So why would you choose to host images online? Well there can be many reasons to do so – firstly, simply to share your latest creations with friends and family or with your peers for critique. You may wish to sell some of your images as prints, again to friends and family  or to the wider world. For some it may just be a simple requirement to back up images offsite. Some of you may need a full commercial product to sell prints, digital licenses and a full range of products. Whatever you require, there will be a site for you. In this article we will take a look at range of the more popular sites available.

Free Image Hosting – The following are some of the most common free image hosting services. Most of these sites also offer extra features on a subscription basis

Flickr – Flickr is the grand daddy of image hosting sites and these days can boast a membership of more than 50 million people and some six billion images. Images can be hosted on a free account or a Pro account which allows you unlimited space, no advertisements and the ability to upload HD video. Flickr employs a system that allows you to license your images using the various creative commons licenses or maintain full control with the all rights reserved license. Since 2009 Flickr has been closely integrated with Getty Images which can allow the user to mark his or her images for use as stock.

Google Picasa – Picasa is different to Flickr in that it is based on software downloaded to your computer. From the software, you can organize, manipulate and then upload to the Picasa web albums, which give you 1GB of free space. Picasa has been tightly integrated into Google+, the social networking site and any images you upload to Google+ are automatically stored in a Picasa web album.

Photobucket – Actually one year older than Flickr, Photobucket is another very popular free online service. It offers 500MBs of free hosting but restricts bandwidth to 10GB. The image size is restricted for free users to around 2000×1500 pixels. Photobucket has recently introduced online photo editing and effects tools.

Shutterfly – The unique selling point for Shutterfly is free unlimited storage space and full resolution images. They also promise to never delete an image without your permission. The site offers the usual integration with social networking sites for sharing as well as the ability to create prints, photo books and other gifts.

Paid Hosting – The following sites are more aimed at enthusiast and professional photographers who require features such as having your own domain name, professional looking galleries and online sales.

Smugmug – This is a very versatile site allowing unlimited hosting for a monthly fee. The site features professionally designed themes for all users and for a higher monthly fee you can customize your site, and include your own domain. The highest priced account offers a fully integrated e-commerce service and advanced marketing tools. One of the features the Smugmug highlights is the ability to protect your images online, they also offer a free trial.

PhotoMerchant – Specifically for photographers who want to sell online, this service has various pricing options (the higher the set fee, the less percentage of sales commission they take). It has integrated order fulfilment, a shopping cart, is SEO friendly and offers quite a lot of other options for marketing your photography. It’s also constantly improving in the features department.

Zenfolio – Very similar in specifications to Smugmug, Zenfolio offers tight integration with commercial online photo labs in a number of countries worldwide. Zenfolio have produced plugins that allow direct upload from image management software such as Aperture, Lightroom and Photo Mechanic as well as a migration facility that allows you to move your images easily from other hosting sites.

500px – This is a paid site with a different focus from the two above. The basic premise is to inspire and be inspired by a community of professionals and enthusiasts worldwide.You can comment and vote on images and the highest rated get seen as the most popular.  500px has great merit for marketing you photography.

Photoshelter – Another site similar in vein to Zenfolio and Smugmug, Photoshelter offers a similar range of features and pricing plans. Photoshelter is said to have the most advanced  search engine optimization of any professional site with control over a large range of SEO tools. A free 14 day trial is available.

This is just a brief look at the most popular sites. The are of course many many more but the ones listed above are the most international, offering features to users worldwide. As always, its worth doing your research, taking up the trail offers and choosing what is best suited to your style of photography.

Round and Round – Taking the shot

Taking a panoramic photograph can be as simple as shooting a few frames and turning the camera as you go but if you want to get a descent result that will stitch together well, then you will need to follow a few basic rules.

• First, use a tripod. This will allow you not only to make sure that your horizon is level but it will also make composition easier. You can define your start and finish points and work out how many shots you will need overall. If possible use a tripod with a built in spirit level or use a hot shoe mounted one and check that the camera remains level throughout the pan.
• Secondly and maybe a little counter intuitively, shoot with your camera in portrait format. This is because you will have less lens distortion at the frame’s edges.
• Where possible use a lens in the “normal” range for a zoom i.e. between 35-70mm. Again this will reduce excessive distortion.
• Pre-focus the first shot and then switch the camera to manual focus, this will prevent the lens changing the focus point through the subsequent shots
• Watch your exposure very carefully, if you can set your camera to manual exposure. If there is going to be large shifts in exposure through the pano, then it may be worth shooting a bracket to get the right exposure.
• Manually set your white balance, on auto white balance you may find the color shifting as you move the camera around.
• Use a small aperture to get a good depth of field on the image and try to avoid prominent foreground objects. These can cause parallax issues for the stitching software
• Work fast but carefully because the light can change quickly.
• Allow for a generous overlap between the images between 20-30% of the frame size should be sufficient as you move the camera around. This is to give the stitching software something to “bite”.

If you want the ultimate in panoramic quality, look at getting a panoramic head for your tripod. These allow the camera to pan around the center of the lens rather than the camera and greatly reduce parallax issues. To further improve image quality use a remote shutter release and mirror lock to minimize any vibration.

The Stitch Up

So we have the shots, now we need to put them all together. There are a number of dedicated panoramic stitching programs available, but also it can be done in Photoshop or Photoshop elements. We will assume Photoshop for this section but the procedure will be similar in other programs.

• First, select all the images that you want to use and put them in one folder. Keep the original file names so that they will remain in the order that they were shot.
• From Photoshop, open the File – Automate – Photomerge selection
• With the Layout Mode set to auto and Blend Images Together checked, browse for your shots and import them.
• Photoshop will now stitch the images together keeping each shot as a separate layer. If some images are not well aligned you can adjust them by manually dragging them into position. You can also crop the top and bottom to remove any over bleed. Once you are happy, flatten the image and save it.

As mentioned Photoshop is not the only choice to stitch your panoramic shots, there are numerous third party applications available. Many of these will have more advanced controls for stitching and controlling exposure and color and if you are going to be doing a lot of pano work, investment in one of these dedicated programs may be a worthwhile investment.

Jason Row is a British born travel photographer now living in Ukraine. You can follow him on Facebook or visit his site, The Odessa Files. He also maintains a blog chronicling his exploits as an Expat in the former Soviet Union

Why photography jewelry?  There’s a list of reasons, some more obvious like setting up an Etsy or eBay shop to sell items or being hired by a local jewelry store to provide photos for their website.  A less obvious reason would be to create a list of detailed photos for your home owners’ insurance, something most people overlook.  Another reason is for the sheer pleasure in taking on a challenge and successfully doing it.

DIY lightbox /1 by Tom BKK, on Flickr

What’s needed?  Like the primer, most of all the the equipment is the same.  The one variable is the use of flags, in photography terminology is a piece of fabric or non-reflective board, using black, that is placed in a manner to block any unappealing reflections on the jewelry.  If you look at the piece below, you can slightly make out what appears to be someone’s hair in the lower left corner of the heart.  Using a black flag would have eliminated that and made a much more appealing transition between the reflective silver and the black.

