Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park (HDR)

PNC Park HDR _Talke
It is almost spring…that means baseball season is getting near! Most of us our still buried in the snow…it seems like forever til the weather will clear. Don’t worry, first pitch will be here before ya know it! Good luck to the Bucs this year….my favorite team had an amazing run last year! Go Pirates!

Sportsline (Sports Art) – Santiago Sharks

Santiago Sharks_Talke
My Sportsline Products include – Team Banners / Cinevision / Sports Art. This is a Sports Art Individual Poster. The 2014 Baseball season is almost here! Contact us today to get your Sportsline products created today! peter at talkephotography.com

Baseball HDR Composite


This is my recent HDR Composite. Trenton from the Lake Travis baseball team did a great job! His catcher gear for a shot like this rocks! I truly love these HDR Composites….it is becoming a favorite of mine. I thought of mass producing them, but it does take time in processing. As I type this post up…I’ll breakdown the composite and give you the equipment I have…it will be interesting to see how much it costs. This will be the first time I calculated it! Now I do not have the big time equipment as a studio or Joel Grimes. I am shooting this in a spare bedroom in my house. OK…here goes (for those that are curious)

Session time – 25 minutes (10 different poses)
Processing time – 90 minutes
Tips: The light rays are tough to handle with a mouse. I use the Wacom Intuos 5. The pen tool rocks! Cost: $349.00

Gear:
Nikon SB-700: $329.00
Lastolite Ezybox 24″: $194.00
EzyBbox Grids: $95.00
Monfrotto Stand: $70.00
Total: $688.00
(There are two of all the items above…i have grids on both sides of the subject)
Total: 2 x $688.00 = $1376.00

Beauty Dish: Lumodi 14″ – $65.00
Manfrotto Boom Stand: $150.00
Nikon SB-910: $546.00
Total: $761.00

Background: 8×10 white Freedom Cloth from Dennys Mfg. $110.00
Backdrop Stand: From Denny’s Mfg $225.00
Total: $335.00

Not including the camera. Totals are: $349.00 + $1376.00 + $761.00 + $335.00 = Grand Total $2821.00

Hope you enjoyed the rundown. I’d call this the advanced low budget set up. It works great! Now with this set up…it is more for upper body composites. For full body shots I would need bigger (longer) soft boxes. That will come in time as well. Enjoy your weekend!

Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park (HDR)


Baseball season is almost upon us! As a Pirate fan, this may be the first year I have a bit of hope since 1992! We have a great young lineup and may have a chance to break the 18 consecutive losing seasons. I am a true fan and will cheer on my Bucs no matter what! Our hopes are no the World Series or the playoffs…we can dream..but just to be a winning team! I wish them luck this year!! Go Bucs!!

Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park (Infrared)


Its been a while since my last IR post. I am still working on my IR Photography book for Focal Press. It is still on schedule to be released 1st Quarter 2012. I will keep you posted. This shot is from PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA. I was walking to the stadium and decided to try it in IR. The ferry was cruising by and it adds to the Burgh feel! My Pirates faded quickly since July and now are outta the playoff race, but I def enjoyed those few weeks we were in contention! PNC Park is one of the most beautiful parks in MLB! …even in IR! =)

Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park (HDR)

So far the 2011 Major League Baseball season has been interesting.   The usual great teams are mediocre and some traditionally bad teams are playing well!    One of those traditionally bad teams playing well is my Pittsburgh Pirates!  Kudos to them. As of today they are 18-18.  The Bucs have had 18 straight sub .500 seasons.  But as a fan…I will always cheer them on no matter what!  Can they keep it up?  Hopefully!  They have some young talent…McCutchen, Tabata, Alvarez, Walker, McDonald.   Let’s Go Bucs!!

