Uploads from Kostas Petropoulos Images

No Country for the Old Men

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:56:24 -0700

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Sigma 70-300mm @ 122mm, 1/400 seconds @ f/4.2, ISO 400

After a long walk in the alleys of Athens, we - my tired friend Alex and myself - ended up in mountain Immitos for a coffee (for the younger ones) and an orange juice ( for the Old-Tired-Like Wrecks of Life men) .... :))))))

Alternative Tittle : "Where is the nearest river to hang a stone around my neck and drawn my self ??? "

A Simple Portrait

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 06:05:21 -0700

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 18-105mm kit lens @40mm, 1/125 seconds @ f/4.5 ISO 100 with Nissin Di 866 Mark II speedlight on camera and bouncing on a wall at camera's right.

No fancy stuff, just an on camera flash, a tight framing, focus on the eyes and that's it.
The only thing you can experiment with, is the power of the flash and of course the way you will process the image (if you feel like it) afterwards.

My model - who is a friend of mine - stood still for a minute :))) so I could enrich my portraiture collection.

Bottom line is, you don't need a studio or expensive gear to produce something that you and your model/friend/family etc, will like.

View in black, view in blue, view in white, don't view at all.

Take care.

The Rest of the Warrior

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:49:41 -0700

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro @ 11mm, 1/50th second @ f/8 ISO 100

The set up : One speedlight camera right and one above and behind the subject, with a yellow gel, to paint with warm light the wall.
Of course, with a bit of digital manipulation in the modern era's darkroom, to emphasize more on the subject.

The story : Stavros is a hard working man in his motorbike workshop, which is a family business.
So, when I took my bike for a check up, I had my camera with me and I took some shots of him, his son and the store, in order to give them as a small present and a specimen of my appreciation at his work.
(And to be honest, as an opportunity for me to practise my non-existent portraiture skills...)

View in black, view in blue, view in white, don't view at all.

Take care.

No Escape

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:30:53 -0700

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Samyang Fisheye 8mm f/3.5 30 seconds @ f/8 ISO 100, with multiple flashes from Nissin Di 866 Mark II speedlight AND 500 gr of C4 , 15 meters wire, one detonator and PS with coffee, tobacco and patience...

Alex gave me the present of pro for one more year...
I am mad at him but I have to forgive him, cause I know his intentions are good, oh no please don't let him be misunderstood nai na na na na na nai too roo roo roo roo roo.....

Thanks buddy !!!

Final Destination

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 09:45:18 -0700

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro @ 14mm, HDR from three shots at 4-15 & 30sec @ f/8 ISO 100

From the night of the living dead's photoshoot, when me and the living dead Alex, went in his nearby old station, to shoot this living dead train...

Processed through various applications and applied many brashes, adjustment layers and filters I considered appropriate at the time, which I don't exactly remember right now, how I applied them and why...
And that is a very good reason to save your work as a PSD file:)

Take care.

All Aboard

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:35:14 -0700

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Samyang 8mm Fisheye f/3.5, 30seconds @ f/8 ISO 100

Crazy Train

Take care.

Death doesn't like him !!!

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:01:33 -0700

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

My friend Alex just had a heart stroke episode and he is recovering from the surgery.
He is fine, with all his humour and energy in high levels.
He came victorious out of a short battle with Mr. Death, when Mr. Death realized that he didn't want Alex to be near him and that he would be bored to Death by Alex's companion.....so he decided to leave with empty hands...
If you like to wish him, go to his page by pressing his name in blue letters above.

PS
The background image is not mine and I have downloaded it from www.wapdam.in, where it is shown as a free wallpaper image. All credits go to the original creator.

PS2
I exist and I thank you all for the concern, but many sad and bad things have happened, things bigger than photography and to serious to ignore.

Take care.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR EVERYBODY !!!!

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 04:40:58 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

.....Hope dies last HO HO HO......

I want to thank everybody who visited my humble stream this year, although I am not the contact someone would count on...
I don't want to spent my time commenting in order to have more views and for that reason I feel surprised by the outrageous number of views I get...(anything over 30 views is outrageous for me)

All and all, my account for 2012 is that I took a step forward in understanding photography and my camera and that resulted in some images I really like and I don't feel uncomfortable when showing them to other people.
I also improved my editing, not in the degree I would like, but in a positive way over all.

My photographic goal for 2013 is to take some shots I 'll be happy looking at and to evolve in my editing process.

I wish you all, to be more strict and objective to the images you upload, in a way that you will not make your contacts lie, when they write good things about them...
Because no one wants to be rude, right ???
And that's the best photographic wish, I can think of.

Of course, the wish goes to those who take their images seriously.

Take care.

Echeveria (its blossom)

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:51:36 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D5100, Nikkor 50mm f/2 AIS, @ 1/200 seconds, ISO 100, with Kenko extension tubes and on camera the Nissin Di 866 Mark II Speedlight.

The size of this flower is like the fingernail of my index finger.
I was always fascinated by macro photography and the hidden details , revealed only after the capture.
One of the most difficult photography genre.
The shallow depth of field and the need for more light, are the main problems you got to deal with.
The shallow depth makes focus a nightmare.
The stopped down true macro lens, or the addition of extension tubes, or the reverse ring for the lens, or the stacked lenses technique, in order to achieve an extra millimetre in depth and a larger magnification of the subject, demands, almost always, more than the available ambient light and makes the presence of an external light source, a necessity.
True macro is considered the one to one reproduction of the actual size of the subject, on the sensor.
For example, if the sensor is two centimetres from edge to edge, then if you are photographing a tape measure, two centimetres from that tape must fill the frame.
With extension tubes and other techniques, you can go beyond that magnification.