Jewellery 2 by Richard Stebbing, on Flickr

Actually putting these flags into place can be a bit of a challenge for even the most seasoned photographers.  In a case where it’s just one that’s needed, setting your camera on a tripod and using a timer will suffice.  Even if you’re holding a 4×4′ piece of black foam core over the subject to block the reflection of your ceiling, it will only be for 10 seconds.  The real challenge comes when you have something with facets or that’s very angular and you have reflections from every different angle.  A lightbox will help greatly eliminate odd reflections, like the one shown below:

My new lightbox by GuySie, on Flickr

But again, be aware that only white will be reflected and sometimes gold and silver items and especially clear stones like diamonds really benefit from black reflections.

Setting up the shot.  Like the primer to product shots, a heavy tripod is your friend, a macro lens on a DSLR or mirrorless camera will also be your best bet, although some of the high end point and shoots that have hot-shoes (for triggering remote flashes or strobes) also work really well. A cable release or wireless remote also becomes really handy too.  And preparation.  I cannot stress enough the importance of preparation.  Have several clean microfiber clothes with you to clean and buff the jewelry, careful to remove any oil from your fingers and small particles of dust.  Some product photographers have been known to wear latex surgical style gloves during shoots.

Angles.  Realize that laying an item directly down on a flat surface probably won’t bring the best visual impact you can provide, so propping the jewelry up will be required.  There are several ways to do this, from professional Lucite holders seen in high end jewelry stores to DIY methods, which most people end up doing.  Some amount of experimenting will be required.  Don’t be afraid to grab some paper clips and bend them around to fit your needs, trim them with tin snips or even small amounts of children’s play-doh.

Radiant Jewelry by negative13, on Flickr

Shooting on white or black isn’t the only acceptable way to shoot jewelry though!

Jewellery by miandadr, on Flickr

Utilizing tumbled stone, like in the photograph above, is a beautiful way to showcase the jewelry, and there is no limit to what can be used.  Sand, rocks, feathers and even a Christmas tree garland can be used to show off the jewelry.

Keep in mind that every new object you add may have reflections to manage along with the jewelry.  The end results, like those above, showcase beautiful pieces where the photography skill is no longer as apparent as the jewelry, and that’s when you know you’ve done a great job.

Check out the Toad’s latest photography adventure as he kicks off his inaugural post for TLC, The Land Conservancy.  They are a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout British Columbia focused on preserving the history and heritage of the area.  The Toad begins his first assignment with the blog post “A New Beginning” which talks a bit about the group and shares a few details of upcoming posts that were a result of his first photo-shoot working with TLC.

Another Ojito Sunset by snowpeak, on Flickr

TUTORIALS

Food For Digital Thought: 101 Things To Know About Photography – Joe Baraban shares an educational and insightful piece here, full of GREAT tips and pointers to give you that little extra edge in your practice.

Shutter Speed Explained: Easy and Simple – a brief but well-written piece detailing the effects of the shutter speed in photography.  This article is sure to shed some light on this topic for those who are in process of learning about the 3 keys to photography; shutter speed, aperture setting and ISO.

The Law Of The Light Part II: Lighting People – another brief but highly informative post from Joe Baraban shares some principles in using light for capturing portraits of people.  Great article, well worth the short time required to read and absorb it.

Ten travel photography tips that you need to know – Tristan shares a 5 minute video containing some gems for those who are doing or want to do travel photography.  Tristan’s videos are typically excellent, and this one delivers some useful insights.

The F.I.L.M. Project, VSCO Film and Lodge No 51 – Jim Denham shares a screencast presentation that shares some tips on using Aperture for image processing.  This roughly 10 minute video is definitely well worth the time to view.

GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY

Notes from the camera Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 – our very own Tom Dinning (@tomdinning) here on Light Stalking shares a new series of posts and images.  Tom has a wonderful and unique way of merging stunning photography with deep and profound words to create an entire vision and message.  These are wonderful posts that can each stand on their own, but when taken as a collection deliver a message of importance.

Balestrino Abandoned Village – Mark Blundell delivers another one of his stunning 360* panorama HDR presentations.  This time we are taken to an abandoned village in Europe where all the inhabitants are long gone and all that remains is the empty structures and homes.

First Encounter – a lovely experience is shared by Ashley Vincent with this truly incredible image.  A clouded leopard is brought into the world, and Ashley has a chance to grab an image of this wonderful little baby as it begins to explore the new world it finds itself in.

Elbow Grease – it would seem that this place needs more than just a solid cleaning.  With that being said, Rob Hanson pokes his camera inside this falling down farmhouse and comes away with a gritty, textured image that is absolutely captivating.

Boathouse, Obersee – a scene captured from another planet entirely!  This wonderful image of a half-submerged boathouse in a pool of water with an incredible mountain backdrop delivers a compelling shot from the studio of Mark Whale.

Iron in the Silhouette – CJ Schmit captures and shares a dramatic silhouette in this photograph.  An iron train bridge creates great shapes and lines against the sky, a shot that leaves the viewer with many unanswered questions.

Hellboy – an extreme macro close up of a spider is shared here by Anusit Sarerattanachai.  We get such a detailed shot, you can almost read this spiders mind.

The Lake – Scott Wood is well known for his great infrared work in the realm of photography.  In this post, he shares a lake scene with really great details and interesting tones that are sure to be enjoyed by all.

Sky high – get ready for a real birds-eye view of the city of Pittsburgh in this wonderful post by Dave DiCello.  Once again Dave shares a shot that showcases his incredible talents in this genre of photography, producing a pair of shots that are sure to amaze all who pop by for a visit.

Art & The Vintage Car – we get a fabulous series of iPhone images here in this post from Edith Levy.  A taste of architecture is punctuated by a set of great shots of an old Dodge truck.  Good Lord, I want to go for a ride in that gorgeous thing…

The Loneliest Road in America – Bob Lussier takes us on a far-away journey, to a place where people and cars no longer exist.  This stretch of road is the perfect subject for Bob to shoot, complete with a wonderful vanishing point that adds so much drama and tension to the scene.

Ashley by ricbouy, on Flickr

Weekend Relaxer #18 – another beer review and incredible label photo graces the blog of Chris Nitz.  If this doesn’t make you want to head right out to your local beer haberdashery for some of the goods, we really don’t know what will.

Carolina Dreamin’ – a beautiful house sits on the shore in the Carolina’s, creating a spectacular subject for the photography of Rob Hanson.  This house is absolutely gorgeous, and the setting really makes it stand out.

Ink On The Half Shell – a giant sea turtle is carefully captured and processed in this post by Aaron Barlow.  Using high-key techniques in post-processing, Aaron creates a compelling image by accenting the shapes and lines of the turtle, in turn creating an absolutely mesmerizing piece.

