Austin, Texas – Lord’s Gym (HDR)

I had always wanted to shoot a boxing ring in HDR. I recently visited the super cool Lord’s Gym in Austin. This place rocks! Such a fantastic spot for and HDR! You have to love gritty and visually pleasing locations like this! I love all the action in this photo. Stop by and talk to Richard if you need a workout!! More shots will come in the future.

From their web site: (so classic!!)

What you won’t find at Lord’s Gym:
People with fake tans in spandex
Girls in makeup
A date for Friday
A sales pitch every time you come in to workout
People looking to pick a fight

What you WILL FIND is:
A good solid workout
Professional boxing instruction
Results YOU can see in the mirror
A real gym environment, not a yuppie haven
Friendly and helpful training partners
A community of like-minded individuals
Busy people like YOU looking to get fit fast

Great gym Mr. Lord!! Its a knockout! Had to add one more shot!!

Round Rock, TX – Old Settlers Park (HDR)

From a local town near Austin…Round Rock, you can find this cool location called Old Settlers Park. It is located right next to Dell Diamond (Round Rock Epxress – baseball team) and is one super location for portraits. I was scouting it out one day and loved the old style Texas feel. In Texas you can find a few of these refurbished old cabins in certain towns.

Some info from the web: Following the end of the American Civil War a group of Confederate veterans held a reunion in Georgetown on August 27, 1904, for the old settlers of Williamson County and their descendants. The invitation promised “good music, plenty to eat, and above all a warm welcome.” The event was well-attended, and reunions — now called Old Settlers Association (OSA) reunions — have been held annually ever since. After the initial one, the event was moved to Round Rock and eventually a structure was built (along with three restored log cabins) in the Palm Valley area of Round Rock, in front of Old Settlers Park, just off Highway 79 in east Round Rock. All members of the organization are descendants of Williamson County residents prior to 1904. OSA has approximately 50 active members and 300 members total. The Old Settlers Association today is a social and educational group, with the purpose of facilitating social activities, as well as collecting and preserving important historical information and facts. The facilities are rented for meetings, arts and craft and collectable shows, events, parties, weddings and rehearsal dinners.

Talke Photography Settings:
Lens: Nikon 12-24 f/4.0
Setting: Aperture Mode
Focal Length: 18.0 mm
ISO: 200
Exposure: HDR 9 Exposures (+4 to -4)
Aperture: f/8
Gear: Tripod
Post Process: Adobe CS5, HDR Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, OnOne Software Photo Tools 2.6

Spring in Texas – Blue Bonnets

It has finally been a prefect spring here in Texas! Lots of rain and nice warm temperatures. This means tons of Blue Bonnets. Last year we barley had any…this year is the most I have ever seen! Riding down a road or highway, they are wonderful to see! Big patches all over! What Austin photographer cannot resist posting a shot of Blue Bonnets this week! Hope spring has arrived in your area!

Vienna, Austria – University of Vienna (HDR)

While in Vienna walking around the Ringstrasse, you can find the University of Vienna. It was getting near blue hour this day and I asked the security if I could walk inside to take pics. With no problem I entered the court of this building. Students were studying in the center court and as I explored…I found this cool hallway! Enjoy!

Talke Photography Settings:

ens: Nikon 12-24 f/4.0
Setting: Aperture Mode
Focal Length: 12.0 mm
ISO: 200
Exposure: HDR 7 Exposures (+3 to -3)
Aperture: f/11
Gear: Tripod
Post Process: Adobe CS5, HDR Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, OnOne Software Photo Tools 2.6

Pittsburgh, PA – Immaculate Heart Church (HDR)

From Pittsburgh, PA, the Immaculate Heart Church located on Polish Hill. A beautiful and stunning church in the Burgh! This day I was shooting all over Pittsburgh with Dave DiCello (HDR Exposed) and Mike Criswell (TheaterWiz). We were HDR’ing everything in sight and while driving we saw the dome on the horizon and went up the hill. We ventured in and had a blast shooting inside!

Some info from the web: Immaculate Heart of Mary was founded in 1897 as a Polish ethnic parish. Beginning in 1885, Polish immigrants began settling on Herron Hill in Pittsburgh. Eventually so many immigrants settled there that the area was renamed Polish Hill. At first the residents attended St. Stanislaus parish in the Strip District, but by 1895, the population of Polish Hill grew to the point that a committee of local citizens petitioned the bishop for their own parish. Permission was granted and the cornerstone of a combined church, school and convent was laid in October 1896. The completed building was dedicated in August 1897.

Places 2 Explore will be quiet til next Saturday…next post will be the 24th!

Talke Photography Settings:

Lens: Nikon 12-24 f/4.0
Setting: Aperture Mode
Focal Length: 12.0 mm
ISO: 200
Exposure: HDR 7 Exposures (+3 to -3)
Aperture: f/11
Gear: Tripod
Post Process: Adobe CS5, HDR Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, OnOne Software Photo Tools 2.6

Orlando, Florida – Cypress Gardens (Infrared)

From the quiet Cypress Gardens located in Orlando a shot from one of the botanical gardens. I have not been in FLA for a bit and have heard that Legoland has taken over the property of Cypress Gardens and has kept some of the gardens in place? When I went a few years back there was only a few people visiting the park and it was nice to have had a chance to see it!

