Night Photography

If you're like me, your attempts at night photography consist of shooting an hour or two after dusk, sticking to fast lenses, and hand-holding until it just isn't possible to take a sharp photo any more.

Now, I'll admit that this technique does have its benefits. For one thing, I've gotten really good at keeping the camera steady. For another, I have developed my after-dark eye. It has often been one of my favorite times of the day to take pictures.

But I never brought out the big guns, the one item you really need to take a great night photograph: a tripod. That's right, folks. Surprisingly, it does make it a heck of a lot easier to take a good night photograph. No real surprise there. The surprise for me was how much better the photos are - it's amazing! No real noise! No blur, not even a bit! And such great detail. So let me break it all down for you - it's pretty simple, but it bears saying.

1. First, you've got to choose a location. And you've got to have some light - a full moon, streetlights, building lights, or your own lights/flashlights, but you must have some light.

2. Wear warm clothing. This is not strictly speaking a photography tip, but trust me, you'll be glad you did. For example, I will definitely bring some fingerless gloves next time, because my hands were so cold I couldn't really feel the buttons on the camera.

3. Find your subject, choose your lens, set up your tripod and frame the shot the way you want it. Make sure your tripod is shake-proof. Use your photo bag as a little extra weight on the hook at the bottom, if you've got one.

4. Think about whether you'll have anything moving in your frame, like grasses, or water, or such. It'll most likely be blurred quite a bit. Are you ok with that? If not, you might want to come back and shoot it another time.

5. Set your settings. This shot was at f/4, ISO 160 (the cleanest ISO on my camera, yours may be different), and 30 seconds. Shoot raw so you'll be able to massage the files a bit afterwards. In particular, your white balance will probably need a little work.

6. Maximize your sharpness. Use mirror lockup, and either use your self timer to take the shot, or some sort of remote or cable release. Remember that the vibration from your finger pushing the shutter button can make a big difference in the overall sharpness of the image.

7. Take a few! Look at your histogram. Make sure you're not blowing out your highlights. Check the overall exposure - too dark? Too bright?

8. Celebrate! Then compose the next shot and do it all again.

EDIT: I forgot one key step! Now if you're shooting Nikon, you auto focus whizzes, this may not apply to you. But if you're Canon like me, you must must MUST focus manually. This is the only thing I use my live view for. Use live view, zoom in, and get your manual focus just perfect. It's worth it to bring a flashlight to shine on your subject at this time to make it easier to see if the focus is good.

*Finally! A post on photography. I'm going to try to continue posting informational posts like this on Tuesdays. Any topics you'd like to see? Hit me up in the comments below.*

Calling

Another tilt-shift photo. I'm working on it. 

How do you know what's your calling? It seems like an old-fashioned concept. These days many people bounce from job to job throughout their lives, looking for new challenges or better pay. Maybe just something different.


I was watching an old episode of Twit Photo (like, a month old. And yes, that's the name of the show. No funning.) with Zack Arias, and I loved some of what he had to say. A couple of things he said, and I quote: "Photography calls many, but chooses few. [If you want to be in the photography business,] just make great photographs. Keep it clean, keep it simple. keep it true, keep it bold.... Just work on your craft." He also said , "The number one thing that matters is relationships."

Amen, Mr Arias. Well said. So I'd say photography has called me. We'll see if I get (and remain) chosen.

What about you? Do you believe in the idea of a calling? Do you have one?

Mouse Over Monday 10 - Picture Bombing

PLEASE mouse over.

I quite honestly think this is one of the greatest joys of Evan's life.

I can't stop listening to . . .

Unrelated photo. I've been messing with the 17mm t/s lately, trying to use it to the full extent of its capabilities. This is one of my favorite places, Sutro Baths.

Elenowen's Pulling Back The Veil. Gorgeous, stripped-down harmonies, and well sung too. A great chill album.

Panic! At the Disco's Vices and Virtues. Almost a polar opposite, it's upbeat, catchy, and I can't stop singing along. I think they might be an acquired taste, but I love everything they've done. And I also love frustratingly the unreleased track Kaleidoscope Eyes (theme song for the apartment, Barrie? Maybe, maybe not).

In other news, some of my Lensbaby images are up on their site. Just go here, and then look at either the pinhole or the Sweet 35 optic in the optic drop-down menu. In total, three of my images are up. Nothing major, but still fun and exciting!

Saturday Morning

A view of Alcatraz from the Marina. I used the black and white software Silver Efex Pro 2 in my processing. Anyone care to guess how?

Blue Skies

A shot from a job today. Finally it wasn't raining or foggy! And great timing.

Another Pool

I hear some of you still have to contend with snow. That must be rough. There were in fact some rumors we might see a few flakes here in sunny (hah!) San Francisco, but hell hasn't frozen over yet, and we remain grey, but snow free. Although I guess some sources report that we did see snow.

