Personal Blog

Month: July 2016

iPhone’s Focal Length is 29mm | 85-135mm Best for Portraits Demonstrated

I’ve been wondering, so I looked it up: An iPhone 6 has a focal length of 29mm*, which is considered wide angle, too wide to shoot natural looking head shots.

The article linked below shows what 28mm looks like, and says:

85mm to 135mm is the focal range that’s commonly recommended for portraits, since it helps avoid the thin- and wide-looking distortions found with super wide or telephoto lenses.”

Cellphones are way TOO WIDE for natural looking, undistorted portraits — making the nose look too big, etc.. One remedy is to shoot further away, so faces look more naturally correct. But then they’re tiny in the image.

Companies are working at trying to make cellphone lenses that reach out further. In the meantime, at least one company makes lenses that screw into a cellphone case, which shoot in longer focal lengths. And many compact cameras zoom to 85mm.

* 35mm sensor size equivalent — the standard used in this example

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PetaPixel shows in this article how facial features look photographed at different focal lengths:

This is How a Camera Adds 10 Pounds

(video) McHugh Fire Human Caused – Explains Norm McDonald Fire Management Officer

Live – McHugh Fire Human Caused Explains Norm McDonald Fire Management Officer

(video) First Aerial View of the Alaska, McHugh Fire Aftermath – Near Anchorage

About 10 miles south of Anchorage — a big deal for us all!

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Exclusive: Very First Aerial View & Narration of the McHugh Fire Aftermath

PIO Kale Casey

PIO Kale Casey

Published on Jul 25, 2016

July 23rd, 2016: Watch the very first live exclusive aerial footage of the aftermath of the 778 acre McHugh Fire located on the steep terrain south of Anchorage, Alaska.

Operations Section Chief narrates the piece and describes the impacts and confinement strategy utilized by firefighters working in steep and dangerous terrain.

The cause of the fire which threatened the Potter Valley and Rainbow Valley subdivisions remains under investigation.

As of July 25th, 2016 the McHigh Fire #541 was 778 acres in size, 35% contained, 65% confined with 315 fire personnel assigned.

Raw footage provided by the Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team. Media outlets are welcome to use the footage in their news reports. Please credit Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team and PIO Kale Casey.

(video) William Carr : Modern Master of Photography — What Moves Me

Inspiring!

Also very interesting to me is the wide variety of aspect ratios he’s chosen to frame his images in. Most photographers shoot mostly in the aspect ratio of their camera, such as 3:2. William’s Hasselblad shoots in 4:3.

I would like to see a full frame sensor mirrorless that has an oversized sensor that captures the entire image the lens captures, so any aspect ratio can be chosen with maximum field of view and the maximum number of pixels, instead of having to crop 4:3, 5:4, square, the golden mean, 16:9, 2:1, etc. from 3:2. That’s my dream.

There is no reason to still be stuck in 3:2 when the 3:2 mirror box is gone.

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“What moves me is just a beautiful, beautiful scene that becomes a window to the world that everybody, everyday, sometime in their life can look at that image and put themselves in that place.”

“What I do isn’t lonely. It’s a solace. It’s in oneness with the world, in oneness with the universe, in oneness with God, the creation of this incredible, incredible place where we live. This amazing blue marble that’s careening through space.”

“Where I go from here is the hope that I can continue to find more and more beauty in our world that brings tears to people’s eyes.”

– William Carr
Transcribed by Jeff Fenske

• • •

William Carr : Modern Master of Photography

WilliamCarrGallery 

WilliamCarrGallery

Uploaded on Oct 19, 2011

The artistic temperament is one of wonder. There is an innate desire to create and a willingness to struggle for one’s craft.

It is not enough to be born an artist, for the artistic character is forged from the dual fires of struggle and persistence.

Once in a lifetime an Artist appears and amasses a body of work that captures the perfection of creation and the truth of beauty that resides in every rock, cloud and ray of light.

William’s artistic vantage displays an understated complexity within his visual composition. Each image commands attention with vivid secret views into places exotic and foreign. An innovative approach to the visual language of photography.

William Carr travels like a native through distant lands, understanding the eloquence and subtlety of different cultures and their relationship with the planet. “My greatest hope is to nourish a “World Focus” on the preservation and conservation of this miraculous place we call home”.

Completely self taught, William is one of the most Collected photographers in the world, with over 35 million images sold worldwide.

(video) Sam Maher – Fremantle Handpan

WoW! The harmonies — and the melody!

Going somewhere music!

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Sam Maher – Fremantle Handpan

(video) Sam Maher – New York Handpan 01 & 02

Sweet and deep!

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Sam Maher – New York Handpan 01

Sam Maher – New York Handpan 02

BUSKRS 

BUSKRS

Published on Oct 31, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/sam.j.maher

http://terratonz.com

Recorded at the 7th Ave. G/F station in Brooklyn, NY on December 10, 2014.

I met Sam on my way home from work transferring between the R and the L. As I was walking down the stairs I thought I was hearing electronic music, which you never hear in the subway. But it had a natural essence to it, almost like acoustic electronic music. It was strange and hard to pinpoint what I was hearing. As I got down to the L platform I saw Sam sitting and playing a strange instrument I had never seen before. He had a crowd around him and lots of donations flowing in. After he finished a song I approached him and he told me about his handpan and that he was from Australia and traveling the world as a busker. What a life! He said everywhere he went he was able to make money for the next leg of his trip. The day before he made $200 in an hour playing in Central Park. I asked if he wanted to record and he did but he was leaving in two days for Central America. I was so excited by this beautiful music that I cancelled plans and we met up the next night to record at my favorite spot.

Took a while to get some good takes and by the end his hands were bleeding because he had been playing so much recently. It was an amazing experience and I love the sound we were able capture down there.