Top Shelf Feeds – a local photographer shares a shot here of a facility we’ve photographed before ourselves, as featured in our blog post “The Toad At Top Shelf”.  We are always amazed to see another artist’s interpretation of the subjects we have shot, and this picture is a great example of this.

Harris Hawk – all the character and spirit of this magnificent bird is captured and shared in this epic photograph by Christopher Dodds.  Rich details in the face and feathers of the graceful bird are perfectly photographed here, creating a very compelling image to view and enjoy.

Hoboken Lackawanna Terminal and Clock Tower – this is a wonderful architectural study of an old terminal and clock tower from Mark Garbowski.  Great tones in the building are accented by the really rich lines and details.

Orange Juice – bright, vibrant colors are all captured here for us to enjoy in this photograph from Rachel Cohen.  An incredible spring flower is perfectly shot and shared, giving the viewer a strong sense of the new season and pending summer.

A Patient Gator – oh wow, now that’s why I call a serious looking fellow!  Tim Stanley takes a photograph of one very grumpy looking half-submerged alligator, and delivers an image full of character.

Tennessee Valley Morning – you just have to love the incredible sense of expanse this photograph brings.  Jerry Denham captures and early morning landscape complete with a gentle fog that helps to create a quiet feeling of breaking dawn.

Canadian National Railway – Scott Hovind takes us on an inner exploration of some iconic CN rail cars.  These great shots are composed with awesome leading lines, vanishing points and tons of great details to take in and enjoy.

The Road Ahead – Kathleen and Erik Kerstenbeck share a visual metaphor that is sure to resonate with everyone.  This great shot of an iconic building in NYC is accented by a fast moving taxi to create the entire visual representation of the message being shared.

Safeway, Winnipeg, 2012 – Ren Bostelaar captures a shot of a Safeway store front that really gives us a strong taste of nostalgia.  For many of us of advanced years, this store represents something from the past, and the composition and natural light found here really brings that notion to life.

Supermoon 2012 – what is sure to be the first post we highlight of this years Supermoon full moon event, we share a strong series from the studio of Adam Allegro.  This super-sized orb is perfectly captured by Adam, delivering a must-see set in this week’s list.

Dawn on Prescott – a really fascinating rail bridge is the center of attention in this great photograph by Jim Denham.  Unbelievable engineering has gone into the design and creation of this monolithic structure, and Jim’s picture here brings it all together.

Supermoon Over CityCentre – our second blog featuring this years supermoon is posted here by Jay Taylor.  With this shot Jay grabs a scene of the moon partially obscured by cloud cover with the beautiful city of Seattle as a foreground.

Supermoon 2012 – we join Jason Hines on the edge of the Grand Canyon as the moon emerges from behind the rock formations.  The incredible canyon is gently lit from the wonder light tones emitted from the moon, creating an absolutely mesmerizing landscape to view and enjoy.

Supermoon at DIA – Hansrico Photography takes us to the Dallas International Airport in this post to share a pair of photographs of the epic supermoon.  The second photo is my favorite, displaying all the natural intrigue and mystique inherent in such a phenomenon.

The Daisies of Namaqualand – our winter and spring have been dark and cold up here in the Pacific Northwest this year, and we are all looking forward to any small sign of better weather.  This wonderful and colorful shot by Barbara Youngelson whisks us to a bright and cheery place in this photo of vibrant wildflowers.

Sound of Speed – this post is a great study in the elegance and beauty of modern avionics.  Blake Rudis shares a series of shots of planes, including the F-22 Raptor which is a modern day marvel of electronics and ingenuity.

Piccadilly Rain: A photo collection – abstract shapes and colors are captured in this set of images taken of reflective pools of rainwater in the city streets.  In this post the simplest of concepts delivers strong drama, producing a piece that is a must-see in this week’s list.

Route 66 Vintage Car and Trailer – you half expect Ricky and Lucy Ricardo to jump out from this classic Hudson car in this nostalgic scene captured perfectly by Anne McKinnell.  The old cars and RVs were full of intrinsic character, and in this case Anne captures the pure essence of this scene perfectly.

Capital – Scott Wood begins to explore his new home, Olympia, WA, in this blog entry.  In this shot Scott brings us the capital building, creating a great image through a totally unique and captivating composition.

Canon EF 50mm F1.4 Testshot by 55Laney69, on Flickr

Venice – this post features a pair of highly dramatic black-and-white images and a pair of vibrant and colorful photographs.  The inherent beauty of this storied place is carefully photographed and shared in this excellent post.

1968 280SL – one of my personal favorite Mercedes models is presented in this photograph from Bob Byington.  Bob used a selective color technique to bring the viewer directly to the classic car, and then the surroundings are exposed in black-and-white creating an image full of really great tension.

On the backs of Angels – the bluest blues, the orangest oranges, and a heart-stopping reflection merge in this epic photograph from Mauro Tronto.  I believe we are looking at some form of an ice-field in this shot, and I can honestly tell you this is a breathtaking image is well worth the time to visit.

‘R’ – Reflections, Rest, and Relaxation – as you may have guessed, this post is rich in reflections.  The folks from Dakota Visions Photography create a great series that takes the viewer to a restful place that causes you to stop and reflect, if you will, on the world you find yourself in.

Debod-ión por Madrid – our own Light Stalking member @astaroth takes us on a journey to Madrid, Spain.  He captures a varying set of images depicting different aspects of this fabulous city, producing a blog post that is sure to delight everyone who visits.

The Google + Photowalk in Salt Lake City – A Surprise Ending! – Howard takes us along on his recent photowalk of Salt Lake City.  The variations in the subjects and styles of the included images in this post brings a wonderful series to his audience and creates a blog post punctuated by some breathtaking shots of the Salt Lake Temple.

Old Barns, Manitoba – great old barns, particularly when they are leaning or in a state of disrepair, produce the most striking photography subjects.  Ren Bostelaar captures a scene in Manitoba of a set of these old barns, leaving the viewer with many questions left unanswered.  Great drama and tension in this photo.

Cerillos, New Mexico, USA – you’d expect a horse drawn carriage to come across your scene in this wonderful photo from Helene Kobelnyk.  An iconic American scene is captured and shared here, full of rich textures and details to enjoy.

Moonset – Jason Hines creates a really stunning image of the supermoon as it begins to set on the horizon.  The drama in the surrounding landscape is really accented by the effort and planning that went into this shot by Jason.

Let The Light Shine Down – the heavens part and glorious sunlight drapes across the countryside in this gorgeous image from Curt Fleenor.  The breathtaking mountain slopes are bathed in the sunbeams generated by the dramatic clouds, producing an image displaying all of nature’s beauty.

Bluebonnet Siesta! – this is a wonderful image from John Mead, full of character and intrigue.  A large bull peeks out above a field of flower, creating a really dramatic scene that is a pure joy to view.  Guaranteed to leave you smiling.

L C Smith & Corona – these old typewriters make for great photography subjects.  Len Saltiel takes a photograph of one in an antique store that is full of great textures and details, and really showcases the character and beauty of old and historically significant artifacts.

