Follow Focus or Push Pull Focus on your DSLR...

I have seen many many hack on this idea. From simple things such as a cable tie, to a can opener made from silicon. Some people can make anything work.

But sometimes we want the professional look, and still keep it pretty lo fi. I cam across this contraption today. 

FocusMaker has a slightly more "Pro" look to it, even though it works pretty much the same as the silicon can opener. But sometimes if you can fake it just a little, it might help keep you in more work. 

Like Me. The Selfie as Modern Day Portraiture.

This is a set of portraits I took for my Final Folio for First Year at PSC.

It's a social commentary on how the world and we ourselves look at self portraiture now. The 'selfie' has all but taken over as one of the most popular ways of how we represent ourselves, but is it really the person we see? We see ourselves very differently an arms length away and in private.

You can read my research paper here at Wordpress.

20130716_nathanl_city_ngv_0031_1

20130716_nathanl_city_ngv_0031_1, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Federation Square Melbourne.

Moss

Moss, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Moss Spores on a Stone shot with a Macro Lens to look like an Alien Landscape.

Lensbaby Muse Double Glass

dg_16mm_macro, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Lensbaby Muse Fun.. It's only a flower, but looks to be a weird creature trying to collect you..

I have found that using both of the Macro Extension tubes stacked a top each other (giving 24mm) and a focusing distance of 1.5" (about 37mm for us metric folk). Attached to the Double Glass Optic in my Muse, I have managed to achieve some really lovely sharp Macro shots that have just an amazing drop off in focus.. The backgrounds just smooth out so beautifully, and the image is really super spot focused.

skull and plum

skull and plum, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

I shouldn't play with my fruit, but I do.

I have been having a tough couple of weeks, and well to be honest, it's not seeming to get any easier. I'm struggling with some personal demons, and know that it will get better not only in time, but when this time of year is over.

I took this shot thinking of Life and Death. Let me know what you think.

Water Drops Are Lovely..

macro_54, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:

Rain Drop on Lemon Tree

Nikon D300S

60mm Micro f2.8

This was shot hand held in my backyard after a morning or raining in Melbourne. 

In my yard, I have many many trees. We grow a lot of our own fruit and veg here at my house, not just because we like to be a little more sustainable, but it makes for wonderful photographs at home. Being able to shoot at home saves me from having to travel a great deal. 

Technical details are Nikon D300S 60mm Nikkor Mirco f2.8 No Flash 1/160th sec @ f13 ISO 500. Small amount of post in Photoshop CS5.1 which totaled Small exposure compensation, dodge and burn, and clone out a few spots on the lens.

Hope you like it, and if you have any questions please just ask.. 

Hume Highway Wallan

gv_wallan_bw, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Some AMAZING sky to be seen.. On the way to the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria..

Dead Lilly in Still Life

dead_lilly, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Even my Lilly's couldn't handle the Melbourne Heat..

Big Sky... In the Goulburn Valley

gv_bearri, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

I had been on a bit of a road trip the last few days and have only just got home to be able to download everything off the camera, and get working on the edits..

Hope you like it..

macro_50

macro_50, a photo by Phynyght Studio on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I have been stupid busy as of late with one thing or another and haven't had time to post much at all. This is something new I have been working on and still not quite sure. I am trying to decide if I like the shadow or not.

So far it's kinda winning me over, but I will try a few more different ones if I can get my hands on a few more of the seed pods before the all die off the tree..

Fixed.org.au Show and Shine.

Fixed.org.au Show and Shine., a set on Flickr.

A selection of images from the Fixed dot Org Show and Shine!!

Lensbaby.. My New Baby..

Well I have had my Lensbaby now for almost a month now, and I have to say I'm very very impressed. I have been keeping it with me a lot, and have found many many situations where I actually prefer to use it over a specific lens.



I have been using the Muse like I said, for about a month now, and just keep getting better and better images. The Plastic Optic gives this amazing dreamy feel, and a bokeh that just does my head in. It leaves me almost breathless to how and what is achievable with something so simple.

