Jack Carlson Photography

Holiday Lights at Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG)

Have 2 classes on Photographing the Holiday Lights Workshop at the CBG coming up fast. Decided to get up there for some practice. Sometimes the teacher needs to teach himself. Tripod is mandatory even if you’ve switched to Decafe. Worked well tonight. If you do this, please remember to put a small flashlight in your camera bag. I didn’t. It’s manual focus just like the sunrise shot. Also a medium ISO setting, aperture setting around f 5.6 and about 1/8 second for openers. Crank up the ISO if you feel it’s that necessary. Shot will still come out but remember: you’re in full manual camera mode in addition to focusing without help.

Night on the esplanade, Chicago Botanic Garden.

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Weekly Photo Tip

Get an Infrared Filter to create snow

 

Infra-red filter creates eerie snow effect.

Magnus, the faithful camera clubhouse cat, thoughtfully dropped a B+H gift card in my Christmas stocking. I used the card to order an Infrared (IR) filter which, as you will remember knocks out all wavelengths of light below the filter rating. In this case, all light below 930nm doesn’t make it through the filter, and the wavelengths that do make it require 2 1/2 minutes of exposure time. This filter is so dark red, the composing and focusing must be done before the filter is attached to the front of the lens. In addition to a tripod and ballhead, it helps to have gloves and a mug of some type of warm liquid to keep hands and insides warm while walking around behind the camera for those 150 seconds while the shutter is open.

IR filters come in varying strengths which affect the price. Mine wasn’t priced in the low-end promo department, but the effects it creates are both enjoyable and worth the price. Get one and see for yourself.

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About Jack

A classically trained musician since childhood, Jack Carlson always had the “ear” of an artist. It was only a short step to develop the artist’s “eye” as well.

The portfolio of this certified photographer reveals images that emphasize mood and composition. Their purpose is to present a feeling in addition to portrayal of person, place or thing. Sometimes that feeling is nostalgia; other times it is serenity.

Each photograph tells a story.

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