Race Day Morning.2008 NOTRA Nationals, Boswell OK ©Daniel Gauss/Shot On Site |
Since 2009, the retirement home of Shot On Site Photography... the source of the finest sighthound performance images in the world. As of August 1, 2022, the blog will become much more photo-centric. Not only will I post images from the homestead in the foothills of the Little Florida Mountains, and surrounding environs, but also tips about shooting, editing, archiving, software, hardware and more. The political rants will become few and far between (but not eliminated! It is 2022 after all!)
Thursday, October 27, 2022
The Value of An Evolving Editing Program (to me, anyway)
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
It Was the Mother of All Crepuscular Ray Sunsets
Original Fujifilm X-E3 Raw File: f8, 1/800 second, ISO 400. Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f4.0 R OIS WR zoom at 18mm. |
Now, crepuscular rays are not an uncommon site here in The Land of Enchentment, but this was notably exceptional in that the rays were directed out in all directions, owing to the broken cloud formations, and the elevation of the setting sun.
I grabbed the X-E3 and stationed myself on the front porch for the next half hour or so, snapping picture after picture after picture.
I was hoping to get into the editing later that evening, but life - as it does- got in the way, and I didn't get to it until Monday. The screen grab above is the Fuji RAF raw file I started with when I opened up Luminar Neo and sat, staring at the screen, wondering how I wanted to proceed.
I'd watched a YouTube video a couple days before, by a Luminar ambassador, Jim Nix, edit a very similar image, using some of the seldom used tools in Luminar Neo. That's the direction I decided to go.
While Luminar Neo has a very cool "Sunrays" tool, it was obvious it wouldn't be necessary with this image. But I wanted to really accentuate them, along with the golden hour colors. Recently, I would have run this through the HDR Merge tool, just to see what it would look like, but I decided to forego that step. The tools I did use included the almost obligatory DevelopRAW, NoiselessAI, Structure, Color, Super Contrast, among the usual suspects. The seldom used tools included Toning, and Color Harmony.
The beauty of any of the Luminar platforms is that they are completely non destructive. You can experiment with any number of the tools, jack the sliders up to 100, play with colors, vignettes, details, etc. and in the end if you're not happy you can revert to your original raw file or jpeg and it's completely unchanged, and ready for you to start over. I've been there.
Anyway, without further ado, you're probaby interested in seeing how it ended up after using 12 different tools (some more than once, which is another cool feature of Luminar Neo). Here's the shot:
"From the Porch", ©Daniel Gauss/Shot On Site |
Remember, if you're interested in any of the Luminar products, use the links above, and if you decide to buy, save $10 with my coupon code: DANGAUSS
Friday, September 30, 2022
Money Money Money Money..... Money (hum it with me)
Just a quick addendum to yesterday's post on the new Luminar Neo pricing programs. You can take an additional $10 off, using my personal discount code: DanGauss if you purchase a 1 year subscription of either Pro or new Explore! You're welcome.
BONUS POST:
And here's a teaser of an upcoming extension-
Thursday, September 29, 2022
News Flash!
Forest Altar, ©Daniel Gauss/Shot On Site |
I swear, I'll have other product mentions on this blog eventually, but first I have big Luminar Neo news! The folks at Skylum have announced some new levels of pricing, and introduced the Explore Plan. It's a slimmed down version of Luminar Neo at a very attractive price. There is also limited time reduced pricing on the other Luminar plans. If you've been "Luminar-curious", this is your opportunity. Find out all about it at this link.
The above image took about 10 minutes time in Luminar Neo, using just a couple of tools. Below you can see the before/after, from the original Fujifilm RAF (raw) file, to finished image. Impressive.
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Bring da Noize.... outta here.
This is the latest extension tool from Luminar Neo, called NoiselessAI. I intentionally shot this image at the highest ISO my Fujifilm camera was capable of in RAW, 12,800. As you can see, it's annoyingly noisy! If you follow my cursor on the GIF, I simply click on Noiseless in the right column, which opens the tool. The AI then analyzes the image and suggests (you can always disagree!) Low, Medium, or High level of noise removal. In this case, High was the obvious suggestion, and my choice. When done, Neo will display the image at an increased magnification and you can toggle the eyeball to see the before and after. How cool is that?
©Daniel Gauss/Shot On Site |
©Daniel Gauss/Shot On Site |
©Daniel Gauss/Shot On Site |
NOTE: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these, I may receive a small commission at no increased cost to you. Thanks.
Monday, September 05, 2022
This On Your Bucket List?
©Sam Kolder |
Br-r-r-r-r-ackets!
Upper Gallinas Campground, Gila National Forest. New Mexico, USA ©Daniel Gauss/Shot On Site |
Monday, August 08, 2022
Autumn is nice in New Mexico, but...
...monsoon brings out the very best in photographic opportunities!