Here is some history from the web: Cypress Gardens was one of Central Florida’s original tourist attractions, opening in 1936. This makes it a contemporary of Gatorland, another popular attraction that predates the arrival of the Disney Empire, having opened in 1949.

The original attraction at Cypress Gardens was the namesake botanical gardens, including a sprawling banyan tree. Over time, other attractions were added, like strolling Southern Belles in period costumes and a water ski show on adjacent Lake Eloise. Water skiing often overshadowed the gardens as a point of interest, and many world records in the sport were broken at Cypress Gardens over the years.

Cypress Gardens became a popular spot for filming movies and television specials in the 1950s and 1960s, with Esther Williams starting in several of them. Johnny Carson also appeared in a special at the park, and it was visiting by such celebrities as Elvis Presley.

The arrival of the Disney theme parks hurt Cypress Gardens, which is located about an hour away from Downtown Orlando, in a more far-flung spot called Winter Haven. It changed hands several times, starting in the 1980s, and attempted to reinvent itself as more of a traditional theme park, with roller coasters and other rides, eventually adding a small water park as well.

Competition increase as other Orlando theme parks like SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios Florida, and Islands of Adventure kept people from leaving the immediate Orlando area. The struggling theme park, now rechristened as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, suffered a further blow when three hurricanes struck the region in 2004.

There were sporadic park closures over the year, culminating in a final closure in September, 2009.

Photography – Copyright Protection

Many of you out there are photographers and we always have concerns about our photos. We post all over the internet in efforts to grow as photographers. But at what cost? How many of you have found your image stolen and used without permission? I bet most of you!

I recently purchased the book… Photographer’s Survival Manual: A Legal Guide for Artists in the Digital Age. If you are serious about your photography…it is a must own! On Amazon..its $14.07. It is an easy read and the author takes you through step by step how to register your photos with the US government.

The difference from someone stealing your without copyright might be a pay out if you are lucky of $100-$2000. If copyrighted and a lawyer is involved…pay out might be six figures!!! (of course values may vary depending on the usage) So why not copyright your photos?? I followed the instructions and it took me about 30 minutes and tested out 300 HDR’s. Cost: $35.00!!! Just yesterday after a month or so…I recvd my official document!!!

My pics are now officially copyrighted. Now you have to decide what is best for you. I know there are many well known photographers that state creative commons is a great solution. I tried it and it was not for me. I prefer to protect my IP. My opinion is that most all businesses protect their IP with copyright…why shouldn’t all photographers? Why is it the “in” thing to be creative commons? There are tons of photographers out there. Why should we not protect our business? Read the book and you can decide what works for you. This is just my opinion. You may react differently. Have fun!

Lakeway, Texas – P.Terry’s Hamburgers (HDR)

From my hometown of Lakeway…recently this hamburger shop opened up right near our neighborhood. Now I lived in California for a few years and nothing world wide tops In-N-Out hamburgers. I know we all have our preconceived notions on what we like and dislike and if someone says hey try this? If you already have a favorite, you typically say…no thanks! Or you try it and say…its ok but it is no “XYZ”. So when this place opened up I stayed away. Finally after a month I broke down and decided to give it a try. Now to me it is a copy of In-N-Out, so maybe it would be good? I gave it a whirl and it was pretty solid!! Yes, not In-N-Out, but a good #2!! Kudos PTerry’s! In-N-Out is in Dallas now and will soon be in Austin (few years). But at least there is a nice burger joint that passes the test! If you are ion Austin…look for a PTerry’s! I eat these burgers maybe once a week and always told myself as I drive up…that would be a cool HDR! …and here it is!! Burgertime!!

San Diego, California – City View (HDR)

San Diego, who would not want to be there right now? It is a lovely small city in Southern California. So many things to do there…Sea World, San Diego Zoo, USS Midway, Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, Coronado, Point Loma Lighthouse, Petco Park, Old Town San Diego or just take a harbor cruise! And do not forget to stop by and grab an In-N-Out hamburger!!

The shot above was from my hotel room…the Holiday Inn on the Bay in SD. I was up on the 13th floor and had a nice city view! Remember to always ask for a view room when you check in!! YOu can see I used my 500mm f/1.4 lens for this shot. I wanted to keep the noise low and shot nearly wide open. One of my very few ever used 50mm landscape shots.

Talke Photography Settings:

Lens: Nikon 50mm f/1.4
Setting: Aperture Mode
Focal Length: 50.0 mm
ISO: 200
Exposure: HDR 7 Exposures (+3 to -3)
Aperture: f/2.2
Gear: Tripod
Post Process: Adobe CS5, HDR Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, OnOne Software Photo Tools 2.6

Innsbruck, Austria – Infrared

From the picturesque city of Innsbruck, Austria. I woke up early this day and took a few pictures from my hotel room before leaving for the day. Innsbruck is a lovely city surrounded by beautiful mountains. Flying in is like a dream and walking around the city is amazing. Best time of the year is spring when there still remains snow on the mountain tops while it is lovely down below.

Talke Photography Settings:

Camera: Nikon D70S (Converted to Infrared)
Infrared Conversion: D70S modified by LifePixel
Lens: Nikon 18-200 f/3.6-5.6
Setting: Aperture Mode
Focal Length: 70.0 mm
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/180 second
Aperture: f/11
Gear: Tripod
Post Process: Adobe CS5, onOne Software Photo Tools 2.6, Nik Silver Efex pro