Monthly Archives: June 2016

Inside Prague’s Old Town Square Tower

For a book about black and white photography I am working on, I needed a few more images from Prague in the Czech Republic.

This image shows the inside of Prague’s Old Town Square Tower. From the deck outside the tower there is a great view of Prague, and inside the tower the elegant spiral stair with an elevator in its center is really nifty, too! Click here for the original story from my 2015 visit to Prague (with the image in color).

Inside the Old Market Tower in Black & White © Harold Davis

Inside the Old Market Tower in Black & White © Harold Davis

Exif info: Nikon D810, 15mm Zeiss 2.8 Distagon, 1/60 of a second at f/2.8 and ISO 2,000, hand held; multi-RAW processed in ACR and Photoshop; converted to black and white in Photoshop and Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Posted in Czech, Monochrome

Negative-for-Positive Funhouse Fun

This is a photo of the Hall of Mirrors in Prague in the Czech Republic. To create the negative-for-positive effect—which is somewhat like looking at a film negative rather than a print positive—in Photoshop I converted the image to LAB color, then applied an adjustment to invert the L-channel. You can click here to see the original Hall of Mirrors image.

Hall of Mirrors LAB Inversion © Harold Davis

Hall of Mirrors LAB Inversion © Harold Davis

Posted in Czech, Photoshop Techniques

Full-Day Advanced LAB Color Seminar with Harold Davis

We are offering a new, full-day Advanced LAB Color Seminar for those who want to learn more about one of the most mysterious, powerful, and underused set of creative tools in Photoshop from Harold Davis, one of the world’s foremost experts.

This full-day intensive post-production workshop is specifically intended to explore the power and creative possibilities inherent in the LAB color space within Photoshop. Some prior experience with Photoshop is a prerequisite (check with us if you are not sure whether you have the background to successfully attend). Learn about the glories of creative LAB color from Harold Davis, one of LAB color’s best-known practitioners and the author of The Photoshop Darkroom (Focal Press)—the leading book explaining creative LAB in Photoshop.

Workshop limited to 14 attendees.

When: Saturday, November 12, 2016

Where: Berkeley, CA

Tuition: $245 until July 31, 2016 (early-bird special); $295 thereafter.

Click here for information and registration.

Echinacea on Black © Harold Davis

Echinacea on Black © Harold Davis

Understanding the creative use of LAB color in Photoshop unlocks a vast treasure trove of under-utilized and under-explored possibilities. Truly one of the secrets of spectacular color in Photoshop, if you know how to work creatively with LAB color you will far ahead of the game in terms of getting the results you want from Photoshop.

This workshop explains the structure of LAB color, and demonstrates inversions and LAB equalizations for both image optimization and creative fun. You will learn how to combine Blending Modes with LAB equalizations for an unlimited and powerful palette.

Three Graces © Harold Davis

Three Graces © Harold Davis

This is information you will learn nowhere else. There will be ample time to experiment with adding LAB effects to your own work, with Harold’s guidance and feedback.

Harold says, “When I discovered LAB color, and how to use what has been called ‘the most powerful color space,’ I knew I was on to one of the great secrets of Photoshop.”

Low Geostationary and Decaying Orbits around the Clematis Inversion © Harold Davis

Low Geostationary and Decaying Orbits around the Clematis Inversion © Harold Davis

The Advanced LAB Color Seminar with Harold Davis covers:

  • Understanding LAB Color
  • LAB Color in Photoshop
  • LAB Channel Inversions
  • LAB Channel Equalizations
  • Downloading, installing and using Harold’s Photoshop LAB color action
  • Combining adjustments with blending modes
  • How to combine creative LAB with plugins such as Nik and Topaz
  • Creative LAB in a workflow
  • Examples and case studies
  • Using LAB in your own work for unique and powerful effects

Click here for information and registration.

Clematis on Black © Harold Davis

Clematis on Black © Harold Davis

Translucency of Rosa on Black © Harold Davis

Translucency of Rosa on Black © Harold Davis

Succubus © Harold Davis

Succubus © Harold Davis

Back View Inversion © Harold Davis

Back View Inversion © Harold Davis

Click here for information and registration.

