The Packard Plant in Detroit

This is a photo I took when I visited the Packard Plant about 3 months ago - I am still running through the hundreds of photos I took during that visit. Now I am itching for another trip to the plant. There are so many great photo spots (this place is truly amazing), I hope I'll get to squeeze in another visit before the government starts to demolish the buildings.

My new website... there is so much to do!

Recently, I have asked a few of my Google+ friends to visit my blog & website to do a critic. I've explained to them that the blog is meant to be a way for me to share my personal thoughts and reflections, whereas my intention for the website is to turn it into a "dollar-making" site in the future (I feel that it is at least a year before I am ready to advertise and showcase it). There are some tweaks that I still want to make to both the blog and website. What I felt was missing from theHumanCamera.com is the depth of content (or coverage of photography-related topics) - right now theHumanCamera.com is still a very "shallow" site that does not have enough interesting stuff or article to make people come back for another visit. 

The critics I have received were very balanced and useful. The most common comments I have received are: 

(a) Interesting and relevant content - It’s natural to want a website to be well designed and professional looking. However, it’s far more important that valuable content that promote the site effectively. some folks suggested that I do some product or software reviews. It's a good idea which, I intend to... but it is not easy to write up a product or software review. Apart from the monetary outlay, it takes a lot of time and energy to put together a review that is both useful and relevant.  In addition, I am cognizant that it is useless doing just one or two reviews... to get a critical crowd, you'll need to keep writing, or look for new perspective that is not already covered in other websites. To keep a steady flow of new reviews would certainly be challenging for someone who only do photography on weekends. 

(b) Navigation and layout of my website - Ok, I anticipated this comment. While this would be an easy fix for someone who is well versed in CCS, Java and HTML... for a complete newbie like me, to even add a simple Navbar can be a grueling experience. I have something in mind and it will take a few weekends to complete. I need my homepage to be clear about what’s on my site, where to find it (clear links and easy to navigate), how to contact me; and appeal - why they should explore further or even return. Step one is to create a seamless look between my blog and my website - this is an area that I am still working on. I think I am about 80% there... just need to put in a few more hours of website development time. 

(b) Lack of a central theme to the website - this is so true! I think this is a result of me being a new photographer who is still experimenting with the many forms of photography. Ultimately, I think I am a travel and landscape photographer at heart and I think that this will be the direction which I am heading. Even then, those are big areas to explore and I don't feel that after just over one year of photography I have found my niche yet... I guess I'll have to take my time with this area as this is an area that I am still developing.

Hopefully, when I look at my site 365 days later... things would have improved. Fingers crossed.

To process or not to process ... that is the question

Here's a processed shot I took in the Fisher Theatre, Detroit MI:

    
Recently I watched a very popular match-making variety show (Fei Cheng Wu Rao) produced in China. During the show one of the male contestant mentioned that he is a keen photographer and his "principle" for taking photos is that there will be no post processing done on any of the photos he has taken. This is more commonly referred to as SOOC (straight out of camera) shots. Much to my surprise, the host of the variety show expressed his own thoughts about post processing and alluded that while "over-processing" would be frowned upon but at times subtle tweaks (level, curve, cropping etc) are required to bring out the best in a photo. Then, the host introduced a female contestant who is a part-time professional photographer. The host then went on to show a few shots taken by the female contestant (which has obviously been digitally altered). The work of the female contestant was complimented by a series of "wow" and "ooohhh" from the audience. The host then turned to the audience and asked whether they think the photos are good - the audience was unanimous in their response and gave a resounding "YES".

These days, post processing are sometimes frowned upon by photographers - what was interesting for me to observe is that the overwhelming majority who has expressed a distaste for post processing is almost always "newbie" photographers or people who do not take much photos. I have never once heard a professional or well-reputed photographer says he/she is against post processing - you know why? It is because they all do post processing - all the time. 

The most criticized form of post-processing that has been under constant fire is HDR (stands for "High Dynamic Range") photography. "It makes the photo looks artificial..." said one "it looks fake" another responded. For me, I agree that over-processing is "no no" but post processing is still necessary to bring out the best of a captured shot. 