Hell Wagon – this shot of a ‘57 Chevy Wagon complete with incredible flames and a token dead-guy in the driver’s seat really delivers a strong and compelling piece to view.  Tim does a great job of capturing the essence of this iconic car, and in turn delivers a must-see shot.

North Side – Rich McPeek shares a really wonderful cityscape shot showcasing the surrounding countryside and the architecture of the locale.  This detailed shot is really a great shot to view, and we hope that Rich feels better soon so he can get out there to pursue his passions.

me & my dad – cute doesn’t even begin to describe this great photograph by dragonflydreams88.  We have an emu baby plodding along beside its father in this great picture, one that is sure to elicit an “awwww” from everyone who pops by to see.

Pileated Woodpecker Feeding Young – the wonder of life and nature is explored in this great shot by Steve Creek.  This woodpecker family is going about the process of feeding their young, and Steve is there to capture and deliver a really captivating set of images.

Santa Fe’s Historic Adobe Architecture – when you live somewhere else, being able to see photographs of places far away is a great experience to have.  Anne McKinnell takes us to Santa Fe and showcases the wonderful tones, lines and details that are found in the local architecture.

Mental State – I actually really like the composition and tilted horizon in this shot from Mark Garbowski.  To me it adds drama and a touch of intrigue to the scene.  This is taken in what appears to be an abandoned attic or storage area, and Marks processing here really delivers a one-two punch of drama.

Moonlight Sonata – this is a very beautiful photograph of the supermoon making it’s way up the night sky.  Michael Lewis Glover captures an exquisite image of this phenomenon, creating a breathtaking piece that is sure to be enjoyed by all who visit.

Lone Bison – a striking figure of a lone Bison standing in the field produces a very dramatic scene to be enjoyed.  Hansrico Photography captures and shares this captivating scene, one that is a great image representation of this large, graceful creature.

Sunset at Manly by nigelhowe, on Flickr

The Boat Workshop – we find ourselves mesmerized with great tones and textures in the wood in this photograph from Len Saltiel.  This active boat workshop provides the perfect subject for Len, and in turn he captures and shares a top drawer shot.

The Forgotten World – Jason Hines takes us to a whole other place in time and space with this wonderful landscape photograph.  Great details in the never ending canyon produce a wonderful leading line to guide the viewer perfectly through the frame.

Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, Antigua (Part 2) – you simply have to see this post from Mark Summerfield.  Here we see a set of images captured of an old British docking station complete with fabulous artifacts and compelling architecture.

Enter At Your Own Risk – we get a peek inside a house under construction in this post from Edith Levy.  It’s amazing how much detail can be found in such a place, and Edith really showcases this concept rather perfectly!

Safe & Sound – I just love the shallow depth of focus that John Sotiriou used to capture this wonderful photograph.  A door to a safe is wonderfully explored by John and his lens, creating a piece that is a joy to view.

Patience vs Faith – absolutely epic tones and reflections are captured and shared in this breathtaking image by Fakrul J.  This is a crisp and sharp image, full of details that are guaranteed to delight and amaze everyone.

Hot Seat – you’re going to want a glass of cold water, or a fire extinguisher, handy for looking at this fabulous photograph by Scott Frederick.  An abandoned facility forms the back-drop and creates incredible textures and details to be taken in.

Have You Slept In A Wigwam Lately? – this is so cool.  I just love the historic details and the rich tones that Anne McKinnell carefully composed and shot in this set.  This old motel on Route 66 lit up at night is the absolute perfect photography subject for Anne.

American Muscle Car – a bright and vibrant monster awaits the visitor in this great post from Wayne Frost.  This classic Camaro is heavily modified, sporting a very serious looking blower strapped on.

The Pond – Dave DiCello takes us to Central Park in NYC to see the beautiful pond with the backdrop of NYC.  These great shots, one taken during the day and the other at night, are really beautiful representations of the park and the city it inhabits.

Walton Street, Syracuse – another dark and gritty piece by Mark Garbowski takes us on an adventure in a back alley where we find ourselves mesmerized by an old and worn loading dock.  Great details and textures in this picture bring the subject to life, presenting a shot that is a real must-see in this week’s list.

INTERESTING BLOGS

13 Spectacular ‘Supermoon’ Photos – this multimedia presentation delivers a series of 13 really interesting perspectives on the recent supermoon.  These shots were procured from all over the world.

History & Care Institutions, Martin Widlund – May 2012 – this incredible interview features the thoughts and images of a leading UrBex photographer in Europe.  The well written piece takes us inside the mind of the artist, which helps us to understand the drive behind his work.  We also get to see a substantial series of photographs he has produced, creating a complete piece that is a joy to read and view.

color moves: illuminate by nomilknocry~blackRomantic, on Flickr

A Family That Time Forgot: Traditional Kentucky Living – an inspirational story that shows the true power and potential of photography.  This is an absolutely fascinating post, one that is sure to captivate the imagination of everyone who visits.

We Love Friday! – Graffiti Around the World – a brief but really great collection of grafitti images is shared here.  Coming from locations all over the world, this collection is really dramatic and insightful in places.

Interview with David Lykes Keenan – a really really great and truly inspiring interview with a photography great.  As many of us try to chase down our dreams of being full-time photographers, stories like this help fuel the passion and desire to continue.

Tango in the Galleria – you are about to discover a ton of great expression and drama in this wonderful series of images posted by Adam Allegro.  The Tango is one of the most passionate forms of dance and by many is considered to be very romantic in nature.  This great series by Adam takes us to a dance and showcases in splendid fashion why.

China Beach – travelling photographer and writer Jordan Oram explores the wonderful West coast of Vancouver Island in this extensive post.  We get a large series of images captured in this beautiful park, really showing off the natural wonder and beauty of the island and its rugged coast.

Often times for those just starting out with underwater photography, our pictures don’t always come out exactly the way we remember seeing it. There are likely a few reasons for this, but this article will focus on two simple techniques we can use during post-processing to help improve the quality of our underwater photos.

1. Correcting for Color: The biggest challenge we often come across with our underwater photos is the loss of key colors in the image. Water absorbs different wavelengths of light, so even at shallow depths red starts to be absorbed, followed by orange and yellow. With these colors absent our photos can look flat and uninviting. Many expensive underwater housings will attach strobes to help bring back in these colors, however, with simple casings we must rely on ambient light and tend to lose some of the photograph’s color. In post-processing we can help bring back these lost colors and correct our white balance.

You can see in the original RAW file above that there is an orange cast across the photo. This is because of the slightly warm white balance (5500K) the automatic setting gave when shooting. Most underwater photos will show the best blues with a white balance of around 4500K which you can set manually. If you are shooting in RAW you can easily adjust your white balance in post-processing. Likewise, the photo above lost some of the yellows and reds inside the coral reef. Bringing back these colors will make the image more vibrant.

