Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Happy Holidays from New York

'Tis the Season!


Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from New York City!


a photo of the plaza hotel in new york at christmas
Happy Holidays from New York!



Camera: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved




Sunday, November 15, 2015

Van Gogh In Paris

The City Of Light

Van Gogh's self-portrait, pictured below, is one of my favorite paintings in all the world. 

Every time I visit Paris, I make time to stop by the Musée d'Orsay. Once inside, I race to the top floor and stand in awe of Vincent's genius.


a photo of van gogh self portrait musee d'orsay paris


It is my sincere hope to visit Paris again in the near future. I love this beautiful city in so many ways.



Camera: Nikon D700
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved

Friday, November 6, 2015

Body Paint In Times Square

Vivid Colors on a Human Canvas

The next time you take a stroll through Times Square, don't be surprised if you receive a proposition - from Elmo, Minnie Mouse, Woody from 'Toy Story', or the Snowman from 'Frozen'. The Snowman is quite popular; you may see three or four separate instances of him on a single block.

These "performers" (if we can call them that) solicit money from tourists. They approach with a friendly wave, pose for a photo - sometimes a sizable group of them will jump into the frame. Afterward, they expect to be rewarded in cash.

This practice has been going on for decades. Tourists seem to enjoy their interactions with the "characters" despite the obvious requests for tips. Locals and commuting workers ignore the characters most of the time, but it's still fun to watch them milling around looking for business.

Over the last couple of years, a new type of "character" has set up shop in Times Square  - body painters, young women wearing only thongs, plumed head dresses, and brightly-colored paint on their exposed torsos. Minnie Mouse, they are not, and their presence has sparked some controversy. 



a photo of women in body paint in times square new york
Body Paint in Times Square


Has the presence of topless women degraded the Times Square experience or discouraged families from visiting this part of the city? I'm not sure that anyone knows for certain. The Naked Cowboy is topless, and he hasn't slowed down the flow of tourists. Nevertheless, there has been rhetoric from the mayor's office about shutting the practice down.

Given the uncertain future of the practice, I took it upon myself to snap a few photos of the ladies this past summer. I felt that it was my civic duty.



Camera: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved


Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Mets Blue On Park Avenue

Game One Of The The World Series!



a photo of park avenue in new york decorated in mets blue for the world series
Mets Blue on Park Avenue



Good luck to the New York Mets! (Or should I say, Metropolitans?)



Camera: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved



Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Western Ghost Towns - Bodie

The Enduring and Spooky Charm of Abandoned Places

The ghost town of Bodie lies northeast of Yosemite National Park near the border between California and Nevada. 

The place is amazing. Lots of buildings are still standing - although some of them look as though they are about to topple.

a photo of a leaning structure in the ghost town of bodie california by daniel south
Leaning Structure - Ghost Town - Bodie, California


If you travel to Yosemite, Mammoth Mountain, or Lake Tahoe, it would be worth taking a few hours to visit this destination. Just watch out for ghosts!


Camera: Nikon D800
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved



Thursday, August 27, 2015

The Rump

Finding New Meaning In Old Images

Sometimes, I'll shoot a photo for a specific purpose. The purpose directs the shot - What message or emotion would I like the photo to convey? Where will I find an appropriate subject? What type of light will be needed?

But most of the time, I select subjects on the spur of the moment. Something catches my eye, and I make a photograph without putting much thought into how I might use it. I trust that one day I'll find a use for it. 



a photo of a trump building in lower manhattan new york
The Rump



Circumstances change. A photo that once seemed fun or cute or novel might take on an entirely different meaning, and I'll finally understand why I took it.




Camera
: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:     Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS


Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved




Wednesday, May 27, 2015

California Lupines On Film

A Trip Down Memory Lane

This is one of my favorite images from the last excursion that I photographed primarily with film. 

It took a while to find an undisturbed cluster of flowers. Small animals had been burrowing in the area, and most of the flowers were marred by ugly piles of loose dirt. 

It was nearly dark by the time that I found this spot. I remember setting up my tripod and squatting close to the ground. I remember trying not to damage the flowers around me with my feet or my equipment bags.

I remember working to focus the large mechanical camera on an increasingly dim image, holding my breath as long as I could under the dark cloth so I wouldn't fog the ground glass. I remember checking everything twice before exposing a sheet of film that I had loaded carefully by hand. Was the aperture closed to the desired stop? Were my exposure calculations correct? Had I set the tilt accurately to keep the foreground and background in focus? Were all of the knobs locked securely? Had I bumped the image out of focus at any time?

I cocked the shutter, pulled the dark slide, and hoped that I hadn't overlooked anything.


a photo of California Lupines at Sunset on velvia 100 slide film 4x5
California Lupines at Sunset - Velvia 100 Color Reversal Sheet Film (4x5)


I love digital cameras. They make photography so much easier with instant feedback and a whole host of convenient features. 

But capturing an image like this on film, doing so many things accurately under such challenging conditions and not being able to see the result until days or weeks later, that was an unparalleled experience - when it actually worked.

Will I shoot film again? Probably not, or at least not very frequently. Most of the color labs have closed down. It's difficult to find someone to develop these amazing chromes. Professional scans are expensive. It's far more economical to capture the image directly in digital format.

