Ian S. Frazier » Blog

Abstract Insects

Ian Frazier — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:23:38 +0000

I’m going to be getting back into the swing of things here by posting more often and doing some much needed expanding of the site. First up are some shots taken a while ago on a lazy afternoon. These are all extreme macros from a collection of insects that I had gathering dust. I like these shots for their metallic, almost industrial look. It’s hard to imagine these came from something living. Bonus if any budding entomologists can guess the species.

Old Photos from Yosemite

Ian Frazier — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:43:12 +0000

While I’m waiting on a few more hard drives to arrive (thank god they’re cheap now), I’ve spent some time going over a few older photographs. Both of these images were taken during a week long trip to Yosemite. I think they’re nice because the photographs show a different side to this famous place, and have a certain tranquil quality.

It had just got done snowing when I stopped to photograph this little alpine lake. I like how the log and rock in the foreground mimicked the shapes of the distant mountains.

Most of the trip had been spent under a heavy layer of clouds and fog. Not so good for sunsets, but the very soft light was great for all the streams and waterfalls.

Ian

Back from Utah

Ian Frazier — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:52:29 +0000

Well I just got back from a tiring but amazing trip to Utah and northern Arizona. The days were hot and frustratingly free of interesting clouds or weather, so many of my photos have that happy “postcard” look. It was still nice to get out and see the geological curiosity known as Utah.

Death and Goats

Ian Frazier — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:43:34 +0000

Well as I mentioned in an earlier post, I recently got back from a crazy adventure throughout the amazing state of Oregon. I thought that I’d begin at the end and share some of the last photographs taken in Oregon, right before heading home.

These photos are taken in a spot called Natural Bridges, for the narrow rock arches that (as you might imagine) for bridges over a roiling Pacific Ocean. I had made a rather foolish mistake of hiking out to one of these bridges. I shoved my way through a rocky, steep, and narrow trail until somehow I found myself standing on a gravelly bridge of death. Very few things scare me, but I do have a distinct respect for heights. This is especially true when the rock edge I’m standing on drops straight down 200 feet into a rocky thundering ocean, there is no one else around, and the sun is quickly setting. Despite all this, I still managed to inch out to where the “bridge” was only a few feet wide before losing my nerve and plopping down on my butt. Before I did I snapped this quick vertigo inducing shot (yes I know the pants are goofy).

I like to think that I looked calmer than I felt because after sitting down for a while I noticed I had a visitor. Apparently, my hiking trail of death was actually a feral goat trail. I don’t know who was more surprised, but after the sun went down I managed to get a few parting shots before scooting my way back up the trail on my butt.

Ian

A few old photos

Ian Frazier — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:59:08 +0000

Well I was going through some older photographs and I realize that I have a lot of long exposure coastal shots. Perhaps it’s something left over from a childhood spent near the beach. As a child, something about the ocean always felt alive and mysterious, it still does.

On this evening I kind of wish that I was body surfing instead of shooting.

Oregon

Ian Frazier — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:22:08 +0000

Well not too long ago I got back from a sleep deprived week long road trip through Oregon. I have to say that the state is amazing, like driving through a giant national park. There were waterfalls, deserts, jagged coastlines, and more amazing places than I knew what to do with. Most of my time was spent driving at night and shooting during the day, with quick stops at McDonalds to fuel up on caffeine and artery clogging “food”. Even though I felt beaten up (car got stuck in a snow bank, stood barefoot in freezing water, almost fell off a cliff etc…) I think the trip was worth it. Hopefully soon I’ll put up a few photos from Oregon, but for now here is one taken on my return drive through Northern California. It was more of a lucky photo, but what a pretty day to end on.

Ian

Adobe Photoshop CS5 Content Aware

Ian Frazier — Mon, 31 May 2010 20:27:33 +0000

Like many I recently upgraded to Adobe’s CS5. I did it mostly for the better raw handling and improved HDR (which I still think kinda sucks). However, everyone seems to be talking about the content aware feature that reads different parts of the image and tries to fill in what you are removing with the right texture, pattern, etc… Though I haven’t had much use for it, the function seems to work very well with certain situations where there are a lot of pattern and texture. I’d never do this in normal real life, but here is a quick example of how powerful it can be.

Here is a zoomed in scene of the Heceta Head Lighthouse. I used the quick select tool to grab the buildings and people.

I then selected “fill” with content aware, and….. Ta-da!

Nothing else was done. While it’s not perfect you can see how amazing/dangerous this tool can be. Keeping photography “honest” may be even harder than before.

Ian

Sleepy

Ian Frazier — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 07:27:39 +0000

I should probably stop waiting til late at night to edit my blog, especially after a few glasses of wine. In honor of sleep I present a photo of some of the happiest/sleepiest animals I’ve seen.

Ian

What 5x looks like

Ian Frazier — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:58:13 +0000

Ever wonder what 5x magnification looks like from Canons mp-e 65mm lens. Here is an uncropped look at my watch’s second hand. You can image the possibilities in nature.

Desert Trip

Ian Frazier — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:20:49 +0000

I took a quick trip out to Anza-Borrego the other day to see how the wildflowers were coming along. This winter had some decent rains so there should be a good bloom all throughout southern California (check here for reports www.desertusa.com).

My trip was relaxing and there were a decent number of flowers blooming (lupines, desert sunflowers, sand verbenas etc…). I didn’t have time to do as much photography as I would have liked but here are a few images from my day out.

You can’t help but notice the variety of metal sculptures dotting Anza-Borrego. There was everything from dinosaurs to herds of horses. Apparently, these intriguing pieces are the work of artist Ricardo Breceda who was commissioned by multimillionaire Avery Dennison to build a “creature desert.” Interesting stuff.

Here are a few of the wildflowers coming out, I hope to go back later when I have more time.

I also spent some time away from the crowds and explored a nearby slot canyon. It’s kind of amazing to think how much water and erosion can change a desert landscape.

There were also some interesting views, even if I didn’t have time to make it out to Font’s Point for sunset.

The last image of the night.