St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

From VOTING http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-259949-1.html

The winners of Vertorama with 90 entries and (33) votes are...

1st place = grubnide with 8.85 points and (17) votes (1st) taken 2013-05-19
2nd place = John1286 with 7.73 points and (16) votes (1st) taken 2014-04-15
3rd place = erickter with 5.43 points and (13) votes (1st) taken 2014-11-10
4th place = mrjcall with 4.39 points and (9) votes (2nd) taken 2014-09-22

Congratulations everyone - especially those who added a little more by telling us about their photos!!!

> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest.jsp?pcnum=143 <
- Click (ratings) to see all the entries at once

Running Totals - Underlined equals multiple time winners
1st = fad2000, u02bnpx, PW4GDF, edlcsre, mcdykes, lifenprism, zuke, Robeng, Shaughnessy, gwigley, Pixelpixie88, Shaughnessy, qhorse, louelke, melequus, ptipton, PhotosBySteve, gene McKinnon, aerials, Mr T, Paradox, freeseframe, charben, 111USMC, DavidT, Indy5, Nikocarol, alissaspieces, fes22, manofhg, gemartin, melequus, gjoseph302, maryln, melequus, Wrongway1947, mcdykes, Double E, isisthecat, DavidT, Coolcameragirl, YPhotoGuy, aerials, Fuzzycoach, grubnide
2nd = Fuzzycoach, GreyGeek, abby, Beaubeau, KWKathy, howlynn, DavidT, PeterM, gpro111, DavidT, mcdykes, lensbaby007, phys406, dragonswing, JimGuy, Raz Theo, photojack, rps, cat2560, kirk s, wowbmw, Captain Tom, SQUIRL033, DrPhrogg, Jstreet, regionabove, Lorima, Tony R, greg vescuso, charben, Angishore, Captain Tom, blairt, cat2560, chantel, sxripps23, BruinsFan, glenntuma, DavidT, Bobbee, dandelion, coach44, Cooper45, KWKathy, John1286
3rd = mcdykes, Moonsey, Ken Mahar, roger2012, plessner, mopinia, Gary K, Shaughnessy, Nikonian72, PW4GDF, bob44044, Tony R, jimmya, abby, wowbmw, Zulu inc, Songalolo, Scoutman, Captain Tom, cifuent, Indy5, Gryffon, firtree, Daleg, freeseframe, j_c42, melequus, take5, Lorima, Jbranum, kpassaur, Sefferdog, Shaughnessy, Nikocarol, BasqueLady, jvcookies, alissaspieces, counselor1938, Hoops12751, JoeS, ptsusan, MontanaTrace, mrjcall, photomomma, erickter
4th = tjoyce0528, pithydoug, catfish252, plessner, kirk s, xen, DrPhrogg, Captain Tom, cat2560, bhatch, plessner, KWKathy, JoeS, ColdSnap, Wild Life, bob44044, Fuzzycoach, ColdSnap, Hoops12751, susano, Zelle, Nikonian72, Captain Tom, Mr T, alissaspieces, taylorzacre, LPigott, Dan Copeland, Shaughnessy, greg vescuso, warogers, JoeS, ChunOn, fad2000, mffox, CarolynP, fyrlife, BigEasy, Bobster, jvcookies, Harmo, fjrwillie, Bobster, RJM, mrjcall

Church in St Petersburg


Rotunda - Straight Down to Straight Up


Transamerica SF as framed between two narrow verticos


St. Lawrence Basilica Tile dome, natural lighting

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

To help this weeks Photo Critique Volunteer please visit http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-260407-1.html

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with grubnide,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
Photography for thirty years and always enjoyed it as a hobby

2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No training other than self taught.Enjoy landscapes but happy to snap whatever comes along in my travels.

3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
The subject should be inspiring to start and then what can be done with it to make it unique and not just run of the mill stuff.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
Nikon d800; f2.8; 1/30sec; hand held; 16-28mm lens; ISO 100. I took three photos and merged them in photoshop.

5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
In photoshop - merged the photos, used curves to improve the darker areas, improved vibrance and cropped.

6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
The church was just stunning, colourful and beautiful.

7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
I would liked to have had a tripod with me and more time to improve the outcome but in the church this was not possible.

8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
I wish that I had a formal tuition so that I would not have spent so much time with trial and error.

9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
My remote control timer.

10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
Wide angle lens -the results are crisp; easy to use and carry.

11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
No lighting equipment.

12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
I paint, sculpt and woodwork when I can.

13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?

14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?