First, correct for the image’s white balance using the temperature slider in Lightroom. This photo’s white balance was brought from 5500K down to 4500K. Second, use the Selective Color tool in Photoshop or the HSL/Color/B&W panel under the development module in Lightroom to focus in on key colors of your image. These two selective tools are very powerful and allow you to precisely adjust each color. There is really no road map for doing this because each photo will vary. It’s best to get familiar with these tools and see what works best for bringing back the lost colors to your image. Keep in mind that the Selective Color tool in Photoshop is a little more powerful and specific than the HSL/Color/B&W panel in Lightroom. In the photo above adjusting the cyan colors within Photoshops Selective Color tool gave this image the best result.

2. Correcting for Contrast: Water has a tendency to take the contrast out of photos, making this correction an important step in our post-processing. Contrast is the difference between light and dark tones and water tends to lighten dark tones – decreasing a photo’s contrast.

In the original RAW file above you can see that the image looks flat. A quick look at the histogram will reveal that the light and dark tones need to be increased. A quick levels adjustment within Photoshop would be an easy way to add contrast to this image, but other tools such as the contrast slider in Lightroom will also work.

The edited image below with added contrast makes for a more dynamic photo. A simple levels adjustment was done to increase this photo’s contrast.

Jacob Maentz is a freelance travel, culture and documentary photographer currently based in the Philippines. You can visit his website here, read his articles on his blog, follow him on Facebook or Twitter.

The Kiev 88

Most of us brought up in the film era had secret desire to own a Hasselblad. It was the top dog when it came to cameras and had a price tag to match. Meanwhile back in the USSR, a company called Kiev were busy virtually cloning the Hassleblad 1600, with its Kiev 88 model. Although it’s engineering was decidedly communist, the viewfinders were in fact interchangeable with the Hasselblad’s. The Hasselbladski as it was affectionately known featured interchangeable backs and used Ukrainian made lenses that were based on old Zeiss designs with a surprisingly wide range of optical choices. Today a search of eBay will reveal plenty of secondhand Kiev 88’s around for budding film photographers, but buyers beware, most of them still have Soviet manufacturing quality so make your choice wisely.

The Zorki 4

Another of photography’s iconic brands is of course Leica and not to be outdone, the Soviets created numerous clones of Leica cameras. Among the most significant were the Zorki 4 “Mir” cameras which were manufactured between 1956 and 1978 by the KMZ company in Moscow. Originally based on the Leica II, they did in fact accept Leica lenses, although they were usually supplied with lenses from the Jupiter company. Over 1.5 million Zorki 4 were made and many examples can still be found today in good working order. Although very quirky and despite having no light meter, Zorkis were capable of taking some good quality images in the right hands.

The Lubitel 166

For many of us taking pictures in the 80’s the Lubitel 166 was heavily advertised as the cheap way into medium format. A twin lens reflex camera taking 120 roll film, the Lubitel was an enigma, a plastic camera costing £15 which if used “very” carefully could produce good results. Manufactured between 1976 and 1986 about 1.5 million units were made in total. Lubitel means amateur in Russian and the camera’s were designed as cheap starter cameras for Soviet citizens and featured a manually cocked leaf shutter with speeds up to a whopping 1/250th of a second and a frame counter that, at best, gave a rough indication of the number of shots taken. The DNA of the Lubitel lives on today in the resurgent Lomo photography craze, Lomography being the company that produced the original Lubitel 166.

The Zenit 11

My entry into photography and one of the best selling Soviet cameras outside of the USSR, the Zenit 11 was manufactured by the BelOMO company in Belarus. The camera featured the M42 screw thread mount which was also used by Praktica. It was the last of the line from the original Zenit E series and features an unusual, uncoupled Selenium cell light meter that sat atop the pentaprism and required no power. The exposure was calculated using a dial on the left top of the camera and aligning a needle in a small window. All the features of a manual SLR were present, ISO setting, shutter speed from 1/8 to 1/500 plus bulb, a pc socket for flash etc. The camera was usually supplied with a good if not exceptional 58mm f2 lens which had a reputation for excellent build quality.

This is just a brief glance at what was in fact a very wide range of cameras and lenses produced in the USSR. Many of theses cameras are still available on the second hand market and on eBay and can make great tools for practicing the dying arts of film photography, manual exposure and manual focus. My local camera store is awash with such examples, but perhaps that is no great surprise as ironically I now live in the former Soviet Union.

Jason Row is a British born travel photographer now living in Ukraine. You can follow him on Facebook or visit his site, The Odessa Files. He also maintains a blog chronicling his exploits as an Expat in the former Soviet Union

Practicalities

For Europeans, Venice is highly accessible with numerous budget and full cost airlines flying to Marco Polo airport on the mainland. Non Europeans will be able to connect via most European capitals. There are also very good train links from other Italian cities.

As a photographer the best time to go is the spring or autumn, April/May and late September through to late October. The reasons for this are that it is less crowded, cooler and the light is less harsh than mid summer. Hotels on the main islands are expensive but off peak you may find deals.

The other option is to stay on the mainland and take the train or water bus to the city but you need to factor in the time that this takes plus the additional costs. Water buses are the very best way to see Venice itself and the network covers the whole of the lagoon. Budget wise it is best to buy a multi day pass which will enable you to travel any bus at any time during it’s validity.

What to Shoot in Venice

Perhaps the most iconic location in Venice is St Mark’s Square and in my opinion there is only one time to shoot it – early. Plan on getting to the square either on foot or by water taxi about 45 minutes before sunrise. At this time the square is deserted and as the sun rises, the light is truly magical. The water front by St Marks is a great place to shoot Venetian life before the tourists arrive, waiters setting up their tables, elderly Italian’s sitting in the sun reading the morning newspaper and the unmanned Gondolas make fantastic foregrounds to the cityscape shots. From sunrise you will have perhaps 90 minutes of good shooting time before the crowds arrive.

As the crowds do arrive, it is worth a walk to the nearby Arsenal, the very photogenic old fort of the city and largely ignored by tourists. A bridge crosses the canal in front of the grand entrance and makes a great viewpoint for shooting from.

By now, the heat of the day will be kicking in and the light can get a little harsh. Shooting-wise, now is the best time to wander the alleys and backstreets. It is here that you will find fantastic little details such as Venetian masks in shop windows or quirky stuff on buildings such as lion shaped door knockers. The light and shade in the back streets can be used to create images with great atmosphere and the streets themselves tend to remain quiet through the day. Be careful with your exposure here, the contrast between the shadows and the highlights can be very high, expose to get definition in the highlights and if needed pull the shadows back in the post production.

Venice is so full of details that you can spend many hours just photographing them. So many of the buildings feature multiple arches and these can make great frames for a wider shot Another thing to do during the middle of the day is to take a water bus along the Grand Canal. Put on a good long lens and find a spot by the boat’s side and you will find fantastic shots all along the canal, from the suave Italian water taxi drivers to the the delivery boats and even emergency boats such as police and fire whizzing past.

