Photography Photography

Milky Way - Coast Guard Beach

Made from 20 light frames with 2 dark frames by Starry Landscape Stacker 1.8.0. Algorithm: Min Horizon Noise

This was captured using the Panasonic Lumix S1H and the Lumix S Pro 16-35 mm f/4 lens. Exposure Triad: f/5, 20 sec, ISO 6400. Final image made from 20 light frames with 2 dark frames using Starry Landscape Stacker 1.8.0. Algorithm: Min Horizon Noise.

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Photography Photography

Valley of Fire Panorama

This is a 9 image panorama stitched using PTGui. The images were captured a little more than an hour after the sun had set. The rocks become intensely red in the afterglow.

Do click on the image for a larger view.

Panasonic Lumix S1R, 24-105 f/4 lens. Exposure triad: f/16, 1 sec., ISO 200.

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Photography Photography

Lumix S Pro 70-200 f/2.8 hand-held

Zebra Family at Sunset

One of the greatest features of Lumix cameras, the G and the S series is the incredibly good image stabilization. On the S1R was rated at 6 stops. With firmware version v1.1, the in-body IS system will reduce shake by an additional 1/2-stop, for a total of 6 stops with non-stabilized lenses and 6.5 stops with Dual IS-compatible glass. With the new S Pro 70-200 f/2.8, the stabilization is rated at 7 stops.

This image was captured hand-held with the S1R and the S Pro 70-200 and a 2X Teleconverter. The combined focal length was 400mm. Exposure triad f/5.6, 1/125 sec, ISO 800.

Click on the image to view a larger rendition.

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Cool and Warm

Cool and Warm

When the sun was setting this past weekend (Sept 7, 2019) the moon was about 60% and quite high over the horizon. As the light from the sun was all but gone, the moon shining on the water created this cool/warm juxtaposition in harmony with these old pilings.

The breaking waves in the foreground appear to be trying to blend the warm and cold together. Also, notice the split in the color temperature how the light significantly affected the shadows of the pilings on the right vs. the ones on the left.

These situations remind me of George Eastman's quote:

"Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography."

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Photography Photography

A deep dive into the Lumix S1R Camera

Lumix S1R Full Frame Camera - "it's the best!!!!!!"

In this episode, TWiP host Frederick van Johnson and I discuss the Lumix S1R full-frame mirrorless camera. Amongst the topics of discussion are the features of this new system, the growing lens line-up, and the assertion that Lumix is not abandoning the micro four-thirds sensor size format.

Click on the logo or CLICK HERE to watch the episode

Learn more about the Lumix S1R: Panasonic USA Website

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Minimalism - Sunset

Rocks at Sunset

The weekend provided great opportunity to explore the Cape Cod shoreline. There are some amazing manmade jetties that present opportunities for minimalist images.

I first shot this composition wide with lots of negative space but realized that with the rocks so small in the frame the beautiful texture was getting lost. So I composed tighter to show much more detail while the image still remained minimal. The setting sun cast some lovely light in the rocks and created a glow in the sand. Although the slow shutter speed remove the detail from the sand, I like the way the color creates a leading line to the rock formation.

The image was captured with the Panasonic Lumix S1R and the Lumix 24-105 f/4 L-Mount lens. A Benro circular polarizer was used to reduce reflections and a Benro 10 stop ND filter was used to slow the shutter down.

Exposure triad: f/8, 60 sec, ISO 100

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Photography Photography

A not so slow shutter speed - Rocky Coast of Acadia

Waves on Rocks
(please click on the image for a larger rendition)

Slow shutter speed images are interesting and many are minimalist. But by the same token the use of slow shutter speeds seems to have become overly popular. Here in this early morning capture I wanted to slow the shutter down to get the action but at the same time show the motion of the waves as they crashed on the Acadia coastline. The warm glow and blue waters created a harmonious conflict.

The image is a blend of two splashes where both were exposed exactly the same. I used the Panasonic Lumix S1R with the Lumix Pro 70-200 mm f/4 lens at 70mm, and the Benro 100 mm filter system. The filters were a polarizer to remove the glare from the rocks and a 6 stop ND. Exposure triad: f/6.3, 0.4 sec, ISO 200. Image processed using Capture One 12 and Photoshop CC for image blending.

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Photography Photography

Milky Way - Acadia NP

Milky Way - Sand Beach, Acadia NP

Aug 24, 2019 - we had just finished lunch and looked at the forecast. Clear night in Acadia - and perfect as the moon would not be visible during the time when the Milky Way core would be visible. We quickly grabbed our cameras, tripods and some snacks, and drove the 5 1/2 hours to Acadia.

We got to Bar Harbor and went straight to Sand Beach. Sand Beach is a location I had never shot the Milky Way from. My typical locations have been Boulder Beach looking out toward Otter Cliffs, or over one of the ponds. Sand beach did not disappoint.

Camera - Panasonic Lumix S1R with the Sigma MC21 adaptor, Lens - Canon 16-35mm, f/2.8 Version II. Truly waiting for the L-mount Sigma 14mm to be released. Exposure triad f/2.8, 20 sec., ISO 6400.

