Author: Kevin Raber

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Neon Abstract

Neon Bone Yard, Las Vegas

Another image from the Neon Bone Yard In Las Vegas.  shot and did HDR post processing on all the images made here.  Why?  Because I made it my assignment.  Sometimes when I go out shooting I give myself a challenge or assignment.  This one was shoot 5 exposures of everything and put them together after.  The results are interesting and lend to the abstractness of this wonderful place.  Part of the secret in shooting at the Neon Bone Yard is shooting tight and shooting just elements.  fun place – fun pictures.

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Gypsy

Sad Gypsy - Near Saugutuck, MichiganOne of the most fun things to do (in my opinion) is to get in the car and go explore.  I did this the past weekend and I have more shots to post  from that adventure.  Today’s image is one I did in Michigan at a place called Sunset Juuque.   It’s kind of like a Disneyland of junk.  All neatly arranged in these little set ups by the clever owner.  This is one I call Sad Gypsy.  I discovered this place because I was just driving around.  No matter where I go I like to drive and explore.  If I see something I stop and check it out.  A lot of the times I end up shooting it.  You have to capture the moment.  Odds are this set up is not there anymore.  It could have moved or just rotted away.  You have to get it when you see it.  This was done with my basic set up of a Canon 5dII and 24-105 lens.

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Old Trucks

Old Truck Near Skamania, WA

Seems on my last few trips I have been finding a lot of old trucks wherever I go.  I love old stuff, rust and decay.  Can’t get enough of it.  During my sons wedding weekend we went out exploring and came upon a place with a lot of old rusty trucks and things.  So, naturally I had to take some photos.  Because of the light – heavy overcast, light drizzle I did HDR 2 under, over and normal exposures on my Canon 5dII.  This image is the first of a few taken at just this one stop.  Look for more in the coming days.

Also, in a week I will be in Ireland leading a PODAS workshop with 15 photographers.  I’ll be posting from there so stay tuned.  You can also follow the trip at the PODAS BLOG.

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Anarctica

Antarctica

Three trips to Antarctica and I have thousands of images that are standout.  I think it is time to gather the images together and make a book.  There are not enough hours in the day and I do have a regular job.  I have a lot of trips with images still waiting for editing and printing.  Today’s image was shot from a zodiac on a cruise in Paradise Bay on my first trip to Antarctica.  I love this image and the reflection.  Shot with a P45+ hand held.

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Arrived

Skamania Rainbow

I made it to the Hood Valley area between Washington and Oregon and the Skamania Lodge where my sons wedding will take place on Sunday.  It’s raining and dynamic.  Kind of what you expect for this area.  Many of the family have arrived with more arriving tomorrow.  Within the first five minutes of being here the clouds broke open and produced a rainbow.  Luckily i had my iPhone so I grabbed a shot.  I knew the only way if would work was should in HDR so I set up the shot and let the iPhone do it’s thing.  Now I use an app called AutoHDR and it takes a few seconds to analyze the scene.  And just before it started to shoot the sequence of images these two kids jumped in the shot.  I was like what!! but you know what they made the shot and added the foreground.  So, sometimes things just go your way.

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On My Way

Well the day has finally come.  By the time you read this I will be on my way to Oregon for my oldest sons wedding  How cool is that.  I am very proud of what he has accomplished.  A dedicated soldier in Army SF he has seen and done more than most of will ever do in a lifetime.  He is marrying one of the nicest person I know and I know they will be very happy.  This will be the first time in many years that my whole family will be together.  My three sons, their mom and lots or relatives.  It should be a great weekend.  To start the weekend off here is another BW image from Moab.  Shot with a Phase One P65+ on an APLA camera.

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Chicago – City Of Strong Buildings

Chicago, IL

I love Chicago!  It’s a fun city to visit, easy to get around and offer many attractions, but more than that I love photographing there.  Great architecture no matter where you look.  I am leading a Phase One PODAS workshop in July on architecture photography in Chicago.  It will great to share with the attendees the interesting possibilities on shooting in this great city.  It will be an intense three day workshop and will cover interior and exterior photography, a boat cruise and image manipulation and processing.  We have only one seat left for this workshop.  In any case todays image is one I love taken from a bridge showing the old rivet ironwork and the new stainless steel buildings.

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Carmel Performing Arts Center – Palladium My Way

Carmel, IN - Palladium - Performing Arts Center

The other night after experiencing some dramatic storms the skies began to clear and just turn wonderful colors and they were so dramatic.  My friend Debra grabbed me and we drove the block it takes to get to the Performing Arts Center.  I jumped out of the car and began shooting away.  I had grabbed my GH3 and shot in HDR mode – 5 exposures per shot. This technique allows my camera to shot over exposures opening up shadows and underexposures allowing highlights to be recorded.  I then bring my images into Capture One and do perspective control (straightening lines on building so they don’t or do distort).  Then I process he images to tiff format and run them through PhotoMatix combing all the exposures into one image.  Then I took the image into photoshop and run them through a series of other programs.  In this case I used a plug in called Topaz Adjust.  So here is my artistic version of PAC at a dramatic sunset.  I have more so look for them soon.  Also, finished up some dramatic Moab B&W Images.  Stay tuned.