Faulty Towers © Harold Davis

Faulty Towers © Harold Davis

Posted in Workshops

Eschew the Routine

Yesterday was going to be a day of routine and mundane tasks: bookkeeping, workflow management, writing business emails, and so on. As a professional photographer and artist, this stuff has to get done! But looking out at the garden, I saw a fresh crop of red poppies and some blue clematis. I knew they were doomed as the day warmed-up, so making art with the floral material was a now-or-never proposition!

Clematis, Poppies, and Butterflies © Harold Davis

Clematis, Poppies, and Butterflies © Harold Davis

With Phyllis and the kids over at the Karate Dojo, in the cool air of the morning, I cranked the music up, and arranged and photographed the flowers on my light box. I do like to play in Photoshop as well as the camera! As the day got warmer and the kids came home filling the house with laughter and chatter and happy noise, I used LAB color to invert the image, and added some butterflies and a textured background. Altogether a happy day of play at home for me!

Posted in Flowers, Photography

2017 Flower Photography with Harold Davis Workshops

Since our Flower Photography workshops are so popular, we’ve opened enrollment for two new sessions:

(If you can’t wait until next year, there is still one spot left in the December 3-4, 2016 session of Photographing Flowers for Transparency.)

Salutation to the Sun © Harold Davis

Salutation to the Sun © Harold Davis

The new Flower Photography Intensive: 4-Day Flower Photography Masterclass on June 22-25, 2017 will cover advanced topics in floral translucency, field techniques, macro photography, and topics such as focus stacking. It is designed for photographers who have already attended a Photographing Flowers for Transparency workshop (so this perquisite can be met by attending the March, 2017 or having attended an earlier session); alternatively admission is possible by portfolio review.

Cymbidium Orchid © Harold Davis

Cymbidium Orchid © Harold Davis

While these workshops are scheduled quite a ways in advance, please keep in mind that they will fill up quickly. Early-bird registration discounts are available. Here are the links for more information and registration (also see the workshop descriptions below):

Photography Flowers for Transparency (March 25-26, 2017; early registration discount until October 31, 2016)

Flower Photography Intensive: 4-Day Flower Photography Masterclass (June 22-25, 2017; early registration discount until January 1, 2017)

 

 

 

Photography Flowers for Transparency (March 25-26, 2017)

Master photographer Harold Davis is well-known for his often imitated—but seldom equaled—digital images of luscious transparent and translucent flowers.

In this unique workshop offering master photographer Harold Davis shows the techniques he uses to create his floral masterpieces. Arrangement, composition, photography, post-production will all be covered, as will Harold’s special techniques for shooting on a light box.

Garden Party © Harold Davis

Garden Party © Harold Davis

The workshop is intended for photographers of all levels with an interest in flower photography.

Harold is only planning to give this workshop infrequently. There is no better way to learn the floral transparency techniques that he has pioneered. The multi-day format will give participants the chance to complete their imagery using the techniques that Harold will demonstrate.

Click here for registration and class curriculum.

Bougainvillea Study II © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Study II © Harold Davis

Here are some comments from previous Floral Transparency Workshops:

“Loved the pace, in-depth instruction and generous sharing.”

“EXCELLENT PRESENTATION AND COVERAGE OF MATERIAL. MR. DAVIS WAS PATIENT TO ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.”

“Harold, thank you for the time, expense and effort it took to put on a great workshop….You are a wealth of information and share it so graciously.”

“Outstanding workshop!”

“A very packed weekend! Harold is very clear and organized; an outstanding photographer who is also an outstanding teacher.”

Click here for registration and class curriculum.

Painting with Flowers Inverted © Harold Davis

Painting with Flowers Inverted © Harold Davis

Flower Photography Intensive: 4-Day Flower Photography Masterclass (June 22-25, 2017)

This is a four-day masterclass-level flower photography intensive intended for photographers who have already attended a previous Photographing Flowers for Transparency with Harold Davis workshop and are ready to move beyond the basics of translucent flower photography.

Alternatively, admission is possible via portfolio review if you haven’t already attended Flowers for Transparency; please contact us for the review procedure.

This workshop is limited to 14 participants.

Click here for registration.