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Photography Photography

Narrative and Emotion - B&H Podcast

I am so thrilled to have been invited as a guest on the latest B&H Photography podcast. Thank you Panasonic and B&H for this wonderful opportunity and a special thanks to Host: Allan Weitz, Senior Creative Producer: John Harris, Senior Producer: Jason Tables and Executive Producer: Lawrence Neves. I thoroughly enjoyed our discussion and your hospitality.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE AND THE PODCAST

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/podcast-narrative-and-emotion-with-lumix-ambassador-shiv-verma

In addition, if you don't already, please do subscribe to the B&H Podcast for some great education and discussions.

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Photography Photography

Lumix S1R test - Red Arrows - North American Tour

8 of the 11 Red Arrows in formation over Boston Harbor

Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team Red Arrows are on a major tour of North America.  This is the first in more than a decade.  It is intended to promote the best of British and deepen partnerships .

The Red Arrows are on an 11-week North American tour that started in Halifax, Nova Scotia July 8 and will end in Rapid City, South Dakota Oct. 8, 2019.

The aircraft are BAe Hawk T Mk1, a two seater trainer jet that has been replaced by the new Hawk T Mk2.   However, the Mk1 will remain in service for another 10 years. Like the Mk2, the Mk1 is a fully aerobatic, low-wing, transonic, two-seat training aircraft that is still used in a number of roles for the RAF. 100 Squadron, based at RAF Leeming.

The show started about 20 minutes later than expected and unlike the flight path that was released the jets flew a completely different route.

My aim was test the performace of the continuous focus capapbility of the Panasonic Lumix S1R in a high speed fly by. The lens I used was the Lumix S Pro 70-200 f/4. The aperture was set to f/8 and the shutter speed was 1/2000 to freeze motion. The ISO was set to auto and resulted in ISO 250 to 320 for the incoming shots and 640 to 800 for the outgoing images. The focus was set to continuous, drive mode on high and the focus area "Zone Oval".

There are two sets on images - 20 incoming and 20 outgoing. All images are from single bursts in the exact sequence and unedited. The RAW files were converted and exported to JPG using Capture One. As you will see from these images, the camera and lens performed exceptionally well in maintaing focus.

This the incoming gallery

[ngg src="galleries" ids="121" display="pro_horizontal_filmstrip"]

This is the outgoing gallery

[ngg src="galleries" ids="122" display="pro_horizontal_filmstrip"]

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Photography Photography

The Yellow Walls of Hoi An

White Bicycle

Hoi An Ancient town is located in Viet Nam’s central Quang Nam Province, on the north bank near the mouth of the Thu Bon River. The city of Hoi An is beautiful but is inundated with tourists. This old town has a number houses that are painted a deep yellow and make for a wonderful photographic backdrop.

Why yellow? The Vietnamise believe that yellow is a symbol of royalty. The yellow color reflects the beautiful culture of Vietnam, symbolizing luck, pride and prosperity.

Trees inside the home

A narrow yellow walled alley.

Now a one way only.

We spent two days in this amazing city this March. We photographing the markets in the aery morning, fishing villages at sunrise and sunset, street scenes during the day and lots of night photography along the river. We could easily have spent a few more days here.

Hoi An has nearly 1,000 ancient houses and of these 844 houses are included on the list of UNESCO's cultural heritage. Visiting these home requires a small subscription of about $5 and is worth every penny.

Street Selling - from flowers to food.

A great use for a tripod

Bougainvillea

Blue Chair - Yellow Wall

Great restaurants and great food

All images in this post were captured with the Panasonic Lumix G9 and the Leica 12-60 lens. Please click on the images to open them in a larger window.

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Photography Photography

Elders in Vietnam

I am ready ..........

In 2019 Vietnam has a median age of only 26. But it is ageing rapidly. Currently individuals over the age of 60 are 12% of the total population. It is expected that this will go beyond 20% by the year 2040. Clearly this iforecase ids one of the quickest increases in the world. Remember, most of the would be elders today were wiped out during the long war. This image is of one gentleman who survived and at his age, he is full of humor - he would like to marry again, "in a heart beat" he says.

The people of this country are truly wonderful. They understand the devastation but accept it - "it was not the Vietnam war" they say "it was the American war" - collectively they are building for a better and stronger economy. I have yet to see a population that works as hard as the Vietnamese.

Image captured with the Panasonic Lumix G9 with the Leica 12-60 mm lens at 50mm. Exposure triad: f/4, 1/50 sec., ISO 400. Image was converted to B&W using Capture One.

Please click on the image for a larger rendition.

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Photography Photography

Lumix S1R High Res Mode - Palouse Sunset

Rolling Hills of the Palouse

This is a scaled down version of a 187 MP image of the rolling fields in the Palouse at sunset. The low angle of the sun creates lovely shadows and definition of the undulating hills. This was also a test of the Sigma MC21 with the Sigma 100-400 mm EF mount lens on the Lumix S1R.

Exposure triad: f/6.3, 1/60 sec, ISO 200. Focal length as shot: 400 mm.

I will be in Spokane, WA for the PSA conference and would like to do a photo workshop after the conference. If you are interested let me know so I can make necessary arangements.

Click on the image for a larger rendition.

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Photography Photography

Up

Poge Light

Poge Lighthouse in Cape Poge across from Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard.

Photographed with the Panasonic Lumix S1R and the Lumix 24-105 f/4 lens. Exposure triad: f/14, 2 sec, ISO 100.

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