My First HDR Image

January 31, 2013

After a day spent at home with the family, and having been in the house for well over a week, I was ready to go outside and shoot. I chose to wait until after dark to try some experimental photography. I have a Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L that I love to shoot with, but really don't use often. When I do, it's mainly to shoot buildings, and that is what I planned for tonight.

What I hadn't planned on was just how cold it became after dark! With wind chill bringing the outside temperature down to -11°F I knew the first building I'd shoot would be the ONLY building I'd shoot. I drove to a small white church just outside of town. Built in 1852 the Springdale Lutheran Church stands atop a ridge. Lit up, it offered an interesting subject. I quickly parked in their lot, set up the tripod, set up my parameters, and then began to shoot as quickly as I could. Not really wanting to play around in the freezing wind I simply took exposures from 30 seconds, up to 1 second, and every stop in between. I shot two sets of images, the bottom of the church, and then the top of the church using the shift feature of my lens.

My first HDR image. The reddish clouds are from the lights of Madison to the East.

When I came back to the house, my hands aching from the cold, and took a look at my images, I realized I had a perfect opportunity to try HDR processing. I've seen a lot of really bad HDR images over the past few years. Here's a HDR Google Image Search to illustrate. While some folks really like the exaggerated, graphic quality of the images, I do not. I prefer HDR that has a more natural tonal value.

Never having done it before, it took me a while to sort out an initial technique. First I loaded all my exposures, one set at a time, into HDR Pro in CS5. After a lot of experimenting I narrowed my processing down to three exposures. It was a much broader range of exposure times than most of the tutorials suggested. At 30 seconds you could see setting, and back ground details, but the church was completely blown out. At the shorted end of the exposure spectrum I could see lots of details of the white church, and everything else was as black as a cave.

Eventually I was able to create an image that, to me, looked like what I saw when I was there in front of the church. Is it perfect? Not by a LONG shot! I have a lot of learning to do before I consider myself even slightly proficient in HDR. I guess I'll have to experiment with it a lot more over the course of this year's project.

Here's a little tutorial video on the subject.

Hunkering Down for a While

January 30, 2013

Today was a great day! Not only was it Teri's birthday, we also had a nice, big blizzard! This meant that she worked from home. For most of the day she worked from the space she's created in the living room, the kid played with her kitten in the den, and I did my chores, and grumped around the kitchen making food. I can't tell you how nice it was for all of us to simply be home together. She got enough of her work done that I am hoping she'll plan on working from home in the future.

Snow comes down heavy in the town.

In the early afternoon we decided to walk to the local coffee shop, Sjolinds Chocolate House. We practically had the joint to ourselves due to the weather. As we enjoyed our hot drinks, cake and Freja's made up games, I couldn't help but feel how well of a choice we made in choosing this town to live in.

My family enjoys a snack at Sjolind's.

As we prepared to walk home the Arctic Front that was following behind the blizzard hit us. The winds would often gust strongly, causing my wife & kid to walk backwards into it. Even this didn't dampen our spirits as we knew there was a warm fire waiting in our hearth!

January 29, 2013

Freja is beside herself with joy over Merida being here! She's been spending a lot of time playing with her new kitty. I set up a "nursery room" in our spare room in order to train the little thing. Now I hardly see my kid as she's taken to spending most of her time there!

Freja & Merida play in the nursery.

January 28, 2013

Merida arrived early today while Freja was in school. She was due here on the 31st but the shelter was able to deliver her early. I still can't believe we decided to get another cat. After all of our old cats dying off (the oldest was 21 years!) I swore we'd not have another. I was wrong!

Merida, our new bundle of fur!

January 27, 2013

It was a cold, icy day with lots of wind. We just hunkered down, and let it play out. I didn't feel like shooting. I still carried my camera to the Troll when I went for some lunch. Nothing special about today's photo at all...

Our local watering hole, The Grumpy Troll.

January 26, 2013

Since Teri had a busy week with work and travel we spent the day at home just relaxing. After putting the kid to bed we retired to the den, where we enjoyed the fire, some wine, and I gave her the birthday present I'd picked up earlier in the week. Since moving here she's been collecting limited edition prints from artist Kelli Hoppmann. I found an original piece that I thought she'd love. While I shot her seeing it for the first time, I neglected to shoot the actual piece!

I found an image where it was used as a book cover.

January 25, 2013

Another wonderful day at home with the kid. We built a fire, drew pictures, played a lot of games, and I did a lot of cooking. Freja keeps talking about her new kitty that'll be here soon. All in all it's a good life!

Freja and I play "Spot It!"

Freja works on a window drawing.

January 24, 2013

We're having an Arctic cold snap, with temps well below 0°F. I'd spent the day before preparing for it, moving in wood, cleaning the house, stocking up on groceries. Teri had to travel to Maryland for business, so it was just the kid & I home. We played games, did art projects, and enjoyed a nice fire.