Lightning captured from the front porch. ©Daniel Gauss/Shot On Site |
Here's what Wikipedia has to say about our monsoon:
"The North American monsoon is a complex weather process that brings moisture from the Gulf of California (and to lesser extent the eastern Pacific and Gulf of Mexico) over northwestern Mexico and southwestern US resulting in summer thunderstorms, especially at higher elevations. Monsoon rains account for 35% to 45% of total rainfall in the desert Southwest"
Thunderstorms mean heavy (but scattered) rain, and more importantly, lightning! Nothing is more satisfying than capturing a great lightning image. For a long time, before the digital era, nothing was more frustrating than trying to capture a great lighting image! One had to stand in the rain with a cable release in hand, and the shutter dial set on "B"... push the plunger for a set amount of time and hope that a lighting strike occurred when the shutter was open. Lather, rinse, repeat.
With the advent of digital imaging, many cameras of the advanced amateur and pro levels came with an intervalometer setting. One could specify a certain number of exposures, at a specified interval, and the camera would then do the heavy lifting, while the photographer enjoyed a cold beverage in front of the TV. When the storm subsided, the memory card was loaded in the computer, and the hunt for any frames with a lightning strike would begin. That's how I captured the image below way back in 2011, also from the front porch. To this day, I think this is still the best storm to ever pass over our heads heading West.
Monsoon lightning. ©Daniel Gauss/Shot On Site 2011 |
The solution was having a device that would only fire the camera when there was actually a lightning bolt! These devices did exist then, but for many of us the price was prohibitive- $500 and up.
Then, in 2016, I began to see ads for a device that didn't cost an arm and a leg and promised I'd be able to capture lightning, and a whole lot more! That device was the Pluto Trigger ! It was only $119 then, and it's still $119 today. I bought one, of course, and have been very pleased with it's capabilities, not only for lightning capture, but so many other functions (but more on that in another post). The image at the top of this story was made possible, in part, with the Pluto Trigger. (Follow the link to learn more).
Friday, December 24, 2021
An Annual Holiday Greeting...
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Am I Back?
Maybe. Looks like I've been on vacation for 3 years. I'm a little rusty on this blogging thing. Look for more photos, and less verbiage... unless I have something really important to say.
With that, here's another recent photo. (Available on an embossed notecard w/envelope)
Smoky Sunset. June 21, 2021
Monday, December 24, 2018
Annual* Holiday Songfest...
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Wednesday, November 08, 2017
Monday, November 06, 2017
Free Music. You're Welcome.
Sunday, November 05, 2017
2018 Shot On Site Photography Calendar, "Around the Four Corners"
Pre paying is highly encouraged if you want to make sure you get one!
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Photography Contest (for local readers only.... sorry)
- Divisions: Junior, Adult or Advanced (definitions are provided on pg 2)
- Categories: Each photo may be entered in one-and-only-one of the categories listed below:
- Entries: All photographs must be the work of the entrant, taken within the last three years, and must not have been entered in any previous SWNM State Fair.
- Entry Size:
- Junior – 4” x6” or 5” x 7” images – (Max size including optional matting.)
- Adult or Advanced – 8” x 10” to 16” x 20” images (Max size including optional matting.)
- Entry Format:
- No framed entries are permitted
- All entries must be adhered to a firm backing (such as foam board.) Matting and shrink wrap are optional. Shrink wrap is highly recommended to protect your images.
- Each image package must contain a wall hanging device on the back and must be securely packaged.
- The submitter agrees to be responsible for any damages to the work entered.
- Photo Identification: The back of each entry must contain the following info:
- “Junior,” “Adult,” or “Advanced” (as applicable);
- Category (see b above)
- Photographer’s name
- Photographer’s phone number
- No name or identification is permitted on the front of entries
- Entry Restrictions:
- Junior: Prints may be entered (distributed among categories as the entrant chooses). “Junior’s may enter the Adult or Advanced divisions.
- Adult or Advanced: Prints may be entered (distributed among categories as the entrant chooses). Any “Adult” may enter the advanced division.
- All entries from an individual are to be submitted in a single division following rules for that division.
- No fees will be charged and no prize money will be given.
- All entries will comply with standards of good taste.
- Judging: Photos will be judged based only on image content. Photos that do not meet requirements will not be judged. Photos judged to have been entered incorrectly in a category may be moved to a more appropriate category.
- Prizes: NO cash prizes, only ribbons – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th/Honorable Mention; Sweepstakes for winning 1st, 2nd & 3rd in ONE category; “Best of Show” for each division; and an overall “Viewer’s Choice”
- Submitting Entries: Image entries will be accepted on Wednesday from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
- Photo Pick-up: Exhibits must be removed Sunday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm; or as indicated by the SWNM Fair Officials. Have your Receipt Stub with you to claim each individual photo.