CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-18 19:43:25 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

If you have worked on your images before you have uploaded those,
make certain that the
Settings> Auto Enhance/Auto Awesome
is not active (which is by default.)
I was told that this will, on the long run, affect as well previous images.
You might easily imagine my position to such features :o(

2013-05-13 15:33:08 (14 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Apple Panorama 360º/180º

One series of tutorials I'm working on is a fifty part video series about textures for 3D. It is part of a package of around two hundred tutorials covering the complex field of "Photography for 3D Artists" exclusively on Cineversity.com

Here you can see an apple peeled with the camera, based on the guidance of "CINEMA 4D" during the process. :o)

2013-04-11 05:30:48 (11 comments, 2 reshares, 23 +1s)

This is my favorite album, with over 400 panoramas certainly a nice collection. I shot them mostly in the USA. 
I hope you enjoy the ride. Have fun! :o)

2013-04-11 03:30:39 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

►Top Photographers Circle 3.0 / L-Z◄ - of ►Top Photos on Google+◄
+10000 PHOTOGRAPHERS by +Robert SKREINER
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
In this 2 Circles are included all ►Top Photographers,
who contributed and participated in the daily photo theme:
#10000photographers since the G+Page and Group 
+10000 PHOTOGRAPHERS by +Robert SKREINER
is established, respectively all, whose photos were shared as
►TOP Photos on Google+◄ until today.
This circle is renewed and expanded regularly! Those who have once or even several times not shared this circle are not included in this circle. Who wants to be included in the next circle again, please share this circle. This is only a fair rule.Who wants to be promoted must also concede this to the others.
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░... more »

2013-04-07 16:54:58 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

Being quiet...

I'm in the process of producing over 200 tutorials about photography. Funny enough, all I do "day in, day out" is to capture worse case images, e.g., highest ISO and two stops under, so I can get to work on serious noise.

The series aims toward 3D Artists and captures HDRI, Panorama, Miniature, Camera Mapping, Texture Creation and of course lighting. Every step -- video based. 

I look forward to leave all these "shooting for mistakes" behind me, and shoot for beauty again. Sorry to be so silent here lately. :o) It's quite some work. (The last 212 tutorials were just released in March
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10389851.htm)

Here a source example use in a tutorial, about Smart Objects, Image stacks and how to get noise out based on the Stack Mode "Mean" or Median.

I pushed then... more »

2013-03-31 03:34:26 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

Los Angeles, Foothills, CA

I couldn't help myself to use this color grading here, nostalgic or do I ahve watched to many old movies in my life, hehe.

Happy Holidays.

2013-03-29 23:09:40 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

The new Pʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ ENGAGERS Cɪʀᴄʟᴇ is out!    [ Mar 28, 2013 ]
Record participation again last week!  The bar has been set higher!

Quick start instructions:
➀  post a URL link to a G+ photo in the comments below,
➁  check out some photos from others and +1 and comment on them,
➂  publicly share this circle-post, from a new friend's stream (instead of ours)
➃  add this circle, and replace it every week.

You will get a comment from us and be added (or stay in) the circle share next week!  Questions?  Ask in comments below - you'll get help!

Full story: This circle is for meeting engaging G+ users about photography.  The interaction happens in the comments and re-shares.  Post a link to a photo from your stream during the last week inthe comments below.  It can be your photo... more »

2013-03-20 16:58:26 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

Somewhere in the L.A. Hills. 

Lots of power and a wide view. ;o)

2013-03-18 17:04:29 (20 comments, 0 reshares, 29 +1s)

Glendale park, L.A., CA

A stitched wide shot, so the light rays nicely around ;o)

#monochromemonday  and thanks to the curators to keep going :o)

2013-03-14 19:43:23 (15 comments, 2 reshares, 43 +1s)

Glendale Park, L.A., CA

Spring impressions. :o)

2013-03-09 02:44:43 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 38 +1s)

Glendale Park, L.A., CA

It was pretty cold here today (for L.A. standards), so I needed a little bit extra warmth in the image ;o)
Have a great weekend!

