Month: March 2012

Received the “Very inspiring blogger award”

On By saarimnerIn About - Personal Thoughts, English, Other stuff, Quotes6 Comments

This has been a really busy week for this blog. For the first time ever this blog will hit the 5.000 mark for a single week (even though I guess the absolute most part of it was due to “Can you see it”) which is, to be honest, incredible and beyond what I expected when I started writing “to my self” literally. I’ve also been very lucky to be nominated for the very inspiring blogger award from Sirenia. I’m really proud to receive this award from Sirenia since she runs a blog of her own. The blog’s name goes by My Own Avalon and I think the name is really telling of what’s inside. Go ahead and check it out here, it’s a truly great blog.

very-inspiring-blogger-award-march-2012

The rules about this award is on the bottom. 1)

When you receive this nomination you are told to tell seven random things about yourself, and I guess the most obvious like my interest for Photography and thoughts about life in general should be left out:

1. I love my work, and think that I’m very fortunate to work with so talented people every week.
2. I totally believe in the words treat others like you want to be treated
3. I believe that it takes a lot of personal strength to be kind and show and tell about your weaknesses, so in many ways I believe that you find many strong people among those that are expected to be weak and vice versa.
4. I almost always have music on. My five favorite albums are * Keane’s – Hopes and fears, * Hoobastanks – the Reason, * Sara Isaksson’s – Red Eden * Stephen Simmonds – For Father and finally Babyface Unplugged NYC 1997. After those five I guess I have millions more… like albums from Jellyfish, Coldplay, Alison Krauss, Red, Timbaland, Toto and so on
5. I’m addicted to Formula 1 and follow almost every news I can get over
6. I love nature and I guess this affection’s getting stronger the older I get
7. Love everything with high speed that stays on the ground… 🙂

That was a little about me

My own nominees for this price are as follows and in no particular order:
– Conceptual Art for wonderful own work and and amazing list of new discoveries every day. Thank you for your dedicated work!
– Helenography for her own style in photography. When the rest of the photo world is much about over saturated pics, Helene stays true to her own great style with more modest and subtle colors with a great deal of strong light
– Marina Chetner off course. A great and well-written blog about many things but I guess the main focus is on describing places

1) The rules for receiving “the very inspiring blogger award” are telling seven random things about yourself, thank the person who has awarded you for this award by linking back to them and pass the award over to other bloggers and let them know you’ve awarded them.

Biggest and best jumps in history – for you daredevils out there

On By saarimnerIn English, Just for fun, Other stuff2 Comments

This is a video collection by Twisted Sifter about the Biggest and best jumps in history. I’m a true admirer of #1 in this video, what an accomplishment.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Current best iPhone Photo Apps in my opinion

On By saarimnerIn iPhone, iPhonepics, Photography9 Comments

One of my first posts on this blog was about which iPhone Photo-apps I prefered. Well, those things change when apps get updated and new apps are developed, so I thought I’d share my best apps at this moment.

Snapseed

I downloaded Snapseed quite a long time ago (in technology terms) and I immediately liked the GUI. Professional, and really easy to use at the same time. I can’t say that this app is the best in terms of the amount of filters, or in number of parameters you can change, but I think it’s one of the best apps when it comes to quality and GUI.

Startscreen in Snapseed

Photoshop Express (link to app store) – From my previous post
In the image-industry Adobe are one of the biggest players, and the Photoshop-software have been around for quite awhile. With Photoshop Express you get one feature that I think is necessary if you’re keen on getting the noise out of your pictures, Noise Reduction. This feature is actually the one ingle feature that I use in this app, but since Noise often is a problem when you’re using mobile phone, I use it on almost every pic I share.

Below you have the same picture, with and without the reduce noise function in Photoshop Express.


iPhone-image of Visby sunset without reduce noise function (Click image for large version)


Same picture as above, but now with reduce noise (Click image for large version)

A note to those that will use this function is that, when you reduce noise, you also loose details so the result will, as always, differ depending on what you want to show. In the images above I’ve tried to show this. Photoshop is free but you have to spend a few bucks on getting the Reduce Noise Function.