Towards the end of the day and into the early evening is a great time to shoot the bridges. The golden light makes the Rialto Bridge almost luminescent whilst further down the Grand Canal at the Scalzi Bridge, there is some great opportunities to get night shots of the bridge itself as well as some of the surrounding architecture. Many of the main sights of Venice are well lit at night and the hour just after sunset, whilst there is still some blueness in the sky, is a great time to shoot these.

There is so much to shoot in Venice that this short article can only give you just a taster of it. It is a wonderful place to just wander with a camera, there are great shots around every corner. One little non-photographic tip – eating in Venice can be horrendously expensive, but if you look in the back streets, away from the tourist hot spots you will find plenty of cafe’s catering for the locals. Here you will find great food at reasonable prices.

One of the first things that takes some getting used to is the exaggerated perspective, in other words where the foreground and background seem to been stretched far apart. This can make composition difficult and you need to think about your foreground a lot more than with a normal range lens. To get the best out of a foreground subject you will need to move in really close, depending on the size of the subject – sometime within a few centimeters. It is here that you will really start to notice the effect of the rule of thirds on your composition, getting your subject on a third whilst leading the eye to the now distant background can be a challenge and requires careful positioning. Super wides can work well by positioning a horizon on the upper third and filling the lower two thirds with an interesting subject matter, this works particularly well on landscape photographs.

Another compositional conundrum with super wides is converging verticals. As with all lenses pointing the camera up or down when shooting, for example architecture, will cause the lines of the building to converge. This effect is greatly exaggerated with a super wide. Some solutions include getting further back at making sure the camera is pointing level to the vanishing point, finding an elevated position or using the converging verticals as a feature of the image, creating a dramatic, abstract look.

Super wides can be great for interior shots, particularly cathedrals and other large spaces. The converging vertical issue is prevalent here as well but the points above are equally useful for interiors. Look for lines to lead your eye into the image.

One thing super wides are really great for are symmetrical shots. The exaggerated perspective combines well with a symmetrical subject often producing striking, abstract images.

One of the great advantages of super wides is their immense depth of field at most apertures. This is extremely useful for landscape photography where you want a good foreground subject to lead the eye to the sweeping vista behind and need both to have good focus. However, with a fast super wide you can also create dramatic images by coming in super close to your subject, focusing directly on that subject with a wide aperture. The resulting image will draw the eye straight to the subject matter whilst maintaining a dramatic, but out of focus background.

One of the biggest issues with a super wide lens it that of flare. Because the lens is taking in a large field of view and will often have an extremely convex front element, the chance of light falling onto the element is high. Because of their nature, lens hoods have to be short and stubby and not actually that great at shielding the light. Be aware of the position of the sun or other lights and check you images carefully, one technique for reducing lens flare is to put the camera on a tripod and position your body, just out of shot, to shield the light.

Another issue is that of filters. Some super wides have such convex elements that they cannot take standard filters, the Nikon 14-24mm 2.8 is a classic example. Others may have filter threads but at their widest aperture you may start getting vignetting even using just one filter. There are some manufacturers that produce filters with thin rims to help overcome this problem.

One of the hardest filters to use on a wide angle is a polarizer. Because of the wide sweep of sky that can be included in shot, when trying to punch out a crisp blue sky, you may find that some of the extremities of that sky will go so dark as to appear almost black. Monitor this carefully and if doubt shoot a series of shots with the polarizer at different angles.

So, this is just a very few hints and tips on using these versatile but difficult lenses. One of the great things about super wides is that you can break all the usual rules of composition and still end up with stunning shots.

Jason Row is a British born travel photographer now living in Ukraine. You can follow him on Facebook or visit his site, The Odessa Files. He also maintains a blog chronicling his exploits as an Expat in the former Soviet Union

Our community has grown incredibly fast over the last few years. We are now a strong group of over 500,000 photographers (and growing daily) We know that you are extremely passionate about the art of taking beautiful photos. So, we are about to introduce a way for you to make the most of this HUGE community.. Get ready to fast-track your journey to taking even better professional photographs.

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As spring rolls in, the Toad has been busy with automotive car photography and this week’s feature “The Deafening Sound Of Fury” showcases a series of 30 HDR images captured during a recent slalom event hosted by the local Corvette club.  If you love supercars half as much as the Toad does, we think you’ll really enjoy this post!

Two ships passing in the..sunset. by rseidel3, on Flickr

TUTORIALS

Food For Digital Thought: “The Law Of The Light” Part One – if you read one thing this week, this really ought to be it.  Joe Baraban shares a great tip on how to use light to your advantage to capture truly stunning images.

Dynamic Brushes In Photoshop CS 5 – Blake Rudis delivers a concise tutorial showing you how to use custom brushes in a very unique way.  Blake’s tutorials are always great, delivering a valuable tip or trick well worth the time to both read and view in the brief video included.

When the lights come on – a great video tutorial is shared here by Edin Chavez, as well as a top drawer photograph.  Edin shows us how he goes about creating his long exposure photography, and shares a shot of a rolling and hilly coastline that is sure to be enjoyed by all.

Camera Light Metering Modes Illustrated – Doug Pruden shares a great article that outlines the differences in various light metering modes that are available on most modern DSLR cameras.  This easy to read and understand piece really sheds some light, if you’ll pardon the pun, on this concept.  While you’re there, be sure to sign up for Doug’s Free Newsletter!

Shutter Speed Chart for Photographers – this is a great primer for folks interested in learning about appropriate shutter speeds for specific subjects and lighting conditions.  This is a very brief article that includes a few really important insights.

GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY

Tim Wallace Photographer: Automotive Car and Commercial Advertising Photography – we really love great photography of all things mechanical; cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, ride-on lawnmowers…  we love it all.  This week we have found the most incredible car photographer in Tim Wallace, and his site is a real must-see destination.  While you’re there, make sure to see his “Car Photography” page.

Grandpa’s Garage – another post that highlights a great automotive photograph.  Blake Rudis sneaks us all into his Grandpa’s garage where sits the most incredible Model T, and as chance would have it magical light comes through the window bathing the entire scene in an almost mystical luminescence.

Cygne,Confort et chaleur by jd.echenard, on Flickr

Yeti | Yet (i) Again! – wow, where do we even start here!!  Edith Levy shares a great set of shots of this most beautiful Canadian Lynx doing what it does best!  All three photos are truly incredible.  Edith has really captured the spirit and character of this amazing cat for everyone to enjoy!

A Photo Walk on London’s South Bank – Part I – Craig Desjardins takes us on a recent photowalk in the UK.  As the group travels around London capturing shots at night, Craig collects and shares his set of images from the event, all of which are well worth the time to view.

The Granite Dells of Prescott, Arizona – Renée M. Besta takes us away to Arizona in this wonderful post.  We get to enjoy a detailed description of the area being photographed as well as some just terrific photographs.  Renée manages to capture some of the most amazing reflections in this week’s list, frozen in time in the stillest of still waters.

Heaven’s Hallway – Before and After – Adam Allegro performs some photography magic, right in front of our eyes!  He shows an image as captured, and then performs some post-processing to create an entirely contrasting image from the same frame.