Take care.

Voodoo

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 01:55:48 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D5100, Nikkor 18-55mm for all 14 captures.
Nissin Di 866 Mark II Speedlight was used in Elena's shot.

For the 13 light painting backyard layers, the camera was on a tripod and was triggered remotely.
The capture time was between 11 seconds and 30 seconds, according the metering, for its scene.

My daughter's capture was 1second exposure with the flash synced to the rear curtain, in order to capture the slightest movement in that amount of time and to give her the motion and elevating feeling.

Blended in PS in lighten mode and masked out the luminosity caused by the flash, in Elena's shot.
Then changed the Hue to a more pinkish tone, to give it a more playful- girlish kind of look.

Voodoo by Godsmack

Take care.

Keep the fire burnin'

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 02:12:49 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 18-105mm kit lens used for both shots, masked into PS, with photo filter and hue adjustment layers applied.

The shots were taken, having in mind a pre-visualised result like that.

Keep the fire burnin' , from REO Speedwagon.

Take care.

Goodbye to Romance

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 06:34:26 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D5100, Nikkor 18-55mm kit lens @ 18mm, 1/250 seconds @ f/8 ISO 100

Goodbye to Romance

Take care.

What kind of composition is this ? I will fall out of the frame...

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:13:52 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Sigma 70-300mm @ 300mm, Three HDR shots @ 1/800, 1/3200, 1/200 seconds, @ f/8 , ISO 100

Take care.

Four Birds

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:10:52 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D @ f/8. Three handheld shots @ 1/800, 1/3200 & 1/200 seconds.

Based on a new technique I am experimenting with, in which the file never migrates to HDR software. You take the full Dynamic Range of the scene and you have a file loaded with information, to play with.
Super clean, super crisp, super natural.
I love it !

By the way, there are four birds in the kiosk :)

Irrelevant: You can not but to love a lens that costs 110 € and produces such images...

Take care.

I think I thaw a flying thip

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:14:02 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D5100, Sigma 70-300mm @ 300mm, 1/800 seconds @ f/11, ISO 100

From my Summer's visit to Dimitris' at Patra.
(Great service, fine food, perfect hospitality, I highly recommend it !!! )
Taken from his veranda, after a couple of beers...or more, when I thought I thaw a flying thip :)

We struggle to show the three dimensions in our photographs by playing with light, when sometimes just the two of them are more fun !

Take care.

Silent Witnesses

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:52:28 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 18-105mm @ 25mm, 1/400 seconds @ f/8, ISO 100

With or without human presence, a place doesn't lose part of its beauty, its majesty, its uniqueness...

Just like the famous quote: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?
Well, you guessed it ! My answer is yes :)
What is yours ?

Take care.

Rumpled Waters

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 08:05:14 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 18-105mm @ 28mm, 1/1600 seconds @ f/8, ISO 400.

Yesterday was very windy and many waves were formatting in the sea. I saw this beautiful spectacle and since I had my camera with me, I left my bike on the side of the road and went down at the beach to admire closer and to take some pictures.
Even if you don't like the image, you would certainly have loved the mixture of sun, wind and the sound of the waves, along with the sea-birds searching for food in the rumpled sea.

I wish I had the 300mm lens with me to reach the birds...

Take care.

End of Season II

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:12:55 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro @ 11mm, 0.4 seconds @ f/8 ISO 1600

Usually I don't push the ISO,because I like noiseless images, but I did for you :)
Uploaded for comparison (if you feel like it) with the one with the same title, in the second page of my stream.
Same total amount of Exposure Compensation, same framing due to a tripod almost buried in the sand, but a completely different visual result.

Take care.

Bloodline

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 07:38:00 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 18-105mm @ 85mm, 1/100 seconds @ f/16, ISO 100 with Nissin Di 866 Mark II
One lighting set up with the speedlight bouncing on it's own bouncing card and pointing at camera left on a reflective surface.

The hot shoe....is not a hot shoe. It is only a flashlight or bulblight base.
The camera is a Nikkormat FTn, produced from 1967 till 1975.
It was a Nikon sister body based on the FT Nikon's model and was considered as a professional and advanced user SLR camera.

It is still alive and kicking.

More info at the link below.

www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkorma...

Semblance of Freedom

nobody@flickr.com (Kostas Petropoulos Images) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 03:59:44 -0800

Kostas Petropoulos Images posted a photo:

Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm @ 200mm, 1/500 seconds @ f/5.6, ISO 100

Shot was taken at Attica Park Zoo, which justifies the title.
Although it's beautiful to be able to see all these wild animals close and personal kind of, it is sad at the same time considering, there were taken out of their Natural environment.
I wonder what this hawk is looking for.
For food...I don't think so, maybe for the waiter to order, or for a hole in the wires, big enough that can lead to freedom.

I have cloned the labelled ring on it's leg and dropped the background to B/W, to emphasize in the captivity "monochromatic" factor.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Take care.