Uploads from cycomachead, tagged ucb

Stormy NorCal Day [Explored]

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 20:42:23 -0700

Don't worry, the apoclypse isn't actually coming, but the weather even in early May in Berkeley can still be kind of odd! There was a very eerie glow from the sun and the clouds on the Campanile.

As far as this shot, it's really just a simple HDR with not much work other than a simple vingette and a slightly lowered saturation, all in Aperture (and Photomatix).

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

Wheeler Hall

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 23:44:22 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

Wheeler Hall has a reputation on campus, especially within the last two years. Initially, everyone has mixed feeling because Wheeler Hall is home to UC Berkeley's largest lecture hall where we've all spent plenty of time in both good and bad classes. However, recently, Wheeler has a sense of excitement around it. Since the UC financial crisis began in 2009, Wheeler Hall has been the place for many gatherngs, protests, and other (not so great) incidents. It's one place on campus where there's always something going on.

This is going to be one of many of a series of images of Berkeley which I'm going to do in black and white over the next few years. This 3 shot HDR was worked in Photomatix and I used Apeture's "toy camera" preset before converting to B&W.

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

Sunset Studying

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:26:41 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

It's a bit cold sometimes in the winter, but sitting by the Campinile is a good place to study! (Or, perhaps, check your phone in this moment.) It's also really interesting to see how the scense changes here throughout the year.

This was a 3 shot HDR which went through Photomatix and Aperture. I was messing around with the 'toy camera' preset as well which has some fun little tweaks to it!

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

Back In Berkeley!

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 23:06:56 -0700

cycomachead posted a photo:

Well, I've spent a few days-busy days-moving everything back to a new apartment in Berkley where I'll be for the summer. It feels pretty good tp be back up here and getting more involved with summer classes, so I thought I should post a Berkeley shot for today.

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

Lots of Books Above Me

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Sat, 19 May 2012 23:00:44 -0700

cycomachead posted a photo:

Now that the semester is over, I can't really say I miss the library tons, but it was actually a great place for photos and studying. I think I may have spend almost as much time taking pictures as I did studying in the library (though that's probably because they have weird hours for study rooms...), but I'm actually excited to go back in the summer when the library is less busy for some more photo opportunities!

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

Defending Public Education

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:35:18 -0700

cycomachead posted a photo:

A few weks ago there was a rally at Cal for Defeding Public Education. It's pretty interesting to see how many people show up to even small rallies--there was last least a thousand or two people at this rally, many of whom weren't students or professors.

In this shot, I believe he's telling a story about some of his past educational experiences, but I was too far away to tell.

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

Blue Hour in Hearst

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 23:02:56 -0700

cycomachead posted a photo:

I really doubt I'll ever get over my fascination with this building! It's been pouring lately soI thought I'd go back from some photos from when it was last like this a couple months ago.

This was taken one day past sunset when no one had class and I merged the images with Photomatix and tweaked the angle slight in Aperture.

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

This is Happening

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:40:22 -0700

cycomachead posted a photo:

Well, UC Berkeley's been pretty active lately! According to one professor of mine, it's probably the most active it's been since the Free Speech Movement in the 60's. (He hasn't been here quite that long, but I'd believe it.) This past November a number of protests got a lot of attention at the height of the Occupy Movement, and being Berkeley problems arose. Recently, a number of students have been mailed charges (more than 6 months later!) due to their involvement in the protests. This march was a small, but vocal protest to call for the administration and the District Attorney to drop the charges. I'm not one to protest much, but I do fully support the fact that recent moves by the administration and police have been nothing short of ridiculous.

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

Memorial Pool, Berkeley

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:46:18 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

Memorial Pool is a small, and somewhat secluded reflection pool which sits along the edge of memorial glade with views of both the campanile and a little bit of Doe Library. It's surrounded by trees which makes it nice and quiet and an excellent study spot when the weather is warm!

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

The University Library

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:21:56 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

Doe Library is generally referred to as the main library on campus, though I'm pretty sure most people go to specialized libraries on campus or head to the Main Stacks if they actually need one of those antiquated things we call books.
However, Doe is an excellent place to study with its large reading rooms and has a very cool advantage: There's a bust of Athena of the main entrance here, and according to a legend if you walk under Athena into the library she will bestow all her knowledge on you. BUT, if you walk back under her, she'll take all that wisdowm back. :( Fortunately for those of us who like want to believe quirky school legends, there are many entrances and exits for which we try to beat the system!

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

A Window Into Hearst

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:20:34 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

By now, it should be no secret that I love Hearst Mining Building at Berkeley! Built in 1902 this is one of the older buildings on campus which has a very cool stone look, and one of the few with real wood for decoration. It just has one of those "academic" feelings, like real learning is supposed to be going on there.

This was an HDR shot which I played around with in Photomatix and Aperture.
Thanks for looking! I appreciate any comments or feedback.

-Michael
michaelballphoto.com | Twitter | G+

Quiet Night in Hearst

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:44:58 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

Here's another shot of Hearst Memorial Mining Building at Berkeley. It's one room where you cam easily spend hours taking photos of the interior, which is pretty much what I did a couple weeks ago. What fun, too bad projects are in full swing now.

A CALifornia Sunset

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:53:56 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

This was made while walking around at sunset working on some photos for a project of mine. The skyline was absolutely amazing that night, and it also happened to be during the Cal-Stanford basketball game, which we won!
GO BEARS! :)

Strom Above Hearst

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:52:00 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

One of my newest fascinations with Berkeley is Hearst Memorial Mining Building. It's a pretty cool building, especially for photographers! I spent about an hour or so in the entrance to the building the other day, and will go back again sometime soon. I'm also going to use it as a great place to teach some people who are interested in photography, too. :)

This was a 3 shot exposure done in photomatix which really helped bring out the dark blues in the sky lights from the storm, and some of the light from under the curves.

Wet Day at Cal

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:28:59 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

It's been raining a lot here lately, and that's all the more reason to go out and take some photos! I really wish this courtyard had a name, but it's a very cool place to walk through (and quite convient too).

This was a 3 shot HDR which went through Photomatix, and had the colors and contrast improved in Aperture.

Reflections

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:05:37 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

This is a little hint at a shot I'm working. When I set down my lens to change it, the reflections were just too cool!

It's not the greatest shot because this was with my iPhone, but I like how it turned out. :)

Campanile

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:41:16 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

...It's taller than Hoover Tower. :)

Fog On the Bay

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:04:14 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from the Campanile in Berkeley. This was one of two days a year you can go to the top of the Campanile at sunset, which means there's not many chances to get shots from there, but I'll be back at the end of next summer when they let us up again!

Martin Luther King Student Center

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:04:09 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

It's a pretty quite day down there actually! This was just before classes started

...In case it falls

nobody@flickr.com (cycomachead) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:04:03 -0800

cycomachead posted a photo:

According the rumor/legend/fond story of tour guides, that road was left open so that in the event of an earthquake if the Campinile were to fall down, it would just slide down the road.

We all know that it's not going to fall, and if it did, that wouldn't happen, but it's a fun story!