Uploads from Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, tagged bokeh

Visions of Spring

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:34:04 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

I shared a cluster of blossoms with you yesterday, so today I thought I would step back and share a little more of the whole with you. The sheer amount of detail in an image like this can be overwhelming, so I took a little more dreamy approach in processing to give you a sense of the beauty while being able to focus on just a few sharp details. This is one of the most special parts of spring, and I hope this image captures some of the feeling of watching the world blossom and come alive.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Tamron 24-70mm VC, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4, Adobe Photoshop CS6, and Alien Skin Exposure 4. Texture courtesy of Kim Klassen

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Blossoming

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:26:33 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

I share this image to celebrate the many beautiful flowering trees in our province right now. Their season is very brief, but for a little while they are breathtaking. I also wanted to share a tip - don't underestimate the power of a long lens for shooting close things! Nothing throws a background out of focus like a long focal length at closer range. F/11 - that means everything's in focus, right? Not at 420mm! According to my calculations, the DOF of this shot is only a little over 1/3rd of an inch. If you are shooting a close subject with a long lens, remember just how small the DOF at longer focal lengths; you might need to step down to get more of the subject in focus.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 70-300L + Kenko 1.4x Teleconverter, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4, Adobe Photoshop CS6, and Alien Skin Exposure 4

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Spring Cheer

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:25:14 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

It does my soul good to step out in the morning on a sunny spring day into a rich green world, full of bright color. Seeing things like this after a very long winter is so restorative. It's incredible to watch everything come alive once again. I take a deep breath and thank God for the privilege of just being alive!

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4, Adobe Photoshop CS6, and Alien Skin Exposure 4

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Faded Elegance

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:37:04 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

One of the perks of buying my wife flowers is that I get to shoot them. For the first time I used the wireless capture functionality of the 6D for macro work. What a great tool! On my iPad screen I can see composition, make adjustments to focus, lighting, and DOF. And, because there is no interaction with the camera, there is no chance of introducing vibration. This aster blossom was almost garish in its brightness, so I went with a desaturated, faded look for a little more elegance.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS, Wi-Fi capture using iPad 3 as trigger, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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Timeless

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:16:37 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

One of the precious babies from my church. She has the most captivating of eyes, big and blue. This looks like a studio shot, but was actually just shot with the ambient light in the church while she was sitting on her mother's lap. This expression is pretty typical of her: serious, intent, and clearly taking it all in. A timeless charm that I have presented here with a vintage look to suit the subject.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4, Photoshop CS5, and Alien Skin Exposure

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Carefree

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:20:53 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Little gusts of wind causes the beautiful mane and tail to blow on this lovely animal. Elegant beauty and a feeling of carefree joy is what I feel watching it.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 70-300L, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4 and Alien Skin Exposure

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Happy Mother's Day 2013

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Sun, 12 May 2013 05:36:10 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Here's one for Mom! Spring blossoms and mothers just go together. Who hasn't gone out and picked a handful of wildflowers to give to mom? I shot this bright daffodil, gave it a little processing magic, and am happy to share in honor of the special ladies in my life.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 70-300L, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 5 and Alien Skin Exposure

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My Heart Belongs to Just One

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:56:16 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

I took this one for my lovely wife, Lana, who turns 40 today. She has brought great joy into my life and supported my many passions (like, umm, photography, for example). I could not ask for a better life's partner. My heart belongs only to her. Happy brithday, Lana!

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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Spring Inferno

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:44:08 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

The leaves on my little Crimson King Maple are just forming, but when the sun shines through them they are vivid and powerful. I selected an angle that would give me the deep green backdrop I was looking for, with a few nice bokeh highlights. This final image presented here is very similar to what came out of the camera. A fiery inferno of spring color.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 70-300L, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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Strange Magic

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Thu, 09 May 2013 06:06:41 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Those of you that follow me know that I have now replaced my 5DII with a second 6D (yes, I like it that much!) I was calibrating my lenses for the second body last night and was desperate to shoot a couple of real life photos after shooting charts for hours. The light was almost completely gone, but there was still a hint of sun over the horizon. I stood on my rear deck and lined up this cluster of dried lilac husks with the patch of light and snapped a few shots. The unique light caused the auto white balance to produce a strange magic - a bewitching color palette presented here straight out of the camera. It was love at first sight for me!

