Rent a Bike

Rent a Bike.

During my first photowalk at PhotoPlus, our group came across this really cool long row of blue bikes for rent. We talked about how the scene changed dramatically from chaotic to more of a story telling image when we reduced our depth of field from f8 or f11 to f2.8. It allowed us to isolate one bike, in this case the front bike, then let the viewer simply follow the visual path through the frame with out of focus bikes behind it. It was a short walk, but lots of subjects to photograph!

Here is a little video of my second, which was also my last day, at the Expo. There is a segment of the new Tamron lenses for full frame Sony cameras in there as well. I really look forward to adding a few of them to my lens line up! I wasn’t able to walk around and video the entire Expo floor due to so many booths playing music in the background which would have violated the licensing of the music and the video would have been pulled by YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAMLrp1OcWw

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD for Sony FE mount lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f2.8, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, handheld utilizing the stabilization of the camera, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron2875mirrorless, #PhotoPlusExpo, #BearWoodsPhotography

“Spot”

“Spot”

 

While I was at PhotoPlus Expo in NYC I conducted 2 sessions in the Tamron Pet Portrait Studio. We were partnered with Best Friends Animal Society in New York City. They brought two dogs hoping to get them some exposure (no pun intended) and ideally adopted. At my first session on Thursday my model was Spot, who is absolutely as cute and sweet as they get. The session started at 10:30 am and there was one lady in the crowd that Spot was immediately attracted to, and she to him. She shared with me how they had lost a dog after many years and she could see that dog in Spot. She went out to find her husband who was busy looking at all the great camera gear at the show to bring him back to meet Spot. He came back and Spot immediately jumped up started licking his face. The couple shared with me that they had planned to spend the day at the expo, but that changed, instead they were headed to Best Friends Animal Society to adopt Spot. Everything went great with their application and Spot was going home with them after his session Friday. Our goal was to help people to learn how to photography their pets, helping to place one of the dogs into a home was awesome! Bertha the other dog we photographed was a sweetheart and she may have met her family as well. The young lady who met her and fell in love with her is taking her family to Best Friends to see how it goes. Thank you Best Friends Animal Society and Tamron Lenses USA for doing such great things like the Pet Portrait Studio!

 

Tamron 35-150mm Di VC OSD lens on a Nikon Z6, Manual Exposure mode, f4, ISO 1250, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, handheld utilizing the Vibration Compensation feature of the lens, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron35150, #PortraitTravelZoom, #PhotoPlusExpo, #BestFriendsAnimalSociety, #BearWoodsPhotography

Hudson Yards Reflections

Hudson Yards Reflections.

 

Yesterday afternoon I lead a photowalk at PhotoPlus Expo. We didn’t make it very far actually because we started photographing all the reflections on a few of the buildings across the street and a block down from the Javits Center. It seemed each time we walked 10 feet it would change the composition a little. This was the final image. We liked how the flag at the bottom of the frame lined up in the center of the one part of the reflection and we were able to eliminate the white sky between the two buildings that was a bit distracting. This morning is going to be a busy one as I will be going non-stop from 8 a.m. until about 1 p.m., when I finish up with another puppy session.

 

Here is a video just to try to give you an idea of what these shows are like and a peek at my massive hotel room at Yotel, which was a new experience in itself. I will hopefully be able to do a little video of today as well. As always, if you like it, please give it a thumbs up and don’t forget to “Subscribe” to my channel.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kxe2xpRzaU

 

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD for Sony FE mount on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, handheld, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron2875mirrorless, #PhotoPlusExpo, #BearWoodsPhotography

Today is the day

Today is the day.

 

I have been working on my “Heroes and Healers” project for a couple of months now, and today is the day that I give the first presentation of the project at the PhotoPlus Expo in NYC. I will continue the project for as long as it will offer opportunities and hopefully expand it as well in the future. It has been very emotional for me to meet the families and hear the stories of how the dogs have changed their lives, and those of others. I will be happy to share their importance in lives to the groups attending.

 

This is Jacqueline. She is one of the younger dogs in training at Canine Assistants. She is learning how to solve problems on her own. This particular exercise teaches her how to get the treats out of the bottles. She spins them and they fall out. She is funny, when another dog is nearby, she acts like the bottles are empty, and when the other dog walks away she gets the treats out! This will teach her how to get things like medicine bottles when it falls off a table and goes under furniture. The way the folks teach the dogs is amazing, it isn’t repetition, it is to help them think. They are awesome folks!

