Thursday, January 28, 2010

JOURNEY TO THAILAND


JOURNEY TO THAILAND - In a little more than twenty four hours, I'll be in flight over the Pacific enroute to Chiang Mai, Thailand to participate in an approximately twelve day photo excursion. I cannot say that I'm looking forward to the actual journey, albeit I am very much looking forward to the stay in Thailand. Saying this, I feel like a bit of a wimp. After all, if this were a century ago, I would be looking at an arduous shipboard voyage as opposed to a 24 hour flight. And the primitive conditions that prevailed in 1910 Siam would be a tad more arduous than will be our stay in a luxury hotel. Still, I suspect that my stay in the 700 year old city of Chiang Mai will be quite an adventure. This is my first trip to Asia, so it will probably be a learning experience. I'm sure I'll be suffering a bad case of jet lag when I arrive. So I'll probably stick close to the hotel the first day or so. After that, I suspect I'll have a rather full itinerary. I'll be posting daily journal entries on this blog, so stay tuned for all the details. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

PIXEL COUNT VS SENSOR SIZE

PHOTO TIP - Everyone knows that the more pixels you pack onto a camera's sensor, the better will be the quality of the resultant photographs. So why don't we have 25 megapixel point and shoot cameras? well, to answer that question, let's play a little game of true and false. The more megapixels packed on your camera's sensor, the better the picture quality will be. True up to a point. False from that point on. Here's why. If you want to pack more megapixels onto a camera's sensor, you have to do one of two things. You can make the sensor larger. Or you can make the pixels smaller. If you choose to make the sensor larger, the camera becomes bulkier and more expensive. So, a decision is made to go with smaller pixels. However, if you attempt to pack too many pixels onto a small sensor, the pixels don't work as well at gathering light. Now there are complex rules of physics that come into play here. But none of that matters. All you're interested in is taking good pictures. Suffice it to say that if you try to pack 25 megapixels onto a point and shoot camera's tiny sensor, the camera ain't gonna take good quality pictures no more. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

ELKINSPHOTOS PROMO

PROMOTIONAL ALERT - Don't forget to check out my website - www.elkinsphotos.com and my blog -History of Photography-Elkinsphotos and if you're going to be in Bisbee AZ between now and mid April, check out my exhibit, 'DeGrazia Gallery In The Sun - A Photo Essay By Larry Elkins' at BizzArt Gallery, #41 Brewery Ave. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

SUPER TELEPHOTO ON THE CHEAP

QUICK TIP - You'd love to have super telephoto capability but you don't have the big bucks to shell out? Consider a tele-extender. Like everything, there are trade-offs. In exchange for saving money and reducing bulk, you give up some flexibility. But you may find that this is still the answer to your prayers when it comes time to reach out and grab a distant subject. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

Monday, January 25, 2010

99 BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE WALL AND 40,000 PICS IN THE CAMERA,

PHOTO TIP - Back when I shot film, I used to hear the phrase, "Film is cheap". Well folks, That's not how I remember it. One of my biggest expenses when I'd go on a photo excursion was film and processing. So, I'd have to watch every shot. I'd think to myself, "Is this shot going to work?" If the answer was possibly not, then I would probably not press the shutter. With digital however, I can press the shutter a thousand times in one afternoon and the cost is negligible. This is a good thing. It doesn't mean though, that you should shoot indiscriminately. It does mean that you have options you didn't have before. So shoot away. But think before you shoot. Snap as many photos as you need to, but don't just shotgun. Stay disciplined, but take chances. This means, if you've assessed a proposed shot, and you're still not sure if its going to result in a usable photo, go ahead and shoot. But don't let that option tempt you to shoot without thinking. Larry Elkins Elkins Photos Fine Art Photography

Sunday, January 24, 2010

CLOSE TO YOU

PHOTO TIP - Aunt Laura just returned from a vacation at Yellowstone Park and is she ever proud of her photo of a grizzly bear. The only problem is, Aunt Laura's camera was mounted with a 50 mm lens. And Aunt Laura didn't want to get up close and personal with Mr. Grizzly. So the bear in Auntie's photo appears way off in the distance, so distant in fact that you can bearly (pun intended) tell it's a bare. Or vice versa. Anyway, the lesson here isn't to move in closer to the grizzly. The tip is to choose a lens that will bring the big guy in closer without your having to get nose to nose. In any event, the subject of your photo usually needs to fill a good part of the frame. Of course if the main subject of your photo is a mountain, then you might place a person in the distance in order to lend perspective to your main subject, the mountain. But that's another tip for another day. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

Saturday, January 23, 2010

EAST OF WOODSTOCK - WEST OF VIETNAM

In the Tom Russell song 'East of Woodstock West of Vietnam', that term refers to Africa. However, half a world east of Woodstock, and almost adjacent to the west of Vietnam, lies the nation of Thailand. And one week from now, that's where I'll be journeying toward. I'll be privileged to spend approximately twelve days photographing the 700 year old walled and moated city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. While there, I will be using this blog to create 'Adventure In Chiang Mai 2010', a day by day journal of my activities there. This journal will later be edited, augmented and combined with my photographs to create a coffee table photo book. I'll also be mounting a photo exhibit at Bizzart Gallery in March. So, for twelve days beginning about the 30th of January, you'll find me way east of Woodstock -just west of Vietnam experiencing my own adventure in a distant foreign land. Larry Elkins Elkins Photos Fine Art Photography

Thursday, January 21, 2010

DON'T FLASH THE DALLAS COWBOYS

TODAY'S PHOTO TIP - I'm launching a new feature. On a semi regular basis (approximately two to three times a week), I'll be providing a quick photo tip. Today's tip concerns the use of flash, more specifically under what conditions flash can be used successfully. Here's an interesting scenario. You're lucky enough to have box seats at a Dallas Cowboys game. It's a night game and even with the lights lighting the field, you're not sure it's bright enough to photograph the action. Thank the Lord for the camera's built in flash. That should add just enough light to do the job. Or you're seated in the junior high school auditorium watching 14 year old Sally's opening night performance. The camera's flash will no doubt light things up onstage well enough that you can catch Snow White Sally's romantic kissing scene with Prince Johnny from down the street Charming. Unfortunately for you (and all the other shutterbugs popping their flashes), the reach of that built in flash is probably not over 10 to 12 feet. Even if your subject is a mere 15 feet away, it's doubtful your flash will have sufficient reach. So my tip is - check your camera's instruction manual. If it states that the flash's maximum reach is ten feet, THEN YOUR SUBJECT HAD BETTER BE TEN FEET OR CLOSER. A simple concept. So why is it that so many people seem to just not get it? Who knows. The human mind is sometimes a strange thing. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

DEGRAZIA GALLERY PHOTO ESSAY

'Gallery In The Sun - A Photo Essay By Larry Elkins' is the result of an attempt to bring a series of original Ted DeGrazia artworks to Bisbee for display at the Muheim Heritage House. A group of four people (including yours truly) traveled to Tucson late last year to discuss with Lance Laber, the executive director of the DeGrazia Foundation, the possibility of showing in a Bisbee venue early works of De Grazia's from the period when he resided in Bisbee. The result is 'Degrazia: The Bisbee Years' now on display at the Muheim Heritage House. While there, I broached the subject of my photographing in and around the DeGrazia Gallery In The Sun and subsequently mounting a show at Bizzart Gallery in Bisbee. The exhibit, as it developed, consists of several photographs which, I feel, give the viewer some small idea of what it is like to visit the gallery. The show runs for three months at BizzArt Gallery, 41 Brewery Ave. Bisbee AZ. LarrBoldy Elkins elkinsphotos,com

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

GALLERY IN THE SUN - EXPERIENCE THE LEGACY OF TED DEGRAZIA

This is the second in a series of three posts concerning my new exhibit at BizzArt Gallery entitled 'DeGrazia Gallery In The Sun - A Photo Essay By Larry Elkins'. In this post, I will be discussing the subject of the show, the Degrazia Gallery In The Sun in Tucson AZ. While the statement might at first appear to be hyperbole, it is not an exaggeration to say that the Gallery In The Sun is one of the most unique and one of the most fascinating art venues in the world. This wonderful gallery, built by acclaimed artist Ted DeGrazia and a group of his friends and opened in the mid Sixties, is located in a ten acre historical district nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Over 15000 original DeGrazia artworks are housed at this site. Several buildings comprise the current gallery space. There is the main gallery, the little gallery, the mission and the DeGrazias' former residence. The Gallery In the Sun is a fitting legacy. The artist and his work live on through this truly magical place. The gallery is located at 6100 North Swan and is open daily from 10 am - 4pm. There is no admission charge. My next Blog will include a description of my photo essay on the DeGrazia Gallery. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

Monday, January 18, 2010

DEGRAZIA GALLERY PHOTO ESSAY BY lARRY ELKINS - BIZZART GALLERY - HUGE SUCCESS

This is the first of three posts dealing with my three month exhibit, 'DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun'-A Photo Essay By Larry Elkins, housed at Bizzart Gallery, #41 Brewery Gulch, Bisbee, Arizona. As I pen this post on Monday (Martin L,uther King Day), I find it hard to repress my excitement over the huge success of the opening reception Saturday evening for my DeGrazia Gallery exhibit at BizzArt Gallery. Saturday, January 16th, was a magical day. That morning, I arrived early at BizzArt Gallery anxious to hang my show. By about 10:30, my show was hung. I then climbed Brewery Gulch to Youngblood Hill where staff members of the DeGrazia Foundation, which maintains and displays the late famed American artist Ettore 'Ted' DeGrazia's vast archive of artwork at the DeGrazia Gallery in Tucson, AZ., were hard at work hanging a show of seventeen of DeGrazia's original paintings. The exhibit, 'DeGrazia: The Bisbee Years', will be on display at Bisbee's historic Muheim Heritage House till April 16th. At 1:00 pm, I attended a DeGrazia film screening at the Copper Queen Hotel presented by film archivist George Hall. Then, at 3:00 pm,, the Muheim Heritage House Committee hosted a wine and cheese reception in the lobby of the Copper Queen Hotel. At about 4:00 pm,, the ribbon was cut on the hotel's newly designated DeGrazia room. By 5:00 pm, I was back at BizzArt Gallery as guests began to gather for the opening reception of my DeGrazia Gallery Exhibit. As more and more people arrived, it became apparent that the opening was destined to be a major success. Well before the official 6:00 pm start time for the opening, dozens of guests had arrived. Those attending included Ted Degrazia's daughters and grandchildren, the family of former U.S. Congressman Jim McNulty, former Bisbee Mayor Lyle Reddy, Lance Laber, executive director of the DeGrazia F and Carrie Gustavson, director of the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum. BizzArt Gallery provided refreshments and live musical entertainment. A great time was had by everyone. The show itself consisted of several photographs I took over the Christmas holidays at the DeGrazia Gallery in The Sun. I'll cover much more about the exhibit itself and the Gallery In The Sun in my next post. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography elkinsphotos.com

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

PHOTO ESSAY ON DEGRAZIA GALLERY IN THE SUN BY LARRY ELKINS

I have a new show opening at BizzArt Gallery in Bisbee, AZ. I'm excited to be involved in a spectacular event unfolding in Bisbee this coming weekend. The Muheim Heritage House located at 207 Youngblood Hill, will be hosting a three month exhibit of original artwork by famed artist Ted DeGrazia. Running concurrently with this exhibit, 'DeGrazia: The Bisbee Years', BizzArt Gallery 41 Brewery Ave. will be featuring my new show 'DeGrazia Gallery In The Sun - A Photo Essay By Larry Elkins'. Several DeGrazia related events are planned for this coming weekend January 16th - 17th. On the evening of the 16th, BizzArt will be hosting an opening recption for my show (6pm-9pm). The gallery will be providing refreshments and live entertainment. For information, call BizzArt Gallery at 520-432-5177. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY elkinsphotos.com

ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

Here's a gentle reminder to check out my website www.elkinsphotos.com. I currently have eight gallery pages on this site. These galleries include portraits, nature/wildlife, travel/events, fine art nudes, landscapes, eclectic, images of Ecuador and a photo essay on vintage base ball.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

THE OPTION TO POINT AND SHOOT

Well. in less than three weeks, I'll be on my way to northern Thailand where I'll be spending almost two weeks shooting in and around Chiang Mai, the seven hundred year old unofficial northern Thai capital. My Canon Rebel XSi 12 megapixel DSLR, two zoom lenses (giving me wide angle to telephoto capability), three battery packs and two chargers will all be traveling with me. That's right. You didn't think I'd be spending thousands of dollars and journeying halfway around the world with a cheap point and shoot, now did you? Well, as a matter of fact, that's exactly what I purchased a couple of days ago as a back up camera for the Thailand trip. The inexpensive (under $100.00) relatively unsophisticated credit card sized point & shoot Vivitar Vivicam 8225 will probably go everywhere my Rebel will go as well as more than a few places the bulky Rebel won't. And if the rebel should (Perish the thought!) suddenly stop working in the middle of the shoot like my last DSLR did, the little Vivicam just might save my bacon. True, I could purchase a baggage hogging Rebel XS as a back up (compatible with my zoom lenses). But one of my goals is to travel ultra light. Besides, I'm a tightwad. And, as I have already stated, the Vivicam can go places the Rebel is too big to crawl through. Fro instance, my travel mates and I are scheduled to spend one day taking Thai cooking classes. We, of course, plan to photo document the experience. So, have you ever tried to cook a gourmet meal while holding an SLR camera with heavy lens attached? Well, you get the picture. We'll be shooting a parade. For shooting long shots of the floats and parade participants, I'll most likely use the Rebel. For close up street portraits,I'll defer to the decidedly less obtrusive Vivicam. When I do so, will picture quality suffer? Probably not significantly. There are always trade offs. However, in the cases I am apt to choose the Vivicam, the trade offs will most likely be quite acceptable. Having the option of point and shoot will, I am certain, prove invaluable. And if the unthinkable happens, I'll have adequate back up. All in all, a win win situation. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

DEGRAZIA GALLERY

Over the Christmas Holiday, I was privileged to photograph extensively at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun in Tucson Arizona. The result will be a photo essay that will open January 16th at BizzArt Gallery in Bisbee Arizona. This essay will feature photographs taken by me inside and outside the DeGrazia Gallery. The show will run for 3 months concurrently with the DeGrazia - The Bisbee Years exhibit at Bisbee's historic Muheim Heritage House which will feature original artwork by famed artist Ted DeGrazia. DeGrazia resided in Bisbee in the 1930's and 1940's and managed the Lyric Theater owned by his then in-laws the Diamos family. Information concerning this event can be obtained by calling the Bisbee Chamber of Commerce at 520-432-5421. LARRY ELKINS elkinsphotos.com