I'm dying to get my hands on a Double Glass optic to see the difference in clarity and style (just email me for my details Lensbaby employees), and have already ordered the Creative Aperture 2 kit and should have that in a couple of weeks.



I will post a few more pictures when I get the Creative Aperture 2 kit, and have had a decent play with it.

Again if anyone and i mean ANYONE at Lensbaby would like to help me out with some gear to play with, just drop me a line!!

Lensbaby Muse Trial..

Well I went and purchased a Lensbaby Muse the other day, and have been fiffing and faffing about with it for  like 3 days now.

I have been using the f4 aperture disc, and think I might really need to get on the f5.6 just for a slight larger and sharper "sweet spot". I must admit though I am using the Plastic Optic so everything is a little more Dreamy and Soft, and feel the investment into the Double Glass will happen when I decide to use it for more Portrait work.

There are many many wonderful little toys and experiments that can be done with this remarkable lens. I am also waiting for the Creative Aperture kit to arrive in Australia for even more fun.

My Thoughts thus far..

I'm still a little undecided on this. I need to head out and shot a lot more with it, just to get the feel and range of what this lens can achieve. I plan on doing a few more Street and City shots before I pass judgement, as anything I say now just wouldn't be fair. I think for landscape and cityscape style shots, the plastic optic offers an AMAZING chance to be extremely creative and offer an almost tilt shift feel to images. 

I will walk down to a few of the Highway Overpass's around my house over the next few days and see what images I'm able to produce. I will post my results over at my Flickr page.

Playing in the Night Lights.....

Been out and about just recently.. Been nice to be out and not sick and feeling like crap for the first time in ages.. I decided to have another crack at some night work.

This shot was done here at about 7:45pm last night. It's a 2min exposure at f22 using my Nikon D300s and Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8. Like all my shots there are things I like and don't like, but will leave that for you all to decipher. I am super critical of my own work, so if there is something you think is missing or "wrong" with this image please leave a note.

I also took another shot looking into the city lights. 

Again a lot of things here I like and don't like.. But feel free to leave me a note and let me know what you think. This is a composite of 3 images taken at 30sec, 1min and 2min brackets to try and see if I could lose a bit of the light noise from the city. Didn't really work I think but the composition looks not bad. I'm going to have to do a bit of reconnaissance and try and find a few more places to take these style of shots.

It's been to long.......

Well I must really apologize for the lack of posting.. I have been pretty sick as of late and am just finally getting over the last of the poxy virus that has knocked me over..

A lot has been happening in the camera world, as well as the world of photography..

We have had announcements from Cannon and Nikon on new entry level Full Frame cameras. Fuji Film have also announced fresh models of the X-Pro1 and X-E1 models..

So busy times ahead.. As soon as I catch up on some work, I will do a few write ups on everything!!

Plus Photokina is on as well... AAARRRRGGGHHHHH

Lots to catch up on..

Macro or Micro or Close Up..... Whatever you call it they're pretty!!

Being a stay at home dad does have it's benefits. I get to wander the streets like a lost puppy, and do pretty much anything I like during the day!! I can eat what I like, watch what a like, and listen to what I like (until the kids come home then all my fun is spoiled)..

So in these times of waning enjoyment of having not really that much to do all day, I get to experiment more than most others on photos and photographic techniques.

So yesterday was a nice sunny day in Melbourne (yes sun in winter) and I had to go shopping to get bread and milk, pick up some mail, and maybe even get a bite to eat. I always grab my camera before I leave the house, and chose to pop the Nikkor 60mm Micro. Now I must explain I have the older version of this lens (mine is the f2.8 D), but many of the characteristics of the lens are very much the same. 

I would LLLLLLUUUUURRRRRRRVVVVVEEEEEEE to get my hands on the new edition of this lens, even a slightly longer length would be nice, but I am loving what is achievable with more and more practice. On a technical level, one of the hardest things to get right is the DOF (Depth Of Field). Your working in such a small area that the DOF can be thrown out by something as simple as you breathing! I try and shoot at least f8 for most of my Macro use. If you can got to f14 or f16 you will get an even better look, but you risk needing a tripod unless its very sunny out (or you use a close up flash).

