Interesting video of a singer being photoshopped in real-time as she performs for a music video. The before and after is amazing.

http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2014/02/behind-music-video-photoshopped-singer-real-time/

Others have answered that they like being able to focus on some element in their scene and then recompose, I like to do the same with my exposure and BBF allow that.

For example, if I have my camera in shutter priority mode and by pointing the camera at my subject the camera might suggest using F4.0 with a fixed shutter speed.

But, I might prefer to close the aperture down to, say, F5.6. I simply point my camera at an appropriate location, half-press the shutter button to lock in my exposure, and recompose.

I then choose shutter or aperture priority depending on my subject and adjust through picking my exposure place, locking it in and recomposing.

This was my preferred method with my old SLR and basically lets me shoot in manual mode without have to physically manipulate settings.

I shoot a lot at hockey games so there is some similarity. In addiiton to the discussion of the lenses, I suggest setting your focus to "AI Servo" and assign the focus function to the * button.

That way, you can focus once and as players move in front of your subject (say the hoop), your focus does not automatically change. To refocus on a new subject just use the * button.

You can read more at
http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2011/backbutton_af_article.shtml

Best,
Alan

Always high on my list of travels!

It has been many years since my dog passed away, yet I think of him everyday.

I enjoyed this poem as it reminds me of him,

Best,
smilex3md

The House Dog's Grave (Haig, an English bulldog)

I've changed my ways a little; I cannot now
Run with you in the evenings along the shore,
Except in a kind of dream; and you, if you dream a moment,
You see me there.

So leave awhile the paw-marks on the front door
Where I used to scratch to go out or in,
And you'd soon open; leave on the kitchen floor
The marks of my drinking-pan.

I cannot lie by your fire as I used to do
On the warm stone,
Nor at the foot of your bed; no, all the night through
I lie alone.

But your kind thought has laid me less than six feet
Outside your window where firelight so often plays,
And where you sit to read--and I fear often grieving for me--
Every night your lamplight lies on my place.

You, man and woman, live so long, it is hard
To think of you ever dying
A little dog would get tired, living so long.
I hope than when you are lying

Under the ground like me your lives will appear
As good and joyful as mine.
No, dear, that's too much hope: you are not so well cared for
As I have been.

And never have known the passionate undivided
Fidelities that I knew.
Your minds are perhaps too active, too many-sided. . . .
But to me you were true.

You were never masters, but friends. I was your friend.
I loved you well, and was loved. Deep love endures
To the end and far past the end. If this is my end,
I am not lonely. I am not afraid. I am still yours.

Robinson Jeffers, 1941

Truly beautiful. Scotland is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and wonderful places in the world. These photographs remind me of my may adventures there.

There has been some interest in controlling your camera from a tablet. Here is a cheap way to do it using a $30 router and an android device.

http://www.diyphotography.net/wireless-camera-control-and-liveview-diy-hack-only-30

Planning, planning, planning. But, sometimes you are just in the right place at the right time!

"Sometimes a great photograph takes months of planning and patience to capture. Other times, you simply have to be in the right place at the right time, with your camera in tow and enough expertise to properly frame and capture an amazing moment."

http://petapixel.com/2014/01/11/accidentally-awesome-fireworks-mishap-results-amazing-new-years-photo/

Thank you, My favorite as well.

I'm not much of a city person, but it was fun to go into the city for a couple of hours.

Here are a couple of photographs I took on Christmas day in Midtown Manhattan. Busy, busy place with the air full of smoke from roasting chestnuts. Comments welcomed!

Street vendors


Crowds everyewhere


In the heart of the city

I was in downtown Washington, DC and came across a monument dedicated to Daguerre at the National Portrait Gallery on 7th Street N.W. that might interest some people in this group. This photo I took was with my camera phone.

Best,
Alan

The plaque reads:

The Daguerre Monument
The French artist Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre (1787-1851) became interested in the 1820s in trying to capture images photographically. In August 1839 his “Daguerreotype” technique–fixing an image on a light-sensitive, polished silver plate–was announced to the public. This was the first photographic process to be used widely in Europe and the United States.

In 1890 the Professional Photographers of America donated this monument to Daguerre, by the American sculptor Jonathan Scott Hartley, to the American people. The bronze figure was cast by the Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company of New York. Placed in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum Building (now known as the Arts and Industries Building) to celebrate the first half-century of photography, the monument was displayed on the Mall from 1897 to 1969.

The rededication of the Daguerre Monument in 1989 was sponsored by the Professional Photographers of America in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of photography.

And, there are two inscriptions:

Side of granite base:
PHOTOGRAPHY, THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, AND THE STEAM ENGINE ARE THE THREE GREAT DISCOVERIES OF THE AGE.
NO FIVE CENTURIES IN HUMAN PROGRESS CAN SHOW SUCH STRIDES AS THESE.

Front of granite base, just below bust:
TO COMMEMORATE THE FIRST HALF-CENTURY IN PHOTOGRAPHY 1839-1889. ERECTED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, AUGUST, 1890.

I downloaded your photograph and in paint shop pro
1) selected the shadow using a selection tool
2) added an adjustment layer for curves
3) played with the curves to darken the shadow proportionately across the shadow

I would like to tell you it is easy to do, and since I have some PP experience, it was fairly easy, but it took some time and practice to get to a point where I can do this kind of work efficiently.

I think the effort has been worth it and recommend that you make the time to learn at least one PP software application. I selected PSP because of the low cost.

Best,
Alan

I didn't mean to imply it was legal throughout the city and monument areas, just that I have used a tripod at many locations without being stopped.

In the spirit of sharing photographs, here is a shot of the Jefferson Memorial taken with a tripod.

Best,
Alan

I was stopped at the Capital and told no tripod without a (free) permit. But, it takes a day to get the permit and the office was closed when I was there.

I have used a tripod many other places (the Mall and monuments) without any problems.