Background Information

Biographical information (When were you born, where you were born, anything else you find important): I was born in 1957 in NYC.

Name: Brian Kosoff

Working location: I work anywhere there is landscape that I find interesting. Most often the American West and South West as well as foreign countries such as New Zealand, Norway, Iceland and others. My studio is in the NY area.

Age: I’m currently 51 years old.

Any shows you have been in and Museums that your work is displayed in:

Questions & Answers

What sort of techniques do you use?

Regarding techniques, there aren’t any specific techniques per se, but there are some I use on occasion. There’s an article on one of my printing techniques in Shutterbug magazine. Here’s the link; http://shutterbug.com/techniques/pro_techniques/0908personal/

What are your influences?

One thing that has influenced my work was having spent 27 years as an advertising and editorial photographer, most often working in still life. The unglamorous bread and butter of that type of work is silhouette product photos, basically a single object, or very minimal objects, centered on a white or gradating background. A large portion of my landscape is a minimal centered subject with a light background behind it so I think the influence is obvious.

Are there any stylistic similarities in your work?

In regards to stylistic similarities, I can say that I have been influenced by many photographers, from Ansel Adams and Irving Penn, to Michael Kenna. Those not intimately familiar with Kenna’s work and mine might think my work is very influenced by Kenna, as it is minimal B&W, but in reality it looks very much like the type of work I did when I was a teen ager, long before Kenna’s work was published.

What format do you use (large, med, small, film, digital…)?

I work most often using 120 roll film, which would be considered medium format, but as I use a 6×12cm framing of that film, it is closer in size and quality to 4×5″ large format. I also most often use a view camera, either a Sinar F2 or a Linhof Technika.

Why do you create the work that you do?

I create my work partly because it is my profession, my occupation, but if making a living were not a factor I would still do what I do because it’s a major part of who I am and I love the process of creating these images, and the satisfaction once one has.

Sample

First Light Dune

© 2000, Brian Kosoff, All Rights Reserved

For more of Brian Kosoff visit the link posted earlier, or click here.

I’m newer to photography I have been serious about it for about 6 months and in no way do I consider myself a pro. One day while stumbling around on the web I learned about HDR and it is by far my favorite form of photography. HDR or High Dynamic Range imagery is used to create surreal looking images or realistic images. It does this by accurately representing a wide range of intensity levels found in a real shooting scenarios ranging from shadows to sunlight. If you are do not know how to use your camera to its full capabilities this tutorial may not be for you, but feel free to try.

HDR Explained

What You Need

You will need a digital camera preferably a DSLR with the AEB function, I have a Canon Rebel Xsi and it has everything function you need for HDR. Some higher end point and shoot cameras have the AEB function. Please do note that not all digital cameras have the AEB feature, even some DSLR lack this function. If all you have is a point and shoot camera sorry but you’re out of luck. If you have a DSLR and it doesn’t you’re not entirely out of luck I’ll show you a way to get around it by doing it all manually.  Now as for things you need

1. A DSLR or a point and shoot “if it has AEB”
2. A tripod
3. Photoshop CS2 and over or Photomatix

Please note that if you have an upper end point and shoot camera and it has a manual mode and/or AEB go ahead and follow this tutorial.

The Process

To shoot your own HDR image you will need a camera that has a manual mode and/or AEB “Auto Exposure Bracketing”.

There are two ways im familiar with using manual mode without AEB “not recommended” or using the AEB function.

Without The AEB Function.

1. Set up your shot and get your camera on a tripod.
2. Set your camera to manual mode.
3. Take one picture at exposure.
4. Take one picture “-2” under exposure.
5. Take one picture “+2” over exposure.

With AEB

1. Set up your shot and get your camera on a tripod.
2. Set your camera to manual. “My camera required it to be in manual mode, yours may not.”
3. Find the AEB function and set it so it’s -2, 0, +2 like this…
4. If you have a remote shutter release I recommend using that, or if youre camera can take 3 pictures in a row that works as well.

What You Should Have

Exposure listed from left to right... "0", "-2", "+2", and the final HDR image on the right.

Examples