By Ted Grussing
… is an artform as well as a means of freezing a slice of time so that in the future you can look back at people and events to remember them as they were. I lean more to the artform and as a result I do spend time on some images rendering them more of a work of art, rather than just a freeze frame of whatever. The purpose being to not only present a slice of real life, but a touch of how I view the scene as filtered through my lens, eyes and mind to present you with a photographic work of art.
The image last night was just such an image; the ducks were as shot, but I played with the background somewhat to make it more pleasing to look at than the mud clumps which were there. The brownish water is also pretty much as shot. As with all images you start with a very good image and then let your mind go to work … mostly I stick close to reality, but when I get into compositing, all bets are off.
Ansel Adams was one of the great photographers and artists; he started with great images and then refined them in the darkroom; his work was amazing and much of the punch came after the shot was taken … he was an artist!
I recall doing the same with black and white images in my darkroom when I was a kid. Today the tools are vastly improved and more powerful and the darkroom is pretty well a thing relegated to history. Digital images are the norm and Adobe Photoshop is the standard in processing these digital images. I have been using Photoshop two or more hours a day beginning with version 2.5 in early 1993 … I have also spent countless hours on tutorials as well as my own experimenting with the various tools and techniques. I am also a lifelong student of learning how to use my cameras as it is the skilled use of them that is the basis for all that follows.
So, the shot tonight is as shot with minor tweaks in Adobe Camera Raw plugin and Photoshop (never got into Lightroom). I shoot everything in Raw format and post processing is always required; if you shoot Jpeg’s, some tech guy has determined the changes which will automatically be made to your photograph in the camera before it is saved to the card. Raw, captures exactly what the sensor sees and since it does not have the capabilities of the human eye, processing has to occur.
Anyhow, I got a lot of inquiries as to what I did to last nights photo, so hope this answers the questions.
This is a photo I shot last January and there was a lot more snow … it is an aerial shot from about 750’ above the forest and includes Rogers Lake in the foreground and the San Francisco Peaks on the horizon above it. To the left of the peaks is Kendrick Peak and on the right side is Mt. Elden … it was a beautiful day and anxious to get up there again soon. I shoot out the side vent of my canopy and normally one hand it. On the occasions when I need two hands on the camera I use my knees on the stick and it works very well. I have a few presets I like to use when doing aerial work, but some days I will make numerous changes in settings … enough :+)
Have a beautiful day and share your joy with those you meet and greet … life is good as are most people … be one of them!
Cheers
Ted
And in this journey over a thousand hills and valleys called life, he is wisest who
is patient where the way is hard, has faith when he does not understand, and carries
into the dark places the light of a cheerful heart.
— Max Ehrmann
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The easiest way to reach Mr. Grussing is by email: ted@tedgrussing.com
In addition to sales of photographs already taken Ted does special shoots for patrons on request and also does air-to-air photography for those who want photographs of their airplanes in flight. All special photographic sessions are billed on an hourly basis.
Ted also does one-on-one workshops for those interested in learning the techniques he uses. By special arrangement Ted will do one-on-one aerial photography workshops which will include actual photo sessions in the air.