Talke Photography Settings:

  • Camera:  Nikon D300
  • Lens: Nikon 12-24 f/4.0
  • Setting: Aperture Mode
  • Focal Length: 20.0 mm
  • ISO: 200
  • Exposure:  HDR 5 exposures (+2 to -2)
  • Aperture:  f/22.0
  • Gear:  Tripod
  • Post Process: Adobe CS5, Color Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro,  Photo Tools 2.6

LA Angles of Anaheim – ECO Bag Giveaway (May 22nd)

Thanks to the wonderful people at Nitto Tire they have created a LA Angels of Anaheim ECO Bag giveaway for May 22nd vs. the Atlanta Braves! What makes it cool is that the photo on the ECO bag is my HDR!  Sweet!  So if you are a baseball fan and live in Orange County and happen to hit the game on the 22nd…enjoy the ECO bag!  I am a big sports fan and must admit, I love it!  Added to that I took this shot one early Sat AM last summer for my wife as she is a big Angles fan!  So it makes it special!   If you click on the Angels schedule…then promotions for that day…here is what you see…

Good luck Angels on the 22nd!!  Wish I could make it out to the game!!  I’d love to see the fans carrying the bags!  =))

Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park (Infrared)

October is almost here…that means the regular baseball season is coming to a close.  I think it has been 18 consecutive losing season for my Pirates.  I will route for them even if it gets to 40 straight season!  Good luck to all the teams heading to the playoffs…maybe another Yankees vs Phillies rematch?  Not often do you see baseball in infrared…here is the stunning PNC Park (home of the Pirates) in all of its IR Glory!    Hope the shot is a home run!

Talke Photography Settings:

  • Camera:  Nikon D70S (Converted to Infrared)
  • Infrared Conversion:  D70S modified by LifePixel
  • Lens: Nikon 12-24 f/4
  • Setting: Aperture  Mode
  • Focal Length: 14.0mm
  • ISO: 200
  • Exposure:  1/20 sec
  • Aperture:  f/22
  • Gear:  Tripod
  • Post Process: Adobe CS4, Viveza, Silver Efex Pro

Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park (HDR)

Pittsburgh, PA…one of my favorite places 2 visit!  When I stop by, it usually means I get to see the Pirates, Steelers or Penguin play a game!  My favorite teams!  I was in Pittsburgh recently and had a chance to catch the PNC Park Tour.  I was hanging with my good friend Dave DiCello.  I have been to many baseball stadiums in MLB….PNC Park is one of the best!  Small, clean, safe, family orientated and amazing views!  The skyline view from the seats are fantastic!  The view above is from the press box.   Unfortunately, the Pirates have been horrible for many years, so you can walk up game day and get great seats and ticket prices are cheap!!  Not sure if the Pirates will ever be in the playoffs ever again…but I am a fan for life!  Go Bucs!!!

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 CS4, Photomatix, Viveza
  • Pittsburgh, PA – HR in HDR!

    Had a chance this past week to catch a game in Pittsburgh.   I always try to see my poor Pittsburgh Pirates play each year.   With 17 consecutive losing seasons…being a big fan is tough.  The Bucs cannot compete with the Yankees or Red Sox.  Heck, who cares about the playoffs for us…just get a winning season and they might have a parade in the Burgh!!   I guess the good thing is that as a walk up…I paid only $35 for these seats.  I was 5 rows back from the dugout…with only an estimated 13K people at the game.  Seats are easy to get.

    PNC Park…it is one of the best stadiums in baseball!!  I will post a few stadium shots soon!  The city skyline overlooking the outfield is beautiful!   As for this shot…the rookie and hopeful saviour of the Bucs above is Pedro Alvarez.  He plays third base and was just called up a few weeks ago.  In perfect timing with my visit, the Pirates scored 11 runs this nite in a victory.  Pedro hit 2 home runs!!  This shot is his second…popping off the bat!  They say in baseball…hand speed is the key to hitting.  I’d say his speed is up to par!  Love the blur action!   Nice to hit a game and see a win!  Let’s go Pirates!!

    Talke Photography Settings:

  • Camera:  Nikon D300
  • Lens: Nikon 18-200 f/3.5-5.6
  • Setting: Aperture  Mode
  • Focal Length: 200.0mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Exposure:  1/660 (Single RAW HDR)
  • Aperture:  f/5.6
  • Gear:  Hand Held
  • Post Process: Adobe CS4, Photomatix, Viveza