Lightroom 2 on a 13″ MacBook Pro

As most of you know, Apple made some major product announcements earlier this week at their worldwide developer conference. While the new iPhone 3Gs looks very cool, it was the new 13 MacBook Pro that really caught my attention.

I've always liked the light-weight and small form factor of the my 13 MacBook, but really lusted after the more powerful graphics processor, larger hard drive and aluminum unibody construction found in the MacBook Pro models.

Now we have the best of both worlds in the new 13 MacBook Pro and I went ahead and ordered mine a few days ago. Setting it up and migrating all the programs and files from my old MacBook went perfectly and only took a few hours to complete.

And what a result! Lightroom 2 really flies on this machine and with the faster CPU & GPU, I don't hear the constant whine of the fan every time I start working in Lightroom. If you use Adobe Lightroom 2 on an older MacBook you really should look at the new 13 MBP. It's one sweet machine.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Apple, MacBook, MacBook Pro

Landscape Photography – Columbus Tower

As many of you know, I love wandering around small Texas towns with my camera in hand. Each town I visit has a rich and varied history as well as some of the most wonderful architecture a photographer could ever ask for.

Columbus, Texas is no exception. After a serious fire gutted the town's livery stable and hotel in 1883, the county commissioners authorized construction of a round brick water tower, constructed from some 400,000 locally made bricks. The incredible brick walls in this tower were built almost three feet thick to support a metal water tank atop the two-story structure. Beneath it, the city's volunteer fire department had its office and fire fighting equipment. After the early 1900 s the water tower fell into disrepair and in 1926 the United Daughters of the Confederacy got county officials to agree to let them use the tower as their meeting place. It stands proudly there to this day as a wonderful historical marker.

Tower in Columbus, Texas
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 24mm, f/6.3 for 1/640th of a second at ISO 200 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2 using Nik's Color Efex Pro plug-in. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 40D, Landscape Photography, Texas Towns

Self Assignment – BMW / Mini Cooper Autocross

After reading all of Scott Kelby's recent racing posts, I thought I'd give myself a little self assignment and shoot the BMW / Mini Cooper Autocross event this Sunday morning. My brother-in-law is driving in this event and it will give me a chance to try something new in my photography.

An autocross is not exactly racing. It consist of timed laps around a course laid out using traffic cones. The objective is to drive around the course without hitting any or missing any gates. The main attraction of autocrossing is that it allows drivers to compete in a safe environment. Not only are the speeds low (generally under 60 miles per hour) but the course is also laid out so that the only obstacles are traffic cones.

I'll try to post a few shots early Monday morning before I leave for the Texas Hill Country for a few days of travel, landscape and nature photography. There might be a wee bit of Guinness involved next week as well!

Posted in Photography Tagged: Racing Photography

Travel Photography – Columbus, Texas

Sunday evenings are a special time to photograph small towns. The sunlight softens the harsh shadows of the day. Most folks are home eating dinner or mowing the lawn and you can wander around these wonderful villages without a care in the world. Most small towns in Texas roll up the sidewalks around 6:00 PM and they become silent monuments to their rich history.

You can go just about anywhere in Columbus, Texas on a late Sunday evening, and setup a tripod in the middle of the empty street to capture some beautiful architecture. Standing there it's easy to feel your cares fall away and be transported back to simpler, less hectic place and time.

Stafford Bank in Columbus, Texas
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 18mm, f/13 for 1/40th of a second at ISO 200 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2 using Nik's Color Efex Pro plug-in. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 40D, Texas Towns, Travel Photography

Racing Photography – The Need for Speed

Happy Monday!

I had a great time shooting the BMW / Mini Cooper Autocross event yesterday. The weather was perfect with highs in the upper 90 s, low humidity and a light breeze. Well, perfect for Houston in June anyway. Here are a few images from yesterdays shoot. That's my brother-in-laws super-charged Mini Cooper in the first shot.

Speed
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon 50D set on shutter priority (Tv), using an EF 300mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 300mm, f/22 for 1/100th of a second at ISO 200 on Lexar Professional digital film. All post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Engines
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon 50D set on aperture priority (Av), using an EF 300mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 300mm, f/11 for 1/160th of a second at ISO 200 on Lexar Professional digital film. All post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Engines
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon 50D set on shutter priority (Tv), using an EF 300mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 300mm, f/20 for 1/100th of a second at ISO 200 on Lexar Professional digital film. All post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 50D, Mini Cooper Autocross, Racing Photography

Travel Day Post

I apologize for not posting something new but Monday was a travel day and I had no real chance to shoot. So I'm posting a sunset image taken last year at my favorite spot in Sugar Land, Texas.

By the time you read this post I should be photographing Gorman Falls in the Colorado Bend State Park, near Lampasas, Texas. It's a 2 mile hike to the falls and if everything goes as planned I should be there at first light. First I have to drive about 30 miles of winding dirt road in the utter dark. And I mean DARK!

I had planned on hiking the trail to the falls late Monday afternoon but the 100F heat made me think twice. My hydration/camera pack from ClikElite only holds 1 liter of water and that wouldn't last for 2- 3 hours in the scorching Texas sun. Better to leave a first light when the temperature's around 75F.