15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with erickter,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
Started in 1972. Original purpose was to capture images of buildings because I was an architectural college student, and I needed design ideas.

2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
Studied under two pros initially. Helped one of them build a color darkroom from scratch. The other was a wedding photographer. During the late 1970's, I took a 2 year correspondence photography course from New York Institute of Photography, which is Much like an online course today. However, they almost went under when NY went bankrupt in 1976-78. They pulled thru, and remain in business today.

3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
First is lighting. Without that, you have nothing. Then tack sharp focus and the right amount of depth of field. Then unique camera angle and compelling composition. Not always in that order, but those are the main ingredients I strive to incorporate in my shots to make them tell a story in an interesting way.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
I use Nikon and Canon gear. Can't stand the camera bigots who insist one system is better than the other, so I use both. So many other good cameras too. But I am in love with what I use and stick with it.
I started out with two 35 mm Nikons; an FTN and an F2AS. That was followed by medium format using Hassablad 500cm, and a 6x7 bronica. Sold all the 2-1/4, but Still have the nikons and shot pictures with film all over the world with the blad and F2AS from 1972 until 2006. Went digital in 2007. Currently use Canon rebel 4ti and 5ti, and a Nikon D700. Lenses include Canon 10-22 super wide, canon 28-200, canon 70-300 L, Nikon 28 pc and 35 pc ai lenses with canon adapters, and Tamron 150-600. Also have a lot of Nikon ai/Ais lenses, and a sigma 15-30 - all of which will be used with a future full frame Nikon dslr eventually, since I sold the D700. I also use the Nikon 8200 point and shoot. What a fantastic Sony sensor it has.

5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
I use Photoshop Elements, and Ps6 for PP. the image I submitted ironically had no PP, and was SOOC. But generally, I tweak lighting levels, especially highlights and shadow areas when needed.
Also use sharpen filter, distoration filter, and occasionally hue and saturation, but I am much more suttle with those two adjustments. I used to get carried away with over sharpening and over saturation, which my artist wife said looked unnatural. And she was so right. Now I strive to make PP not look like it never was PP.

6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
My earliest major photographic influences were Time / Life photographers, which I studied profusely. The other two biggest influences were Ansel Adams for his lighting, depth of field, and composition, and Julius schulman's spectacular B&W photography of 20th century modern architecture.
The inspiration for the TransAmeric building was driven by the challenge to capture its icon status of San Francisco's famous skyline, but in a way that is seldom seen. I had to fight fog and walking fatigue this past week, while hunting for dramatic camera angles, and waiting for the fog to lift and sun to appear. It was a chance moment that I discovered this shot. while resting, looking back from China town, I saw a sliver of the pyramid building framed between two sky scrappers, with the sun lighting it perfectly. I followed that view on foot, shooting at various distances. Getting up close, framing it between two other bldgs, and pointing straight up using the 10-22 canon super wide finally did the trick.

7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
I would have tried to straighten out the bottom base of the structural building frame, to make it more parallel with the bottom picture edge. But, the top had to govern, since that was the focal point. It was very tight.

8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
That chemical dark room work was so laborious, and the equipment would eventually depreciate to zero. Between 1975 thru 1985' I invested quite a few thousands of dollars in a 4x5 Besler color enlarger, and other dark room equipment that is just collecting dust. But, I learned a tremendous amount of invaluable experience, so it's really part of my education cost. Anyone need a dark room film enlarger!

9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
Extra back-up batteries, and a tripod. I was shooting in Milan, Italy in 2007, when my new Canon battery died. And, I was too lazy to drag my tripod that day. Got some fair (backup) pics with my digital movie camera, but not the stellar quality I could have had of the interior of the Milan Cathedral and Galleria. That woke me up. DSLR's need to be fed lots of DC current. I was so used to film after 30 years, I came unprepared. Now, I have dual bodies, dual grips, and plenty of batteries and chargers. Tripod goes with me on most shoots too. I put up with the hassle of extra weight imposed by grips and tripods, in order to (hopefully) get dramatic, gallery worthy, photography. It's like any fine art....you have to practice constantly, work hard, and put up with some discomfort, in order to create beautiful results.

10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
The Canon 10-22 EFS on a crop sensor,(or the Nikon 17-35 pro lens on a full frame).
I shoot interior and exterior architecture, and land/ sea / sky panoramas. The 10-22 lens is not rated as L grade, but it is in fact L quality glass. When mated with Canon's digi 4 and 5 APS-C sensors, the resulting image color, sharpness, contrast and angle of view is simply spectacular.