Instagram (link to app-store) – From my previous post
If you like filters, and sharing images with the rest of the world, you’ll love Instagram (my nickname at Instagram is pedrohansson). I’m surprised how creative, and actually really beautiful images that are shared at Instagram. And many of those just taken with their iPhone (1) What I think separates Instagram from many other “filter-apps” is Instagrams strength as a company. You can feel the quality in all their software.


© Pedro Hansson – iPhone-Image using Instagram-app
Upplands Väsby Sweden

Pro-HDR (link to App-store)
Pro-HDR is one of the apps that I’m using the most. The iPhones built-in functionality for HDR is quite good, but this app is so far ahead in terms of control and image quality. If you don’t know HDR from before, and are interested in getting some new ideas for your photographic sessions, I suggest that you look into it.

In short HDR is a technique where you are using several exposures (over- and under exposed) to create one image. By using several exposures you can use the lighter information from the under exposed image, and vice versa. HDR-apps can also be used for creating motion and ghost-like effects.

The hard part, when you’re HDR is to keep the camera absolute still, otherwise you get some blurry effects.


© Pedro Hansson – iPhone HDR-image of
South Kensington Station in London

I hope you can use some of the app-tips above. Happy for comments. What is your best photo-app and how do you use it?

(1) A portion of the images at Instagram are shot with professional equipment

Can you see it?

On By saarimnerIn English, Just for fun, Other stuff18 Comments

I got this picture sent to me on Facebook today and to be honest (I guess I have to blame it on the flu) it took me quite awhile before I got it. It’s a litte bit of a brain-game.

As it said in the Facebook-mail;
“First you don’t get it… Then you do… And then you can’t UN-get it!”

Please respect others experience and keep it to your self, the key 🙂

So, can you see it?

<- Back to indexpage

Hyperrealism – These are NOT pictures, they are drawings

On By saarimnerIn English, Inspirational, Other stuff4 Comments

Today I was introduced to a new form of art, Hyperrealism. To be frank I still find it hard to understand that these are drawings and not pictures. Among the most impressive things I’ve seen…

“Hyperrealism was born from the idea of photorealism, which are paintings based on photographs but created in a non-photographic medium.

Taking an average of between three and six weeks to produce, Cadden creates about seven pieces each year – which usually come in A1 or A0 sizes – and sell at galleries for up to £5,000 each.”
From Mail online

Link to Paul Caddens homepage

© Paul Cadden / Solent News

New single from Keane

On By saarimnerIn English, MusicLeave a comment

One of my all-time favorite groups, Keane, has just released a new single from their upcoming album Strangeland, that’s set to be released on the 7:th of May.

Stockholm through my iPhone lens – Goes skiing

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone, iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, iPhonepics, Photography4 Comments

Saturday was my last day going downhill this year. This is an image that I took on Saturday from the top of Vemdalen.

The app that’s been used is Photo Toaster. I also removed some small blemishes. Otherwise it’s straight out of the toaster!

I hope you’ll have a great start of your week.

@ Pedro Hansson - Ski lift, Vemdalen, Who Valley

Amazing Kodachromes from Russia

On By saarimnerIn Inspirational, Photography4 Comments

Some days ago I came across this beautiful post of Kodachromes from second world war. While I truly is against all types of war, these photos are really amazing. Imagine taking those kind of pictures at that time. The sharpness, the lighting, the DoF and definitely no sign of auto focus or point and shot 🙂
At that time photography was truly a work of art and knowledge.

The description on the site is in Russia so I took the liberty to translate it to English. I hope that you enjoy these pics as much as I do. If you haven’t visited the site http://www.shorpy.com, don’t miss it if you’re into old photos.