Swan Hugs The Man Who Rescued It By Wrapping Her Neck Around Him

From: boredpanda.com

Swan Hugs The Man Who Rescued It By Wrapping Her Neck Around Him

Swans are not particularly affectionate or approachable animals. They’re territorial and can be quite intimidating. Which is why the moment when an injured swan hugged Richard Wiese, the host of the television show “Born to Explore” is so touching.

A few years back, Wiese was visiting the U.K.’s Abbotsbury Swannery when he ran into the swan who had been injured after flying into a chain-link fence. Wiese helped to examine the swan by holding her.

“When I put it next to me I could feel its heart beating and it just relaxed its neck and wrapped it around mine,” Wiese told ABC News. “It’s a wonderful moment when an animal totally trusts you.”

Entire Article w/ Photos

(music video) Golden State – Bombs – END THIS WAR

Have a heart!

EXCELLENT ANTHEM!

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Lyrics:
END THIS WAR
I can’t be sure of this
memories are fading fast
a fragile heart of glass
thats shattered once before
the walls start to break and crack
nothing is built to last
patience are running thin
but I know we can’t give up
If we make the choice
to walk out the door
and let all we have
become nothing more
can we look at ourselves
and resist this
moment in time together
Its not impossible
that we can end this war
just let your heart explode
not too late for a miracle
it’s not impossible
I know we can resist
so many shots that missed
my heart can take a hit
cause I know I can’t let go
If we make the choice
to walk out the door
and let all we have
become nothing more
can we look at ourselves
and resist this
moment in time together
Its not impossible
that we can end this war
just let your heart explode
not too late for a miracle
it’s not impossible
No more fighting
no more crying
no more hurting
no deserting
no more lying
no more sighing
I’m still trying
arms wide open
END THIS WAR
Its not impossible
that we can end this war
just let your heart explode
not too late for a miracle
it’s not impossible
I’ve seen the levy break
I’ve seen a lover take
I’ve felt the war sun
It’s there for everyone
I’ve seen some troubled times
but its not too late for a miracle
Its not impossible

Golden State – Bombs

This Wedding Photographer Turns You Into a Miniature Person

Amazingly creative and a wonderful!!!

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From: PetaPixel

This Wedding Photographer Turns You Into a Miniature Person

In Thailand, there’s a wedding photography business that’s attracting quite a bit of attention. It’s called คนตัวเล็ก, which literally translates to “Small Person.” The photographer’s specialty is making couples look like miniature figures living in a giant world.

Each of the photographer’s pictures is a composite. After photographing the clients, the couple is cut out of their background and inserted into a small scale scene. A tilt-shift effect is then added to the photo to mimic the shallow depth of field look you get with macro photos.

Entire Article with Amazing Photos!

UNITE! – POWER that Scares the Establishment

InsteadOfRacialPower_Unite-800

(video) Exploring Color Gamut with ColorThink – Inkjet Prints vs. C-Prints – Renée Besta

Modern inkjet printers far exceed the color gamut produced by color labs on Fuji Crystal Archive paper.

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Exploring Color Gamut with ColorThink – Inkjet Prints vs. C-Prints

Breathing Color

Breathing Color

Published on Mar 22, 2016

Comparing 3D gamut plots from inkjet and c-print profiles. Hosted by professional photographer and printmaker Renee Besta.

** Read the full post: http://bit.ly/1XIb5l6

** Description:

Ever wondered what the difference in color gamut between inkjet and chromogenic prints looks like? Join professional printmaker Renee Besta as she explores 3D color gamut plots from real world profiles to illustrate how inkjet printing stacks up against c-prints.

** What is Breathing Color?

Breathing Color is a designer and supplier of award-winning digital inkjet canvas, papers, and canvas coatings. We are focused on the art and photographic markets.

You can learn more on our site
http://www.breathingcolor.com

Mel Gibson and photographer Ken Duncan climb hill on spiritual mission

Great to see Ken and Mel interacting! I’ve been hoping that Mel would escape his negative rut and come out on top — and is able to contribute to society again. Mel clearly knows much of what is really going on, and maybe just let himself get too angry?

The Daily Mail’s story says Mel is filming a movie in Australia, and also says:

Mr Duncan writes on the website that it is not his personal project: ‘But a vision of the elders from different communities in Central Australia’.

It claims God told him he needed to raise the money to raise the cross which see ‘a Holy Spirit fire that starts at the centre and spreads out across our nation’.

‘This will be the final revival before the coming of the Lord.’

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From: The Australian

Mel Gibson sees the light during outback odyssey
THE AUSTRALIAN12:00AM MARCH 8, 2016

Mad Max star Mel Gibson has been spotted climbing a remote hill in Central Australia where his childhood friend and fellow Christian, renowned landscape photographer Ken Duncan, hopes to build a 20m-high, LED-lit cross to help usher in the second coming of Christ.

Gibson and his girlfriend are understood to have been on a three-day tour of the region ­hosted by Duncan, whom Gibson worked with on his controversial religious epic The Passion of Christ.

Locals said the group had eaten kangaroo tail and climbed the hill dubbed Memory Mountain, about 230km west of Alice Springs, where the structure Duncan has said will be visible “like a cross floating in the night” is planned to be erected imminently.

Reached by phone last night, Duncan denied Gibson had any official involvement in the project, but stopped short of contradicting claims by locals — whose support he needs — that the ­famous actor was being courted to take an ambassadorial role.

Entire Article

(11-min audio) Australian Landscape Photographer Ken Duncan — Importance of Printing!

I love this!

Part II

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Travel Writers Radio – Part I

Australian Landscape Photographer Ken Duncan With Adelaine Ng

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