeh to die for, eh?  That 180mm Macro should change it's name to 180mm Magic.

How do you like the little guy? What would you name him?