Tag Archives: Photography

Photos for Visualization

Early this year I was contacted by Robert Becker Visualization and asked if I could get photos of a parking lot where a new potential building may be erected. He contacted me because of my architectural photography background and would need the images to be perspective corrected with focal length data in the metadata. He would then take the photos, insert his rendering and various other items to give it perspective. These images are then used by developers to get approval from the cities and communities to build in these locations.

Broadway lot

Broadway building

Since then, Rob and I became fast friends and I have shot a half dozen or so locations since then. He’s found it helps the renders when the locations are professionally shot and they have more verisimilitude with the people making the decisions.

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The Paragon: Tech Housing for Fremont

My client bought out another multi-family residential company and as a result needed an image refresh for their site. Fremont has long been a haven for many of Silicon Valley’s engineers especially those from South Asian descent. It is a well designed mega complex spanning over two full city blocks. As most of the units followed similar floor plans I was only required to shoot the amenities and a one bedroom model. Although the units themselves were a bit generically boxy the amenities and exteriors were well designed and appointed.

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Hero Video of Russell Abraham

My colleague and studio mate hired me to make a hero video for his website update. We shot an interview in the studio and I employed his images as a pan and scan for imagery. We also added some footage that I got during one of our jobs together.

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Fooling around with Infrared

Ever since the day I switched over to digital, I’ve been jonesing to do some IR photography. For the longest time I relied upon external filters to help block out the visible light leaving me with very long and noisy exposures. Disappointed with the results and hassle I pretty much gave it up. Then there were small, enterprising companies that made cameras specific to IR and/or modified existing cameras to read the full spectrum -but these cameras were either too expensive or the megapixels were far too low to make it worth while.  Last Christmas, on a lark, I decided to take another look at the array of IR cameras on eBay. Much to my surprise, there were a plethora of makes and models out there for under $200.

After doing some research I settled upon a modified Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 by Kolari Vision.  It is a 16 megapixel camera with a Zeiss lens and is small enough to fit into the side pocket of my camera bag. Kolari Vision specializes in IR camera conversions. They have cameras in 590nm, 665nm, 720nm, 800nm, 850nm, and full spectrum filters. They take used but good condition cameras and remove the Hot Mirror and replace it with an IR pass filter. I chose a 720nm filter for the widest range of results. Because you not putting a huge light block on the front end of the camera you can shoot many shots without a tripod. You do however have to make sure you set your white balance before shooting -they recommend a grass field as it’s closest to an 18% grey card.

Kolari Vision does a great job and provides a CD with tips about IR photography as well as some great false color Photoshop actions. This has become one of the more satisfying additions to the kit in quite a while. I can hardly wait until spring time!

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The Art of the Twilight Shot

Nothing quite sells a set of photographs like a twilight shot. It is often referred to as the money shot because most clients swoon over it. On a recent shoot for Jackson Dean Construction, I was given the instruction to get many angles of the exterior. But when I got there, I realized that there were few angles and they would all have to include the front facade to hold any interest. Therefore, with a limited number of angles, I decided to shoot a couple of times throughout the afternoon and ending with the twilight shot above.

The prime objective of the twilight shot is to balance the exterior and interior luminance. This can occur anywhere between 1 hour before sunset to one hour after. It is also dependent upon the Sun’s setting direction and the geographic features in it’s path. I  recommend disabling the auto focus because it can get dark enough to throw it off. Rather than resetting your color balance to 3200° (tungsten) I recommend leaving the setting on daylight (5000°) to warm up the building. Then you can desaturate the red/yellow from the tungsten sources in post. Finally, make sure you are set on a tripod, in place, before this time occurs because, depending upon the time of year, it may only last for about 5 minutes.

 

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DPA Lightroom Fundamentals

Saturday April 14th 11am-3:30pm – $125

At Adobe Systems as a contractor in 2007, I had the privilege of working on Lightroom’s launch. Many of us felt that this is what Photoshop should have developed into. Both programs are great but if your focus is photos, you need Lightroom. The cost factor aside: the code is lighter and the algorithms are much more effective in many of the functions. In addition, Lightroom has great tools for metadata, keywording and databasing. From photo pro to interested hobbyist, this is the one program you’ll need.

Before                                                                                                    After

This course is for all levels. There will be plenty of time to work on your images, ask questions and have nagging issues resolved. You must bring a laptop with Lightroom 3 already loaded (a free trial is available at Adobe). PCs or Macs are fine.

