Photoshop World – Las Vegas 2013

Sep5

Just arrived back from my one day visit to Photoshop World in Las Vegas. It is going on until Friday…so attend if you can! I did not have time to take any classes this year, so I just went out for the exhibit. I love the PSW Exhibits….booths from lots of companies, speakers non-stop at various locations, meet and chat with some of the best photogs in the business and see some good friends.

My favorite part of the exhibit is the Westcott booth. The have two models that pose all day! Whew…feel for them. Ever pose for 20 mins? 1-6 PM would be tough!!! They are pre-lit and pose non-stop for you! Lighting styles vary and they are using Westcott products. Last year I shot Frankenstein and his bride. This year, this cool model was done up in a jungle style. Love that head dress. You get to photograph as much as you want and get that paparazzi feeling. Afterwards you can enter the “Shootout Contest” by Westcott and may win some great prizes! Winners may be featured in future Westcoot catalogs, print material and on the web with name recognition and a website link. Great stuff!

The shot was my fav of the day…I took hundreds…and post processed it in Photoshop. I shot this with my D800 + 70-200 f/2.8 lens. I must say the D800 for portraits in unreal!! Have fun!

Las Vegas, NV – Caesar’s Palace (HDR)

Jun27

I have been to Vegas tons of times. But only a few to try and capture HDR’s. Vegas can be tricky…it all depends if you want tourists in your shots. You can go the long exposure route at sunset or wake up at dawn and then you only have to deal with a few drunk people stumbling around to get back to their hotel. I like dawn..its quieter and a bit safer! This morning I targeted my shots and was walking back to my hotel and stopped in at Caesar’s Palace. Only a few people to dodge for this lobby shot. Vegas is great for HDR’ing…great shots outside, lobbies, hallways…I have even seen cool elevator areas I’d like to capture!

Las Vegas, Nevada – The Mirage (Infrared)

Nov27

Las Vegas is a perfect place for any kind of photography! HDR, IR, Portrait, Street…you name it! Hey even UV…wasn’t CSI originally from Vegas. UV Photography is key for investigators! The shot above is from walking down the strip one early AM. Added the new filter “Oil Paint” in Photoshop 6! Enjoy!

Las Vegas, Nevada – Excalibur Hotel (HDR)

Sep14

One more from Vegas…as the sign says…”Cheap Food, Cold Booze, Live Music”….thats why its tough not to love Vegas. The Excalibur is one of the hotels when you see it you say to yourself cool…but for an HDR…its white…not so cool. White subjects in HDR often turn grayish. I was walking back to my hotel passing by and I just wanted to catch a different view. Above is what I captured. Not bad Excalibur! ..and HDR at Knight!

Peter Talke Photography Settings:
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon 12-24 f/4
Setting: Aperture Mode
Focal Length: 20.0 mm
ISO: 200
Exposure: 5 Exposures (+2 to -2)
Aperture: f/11
Gear: Tripod
Post Process: Adobe CS6, NIK HDR Efex Pro, OnOne Software Photo Tools 2.6

Las Vegas, NV – Venetian Hotel (HDR)

Jun5

Viva Las Vegas! When walking thru the Venetian this early AM…around 8ish..all was quiet and a few drunkards were stumbling by. While taking the gondola ride the evening before…I had to grab this shot and decided to come back. I’m sure many people have the same photo as well. It is a nice re-creation of Venice. The fake buildings look solid in HDR. Now here was the challenge…the original ceiling is a lighted sky. The lighting is odd and the sky def looks off and funky in HDR. So whats a photog to do? I added a sky layer to make it look cleaner. I messed with Saturation, skew and added NIK tonal contrast to the sky to get it to fit in properly. Now its Viva Las Photoshop!

Talke Photography Settings:

Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon 12-24 f/4.0
Setting: Aperture Mode
Focal Length: 12.0 mm
ISO: 200
Exposure: HDR 5 Exposures (+2 to -2)
Aperture: f/22
Gear: Tripod
Post Process: Adobe CS5, HDR Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, OnOne Software Photo Tools 2.6

Reviews: WordFoto App

Jun1

We all now have these powerful phones and I must admit, they take great pics and can do amazing things. I am always curious about photo apps and found one super cool one the other day! It just came out and is called WordFoto. It can take your pics and add words and create super cool art! In playing with it for a day or so…I have noticed that close up shots work best. Some feature highlights:
– Fast and fully automated word filling algorithm.
– Manual word filling fine tune parameters.
– Inspect detail in zoomable preview.
– Eight unique preset styles.
– User defined custom styles with lots of parameters.
– Import images from photo album or camera.
– Crop editor.
– Manage and create your own word sets.
– Resulting word images are full resolution.
– Save, email or share on Facebook.
– Save original and cropped original.
If you are creative…a must buy. Cost is $1.99. Available now in iTunes and Andriod will be TBD. WordFoto gets 8 out of 10 from me!

Las Vegas, Nevada – Planet Hollywood

May24

How can you not love Las Vegas for photography! Planet Hollywood has one cool front located on the Vegas Strip! Just set your tripod up and hold onto your gear! People are everywhere! So be careful!I want to grab this shot near the blue hour…the lights will be cool! Look for it one day!

Talke Photography Settings:

Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon 18-200 f/3.5-5.6
Setting: Aperture Mode
Focal Length: 44.0 mm
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/5000
Aperture: f/4.5.0
Gear: Tripod
Post Process: Adobe CS5, Color Efex Pro, Photo Tools 2.6

Las Vegas, Nevada – Bellagio

Apr6

Vegas at nite…what a visit to this little city is all about. My favorite hotel to stay at is the Bellagio. We were heading in for the nite and I grabbed this shot. I know Photoshop World just finished in Orlando…but the next one is September 7-9 in Vegas. I have always wanted to attend…maybe this year? Hope my schedule opens up!

Talke Photography Settings:

Camera: Nikon D70S
Lens: Nikon 18-200 f/3.5-5.6
Setting: Aperture Mode
Focal Length: 36.0 mm
ISO: 200
Exposure: 0.5 seconds
Aperture: f/4.5
Gear: Tripod
Post Process: Adobe CS5, Color Efex Pro, Photo Tools 2.6

Las Vegas, Nevada – Trevi Fountain (HDR)

Mar28

I wish I had a week in Las Vegas just to take photos. I bet you can spend a day in each hotel and have tons of sweet HDR’s! While walking down the strip you pass by Caesars Palace. Here you can find a smaller replica of Trevi Fountain. It is not exact, but pretty cool. Now brings up a battle of fountains in HDR! Of course the original can’t be beat. You will notice some differences…I have an HDR of the real Trevi Fountain coming on tomorrows post…a little different shot, but the same processing!

Talke Photography Settings:

Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon 12-24 f/4.0
Setting: Aperture Mode
Focal Length: 29.0 mm
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/60 second – Single RAW HDR (+2 to -2)
Aperture: f/14
Gear: Hand Held
Post Process: Adobe CS5, Color Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro, Photo Tools 2.6, 2 textures

Las Vegas, Nevada – New York NY Hotel

Feb26

Sometimes what you happen to photograph in Vegas, does not stay photographed in Vegas! …It pops up on the interweb! LOL Here is New York New York Hotel in the blue hour. I love this hotel…a perfect subject to photograph! That roller coaster has given me vertigo a few times! The sad effect of getting old. Have a great weekend!