2013-04-22 18:35:55 (34 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

Nomination for my last music video! Woohoo! Which means at least Bronze at that festival. In one month I will know the final result. :o)

(In 1994 we had our first feature film at that festival and got Silver. I'm always happy to go back there.)

[edit] The Results are out: My work has gotten the highest award: Platinum in the category Music Videos/ Cinematography! Woohoo

2013-03-07 03:24:08 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 27 +1s)

Glendale Park, L.A, CA

These trees share one spot like a big family, before the roots starts they are already one "tree", but up in the "sky" they develop their own idea of tree. 
This is a 200º handheld shot. :o)

2013-03-07 03:14:03 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Circle 1.0 of the brand NEW Community: TOP Photos on G+
of +10000 PHOTOGRAPHERS around the World  by +Robert SKREINER 
Link to Commununity:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/102730381095199131702
In this circle are included the first 500 Members of the NEW Community!
The next Circle 2.0 will be published with the next 500 Followers a.s.a.p.
We welcome all who share this circle! Thank you in advance!
All who join the Community "Top Photos on G+"
are included in one of the the next circles. 
Please add also the moderators to your circles.

Hashtag for this post and circle:   #TOPphotoscircle1  

There is a chrome extension to automute Google Plus Posts by hashtag:
http://code.google.com/p/nonplus/

#10000photographersaroundtheworld   #bird... more »

2013-03-04 19:00:54 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 26 +1s)

Flower in Ice

A large flower -- frozen in ice. I placed some flowers a while ago in ice, to "time-lapse" them for details in a music video, while melting.
As usual, I changed the script while preparing the project, and the freezer needed the space back ;o) 

I placed as only light source a little LED* light under the ice, (*it is in my kit to have the "eye-light" with no problems). 

2013-03-01 17:10:38 (27 comments, 2 reshares, 70 +1s)

Glendale Park, L.A., CA

Three little high tech fairies, in the park. :o) (DSLR, iPhones and other shooting equipment)

Have a great weekend

2013-02-27 19:46:43 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

VFX CRISIS.

2013-02-25 17:30:31 (12 comments, 0 reshares, 30 +1s)

Glendale Park, L.A., CA

I found some trees which follow my ideas. They support the middle part in a nice way, just enough to reach my target here.

It is not strictly monochrome, more old bleached sepia. However, this is my little contribution to MCM, as I believe that the reduction of chromaticity is there to support the image and not the reduction of colors... ;o)

Thanks to the curators of #monochromemonday  

2013-02-22 16:50:58 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 51 +1s)

Glendale Park, L.A., CA

Just a sunny afternoon. :o) I was messing around with some settings, and I thought what would it look like to create a B&W tone-mapped copy, that I would paste then in the L channel of a Lab image. Well -- here it is. Luminance tone-mapped, colors not.
Enjoy your weekend.

2013-02-20 18:29:02 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 46 +1s)

Glendale Park, L.A., CA

Presidents Day, a great time to make a longer walk and get some shots. Light is obviously my passion.
This one is done with a Canon G10 and is 12K wide originally. 

#widewednesdaypanorama  curated by +Ken McMahon and +David Heath Williams  Thanks to every curator of WWP! 

2013-02-18 18:04:18 (20 comments, 1 reshares, 37 +1s)

Glendale-Park, L.A., CA

Sunday walk in the park. Nice afternoon light and warm sun beams. 

Thanks to all the curators of MCM #monochromemonday  

2013-02-17 19:44:25 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 34 +1s)

–––––
I Appreciate You
I Appreciate Because of You
–––
An interesting word is "appreciate."
In English, we use it in two different ways. It means, in one form, "to recognize the quality, significance, or magnitude of; to admire, be thankful or show gratitude for" and in another form, "to increase in value".
And, it is in these two forms of use, that it can also be seen as a tool for improving one's own existence. For those qualities which we most admire and are the most thankful for can serve as indicators and a template to guide our course forward to the things we want most to accomplish in life. Those qualities you appreciate are a manifestation of who you are and who you wish to become; they give you a direction to move towards to increase your own value to yourself and others.

