Monthly Archives: January 2011

Foothill Ranch, CA – Oakley Headquarters (HDR)

If you are ever in Orange County, CA…one super cool spot to see is the Oakley Headquarters in Foothill Ranch.  Oakley is famous for Sunglasses and sport wear. I had seen photos of this place and always wanted to visit!  I have my traditional photographer story…so read ahead. It was a Friday afternoon and I had just finished my day and drove up from San Diego.    Traffic was not fun!  So I arrived at 5 PM. I had about 30 minutes until sunset. I grabbed my bag, camera and tripod and headed inside.  It is very cool!   The whole building reminds me of something from “Terminator”.

As I walked inside there is a reception and I asked if it ok for me to take pics.  She asked me what for and I told her my blog.  She said no problem.  Great! The office closed at 6 PM, so I had a little time to take some inside shots.  I worked inside and occasionally walked out front to take some photos there as it was getting close to magic time.  It was my goal to grab the outside of the building at sunset.  About 30 minutes of shooting…it was getting close.  I set up my tripod directly out front and was saying goodbye to employees as they were heading home for the weekend.

Then a security guard walked up to me and asked me what I was doing. I gladly told him, taking pics for my blog. I also mentioned I owned a sweet pair of Oakley’s(I am a customer) and would gladly blog great stuff about my visit. He said no problem and walked away.  I proceeded to take the photo above (Fisheye).  As soon as I finished my 7th exposure…the guard was back.  He told me that his boss said to shut it down.  It is  private property, so I understand and respectfully packed my gear up immediately.  So I missed my sunset shot!

I think it can be tough sometimes as a photographer carrying pro-looking gear.  I received mixed signals from Oakley this day.  I am not sure if you can or cannot take photos?  I did not see any posted signs.  My guess is that it was an on the spot decision against me due to my gear.  I was always nice and courteous to everyone walking around and near my tripod.  At this time all I can say is that it is a place to see…but you may get hassled if you are taking pics with a DSLR.  Sad Oakley!  A customer taking pics gets booted out….great service!!!   Next time Nike sunglasses for me!

Talke Photography Settings:

  • Camera:  Nikon D300
  • Lens: Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye
  • Setting: Aperture  Mode
  • Focal Length: 10.5 mm
  • ISO: 200
  • Exposure:  HDR 7 exposures (+3 to -3)
  • Aperture:  f/22
  • Gear:  Tripod
  • Post Process: Adobe CS5, HDR Efex Pro, Viveza, Photo Tools 2.6, Texture

Santa Fe, New Mexico – St. Francis Basilica (HDR)

From the lovely cute little town of Santa Fe, New Mexico…this is St. Francis Basilica.  One of the most popular spots in town to photograph.  Always lots of people around taking pics.  Luckily at blue hour only a few remained and I was able to grab the photo above.  The sky was a bit boring, so I added a texture into the sky to add life.  It was chilly this nite…about 20 degrees.  I do not shoot in to much cold weather, but after an hour my battery was draining fast!  I had a feeling this may happen, so I brought a spare!   I’d love to visit this town again in the summer…I bet it is nice to walk around and enjoy the art and people!

Talke Photography Settings:

  • Camera:  Nikon D300
  • Lens: Nikon 12-24 F/4
  • Setting: Aperture  Mode
  • Focal Length: 12.0mm
  • ISO: 200
  • Exposure:  HDR 5 exposures (+2 to -2)
  • Aperture:  f/22
  • Gear:  Tripod
  • Post Process: Adobe CS5, HDR Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, Viveza, texture

 

San Antonio, Texas – Sunset Station (HDR)

During my visit to San Antonio to attend Imaging USA…I mentioned to Chris that we stop by Sunset Station.  It is just minutes from downtown.  We arrived early so we could not get into the restaurant to shoot the famous stair shot.  Next time.  I had seen that they have this old train out front and the sun was just coming out from the clouds, so I set my tripod low and grabbed this angle.  I thought a little texture, gritty noise and  a hue change might suit the photo.  It was the only photo I took of the train.  Not bad. I have some other ideas for this location next visit!

Talke Photography Settings:

  • Camera:  Nikon D300
  • Lens: Nikon 12-24 F/4
  • Setting: Aperture  Mode
  • Focal Length: 13.0mm
  • ISO: 200
  • Exposure:  HDR 7 exposures (+3 to -3)
  • Aperture:  f/11
  • Gear:  Tripod
  • Post Process: Adobe CS5, HDR Efex Pro, onOne Software Photo Tools 2.6, Nik Silver Efex Pro, Textures

 

Hardley-A-Davidson

I visited a customer of mine in SoCal during the summer.  Out in the parking lot next to his building…he parks his bike.  I just happened to have my camera in my car that day and we took a break to HDR his ride.  In a parking lot it not a super location, so I had to dodge cars and other stuff in the reflections.  It needed a touch of something!  So I added some textures and made it into an artistic HDR.

