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YOU CAN HELP - PART TWO


Galveston residents wait in a broken down bus to be evacuated from Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Rita heads for the Texas Gulf Coast on Thursday. AP Photo/David J. Phillip.

Just a few weeks after Hurricane Katrina devasted the Gulf coast, Hurricane Rita has hit land. Fortunately, Hurricane Rita has not been nearly as costly in terms of lives lost, but there has been a lot of property damage and a lot of people have been displaced. Help is needed for the victims of both hurricanes.



Give to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, or the charity of your choice that is doing relief work in the aftermath of both hurricanes.




A fire burns in downtown Galveston, Texas as Hurricane Rita approaches the coast Friday, Sept. 23, 2005. AP Photo/David J. Phillip.

 
PHOTO OF THE DAY - INDIAN PEAKS WILDFLOWERS


Wildflowers Near Long Lake, Indian Peaks, Colorado.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

Indian Peaks near Ward, Colorado (west of Boulder) is a beautiful area for hiking, camping, fishing, and photography.

These wildflowers were filmed in mid-July, not far from the trail that goes around the southeast side of Long Lake. The meadows all along the southeast side of the lake were filled with flowers.

To get to this area, go just north of Ward on Colorado 72 and turn west on the road to the Brainard Lake Recreation Area (there is a modest entry fee). The road will take you past Red Rock Lake (see photos in the July 24 and July 19 posts below) and on to Brainard Lake and the Longs Lake parking area. The hike from the parking area to Long Lake is a short one. The Indian peaks form a majestic backdrop to all of these lakes. Trails lead up into the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Trailer camping is available at Brainard Lake. This is one of my favorite areas in Colorado.

Canon 20D, Canon EF 17-40mm lens at 17mm in focal length. Aperture: f/16. Shutter: 1/100 second.

 
JEWEL-BOX LIGHTING


Center for the Visual Arts.
Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

"Jewel-box lighting" is a technique for photographing lighted buildings in late evening light so it looks like night but there is some color left in the sky. It works best if the exterior of the building is at least partially lit by flood lights. The technical challenge is to balance the lighting on the building with the deep blue of the sky.

The usual approach is to meter the building and the sky and wait until the sky is one or two stops darker than the brightest part of the building. Then take pictures every few minutes based on an exposure for the lightest part of the building (and bracket exposures). When the film comes back, choose the most pleasing sky and building exposure combination. Digital makes this easier since you can view the results as you take the pictures.

I was asked to photograph the Center for the Visual Arts and decided to use the jewel-box technique. I began by taking pictures and experimenting with composition while the sky was still too light. Once I had an arrangement I liked between the buidling, the sign, the sidewalk, and the street lights, I took a bracketed set of images every few minutes until the sky was too dark. The exposure balance is good in this image except for the sign which is a bit hot. When I get home to my primary computer (and a more accurate monitor), I can strip in a darker exposure of the sign for a better balanced image.

I've written more about jewel box lighting here.

Tech info: Canon 20D, Canon EF 10-22mm lens at 10mm (equivalent to a 16mm field of view with a 35mm film camera). Aperture: f/11. Shutter: 8 seconds.

 
YOU CAN HELP!


A rescued baby cries in the arms of a policewoman after being brought to land on a boat from floodwaters in New Orleans September 1, 2005. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

You can help.



Give to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, or the charity of your choice that is doing relief work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.


Bay St. Louis Emergency Management Agency volunteer crews rescue the Taylor family from the roof of their suburban, which became trapped on US 90 due to flooding during Hurricane Katrina on Monday, Aug. 29, 2005, in Bay St. Louis, Miss. (AP Photo/Ben Sklar)