“I often go to the site http://www.shorpy.com inspired color Kodahroma. The site is widely known for its archival photographs, so it is unlikely he will be opening for you. But now I wanted to make a selection chosen to hand was on the same page and in good quality. Perhaps you too would be interested. All images were made in 1940-1943. Signatures transfer did not, because what is bad and I’m afraid I can misquote. But in general, all so clear”

Adobe releases beta for Photoshop CS6

On By saarimnerIn D7000, English, iPhonepics, Nikon D5000, Olympus XZ-1, Photography, Tips & tricks2 Comments

Two hours ago Adobe released their beta for Photoshop CS6. The beta is free to download at http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/photoshopcs6/, as long as you have an Adobe id.

This is a screenshot I took earlier this morning of the new workspace.

Screenshot from the new beta

Watch the Russell Brown’s 6 Favorite Features in Photoshop CS6 beta video

From Adobes homepage:

“Photoshop CS6 Highlights

Content-Aware Patch — Patch images with greater control using the newest member of the Content-Aware family of technologies. Choose the sample area you want to use to create your patch, and then watch Content-Aware Patch magically blend pixels for a stunning result.

Blazingly fast performance and a modern UI — Experience unprecedented performance with the Mercury Graphics Engine, which gives you near-instant results when you edit with key tools such as Liquify, Puppet Warp, and Crop.* Plus, a refined, fresh, and elegant Photoshop interface features dark background options that make your images pop.

New and re-engineered design tools — Create superior designs fast. Get consistent formatting with type styles, create and apply custom strokes and dashed lines to shapes, quickly search layers, and much more.”

The first impressions are really good.

Lucky Snowboarder

On By saarimnerIn English, Just for fun, Other stuff4 Comments

This year’s been the most frequent downhill winter for me for many years. On Thursday I will go on my fourth, and unfortunately last, ski weekend together with 22 old colleagues and I searched for some new ski-inspiration on Youtube and came across this lucky snowboarder guy. I sure hope I’ll have the same luck as him going downhill.

Hope that you all have a great start of the week!

Incredible Mashup from Madeon!

On By saarimnerIn MusicLeave a comment

This is a remarkable Mashup from an 18-yo guy called Madeon. If you don’t know the term Mashup you’ll find the Wikipedia-description here

Stockholm through my iPhone lens – Ulriksdal

On By saarimnerIn iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, iPhonepics, Photography8 Comments

This picture is taken at Ulriksdals Park in Stockholm, just beside one of the Royal Castles. I normally don’t use heavy filtering on my photos but on rare occasions I think it adds the atmosphere that I’m searching for, and this is a time when I thought it came out ok.

The picture is taken with the normal iPhone cam and the filter and framing is from the app Magic Hour. I’ve done some final touching up with blemishes in Photoshop afterwards, as well as adding a signature.

For more pictures in this category, click “Stockholm through my iPhone lens” in the meny on the left

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.”
~Chinese Proverb

@ Pedro Hansson - Ulriksdal Castle, park

Stockholm through my iPhone lens – Skeppsholmen

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, iPhonepics8 Comments

Friday night I spent at the restaurant Pontus By The Sea here in Stockholm. On the other side of the water from that restaurant, there’s a boat with a Hostel on it called Af Chapman. This is a view from the restaurant side.

The pic is taken with an app called Slow Shutter. With this app you can set the shutter speed (like using the S-mode on a DSLR). This pic is taken with 15 seconds open shutter. I really like this app if it wasn’t the fact that the pics can only be 3 MP in size.

I’ve added a “clearity-filter” and framed the photo in Photo Toaster and reduced noise with photoshop for iPhone afterwards.

© Pedro Hansson - Stockholm through an iPhone lens

Music for Saturday evening

On By saarimnerIn English, MusicLeave a comment

If you have Spotify you’ll find the song here – Alessandro Nivola – In The Air feat. Angela McCluskey – Radio Edit

Cinemagram – great app for stills with motion

On By saarimnerIn iPhonepics, Photography4 Comments

A couple of months ago I made a post about cinemagraph‘s (pictures with parts of them moving). I think this is a really cool way to spice up pictures.