Now the great thing about this motorcycle is the emblem.  I think the model may be a Honda?  But he decided to replace the standard emblem and put a “Hardley-A-Davidson” one it it!  Classic!!!!!  So Greg, this shot is for you…hardley a super shot, but a fun one!  Enjoy!

Imaging USA Exhibit – San Antonio, TX

I attended my first Imaging USA Exhibit in San Antonio, Texas…had a great time walking the show with my good friend Chris Reilly of Chris Reilly Photography.   As I am getting into portraits…it was wonderful to see  so many things that I would like to buy!   Backdrops, books, Nikon booth, Think Tank, etc…   I stopped by the Nikon booth and Chris took this IPhone shot of me playing with the Nikon 600mm f/4 lens….worth $14,000!!!  It is great to dream!

I did have my DSLR with me and my 50 f/1.4 lens and grabbed a few shots walking around of the show…MPix, Nikon booth’s!  Had fun.  They also have great classes to take, so looks like I have to travel to New Orleans next year for a few days!

Caldwell, Texas – Tracking an HDR

Here is a different type HDR for me.   I usually do not post the moody style HDR’s, but decided to give it a try.  I added a Holga preset to get to above effect.   I enjoy seeing photos of those moody dilapidated building rooms…with junk all over.  One day I will find some!   Austin is not an old industrial area….so maybe I’ll have to hit something like and old steel mill in Pittsburgh one day.    If anyone knows of an area like this in or near Austin…let me know!

Talke Photography Settings:

  • Camera:  Nikon D300
  • Lens: Nikon 12-24 F/4
  • Setting: Aperture  Mode
  • Focal Length: 16.0mm
  • ISO: 200
  • Exposure:  HDR 5 exposures (+2 to -2)
  • Aperture:  f/22
  • Gear:  Tripod
  • Post Process: Adobe CS5, HDR Efex Pro, onOne Software Photo Tools 2.6, Viveza

Flipboard – Now has Google Reader!

Do you have an IPad??  Flipboard is one of my fav apps.  Flipboard now offers Google Reader!  Why is this great!  You can subscribe to your favorite blogs and now have them served up in the contents “Google Reader” section!  So if you would like…please subscribe to “Places 2 Explore” in your reader and you can get my feeds of every post on your Flipboard!   Thanks!  Technology is great!!

If you have note heard of it…here are some scoops…

Flipboard is a new, free application for the iPad which has one basic function: to take your social networking tools (read: Facebook and Twitter) and turn them into social “magazines.” As you can see from the screenshots — which are all culled from my Twitter stream — the application is very attractive. Read on for my full impressions.

After downloading Flipboard you enter your Twitter and Facebook details into separate streams, and those streams are then turned into “magazines,” — and they do, indeed look just like magazines. The attractive print-style layouts present you with pages of recents tweets, articles (pulled from the links in the tweets of those you follow), and the opportunity to respond from right within the app itself.

 

Buffalo, New York – St. Stanislaus Church (HDR)

From the beautiful St. Stanislaus nestled in near downtown Buffalo, NY, the photo above was processed in HDR to show the amazing details of this church.  I was a bit afraid driving near this location to grab this shot.  The local area is a bit questionable.  I went in took my pics and got outta there fast!   LOL   The things we do for photos!!

Info from the web: St. Stanislaus is the oldest Polish parish in the diocese of Buffalo, and maybe the oldest in New York State (St. Stanislaus in NYC also founded the same year). The first pastor and founder was Rev. Jan Pitass, a Silesian who was the “irremovable pastor” for 39 years. Pitass, the pioneer priest, is also considered the founder of the Polish American community in Western New York. A national known figure, he built an enormous empire for the Poles on the east side of Buffalo. He established a parish school and brought the Felician sisters to Buffalo in 1882, he founded a parish cemetery in 1889, co founded a national fraternal organization, Unia Polska w Ameryce and was responsible for the first Polish Catholic Convention in America.

Talke Photography Settings:

  • Camera:  Nikon D300
  • Lens: Nikon 12-24 F/4
  • Setting: Aperture  Mode
  • Focal Length: 14.0mm
  • ISO: 200
  • Exposure:  HDR 5 exposures (+2 to -2)
  • Aperture:  f/8
  • Gear:  Tripod
  • Post Process: Adobe CS4, Photomatix, Color Efex Pro, Viveza

Austin, Texas – Austin Mural (HDR)

From downtown Austin, Texas…you can find this cool mural postcard located at Roadside Relics store.  It is on 1st and Annie, just a few minutes from downtown.   I was going for that 70’s look and thanks to onOne Software Perfect Photo Suite 5.5 (Photo Tools 2.6)….the preset gave the photo that vintage look!   With the 70’s look in mind I recall seeing a Photo Frame preset that had a Polaroid in it….one click and it adds your photo (just resize) and here is my fun shot…maybe a cool wallpaper for your IPad/Phone/Computer Screensaver?    Click my Facebook Page and you can download this for free!!  Enjoy!