Water Tower Sunset - Sugar Land, Texas
Copyright 2008 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 36mm, f/9 for 1/6th of a second at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2 using Nik's Silver Efex Pro plug-in. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, Landscape Photography

Landscape Photography – Break Some Rules!

Chase Jarvis tweeted earlier today, "if you can't take a picture the way you want, it's probably because you're playing by the rules". Now that I've shamelessly plugged his blog and Twitter feed, here's the deal. He is exactly right!

Everyone knows that in landscape photography, its bad form to place the horizon line directly in the center of the frame. If fact, if you open any recently published photography book you'll find this "rule" cited time and again as a way to prevent beginners from shooting boring landscape images. I'm going to be completely honest here folks. This rule stinks and should be thrown out the window in my (not so) humble opinion.

Sunset Over Lake Lyndon B. Johnson
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 40mm, f/13 for 0.8 seconds at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done entirely in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Here's a better rule as taught by folks like Moose Peterson. "Regardless of where the horizon is, a good landscape images needs an interesting foreground, middle-ground and background to pull the viewer into the image". In this image the water is the foreground element, the trees are the middle-ground elements and the hills in the distance and the dramatic sky are the background elements. I framed this image to pull the viewer in from the water to the trees, to the mountains and then to the sky. Notice that the actual horizon is almost dead-center.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 40D, Landscape Photography

Landscape Photography – Go the Extra Mile!

This past week has been one of the most personally rewarding time periods for me in the past two years.

Those of you that have followed my blog for some time probably know that in March 2007 I came down with an inexplicable and still undiagnosed neurological disorder that left me in almost constant pain with muscle spasms and cramps in my lower back and legs. I spent the better part of 2007 in and out of the hospital, seeing specialists and being tested for everything from AIDS to Cancer to MS. I've had multiple MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, myelograms and neurological tests (most of which where extremely painful - think Taser and you'll be close). My condition is still undiagnosed although I have medication to help control the muscle spasms and pain. Its taken me the better part of two years to recover my strength and more importantly, my self confidence.

Before all this I was a seven handicap golfer that played 2 - 3 times per week. Giving up golf allowed me the opportunity to rekindle my love for photography, a career I had given up in the late 70 s. I began this blog a little over a year ago to help me focus my craft, limber up some creative muscles that had lain dormant for far too long and most importantly to help me regain a measure of confidence that when God closes one door, he always opens another, if we have the courage to walk through it.

Earlier this week I was able to photograph some of the most beautiful areas of central Texas ever seen. I visited locations that a year ago would have been impossible for me to get to in my condition. I went well beyond what I ever thought possible carrying my camera, lenses and tripod. I hiked miles under the scorching Texas sun, climbed up and down shear rock faces to get the perfect angle and spent hours waiting for just the right light. I know I didn't walk this path alone and many times felt the Lord's strong arms helping me when my strength just wasn't enough.

I hope that the images I share with you all in the coming weeks will refresh you, inspire you and help you along your journey to becoming the great photographers that I know you all are! And I thank each and every one of you for allowing me to share my journey with you.

Rough Terrain - Inks Lake State Park, Texas
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 28mm, f/8 for 1/400th of a second at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2 using Nik Software's Color Efex Pro plug-in filters. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 40D, Inks Lake State Park, Landscape Photography

Landscape Photography – Waiting for the Light

Nature and landscape photography are not for everyone. It takes perseverance to find a good location and a great deal of patience to wait until the light is just right. I find that on almost every outing I'll waste 20% to 30% of my shots taken way too early in the evening before the light has that golden warmth to it. If you're anything like me, you want to setup as quickly as possible and start shooting that wonderful location or subject you've driven so far to find. Patience you see, does not come naturally to most of us and learning to wait is just not in my Irish nature. But I'm learning and these days I'll usually pack a light-weight folding chair and a good paperback so that I can sit comfortably while waiting for the light.

Sunsets take time. They begin with a little warmth and glow and slowly evolve into deeply saturated reds, yellows and blues. After 30 - 40 minutes more they deepen to ambers, indigos and violets and sometimes when the atmosphere is just right they sky may begin to glow a rich, deep purple before turning to true black.

So the next time you're out looking for some great sunset shots, remember to be patient. Take one or two shots every tens minutes or so and plan to stay put for at least two hours. Let nature take it's course and enjoy the wonderful show. Life is too short!

Late Afternoon Overlook - Kingsland, Texas
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM tripod-mounted. The exposure was taken at 24mm, f/13 for 1/8th of a second at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done entirely in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 40D, Landscape Photography, Sunsets

Landscape Photography – Afternoon Swim

Not all of last week's trip was hiking and hard work however. I did find a nice afternoon to relax at the Inks Lake State Park's "Devil's Waterhole" as it's called. Quite a nice view before the kids jump from the rocks into the 20 feet deep water.