In my years of taking photos, I have seen how too much HDR actually destroys the photo rather than improving it. This is a common problem amongst people who has just started experimenting with HDR photography. There is a learning curve that all of us would go through whether we do HDR photography or not. I remember that when I started fiddling with Photomatrix (a HDR processing software) - I have created some really awful results (which I thought looked awesome back then - weird huh? sounds familiar?). As time goes by, I realized that under tweaking the photo is better than over tweaking it - sometimes less is more. In fact, more recently I have almost stopped doing HDR with a preference to process photos using Camera Raw instead of pure HDR - however, HDR or not, I still continue to post process my photos. Really, there are gradients to everything and one should learn while one does. I see many people taking reasonably good photographs that with a few minor tweaks could be improved considerably. 

Here's why I think post-processing is an acceptable part of digital photography:

1. In the days of film photography, post-processing was also performed - this was commonly known as dark room techniques. Today, dark room techniques have merely taken a different (and less expensive) form with the digital age - this is now called Photoshop or Lightroom.
2. Most digital cameras have limitations and are not programmed to give you a faithful representation of the actual scene. It is a well known fact that the human eyes has a far wider dynamic range compared to a digital camera - this is why the human eyes is the best optical tool in the world. To suggest that SOOC shots gives the most faithful representation of the actual scene is simply ignorance.
3. Anyway. what's wrong with altering the actual scene in the photo to project a mood or theme that the photographer wants to convey in the photo? The Masters (I’m talking about painters of old), would use a myriad of tools to help them with their art and they don't always stick with the most faithful representation of the actual scene - otherwise, there will be no such thing as Impressionism. So, if the Masters can use tools like this it is OK for you to do the same.
4. It's not ok to perform post processing tweaks in Photoshop but ok for you to change the exposure, brightness, sharpness and contrast settings in your camera? Really? Isn't that double standard?

In the end, for me there is only one simple rule - the question is whether I like the photo or not? If I like it, then it doesn't matter that the photographer has done a bunch of post processing jobs on the photo. Wouldn't it be the same for the rest of us? The next time when you hear a comment like ... "oh, I don't perform any post-processing on my photos" you'll know that's a newbie talking!

Detroit Grand Prix 2012 - I'm impressed!

Despite its past challenges and set-backs, Detroit is on the right path to becoming a "world-class" event organizer (and hopefully a "world-class" economy in the not to distant future).

I was at the Saturday's session of the Detroit Grand Prix yesterday and I was impressed. You see, I've spent about 4 years living in Melbourne (also a major sporting city). While there is an impressive variety of sporting events held in the city of Melbourne - none of those I have attended was as well organized (those of you who lived there - you'll know what I mean). Car parking is usually a major hassle especially for events that are held in the infamous Melbourne Park and MCG (and if it rains... you're on your own). Well, I thought the Grand Prix in Detroit was going to be the same... I was so wrong!

Carparking was a breeze and there are plenty of road signs along the way to ensure that even the most unattentive driver can find his way into a designated carpark. Once you alight from the vehicle, you'll be greeted by friendly event workers and ushered into a waiting shuttle. In all, it took me no more than 5 mins to get into the shuttle after alighting from my vehicle - attaboy!

At Belle Isle where the Grand Prix was held, there were proper sign boards to guide you to the grand stands. If in doubt there are 5-10 event workers just round the corner to answer your every questions. There were many organizer tents at the Grand Prix ground - something for every age group. There was also a stage erected for live performance... if you get tired of watching the races, enough some music at the ground... There were also plenty of free gifts given at the event - I got 3 free T-shirts, 7 lanyards and a pile of autographs from Indycars drivers. Perfect!

I was worried about getting back to my vehicle after the event ended - but, everything was so well organized! I got on the shuttle after less than 1 min waiting in line and was back into my vehicle in no time. Overall, it was a A+++ event! and good luck Chevy!

Special blog posting for my friend Eddie Chow - who was recently "poisoned" by the photo bug & bought a Sony NEX 5N.

I recently brought my Sony NEX 7 with me to NYC. It wasn't my main camera so I only took a few shots with it (I guess I am still used to holding an DSLR). In any case, I am really happy with the NEX ... it's amazing that a camera this small has contain enough pixels to put cheap SLRs to shame!


This shot below was taken in Times Square - I doubt that there is a better place to test the imaging qualities of the NEX system in NYC. The details, movements, colours, contrast etc... this is the perfect place to see if the NEX system has what it takes to "take it all in". I also brought it with me to Central Park (see photo below). The kit lens (18mm-55mm) though already very good has limitations and will never rival the quality of a Canon "L" lens. Having said that, it is definitely a good quality back-up camera for me on this trip.