DECEMBERFEST - ianganderton

[ianganderton]

So this decemberfest malarky then. I've never tried to take a photo everyday, be interesting to see if I can stick with the discipline.

I'm going to limit myself to my new Sigma 30mm f1.4 lens. Going old skool, 50mm equivalent lens that has a similar perspective as the eye and going to use my feet to zoom with.

I intend to try and post a photo taken each day. There may be some delay as I'll be out and about at some points.

Looking forward to playing this game

[ianganderton]

Photo #1 - Thursday 1st December 2011



Model Canon EOS 550D
ISO 100
Exposure 1/2000 sec
Aperture 1.4
Focal Length 30mm

PP- None, straight out of the camera

On the run up to UAE National Day (2nd December) the Emiratis go for it when it comes to UAEing their bling cars. This Audi R8 down on the Walk in JBR was pretty subtly done but was looking fab.

[ianganderton]

Photo #2 - Friday 2nd December 2011



Model: Canon EOS 550D
ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/200 sec
Aperture: 1.4
Focal Length: 30mm
Flash Used: Yes

PP- None, straight out of the camera

The Dubai 7's is a brilliant weekend. For me the Friday was all about the girls. Dressed up as mermaids and out to have a wild time. I'm loving the 30mm lens set at 1.4. Makes for a very tight DOF which makes getting the focus point critical but means that the camera will get atmospheric shots using low natural lighting.

To see all the ones I uploaded to facebook goto https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150403722346193.350556.554606192&type=1&l=1b5d204696

[ianganderton]

Photo #3 - Saturday 3rd December 2011



Model: Canon EOS 550D
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/4000 sec
Aperture: 2.5
Focal Length: 30mm

PP- Crop only in Picasa

Saturday at the 7's is much more about the Rugby. The pool stages are over and its into the knockout rounds.

Dubaiphil and myself had media passes so where able to get pitchside on all but Pitch 1 (next year I'll work out how to get a bib). I was sticking with my DECEMBERFEST lens and 30mm is not a lot for sporting action. Phil and myself were suffering from some severe lens envy lusting after some of the long, fat and fast lenses the pro photogs had in their quiver.

Having said that considering how few shots I was able to take this one shows that with a bit more effort there is action to be got even with a short, fast 30. I spent too much time chatting to Phil and not enough time zooming with my feet

[ianganderton]

Photo #4 - Sunday 4th December 2011



Model: Canon EOS 550D
ISO: 400
Exposure: 2.5 sec
Aperture: 8.0
Focal Length: 30mm
Flash Used: Yes

PP- Straightened, cropped and colour temp tweeked in Picasa

Paul is a friend I havent seen in too long. He was heading back home to Miri, Borneo from a work trip to Houston, Texas and had a 7hr stop over in Dubai. It was fantastic to catch up with a great mate while paddling to the edge of The World and back

The Dubai skyline is pretty spectacular.

Getting a couple of shots was quite difficult. No tripod and only on camera flash involved utilizing beach detritus to balance the camera. While its not a great shot at all its not bad, all things considered, as its captured what will be a great memory. I think it was the flash going off that attracted the security boats that intercepted us on the way back

[warth man]

Nice work iang. Now we know what you mean about burning the candles!

[mbrandste]

I really like the versatility of your shots. Keep it up!

[ianganderton]

Photo #5 - Monday 5th December 2011



Model: Canon EOS 550D
ISO: 640
Exposure: 1/50 sec
Aperture: 8.0
Focal Length: 30mm

PP- Clicked the 'I Feel Lucky' button in Picasa, added a bit of saturation and messed with the Shadows and Highlights sliders to add contrast too.

Decemberfest work days are going to be tough but thats good because its making me think and visit the locations I've been meaning to visit.

This photo was taken in 'Ghost Town' near Jazirat Al Hamra (Red Island), Ras Al Khaimah. It is literally a ghost town that was deserted years ago over some sort of land rights issue. The original inhabitants all moved to Abu Dhabi apparently.