Castel Fontana – a historic and character-rich old historic castle peeks out from the coverings provided by its surroundings to create a truly spectacular scene.  Andrea Paolicelli does a top drawer job in capturing this amazing photo to share with everyone; a must-see image in this week’s list.

Portrait: my friend Rodri … – this wonderful black-and-white portrait really delivers all the character and expression in the face of the subject.  Tomàs Rotger captures and shares a really fabulous photograph, one that is really well worth the time to visit and view.

Crazy.. – some really great elements are brought together in this photograph by LightChaser.  A complete vision and story are shared here in a single frame, creating a truly compelling piece to view.

A Day at the Track – as spring approaches here in the Northern Hemisphere, the cars start to slowly come out of the garages and head for the highways or tracks.  Hansrico Photography takes us away to a track and shares a great series of images showcasing all the character of these gorgeous cars.

iPhone fun in Amsterdam – Jim Nix takes us on a journey around Amsterdam, showing images of the streets and many canals that are present there.  These fabulous shots are totally delightful and are sure to be enjoyed by all who visit.

Me and My Shadow – photography is just as much about what you do see as what you don’t in an image.  Jimi Jones shares a great shot that has the added touch of his shadow draping across the wall creating a strong impression of drama and interest.

Got Milk? – great details, textures and tones are all present in this photograph by Len Saltiel.  This old, classic sign really takes the viewer back in time, showing an advertisement from years ago.

Lightning 2012 – the power and grandeur of Mother Nature lies exposed in this wonderful photograph by Scott Ackerman.  A lightning strike lights up the city skyline, producing a dramatic scene.

Razorback – both sharp and soft elements are explored in this wonderful black-and-white image by Andy Gimino.  The long exposure used to capture this shot smoothes out both the water and the cloud in the sky, which in turn is juxtaposed against the craggy outcroppings of the shoreline.

his & hers . . . – a pair of Adirondack chairs sit on a pier, posing the perfect subjects to convey a strong sense of emotion.  This wonderfully captured scene by dragonflydreams88 delivers a highly emotional picture sure to be enjoyed by everyone who visits.

Patterns on a rooftop by Steve-h, on Flickr

A Brooklyn Morning – we join Dave DiCello in this post as he makes his way around NYC grabbing some fabulous photos.  We get several different vantage-points captured using a few different techniques, creating a varied and interesting set of photographs to view and enjoy.

Radio Equipped – all the romance and nostalgia of trains are captured and shared in this post by John Sotiriou.  John post-processes this image to create a certain feel emphasized by his color palette, in turn creating a really mesmerizing shot.

Stormy Moon, Minnesota – Mark Paulson shares a great shot of a full moon that really takes the viewer to an eerie, yet fascinating, place.  The dramatic clouds that circle the moon really add a touch of drama that take this shot to the next level.

Spring Blues – a visit to our very own hometown finds the viewer seeing some of our spring flowers in their vibrant colors.  Benjamin Madison captures and shares a pair of images with really great colors and details.

Weekend Relaxer #17 – you’ll never look at a beer label the same again after visiting one of Chris Nitz’s weekly features.  Chris always manages to combine a really great beer review with a photograph that is sure to bring a smile to everyones face.

Gold & Blue – I absolutely love IR photography, the details it tends to expose are really second-to-none.  It also has a wonderful effect of shifting the tones in the image radically, often producing an otherworldly experience as shown in this awesome photograph from Dacel Andes.

Woody – Jay Taylor always takes great wildlife photos, often of species that are local to us.  This Downy Woodpecker is perfectly captured, with a wonderfully shallow depth of field to bring this lovely little bird to life for everyone to enjoy.

Fantasies – to say this is a wonderful image would be a huge understatement.  Helene Kobelnyk captures and delicately processes this wonderful image that immediately takes the viewer to a spot of time in the 50’s.  A must-see image in this week’s list!!

24 April 2012 Day 115 – another shot as shared by Helene Kobelnyk shares such a fabulous scene that it’s difficult to properly describe.  This really incredible photograph is of a girl in a mirror with a captivating hat; just mesmerizing.

Need a Fill Up – these classic old gas pumps are great subjects to photograph.  Rachel Cohen finds and shares a black-and-white image that accents the inherent drama in her composition.

Rocky Road – this picture has so many great elements at play.  The first and most obvious one is the ribbon of road that leads the viewers eye to a fantastic vanishing point.  From there, you are naturally taken to the incredible landscape in the backdrop that Michael Trauffer masterfully captures and shares.

Teach Him to Fish – Gareth Glynn Ash shares a great photograph that is punctuated by his fascinating accompanying blog post.  Gareth’s perfect composition in this image accents the natural tension he has seen and expressed.

US Army Kitchen Car # 89639 – this answers one of those questions that many of us have, wondering what something looks like inside.  Scott Hovind delivers a great series in this post, one that is sure to delight and amaze everyone who visits.

Breeding Bluebirds and Beautiful Photographs – what a wonderful set of photographs to view with a really heartfelt post!  Lee Brown delivers a profound piece, one that is sure to be enjoyed by everyone.

Weekly Photography Challenge: ‘Q’ – Quarters – this is a great set!  Dakota Visions Photography brings us a series of images of a quarter in action.  Captured in various states of spin, we get to see this American icon in really unique poses.

Lufty Baptist Church – Michael Lewis Glover delivers a dramatic black-and-white photograph of a very old and historic church.  He finds and really explores some great textures and details in the scene, creating a real must-see image in this week’s list.

Colorful Buildings, St. John’s Antigua – remarkable colors are captured in this set of really unique images by Mark Summerfield.  The little shutters and their respective hinges really add a lot of character to the shots.

Texas Longhorns – Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge – no bull about it, these great shots from Steve Creek share a significant moment of angst between two rather large examples of this incredible animal.  Steve captures and shares a great set here, sure to delight and amaze everyone who visits.

The Silent Withering – we find Mark Garbowski delivering a really dramatic shot of what appears to be an abandoned attic.  Really great light drifts through the open hole in the structure, completing a perfect scene.

Limmer’s Workbench – Rob Hanson takes us behind the scenes at a bootmaking shop.  This wonderful image is full of rich details, almost sharing a secret with the viewer.

Ready…action – an amazing underwater scene is carefully composed and crafted by Ellen Cuylaerts.  A shipwreck being photographed by a group of students beckons Ellen as she creates an almost magical scene to enjoy.

Return of the Swallows – Laurie MacBride shares a splendid post highlighting the spring activities of these wonderful little birds.  She accents her article with some really incredible photographs of the birds, sure to delight everyone.

✿ Forest roads ✿ I by ✿ nicolas_gent ✿, on Flickr

Minimalism in Photography and Life – a minimalistic view of the world around us presents it in an uncluttered way.  Anne McKinnell posts an almost abstract piece that is both profound in the message shared as well as absolutely fascinating with the images she posts.

