Allan Johnson 8/12/16 Allan Johnson 8/12/16

Project update

Just wanted to post an update on my current project blog. So far it has been about 5 weeks and I have been able to post one article every week. Its pretty fun so far and can't wait till it catches on a little more. You can check it out at the links below I will link all the articles to date.

If anyone has suggestions for topics or something they want to see feel free to let me know and I'd be happy to try to write a post about it. Remember these are my opinions and thoughts/experience with these subjects. Writing like this is new to me so over time I will improve and bring you even more awesome content.

The Photography Tips Blog: http://www.thephotographytipsblog.com

Article #1

RAW VS. JPEG WHAT ARE THEY??:

Article #2

PRIMES AND ZOOM LENSES WHAT ARE THEY?: http://www.thephotographytipsblog.com/primes-zoom-lenses/

Article #3

PHOTOGRAPHY PHONE APPS: http://www.thephotographytipsblog.com/photography-phone-apps/

Article #4

DSLR VS. MIRRORLESS VS. MICRO 4/3 CAMERAS: http://www.thephotographytipsblog.com/dslr-vs-mirrorless-vs-micro-43-cameras

Article #5

HDR PHOTOGRAPHY: http://www.thephotographytipsblog.com/hdr-photography/

Allan Johnson 7/20/16 Allan Johnson 7/20/16

New project

I have started a new project to not only help people with their photography, but also help myself with my writing skills. I started a new blog that's separate from this one, since it is focused on helping/teaching people and this one is for my personal portfolio/photography.

You can find it here at http://thephotographytipsblog.com I have already posted one article and plan to post one per week. Check it out and let me know what you think. Thanks!

Allan Johnson 5/19/16 Allan Johnson 5/19/16

TinType Project

Today I downloaded the app TinType by Hipstamatic to play around with. It actually makes some neat photos. I have had a couple tintypes made of myself in years past with my Civil War re-enactment unit so I have seen how they are done and what they look like. I have decided to start a little project to challenge myself to take some cool photos with this app. I'll probably post them here and on my Instagram page. Here are a few samples of what it can do. One is just plain B&W, the next has a yellowing effect, and the last is in color.

Allan Johnson 5/12/16 Allan Johnson 5/12/16

My First Experience With A Hasselblad Medium Format Camera

Recently I was lucky enough to pick up a Hasselblad 500 EL/m from eBay. Surprisingly I only paid about $180 and it works perfectly. The only damage is has is some of the chrome parts are pealing, and the focus screen has some marks on it. Thankfully those do not effect the final images the camera produces.

The Hasselblad 500 EL/m for those who are not familiar with this type of camera is a Medium Format film camera that has a motor to move the film to the next from after an exposure

The Hasselblad 500 EL/m for those who are not familiar with this type of camera is a Medium Format film camera that has a motor to move the film to the next from after an exposure was taken. Due to the batteries not being available anymore mine came with an adapter for a 9v battery. I had to buy the lens separate so I got bought a Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm F2.8 (the lens cost over $250).

It came with the 120 film back which unfortunately did not work so I went to a local camera store to see about repairs. The estimate I received was going to cost about $150 for a total over haul. The problem was I needed it for the weekend to try it out at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Lucky for me they had some backs there and I was able to buy a newer one that matched the age of the camera for around $130.

So at this point the camera was really setting me back in the money department, but I was excited to have such a nice and cool looking camera to try out. Now I have not used film in a long, long time and this camera unlike my other film cameras has no light meter built in. So back to eBay I went and got one cheap for around $15. AS usually it worked but not like it should. No matter what I did I could not get it to zero out. I figured if I could just compensate I would be fine, but alas I kept forgetting and well my pictures came out a bit darker then I would have liked.

Lucky for me I walked the floor with my Nikon D800 first and then the Hasselblad so I still got pictures that look good. When I was looking at the pictures I noticed some light leaking into the frame (examples below). Doing some research it looks like I may have a light leak in my film back where the dark slide comes out. Sounds like a simple fix of just replacing the foam inside that may of rotted over the years. Again thats going to cost at least $15.

120 file seems to be easy enough to get. I used Kodak 400 Tmax B&W for these shots (five rolls for $25 or so). I want to try out some color 120 film, but every time I go to the camera store to get it they are sold out. I guess I’ll have to order some before my vacation. I sent my film out to be processed to a place called The Darkroom. Since I wasn’t sure how they were going to come out I did not order prints and only ordered scans. Three rolls with their best scanning option cost me about $60.

So other then costing me more then I originally wanted, I do love my Hasselblad. The photos I took with it are IMO not that great at all. Thats not the cameras fault at all. I chalk it up to a bad light meter and myself. Like any camera you buy, the more you practice and play with it the better you will get. I am looking forward to getting some nice images out of my Hasselblad in the future.

So after all is said and done I spent around $660 for the camera, lens, film back, film, and processing. Was it worth it? To me yes to some of my friends who I told about it no, but to me its all in the name of fun and art of photography. I am hoping to take it out again this weekend and trying to see if I can get some nice shots down at the shore.

Allan Johnson 4/30/16 Allan Johnson 4/30/16

April Rainbow

A shot I got of a rainbow after a quick moving thunderstorm came through. It was fading, but I was able to bring the colors out in lightroom.

Allan Johnson 4/27/16 Allan Johnson 4/27/16

LightRoom Edit - Rainbow!

While out to dinner we had a fast moving thunderstorm go through my area. When we were leaving we noticed a awesome rainbow. I didn't have a camera on me, but when I got home I grabbed it and got a couple shots before it faded away. This is how I edited the photos.

Allan Johnson 4/11/16 Allan Johnson 4/11/16

River Trash Photo Edit

Just editing some photos tonight and decided to make a quick video of me doing so. This image I am editing was taken at the Nature Center near my house. One of the trails is next to the river and the banks are full of trash. This piece of trash caught my eye.

Allan Johnson 3/6/16 Allan Johnson 3/6/16

Live Stream update 3/6/16

Update on what I am doing today.

Allan Johnson 2/29/16 Allan Johnson 2/29/16

Lytro Light Field Camera, 8GB, Graphite (First Generation) Review

Link to the "live" pictures http://bap.pics/LytroPictures

So today I was out at the Nature Center getting a decent hike in on a nice day. Besides taking along my Nikon D800 and D5200 I brought along a Lytro Light Field Camera that I bought off of ebay for $25.00 (if you want to get one check ebay for a used one).

This is a review of the Lytro and the software that you use to edit/refocus the images. I have put the link to the "Live" picture gallery at the top of the description.
Enjoy!

Lytro Light Field Camera, 8GB, Graphite

$144.02

Buy on Amazon

Allan Johnson 2/6/16 Allan Johnson 2/6/16

First Time Editing in Photoshop

In this video I try something I don't normally do. Edit a photograph in Photoshop. Usually I do all my edits in Lightroom but some things can not be done in LR. I wanted to remove the road in the picture and take some of the shadows off the monument.
I used the clone tool on a dodge brush to do this and in this video you can see me do it.
I am not very good in PS just yet so ANY tips and tricks you guys can throw at me I'd much appreciate it. I have bought a couple courses online to teach me PS, but I am sure people that have used PS for a long time have more tips and experience then these videos will show me.

Used in video:
Wacom Intuos Pen and Touch Small Tablet: http://amzn.to/1Q0rYCa
MacBook Pro 15': http://amzn.to/1mkR9Yy

Need Storage for your photos and videos?:
http://bap.pics/DropBoxStorage