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 135L + 1.4x Teleconverter MKII, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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The Tangled Web we Weave

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:16:17 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Evening light captured in the cunningly spun trap of the tiny spider. Life can be a lot like this web, full of complicated patterns. That tangled web we weave...

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 135L f/2L, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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Hello, Spring

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Sun, 05 May 2013 04:46:36 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Spring has finally sprung. After returning from a business trip this week I have busied myself in my spare time with all of the "spring preparations" and cleaning away the last vestiges of winter. I shot this on a family walk this evening. There is some very special about the freshness of the green of spring. Hello, color, I've missed you!

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 70-300L, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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As the Snow Falls

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Sat, 04 May 2013 05:09:55 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Heavy snow provided a natural texture for this soft yet beautiful image. Winter's last hurrah, undesired yet undeniably beautiful. I'm thankful that spring is here, but I wanted to give winter its final due.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 70-300L, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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The Man with the Canon

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:52:46 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

I needed a lead image for my recent review of the Canon 70-300L (mounted on the 5DII in this shot). It is great to be able to set up the shot and see the framing on the my iPad thanks to the Wi-Fi functionality of the 6D. I made adjustments to aperture and shutter speed and got this natural light only shot by remote capture. It worked well for the lead in to the article, and I decided to share it here today.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D via Wi-Fi remote capture, Canon EF 85mm f/1.8, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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Two Farthings

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Thu, 02 May 2013 04:15:57 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Luke 12:6-7 KJV "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? (7) But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." This beautiful passage was illustrated for me when this little white throated sparrow allowed me to get close enough to capture the exquisite detail and care that went into the design of this most simple of birds.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 135L, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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Baby Bluebell

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 04:50:01 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Our first tiny blossoms are starting to appear, including these little bluebells. The whole plant stands about three inches (5 cm) tall, and the object to the left is one of the iron trellis legs in our garden - it is about one half inch in diameter (1 cm). Yet in the macro world these little blossoms are giants of beauty, and I am delighted to see them come and start brightening up my world.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 100L Macro IS, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4 and Alien Skin Exposure

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Glorious Imperfections

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:06:08 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Those of you that know me know that I love great gear. I like my lenses sharp and contrasty...except for the ones that I love that aren't that at all! My vintage lenses work so well in certain situations in part because of their imperfections. A little dreamy, weird corners, swirly bokeh. In certain situations you don't want any of these things. And then sometimes, those glorious imperfections turn something ordinary into a work of art.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Helios 44-4 58mm f/2 M42 lens, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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Out with the Old; In with the New

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:29:11 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Spring is an amazing season. Everything has seemed so dead, as if all traces of life are gone. Winter was long and hard...how could anything survive? And yet, pushing up through last year's decay comes this year's new life. Out with the old, in with the new.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Helios 44-4 58mm f/2 M42 lens, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4 and Adobe Photoshop CS5

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April Showers #2

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:39:46 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

This second shot of the series focused on a maple branch that is just starting to bud. The rainy day produces such deep, rich color. I used a Canon 135L with a 1.4x extender to produce a nicely compressed shot with narrow depth of field. I'm ready for some leaves! P.S. Today I passed a quarter of a million views here on Flickr. Amazing, when I can remember the day a few years ago (back in 2010) when I was struggling to get a few hundred views on my account. Thanks to all of you for your support.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 135L + Canon Extender 1.4x II, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4

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April Showers #1

nobody@flickr.com (Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:57:24 -0700

Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott posted a photo:

© 2013 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott

Here is the first a new series of images I want to share this week. We are finally starting to show some signs of spring, so here are some images devoted to the April showers that will (hopefully) bring May flowers. This first is a tight shot of dried lilac dripping in the middle of a rain. Above the main dried cluster you can see a new bud starting to form. The mix of old and new...all beautiful.

Technical info: Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF 70-300L, Processed in Adobe Lightroom 4, Photoshop CS5, and Alien Skin Exposure

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