Hola,
Just wanted to let everyone know that I wrote a book about UE Photography. I wrote it mainly because I have never seen one written specifically about UE technique when it comes to photography, but I also wanted to write down my own process in the hopes that it will help other shooters out there. Check it out if you're interested, let me know if you have any questions/comments/hate mail/trolling.
Happy New Year!
http://www.peachpi...oned-9780133816761

You're soooo money!

Posted by bonnie&clyde You're soooo money!

The question is: do I know it?

I bought the book and really enjoyed it. Siper did a good job of making this book very focused on UE photography only, basic photography skills and knowledge of how to use your camera are assumed, the book just tells you how to use them in this specific style, or more in his style. I guess the best way to describe it is it is like having the opportunity to go out on an explore with Siper and he takes the time to show you how, where and why he takes his pictures. Great tips throughout the book. This book will really help me get the pictures I am looking for, thanks.

Just one question for you Siper, you have the section on bracketing, but I am wondering if you use bracketing on long exposure shots using the intervalometer, and if so, how do you do it (change exposure time, f-stop)?

Posted by FreddyDynomite I bought the book and really enjoyed it. Siper did a good job of making this book very focused on UE photography only, basic photography skills and knowledge of how to use your camera are assumed, the book just tells you how to use them in this specific style, or more in his style. I guess the best way to describe it is it is like having the opportunity to go out on an explore with Siper and he takes the time to show you how, where and why he takes his pictures. Great tips throughout the book. This book will really help me get the pictures I am looking for, thanks. Just one question for you Siper, you have the section on bracketing, but I am wondering if you use bracketing on long exposure shots using the intervalometer, and if so, how do you do it (change exposure time, f-stop)?

Thanks for the great review, bud! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I was really trying to make it an easy read without talking over anyone's head technically.

In terms of bracketing, I *rarely* will bracket if I'm using the intervalometer. Mainly because it takes so long and as you know--that isn't always a luxury we have. The times that I have though, I only change exposure time. If you change the F-stop or ISO, you're going to either change the level of bokeh in your image OR you're going to have different noise levels due to the ISO. Basically, if you have 2-3 ISO values and then you try to merge them, you're going to be stuck with the noise level of the worst one.

I also will only take 2 shots if I'm using the intervalometer: one proper exposure, then one overexposure. The overexposure will help bring out the details in the shadows, while the proper exposure will give me the proper color and contrast values.

Please let me know if you have any more questions and thanks again!

Posted by siper change the level of bokeh in your image

You're using that word...but I think you don't fully know what it means.

Bokeh...is a descriptor on how pleasant the out of focus areas of your photo are.

The term you're looking for is 'depth of field' or how much of your image is in focus.

Blending and Bracketing when done usually only adjusts your exposure time…do not change your iso or your f-stop.

Posted by Axle You're using that word...but I think you don't fully know what it means. Bokeh...is a descriptor on how pleasant the out of focus areas of your photo are. The term you're looking for is 'depth of field' or how much of your image is in focus.

It *can* be used that way, but it can also be used to describe the blur itself as a result of a shallow DOF.

"In photography, bokeh is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur,in out-of-focus areas of an image."

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

Posted by siper "In photography, bokeh is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur,in out-of-focus areas of an image." -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

And the high level photography terminology war begins! But seriously, you lost me at intervalometer. Is that a fancy word for programmable remote control? The problem is I still haven't found a remote that does long exposure bracketing, or I'm just too frantic to stop and figure it out.

I do 4-7 exposure low tech bracketing in long exposure situations by reprogramming my remote manually each time, and/or just holding down the shutter button and counting the beeps for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds then program in the 1:30's the 2:30's and the 3:45's or whatever.

This brings up a conversation that was taking place in the PSW forum, where stacking long exposures in outdoor nighttime conditions with moving subject matter (i.e. clouds or cars) can cause unwanted results such as white sky or loss of the blue patches, and/or hot spots getting turned gray at the hot point etc.

I'm fortunate enough to have recently gotten a 30 minute cram session from Siper on his technique at our PSW meet & greet photography brainshare and have immediately put the learning to great success. I imagine the book will have all that and tons more. I need to gets me a copy!
-free

Hey Todd, just picked up your book and am reading through it. Do you want to know when we come across typos?

Once I finish the book, I'll review it.