Kiss from a Rose © Harold Davis

Kiss from a Rose © Harold Davis

In this workshop, we will venture to the cutting edge of floral translucency. Flower arrangement, photography, and post-production will be explored in depth. We will also hone our macro photography techniques, and pay field visits to local gardens such as Blake Garden, the U.C. Berkeley Botanical Garden, Filoli, and San Francisco Botanical Garden. Topics covered include:

• Photographing Flowers for Transparency review and recap

• Vertical versus horizontal light box compositions

• Layering, stacking, and exposure blending

• The sophisticated layer mask

• Arranging for inversion

• LAB color effects

• Advanced backgrounds and textures

• Topaz and Nik Filters

• Advanced field flower techniques

• Macro gear and best practices

• Focus stacking

• Creating a O’Keeffe effect

• Banishing the mundane: flower photography that sings

Orchids in a Blue Bowl © Harold Davis

Orchids in a Blue Bowl © Harold Davis

Well-known photographer Harold Davis is well-known for his often imitated—but seldom equaled—digital images of luscious transparent and translucent flowers, for his luscious “Georgia O’Keeffe” rose imagery, and for his overall mastery and love of all things floral and photographic.

Clematis on Black © Harold Davis

Clematis on Black © Harold Davis

In this unique workshop offering master photographer Harold Davis shows the techniques he uses to create many of his floral masterpieces. Advanced topics in translucent light box photography will be covered in depth, along with sessions in the field to help you hone your skills and vision when photographing flowers. We’ll celebrate our work together and share the great wonder and gift for all artists that are inspired by flower photography!

Click here for registration.

Tulip Blast © Harold Davis

Tulip Blast © Harold Davis

Posted in Workshops

Dragon of the Redwoods

Update: The green pattern at the bottom of the image is caused by reflection from the sensor into the lens and from there back to the sensor.

Wandering in a Californian coastal redwood grove in the Russian River basin, my son Julian and I came upon the roots of a downed tree that from certain angles seemed to resemble the head and jaws of a dragon. With my 15mm Zeiss lens, I positioned the camera with the sun behind the “dragon”, and stopped down (to f/22) to create a starburst effect. The colorful magical talisman in front of the dragon is an unexpected (but pleasant) surprise, the result I believe of optical refraction from internal lens elements (and, if you are wondering, definitely not “Photoshopped”).

Dragon of the Redwoods © Harold Davis

Dragon of the Redwoods © Harold Davis

Exposure data: Nikon D810, Zeiss 15mm f/2.8 lens, eight exposures at f/22 and ISO 64, exposures from 0.3 seconds to 2 minutes, tripod mounted; exposures combined in ACR, Photoshop, and Nik HDR Efex Pro, and processed in Photoshop, Nik Color Efex, Viveza, and Topaz Adjust.

Posted in Photography

First-Order Fresnel Lens at Point Reyes Lighthouse

This is an image of the first-order Fresnel lens inside the Point Reyes Lighthouse on the western tip of Point Reyes, California. According to the Point Reyes National Seashore website, “the Fresnel lens intensifies the light by bending (or refracting) and magnifying the source light through crystal prisms into concentrated beams. The Point Reyes lens is divided into twenty-four vertical panels, which direct the light into twenty-four individual beams. A counterweight and gears similar to those in a grandfather clock rotate the 6000-pound lens at a constant speed, one revolution every two minutes. This rotation makes the beams sweep over the ocean surface like the spokes of a wagon wheel, and creates the Point Reyes signature pattern of one flash every five seconds.”

First-Order Fresnel Lens at the Point Reyes Lighthouse © Harold Davis

First-Order Fresnel Lens at the Point Reyes Lighthouse © Harold Davis

On Saturday evening, my Creative Landscape Photography workshop on Point Reyes was lucky enough to have the lighthouse opened for us. I shot this image handheld with my Nikon D810 and a 16mm digital fisheye lens (the interior space was pretty tight). I used auto-bracketing and burst mode. There were nine exposures, each at ISO 1250 and f/6.3, with shutter speeds ranging from 0.5 of a second to 1/500 of a second.

I combined the exposures using Nik HDR Efex Pro and Photoshop.

Some related images: Lighthouse in the Fog; Night at the Point Reyes Lighthouse; Inside the Lighthouse; Owl’s Head Light.

Posted in HDR, Photography, Point Reyes

Light Box Floral Fun with My iPhone

Here are two new floral images shot and processed with my iPhone. Both were initially processed in Snapseed. The upper image was then put through Plastic Bullet and Lo-Mob, with the frame added in Snapseed. The bottom image is a Waterlogue.