I was a bit rushed on the way home, just grabbing the last of the light. The old, derelict buildings have lots of interesting features and textures to explore in images and could be a good DECEMBERFEST hunting ground.

Thanks for the comments guys. Any C&C is encouraged please particularly from a composition perspective as this is where I feel I have the most ground to make up.

[ianganderton]

Photo #6 - Tuesday 6th December 2011



Model: Canon EOS 550D
ISO: 1250
Exposure: 1/40 sec
Aperture: 1.4
Focal Length: 30mm
Flash Used: No

PP - Crop and white balance in Picasa plus a but of messing with Saturation, Highlights and Shadows to increase the contrast and to tray and cover up a bit the fact that its not really sharp at all

Gordon has a bouldering (small climbing) wall set up in his spare bedroom for training on. Tuesday night is bouldering night and a few of the climbing community gather round at Gordons for a very social training eve.

I was trying to isolate the hand from the rest of the climber using a tight DOF to exaggerate the look of the energy going through it but I dont think its worked as well as I hoped. I struggled a bit with the lens being a bit long for space and also trying not to get in peoples way or too much in their face.

[ianganderton]

Photo #7 - Wednesday 7th December 2011



Model: Canon EOS 550D
ISO: 4000
Exposure: 1/50 sec
Aperture: 1.4
Focal Length: 30mm
Flash Used: No

PP- None, straight out of the camera.

I was struggling a bit this eve with nothing in the bag during the day after a busy day out and about. Was looking around and saw some trees uplit with coloured bulbs, one green, one amber and one red. This was the nicest and sharpest shot I got. Camera was working hard at ISO4000

[dubaiphil]

Nice work there, Ian. I've got to get to that ghost town next time I do a Barracuda run!

[ianganderton]

Photo #8 - Thursday 8th December 2011



Model: Canon EOS 550D
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: 4.0
Focal Length: 30mm
Flash Used: No

PP- Clicked the "I Feel Lucky" magic button in Picasa and then cropped.

Really liking the sheer simplicity of this image. I stopped at the side of the road (66) on the way back from Al Ain in the middle of the afternoon because this dune caught my eye.

Off camping at Shawka tonight, taking some photos of a low key mountain bike race early in the morning then going for a ride myself with a friend before heading to either Hatta or Dibba Oman to camp over night then climb Saturday. Should be able to get a couple of images the next 2 days. Really pleased I'm on track for my goal of a photo a day for December so far.

[mbrandste]

Great pictures!

[ianganderton]

Photo #9 - Friday 9th December



Model: Canon EOS 550D
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/3200 sec
Aperture: 1.4
Focal Length: 30mm

I've had a bit of a mountain bike photography day. There was a fun, low key mountain bike race early this morning so camped out with those guys and took some photos of them and then headed 5 minuted down the road to meet up with my friend Damian. I needed some shots for an article I'm writing so he knew I was going to want to stop a bit here an there. We had a great 4 hr ride but I was shattered at the end.

Really please with the photos and that I'm still on track for a photo a day. Almost 1/3 of the way now.

If you want to see the race photos goto HERE and for more of the ride with Damian go HERE

[ianganderton]

Photo #10 - Saturday 10th December



ISO: 100
Exposure: 2.0 sec
Aperture: 1.39 (interesting aperture from the exif info!)
Focal Length: 30mm

PP- 5 bracketed images processed through Photomatrix Essentials with the painterly preset used

Today I decided I'd start to learn about HDR so that I could post something in Decembers 'On Assignment'. While the magic trick that is HDR is certainly impressive the first few times the software does its trick I guess it can be seen too much. Anyway I'm enjoying performing some magic with 5 bracketed photos.

The image is comprised of 5 photos taken from the roof of my building across Al Hamra with the foothills of the Hajar Mountains on the horizon.