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chiphendershot

American Alley

Aperture f/2.8 ISO 400 Shutter 1/2500 Focal Length 1050/10

upload_date

Feb, 2019

Views

583

Likes

+177

Awards

People's Choice in The Flag Photo Challenge

Winner in Flags of theWorld Photo Challenge

Peer Award

+58

Outstanding Creativity

Top Choice

Absolute Masterpiece

Superb Composition

Magnificent Capture

All Star

Virtuoso

Genius

Emotions

Impressed

Happy

Sad

Upset

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

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Behind The Lens

Location

I was on a cold winter walk with my wife about two blocks from my home in Watsontown PA. I captured this in a back alley.

Time

I believe it was in the late afternoon.

Lighting

It was a cold gloomy day, snowed recently and it was that time in the winter when everything is dirty, wet and cold.

Equipment

Nikon D700 with a Nikkor 105mm lens. Camera was hand held.

Inspiration

The general gloom of the day along with the flag resting partially on the porch roof captured my eye. It reached an emotion deep within me, reminding me of the cost of freedom and the courage and sacrifice that paid for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Editing

I use several editing tools in post-processing. I import my RAW files to Lightroom and make a few adjustments. After that I am in Topaz Studio where I spend the most time post-processing. I end up with some finishing touches in Photoshop. Most of my life I spent in the darkroom printing for professional photographers. Often you would here professional photographers say a lab can make or break the photographer. That still stands true in today’s digital environment, most photographers now post-processed their own images. I see so many nice images photographers have posted only to end up being a ho-hum, spiritless image due to poor post-processing or even over processing. When I worked with negatives in the wet lab, I would have a final print sitting in my work area that I felt was a winner, the next day I would come in and say to myself "What was I thinking"! It is the same with digital post-processing, sometimes walking away and leaving it for another day can be your best decision.

In my camera bag

I use a Nikon D850 with a variety of modern lenses as well as vintage film camera lenses with adapters to fit Nikon and Sony E-mount. I recently had my Nikon D700 converted to infrared. I enjoy using vintage c mount lenses designed for 16mm cine camera on my Sony A7R. The lenses I use with my Sony are Kinoptik 9mm, 32mm, 40mm and 75mm. I also use Wollensak, Schneider and Angenuiex lenses. I also enjoy free-lensing also called lens-whacking with a Helios 44m, some Russian lenses and any other vintage lenses that will produce nice flares and pleasing bokeh.

Feedback

Personally, I have to take a deep breath and slow down. I’ve struggled with mental focus my entire life, so even at 59 years old I have to really concentrate on slowing down as well as not getting discouraged while shooting. I still think of the acronym FAST - Focus, Aperture, Shutter and Think. I enjoy exploring several different camera points of views to find something that may tell an interesting visual story. Post-process is as important as the capture, invest in creative editing software then learn your software. There are many free tutorials out there that can teach you and give you the edge you have been looking for in your images.

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chiphendershot

American Alley

Behind The Lens

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