Floral Fun © Harold Davis

Floral Fun © Harold Davis

iPhone Light Box #3 © Harold Davis

iPhone Light Box #3 © Harold Davis

Posted in Flowers, iPhone

Study in Scarlet

In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Watson meet for the very first time and agree to share an apartment. As new roomies, Holmes proceeds to explain his “science” of deduction and analysis, all based on the importance of accurate observation, and in the context of that ultimate scarlet liquid, blood.

My own Study in Scarlet, shown below, draws on poppies and anemones for its chromatic reference rather than sanguine fluid. However, there is something about my image that should lead to analysis and deduction following careful observation. If you think you see what I am referencing, please drop me an email with the explanation.

Study in Scarlet © Harold Davis

Study in Scarlet © Harold Davis

Posted in Flowers

Garden Party

The flowers in my garden decided to have a party. The Fourth of July Roses brought the noise makers and musical instruments. The irises brought the guacamole and dip. The Papaver somniferum brought, well, what poppies usually bring to a party. The tulips were pretty in pink, and they all got together and invited some exotic tulips from the store—whose frilly edges and bright orange and yellow colors added a touch of exotic, tropical pizzazz to the melange.

Garden Party © Harold Davis

Garden Party © Harold Davis

As night fell, the band played on, and the wild and crazy flower garden party got even more intense.

Garden Party Black © Harold Davis

Garden Party Black © Harold Davis

Posted in Flowers, Photography

Webinar Recording Topaz Labs Discount Code

The recording of my Travel Photography webinar for Topaz Labs will be available for replay soon on YouTube and the Topaz website. In the meantime, for the next few days, through June 20, 2016, you can use the discount code “haroldweb04” [no quotes] for a 25% discount on all products including the Complete Collection at checkout at the Topaz Labs online store.

Harold Davis - Travel photo webinar

Posted in Photography

Tulip Blast

In a week full of family activities and graduations (Julian from high school, Nicky from middle school, and Mathew from elementary school) I managed to take some time out to photograph this lovely tulip. I backlit the flower, and got close to using a macro lens and my dedicated “low boy” tripod. To view the image, I slithered down on my belly. I think of this as Yoga: the Photographer’s pose!

Tulip Blast © Harold Davis

Tulip Blast © Harold Davis

Posted in Photography

My Son Julian’s Valedictorian Speech

My oldest son Julian graduated last week as valedictorian from Bayhill High School. If you are interested, here is the speech he made at commencement. We are very, very proud of Julian—and the hard work, personality, and perseverance that has made this possible.

Posted in Kids

Bougainvillea Variations

Bougainvillea Study II © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Study II © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation A © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation A © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation B © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation B © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation C © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation C © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation D © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation D © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation E

Bougainvillea Variation E © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation F © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation F © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation G © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation G © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation H © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation H © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation I © Harold Davis

Bougainvillea Variation I © Harold Davis

Posted in Flowers, Photograms

Landscape at Sunrise

At sunrise on a hill facing the ancient town of Cordes-sur-Ciel I was out with my camera and tripod. This was a classical view. Probably the track you see in the photo had been traversed for millennia. Framing the image with the bare branches of the tree on the right, the emotional impact on me was slightly sinister but exciting. For reasons I didn’t fully understand (and still don’t) this seemed like a turning point.

Landscape at Sunrise © Harold Davis

Landscape at Sunrise © Harold Davis

The first step in the photographer’s paradigm is to understand that it’s not about the hardware: cameras don’t take pictures, people do. Next, if you want your images to be more interesting, place yourself in front of more interesting scenes. But ultimately it is about personal interpretation, so more deeply than traveling to interesting places, become a more interesting person. This is where things get interesting, and circular, because who one is can be impacted by the emotional impact of where you go, the travel not the destination, and even the act of making a photo. The pull is bi-directional.

I can think the emotional subtext of an image like Landscape at Sunrise is a conversion like that of Saul on the road to Damascus, but the bigger question is what is the impact on me, on my life, and my life as an artist, and how will I take this into other work?

Posted in Photography, Writing