I've been back from a few weeks travel culling images and thinking about 'Technique School' topics. Alas, those topics are a few weeks into the future with thousands of images to cull and several ideas to write about. But in the meantime, a thought hit me that can be asked today: How has UHH changed your life? (I had to use another subject title to assure this thread didn't get pushed to chit chat.)

The thought / question came from a range of images where I was shooting maybe a bit too slow for the wildlife with an effort to keep the ISO low, specifically at ISO-100. That's a change that I can trace directly to UHH. As I approach my own 9-year join-date, the focus on low(est) ISO is something I picked up here at UHH. In the old days, I never worried about the digital ISO, at least not like I do today, and my cameras are all way better today than the model I shot back before joining.

How about you?

Most definitions of "aesthetics" put beauty at the centre of its meaning. Some definitions include a mention of art and some also mention taste. However, beauty, art and taste are themselves fairly nebulous and using them to describe the meaning of aesthetics results in a nebulous definition.

It seems to me that since beauty is in the eye of the beholder (and you could say much the same thing about art and taste), aesthetics have more to do with the perception of beauty rather than the concept of beauty. That has the advantage that "perception" is not nebulous because it refers specifically to one's evaluation. If someone perceives something as being beautiful, that evaluation needs no further justification or definition. In that context, beauty becomes whatever we think it is.

In short, aesthetics are all about how we perceive beauty, and that's independent of how anybody defines beauty. Aesthetics are those qualities that we subjectively perceive as imparting beauty.

Friends:

Attached are two versions of a shot I took at Niagara Falls a few weeks ago. The photo was taken handheld for 0.7 seconds at ISO 800, aperture 5.6 (should have been wide open, but I goofed). The mirrorless aspect of my camera allowed me to very quickly tell what the shot might look like. Yes, there are other ways to do it, but the WYSIWYG aspects of mirrorless are helpful to me. The IBIS of an Oly camera coupled with their pro lenses is remarkable.

One photo was edited in LR. One was edited in LR then processed through Topaz DeNoise. In both instances, I used the sky select mask to help me edit (not replace) the sky. The reduction in noise, at least on my screen is quite remarkable. Because I shoot an M43, noise can be an issue even at ISO 800. The AI programs are allowing the smaller sensors a little more leeway on noise, which, to me, makes them more attractive.

The sky select was helpful to bring out some features that were otherwise too dark and difficult to bring up. I do see the halo effect in both images from the sky select mask. Once you see it you cannot unsee it. So far, Ive not heard of how to eliminate that in LR. It may be that this should be done in PS. Maybe someone here knows and can advise.

The plug for Oly? The entire day it was raining. That night it was raining quite a bit. I did not protect the camera in any way. Wiped off the lens face once in a while to get the water off and that was it. Still runs like a champ.

Is this a great photo? Not really..there are some things that I'd like to change. Halo is one issue. It is a nice memory for me of the day. But it does demonstrate a few things that seem to come up once in a while on the UHH.

I did size down the images slightly for this forum.

For discussion.

I’ve switched from Nikon gear to Sony a couple years ago. I have a couple of “G” zooms that work fairly well for what I do. I work with a dog rescue called labs and more (valley center ca, non profit plug). Yesterday I went to an adoption event and saw one of the other photogs. She does some awesome work with a fe50 1.8. Her images are pin sharp and the bokeh is fantastic compared to my 18-105 f4 (a great walk around and general purpose lens alas it is soft). My dilemma is getting an 85 prime for similar work and in my new studio. I don’t have the budget for a GMaster 1.4. And I am considering the Viltrox 85 f1.8. Does anyone have experience, I hate the poor man spends twice syndrome but have to stay in a budget.
In my past I had a favorite Nikkor 80-200 F2.8 incredible and thought I would never have another bad without this zoom range. Again the new Sony 70-200 is on the bucket list but $2500 is a bridge too far.

I read with interest the recent topic on ‘why do we shoot what we shoot’, or words to that effect. Bound up with this topic is a further existential discussion. Questions:
1. What initially attracted you to photography?
2. What do you do or want to do with your photography?
3. Do you have a photographic style that is recognizable by others or simply defines your photography.
Briefly I will offer answers to the questions. There is a longer version.
1, personal expression
2. Teach others, produce images that are in my ‘sweet spot’
3. I know which elements of design and rules of composition are important to me. I know that my most compelling images are candid portraits. To those who Who don’t necessarily value people in photography, landscapes are their attractions. Would you share with me your take in this subject?

On this morning, starting out early and with temps at freezing, we headed to the upper end of Gothic Road. Arriving near the pass, we waited for the sun to light up the mountaintops, all the while chilled to the bone. We knew the heater in the vehicle was working, yet we were getting a cold draft none the less. Upon going to the tailgate to get our equipment out, we realized the back glass was down!! None of our previous rental cars had ever had a glass that could be rolled down, only a tailgate that had to be raised. I don't think my fingers ever warmed up that morning--at least, that's the excuse I'll use if all my images aren't tack sharp, as I really didn't want to linger in the cold any longer than it took to get the shot! But I did have fun watching for any beaver ponds that might offer up some reflections of the sunlit mountaintops.