_JohnMuir's photostream  

With the harsh winter light, I'm finding the best time for shooting exteriors here in southern California is before 9:00 AM

Nikon D700 with 24mm PC-E lens

Straight out of the camera with minimal color desaturation.

Does this "look" look familiar?
This is my new favorite thing; putting my 24mm PC-E lens on the crop sensor D300 for an effective 36mm view - with full tilt/shift capability. The compression on these shots is terrific - looks more like what we see in shelter magazines.

Six shot blend using EnfuseGUI
Shot in RAW, then converted to 16 bit TIFF, then Enfused.
SB600 with stofen at 85mm high on stand CR aimed into fireplace. SB80 with 1/4 CTO at 50mm far CR behind lamp on right aimed at decorations over fireplace to provide some crosslight.

I had photographed this home the afternoon prior, but the sun was going down behind the hill at the rear of the house and the light was horrible.

No problem. I live nearby - I'll just pop over first thing in the morning and get some good light on the front of the house - NOT! House faces more north than I thought.

SB600 on stand to CR aimed at front door and SB80 balanced on the For Sale sign just out of frame CR - both at full blast.

Got lucky with the backlight on the tree and the rim light on the chimneys. Sky is hand blended.

Six shot blend using EnfuseGUI
Trying a new lighting approach - SB600 bare bulb at 1/16 and 85mm high on a boom CR and aimed down into center of table.
SB80 with WAD high on stand CL aimed towards opposite corner.
SB80 on seat of leather chair in adjacent room aimed at sliding doors
Window pull is hand blended.

As soon as I walked into this room, I thought of Dale.

Six shot blend using EnfuseGUI
Lot of help from french doors CR
SB600 high on stand immediate CL firing into STU
SB80DX at low power handheld high immediate CR with Stofen fired towards coffee table for some snap.
SB80DX behind couch fired into top of banker's box I found back there to help light up the doors.
Tripod location determined so I could see fireplace in the mirror CR.

This was one of the few occasions where I wanted to see a lot of ceiling, so shot this with Nikon D300 using a Tokina f/4 12-24mm at its widest setting.