I miss film. I miss the look. I miss the tactile experience of working with it and the fun of using those classic camera designs. I even miss the hassles of film, like trying to keep it cool in the summer and explaining to the TSA kid at the airport why he can't open the box for inspection. 

Giving up on film was like losing a friend. A very close friend. But the economy and convenience of digital imaging is overwhelming. Welcome to the future.


Camera: Ebony SV45-TE
Lens:     Schneider 110mm f/5.6 Super-Symmar XL

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved


Monday, May 18, 2015

Alice In Wonderland

Through The Looking Glass

The Alice In Wonderland statue is one of Central Park's most well-known attractions. Families with young children flock to the statue. Kids love to climb on it.

Under these conditions, it's virtually impossible to take a photo of the statue without people in the frame. 


a photo of the alice in wonderland statue in central park
Alice In Wonderland Statue - Central Park, New York


One potential solution is to photograph the statue at night when very few people are around to impede the view. 

Be advised that walking in Central Park in complete darkness, while not overtly dangerous, can seem a bit unnerving. Add a full bag of expensive camera equipment, and you've got quite an adventure on your hands. (The Mad Hatter would approve!)

Here's a crop showing the detail in the carving. If you click on the photo you can view a larger copy.



a photo of the detail in the alice in wonder statue in new york
Alice In Wonderland Statue - Detailed Crop



Now, if you'll forgive me, I must be on my way. I'm late for a tea party.



Camera: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved



Saturday, May 9, 2015

Grand Canyon - Layers of Time

Digging Deep

I was looking through my archives today hoping to delete some old photos and reclaim space on my hard drives. While reviewing photos from a trip to Grand Canyon, I came across this image.


a photo of grand canyon layers of time by daniel south for light happens
Layers of Time - Grand Canyon


I don't remember taking this particular image. The morning sunlight was hitting the canyon from the side creating shadows and contrast among the rock formations. Every time I saw what looked like an interesting composition, I set up my tripod and grabbed some shots. 

I ended up with hundreds of photos, some of which I never looked at closely. But this one jumped out at me. I like the way that the elements are arranged in the frame and the way that the layers stack up.

It's been a few years since my last trip to Grand Canyon. This photo reminds me how much I enjoy spending time there.


Camera
: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:     Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS


Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved





Thursday, April 30, 2015

Horses and Carriages

A New York Tradition

There has been a lot of talk in recent years about phasing out New York's horse and carriage rides. Some parties contend that the horses are not well treated. There was also a controversy over a political motive to open the stable property up for development. 


a photo of a horse and carriage in manhattan new york
Horse and Carriage on Eight Avenue


Happily, as of this posting, the carriages are still operating. Come take a ride! This New York tradition might not last forever.



Camera
: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II


Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved





Saturday, April 11, 2015

To Be A Rock

Grace Under Pounding Pressure

We all face challenges. We all endure hardships. But it's important to keep our troubles in perspective

When I feel that life is putting too much pressure on me, I think about this rock. Here he stands, a solitary sentinel, pounded mercilessly by massive waves, twenty-four hours a day.



a photo of a rock being pounded by massive waves in the pacific ocean by daniel south


a photo of a rock being pounded by massive waves in the pacific ocean by daniel south


a photo of a rock being pounded by massive waves in the pacific ocean by daniel south


a photo of a rock being pounded by massive waves in the pacific ocean by daniel south


a photo of a rock being pounded by massive waves in the pacific ocean by daniel south


a photo of a rock being pounded by massive waves in the pacific ocean by daniel south


a photo of a rock being pounded by massive waves in the pacific ocean by daniel south


a photo of a rock being pounded by massive waves in the pacific ocean by daniel south



Stay strong. Be rock solid. No problem is too great or too persistent to endure.


Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved




Saturday, April 4, 2015

Pacific Sunset

Catching Light As It Happens

Light really does happen, and sometimes it happens in majestic fashion. Get up out of bed and arrive at the scene in time, and you might just capture something spectacular.



a photo of the big sur coast california at sunset
Pacific Sunset




Happy Easter, everyone!


Camera: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Light happens. Be ready. Shoot hard.


Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
http://www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved
 


Sunday, March 29, 2015

A Wisp of Fog - Golden Gate At Sunset

The Astounding Light of San Francisco



a photo of the golden gate bridge in the fog at sunset
A Wisp of Fog - Golden Gate Bridge at Sunset




There is no city in the world like San Francisco. The dramatic topology and ever-changing weather and light provide limitless treasures for the eyes and for the soul.



Camera
: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED


Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved


Saturday, February 28, 2015

Eyes Of A Child

Observing The World




a photo of a young child featuring the eyes
Eyes Of A Child - Daniel South Photography


A lifetime of discovery awaits...



Camera
: Nikon D810
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II


Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved





Saturday, January 31, 2015

Creative Flash 10 - Impromptu Head Shot

Lighting Portraits On Location


Add one camera.

One speedlight.

One modifier.

And one beautiful model.



a head shot photo exterior with one speed light nikon
Impromptu Head Shot - One Speedlight



Result: One classy head shot!


Camera
: Nikon D800E
Lens:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
Flash:    Nikon SB-910 / SU-800 commander


Light happens.  Be ready.  Shoot hard.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved