seyDoggy.com Gets a New Look
[
](http://seydoggy.com/ “seyDoggy systems . theme . code . design”)It’s finally done… I think. After spending more then a year at it, I think I have finally consolidated all of the web properties and blogs that I’ve wanted to for quite some time.
Probably the most notable changes are to [seyDoggy.com](http://seydoggy.com/ “seyDoggy systems . theme . code . design”). It’s no longer a portfolio site for past work since we don’t actually do client work anymore. It’s now just a calling card, if you will, or a hub I guess.
Also, the seyDoggy blog has been moved over to this blog. All of the original posts have been maintained so all the posts on RapidWeaver tips, AppleScripting, browser hacking, etc, are still available.
And last but not least, I’ve brought the [Merrifield Photography](http://merrifield-photography.com/ “Merrifield Photography”) blog over here as well. There are some pretty old stuff in there that I didn’t want to let die.
So there we are… my web-life is a little tidier, a little cleaner, a lot simpler. Now I just need to give the layout here a little tender loving care.
[tags]seydoggy,web,design,blog[/tags]
Assist your photograpy with iPhone apps
If you don’t have an iPhone and have never seen one in action, you think I am a crack-head for bringing it in a photography blog. The fact is that the iPhone has turned out to be quite the photographic companion for me. In fact I only have 2 GB of music on my iPhone, but over 6,250 images from my image library on my computer.
The iPhone has become my mobile portfolio, my flickr uploaded, my on-the-fly image editor and my insta-shot camera. But I am not the only one who has tapped into the power of the iPhone as a photographic assistant. [Photography Bay](http://www.photographybay.com) recently published a list and mini review of some of the hottest photography related [iPhone apps](http://www.photographybay.com/2009/09/06/24-cool-iphone-photo-apps/). Whether you have an iPhone or not, this list will certain make you hungry for the photographic possibilities.
You in there Mr. Camera Guy?
"You in there Mr. Camera Guy?", originally uploaded by seyDoggy.
Back in May, a neighborhood squirrel I were having a bit of a territorial battle. He wanted to sleep on my fence and I figured that made him fair game for photography. He thought otherwise and on a number of occasions made it clear that he was not in this for the fame and glory. He had a strict no-paparazzi policy and he wasn’t about to let me be the exception.
He came back a few times to bark and squawk at me just to drill the point into my little human brain.
[tags]flickr, squirrel, nature[/tags]
Lookout on the Grand River… in a box
Lookout on the Grand River… in a box, originally uploaded by seyDoggy.
Back in April, the GRCA called me and asked me if they could use this image in a clean air promotion. Just yesterday I got this image in an email to show me the out come. I was pleased 
Image credits: Grand River Conservation Authority
“[We] will be using the trailer at various community tree planting and other events. The idea was to create a shipping crate, with its ‘live trees inside’ message. Planting trees means clean air and clean water….and voila…look at the beautiful surprise that awaits you inside.”
“The co. that installed the wrap is Twin City Graphics in Kitchener. The graphics are printed on a 3M product, and Twin City plans to enter the trailer in the annual 3M vehicle wrap contest.”
“Many thanks again for the use of your most beautiful image. You likely cannot read it, but your pic is credited on the bottom right corner!”
Tot in the woods
Tot in the woods, originally uploaded by seyDoggy.
This is from a session I photographed back in 2003 which produced what I still consider to be some of my favorite child photography captures. Again, this was back in the simpler days of film where what you caught was what you got.
This girls was a joy to follow through the woods. She made a game out of nearly every aspect of the shoot which made capturing the images both challenging and rewarding. The results spoke volumes of her attitude and energy that day.
Shot with a Minolta Maxxum 7 with a Sigma EX 28-70mm f2.8 on what looks like the old Kodak Royal Gold 100 (I miss that film). Location was Monarch Woods in Kitchener near the corner of Fischer-Hallman and Victoria.
Preston from on high
Preston from on high, originally uploaded by seyDoggy.
I have written about Scott Kelby’s 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 in the past and I seriously can’t stress enough how it has really changed my process and workflow. I may not consciously approach each and every image with the system in mind, but instead, Scott Kelby’s system has allowed me to identify what I think is lacking and what it is that I would like to see different.
I now look at an image and immediately identify what I can change and improve and how to go about that quickly and efficiently. I have control now in ways that I thought impossible. I can now use images that I would have previously thrown away. I now deliberately underexpose many shots knowing that I can do more with hidden details in the dark then I can with burnt out highlights.
If you look at the before and after (before being in the right) of this shot you see that I was able to turn a dull, dreary, under exposed photograph into a lively, dramatic, colorful landscape full of emotion and accurately reflecting the impression that was burned upon me that morning. And that’s what really sums it up. It’s not about the limitation of what you can capture but the freedom to bring your visions to life.
This was photographed at Homer Watson Park in Kitchener, Ontario, with a tripod mounted Sony DSLR-A100 and a Sigma EX 28-70mm f2.8
HDR best for rocks?
HDR best for rocks?, originally uploaded by seyDoggy.
Since getting Photomatix I have been playing around quite a bit with new images and old images and everything I can get my hands on that I have bracketed in the last half decade. I am coming to one realization; the reason that most HDR tone mapped images are of churches, building, and rocks is because they tend not to be effected by wind.
Even on the calmest day, trees, leaves, grasses, etc, will shift ever so slightly in the unseen wind. Though your bracketed images may look identical, mashing them together in an HDR composite will reveal otherwise. It may not even be noticeable at normal viewing sizes but zoom in to 100 percent and you will notice your once crystal clear work will have the sharpness and resolution of a oil painting.
I hadn’t ever expected more but in all honestly I could probably accomplish the range I actually want in an image by underexposing one image and bringing up the shadows in post. Sure the shadows may suffer from excessive noise but I can deal better with noise then I can a lack of sharpness.
Well any way, it’s an art that I am still learning. I haven’t given up yet.
Shot with a Sony DSLR-A100 with a Minolta 28mm f2.8 with an effective focal length of 48mm. Photographed at the Huron Natural Area in Kitchener, Ontario.
Remnants of the old Doon Mill
Remnants of the old Doon Mill, originally uploaded by seyDoggy.
I don’t know the story about the 1839 Doon Mill in Kitchener, or the dam that was made there or the mill race or the resulting Willow Lake (which is now ball diamond, trail and playground), but I do suspect that some of the debris and concrete and stone in the creek are some left-overs from that era. Regardless they make for some interesting shots with lots of places for water to run about.
I took this shot thinking that is somewhat resembled a shot I took years ago that ended up in the New York Institute of Photography Archives. I didn’t have my tripod with me to the shot was handheld by luckily the Sony has the anti-shake which made things a lot clearer than they would have been otherwise.
Photographed with a Sony DSLR-A100, with a Sigma EX 28-70mm f2.8 at an effective focal length of 105mm.
“You flout many conventions…”
Laugh, it’s good for you, originally uploaded by seyDoggy.
I recently received some feedback on our style of wedding photography and though I have always aimed for this effect, I have never directly been told as such:
“Wow! I took a look at that photo set. I’d like to congratulate you. You choose some astonishingly risky and unconventional poses. You flout many conventions for group photography, for the better in many cases. Those were truly some of the most refreshing wedding photos I’ve seen in years. Thanks for sharing.”
It’s great to know that what you strive for is what you are able to achieve in the end.
The new Wedding portfolio
Her boys, originally uploaded by seyDoggy.
With the kids getting a little older my wife and I have decided to open a few more wedding slots in the next wedding season. I know this is music to some of your ears since we have been sitting on the fence with a few bookings.
Don’t get too excited though, we are only opening up more spots in the spring and fall and primarily in the Kitchener Waterloo area. The summer is still an exclusive spot to get and for that we are sorry. If our schedules could permit we would happily oblige.
Anyhow, we thought it was time to update the wedding portfolio with some of our most recent work. Have a look and let me know what you think.