©Eric Sahlin

In the LIBRARY module we’ll cover

-Import Dialog
-Renaming, changing order, rating, keywording, organizing, synching metadata and comparison functions
-Quick Develop
-View Options
– Collections and Exporting

In the DEVELOP module we’ll cover

-White Balance, Tone, Presence, Tone Curve, HSL/Color/B&W, Detail, Lens Corrections and Camera Calibration.
-Localized corrections
-Synching corrections
-Panel control
-Output to file, Facebook, Flickr and SmartMug

In the SLIDESHOW module we’ll cover

-Options, Layout, Overlays, Backdrop, Titles and Playback
-Adding Text, Music and Templates

In the PRINT module we’ll cover

-Layout Style, Image settings, Guides, Page and Print Job
-Templates and customization

In the WEB module we’ll cover

-Layout Styles, Site info, Appearance, Image Info, Output Settings and Upload Settings
-Flash, html and user templates as well as custom plug-ins

There is no doubt that Lightroom will change your workflow and will truly “Simplify photography from shoot to finish.”

We will break a half hour for lunch and my studio is close to a number of restaurants.

Eric’s studio is located at:309 4th Street #108 Oakland, CA

For more information or to register contact our student Liaison at 877.372.2231 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 877.372.2231 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

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1000 Broadway Ave.

I was recently hired to shoot the Trans Pacific Center at 1000 Broadway. Of course it had to be done on a very busy intersection and during the winter. In the northern hemisphere the sun is about 23° further south than in the summer and unless you have a south facing building, at least half will be in shadow. In addition, this was a block size building and the sun rose right above it. I solved this problem by shooting an additional sky and striping it in.

The backlit shot of the building with a custom lens shade -my hand.

I liked the original sky with the sun flare

Final

After blending the two images with a coupe of others and after a little more work on perspective and lighting, I arrived at the final image. Customers today won’t accept an average shot which requires Photoshop work to make it acceptable.

 

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DPA Workshop: Advanced Photoshop – Photoshop for Photographers

Saturday Nov. 19th, 9am-5pm ~ DPA Instructor Eric Sahlin $150 per person

At Adobe Systems as a contractor in 2007 – 2008, I  had the privilege of working on Photoshop and Bridge. Photoshop is the most ubiquitous and powerful imaging software in the world and a must for every photographer. Eric will cover advanced techniques to improve your workflow. The course will cover:

  • Photoshop Bridge Management
  • The new features of Adobe Camera Raw
  • Work space customization
  • Color fundamentals, neutralization and local adaptation
  • Blending, image distortion and luminance controls
  • Cloning and healing techniques, Noise reduction and output sharpening for print and web

Photo ©Eric Sahlin Photography

I will do a deep dive into these features and how they will improve you output. Please bring your own images to work on for the second half of the class.

This course is meant for intermediate and above users of the program. Please bring your Mac or PC Laptop, loaded with Photoshop CS4 or CS5 to the studio (a free trial is available at Adobe).

Photo ©Eric Sahlin Photography

The studio is located at 309 4th Street #108 Oakland, CA

Register online at: www.digitalphotoacademy.com, or via email: info@digitalphotoacademy.com, or Toll Free: 877.372.2231  877.372.2231 

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DPA Composition in the Field – Assignment: North Beach

July 16th – 10am-2pm – by DPA Instructor Eric Sahlin$99

Imagine that you’ve been hired to shoot photos of this colorful, little Italian neighborhood in San Francisco for an article in a national magazine. I will lead a small group of photographers on a rewarding quest to fulfill an assignment for a fictitious magazine.

Saints Peter and Paul Church from Coit Tower

Mona Lisa Restaurant Signage

Mona Lisa Restaurant Signage

TransAmerica Tower and Columbus Tower

Subjects covered include:
Reading and interpreting the assignment letter

Mapping shoots and preparation

Interpretation and composition

Negative space for copy

Releases and how to determine if one is needed

Composition techniques

Review of the shots and how to finish the assignment

Vesuvio Mural

We will start at the La Boulange in North Beach, have a short meeting there and go out for the morning shots, then lunch at TBD, then out for the afternoon shots – finally reviewing the days shots at the Caffe Trieste.

Cafe Trieste sign

There will be quite a bit of walking so wear comfortable shoes. Please bring only the kit that you can carry and it is expected that all the attendees know how to operate your own cameras.

Mural

Bill Weber’s Jazz Mural

Strip Clubs on Broadway

The Old Strip Clubs along Broadway

Register online at: www.digitalphotoacademy.com, or via email: info@digitalphotoacademy.com, or Toll Free: 877.372.2231.
This also makes a great gift for the photographer in your life. Gift certificates are available from DPA.

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DPA Workshop: DSLR 101 for those who want to know their camera

May 11th 6pm – 10pm ~ DPA Instructor Eric Sahlin  $50 per person

The DSLR can be a little overwhelming when you are not used to it. I will take you through the simple concepts and commands that will put you back in control of your images.

Whether you have a Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax, or whatever -the fundamentals are the same and easily explained.

Please bring you camera with the batteries charged and your owner’s manual.

The studio is located at 309 4th Street #108 Oakland, CA

Register online at: www.digitalphotoacademy.com, or via email: info@digitalphotoacademy.com, or Toll Free: 877.372.2231 .

This also makes a great gift for the photographer in your life. Gift certificates are available from DPA.


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