Letting Go ofJudgementmore »

2013-02-16 17:15:08 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

Glendale, L.A., CA Valentines Day

A beautiful walk along the nice areas of Glendale. Each time I go into these little streets I have the feeling I'm on vacation. I love to be here in SoCal.

2013-02-12 19:05:18 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

May I steal 80 seconds of your time, and brag a little bit? Thanks!

Here is my "private" trailer of the new training:
http://youtu.be/aj3qvbGqPT4
This week the Cinematography series is released,  last week the Integration (practical/CG) was released, more to come. Just to show off a little bit what I do -- besides filming and taking images (panoramas)
The Cinematography series got already three awards. 

2013-02-10 17:49:08 (14 comments, 0 reshares, 39 +1s)

The winter is slowly crawling out of the Hills. 
Not fast enough of course, but the sun is constantly pushing the cold moisture away. Can't way for the heat...


Since we have a bug here on G+, please allow me to point to my two main Albums: Dr. Sassi's Panoramas and Random Images. Enjoy the ride if you invest some minutes :o)
#monochromemonday   #landscapephotography  Thanks to +Jerry Johnson and +Margaret Tompkins for actively curating these two themes. I certainly thing the two # tags fit well to the images. Let me know if there is a concern.

2013-02-08 21:20:03 (18 comments, 0 reshares, 40 +1s)

California Poppies, L.A.

Since we can't post single additional images --without posting the album instead, here only a single shot that will go later on into the album. I hope Google will fix that bug soon. 
Have a great weekend

2013-02-08 21:03:30 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

200 great things about Google+ - the Feb 2013 edition

200 great things about Google+, more specifically 200 great folks whose streams I spend a lot of time in when I'm catching up on G+.

It's also my default stream for the mobile Google+ app when I'm mobile.

There is a little bit of everything here from some top pro photographers, to some community buiders, to some folks I've gotten to know since I started here.

This circle gets pretty much continually updated as folks leave G+ and as I get to know new folks better. However, I've learned that if it gets much bigger than 200, there is still too much in their streams for me to catch up on.

Have a great weekend!

+Gene Bowker 

2013-02-07 23:22:49 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

http://www.digitalproductionbuzz.com/2013/02/digital-production-buzz-feb-7-2013/#.URQ2wFoj6uq

Paul Babb, CEO and Pres. of MAXON Computer US as well as founder of CINEVERSITY will talk about new things on Cineversity (e.g., my work :o)

2013-02-05 17:02:18 (14 comments, 0 reshares, 37 +1s)

Spring is around the corner :o)

I shot these just for fun with my little Canon G10. I took four images and stitched them. :o) "Pocket cam fun".

2013-02-04 16:09:40 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

I'm happy to share this link, after a lot of work, over 200 tutorials will be online soon:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10389851.htm
Here in my video section (G+ YouTube)you will find the trailer to JET :o)

So, back to work, the next pile of 200+ tutorials are in production.

2013-02-03 17:28:07 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

Spring-Texture, L.A., CA

Just a little teaser for the Spring Season. The sun was fantastic and bold inside the leaves. A moment like all the others -- were I can get lost so easily. :o)

2013-01-30 21:52:08 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

Have you tried this: 
http://www.googleplussuomi.com/photos.php?id=110784099379805584044
You need only to swap out the number (id=) to get your own page! Just a link - no sign up and free. (I'm just a user of this option, not the coder or the one who had that nice idea!)

Certainly for people who avoid G+, but to give them a short idea of your work (no plus nor comment options though)

P.S. +Richard Kralicek shared this one (see below):
http://www.googleplussuomi.com/photobox/?googleid=110784099379805584044

2013-01-30 19:16:19 (14 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

As the Circle shares are always taking a lot of space, lets try it this way:
+Margaret Tompkins 
https://plus.google.com/107958599012052618167/posts/PiefB8wk2xE   .
 +Gene Bowker 
https://plus.google.com/111112809838472063992/posts/TX3VXzpLCeW  +Gailen Mapes 
https://plus.google.com/103752943025677384806/posts/SCjWFmFKbyp  +Andrey Mashnich 
https://plus.google.com/109251549623048802187/posts/KvRSGYburTX  +Thomas Broadfoot 
https://plus.google.com/116411437512689977320/posts/gXketck4Gex

Thanks to everyone! Makes me happy to be included. I think each of these circles are certainly worth to add. 
I have had asked Google to have a smaller way to share circles (I know, it clutters the stream for some), but so far no result... Let's hope for the best.

2013-01-28 20:02:04 (20 comments, 0 reshares, 33 +1s)

Moon - last night over L.A. :o)

Perhaps not strictly B&W but I hope this near monochrome image works for #monochromemonday  just to say at least hello to +Jerry Johnson :o) and all other contributors to MCM ;o) 

Happy Moonday.

Shot with an old vintage 500mm and an 2x Y/C extender (also very "vintage", hence the blur :o)

2013-01-26 18:21:37 (26 comments, 3 reshares, 42 +1s)

Winter Impressions, L.A., CA

One of the moments where I come back from a walk and see that the light-changes, just to grab my gear and do another walk. Photography is so healthy :o)
Four images stitched.

2013-01-24 16:42:53 (11 comments, 1 reshares, 34 +1s)

"Flare-y-Tale": Winter-Impression, L.A., CA

This lens likes to catch (lens-) flare. It is easy to get very nice ones. The idea here was to take a lot of shots, with more or less (none...) flare, just mixed. While stitching the "pano", I used the lens-flare more deliberately (or not at all in some areas).  (85mm, T1.5)

2013-01-21 17:56:19 (27 comments, 0 reshares, 30 +1s)

Winter-Impressions, L.A., CA

We had F75º/C24º yesterday and the sun seemed to be in Spring mode. I had the  impression that the little twig reaches to the sun, in hope to grow up heavily :o)

2013-01-15 18:25:02 (16 comments, 1 reshares, 35 +1s)

Winter-Impressions SoCal, L.A.

The potting bench is certainly waiting for the Spring. Cold, Rain and Sun work in shifts here, preparing for the new year to be splendid again.

It was raining while I was shooting, so I used a Black-Diffusion effect in post (just a little bit to avoid the typical halation that this has normally) to get the "vintage" feeling that I was after.
I used an very old middle-format Zeiss lens, and stitched five images (more to gain a high resolution). 
These old lenses have mostly a lower back lens coating, as film was never as reflective as sensors are these days. So the tiny amount of flare was my target here as well.

2013-01-10 02:30:32 (16 comments, 3 reshares, 36 +1s)

Winter-Impressions, Angeles Crest, L.A., CA

Back to my roots, as panoramas were always meant to be BG for my movie work. I love digital-matte-painting. Especially the focus on the mood.

I shot this one with six single images that I stitched/composed together, very fast as the clouds and the light where moving.

This is image number 403 in my renamed panorama-folder. If you have a moment to go through all these images, you might have an equivalent of a long journey. ENJOY!

 

2013-01-06 20:20:07 (35 comments, 1 reshares, 53 +1s)

Garden L.A., CA Winter-Impressions.

The sentence "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose."
was written by Gertrude Stein as part of the 1913 poem Sacred Emily.

Do I need to quote that completely? I think so. (Even 100 years later)

People who take other peoples images without credit, have been hunted down here in the past. I like that we have options to protect our work. If that is software, an idea or concept, a screen-play, or a movie (e.g., my tutorials, which are stolen more often elsewhere and end up on servers far away from me), anything that we produce should be at least have our name connected with it.

We do not produce bricks which are difficult to steal and copy on the web. We are all based on the trust among each other here on G+. I love to be here, because the few exceptions I notice here with my work, were minor and cleared very fast. more »

2013-01-04 20:08:03 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

Winter-Impressions, L.A., CA

Just some leaves in the rain. The SoCal Winter.
(I shot several images and stitches them, as I like to have this format and file size)
I think of this kind of Cinemascope format as my little challenge. I have my own little idea about it, and try to capture the nature of this:
"Thinking in Lenses" as part of my book (in progress...hehe)

2013-01-01 17:51:41 (12 comments, 2 reshares, 51 +1s)

I wanted to post this detail, as I never ever have seen such a powerful rainbow in my hole life. It was un-real (at least for me) Enjoy 2013!

2012-12-31 18:29:28 (38 comments, 0 reshares, 43 +1s)

Happy New Year To Everyone!

It was an amazing year here on G+, thank you! See you in 2013!

(I shot this rainbow yesterday, with a little pocket camera, it is stitched to get the full bow on it. This "bow" was the brightest I have seen in my life!)

2012-12-30 18:54:16 (12 comments, 0 reshares, 36 +1s)

Winter 2012, garden, L.A., CA

I thought that two weeks "hibernation" would be needed (not finished yet), and I tried, but when I see nice light outside, I can't resist.
In fact, I prepare currently for a little music video, and many parts of it, I want to shoot with old "glass". These kind of "vintage" lenses need to be re-explored. Some of them I bought decades (!) ago. So -- adapter on the front and the end were needed. "Declicking" as well. My vintage box is now full and nearly ready to go into "production". :o)
This image here is done with a Canon DSLR, but a middle format still lens from Carl Zeiss (80mm,MC,F/2.8) is mounted here. The adapter is as big as the lens itself, and the operation of this "monster" is pure manual. The focus ring offers cine-lens like 300º from close to infinity, very nice.
I stitched... more »

2012-12-24 23:47:19 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 28 +1s)

I wish you:

(Perhaps not 100% qualified for #festivetriangle  but maybe close ;o)

2012-12-23 17:24:12 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

Hahamongna Watershed Park, L.A., CA

This "pano" folder has now 400 images, quite a journey!

Nearly a 180º view (I cropped it :o). I have certainly pulled some values here, just to get the mood that I found there. It was a little trail - and it ended here, explorer luck, so I had to walk all the way back. But I took this image with me.

I wish everyone a nice Holiday-week. I might be a little bit quiet here in the following week. So please have a great time, enjoy the change from '12 to 2013!

2012-12-22 18:03:58 (16 comments, 0 reshares, 39 +1s)

Garden, L.A., CA

While I shot some tests with new glass, I had a visitor that morning. Curiosity killed the cat is the saying, but obviously, this "wild" cat loves to explore our garden at least twice a day.
I tried to be as "invisible" as possible, and got this image of her. Somehow nice light was reflected and yes that attracted me as well. (I do not use a flash...)
[85mm, T/1.5]

Happy Holidays

#caturday  thanks to the everyone who keeps caturday alive, be it with their shares or curating :o)

2012-12-21 18:44:22 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

Garden, L.A., CA

Last day in Fall (Fall ends 12:12 pm MEZ 12.21.2012)

For me a perfect moment to use some "Vintage-Glass", in this case an old 500mm mirror-lens, which produces a donut bokeh. Very old, will say I bought it a long time ago. 
So excuse the image quality, I was in "Vintage" mood. Hehe. 
Happy Holidays!

2012-12-20 19:32:35 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 38 +1s)

Garden, L.A., CA

Same morning, few minutes apart to the shot before. I used the flare from the morning Sun to get a more subtle effect. You might see the edge/circle in the table area. Just a little test, morning light mood. (85mm, T/1.5) 

2012-12-20 16:28:26 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Garden, L.A., CA

Getting new glass feels always like getting new shoes. They are shiny and stiff. ...and the old ones are sooo comfortable.
Lenses are also like brushes to me, each one is different and has to be explored. I like to know when it flares for example, and how it flares. It is certainly an expression to use (if needed), even if the typical saying is, "keep your lens clean". (Ask J.J. Abrams what he thinks about, hehe). In fact, more and more people (who uses e.g., RED cameras, like I do) take the coating from the front and rear element away, as clients ask more and more to get flare -- it looks filmic to them. Go figure. 
However, here is a flare that I would call "supportive" as it was around 8am yesterday, when I shot it in the frontyard. :o)