Red Hot (hi-boy) – red is passion, red captures the mind and imagination, red speaks of love…  and in this case it also presents itself on a beautiful old classic hotrod car that is carefully photographed by Bob Byington.

Crow Man – a composite image is created and shared by Chris Maskell in this image.  Chris pulls several elements together in this creation, delivering a strong and dramatic piece that tells an entire story with a single viewing.

Moss – the Pacific Northwest area of North America is predominantly comprised of rainforest, and thus moss is a huge factor.  Scott Wood has moved to our area here, and as the boxes begin to unpack he takes his camera out for the first time to explore his new environs.

Left Over – Scott Frederick takes us inside an abandoned hospital where an old wheelchair is left behind.  The rich textures in the surrounding decay are truly accented by the dramatic and tension-filled presence of this lone remaining artifact.

Heritage Softail – a wonderful composition featuring the distinctive front clip of this classic American motorcycle awaits the viewer.  Tim Stanley captures a shot full of great chrome, colors and shapes that are iconic in nature.

Mischeif – squirrels are awesome photography subjects, especially when captured in the middle of being a bit of a trouble-maker.  Aaron Barlow delivers a great example of this as he encounters this little creature right in the midst of its plans to overthrow the power-base of the world.

A New Spin – Erik and Kathleen Kerstenbeck shares a metaphorical image of a wind farm.  This photograph symbolizes some life changes they are making, and the picture is a perfect representation of this expression.

Lake Mead Panorama – this is a very detailed, colorful and visually expansive shot as captured and shared by Michael Trauffer.  Taken at the Hoover Dam Overlook, the viewer is presented a scene so expansive it seems to go on forever.

Two For One – what’s better than a bright lightning strike to photograph?  Two!  Chris Frailey grabs a photograph of two very active bolts as they strike terra firma, delivering a truly dramatic scene to view and enjoy.

The One That Didn’t Get Away – we have several fabulous elements working together to deliver a really compelling photograph here.  Jerry Denham captures a serene view of a morning on a lake, complete with a great reflection and the subtle silhouettes of fishermen in the distance to add a touch of tension.

Fox cubs – can anyone tell me if these lil’ guys would make decent pets?  I ask because this photograph from the studio of Luke Massey delivers a picture of cuteness that is hard to describe.

Alberta Morning – once again Len Saltiel takes us to the glorious mountain ranges in the Jasper/Banff area of Canada to enjoy a serene scene.  The early morning light casts a wonderful tone on the majestic mountains, creating an absolutely mesmerizing scene to take in and enjoy.

USCGC Taney – I just love the details and wonderful colors exposed in this great photograph by Jimi Jones.  This iconic ship creates the perfect pose for Jimi to capture and share, resulting in a piece that is full of great elements.

Engine 61 Responding – fire trucks in action can be great subject for photography.  In this example, Wayne Frost captures a shot of one as it leaves its home headed for an emergency.  Great details, colors and tones bring the scene to life, creating an image that is sure to be enjoyed by all who visit.

Stillwater Design – I have a total weakness for great architectural photography that showcases heritage structures full of character.  Jim Denham delivers a great example of this in his blog post here, sharing a view of an old home so full of interest and character it defies proper description.  The variations in the surrounding iron fence just serve to add more interest to this absolutely captivating scene.

Breaking Dawn – almost magical rays of sun beam down upon this beautiful landscape scene.  Mike Olbinski does a wonderful job of capturing this wonderful moment in time, creating an image that is sure to delight and amaze all who pop by for a visit.

Theme: “Coffee” – “Shrooms and Brew” – Howard delivers another strong theme based photo series in this post.  Using Lego characters to create a specific, and absolutely delightful, set of scenes, he captures and shares a really interesting series that also branches out into the realm of expressionism.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Canada – one of Canada’s most iconic hotels is featured in this post from Doug Pruden.  Nestled deep in the thick forests of Banff National Park, this beautiful facility is so stunning, the only way to describe it is through seeing it yourself.

Youghiogheny River, below Ohiopyle Falls – when the weather is overcast and grey, capturing incredible landscape photographs can sometimes be found in the world of black-and-white processing.  Perry Bailey delivers a very dramatic landscape scene, complete with strong cloud formations and wonderful contrasts and details hidden in the surrounding area.

Seattle Nightscape – Seattle is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and in this epic photograph by Jay Taylor we get a glimpse of it as night falls.  Incredible details and lights from the city bring this photograph to life, creating a true must-see shot in this week’s list.

Challenger RT – Bob Byington shares another image of an American muscle car.  Bob has copied a popular composition and processing style to create a great shot that is truly his own.  Strap yourself in, things are about to happen fast ’round here!

Moraine Lake Storm – a really incredible photograph full of drama and intrigue awaits the viewer in this post.  Jeff Clow captures an image of Mother Nature and her incredible forces at work, creating a wonderful juxtaposition of static and highly dynamic elements at work together and against each other.

Silk Road #9 by Jonathan Kos-Read, on Flickr

Balestrino – Abandoned Church – Mark Blundell creates and delivers the most compelling 360* interactive panorama presentations out there.  This one showcases an old and abandoned church, full of great textures to be enjoyed through decay.  This is an epic presentation, one that is sure to keep the visitor engaged for quite some time as you take in all the intricate details and points of interest inside this old structure.

INTERESTING BLOGS

Haunting Graffiti in the Heart of Abandoned Chernobyl – this incredibly emotional and heart-wrenching series of pictures depicts artwork placed in various spots in this now long abandoned nuclear city.  The silhouettes of the children serve to create a echo in time, delivering scene full of power and raw emotion.  Truly, a must-see post in this week’s list.

Famous Portrait Photographers of All Time – this great blog post highlights a list of the most influential and famous portrait photographers of all time.  Definitely a list of greats to peruse and enjoy!

Astronaut Soichi Noguchi Tweets Amazing Photographs From Space – isn’t this the coolest job ever?

The adventures of film photography – this is a truly inspiring post by Tristan that takes us on his adventure with a film based camera.  He even develops his own roll, taking us through the entire process in a really great way.

2012 London Olympics: The Buildings from the Air – this is a great set of aerial photographs showcasing some of the Olympic buildings for the upcoming games.  These images share a view of these facilities that both demonstrates the scale of the building as well as its character.

Moving on a float house 1 | Moving on a float house 2 | Moving on a float house – Arrival – this is one of those series that really highlights the wonder that photography can bring.  Joseph de Lange brings us along as his wonderful float home is moved from one marina to another.

Superhero Ancestral Family Photos – this is just so fun.  What if Spiderman had an uncle that inspired him to pursue a life of crime fighting?  His uncle’s portrait would be on the wall in the hallways of his home.  This great post gives us a look into this concept, delivering an absolutely wonderful piece to read and enjoy.

Hello Victoria – roaming photographer and author Jordan Oram brings us along on his journey with a stopover in my home city of Victoria.  Jordan takes us through the city, highlighting some of the sights that are unique to our place, and in turn creating a really compelling post to visit and enjoy.