Session with my dogs !

Just trying out the new 1.8 aperture lens! This time my dogs had to be models :)

I also made my own DIY softbox, which i wanted to try on a model - this time my dogs was the models (and that's not easy!). I took a paperbox and taped two layers of baking paper on the side. Then a cutted a whole for my flash in the other side.

I have done some post-editing in Lightroom 4 and Gimp to learn. I have tried to add some gritty effect to the texture of the dogs' faces - but not too much.

ISO 100     |    50mm    |     f/2.0   |   1/160
Wanted the gritty effect on the dog's face because of the dog's natural colors that ranges from dark brown to light golden. The colors definitely creates contrast, which the gritty effect indeed compliment.

ISO 100     |    50mm    |     f/2.0   |   1/160
This shot is kind of a lucky shot as it was a test shot. I wanted to shoot my dogs with a homemade softbox, and when i first putted the softbox in place the dogs went to see it as curious as they are. Luckily I got one dog's attention creating a wonderful photo.

New Lens!

Hi everybody!

I just recieved my new Canon EF 50 mm 1.8 II lens!

The lens is a cheap (but very good!) lens specially designed for portraits. With a non-variable focal lengh on 50 mm it certainly challenges the usual ways of taking photos when using standard zoom-lenses. With a aperture starting from 1.8 its a very light sensitive lens resulting in great indoor photos as well as photos with a very small depth of field - a great effect to add to your photos.

Beneath you can see how the apertures 5.6, 3.2 and 1.8 varies from each other concerning the depth of field.

ISO 100     |    50mm    |     f/5.6   |   1/80"

ISO 100     |    50mm    |     f/3.2   |   1/250"

ISO 100     |    50mm    |     f/1.8   |   1/640"

HDR #1

This is my first try ever to make a HDR photo. As the thousands of guides on the internet says I took three photos with the same motiv with a tripod. 

The three photos had different exposures using the AEB-function on my D1000. I used 2 stops, resulting in three photos with an exposure at -2, 0 and +2 stops.

For completing the HDR picture I used the free HDR software called HDR Luminance. I think the software works great and I haven't had any problems so far :) It took a little bit of time to get to know the program, but watching youtube video guides can certainly help !

The software has different preinstalled profiles with defaults settings that you can use in your photo which is very helpful when it's your first HDR image. Two of the profiles is shown beneath.

added by Stig, 11/12-2012, HDR, "Winter in Ryparken B/W"

added by Stig, 11/12-2012, HDR, "Winter in Ryparken Color"

Read more about HDR-photographing here!

Session at Qualcomm Stadium with Chargers - Chiefs

Here's some photos from my trip to California - this time from Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego where the San Diego Chargers met Kansas City Chiefs! The photos is not that much of a deal concerning technique, but the stadium light made the stadium bright and along with the beautiful sunset over the stadium these photos have a sort of HDR-effect which definetly takes the photos to the top.

ISO 400, 18 mm, f/8, 1/40 sec

Not that many comments to this photo - it just look great - even without editing. All I have done is turning up the colours a little bit, and some few other adjustments - and thats all.

 added by Stig, 19/11-2012, "Qualcomm Stadium Sunset"

ISO 400, 18 mm, f/8, 1/40 sec

Not that many comments to this photo as well. 

  added by Stig, 19/11-2012, "San Diego Chargers beats Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium, CA"

ISO 400, 18 mm, f/8, 1/40 sec

It was quite funny, because as the sun went down the stadium light still did an amazing job for the photos. I didn't need to adjust the settings all the time. Especially this photo is a great catch with the fire after the second TD for Chargers.

   added by Stig, 19/11-2012, "2nd TD for San Diego Chargers against Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium"

ISO 800, 18 mm, f/3.5, 1/320 sec

Celebration at the end of the match - great win by the Chargers. I was lucky to get the fire at the same time as the fireworks went off from the roof. I did make some changes here: I wanted the hands sharp and the stadium semi-blurred and therefore I turned the aperture to the minimum while putting the exposure time to 1/320 to catch the celebrating hands better.

   added by Stig, 19/11-2012, "Finishing celebration and fireworks as the San Diego Chargers wins the game against Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium"

Nightsession L.A. / Long Beach

After some weeks with photography in California I just landed. Here is some of the results from a nigtsession in Downtown L.A. / Long Beach. The urban light rising from the skyline made it possible to catch some amazing coloured photos. From this session I especially learned the possibilities the exposure time has.

ISO 800, 24 mm, f/4, 1/2 sec

This photo was taken with a relatively short exposure time resulting in a great sharpness as well as some soft lights from fx. the lampposts at the bridge.

added by Stig 19/11-2012, "Long Beach Harbor Bridge / Long Beach Colorful Skyline"

ISO 200, 18 mm, f/22, 30 sec

This photo was taken with a long exposure time resulting in some detailed landscape, blurred water and the "star effect" from the lights from the lampposts.

added by Stig 19/11-2012, "Long Beach Harbour"

ISO 800, 18 mm, f/3,5, 1/2 sec

This photo was taken with a short exposure time as the first photo. As the first photo the result was a lot of colours. Another remarkable and significant effect is the curvy reflections in the water from the light at the other side of the water. Is it the short exposure time that made that effect? I think so.

 added by Stig 19/11-2012, "Long Beach Harbour at Night"

More photos from my trip to California is on it's way!

Remember this?

 Added by Stig, 15/10-2012, "Champions League's first visit ever to Parken"

Ærø

 Added by Stig, 15/10-2012, "Sunrise Ærø"

  Added by Stig, 15/10-2012, "Sundown at Søby Havn"

 Added by Stig, 15/10-2012, "Sunny leaf"