 

Tamron 35-150mm Di VC OSD lens on a Nikon Z7 via the FTZ adapter, Manual Exposure mode, f4, ISO 1400, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, handheld utilizing the Vibration Compensation feature of the lens, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron35150, #PortraitTravelZoom, #CanineAssistants, #HeroesandHealers, #BearWoodsPhotography

18 Years

18 Years.

 

18 Years ago, I sat at my desk, processing images, having a cup of coffee, just normal things I do every morning. When I am working I usually have a TV on as background noise. I remember sitting and hearing a plane had hit one of the World Trade Centers. I stopped working and started watching. I was thinking to myself, “How can you fly into such a large building in daylight”? How could you not see it? I was thinking it was a small private plane at first. The news had conflicting stories as to the size of the plane. Then the second plane flew into the other tower. I remember sitting and staring at the TV in complete shock. It took me what felt like an hour, even though I know it was just a minute or so, to stand up and tell Evelyn and then Eric what had happened. Eric knew right away what it was and who had done it, and why. Evelyn and I were more in shock. The events of that day 18 years ago are etched in my mind like it was yesterday. Today as I sit and work on my computer, it seems for me many things are still the same, but I know in my mind they aren’t. Almost 3,000 people were on their way to work or simply doing what they did every day, but would never see their tomorrow. Since that day many more have died as a result of those attacks in NYC, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC. It didn’t end for some that day, or even that week, depression, injuries sustained that day, Serviceman and women have died helping to keep us safe, and cancer has taken many more from us. Things can never be the same as they were that morning before that event.

 

Never Forget, we owe it to all of those people who perished on that day and each day since in keeping us Free.

 

This was an image I made of the Manhattan Skyline in 2017, an image very different from 18 years ago.

 

Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD lens on a Nikon D-750, Manual Exposure mode, f5.6, ISO 400, shutter speed of 114 seconds, Sirui tripod, processed in Lightroom. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron2470, #SiruiUSA, #NeverForget, #BearWoodsPhotography

My thoughts are with the people of NYC

My thoughts are with the people of NYC.

 

I was very shocked and saddened at the terrorist attack yesterday in NYC. My first thought was for some of the wonderful people I met last week, hoping none of them were victims. I then started wondering if any of the victims were people I crossed paths with on the street during my short 3 days there. Sadly the victims were simply people just riding their bikes or out enjoying the weather or on their way to shop, or to work. Random people who had their lives ended for being in the wrong place when a terrorist decided to kill. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victims, and to the people of NYC.

 

I mentioned last week was my first opportunity to try a bagel from a street vendor. I feel bad, but I didn’t even get his name as I placed my order and talked very briefly with him. There was a fairly long line waiting for his food. I had the opportunity to watch and observe him as he helped those in front of me. He smiled and talked with each and everyone of them. He was simply doing his job, but doing it well. He made each and every person feel they were his one and only customer. He was extremely personable in a city of millions, he is NYC. I’m not a New Yorker, I’m just a country boy, but one thing we can all agree on is to keep these wonderful folks and their healing in our thoughts, prayers and actions.

 

Tamron SP 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-750, Aperture Priority, f2.8, ISO 400, shutter speed of 1/30th of a second, handheld utilizing the Vibration Compensation feature of the lens, MindShift Gear FirstLight 20L backpack, processed and converted in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #SiruiProfessional, #MindShiftGear

The Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge.

 

One of those “iconic” images you have to take is the skyline of Manhattan with the Brooklyn Bridge in the foreground. The last place our little group of friends shot was from the park at the base of the bridge. I chose Black and White for my presentation of the image simply because it just looked like a BW image to me as I processed it. There is a challenge going around on Facebook about posting BW images and encouraging others to do so as well. I have received a few messages asking if they could challenge me and have been nominated a few times already. I would love to see lots of folks posting images for everyone to see even if they aren’t challenged, but instead just to share and hopefully someone learns and is inspired with their image. If I accepted all the nominations and challenges, I would never get to share my regular images, but I try to at least participate in an effort to inspire or encourage others to try new things and to see different ways. Seeing a world loaded with colors in black and white is something that is not an easy task. However when you learn to do so, you learn tones and shapes very well. Get out and shoot at least one image every day, process it, and post it, that is my challenge to everyone. It will keep you sharp and help you with your workflow as well.

 

Tamron SP 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-750, Manual Exposure mode, f16, ISO 100, shutter speed of 30 seconds, Sirui T2205X tripod and G20X ballhead, MindShift Gear FirstLight 20L backpack, processed and converted in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional, #MindShiftGear

NYC Panoramic

NYC Panoramic.

 

After doing several images from the area with the pylons, one of our group suggested we walk out to the end of an old dock area to see if we could do an image of the Brooklyn Bridge as well. From the corner of the dock, I could see it was just calling for an attempt at a panoramic of the Bridge and the Skyline. I decided to shoot with the camera in “portrait” or vertical and then I would stitch those images together using PS. I should have mentioned yesterday, but will do so today, to give a much more desirable look I remembered the numerous times I have heard one of my teachers, Bryan Peterson, instruct his classes to put the camera in “Fluorescent” White Balance. It makes a huge difference. I then adjusted the zoom to 46mm, made sure my tripod, ballhead and camera were all level, then shot image after image overlapping about 25% to make it easy for the software to stitch. I did 7 images for this image. This was the initial stitching and processing so a little fine tuning is needed before printing, but I am impressed with the job the software did on its first attempt. I will eventually print, probably a metal print, and will offer this image for print sale as well. The full sized image is almost 400 megabites! You have to love the resolution of that full frame camera and incredibly sharp Tamron 24-70mm G2 lens!

