Category: Interesting Stuff

The Changing Face of Photo Editing

Artistic Ideas, Interesting Stuff, Photography, Tools

A bit late with this post.  It is summer, after all, here in Canada.

A couple of new announcements in July caught my attention because I use both products but also because they are clear examples of the changing face of photo editing.

Attention - Hot NewsSkylum announced the upcoming release of Luminar 4, scheduled for sometime in the fall.  Originally released in 2017, the company and the product have gone through some interesting evolutions.

Topaz Labs released the next version of its Studio software, completely redesigning the interface, and redefining its associated pricing model.

Both products are standalone photo editors.  Both products also provide plugin options for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.  But that’s not what makes them interesting. Continue reading “The Changing Face of Photo Editing” →

My Busy Few Weeks

Interesting Stuff, Life, Photography

In the last three weeks, I’ve been the busiest I’ve ever been since taking up this interest in photography.  Has it made me a lot of money?  Sadly, no.  But I’m still happy with the outcome.  So what have I done?

Continue reading “My Busy Few Weeks” →

Believe

Artistic Ideas, Interesting Stuff, Landscapes, Learning, Life, Photography

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn as a photographer is not to limit myself to the immediate reaction I have when looking at a scene or subject.  There is potential in every situation, even those that to the human eye and the camera initially look like disasters.

A friend of mine invited me to join her to try to shoot car light trails from a highway overpass at dusk, achieving both the capture of the sunset and the movement of the cars through light trails.  Here’s what happened. Continue reading “Believe” →

Most Bizzare Story Ever

Interesting Stuff, Photography

It’s the stuff of mystery novels, with twists and turns and a very unexpected ending.  A sculptor in the US was recently awarded more than $3M in damages for copyright infringement over misuse of his work.

WAPO StoryThe work:  a replica of the Statue of Liberty, designed for a casino in Las Vegas.  The culprit:  the US Postal Service, who legitimately licensed a copy of an image taken of the replica by a photographer who offered it on Getty Images.

Say what? Continue reading “Most Bizzare Story Ever” →

Computational Photography – The Next Big Thing?

Interesting Stuff, Photography, Tools

Ok, don’t panic.  I can hear all of my photographer friends out there slamming their computers, tablets and phones shut.  It can’t be happening:  photography evolving into something that uses math, algorithms and logic to deliver the “decisive moment”?  Say it ain’t so!  Oh, but it is, and I think we will be better off for it.  At least I hope we will.

neural-net copyI’ve been hearing and reading quite a bit about this thing called computational photography.  It is such a new field that what’s in and what’s out, or even the language with which it is communicated, is not yet well defined.  But it can be applied to any form of optical capture, whether in the science lab or in the artist’s studio.

Just as digital photography revolutionized the medium by converting light into numbers through sensors and processors, computational photography manipulates those numbers “in camera” through layers of new software, providing the photographer with new options, like correcting capture problems after the fact or applying a wide variety of creative effects.

It’s actually been around in the engineering and computer science universe for more than a decade, but practically speaking, is now having a huge impact in pro and consumer photography, particularly in the latest smartphones. Continue reading “Computational Photography – The Next Big Thing?” →

Is Nature Ever Natural?

Artistic Ideas, Interesting Stuff, Nature, Photography

In two weeks, my local photography club, the Oshawa Camera Club, will be holding a discussion and vote.  The subject:  how natural should nature photography be?  Club competition rules for the nature category are currently strict, limiting almost all evidence of “hand of man” and requiring that the image be a documentary of the subject in their natural environment.  But today’s sophisticated software opens the door to edits that are routinely applied in other categories, so why not here?  Here’s the debate… Continue reading “Is Nature Ever Natural?” →

Light Painting with Patrick Rochon

Artistic Ideas, Fine Art, Interesting Stuff, Photography, Tools

I had the pleasure yesterday of attending a presentation by Patrick Rochon, also known as Patrick the Light Painter.

patrick-the-light-painterThere are many ways to express one’s creativity in photography and Patrick has chosen light as the medium for his expression.  You might wonder what’s unique about that, since every photographer uses light.  It’s how he uses it that sets him apart. Continue reading “Light Painting with Patrick Rochon” →

The Pixelstick

Artistic Ideas, Interesting Stuff, Photography

A few days ago, I joined a group of enthusiastic photographers at the Port Perry waterfront to try out a new device.  It’s called “The Pixelstick“.  It’s a device that takes light painting to the next level.  It uses a long wand-like structure attached to a digital memory to essentially scroll bands of light or fully formed images across space as you move it.

Artistic_20150526_0034

Continue reading “The Pixelstick” →

My Ideal Weekend – Photo Shoot One Day, Photo Course The Next

Interesting Stuff, My Community, Nina Kirienko, Photography

Now that school is done for the year, you might ask how I’m filling my time.  My tag line is “I’m Not Happy Unless I’m Learning”. True to that saying, I’ve been seeking out opportunities to grow as a photographer and person, and I had two perfect examples this weekend.

Continue reading “My Ideal Weekend – Photo Shoot One Day, Photo Course The Next” →

Website Launch This Week

Interesting Stuff

This website officially launched this week.  Thanks to the great learning environment at Durham College, I was able to design, build and release this to you.  It’s been a labour of love, as well as a way to start to connect with all of you.  Hope you enjoy your visit and that you’ll return regularly.  Thanks for your support.

Nina Kirienko Photography Logo