RAW

After the last PCC meeting I decided to try shooting in RAW again.  I need to work on my processes though.  Shooting in RAW means that the camera throws away less information than if you shoot in Jpeg.  It also means that every image needs to be tweaked a little,  but the end result ends up looking more...  well...  more.

So when we went to the Sea Dog's game the other night,  I should have switched out of RAW and shot in Jpeg.  They were a few snaps to remember a moment...  not an effort to really create a photo.  So,  jpeg would've been easier to deal with after the fact.

Blogger won't let me upload a RAW or dng file because they are too big.  But following is an edited RAW image and an edited jpeg.  The advantages of the RAW file as I see them are:  a truer color, more detail in the highlights, and a wider color palette which allows for a less "choppy" background.

If I knew my way around CS3 better I feel like I could make the RAW image more distinctive- better than it is.

Twice

Twice I've taken pictures that made me cry.  (I've seen quite a few pictures that have brought a tear to my eye,  but twice I've been the one holding the camera.)

The first time was almost 2 years ago and it's one of the moments that planted the passion in me.  I immediately saw the story.  The story began when he was called to duty and ended when our eyes met through the camera.  That story should be written.  I connected deeply and immediately to that tiny moment.

Months later I tracked down Mr. Rogers (no, really), gave him a copy of this picture, and he (and his lovely wife) gave me a tour of their home (one of the oldest in our town).  He has warm eyes and warm hands.  He has stories to tell.  I keep thinking of going back.  To ask questions I never asked my own grandparents.

Mr Rogers has been in every Memorial Day parade since he returned from the war.  Each year he has worn the same uniform.

The picture:

The second one happened today.

I expect it might not make sense to many people.  That's ok with me.

From time to time to time to time I get wrapped up in what I'm not doing.  What can't be done.  What should be done.  It tangles me up.  Hard.  Stupid things start to weigh more in the scale of life.  I fret.  I remain still (but not in the good way).

So today this picture told me a story of hope and possibility and promise and openness and understanding and forgiveness.

Or I am just nuts.

Oh,  and I am reading the manual.  It is complicated crap,  but this camera can perform exorcisms.  I expect.

Creatively Correct Exposure

Last night Rob and the kids were patient as I climbed hills on our school campus to get this shot.  It is unedited.  The colors are pretty true to what I saw, which isn't usually the case for me.

Today I watched several Bryan Peterson video clips.  The guy has awful hair,  but his skills make up for it.  He talked a lot about achieving "creatively correct exposure."  I played around with some flowers after I watched the videos and I am pretty happy about achieving that creatively correct exposure.

Of course I am a big fan of the shallow depth of field,  and I'm pretty consistent with the flowers.  Am I as competent with people/portraits? 

Goal-  read 1 section of the d300s manual.

Fun

I got the manual for the d300s and I am looking forward to reading through it. In some ways I feel like this camera is so different from the d60. It is, but it's different like Volkswagen:Audi not like pine tree:matchbox car, which is kindof what I've been thinking.
It's hard to know what steps to take to get better. Books. Blogs. Apprenticeship. I think I'd really like to assist a local photographer for some shoots.

I had a long photo walk in Boston on Saturday. Here are a couple shots I'm pretty happy with: