Creative

Day vs Night in New York City

"Day vs Night in New York City" - Here's a shot that I took in New York City from The Rockefeller Center aka "Top of the Rock." Once you start diving into HDR photography, you will quickly realize how valuable a tripod can be! Unfortunately, most iconic city photography locations in New York, London and Paris do not allow you to use tripods! In this particular photo, I used the protective glass that they have surrounding the viewing platform to steady my camera... I made sure that the glass was "super duper" clean on both sides (Yes both sides! I squeezed my hand through an opening between the glass to clean the outside.) Next, I braced my camera lens against the glass and started taking my three exposures! I had to move quickly as it started to rain and I didn't want any speckles of rain on the glass! I ended up getting a few good shots and the rain added a misty glow to the sunset, which was a bonus. This is the second time I have processed this image. What did I do different this time you ask? Well, I mixed in a layer that I processed with Aurora HDR software, along with some new Lightroom and Photoshop techniques that I recently added to my editing tool belt :) http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-day-vs-night-new-york-city/

Shapes and Shadows

Shapes and Shadows – There is something magical about this water-carved slot canyon in Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon is known for its amazing colors and how the light plays on the narrow sandstone walls. This area of the canyon has been highly photographed and draws a lot of tourism. If you get a chance to be alone, without a tour group running through you can capture some unique shapes and shadows... More Info https://goo.gl/vO41Nr

The Snow Dragon

"The Snow Dragon" - Here's a shot that I took in The Swiss Alps. The reason that I named this photo "The Snow Dragon" is because to me, it looks like there is a Dragon hiding under the snow! I wanted the image to look magical and mysterious to go with the whole dragon theme, so I added a little glow to the highlights in Aurora HDR. The photo doesn't capture how enormous this mountain was in real life. To give you a little perspective, check out the tiny footprints going up the left side of the peak. You may have to zoom in to find them :) More: http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-the-snow-dragon/

Strands of Light

© Tim Martin and Presetpro.com

The Black Sands of Stokksnes

The Black Sands of Stokksnes: Here’s a photo I took in Stokksnes, Iceland. Like I said in an earlier post, I have a ton of images from this location! You can literally spend days photographing the Vestrahorn Mountain because it’s not only the mountain that’s interesting… Read the Rest! http://bit.ly/2tUl2Ic

Pillars and Light

Starry Night in Switzerland

HDR Photography “Starry Night in Switzerland” Here’s a shot that I took in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland! When our train rolled into town, I had a feeling of pure joy and excitement just thinking about all the shots that I could take! We quickly checked into our hotel and started taking photos. Apparently, we got lucky with the weather as we were told by the locals that it was the first clear day in over 2 weeks. Hearing that, I didn’t want to take any chances so I decided to keep photographing well into the night. When I came across this scene later that evening, I knew it was something special. The cozy little village is surrounded by mountains, rivers, and massive waterfalls…All the ingredients for a magical image! More: http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-starry-night-in-switzerland/

Soft Morning Light

Ominous Light

HDR Photography “Ominous Light” – Here’s a photo that I took in New York City. This photo was taken moments before I got soaked while visiting Rockerfeller Center “Top of the Rock.” The looming clouds and hazy light added to this very dramatic and unsettling scene. I’m working on a new method of blending images together called “Blending Light” https://goo.gl/24ZRQh

Tim Martin and Presetpro.com

Between Giants

"Between Giants" - Here's a shot that I took in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. This little town, nestled between giant Swiss mountains is one of my favorite places on earth. There's an enchanted energy that surrounds this place. It could be because it has over 72 waterfalls within its borders, or it could be the stunning Swiss architecture that remains untouched by the modern world. Every sound and every smell leads you to believe that you have just stepped into another world, one where fairytales really do exist. This is one of the many shots that took in the valley at the edge of the town. http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-between-giants/

Resting Guitar in Central Park

Walking around the Bethesda Terrace in Central Park, I noticed this warm amber coloured guitar resting in the archway. I quickly grabbed my camera and started "snapping" before the light was gone... or the owner came back to play! One of my favourite photos for sure! - Tim Martin http://presetpro.com/weekly-photo-resting-guitar-in-central-park/

The Lights of Tower Bridge

Here’s a shot that I took of Tower Bridge in London, England. Probably one of the most interesting bridges to photograph at night. The Bridge also offers a great view of what I like to call “New London,” with modern buildings and architecture galore! When the sun went down, the colorful lights on the bridge reminded me of something you might see at a carnival. An interesting mix of 18th century architecture with a playful twist. The steady flow of traffic created an ideal opportunity to catch some interesting light streaks. When I finally got this clear shot, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. I couldn’t wait to get it home and process it! I spent a few hours photographing this area so stay tuned for more photos to come. More Info: http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-the-lights-of-tower-bridge/

Around The Mountain

Around The Mountain – Here’s a photo that I took in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Once I arrived by train, I decided to catch the first sunset! After checking into the chalet, I grabbed my camera gear and started walking down this narrow road. I stopped at this spot as it was a great representation of all the things that make Lauterbrunnen so beautiful, the snow peaked mountains, the untouched Swiss architecture and the breezy meadows. The clouds in the background were beautifully highlighted by the last light of the day. A well-timed car driving around the corner added some interest and scale to the enormous valley of mountains in the background. https://presetpro.com/landscape-photography-around-the-mountain/

Positano at Night

Positano at Night

Ripple of Light

Ice Fields in Switzerland

© Tim Martin and Presetpro.com

Electric Lights New York City

New York City Times Square in the rain. The misty rain droplets seemed to dance with the lights and “speckle” my lens causing a cool effect. Sometimes it’s great to capture a person standing still for a long exposure, not sure if he was waiting to cross the road or in aww of the lights.

Last Light

The Painted Puffin

Arc De Triomphe at Sunset

“Arc De Triomphe at Sunset” Here’s a shot that I took in Paris, France! Usually, the Arc De Triomphe has a constant flow of cars circling the roundabout. The original photo had lots of cars in it so I decided to take multiple photos (on a tripod) to capture the “space” between each vehicle. When post processing in Photoshop, I had enough versions with “spaces” (no vehicles) to blend everything together into one final image! The result is a clean looking photo with no cars to distract from the Arc. I will put together a full tutorial on how to do this in the near future… Stay tuned for that! http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-arc-de-triomphe-at-sunset/

Colourful Sunrise

“Colourful Sunrise” – Here’s a photo that I took of Lake Huron in Northern Canada. It’s always great when you find a RAW file kicking around (circa 2011) that has yet to be processed! I found this one while cleaning up my hard drive and decided: “It’s time!” I’ve been playing with a new method of blending images together in Photoshop that I’m calling: “Blending Light.” The process makes images look more realistic and magical. More on “Blending Light” coming soon! http://presetpro.com/blending-light-hdr-photography-colourful-sunrise/

Vegas Strip

Vegas Strip

Under The Bridge

Under The Bridge – This is a photo that I took in Venice, Italy. I took this shot while exploring the canals on a gondola ride. Sitting that low to the water really gives you a neat perspective of the city! From this vantage point, you can get a closer look at the weathered bridges. Seeing the city from this angle, I realized just how old Venice really is and how much history had taken place in this very spot. https://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-under-the-bridge/

City Glow

“City Glow” – Here’s a photo that I took in London, England. After photographing the Shard, I decided to head over to City Hall area. This photo is of the buildings that surrounds City Hall (notice the Shard in the background.) The light had a magical glow, so I decided to give the image a softer look... http://presetpro.com/blending-light-hdr-photography-city-glow/

Abandoned

Bordeaux France

Tim Martin and Presetpro.com

The Dragon's Cave

"The Dragon's Cave" Here’s a shot that I took of Lower Antelope Canyon in Arizona. I photographed Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon on two separate days in December and I had a fantastic time! I booked two separate Photography Tours a month in advance to ensure my spot. Knowing I was going to share and sell these images in the future, I contacted Navajo Nations Parks and applied for a photography permit. December is a great time to visit the area because there are less people and the color in the canyon is more intense. During the winter, the sun casts an even light which creates a warm glow throughout. You're less likely to catch a sunbeam, but you will experience the canyons in a "whole new light!" This particular shot is looking up through an opening where the sun is casting a beautiful orange glow on the sandstone. After spending a few extra minutes composing my shot, I was able to frame the ceiling to look like an opening in a cave. Once I started to process the image, I realized that the shot looked like something out of a fantasy novel. I asked myself what might live in this magical cave, and of course a fire breathing dragon came to mind! lol http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-the-dragons-cave/

Vestrahorn Mountain

Vestrahorn Mountain: Here’s a photo I took in Stokksnes, Iceland. Located on a dirt road near a retired U.S Military radar station, you will find this spectacular view of the Vestrahorn Mountain! Since we were exposed to the North Atlantic Ocean, I experienced some very heavy winds and the fine black sand that sits at the foot of the mountain made its way into every nook and cranny of my camera gear... Read the Rest -> https://presetpro.com/blending-light-hdr-photography-vestrahorn-mountain/

London Rush

“London Rush” – Here’s a photo that I took in London, England. This is a shot of Westminster Bridge at blue hour. It was a gloomy day and the clouds made it look like a scene straight out of a Harry Potter Movie. I processed this image using luminosity masks in Photoshop. Luminosity masks are a great way to blend multiple exposures together to create natural looking HDR images. There’s a bit of a learning curve with LM masks, but it’s a nice “tool” to have in the old tool belt! More: http://presetpro.com/blending-light-hdr-photography-london-rush/

Horseshoe Bend

Here’s a photo that I took in Page, Arizona. This image is actually a panorama of few different shots that I stitched together in Photoshop! When I walked up to Horseshoe bend for the first time, I was absolutely amazed by the sheer size of it. I had just finished photographing the south rim of the Grand Canyon and I didn’t think that anything could top that experience. I quickly learned that I was wrong. There was just something amazing about the way that the water circled around the rock. It looked like a spot where a castle once stood with a roaring moat and a 1000 foot drop protecting it. I stayed a for few days in Page, AZ so that I could also photograph Antelope Canyon, which was almost literally around the bend. More; http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-horseshoe-bend/ Tim Martin and Presetpro.com

Parisian Cafe

"Parisian Cafe" - Here's a photo that I took in Paris, France. When the sun goes down and the lights come on, there's something magical about Paris. They don't call it the city of lights for nothing! I stumbled across this location earlier in the day and I decided to come back to get this photo at night. After getting the shot, my wife and I sat down at this café and enjoyed a nice glass of wine. This was the final night of our trip and it was a great way to end our little adventure! https://goo.gl/byTSx4

Beyond The Misty Mountains

HDR Photography “Beyond The Misty Mountains” – Here’s a shot that I took in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland! Traveling to this location was nothing short of magical! We arrived by train from Italy. There was a think layer of fog that morning and not a single mountain in sight. As the train started to slow down, the fog began to lift and we realized that we were surrounded by enormous giants (mountains.) We finally came to our stop and the train let out a huge whistle that echoed across the valley floor! I immediately got goose bumps. I will have that sight and feeling burnt into my memory forever! I can safely say that this place is heaven on earth! More Info http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-beyond-the-misty-moun…/

Dancing Tree in London

Dancing Tree in London – This is a photo that I took in London, England. I was lucky enough to be in London during the summer festival last year! The streets were filled with live music and there was a festive buzz in the air. Behind the crowds that gathered by the Thames River was an interesting street with modern buildings. I decided to duck out of the festivities for a second and snap a few shots. I took a 4-second exposure to capture the movement of the people walking by and the tree swaying in the breeze. The tree looked like it was dancing and enjoying the tunes from the festival behind me! https://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-dancing-tree-in-london/

Waves of Light

"Waves of Light." Here's a shot that I took in Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona! One thing that I learned while exploring the canyon is that you need to take your time and look at every angle! There are photo opportunities everywhere you look, so you need to slow down and really soak everything in. During my exploration, I noticed that this sandstone wall seemed to be glowing from behind! The sun highlighted the natural lines of the canyon walls and created an interesting "wave-like" effect! Luckily I managed to snap a couple of photos because before I knew it, the color had faded. http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-waves-of-light/

Soft Light in Venice

Soft Light in Venice" - Here's a photo that I took in Venice, Italy. This photo was taken from Ponte dell'Accademia Bridge which spans the Grand Canal. Venice is such a unique city with so many photo opportunities. Everywhere you look, there are historic buildings and preserved Italian culture. Part of everyday Venetian life is traveling on the canals that weave through the city. The Grand Canal is by far the largest water way with the most traffic. It was amazing to see the boats and gondolas whip up and down the canals the way a car would in any other city. It was an overcast day with puffy white clouds which created a soft ambient light. It was the perfect conditions for a mid-day shot! http://presetpro.com/blending-light-hdr-photography-soft-light-in-venice/

London Light

Blending Light HDR Photography “London Light” Here’s a shot that I took in London, England. I had been out all day/night taking photos when I decided to bee-line it back to my hotel. (My body was aching because I had been lugging around a heavy backpack with two cameras, 5 lenses and a tripod.) In the name of self-preservation, I kept my head down to avoid any “shiny objects” that may distract me from packing it in and getting home… Well, this bridge was a little too shiny to pass up. I unpacked my gear and did my best to compose a “fairly” symmetrical shot. I was lucky enough to have some people cross the bridge while I was shooting. They that added a few blurry figures/subjects which gave the photo a little movement. More Here: http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-london-light/

Tim Martin and Presetpro.com

Ghosting Through Rome

This is a photo that I took in Rome, Italy. When in Rome, one of the popular sights to see is the Roman Colosseum. After spending the day checking out the ruins and enjoying some gelato, I decided to head over to the Colosseum for some night shots. When I arrived, I started to take the typical Colosseum photos that most people have in their portfolio. The grand structure is lit up at night by spotlights that illuminate the ancient arches. After a few minutes of shooting, a number of police cars and people with safety vests arrived in front of the Colosseum. They started to block off the roads and clear a path, for what I had no idea. Moments later a huge swarm of marathon runners came rushing down the street in a steady flow of foot traffic. Apparently, I was smack dab in the middle of a marathon. This is what I love about photography, the element of surprise! You never know when a unique photo opportunity will present itself. I used a long exposure to capture this shot, which created a really interesting ghosting effect with the steady stream of runners racing by! https://presetpro.com/night-photography-ghosting-through-rome/

