‘Photography’ Category

A Day At Titlow Beach

Yesterday my girlfriend, Kendra, Rey and I went out to Titlow Beach in University Place, Washington to walk around for a while and enjoy the amazing sunny and slightly cloudy, although warm weather. I decided to take the opportunity to photograph my friends and also add a few more pictures to my portfolio.

The day continually shifted from bright sunlight into shaded spots from the clouds. This was a challenge for me to continually modify my flash power and aperture. Overall I was able to capture some quality photos.

Hoya 58mm UV S-HMC Haze Filter Review

I recently purchased the Hoya 58mm UV S-HMC Haze Filter from B&H Photo Video.  This UV filter is attached to my Canon 50mm f/1.4 prime lens.  One of the first problems I noticed with the filter was the very noticeable flare showing up as a greenish color when pointed towards the sun.  This was expected considering even without the filter, the lens would pick up a ton of flare.

One moment while shooting with the filter on, a flare caught me by surprise.  My flash was reflecting off of the prescription glasses my mom wears.  Two bright green flares coming right out from them.  This bothers me, especially since it is marketed as being a “low flare” model, the S-HMC.  The fact is, placing a flat piece of glass in front of your lens will create it’s own flare, but as protection from drops and moisture, there shouldn’t be a green flare showing up in your pictures.

*Edit*
After doing further test shots with the filter, the “flare” that I saw off my mother’s glasses was not flare so much as it was just glare from the flash. The glasses that she wears combined with the filter caused the flash reflection to become green.

I know the UV filter has its uses, foggy days, shooting pictures at the beach, but when you start getting bright green flares in your pictures, it gets irritating fast. Although the possibility of having lens flare in your images, the filter does a great job at protecting the lens and creating a little better contrast in my images.

A Little Bird

A little bird has been living in one of the bird holes above the front door of my house.  Unfortunately for the bird, the holes are in the process of being covered with new vents that outside of the holes.  There are more holes being drilled into spots that previously had none and everything is being covered for consistency.  It was pretty cool to come home and see it every night.

The Pictures I Take

These photographs are some of my favorites.  These were all taken with the Canon 50mm f/1.4 prime lens and a Canon XSI.  The “nifty fifty” 50mm f/1.4 is an awesome lens for portrait style pictures and I am always amazed by how sharp my photos are including the quality of bokeh.