People of Prague #9

Over the years I have developed my technique for photographing people without looking through the viewfinder. In the 1970’s I first became aware of The Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Although it really has nothing to do with the observer effect it does help to mathematically corroborate that principle. Simply stated the act of observing something changes that thing. I knew when I pointed my camera at people their behavior would change.

I thought to not have people react to me I had to photograph them in a stealth mode. First I employed telephoto lenses but since going digital I have began shooing without looking through the viewfinder. Wasting bits and pixels is a lot different than wasting film. I set the camera to a wide angle and select automatic focus and exposure. I get a lot of crap but then I also get shots like this one which make it all worthwhile. Next a mirror-less camera because people do react to the shutter noise if they are close enough.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

People of Prague #9

People of Prague #9

People of Prague #8

Over the years I have developed my technique for photographing people without looking through the viewfinder. In the 1970’s I first became aware of The Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Although it really has nothing to do with the observer effect it does help to mathematically corroborate that principle. Simply stated the act of observing something changes that thing. I knew when I pointed my camera at people their behavior would change.

I thought to not have people react to me I had to photograph them in a stealth mode. First I employed telephoto lenses but since going digital I have began shooing without looking through the viewfinder. Wasting bits and pixels is a lot different than wasting film. I set the camera to a wide angle and select automatic focus and exposure. I get a lot of crap but then I also get shots like this one which make it all worthwhile. Next a mirror-less camera because people do react to the shutter noise if they are close enough.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

People of Prague #8

People of Prague #8

People of Prague #7

Over the years I have developed my technique for photographing people without looking through the viewfinder. In the 1970’s I first became aware of The Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Although it really has nothing to do with the observer effect it does help to mathematically corroborate that principle. Simply stated the act of observing something changes that thing. I knew when I pointed my camera at people their behavior would change.

I thought to not have people react to me I had to photograph them in a stealth mode. First I employed telephoto lenses but since going digital I have began shooing without looking through the viewfinder. Wasting bits and pixels is a lot different than wasting film. I set the camera to a wide angle and select automatic focus and exposure. I get a lot of crap but then I also get shots like this one which make it all worthwhile. Next a mirror-less camera because people do react to the shutter noise if they are close enough.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

People of Prague #7

People of Prague #7

Rider Reimagined

I took this picture years ago. It is motion pan of a fashioned model that I worked with. After we did the fashion shots we went to her barn where she kept this beautiful horse and she went on a trail ride. I only had one chance to capture the motion pan. I set up in a meadow with my camera on a tripod and when I was ready I waved at her and she began her ride, I had always like this shot so I recently edited the image using NIK tools and used a vignette which may or may not have improved it. Your opinion?

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Rider Redux

Original

Original

California Dreaming

There have only been eleven Triple Crown of horse racing winners in history. In my lifetime there have been five but Assault in 1946 and Citation in 1948 don’t really mean anything to me. I was only three years old in 1948 and TV was hardly happening yet so I knew nothing about horseback riding. The three winners I remember are Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed. There is nothing more beautiful than watching a horse and rider. I took this picture in 1977 the year Seattle Slew won the triple crown. Having winners in 1973, 1977 and 1978 made us think we would see winners regularly. It’s been a long time so let’s go California Chrome!

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Horse and Rider

Horse and Rider

A Ride through a Meadow

I once worked with a Cheryl, a model that owned a horse. She wanted some images of her with her horse. We took some pictures around her barn which was what she was after. She thanked me and then said she was going for a ride. There was a large meadow adjacent to the barn and I asked if she could wait for a minute because I wanted to take a picture of her riding through the meadow before she went down the trail. I knew I would have only one chance for the “pan” motion shot that I wanted. Here it is. You can buy a print of this image at my commercial gallery by clicking here.

A Ride through a Meadow

Horse and Rider

Leonardo’s Horse

Horses are a popular theme in the modern cultural history of Milan. Maybe it’s because of the story of Leonardo’s horse. Leonardo’s horse is a sculpture that was commissioned of Leonardo da Vinci in 1482 by Duke of Milan but never completed. The late Charles C. Dent of Allentown, Pa. – a retired commercial airline pilot dedicated the final 17 years of his life to bring The Horse to life. While Charles C. Dent passed away in 1994 his organization continued and completed the statue in 1999. The statue stands as a symbol of goodwill between the American people and the people of Italy. I don’t know the background of this sculpture which is adjacent to Il Duomo but can’t help but think that in some way it is related to Leonardo”s Horse. You can see other imagaes for Italy and Europe on my commercial gallery.

Milan Horses Sculpture

Milan Horses Sculpture

Old Montréal

When we first traveled to Québec we bypassed Montréal because we thought all of the good old French culture would be in Québec city. The old city of Québec was not disappointing and we enjoyed our time their immensely except when we got attacked by killer black flies at the waterfalls. Then we went to Montréal to see the Jazz festival. We found out that we loved Montréal. It has the old city, history and architecture but it is also an upscale modern French city with trendy restaurants, beautiful gardens and an edge to it that we really liked. The Paris of Canada. This shot was taken in the old city and you can buy a print or see others at my commercial gallery.

Place De Armes Montreal

Place De Armes Montreal

Horsing Around in Montreal

One of the best ways to see Montreal is to take a carriage ride. It is also the easiest way since Montreal is a city of hills and essentially built on a mountain. Each ride comes with unique point of view on the city offered by the driver of the carriage. You can buy a print of this image on my commercial site by clicking here.

Horse and Driver in Montreal

Horse and Driver in Montreal

Old School Montréal

Québec has two major cities, Québec (City) and Montréal. When we first visited the provence of Québec, we went to Québec city because we wanted to see old French Canada. We then traveled to Montréal specifically to see the Jazz festival and we stayed in a modern high rise hotel. To our surprise, Montréal also has a wonderful old city which rivals Québec in history and European flavor. A good way to see the old city is to take a ride in a horse drawn carriage like these tourists. You can buy a print of this image on my commercial site by clicking here.

Horse and Driver in Montreal

Horse and Driver in Montreal