Change of Heart - Autumn Camping

Autumn Camping
Originally uploaded by typh00nrider

Yesterday I blogged as if I were going to hit the hills for a climb this weekend, but between ever-changing, flaky weather forecasts, and a feeling that I should spend more time with kids, I've decided to head out for a one-nighter tomorrow, or just forego camping until next weekend. Bummer.

I took this picture at a camp site just below the top of Kumotoriyama about three weeks ago. It was an experiment where I thought it would be interesting to try and cover the top of the frame with leaves only. Looks like it worked! No HDR here, since I did not think that HDR would enhance any shadows or textures.

TGIF! - Creation Lookout

Creation Lookout
Originally uploaded by typh00nrider

I think I've titled a blog like this before, but not to worried about the readership impact! Heh... all three every so understanding and generous subscribers may not like repeating titles, but I am sure that if they are in Japan lately, they will certainly share the same feeling!

It looks like the weather cleared partially tomorrow, so early afternoon I will be off to the mountains. They say the reds and golds are peaking right now at the 1,000 to 1,500 meter level. This opportunity is definitely another Tanzawa venture - just the right elevation, I live close to the trail heads, and a lower elevation sounds nice since it's getting cold. But this time will try something different. Don't know what, but something different out toward the very western edge of Tanzawa.

This picture attempts to offer the intended effect, but not completely. I wanted to capture the moon so that it consumed more of the frame. Maybe next time... or you try it. This was taken from directly next to the emergency hut at the top of Kumotoriyama.

Enjoy! Will update on the wily weekend ventures next Monday or Tuesday.

Market Is Recovering!! Mt- Fuji From Kumotori - Color

Mt- Fuji From Kumotori - Color
Originally uploaded by typh00nrider

I am thoroughly amazed by the short attention span of the US media and other international media. It was just about one year ago that Citibank announced a massive quarterly (Q3 or Q4, can't remember) adjustment, which turned out to be one of a couple of announcements to follow into early 2008. Then all the other financial market events that have followed.

Every time somebody starts out an interview these days, about half of conversation openers, and just about any other chance that people start to talk about the economy is, "You think the recovery is starting?" Heh, as far as I am concerned, the crash just started. It has been less than a year since most things have come wide open, so one has to think that certain insiders have seen this coming for 18 months or more!

Think it's probably time for people to quit worrying about an economic downturn and start focusing on the opportunities that this period presents.

Change subject! Two days ago, I went down to the Miura Coast and took this picture at sunset. Then I slept in Uraga at a friend's house and went on to the lighthouse for some sunrise shots on the other side of the peninsula. Those pictures coming up in a couple days.

And the picture - taken at the top of Kumotoriyama about one month ago on a crispy Friday morning at about 10 a.m. Three exposures - normal and +/-2 EV - Photomatix Pro, details enhancer, and photoshop for a touch of unsharp mask. The haze was just starting to settle in toward Fuji-san. Have posted a similar one that I posted on flickr as a black-and-white version here.

Enjoy! Comment! Question!

A Lesson in Hazeologoy: Mt-Fuji - Okutama, Kumotori

Mt- Fuji - Okutama, Kumotori
Originally uploaded by typh00nrider

THis came out of the archive of about 400 photos that I took while hiking for three days in Okutama a couple weeks ago. I was processing the photo in preparation to do some HDR processing. While prepping in Aperture, I removed all gamma and contrast in the photo (I think) which turned this image into a black and white photo. With only slight shadow and highlight adjustments, the black and white image revealed far more details in the foreground and the clouds came out much nicer.

This was a mid-day shot, so the usual Tokyo smog haze that plagues the Kanto region was setting in, so processing to pull the haze was initially my main objective - nothing more or less. Pushing a photo to black and white definitely cuts the haze.

Getting Up Early - Okutama Sunrise

Okutama Sunrise
Originally uploaded by typh00nrider

The nice thing about winter is that the sun rises a bit later, the rough thing is that the sun sets much earlier. Seeing that the weather was crispy yesterday afternoon, I rushed home from Tokyo at about 3:15, but still could not make it down to the Miura coast for some sunset pictures in time.

The good news is that I may have one more chance to take a crack at a sunset shot tonight, and will definitely have another chance to capture the sunrise tomorrow morning.

This photo was taken last Friday morning at about 6:15 a.m. The sun had broke the horizon just a few minutes before this shot, but when it broke, the colors did not flourish. I snapped a few reddish hue shots, then with camera in hand, proceeded to get some fresh spring water to drink and wash my face.

A few minutes later, just after wiping my face from a morning wash, I looked at the horizon to see that the sky blues were becoming evident and mixing well with the horizon oranges and red. I knew that this was the shot of the day the moment I took it.

Will sit down and write a presentation for work, check some emails, then head on down to the Miura Coast for some shutter-bugging. I'm trying to finish a couple of rolls with the Mamiya RZ67, so I can see the results.... one of the frustrations or anticipations that we don't have to deal with in the digital world.

Going Medium Format!! - Kumotori Camp Site

Kumotori Camp Site
Originally uploaded by typh00nrider

Well.... this picture is not medium format, but future landscape photos will primarily be medium format. I have made this decision since trying to blow some of these great digital format pictures into posters that I can enjoy on some bare walls. When I enlarged Green Falls to about an 8 X 10 (or the Japanese equivalent) the detail in the foreground leaves went away and all blended into a green blob. I retried the print, thinking that I had requested fitting and/or color adjustments, but even a second try did not improve things.

This took me to a look into which format will best get me anything from an 8X10 up to something that can fit a small wall - 40" X 60" - I settled down to two potential systems that I have spent the past month evaluating. Those two systems are the Pentax 67 and the Mamiya RZ67. Last night I broke down and picked up a Mamiya RZ67 and think I am going to enjoy the ride. It has a bellows that will allow you to extend the lens for close-up work with any mid-range or long-range lens available. I picked up one with 90mm lens and just did a few shots of some table fruit - how cliche! But just a few minutes ago I realized that I need a much greater exposure with the bellows extended. Doh!

Back to the picture. The flat area that flows off of the middle and left side of this photo is where I pitched my tent this past Friday. This camp site is at 1800 meters (5,900 feet), just as the colors started to change. It was taken with a Nikon D60 at 18mm at f10. HDR processed in HDR pro, then shadows pulled from the path and middle tree area in Photoshop.

Enjoy! My next blog entry will have the sunrise from the next morning.

Lesson In HDR With Photoshop - Pattaya Bay

Pattaya Bay
Originally uploaded by typh00nrider

I was looking at this guy's flickr page the other day to see that he was kind enough to detail exactly how he processed those photos. I took a bit of that insight and applied to a photo that I had taken a couple months ago while in Pattaya, Thailand. Thanks Artie!

Of course, the way that I have applied the effect to the clouds is not anywhere near the type of effect our artist mentioned applies. However, it did lead me to an important tool in controlling the contrasts and levels in clouds, which is very important for drabby white clouds that are often plaguing our beautiful landscape photo attempts. Furthermore, through copying the cloud area in isolation to the clipboard, I now adjust different parts of the photograph (this time clouds) by creating a new layer from the clipboard.... hehehe. Much more control!

Look forward to going through photos from my next climb - weather permitting good photo opportunities. Off to a full three-day week, then on to the mountains!