Posted by ISO640 Hey Todd, just picked up your book and am reading through it. Do you want to know when we come across typos? Once I finish the book, I'll review it.

Dear god, YES! Please let me know.

Posted by freeside And the high level photography terminology war begins! But seriously, you lost me at intervalometer. Is that a fancy word for programmable remote control? The problem is I still haven't found a remote that does long exposure bracketing, or I'm just too frantic to stop and figure it out. I do 4-7 exposure low tech bracketing in long exposure situations by reprogramming my remote manually each time, and/or just holding down the shutter button and counting the beeps for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds then program in the 1:30's the 2:30's and the 3:45's or whatever. This brings up a conversation that was taking place in the PSW forum, where stacking long exposures in outdoor nighttime conditions with moving subject matter (i.e. clouds or cars) can cause unwanted results such as white sky or loss of the blue patches, and/or hot spots getting turned gray at the hot point etc. I'm fortunate enough to have recently gotten a 30 minute cram session from Siper on his technique at our PSW meet & greet photography brainshare and have immediately put the learning to great success. I imagine the book will have all that and tons more. I need to gets me a copy! -free

Intervalometer = fancy word for programmable remote control.

I've never seen one that does bracketing, I've always done it manually by increasing or decreasing exposure time. After each shot, I check my histogram in-camera to make sure that I've attained the dynamic range that I want, but I can usually just tell by looking at the exposure itself.

Regarding stacking long exposures:
1. For outdoor shots, I've always done that manually by masking layers in Photoshop. This way I can control which clouds/stars/other features show up where I want them to.
2. For indoor brackets, I'll use LR/Enfuse to stack as I would for any other shots that don't require an intervalometer.


This book doesn't talk about post-processing at all--it's purely composition/shooting related. The publisher said if this one does well, then I can write Part II: which will be all about post-processing. With that said, I hope you enjoy it and we can chat this weekend about all photo-nerd stuff.

To be fair, in the book he does discuss aperture and it's effect on depth of field and talks about bokeh when referring to getting the look you want. My only problem is that now I can't stop saying 'Bo--KEHHH' like the hyena's said 'Mufasa' in the Lion King.

I think you're a tad confused…stacking is used for getting everything in focus…bracketing and blending is for getting things to have proper exposures in the shot, i.e. blown out windows etc.

I think Todd did a good job with this book. It was concise and provided some helpful information for the budding urbex photographer (and things for the experienced photographer to ponder).

I like that it's unique in that I don't believe there are any other books specifically targeting the art of urbex photography and it gives a photographer things to consider when heading out to the location.

Finally, I like what Todd added at the end (I'm summarizing), just because you're there to photograph the location doesn't mean you shouldn't step back and enjoy it too.

Good job, Todd!

Posted by ZenCanadian I think you're a tad confused…stacking is used for getting everything in focus…bracketing and blending is for getting things to have proper exposures in the shot, i.e. blown out windows etc.

You're talking specifically about "focus stacking," but "stacking" can be used to describe multiple long exposures as well.

Bracketing just means that you're taking multiple shots at different exposure levels. Blending doesn't have to refer to getting proper exposures either, it simply means I'm masking different portions of different images to create the final image.

The premise is the same for both blending and stacking so I tend to use them interchangeably.

Posted by ISO640 I think Todd did a good job with this book. It was concise and provided some helpful information for the budding urbex photographer (and things for the experienced photographer to ponder). I like that it's unique in that I don't believe there are any other books specifically targeting the art of urbex photography and it gives a photographer things to consider when heading out to the location. Finally, I like what Todd added at the end (I'm summarizing), just because you're there to photograph the location doesn't mean you shouldn't step back and enjoy it too. Good job, Todd!

Thanks, ISO640! I'm glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the typo help!

Hey folks,
Just wanted to give you a head's up that I'm giving a webinar tomorrow, Tuesday the 25th, about Urbex Photography (Composition, Subjects, etc.) It might be review for most of you, but if anyone is looking to get a good primer on the basics, feel free to tune in. It's free and it starts at 5pm PST.
http://www.peachpi...-photo-club-137633
Enjoy!

First of all stop using the word 'urbex'. Secondly you couldn't pay ME to buy this book. I've seen your photography and it's pretty terrible. HDR done horribly is what the books title should be.