Frank's Photography Blog

Aug

Goschenhoppen Folk Festival

Categories: Photography
Tags: Dutch, Festival, Folk, Folk Festival, Goschenhoppen, Historic, History, Olympus, OM-D E-M1 MkII, PA, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch, Pennsylvania German, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Preservation, Preserve, reenactments, Summer, Vintage

A little over a week ago I was introduced to this amazing festival. This is their 52nd one. I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I was totally delighted with the overall friendly nature of all of the volunteers. The people are more than glad to chat with you and explain the specifics of their reenactments. Goschenhoppen is one of the oldest continuously existing Pennsylvania German communities in America. This geographic region occupies a small corner of southeastern Pennsylvania in Montgomery County. The event is put on by The Goschenhoppen Historians, Inc. which is organized to identify, preserve and disseminate the Pennsylvania German (Pennsylvania Dutch) folk culture and history of the Goschenhoppen region. The Folk Festival is designed as an educational family event to demonstrate various home skills and trades of the Goschenhoppen area from about 1750-1880. I will definitely be putting this on my calendar for next year.

Architects of Air (Albesila)

By Frank T. Smith 2 Comments

Categories: Photography
Tags: Abstract, Architects of Air, Architectural, architecture, ArtsQuest, Bethlehem, Luminarium, MusikFest, Olympus, OM-D E-M1 MkII, PA, Photo, photo workshop, Photograph, Photography, Summer, Workshop

Musikfest may be over. But, the memories from the Architects of Air experience located at Experienceplatz are still very vivid in my mind. I had the opportunity to lead a couple of exclusive workshops for ArtsQuest. The attendees were fantastic and the visuals in this place are off the chart. All images are hand held using the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mk II paired with the M.Zuiko ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO and the ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye PRO.

This year’s structure was completely different from last year and was only the second time at Musikfest. This was the Architects of Air’s new 25th Anniversary Structure, a monumental inflatable structure designed to generate a sense of awe at the beauty of light and color. This latest luminarium uses a rectilinear grid of quadraxial pods, each approaching 17 feet high. Four of these colorful eggs provide the base for an imposing tree structure, while ten more eggs are opaque silver where, looking upward, you saw an inlaid geometric pattern of illuminated lines.

Jul

Lemon Drinka

By Frank T. Smith 4 Comments

Categories: Photography
Tags: Black & White, Black and White, Dutch, Festival, Folk, Historic, Kutztown, Kutztown Folk Festival, Olympus, PEN, PEN-F, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Summer

Every year I try to make the pilgrimage to the annual Kutztown Folk Festival. It is the oldest continuously operated folklife festival in America. This nine-day event draws visitors from all over the world. The festival provides insight into the traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch and their fascinating way of life. I try to keep a low profile and thought the small but mighty Olympus PEN-F would be my camera of choice for this visit. It clearly did not disappoint. I used the prime M.Zuiko 17mm f1.8 lens for all of the images.

Jun

The High Line with Bergen County Camera

By Frank T. Smith 4 Comments

Categories: Photography
Tags: Architectural, architecture, Bergen County Camera, Big Apple, Black & White, Black and White, Dramatic, Dramatic Tone, High Line, Historic, Industrial, Landscape, New York, NY, Olympus, OM-D E-M1 MkII, Photo, Photo Walk, photo workshop, Photograph, Photography, spring, Urban Decay, Workshop

I had the honer and pleasure to lead a photowalk at one of my favorite places in the Big Apple, the High Line. The photowalk was arranged by Bergen County Camera and sponsored by Olympus. The day was slightly overcast which, for me, means Black & White. All of the images were shot using the Olympus OM-D E-M1 MkII. A favorite style I like to employ on an overcast day is using “Dramatic Tone”. This is a mode option built into the camera (most of these shots used this mode).

Jun

The Beauties of Gurney Street

By Frank T. Smith Closed

Categories: Photography
Tags: Architectural, architecture, Cape May, Gurney Street, Historic, New Jersey, NJ, Olympus, Photo, photo workshop, Photograph, Photography, Presentation, spring, Stockton, TG-5, Tough, Victorian, Vintage, Workshop

I was in Cape May, NJ last week for a presentation to the Photography Club of Cape May. Cape May is one of my very favorite places. For me I find it very relaxing and filled with all types of photographic opportunities. If I don’t have my Olympus OM-D E-M1 MkII with me, I always carry the ever trusty and versatile TG-5. The morning before my presentation, I had an hour or two to grab a couple of shots from Gurney Street. The handful of homes on this street are the famous Victorian Stockton Row (circa 1869). Since I was doing a presentation on Architectural photography, I thought is was quite appropriate to grab some shots here. All of the images were shot with the TG-5 and I must admit I am always blown away with the results of this little powerhouse.

Jun

Newsletter (Spring 2018)

By Frank T. Smith 8 Comments

Categories: Photography

Norway – March, 2018

I had the opportunity to visit Norway recently. My goal was to see the Northern Lights, landscapes and to capture the small fishing communities when there would be the least amount of visitors. That meant that the average daily temperatures during my time in Norway would between + 20 degrees to – 20 degrees.

The fishing villages, landscapes and lights did not disappoint on any level. I was really pleased with the colors, skies and overall photographic opportunities.

I traveled with the same group that I went to Iceland with last year. This was my second time traveling with this group and I especially liked the focus on capturing what many others would not want to photograph based on the weather and overall conditions.

