After my post on Colorado HDR, someone asked me how I make my High Dynamic Range images. Here’s a new one from Red Rocks…along with the 9 images that made it.

For this image I used a D3 with the fabulous Nikkor 14-24 f2.8 lens. I set the frame advance to high-speed continuous. And I turn on the auto bracketing to 1 stop increments. Depending on the scene, I’ll set it for 5, 7, or 9 brackets. Since I didn’t have a tripod with me, I hand-held while squeezing the shutter and let the camera fly through all frames as fast as possible to prevent camera movement between frames. All images are shot in RAW.

After importing to Adobe Lightroom, I check all images for brightness, color, and contrast. Then I export to Photomatix. Photomatix is a specialized program specifically designed for HDR. It can run as a stand-alone program, or as a plugin. In Photomatix I play around with the various sliders until I get the look I want. When I’m done, I save and it imports the new HDR image back into Lightroom. There, I’ll do some final tweaking to the contrast, saturation, and exposure. At this point I’m done and export the final JPG.

Today I had so much fun sightseeing downtown Denver with Bill in the morning and mountain biking with Kelli in the afternoon, that I didn’t take a single picture!

But Bill & Kelli just started getting hummingbirds at their feeder a couple weeks ago. They are SUCH amazing creatures! Yesterday morning I was eating breakfast on their deck and they kept zooming in right over me. So after breakfast I set up three strobes, mixed them with the morning sun, and got some great shots of these beautiful birds!

I shot with the Nikon D3, 70-200 VRII, and SB-900 in Commander Mode only. You can see two of the remote SB-800 flashes in the first shot. The third was a little further away on this side of the feeder to my left. I shot around f7.1 at 1/250th of a second with ISO 100. The three flashes were firing at 1/8 power and triggered with my trusty RadioPoppers. Enjoy!

I’ve been a big fan of Trey Ratcliff’s for some time now. His blog at www.stuckincustoms.com has some of the most AMAZING High Dynamic Range photography I’ve ever seen!

Since I’m in Colorado, I thought what better place to experiment with HDR than at Red Rocks Park. So Bill & Kelli Nixon and I went hiking and shooting there yesterday. Here’s a few of my interpretations from this beautiful, scenic, and historic location.

Driving home from photographing a wedding in Georgetown last week, I was enjoying the solitude of my ride home, when all of a sudden this scene opened up in front off to my right. A wise photographer once told me, “God only gives us one sunset a day…and no two are ever alike”. So I couldn’t resist pulling over and photographing it…a simple gift.

The Children in the Son photography project was the brain child of my friends and fellow photographers, Bill & Kelli Nixon. What better way to use our gifts, than to serve others and help those who can’t help themselves!!!

At the end of my photography time on Saturday at Waterfront Park, this beautiful and colorful young lady came up to me and introduced herself as “Deedee”. She is a former gypsy girl from Romania, and a holocaust survivor, living right here in Charleston. She saw the article in the Post & Courier about the event and wanted to come out personally to thank everyone for this wonderful service they were providing.

What a pleasure to meet someone who knows FIRST HAND what a huge benefit the Gepis learning center, that we are raising funds for, will be for the Roma people! To read the Post & Courier article, head over to http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/may/15/local-photographers-to-help-gypsy-children-in/.

Last weekend was our big Children in the Son photo-shoot event! I photographed on Saturday, while other local photographers photographed on Sunday. Meanwhile, Bill & Kelli Nixon are shooting sessions in Colorado. Each family that participated got a discounted rate of $150 for their photo shoot AND disc of images. 100% of that money raised is going to help the gypsy children in Romania.

I’ve known Dale & Will since back in our days when we attended Ashley River Baptist Church. But I never really got to know their two boys. They participated in the CITS event and not only brought their boys, but their adorable beagle puppy as well. I had a great time getting re-acquainted with their family.  Here are a few fav’s from the session.

Many thanks to all the photographers who volunteered their time and their talents, and all the families that participated. You are storing up rewards in heaven!

Visiting Romania was a highlight of 2010 for me! I was there with TJ’s family and really enjoyed getting to know them. At the time, I thought TJ was going to be a confirmed bachelor for a looong time. It turns out, all he needed was the RIGHT woman to make him an honest man!!! I met Lane for the first time at their Engagement Session and loved her right away because she knows how to hold her own against TJ…and even dishes it out as well has he does!!! We had an awesome time and I can’t wait to shoot their Magnolia Gardens wedding later this year.

I had more fun at Mollie & Vincent’s Engagement Session than I’d had in a long time! So I KNEW their wedding was going to be a BLAST!!! Last weekend they were married at St. James Episcopal Church on James Island.

Mollie & Vincent went to high-school together, but didn’t really run in the same circles. In fact, they were King & Queen at the prom, even though they weren’t dating at the time. When they found out they were both going to Furman University, they started hanging out more. Pretty soon they were dating…and the rest is history!

Debbie at Country & Lace is friends with Mollie’s mother and recommended us. I’m so thankful she did. I absolutely loved working with Mollie & Vincent, and all their friends and family. To see more pictures, head over to www.chrisandcami.zenfolio.com.

CONGRATULATIONS Mollie & Vincent!

Earlier this week I had the distinct pleasure of photographing Mt. Pleasant Mayor, Billy Swails, and his lovely bride, Peggy, for Mount Pleasant Magazine. It was my first time meeting Mayor Swails, and I was genuinely impressed with his generosity and character. Peggy was a true southern sweetheart…warm, caring, witty…and a gracious host in her beautiful home.

Eileen Smith was the writer on the assignment and was the epitome of experience and professionalism. I also got to meet Joey, the assistant editor at the magazine, who came to the first part of the shoot with the Mayor at Waterfront Park and had some excellent suggestions. Bill, the magazine’s editor, was a pleasure to work for…allowing full reign and creative license on the project. I’ve had other images in their publication, and he told me he trusted me and was looking forward to seeing what I came up with. It’s so nice to work with other creatives that allow that much freedom! I look forward to building a great relationship with this team.

Lindsay & Justin already have their wedding photographer. But Lindsay wanted a different perspective for their Engagement Session. She was in the youth group at Ashley River Baptist Church when Cami & I attended there. So she thought of us! And I’m SO GLAD she did. We had an AWESOME time together!!! I had so much fun getting re-acquainted with Lindsay, who has grown into such a beautiful young lady.  And it was a pleasure getting to know Justin, who is a true gentleman in every sense of the word. The lighting that day was gorgeous, and of course Boone Hall Plantation never fails to provide a dramatic backdrop. Here are just a few of my favorites. CONGRATULATIONS Lindsay & Justin!!!