 

All 7 images were shot with the Tamron SP 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-750, Manual Exposure mode, f16, ISO 100, shutter speed of 30 seconds, Sirui T2205X carbon fiber travel tripod and G20X ballhead, MindShift Gear FirstLight 20L, stitched in Photoshop 2018 CC, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional, #MindShiftGear

The Manhattan Skyline

The Manhattan Skyline.

 

So this is my third trip to NYC in the past 5 years or so, and it marked many first for me. Yesterday I had my first bagel and coffee from a street vendor. Good stuff, I know there is better in the city though at some of the deli’s, but I was in a rush. I also took my first ride on a subway train. During the ride back, I got to listen to a traveling piano man on the train who supported his piano around his neck with RG59 cable and duct tape. Actually he was very entertaining. I saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time. Awesome, even from the distance I saw her. I saw the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time. And I photographed the Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn! I had been scouting images for a while in hopes to go shoot it this trip. So along with some of the folks from Sirui and a couple other friends, we made our way over to the Promenade Park and to the pylons near the piers. I was mesmerized just seeing the incredible view that was before me. It is a great thing to see and such a iconic image of what makes America.

 

Tamron SP 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-750, Manual Exposure mode, f5.6, ISO 400, Sirui 6 stop ND filter, shutter speed of 114 seconds, Sirui T-2205X tripod and G20X ballhead, MindShift Gear FirstLight 20L, processed in Lightroom Classic CC, #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional, #MindShiftGear

Day 1 at PhotoPlus and Unrelated Hawk

Day 1 at PhotoPlus and Unrelated Hawk.

 

This Hawk has nothing to do with this post, sort of. So yesterday was the first day of PhotoPlus up here in NYC. When I was boarding the airplane yesterday in Atlanta, I saw my friend and fellow photographer Rob Knight getting on board as well. I asked if he was headed to the show and he said yes. I asked if he was interested in sharing a cab, and again he agreed. Talking with Rob was a nice distraction for me in the cab because it took my attention off of the near 500 collisions we would encounter on the way to the Javit’s Center. Now it takes me a couple of trips to get used to style of driving up here, it reminds me of cars trying to merge at the drive thru at Bojangles if the Cajun Filet biscuits were 5 cents for a morning. I also realized they put a little tv screen in the back seat to cover up all the honking that goes on. I think if your horn is broken up here, you could be in serious trouble.

 

I checked in at the Javit’s Center and got my name badges, then started to wander. I saw lots of old friends up here so far. I talked with a lot of photographers, who are super interested in all the cool gear available. I saw and/or talked with photographers that were here for the networking, meeting folks and some hoping to get sponsors for their businesses. That is always kind of funny to watch. I know from experience of being here before, it is amazing how some folks will just come to the show to convince the manufacturers they “need” to send them free gear. Its part of the business, I know, I have sponsors, but some folks are pretty ruthless in their attempts.

 

I got to hang out with some great folks at the Tamron Booth, it is the one time of the year I can see all of them at once. What a great group of folks, I am honored to call them my friends. Same with the folks at the Sirui Booth. The photo industry is small enough where everyone almost knows everyone, much like my hometown of Jasper. One huge highlight of hanging out in the Tamron Booth was seeing and playing with the new Tamron 100-400mm Di VC lens. What a great lens! I did a few images to test it shooting fairly far away and was really impressed with the sharpness! It will be hitting the streets soon and at $799 it will be a huge hit!

 

My presentation at the Tamron Booth was a lot of fun and I had a crowd of “standing room only” folks, not because there were hundreds of people but because there were no chairs! Seriously though, they were super, very interactive with my presentation and had lots of great questions. Ken Hubbard, from Tamron, and I left shortly after the presentation to head over to the Lincoln Center for my presentation to the Sierra Photo NY group. The area of the Lincoln Center we were in was where the Julliard and NY Opera folks meet. I didn’t know what to expect but I was very pleasantly surprised so many folks from the big city came to hear a country boy talk about photography. Again, lots of great questions, they laughed at my jokes (don’t judge them for that), and we went out to a great little diner after the presentation. Just a fantastic group and I look forward to seeing many of them again in the next few days as well as the future.

 

Back to the Hawk, it is a 6 month old Red-tailed Hawk from the picnic last week. I haven’t had the opportunity to get the camera out here yet so I had to post something! I added a few new birds to my life list so far, the Blue Light Warbler and the Red Light Warbler, both make the sound similar to sirens. Both are active during daylight and at night. My favorite so far is the Yellow Cab Horned Warbler, which makes the sound of a car horn. You hear a lot more than you see. 😉

 

I will say this, I really like the people of NYC, they are friendly, helpful and honest. I asked directions from several folks and it amazed me at how they would go out of their way to help. Very much like my hometown, just several million more folks here.

 

I won’t give all the details on the image, I’ve rambled enough, but it was made with the Tamron 150-600mm Di VC USD lens on a Nikon D-800E and a Sirui EP204S monopod. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional