Camera: Sony a7R II
Lens: Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Brownstone and Bare Tree - Manhattan
Architectural Detail in Black and White
Camera: Sony a7R II
Lens: Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
Camera: Sony a7R II
Lens: Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Funiculaire In Twilight - Québec City
The Color Of Night
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 |
| Funiculaire In Twilight - Québec City |
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Just Make Up Something
Nail Polish On Black Background
Camera: Sony a7R II
Lens: Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
Camera: Sony a7R II
Lens: Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
November Morning on the Big Sur Coast
Adventures In Black And White
I had intended to take some black and white seascape photos on my recent trip to California. Actually, I had been planning this for about two years.
While I was out there, someone nominated me for the "7 days, no explanations" fad. So, in addition to these shots crafted meticulously with camera, tripod, and special long-exposure filters, I had fun taking some quick snaps with my iPhone.
It's funny how things work out. Fortunately, people seem to be enjoying all of the shots, even the ones from my phone.
Camera: Sony a7R II
Lens: Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS
I had intended to take some black and white seascape photos on my recent trip to California. Actually, I had been planning this for about two years.
While I was out there, someone nominated me for the "7 days, no explanations" fad. So, in addition to these shots crafted meticulously with camera, tripod, and special long-exposure filters, I had fun taking some quick snaps with my iPhone.
It's funny how things work out. Fortunately, people seem to be enjoying all of the shots, even the ones from my phone.
Camera: Sony a7R II
Lens: Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Sunset Over Point Lobos - Carmel, California
Coast Highway Detour
In May of 2017, a massive landslide destroyed a significant portion of California's coastal highway south of Big Sur. Six months later, the roadway is still closed and may remain closed for another year. Motorists are forced to follow a very long detour along an inland route.
I arrived in Carmel later than expected due to delays incurred along this detour. Desperate to grab a shot of something (anything) before the last light faded, I parked by the outlet of the Carmel River, grabbed my camera, and pushed through a thicket of poison oak to find a vantage point on the beach.
I set my tripod up as quickly as I could and composed a frame with the line of the beach running through the foreground. I focused on the distant trees, locked it in, and bracketed a few exposures before the light disappeared.
It's amazing how often you have to scramble like mad in order to capture a landscape photo. The landscape doesn't move around, but the light can change rapidly. Miss that light by a few seconds, and you'll lose your chance completely.
Camera: Sony A7R II
Lens: Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
In May of 2017, a massive landslide destroyed a significant portion of California's coastal highway south of Big Sur. Six months later, the roadway is still closed and may remain closed for another year. Motorists are forced to follow a very long detour along an inland route.
I arrived in Carmel later than expected due to delays incurred along this detour. Desperate to grab a shot of something (anything) before the last light faded, I parked by the outlet of the Carmel River, grabbed my camera, and pushed through a thicket of poison oak to find a vantage point on the beach.
I set my tripod up as quickly as I could and composed a frame with the line of the beach running through the foreground. I focused on the distant trees, locked it in, and bracketed a few exposures before the light disappeared.
 |
| Sunset Over Point Lobos - Carmel, California |
It's amazing how often you have to scramble like mad in order to capture a landscape photo. The landscape doesn't move around, but the light can change rapidly. Miss that light by a few seconds, and you'll lose your chance completely.
Camera: Sony A7R II
Lens: Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Tower Bridge - London
Triumph of the Human Spirit
London. Paris. New York.
These great cities have experienced more than their share of troubles, both in recent years and throughout history. And yet, each one stands, boldly and proudly, a testament to the triumphs of the human spirit.
You'll find the world's best museums here. The best libraries. The best examples of art and architecture. The best music The best ideas. And the epitome of commerce and business.
Humanity will always face problems. Life has never been easy, and some of our most persistent challenges have been self-inflicted. But the sum total of the human experience is wildly positive. If you need a reminder, take a walk along the Thames. Or the Seine. Or Fifth Avenue. Let the historic achievements of mankind inspire you to reach for your own soaring accomplishments.
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8G ED IF
London. Paris. New York.
These great cities have experienced more than their share of troubles, both in recent years and throughout history. And yet, each one stands, boldly and proudly, a testament to the triumphs of the human spirit.
You'll find the world's best museums here. The best libraries. The best examples of art and architecture. The best music The best ideas. And the epitome of commerce and business.
 |
| Tower Bridge - London |
Humanity will always face problems. Life has never been easy, and some of our most persistent challenges have been self-inflicted. But the sum total of the human experience is wildly positive. If you need a reminder, take a walk along the Thames. Or the Seine. Or Fifth Avenue. Let the historic achievements of mankind inspire you to reach for your own soaring accomplishments.
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF-S Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8G ED IF
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Friday, September 29, 2017
Love Comes In Every Color
A Timely Message
Camera: Sony a7R II
Lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
Camera: Sony a7R II
Lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Friday, August 25, 2017
Three O'Clock High
Architectural Abstract
Moments after the peak of the eclipse, I pulled out my wide-angle zoom and aimed it skyward.
Camera: Sony A7R II
Lens: Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
Moments after the peak of the eclipse, I pulled out my wide-angle zoom and aimed it skyward.
 |
| Three O'Clock High |
Camera: Sony A7R II
Lens: Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Distressed Brick and Air Conditioners
Summer In The City
One of the unique experiences of city life in the summertime is having the condensation of air conditioners drip on you as you make your way down the sidewalk. Summer has its challenges, but we all would do well to savor its sweet rewards.
Camera: Sony A7RII
Lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
One of the unique experiences of city life in the summertime is having the condensation of air conditioners drip on you as you make your way down the sidewalk. Summer has its challenges, but we all would do well to savor its sweet rewards.
Camera: Sony A7RII
Lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Can-can Dancers
La Fête Nationale
Can-can dancers perform at a Bastille Day / Quatorze Julliet celebration in New York.
Camera: Sony A7RII
Lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
Can-can dancers perform at a Bastille Day / Quatorze Julliet celebration in New York.
Camera: Sony A7RII
Lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Sunday, July 30, 2017
51st Street Subway Sign
Miles of Tiles
The walls of New York's underground subway stations are finished with tile. The signs marking the station stops are made of tiles as well and help to give the subway its unique look and character.
The sign pictured below is nearly eight feet wide and clearly visible to the passengers on the arriving cars. Someone put a lot of time and effort into assembling these beautiful creations.
Camera: Sony A7R II
Lens: Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA
The walls of New York's underground subway stations are finished with tile. The signs marking the station stops are made of tiles as well and help to give the subway its unique look and character.
The sign pictured below is nearly eight feet wide and clearly visible to the passengers on the arriving cars. Someone put a lot of time and effort into assembling these beautiful creations.
 |
| 51st Street Subway Station - New York |
Camera: Sony A7R II
Lens: Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Desert Highway - Death Valley
Converging Lines and Calculated Risks
I made my first trip to Death Valley on a clear day in June when the temperature hit 122 F. I had recently become a photography enthusiast and wanted to capture some images of this majestic wilderness.
In extreme temperatures, however, one shouldn't venture too far from the car. I made an attempt to hike to the Mesquite dunes but turned back quickly due to concerns over dehydration and heat exhaustion. For the rest of the day, I stayed close to the car.
I exposed the most memorable image of the day as sunset approached. I pulled the car off to the side of a stretch of roadway that had been freshly paved with deep black asphalt and painted with bright yellow lines. I mounted a 24mm lens on my trust Nikon F100 - yes, a film camera - and had my travel companion watch for cars approaching from behind me.
Of the handful of shots that I snapped, one of them turned out particularly well. I had several copies of it printed; a few of my friends still have that image hanging in their homes.
Returning to Death Valley some years later, I wanted to capture a similar image with the help of a tilt-shift lens. The tilt feature on this special-purpose lens enables focus to be repositioned from a vertical plane (typical for most cameras) to a ground-hugging plane that extends infinitely off into the distance. When the lens is adjusted correctly - which is a bit tricky - focus will be sharp on both the foreground features in the frame (e.g. the yellow lines and pavement near my feet) and distant objects as well (mountains, sky, brush, distant lines on the roadway).
The stretch of highway that I had photographed years earlier was now gray and worn, but I found another location that appealed to my eyes. The surface was in good condition, it had been painted recently, and it stretched straight off into the distance where the last light of sunset was still visible.
I was set except for one major complication. On this trip, I didn't have a travel companion. I had to rely on my ears and frequent glances behind me to keep from getting run over while focusing my camera in the middle of a highway. (Luckily, no one was drag racing through the valley that evening.)
As I mentioned before, focusing a tilt-shift lens can be tricky, and it becomes increasingly more difficult as the light fades. It's a manual process, but you have to focus for the near and far objects separately. By adding a small amount of tilt, typically only a degree or two, you can reach a point where both near and far objects are sharp. It's very each to add too much tilt, however, which messes everything up.
The process typically takes a few minutes even for skilled photographers - and even when you're not in mortal danger of being struck by a fast-moving automobile. Luckily, I had a lot of experience with my tilt-shift setup, so I was able to acquire the proper focus fairly quickly - while looking over my shoulder every ten seconds or so.
Please don't attempt a shot like this without spotters. Even if you have someone - hopefully more than one person - watching your back, this kind of shot is risky to say the least. Just because I got away with it doesn't mean that it was a good idea.
You'll think about it. It's tempting. My advice is to think about the future as you relax and enjoy the sunset a safe distance from traffic.
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II
I made my first trip to Death Valley on a clear day in June when the temperature hit 122 F. I had recently become a photography enthusiast and wanted to capture some images of this majestic wilderness.
In extreme temperatures, however, one shouldn't venture too far from the car. I made an attempt to hike to the Mesquite dunes but turned back quickly due to concerns over dehydration and heat exhaustion. For the rest of the day, I stayed close to the car.
I exposed the most memorable image of the day as sunset approached. I pulled the car off to the side of a stretch of roadway that had been freshly paved with deep black asphalt and painted with bright yellow lines. I mounted a 24mm lens on my trust Nikon F100 - yes, a film camera - and had my travel companion watch for cars approaching from behind me.
Of the handful of shots that I snapped, one of them turned out particularly well. I had several copies of it printed; a few of my friends still have that image hanging in their homes.
Returning to Death Valley some years later, I wanted to capture a similar image with the help of a tilt-shift lens. The tilt feature on this special-purpose lens enables focus to be repositioned from a vertical plane (typical for most cameras) to a ground-hugging plane that extends infinitely off into the distance. When the lens is adjusted correctly - which is a bit tricky - focus will be sharp on both the foreground features in the frame (e.g. the yellow lines and pavement near my feet) and distant objects as well (mountains, sky, brush, distant lines on the roadway).
The stretch of highway that I had photographed years earlier was now gray and worn, but I found another location that appealed to my eyes. The surface was in good condition, it had been painted recently, and it stretched straight off into the distance where the last light of sunset was still visible.
I was set except for one major complication. On this trip, I didn't have a travel companion. I had to rely on my ears and frequent glances behind me to keep from getting run over while focusing my camera in the middle of a highway. (Luckily, no one was drag racing through the valley that evening.)
As I mentioned before, focusing a tilt-shift lens can be tricky, and it becomes increasingly more difficult as the light fades. It's a manual process, but you have to focus for the near and far objects separately. By adding a small amount of tilt, typically only a degree or two, you can reach a point where both near and far objects are sharp. It's very each to add too much tilt, however, which messes everything up.
The process typically takes a few minutes even for skilled photographers - and even when you're not in mortal danger of being struck by a fast-moving automobile. Luckily, I had a lot of experience with my tilt-shift setup, so I was able to acquire the proper focus fairly quickly - while looking over my shoulder every ten seconds or so.
Please don't attempt a shot like this without spotters. Even if you have someone - hopefully more than one person - watching your back, this kind of shot is risky to say the least. Just because I got away with it doesn't mean that it was a good idea.
You'll think about it. It's tempting. My advice is to think about the future as you relax and enjoy the sunset a safe distance from traffic.
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens: Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Post 100 - Happy Anniversary!
Celebrating What's Important With Photos
This is my 100th post on Earth Color Magic. I wanted it to be special.
This is a photo of my father that I snapped in 2008. He was raking leaves one pleasant autumn morning with his dog and constant companion, Frankly, at his side. I saw them and snapped a photo. It's one of my favorite photographs, because it shows my father in his natural element, working in the yard, doing what he loves to do.