Think about these tiny little flowers we are trying to shoot.

These are barely the petal tips. Look at the amazing detail though!! The look as though the were snipped with scissors, or clipped at the ends with a punch. It's truly amazing what you can do with a macro lens. Remember that flowers and water drops aren't the only things you can photograph.

Sometimes a sign behind a wire fence can have a great repetitive pattern. The wire looks almost like you can touch it, and the pattern behind on the tin giving you something else to follow. 

So get creative with your Macro lens. I will be!!

Melbourne Open House 2012..

Today was a day to get some great shots around Melbourne, and I did..

Open House Melbourne was run today, and I had a ball. Yes there were A LOT of places I never got to, but that's what next year is for. 

I managed to get only to 3 buildings today, mainly because I made a mistake with one (it was closed and I ended up like 6k away from one of the others). 

Next year I will be taking the whole weekend off so I can get to a lot more places, and hopefully I will be back on the bike enough to be able to ride between more of the places. That way I can cover more ground. 

I'm even planning on traveling a little lighter as well.

Please take a look at the flickr collection. 

Flinders Street Station Tunnel...

This is just a small capture I made on the way home from getting my hair cut today. 

It's very Zombie Apocalypse.. 

I suppose sometimes this is how people see these tunnels. Cold and lonely, with just enough scariness to get you to walk just that little bit faster.   

Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8.... Bow Down to it's AWESOMENESS

I have just become a "Nikon Nerd" today. Well I have always been a bit of a Nikon Nerd, but I entered the realm of UBER NERD today..

Yerp... I'm now the owner of just over 2K worth of probably the best glass in ALL THE WORLD!

The 24-70mm would have to be best regarded as a "Bread n' Butter" lens for most photographers Pro or Amateur. It covers the focal lengths for 90% of photography done today. Yes you might need a 12-24mm for Landscapes and Indoor Architecture shots; and the boys and girls shooting Sport and Wildlife will want a 70-200mm for those frame filling action works; but this lens will do pretty much anything you could want in between those two "specialty" styles of shooting.

I would argue that you could ask every photographer shooting now and I think almost everyone would say that if they had to choose 1 lens focal length, this would be it.

The nuts and bolts of this lens.. 24-70mm zoom (so on an APSC it would be 36-105mm) at a constant f2.8; 0.38m min Focusing Distance; Nano Coating for less flare (show ya later); Silent Wave Motor Focus; and heaps of other BLAH BLAH and WAH WAH....

So what's the reality... THIS IS FANTASTIC!!! I have owned a lot of stuff over the years, and this makes most everything look like Camel Piss!! This thing pulls your pants down and kicks you so hard in the privates, you ask for another to make sure that was the right thing to do. It is FACE SLAPPINGLY sharp!! I just cant get over it.

Just think, if your name isn't Limit or Full your out of focus!!! This lens is INSANE!! OK even I will admit that the Auto Focus is out by about 3-4mm but DAM!!

By the time you hit f8, it's in focus edge to edge (pretty much) and PIN SHARP!! 

Now you can see just in the bottom right of frame there is just a little bit of Flare. But lets be realistic, im pointing the lens pretty much in the sun behind the cloud!! 

So from zoomed all the way in at 70 or pulled out to 24mm, this lens out shoots anything I think I have seen ever!!

Again this lens is not for the feint hearten, as I said earlier it's going to set you back the better part of 2k. But it is worth EVERY PENNY!! You can forgive the Barrel Distortion and Pincushion (Photoshop will fix it later) because the lens is just SO GOOD!!! SOOOOO clean and crisp, with lovely color and tone. If I had to rate it you would say 4.5 out of 5 just because of the distortion, but that's being pretty harsh.

You can see all my test shots here with a lot more to come..