Kevin Lubera Photographer | Blog » Travel

Elizabeth & Oliver – Corrales, New Mexico

Kevin Lubera — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:19:58 +0000

In the field … under a tree. That was the setting of Elizabeth & Oliver’s beautiful wedding in Corrales, New Mexico. It certainly was a beautiful day, and everyone was happy. The cake toppers were hand sewn by artist Dena Palser, and they even had a custom engraved sign mounted on a wall for them.

Location: Private Residence, Corrales, NM.
Caterer: Slate Street Cafe
Bouquets: Manning Florist
Centerpieces: Made by the bride herself!
Jewelry: Tiffany Kunz Design
Cake: Enchanted Cookies and Cakes
Hand made bird cake toppers: Dena Palser

White Sands National Monument

Kevin Lubera — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:24:06 +0000

Last week, I encountered one of the most challenging photographic situations while photographing White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Actually, the place is like a landscape photographer’s playground, and I felt like a kid in a candy store. Because the sand is so white, shooting in mid-day sun or even on an overcast day will render nearly texture-less landscapes; you really have to shoot at the beginning and/or at the end of the day to get some directional light across the sand to achieve dimensionality in the images. On top of that, the dunes are so vast that you don’t know where to begin. I hiked for miles in just a few hours total in two days just because I kept seeing things that I thought would look better than where I was standing. And in the golden hours of light, you really only have a small window of time to get to your spot and hope the trek in the sand was worth it, because you never know what it really looks like until you get to the spot you want to shoot from. So in actuality, shooting White Sands was pretty easy, but because there was so much that I wanted to do in a very small amount of time, I had to move really fast. Not a small task when you’re lugging a bunch of gear and a tripod in sand.

One cool thing about white sand is that it takes on the color of the dominant light source, depending on when and at what angle you shoot it. Take the following image, for example. Because it’s near sunset, and the sunlight is still fairly strong, the front-lit dune (sun behind camera) looks like ordinary brown sand due to the yellow-orange light at the end of the day. Notice also how the shaded area looks blue, which reflects the light from the sky above it.

The following image, however, was taken in complete shade, and the blue sky produces a cool-toned color cast on the sand.

The next image, taken shortly after sunrise, more accurately presents the sand in its true color.

Pastel-like colors after the sun sets below the horizon:

Similar tones are produced while the sun rises in the morning. See the little hint of life on the crest?

A little more dune life, with a hint of the season on this beautiful cottonwood:

Here are a few extras.

As one might guess, I can’t wait to go back. Please leave a comment if you’ve found this post interesting and/or helpful.

What Camera Should You Buy?

Kevin Lubera — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:13:12 +0000

So, you have a trip coming up, and the camera you have is getting old. New technology is out, and you want it. Which one should you get?

While there is no one right answer, there are a few things to consider when purchasing a new camera:

Size. This may seem obvious, but some people are unaware of just how much size will impact their experience with their camera. There are three general size categories:

Compact cameras that fit in your pocket
Point-and-shoot cameras that don’t fit in your pocket
SLRs

Start with the largest size you would consider because, generally speaking, bigger is better when it comes to cameras. If it’s an SLR, would you mind carrying it to dinner? Are you willing to tolerate having a camera strapped around your neck in public and/or carry an extra bag to hold your camera and lenses when not in use?

Speed. Some people buy point-and-shoot cameras and want to capture a lot of action. That technology is just not here yet. While digital cameras have for a long time been able to capture many frames per second, focusing speed is another issue. Leave that capability to an SLR instead.

Image Quality. Advancements in image quality have been substantial in recent years. Studies in image quality can be very technical, but for the most part a larger image sensor (the part of the camera that captures the light) has a higher signal-to-noise ratio. SLRs have larger sensors than do compact cameras, so their quality is typically better — in terms of lower noise, that is. For those who are unfamiliar with noise, think of it as grain, except that noise is more objectionable as it comes in the form of blotches and colored pixels.

Battery Life (and Type). Most digital cameras come with rechargeable batteries. Those are good, so long as you have adequate access to power and are willing to bring along the appropriate power adapters if traveling abroad. If you’re going on a long camping trip, however, the capability of using disposable batteries can come in handy. Cameras that are able to use either rechargeable or disposable batteries (like AAs) are ideal.