Freja draws me a picture.

January 23, 2013

It's not easy living with a photographer doing a photo a day project. When there's not a lot going on, and it's a busy day doing chores, being the kid in the house can mean you get your picture taken a lot. Some days you may NOT want to be photographed! After trying one snap of the kiddo during a busy day, and her shouting, "NO PICTURES!" I put the camera down. So even though I took a photo today, it's not a good one...

Sometimes you just don't want to be photographed...

January 22, 2013

I took a little time to drive to Paoli, a nearby town with loads of charm. Teri's birthday is coming is coming up soon so I wanted to find something special. The Artisan Gallery is there. It's one of the finest art galleries I've experienced. When I go there I can't help but feel I'm back at the Carnegie. I used to spend many of my lunch hours strolling through the collections. It's rare that I find a gallery that evokes such a strong association to the museum. I always find something when I go there, and indeed I did this time as well.

Paoli Mill ~ 1864

Tearing Down the Saint

As my family sleeps I find myself combing my archives. In a January 6th, 2004 gallery I find an old image that strikes me. It was a cold day. I was a lot younger and skinnier, though not by choice. There where times where food just wasn't a priority. I went for a photo hunt that day, and let my intuition guide me. I ended up in a demolition site near my apartment I used to live in. This iconic landmark was soon to disappear forever.Now when I see this photo it takes me back to that apartment, and I remember how I used to enjoy looking up the hill to its silhouette.

St. Francis Being Demolished.

Cold Days Indeed!

January 21, 2013

Somewhere, somehow, my daughter, who used to be an adventurous eater, has decided that eating her dinner is something she'd rather not do. I know all parents go through this, and keeping calm is tough. Almost every night it seems there's a small power struggle to get her to eat. We don't yell, we don't negotiate, or make separate meals. She just has to eat a certain portion before she's excused. Sometimes she's there a while after we've actually finished the meal. Even food she likes can be a cause for tears, like her ravioli tonight... I hope this passes soon.

"But I don't like it!!" (She does like it sometimes!)

I took this shot by sitting a Canon 580ex II, mounted on a FlexTT5™ Transceiver, on the end of the table. It was aimed at the ceiling, with the bounce card extended. I set it down on one of my many passes by the table, dealing with my truculent diner. I used the plastic flash stand that came with the 580ex II to stand it up. As I was explaining for the millionth time she had to SOME of her ravioli, I aimed my camera from my midsection. About 7 years ago I did an experiment for that year where I never used the viewfinder to aim my camera. It took some getting used to, and I'm a bit rusty, but it's something I'm glad I did. The flash was triggered by a MiniTT1® Transmitter. I've not used these radio triggers since updating the firmware, and reprogramming them. I think I'll play around with them a little more.

January 20, 2013

It was a busy, yet fun, day. We're expecting a severe cold snap in the next few days. With that in mind I spent today basically getting some things done. Firewood moved in, meals prepared, and I event did the grocery shopping. I hardly ever do it on the weekends, preferring to shop on Mondays when the stores are quiet. Also, it was a NFL playoffs day! By the start of the first game I had everything done, dinner simmering in the oven, and the wife & kid were at a birthday party. By half time I was very relaxed, and decided to go for a walk.

The loop trail in Stewart Park, near our home.

We really need to start spending more time in the park that's so close to our home.

January 19, 2013

After months of being quietly lobbied for a new pet, Teri & I decided to allow it. Both of us grew up with pets, and my last cat was with me for 21 years. He died right before the move to Wisconsin at the end of 2011. Dog or cat, the debate went round & round. In the end, see some cute, orange tabbies up for adoption settled it.

We made plans to go pick out a kitten, but only told Freja we were going to visit someone. It was a surprise. As we entered the shelter, she became excited to see so many animals to play with. That is nothing unusual, she LOVES animals! We then showed her the kittens nursing, and she thought that was great.

Then we told her, "Guess what? You get to KEEP one of these kittens!" I was able to just snap a photo of her face as she was told this news.

Freja reacts to being told she's getting a kitten.

It's still too young to separate from it's mother yet. So we've about two weeks to go before she comes home with us. Freja talked about it the whole way home. The best was when she said, "I'm just so bored without my kitty!" While the shelter had already named it, we told Freja she could change it. At first she was scaring me with wanting to call it "Fuzzy Balls." I kept picturing me, out in the yard, yelling "Fuzzy Balls! Fuzzy Balls! It's time to come in!!" Thankfully, just as we arrived home, she settled on Mérida. WEW!!