Frankly was my aunt's dog. When she passed away, Dad took him in, and they became inseparable.
We all take lots of photos, but the most important images that we'll ever capture are the ones that record the milestones of our lives. Remember that.
Life moves quickly. Children grow. Family members age. Friends and colleagues come and go.
Take pictures of all of it. Take way too many pictures and store them obsessively. Take some video, too.
You can never go back in time. You will never, ever, ever be able to go back and photograph an important occasion once it has passed. When the moment is gone, the photos and videos that we took time to record will be critical physical reminders of important times and the people with whom we shared them.
Post 100 - Happy Anniversary! Here's to a hundred more.
Camera: Sony A7RII
Lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
This is my 100th post on Earth Color Magic. I wanted it to be special.
This is a photo of my father that I snapped in 2008. He was raking leaves one pleasant autumn morning with his dog and constant companion, Frankly, at his side. I saw them and snapped a photo. It's one of my favorite photographs, because it shows my father in his natural element, working in the yard, doing what he loves to do.
Frankly was my aunt's dog. When she passed away, Dad took him in, and they became inseparable.
 |
| My Father Raking Leaves (2008) |
We all take lots of photos, but the most important images that we'll ever capture are the ones that record the milestones of our lives. Remember that.
Life moves quickly. Children grow. Family members age. Friends and colleagues come and go.
Take pictures of all of it. Take way too many pictures and store them obsessively. Take some video, too.
You can never go back in time. You will never, ever, ever be able to go back and photograph an important occasion once it has passed. When the moment is gone, the photos and videos that we took time to record will be critical physical reminders of important times and the people with whom we shared them.
Post 100 - Happy Anniversary! Here's to a hundred more.
Camera: Sony A7RII
Lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Vernazza Under Cloudy Skies
Memories of the Cinque Terre
It's been nearly five years since I visited the Cinque Terre for three stormy days in November. Hopefully, I'll get to enjoy less dramatic weather on my next trip. :-)
Camera: Nikon D800
Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 ED
It's been nearly five years since I visited the Cinque Terre for three stormy days in November. Hopefully, I'll get to enjoy less dramatic weather on my next trip. :-)
 |
| Vernazza Under Cloudy Skies |
Camera: Nikon D800
Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 ED
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Montreal By Night - Complexe Desjardins
It's Wise To Compromise
During a walk one pleasant evening, I came across this colorful atrium.
The ceiling caught my eye first, specifically the diamond-shaped panels that were lit with multi-colored gels. First, I set up a shot that isolated the ceiling, but I decided to include the steps, doors, and shiny metal railings in an alternate composition.
My trusty 24mm perspective control lens kept the vertical lines under control. I had to maneuver the tripod over some cracks in the sidewalk. I leveled the camera and focused carefully.
Capturing the ceiling was tricky. Those diamond-shaped panels changed colors constantly. A long shutter speed wouldn't work, because as the colors changed, they morphed into a bland amber. I sped things up by boosting the ISO to a stop above the base value and opening the aperture from f/11 to f/8. These modest compromises yielded a shutter speed that was fast enough to capture the unique colors of one cycle of lights.
Voilà! A shot to remember!
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5 ED Tilt/Shift
During a walk one pleasant evening, I came across this colorful atrium.
The ceiling caught my eye first, specifically the diamond-shaped panels that were lit with multi-colored gels. First, I set up a shot that isolated the ceiling, but I decided to include the steps, doors, and shiny metal railings in an alternate composition.
 |
| Complexe Desjardins - Montréal |
My trusty 24mm perspective control lens kept the vertical lines under control. I had to maneuver the tripod over some cracks in the sidewalk. I leveled the camera and focused carefully.
Capturing the ceiling was tricky. Those diamond-shaped panels changed colors constantly. A long shutter speed wouldn't work, because as the colors changed, they morphed into a bland amber. I sped things up by boosting the ISO to a stop above the base value and opening the aperture from f/11 to f/8. These modest compromises yielded a shutter speed that was fast enough to capture the unique colors of one cycle of lights.
Voilà! A shot to remember!
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5 ED Tilt/Shift
Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!
Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved
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