Paul Monday

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  1. Art and Experiments

HDR Photography

I have meshed many of my HDR photos within the galleries but just for curiosity, I figured I would push them all to a single smart gallery so I could look them over. I've noticed over the year / year and a half that I've been doing HDR photography my work has become more and more realism based rather than garish. I'm starting to use it more as a regular tool to expose shadows and reduce blowouts rather than some of the more extremist tone mapping that helps to teach the practice. Enjoy the gallery :) You'll find most of these among my other captures ... what I noticed as I went through these though is not what is IN the gallery, but what amazing pictures from my portfolio that are NOT in the gallery. Nature and photography is astounding in the shapes, light and forms it brings to us naturally.
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  • Untitled photo

    Colorado Springsbomberafa

  • Untitled photo

    Airshowosprey

  • Untitled photo

    Airshowflatironssunset

  • Sunset ... With a Tree

    Sunset ... With a Tree

    A beautiful spot near Roxborough Park that will soon be dense housing. The solitude of this loan tree speaks volumes as the open space around it contracts.

    sunsettreefeaturedtop52010drydrddrcaster2016

  • Dinner ... has past

    Dinner ... has past

    dinnerbell

  • The chimes still work.

    The chimes still work.

    door

  • Taken at the height of caffeine withdrawal ... my dormant coffee gear

    Taken at the height of caffeine withdrawal ... my dormant coffee gear

    coffeemachine

  • Untitled photo

    fairplayvalleywinter2

  • Just a Dusting

    Just a Dusting

    flatironssinglefeatured

  • The Color of Winter at the Flatirons

    The Color of Winter at the Flatirons

    flatironsrichfeaturedboulderhdr

  • Rock Tornado - Arches National Park

    Rock Tornado - Arches National Park

    windowsarchesarches national parkmoabwindows archwindows archesfeaturedhdr

    From Moab

  • Moose Ripples

    Moose Ripples

    Sometimes I bring very specific gear to get a very specific capture. In this case I got what I came for but ... just out of this frame is a moose and her calf bathing in the lake causing the ripples. While I captured my prey, maybe an open mind would have brought me a more beautiful capture, or maybe a memory is better yet.

    bierstadtsunsetfeatured14erscoloradosawtoothreflectionhdrdrcaster2016

    From Mount Bierstadt

  • This was a tricky shot, the sun was in front of me but as you know, our eyes see much more than our cameras.  I went with an HDR approach on this one.  As I was working with the image I crossed this point where it seemed almost pastel, I decided to stop here.  This was the day before Easter and this had the Easter feel and morning look that I was hoping for and is closer than you would think to the original scene (backlit cherry blossoms, backlit trees and backlit capital building).  Enjoy, this is definitely one of my favorites.

    This was a tricky shot, the sun was in front of me but as you know, our eyes see much more than our cameras. I went with an HDR approach on this one. As I was working with the image I crossed this point where it seemed almost pastel, I decided to stop here. This was the day before Easter and this had the Easter feel and morning look that I was hoping for and is closer than you would think to the original scene (backlit cherry blossoms, backlit trees and backlit capital building). Enjoy, this is definitely one of my favorites.

    capitaleasterhdr

    From Washington D.C.

  • These are more HDR pictures as I tried to catch the brightness of the Spring leaves as they open up.  This picture is along the side of the national mall, glance across the mall and you can see the cherry blossoms ;-)

    These are more HDR pictures as I tried to catch the brightness of the Spring leaves as they open up. This picture is along the side of the national mall, glance across the mall and you can see the cherry blossoms ;-)

    hdrnational mall

    From Washington D.C.

  • I follow up the photo, again, with an HDR version.  Here the stuff in the pool really adds amazing character and the trees come out more as they are at dusk, I'm very happy with this particular shot.

    I follow up the photo, again, with an HDR version. Here the stuff in the pool really adds amazing character and the trees come out more as they are at dusk, I'm very happy with this particular shot.

    washington monumentnighthdr

    From Washington D.C.

  • And here is the capital building at night with the lights burning bright.  This is HDR but I cranked it down quite a bit.  The goal was to make this as "real" as I could.  Notice the curvature of the pool makes the picture look off balance, yet the capital is in balance ... I wanted the shot off center so this is the price one pays :)

    And here is the capital building at night with the lights burning bright. This is HDR but I cranked it down quite a bit. The goal was to make this as "real" as I could. Notice the curvature of the pool makes the picture look off balance, yet the capital is in balance ... I wanted the shot off center so this is the price one pays :)

    HDRtonemappedcapitalwashington d.c.night

    From Washington D.C.

  • This is a path down to the tidal basin from the Roosevelt Memorial.

    This is a path down to the tidal basin from the Roosevelt Memorial.

    benchesbasinhdr

    From Washington D.C.

  • This is the first night out, I really wasn't sure what to expect so I set up and couldn't really relax very much.  The shot turned out OK and kept me coming back for more.  I think I realized with this shot just how difficult 100 yards of astroturf with big cement slabs around it was going to be.

    This is the first night out, I really wasn't sure what to expect so I set up and couldn't really relax very much. The shot turned out OK and kept me coming back for more. I think I realized with this shot just how difficult 100 yards of astroturf with big cement slabs around it was going to be.