Under The Tower Bridge

"Under The Tower Bridge" - Here's a photo that I took of Tower Bridge in London, England. This was literally my last shot of the night. I was photographing an interesting fountain near by (if you know this area I'm sure you know the lady and dolphin fountain) when I came across this unique perspective of the bridge. It was getting late and I was tempted to pack it in for the night, but I thought to myself: "just one more!" I quickly set up the tripod, fired off my three shots and immediately headed back to my hotel to warm up. When I looked back, I'm glad that I stuck it out because this was of my favourite images of the night. http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-under-the-tower-bridge/

Venice Canal

“Venice Canal” – Here’s a photo that I took in Venice, Italy. The great thing about Venice is the constant flow of gondolas moving through the canals. Wait about a minute or so, and you are guaranteed a nice shot… or two! After spending a couple of days in Venice, you will eventually give in and say: “I need to go on a gondola ride!” If you haven’t experience it before, just do it! Guaranteed when you get home, everyone will ask: “Did you go on a gondola ride?” If the answer is no, you may regret it. Plus, it’s a great way to get a few bonus shots from a different perspective! More http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-venice-canal/

Into the Valley

HDR Photography “Into the Valley” – Here’s a shot that I took in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland! I decided to walk up a switchback trail to get a better view of the valley floor. I spent a couple of hours photographing this area but as it turns out, I got the best shot on my way back down! When you look at the photo, you’ll notice that only a sliver of light is peaking through and the rest of the valley is in the shadows. This was the perfect setting for multiple exposures and HDR. Check out the new Aurora HDR 2017 presets that I just uploaded! Click Here!

Early Morning in Venice

HDR Photography “Early Morning in Venice” – Here’s a shot that I took in Venice, Italy! You know those mornings where you’re barely able to function and you’re still half asleep!? Well, that was me on this particular morning. I was seriously tempted to do a belly flop into the water, just to wake up! Instead… I stood on this “gondola dock” to soak in the view and capture a few shots. Looking back, I’m happy that I forced myself out of bed . More: http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-early-morning-in-venice/

Desert Tree

This is a photo that I took in the Arizona desert! Arizona is one of my favorite places for photography. While exploring one day, I came across this really interesting tree. The roots, shrubs, and mountains that surrounded the tree provided a nice frame for the shot. I’m always fascinated with trees that can survive in such dry and desolate conditions. Somehow, despite all odds, they persevere! https://presetpro.com/landscape-photography-desert-tree/

Regent Street at Night

HDR Photography "Regent Street at Night" - Here's a photo that I took in London, England. While exploring Piccadilly Circus, I noticed a string of decorative Union Jack flags hanging above Regent St. The iconic glowing advertisements of Piccadilly were directly behind me and provided the perfect amount of light (1 second exposure & ISO 100). The mixture of light complemented the steady flow of traffic, giving me some nice light trails! If you're in London and looking to do some night photography, head over to "The Circus!" http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-regent-street-at-night/

Empire East 30th Street New York City

After spending the morning taking photos of the Flatiron building in NYC, I decided to head back to the hotel to grab some coffee. On my journey back, I took a moment to set up my gear (Corner of 5th Ave and East 30 St) to snap this image! The Empire State Building seemed to be framed so nicely and the light was perfect. I did take multiple exposures (bracketed shots) and I was absolutely delighted when this cab turned at the "perfect time." You would be surprised how many unexpected and "perfect moments" happen in a day if you keep your eyes open and camera ready. – Tim Martin

The Grandview

"The Grandview" Here's a panoramic shot that I took at The Grand Canyon! To get this image, I woke up before the break of dawn and headed over to this lookout that I had scoped out the day before. The temperature was a chilly -10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) that day and there was a nice dusting of snow on the ground. I wanted to capture the sunrise as the light started to warm the canyon peaks for a nice contrast of cool and warm tones. It's always a good Idea to check the weather/temperature before heading out. You never know what the weather will be like in the desert. I spent about two hours shooting from this location to capture this stunning view. I took five different photos and stitched them together in Photoshop to produce one larger panoramic shot. http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-the-grandview/

Follow The Light

Follow The Light: Here’s a photo that I took in Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona. While exploring the Canyon I had a few moments alone to compose this shot. For the edit, I wanted to capture the feeling of being in a dark canyon and looking up to see the cool colors transform seamlessly into a fiery warm light. More Info: http://presetpro.com/hdr-photography-follow-the-light/