Earlier this week I came across a great iPhone-app that’s all about this technique, Cinemagram. I’ve just tried it out a little bit but I think it’s a really cool app. I think that the best results are given if you record people doing things, like reading a newspaper or just turning their heads and so on. I’ve made a few of those but with respect to those that are featured I’ll let them rest in my cam.

You can find me on Cinemagram by searching for the user Saarimner.com

This image is just an image (taken yesterday from Gondolen in Stockholm) to show what Cinemagram is (look at the roads).

Hope you have a great weekend

Cinemagram, Stockholm

Stockholm through my iPhone lens – Sunset over Lake Mälaren

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, iPhonepics, Photography12 Comments

This is a picture taken of the sunset, the 13:th of March. The view is over Lake Mälaren and the picture is taken in Stockholms archipelago.

The apps used for creating this pic is HDR Pro and Photoshop Express for reducing noise.

© Pedro Hansson - Sunset over Lake Mälaren - iPhone

Stockholm through my iPhone lens

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, iPhonepics, Photography2 Comments

This is the first real week in Stockholm with “full spring”. In Sweden this is some amazing days. It seems like everyone just un-freezes from the Winter and there are happy people all around.

What’s also really amazing when spring arrives (as in the autumn) is the lighting conditions for photo. I can’t exactly tell you what it is but I think it get’s so much easier to get good shots, even with an iPhone-camera, so I’ve been quite busy taking pics during the days this week.

First of is a pic of Kungsgatan two days ago during lunch hour. What I like with this view is that there are very few who takes any pictures here (maybe it’s due to looking silly on a shopping street.. I don’t know 🙂 ) while I think this view holds one of Stockholm’s nicest views of great architecture.

This pic is taken with HDR and then adjusted with Photo Toaster to get a touch of an older look.

I hope you all have a have a great week!

@ Pedro Hansson - Kungsgatan Stockholm, Sweden

Fantastisk Mac Book Air Stand from IKEA Hackers

On By saarimnerIn Just for fun, Other stuff5 Comments

If you’re looking for some new and creative ways of using IKEA:s furnitures you’ll find lots of new ways here. Really like this Macbook Air Stand that’s made out of a IKEA’s napkin holder “Fantastisk”.

Instead of buying an Apple stand for $39 a piece, you’ll get this one for $2 …

Click on the image to read more

Canon EOS 5D Mark III – First tests out there

On By saarimnerIn English, PhotographyLeave a comment

Ever since I started taking photos I’ve always liked the final Canon-images better in terms of color saturation and depth, rather than the Nikon but at the same time the Nikons have been better in terms of noise.

Last year I went ahead and bought a Canon 7D (at that point instead of buying a Nikon D7000), but I had some real difficulties with noise in my images, and i also thought that the camera didn’t focus correctly at all times, so I swapped back to a new Nikon again.

Now, after Nikon have release some really good cameras, Canon 5D Mark III is out and I’ve really been looking forward to this one to see if Canon can step up the game as when the Mark II went public. The previous version has been really good in my opinion, but Nikon have been really strong in the areas I mentioned above over the last years.

So here’s a short preview of what we can expect. What do you think, except personal preferences? I know it’s a bad question but I can’t resist;
Is Nikon or Canon ahead in the game?

My favorite source for Photography Reviews (external link):
Digital Photography review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos5dmarkii

Maybe this quote from Digital Photography is a good overall conclusion: “While there are still other cameras in its class with marginally higher resolution, marginally better high ISO performance, more advanced AF, faster performance, better weather sealing and more solid build quality – and the Sony A900’s built-in anti-shake remains unique in the full frame arena – the 5D Mark II is certainly one of the best value for money propositions on the market for image quality – especially in RAW, where you really can see the benefit of all 21 million pixels. Canon has also wisely made only minor tweaks to the external interface, so that 5D users can jump right in and feel at home. Looking at the package as a whole the EOS 5D Mark II seems hard to beat.”