January 18, 2013

We spent most of the day not doing much. Teri wasn't feeling all that great for most of it. She spent a lot of time working on her job, from home, which was nice. I did my usual Friday chores, and the kid did whatever she wanted basically. After dinner we all felt like doing something, so headed to Fisher King Winery. It's right at the end of our street, which we count as an amenity! We don't go as often as we'd like, but tonight they had Celtic folk musicians playing. Freja was excited to dance to songs we play around the house! She kept asking them to get out the bagpipes, but it was mainly Irish tunes.

Freja whirls in her 13th Century "Princess Dress."

January 17, 2013

It was a typical day at home. I did chores, the kid played, the kid go in trouble, and then the kid played some more. She'd decided she was "on vacation" so dressed in light summer clothes. I let her create a "beach," where she put out a blanket, and her stuffed animal friends, in the den. After a few hours though, I thought it was time to put winter clothing on. She didn't want to... I was able to get a shot of her from my abdomen as I explained to her she'd be in a time out until she was ready to stop throwing fits.

Once she changed, she then set up a "TV" made from a cardboard box. After about 30 minutes of "rehearsing" she then called me into the den. I had to pretend to "turn on" her "TV." She'd prepared a detailed news report about a Tigers' family home that'd burned. All the animals were rescued, and only the daddy tiger had a slight scratch! It was a very detailed story, and she even signed off with a, "This is Freja Elizabeth Lutz reporting."

January 16, 2013

Teri texted me early in the morning, commenting on the beautiful sunrise. I stepped out onto the porch that is just off our bedroom. I spotted some sleeping crows in our walnut tree. I've been feeding them every morning. They get the crust from Freja's toast, and any other tidbits I happen to have. Now I see they sleep in the walnut. I guess I won't be cutting it down, as planned.

Nothing Exciting Really...

January 15, 2013

I picked a small town on the map that I thought I'd be able to drive to, and make it back in time to pick up the kid from school. I was just curious to see what lies in that direction. I planned on shooting some feature that defined the town. As I approached I noted the tall steeple. So, while it's not an amazing shot, it'll do for today. Now I know what Highland, WI looks like.

St. Philip's Catholic Church - Est. 1846

January 14, 2013

Today I didn't do a lot of shooting. I did drive around the town a bit. There are still a lot of roads I've not gone down. Just south of town I found an interesting little cemetery. I'm not sure the significance of the little bell-house.

East Blue Mounds Lutheran Cemetery

January 13, 2013

We had a quiet day at home. Not a lot to tell, other than it's always nice to just relax, and not do a whole lot. I even got to take a nap! We'll be back to our normal "work on the house" schedule soon. As you can see in the background, there is still a lot to do.

Teri & Freja play games.

January 12, 2013

Our "big event" for today was going out for a little coffee and pie. When we first moved to Wisconsin we tried a coffee shop in a nearby town. At that time, we found it charming. It turns out we may have romanticized our experience a bit. This time, though the kid had a great time, we found it cramped, dirty and the service to be very poor. Live and learn.

Freja sure loves pie!

Hibernating to the Duke

January 11, 2013

Some days it's easy to know when you've shot your photo of the day. Freja was pretending she was a squirrel getting ready to hibernate. She lined a cardboard box with her stuffed animal friends, and requested a snack. After a quick meal of pecans, raisins and dried fruit, all washed down with a little milk, she closed herself in.

My squirrel-girl peeking out at me.

As peaceful music by Duke Ellington plays in my house I can hear her quiet breathing as she naps.

Nothing Unusual

January 10, 2013

After spending time doing chores, which consisted mainly of chopping, stacking and sorting firewood, I thought it'd be great to go for a walk with the kid. We strolled into town, stopping at Schubert's for a treat. She was excited when I let her order a pastry, as big as her head, covered with sprinkles!

January 9, 2013

Alex came over today for a portrait session. He's a new novel coming out soon, and needed some images for the cover. We also just had fun playing around with an old skull I happen to have. It was fun to set up lighting again after not doing so for over a year.

Alex Bledsoe converses with an ancestor.

The set up was simple as I wanted to skip using my radio triggers for a change. Two 580exII flashheads were mounted on light stands. One was connected to my camera's hotshoe using a 30' ETTL cord I'd bought ages ago, but rarely use. I set it as the "master," and placed it at 4 o'clock to the subject. I also added a Harbor Digital Design lightbox, with a 1/2 cut CTO gel. The second unit was stationed at roughly 10 o'clock to the subject, and set to "slave mode." It too had light modifiers, and was gelled. Once I was finished with getting things set to where I liked the look, we then just had fun.

January 8, 2013

I felt a little under the weather, as did Teri. Usually on Tuesdays we have a short, mini-date while Freja is at dance class. Sometimes we just relax at home, or we go for a walk, or even go for a glass of wine in town. Today though, we just went for a drive in order for me to get a shot of "something." We didn't go far, just around the outside of town. As the sun set I noticed how the light fell on the fields.