11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
None. Hate lugging and setting up lighting gear. So I use natural light, fill flash on the camera, and occasionally a white fill umbrella which can be folded, and doesnt require me to think too much. Today's DSLR sensor technology - especially Sony's and Canon's - are extremely good at mitigating dynamic range. Canon L glass and Nikon lenses (old and new) are excellent too. I am surprised that Sony sensors are what make some of Nikon's cameras so good, but it's true.

12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Build model HO train layouts, play latin jazz and classic rock guitar, and 3D renderings.

13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
Got kicked by a security guard while sleeping on the grounds of a cathedral in Barcelona Spain, when I was studying architecture abroad as a butt poor college student. Can't remember where I ended up sleeping that night.

14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work? http://www.Esrdesignbuild.com and http://www.generalcontractorlicenseschool.com

15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
Get out, take lots of pictures, talk to the pros and experts, don't be afraid to ask questions. Read articles. Examine published ( and non published) work. That's a hugh way to learn. Don't worry about having the best gear. Just have excellent equipment that fits your budget, and then practice like mad and learn how to use it. Dont hesitate to Take tripods when shooting. They are you best defense when IS and high ISO run out if gas. If I get 1 or 2 pics that are winners, I usually had to shoot hundreds of shots. Not a problem anymore with digital. No more $ film costs, processing costs, or agonizing dark room work. I love digital. It's taken about 20 years, but digital has surpassed film in most cases. Easier on the environment (and pocket book) too.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with John1286,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
Started in photography early in my military career (1970) - a fellow officer got me into B&W photos including developing them at the photo hobby shop at Arlington Hall Station, VA. Used an Olympus OM-2 and OM-4 and also a very compact Rollei 35s - all manual with the Rollei. Still have the Rollei, but sold the Oly's.

2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No formal training - just gradually self-taught - also I read a lot of Photo mags on-line. For a long time I dropped out of shooting film - too expensive - got back in fairly early when the digital boom started.

3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
Needs something to catch the eye - and of course, composition, sharpness (if that's the goal), something that stirs emotions or memories.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
The vertorama was taken in the courthouse rotunda in Omaha on a whim. I first shot a 180 degree panorama and then the vertorama - both are HDR's. I set up an old tripod in a center location and pointed the camera straight down and took 5 exposures (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2) - then overlapped the next series of 5 exposures each until the camera was pointing straight up (20 sets of 5 exposures each). Camera was an Olympus OMD EM5 with the 12-50 lens at 12 (24 equivalent). Both the panorama and vertorama were taken in about a 20 minute total time span.

5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
Each of the 20 5 exposure sets was processed through Photomatix and those 20 HDR photos were stitched using the stitch program in Microsoft Photo Gallery (I have since purchased the Kolor Autopano program). The final cropping and adjustments were made Corel Paintshop Pro.

6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
I cannot point to any particular person that directly influenced me (other than the fellow officer who first got me into B&W - but I'm influenced by numerous photographers I see in the various publication and of course the daily exposure to UHH. The vertorama shot was inspired by a step-by-step how-to presentation I saw on line - and the availability of a good subject in the rotunda.

7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
I would take more time in positioning the tripod (have a better tripod with levels) - I also would have liked to have the Olympus 12mm prime lens (or the 12-40 mm pro).

8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
A better appreciation for composition and how light affects photography.

9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
The wired shutter release for my Olympus and the wireless release I use with my Sony RX-100 III.

10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
I don't like a lot of weight or bulk - of the lenses I own, I really like the 17mm f 1.8 and 45 mm f 1.8 - both great walk around lenses - I know that doesn't really answer the question - would love to have the 25 mm f 1.8 and the 12-40mm.

11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
I have an Olympus flash, but I rarely use it.

12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Ride my bicycle, read, exercise, and work on the computer.

13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
Not really - I used to catch a lot of rattlesnakes in Arizona and Pennsylvania and often took a camera along with me - some interesting photos and some experiences. - I also had a camera with me in my travels in Korea (stationed there 4 years) and also in my police cruiser in Omaha.

14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
The only place I've shown anything on line is with HDR Crème and UHH. I also took a panorama of the front of the courthouse on 3 June 2014 - also an HDR - 140 HDR photos (700 total exposures) stitched together in Kolor Autopano - used the 45mm f1.8 lens - entire shoot took less than 30 minutes - the sharpness of that lens is impressive - can really zoom in and see the details. I would like to post it, but the file size is about 64 MB and UHH doesn't seem to accept it.

15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?