The first image was shot with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera using the M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS PRO with the following settings:ISO 64, 21mm, f/14, 60.0 sec.
The second image used the same camera and the M.Zuiko ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO and the settings are ISO 200, 10mm, f/11,1/125 sec.

Don’t go chasing waterfalls…

Well I do chase waterfalls year round. I am intrigued with there ever changing landscapes and views based on each season. This past winter and early spring I have visited several locations in PA and NJ and have been able to capture several great images. Pennsylvania has so many areas to hike and view waterfalls. I have been using the All Trails app on the phone and selecting different sites every chance I get to go shoot. The first image was Hawk Falls in Hickory Run State Park. I used the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Camera and the M.Zuiko ED 12-100mm f4.0 IS PRO. The settings were ISO 200, 28mm, f/8.0, 60 sec. The second image was shot at Rickett’s Glen State Park used the same camera and lens and the settings were ISO 200, 12mm, f9.0, 1.50 sec.

Bold & Beauty Contest

I was asked to consider being a photographer for the Bold Beauty Contest with the planned exhibit outside of Philadelphia in April. “Bold Beauty Project is a powerful, visual arts exhibition that features women with varying disabilities. Through the photographer’s lens and the women’s personal stories, the project seeks to raise awareness of the women’s strength, sensuality and spirit, and in the process, change perceptions of beauty.”

My model, Claire Senita is a young woman from Pittsburgh who traveled to the Lehigh Valley to allow me to be her photographer for this year’s Bold Beauty Project titled Grit & Grace. I was able to work with the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem to have early access to the museum and use their exhibits as my backdrops. Claire was an exceptionally great model and an amazing young woman who has worked to overcome her disabilities by sheer determination and drive. The link to the exhibit and more about the program is http://www.boldbeautyproject.com/about/

The first image was shote using the Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II camera and the M.Zuiko ED 25 mm f1.2 PRO lens. The settings were ISO 200, 25mm, f/1.2, 1/100 sec. This image was used to market the event and program.

The second image, same camera using the M.SZuiko 45mm, f/1.2, 1/400 sec.

First Friday at the Banana Factory – Bethlehem PA

Bethlehem has a great arts community and I am fortunate enough to be involved through my photography and serve on the ArtsQuest Visual Arts Board. The Banana Factory is a home to local area artists occupying their studios. There are 30 studios, several galleries and classrooms where artists from all mediums work and display their works. The Banana Factory also includes the Glass Factory where glass is blown by expert artists.

Each month on the 1st Friday, the Banana Factory opens up its doors for anyone to come in and meet the artists. I enjoy going studio to studio to see the artists ranging from painting, ceramics, sculpting and photography (to name a few) and capturing a few “in-studio” shots. Every artist is different and their passion for their craft is clearly evident.

Both of the images were taken using the Olympus PEN-F camera and the M. Zuiko ED 17mm f1.2 PRO lens. The settings for the 1st image are: ISO 500, 17mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec. The second images settings were ISO 400, 17mm, f1.2, 1/80 sec.

What’s New In My Bag…

M.Zuiko ED 17mm f1.2 PRO

Olympus continues to produce amazing craftsmanship in their professional lenses. The M.Zuiko ED 17mm f1.2 PRO is one of their pro model lenses designed for landscapes and street photography, two of my favorite things! This has become one of my go-to lenses.

The advanced ED-DSA element is truly unique, reducing the lens’ size while improving performance, and the lightweight focusing mechanism is quiet, fast, and accurate.

The lens has superior low light performance and like all of their equipment is light weight, easy to carry and is also dust proof and splash proof. Here are a few of the images from the lens.

To see more about the lens go to http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/lenses/m-zuiko-ed-17mm-f1-2-pro.html

Both of these images were shot using the Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II camera using the lens referernced above. The settings for the first image was ISO 200, 17mm, f/2.5, 1/320 sec. The second one is ISO 200, 17mm, f/1.2, 1/800 sec.

My New Toy…

DJI Spark

Over the holidays Santa brought me a new drone, the DJI Spark. I have been experimenting with the drone over the past several months and have been getting a little more comfortable (and willing to push the limit) flying the drone. The perspective from 50’ to several hundred feet above the ground is amazing to capture. The drone is very easy to navigate and I am thankful I have not had to go swimming to rescue the drone. Click on the image to see the video.

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May

Ellis Island – The Unseen

By Frank T. Smith 12 Comments

Categories: Photography
Tags: Architectural, architecture, Ellis Island, Historic, Immigration, Lehigh Valley Photography Club, New Jersey, New York, NY, Olympus, OM-D E-M1 MkII, Patterns, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Rust, spring, Statue of Liberty, Textures, Urban Decay, Vintage

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to participate with the Lehigh Valley Photography Club, by visiting a “hard hat only” area of Ellis Island. We were given access to the immigrant hospital buildings, which included the infectious and contagious disease wards, kitchen and the mortuary and autopsy room. We also visited the Laundry Building, with much of its original equipment still in place, where over 3000 pieces of laundry were washed and sanitized daily. To say the experience was incredible would be an understatement. The texture and patterns are amazing. My only challenge, was not being able to utilize a tripod. However, because I shoot with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 MkII, I can handhold the camera for long exposures with the built-in 5 axis image stabilization. My two main lenses for this shoot were the M.Zuiko ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO and M.Zuiko ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye PRO.