Ease of Use. This is probably the biggest factor. Nothing is worse than having a tool that you don’t enjoy using. If the controls and/or the menu system causes frustration, move on to the next candidate. Simple as that.

Media Type(s). This is not really an issue. Just keep in mind that some manufacturers use their own proprietary media formats, so downloading the images can sometimes present an inconvenience if you don’t have the right cables or card readers. Compact flash and SD cards are still the most popular formats.

Brand. This is the one most people seem to be stuck on. The fact is, most cameras are adequate for most people in terms of features and reliability. The lifespan of a digital camera is not very long because technology changes and people replace older models. What you’ll find that distinguishes brands from each other are the other factors listed above. When you’re satisfied with the speed, image quality, battery life, ease of use and media type, the brand is not as important. What is more important at that point is price.

That’s basically it! For those of you who are wondering why there is no mention of resolution, that’s because resolution really isn’t important. The only people who should be concerned about resolution are working professional photographers, and that is an audience who considers a much more extensive list of things when shopping for a new camera. But if you really must know, more megapixels — in the same sized sensor — typically means more noise. Let’s also not forget that more megapixels take up more of our hard drive space.

If you found this post helpful, please say so in a comment below.

Maui Road Trip – Part 2

Kevin Lubera — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:26:48 +0000

In my last post, I shared a few images I took while traveling to and from a location I shot for my sister. During one of my trips to Maui earlier this year (this is my 5th trip to Hawaii in 2009, with 2 more planned before year’s end), my sister and I had a brainstorming session on what she could use to fill a void on one of her walls. She didn’t want anything that resembled a typical “Hawaiian” image (e.g., no beaches or sunsets/sunrises per se, and definitely no immediately recognizable iconic landmarks). It was more about filling a specific space on one of her walls with something that went well with the earthy tones in that particular room. We ended up selecting one of our favorite spots, which would be displayed in a panoramic format.

When we arrived at the location, the lighting was just as I had seen during my last visit a few years ago, plus some clouds for a more dramatic effect. It was shot on Sunday, and earlier today (Wednesday) I picked up a large print that was ready to hang. The final output was a 16 x 54″ canvas wrap, shown here:

It’s already on the wall and waiting for some lighting to bring out the full potential of the display.

Maui Road Trip – Part 1

Kevin Lubera — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:16:34 +0000

Well, sort of. I was just sent on assignment by my sister to get a particular shot for her living room wall, and I came across some cool things along the way. Here are a few of them.

I hope everyone is doing well.

Downtown Los Angeles – Street Shoot

Kevin Lubera — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:56:24 +0000

It’s been a long time since I’ve gone out and shot for fun. I went to downtown Los Angeles recently and did some street shooting for a few hours. Even though I’ve been to most of these places before, it was a good exercise to keep creative. It was fun to interact with people on the street, although I do not recommend this type of shooting for everyone, especially if you have little or no experience in it.

Locations: Olvera Street, Pershing Square, Chinatown, Union Station, Grand Central Market

Sunset Cruise and Travel

Kevin Lubera — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:31:30 +0000

It never fails. I always procrastinate when I have travel arrangements to make. In my own defense, though, my schedule is so unpredictable that I like to leave some time to iron things out so that I minimize lost opportunities (I like to extend my stay at wherever I’m traveling, but I don’t want to overstay and lose opportunities elsewhere). And while my clients cover my travel costs, I like to keep costs to a minimum.

So what do I do when I’m in a crunch? I call Claire at Sunset Cruise and Travel.

I got Claire’s number from someone a few years ago, and she’s been an invaluable resource for me since. In my experience, Claire has been so responsive no matter where in the world she is; I never hesitate to seek out her assistance, and she’s saved me so many times.

So if you’re looking to make some travel arrangements, no matter where you are or where you’re going, I highly recommend Claire’s expertise. And she’s a joy to speak with on the phone. I’ve never met her in person, but I’m planning on meeting her soon.

I just booked my upcoming Miami trip with her yesterday.

Where do you want to go? Wherever it is, get in touch with Claire, tell her I sent you, and find out what she can do for you.

Happy travels!