Anyway, I wanted to share with you a quandary Mr William Randolph Hearst must have sometimes had. Not only was he perpetually saddled with such a name, but when he wanted to go swimming he had some tough choices to make. For example, swim indoors in this pool, or outside in this one? (You might recognize it from that gem of a movie, Spartacus.)

Hard choice. But someone had to make it. Where's your favorite place to swim?

Slow Photography

NOT a slow photograph. Taken in a few seconds on a tour of Hearst Castle.

There's a recent article on Slate about a new photography movement: slow photography. Here's a quote:

"Defined more carefully, slow photography is the effort to flip the usual relationship between process and results. Usually, you use a camera because you want the results (the photos). In slow photography, the basic idea is that photos themselves—the results—are secondary. The goal is the experience of studying some object carefully and exercising creative choice. That's it."

I agree, slowing down is important. But to me this sounds like a distinction between 'spray and pray' and carefully composing your shots. Which is nothing new.  In fact, I would argue that this is what separates photographs from snapshots, and is old as the hills. I also disagree with the assertion made later in the essay that to practice slow photography you need a film camera.

On the other hand, I do think that a lot of people get caught up in the photography and forget to experience the moment. I often don't pull out my camera when beautiful things are happening, because I want to experience that moment without a frame around it. And I do appreciate the value of taking your time in a world that seems to be moving faster and faster.

What do you think?  Are you interested in trying 'slow photography'? Is it any different from what you currently do?

Looking Up

The Path

A walk along the California coast is never complete without some ice plant, a few rocks, and maybe a lighthouse in the distance.

CIty Night

I actually shot and processed this image about a month ago, and I've been on the fence about posting it since then. There are some things I really love about it: the atmosphere of a city at night, something I've always found really magical. Also, I love that girl with her shopping back in the foreground. And I like that she's blurry, but I wonder how y'all feel about that. I like the different layers as well: she family in the background, the lady having a conversation with her coffee in the bottom left corner, the city lights in the distance. The only thing I worry about is: is it too busy? For me the focal point is the girl.

But what about you?

(PS Happy Birthday Hannah!)

Snow!

We just spent a weekend in the snow, but I spent it mostly being sick and burrowing under the bedcovers rather than frolicking in new powder. So here's a photo from our last snow trip, when I was lucky enough to get a day with brilliant blue skies.

Have to keep the roads clear, you know!

One Way

I was walking along a San Francisco street the other day with a friend when a guy stopped us to ask directions. I pulled out my phone while my compatriot gave general directions. "Just go to Market Street, walk down, you'll see it. You know, it's sort of over there-ish . . . "

The man semi-thanked us and seemed about to go on his way. Then he paused. "Are you for the redistribution of wealth?" he broached, off-handedly, as if he were commenting on the weather.

I was a bit taken aback. "That's a pretty general question, isn't it?" I asked.

He seemed confused that I might think so. "No . . . " he hedged.

I continued, "I mean, what wealth, and to who?"

"Oh, all of it."

"Like Robin Hood?" I queried. He looked blank. "Robin Hood?" I repeated.

"Oh, yeah! Exactly." And then he handed us each a flyer, and said, "It's going to happen soon. You're the 59th person I've given this flyer to. Everyone's excited about it."

I wasn't sure what to say, so I paused a moment. He added, "Anyway, I'm on my way to the Apple store. You said turn right on Market, right?"

He walked away.

I shouted after him, "Enjoy the Apple Store!"

Alice in Wonderland

This shot was kind of an experiment/accident. This wonderful cube sits in downtown SF, doing I'm-not-quite-sure-what, housing some kind of art maybe? I was out shooting with a friend, and trying to use my tilt-shift lens and get the whole thing in the shot (tough, because it is one big sucker), and I accidentally tilted it the wrong way (see all those vertical lines converging towards the sky?) and then I kind of liked the zaniness of it, so I shifted the lens as well, making the two sides of the image go out of focus.

And then, the magic ingredient, the right woman walked by. I had actually been waiting for a skateboarder to complete the image, since there were lots of them around, but she walked into the frame first. And she was perfect.

Anyway, this is a little different from my normal style, let me know what you think.

Moon Over San Francisco

Published!

I'm sitting here at my computer with a ridiculously large grin on my face. Oh yeah, the best Christmas present ever has arrived: my photo in a newspaper! And not just any newspaper, one of my favorite publications, in fact, the SF Chronicle. You can view the photo and the story here.

Basically I did a job a couple of weekends ago photographing some interiors for a cool loft conversion project in West Oakland. It's a wonderful project, and pretty unique for the area it's in. The spaces are incredible: high ceilings, exposed beams, great natural light, some brick walls, and beautiful wood flooring. The team working on it seem great too, like they've really considered and thought about every detail. Here's the Cigar Factory Lofts website, where you can see more of my photos. The only ones that aren't mine are the images of Unit 1, which were taken by another great local photographer, Scott Hargis.

Here are some more shots.