Jim | jld3 photography's photostream  

skyline bokeh.

just because.

This is the most technically progressive image I've taken. Comprised of 12 photographs (2 rows of 6 columns), each individually processed - and most importantly straightened - then merged to a massive 13765x4192 pixel, 165mb TIFF file.

This photo doesn't show well on flickr; but when viewed on a large screen at or near full resolution it's pretty cool (if you're into skylines). Better yet, it can print 8 feet wide at 150dpi and look crystal clear.

This is the first of a few of these I took over the next few days, and the largest. I used my new 80-200mm lens at 125mm. All 12 photographs exposed 5 secs. @ f/7.1.

Below are some crops at 100% to give and an idea of size/detail.

Have a good weekend!

See the children run as the sun goes down
Among the fields of gold

Sting
Fields of Gold
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Picked up the 80-200 2.8 lens for Christmas and finally had some good time to get to use it. So far I'm very pleased! It's pretty sharp at 200mm + f/2.8, and i love its bokeh.

More test shots for those interested here:
www.flickr.com/x/t/0096009/gp/jld3/UNo313/

1-14-12 EDIT: I have replaced the original crop [see below] with this tighter crop. Not sure it makes for a better image or not?
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I’m not sure what it is exactly about shooting skylines I like. Maybe all the little details. Maybe being detached from the subject. Coming from San Antonio I know part of it is the challenge of finding that perfect spot. There are just not that many vantage points.

Since I’m not from – and not very familiar with – Houston it presents some of the same challenges. Before making this most recent trip I relied heavily on Google Earth to scout various locations (I LOVE how many buildings have been 3D-ified in Houston compared to San Antonio). While most of my earlier skyline shots were based on locations seen in other flickr posts, I’m proud to say I found this locale all on my own and – best I can tell – I haven’t come across another flickr photo of the Houston skyline photographed from this same spot.

Since I consider finding the perfect spot half the battle to a great skyline pic (the other half being execution), I can see why so many choose not to reveal the location. I always map my spots although sometimes they’re not easy to get to. This one is. [Update: actually - and this is not the first time I've noticed this - Yahoo's maps are becoming increasingly obsolete and the parking garage from where I shot isn't even in their current map! No wonder I haven't seen the skyline photo'd from here. Anyway, I approximated it]

BTW, “optically clear” is a term used to describe one of the products in my industry and I like the sound of it. I felt it applied here nicely given the clear weather conditions I had when I took this photo. (Normally, I’m hoping for some cool cloud formations to add interest, but this time I liked the clean look I got with the cloudless sky.)

4 sec. exposure @ f/11

©2012 jld3 photography. Please do not use or reproduce without written permission.

I made the usual pilgrimage to Houston over the holidays and planned several skyline shots in advance. One of them was from this particular vantage point which I had seen done before and wanted to do because it would be from a new angle, devoid of all the parking lots that plagued my skyline shots from last year. I assumed incorrectly, that I’d be able to finagle my way to outdoor access. So while I was able to scout the spot and get the access/timing I wanted, I had to settle for shooting through some pretty thick and dirty glass. Therefore, these images aren’t nearly as clean/clear as I would’ve liked. Fortunately, for flickr viewers, it doesn’t become really obvious until looking at the images at full resolution.

13 sec. exposure @ f/6.3