Afternoon Swim - Inks Lake State Park, Texas
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF 28mm f/1.8 USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 28mm, f/11 for 1/250th of a second at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2 using Nik Software's Color Efex Pro plug-in filters. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 40D, Inks Lake State Park, Landscape Photography

Concept Art by Ivan Miña

Players & Posers by Chris Labrooy

Animal Illustrations by Rikkun

Nordic Landscapes by Jens Fersterra

Edge 2 by Mikko Lagerstedt

Creative Concept Art by Keiji Hida

The Dreamers by Francesco Sambo

Digital Art by Anton Kokarev

The FTC, My Blog and Your Right to Know!

According to reports published yesterday by the Associated Press, the Federal Trade Commission plans to monitor blogs as part of their enforcement of revisions to 16 C.F.R. Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. It seems that the FTC is concerned that bloggers that write about products should be considered "endorsements" and therefore subject to the same regulations as advertisers. According to the draft I read, this would apply to bloggers regardless of whether they advertise on their blog or not. I'm frankly shocked that the FTC would consider a blog post to have the same impact that a paid advertisement would on radio, television or in the print media.

Just so we're all clear on this issue. I have not and do not accept any remuneration from any company who's products I use and write about. I have not and do not plan to accept advertisements on my blog. In fact, I pay extra to WordPress.com to ensure that no advertisements are displayed on my blog. All opinions written in this blog are my opinions only and do not reflect any scientific evidence on the validity of these opinions. I do not write about these products to influence your decision to purchase these products and obviously, your own expereinces with these products or similar products will be different than mine. Basically, take everything I say with a big grain of salt and use your own common sense.

Now, having said that, I do not plan to change the content of my blog, nor to stop writing about photographic products or techniques that I find helpful. As far as I know, we still live in a country where freedom of speach is protected by our Constitution and Bill of Rights and I'll be a monkey's uncle if I'll let the FTC tell me what I can and cannot write on my blog.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Blogger's Rights

Landscape Photography – Pedernales Falls (Almost)

Pedernales Falls is a beautifully scenic gradual waterfalls located in Blanco County just east of Johnson City, Texas. Though you'd never think so from this image, the Pedernales River can flash flood with little or no warning. The water in the river can rise from a quiet stream to a raging torrent in just a few minutes. There are signs all over the state park telling hikers to seek higher ground immediately if they notice the water rising.

I'm sure this has to do with the fact that the geology of the Edwards Plateau is an uplifted and elevated region formed from deposits of sandstone, limestone, and shale. 150 years ago this entire area was mostly grasslands but overgrazing and erosion has changed it to what we see today, hard rock and scrub trees. Although it's still a beautiful area, the lack of topsoil and grass makes flash flooding a real danger.

Pedernales Falls State Park, Texas
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on aperture priority (Av) using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM hand-held. The exposure was taken at 24mm, f/9 for 1/200th of a second at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done entirely in Lightroom 2. Click on the image above for a larger version.

I was hoping for a little better water flow for my shots but the low water level did allow me to gain access to some unusual locations to shoot from such as this small area of rapids in the middle of the falls. Using a Singh-Ray Vari-ND neutral density filter allowed me to take a much longer exposure which creates the milky look to the flowing water.

Running Water at Pedernales Falls, Texas
Copyright 2009 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 40D set on manual using an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM tripod-mounted. The exposure was taken at 32mm, f/13 for 1.3 seconds at ISO 100 on Sandisk digital film. Post capture processing was done in Lightroom 2 using Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro plug-in filters. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 40D, Landscape Photography, Pedernales Falls State Park

K-Man Rocks at Dobbs Ferry!

My buddy Mark (K-Man) Krajnak was rocking at Joe McNally's latest workshop in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Don't take my work for it. Take a LOOK!

I am so stinking jealous I'm turning green before St. Patrick's Day.

Posted in Photography Tagged: Joe McNally, Mark Krajnak

20 Amazing Examples of Ultra-Flat Website Designs

Boost Inspiration - Web Design - Graphic Design - Photography Inspiration

Flat design is still popular in web design industry. Many big companies switched their websites and mobile apps to flat designs. We have seen in recent years where many websites have flatten their logos, icons and colors.

If you are looking for some inspiration to change your website and give that flat effect, this article is for you. We have prepared a list of 20 ultra-flat website designs for your inspiration. These designs don't care about texture, gradients or patterns. Go through the list and get some inspiration.

Ultra-Flat Websites

Antoine Laoun

Kallio Gladiators

Mene Money

Nutsand Woods

Lorenzo Bocchi Designer

Maddalena Del Gobbo

Ziggo OMG? LOL!

Studiovs

Mathildejacon

Greyp Bikes

Lab21

Darwin Newton

Inventid

Melissa

Ritchie Jacobs

Tma-Sachsen

Buildinamsterdam

Fasett

Web Canvas Design

Tectonica

So how did you find this list of ultra-flat website designs? If you know some other cool websites with flat design, kindly drop the link(s) in the comment section below. We always love to hear from you guys.

If you like this article, you might also like Fresh Flat Website Designs, High Quality Flat HTML Website Templates and Responsive Flat WordPress Themes.

Web Design and Photography Blog
Waheed Akhtar
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