    Soccerweekonehdr

    From 4 Nights of Soccer

  • The first thing you're going to say is "NO WAY", but yes way ... this picture probably doesn't let the reds come out enough.  It was amazing.  Note I switched sides of the field for this one.  I wasn't sure where to go with it, amazing sunsets are more difficult than one would expect to take a capture and turn it around with the richness of the moment.  I can't tell if it's just the stunning colors that are difficult or the grandness of the moment or possibly this picture just becomes so busy whereas the other night shots are very smooth.  Maybe the next camp will get another great sunset to practice on ;-)

    The first thing you're going to say is "NO WAY", but yes way ... this picture probably doesn't let the reds come out enough. It was amazing. Note I switched sides of the field for this one. I wasn't sure where to go with it, amazing sunsets are more difficult than one would expect to take a capture and turn it around with the richness of the moment. I can't tell if it's just the stunning colors that are difficult or the grandness of the moment or possibly this picture just becomes so busy whereas the other night shots are very smooth. Maybe the next camp will get another great sunset to practice on ;-)

    sunsetsoccerhdr

    From 4 Nights of Soccer

  • This was an interesting night, there was some humidity in the air and the sky was amazingly boring after the previous week's intense sunset.  I waited and waited as the lights increased their contrast against the night sky and then the picture was there.  This, again, is one I'm particularly fond of.

    This was an interesting night, there was some humidity in the air and the sky was amazingly boring after the previous week's intense sunset. I waited and waited as the lights increased their contrast against the night sky and then the picture was there. This, again, is one I'm particularly fond of.

    soccerhdr

    From 4 Nights of Soccer

  • I call this the "Bird Tree" at City Park.  This is an unabashedly HDR photograph with two stops separating the three images.  The textures in the sky were fun and the way the open sky haloed the tree was too cool to pass up and fit into HDR so well I couldn't resist.

    I call this the "Bird Tree" at City Park. This is an unabashedly HDR photograph with two stops separating the three images. The textures in the sky were fun and the way the open sky haloed the tree was too cool to pass up and fit into HDR so well I couldn't resist.

    birdtreedenvercity parkhdr

    From Denver

  • Rain Delay

    Rain Delay

    coors fieldcolorado rockiesraindenverhdr

    From Denver

  • This is a spot on the West side of Bierstadt as you approach it on Guanella Pass.  Obviously there is some amount of laying in the middle of a cascade to get this, the entire cascade probably went over 100 feet so there are ample locations to set up and risk falling in and still get a unique capture.

    This is a spot on the West side of Bierstadt as you approach it on Guanella Pass. Obviously there is some amount of laying in the middle of a cascade to get this, the entire cascade probably went over 100 feet so there are ample locations to set up and risk falling in and still get a unique capture.

    waterfallbierstadtmountainsdenverguanella passguanellahdr

    From Guanella Pass

  • Ok, I couldn't resist this image.  This is the skyline arch with a single exposure HDR image.  The shadow from the original bothered me but this is a fun take on the abstractness of the scene from the skyline arch.

    Ok, I couldn't resist this image. This is the skyline arch with a single exposure HDR image. The shadow from the original bothered me but this is a fun take on the abstractness of the scene from the skyline arch.

    hdrarchesskyline archmoababstract

    From Moab

  • We catch at least a game a year at the National's Stadium, they are looking awfully good this year, could be some trouble ahead for the Rockies.  Nonetheless, I think the DC fans are a bit skeptical of their team ;-)

    We catch at least a game a year at the National's Stadium, they are looking awfully good this year, could be some trouble ahead for the Rockies. Nonetheless, I think the DC fans are a bit skeptical of their team ;-)

    natsfieldbasichdr

    From Washington D.C.

  • City Park

    City Park

    city parkDenverfountainsunsethdr

    From Denver

  • Looking out of the denver center theater complex. I always wanted to shoot from in here but it is FAR more difficult to find a picture than I thought it would be. This is getting closer.

    Looking out of the denver center theater complex. I always wanted to shoot from in here but it is FAR more difficult to find a picture than I thought it would be. This is getting closer.

    DenverDenver Center Theaterhdr

    From Denver

  • One of my favoritist sculptures in Denver. It's in kind of a bad setting though ... maybe when the Denver Post goes under and I buy the land, crush the building and turn it into "Paul's Vinyl (Record) Mart" the sculpture will finally have a proper setting ....

    One of my favoritist sculptures in Denver. It's in kind of a bad setting though ... maybe when the Denver Post goes under and I buy the land, crush the building and turn it into "Paul's Vinyl (Record) Mart" the sculpture will finally have a proper setting ....

    denverdenver postsculpturefeaturedhdr

    From Denver

  • There are so many ways to look at this picture of this church and the building behind it ... but definitely we're talking about modern society overwhelming this more religious view of the world ... remember how spires on churches reach to the heavens, what can you say for our desire to build commercial real estate that dwarfs our religious symbols?

    There are so many ways to look at this picture of this church and the building behind it ... but definitely we're talking about modern society overwhelming this more religious view of the world ... remember how spires on churches reach to the heavens, what can you say for our desire to build commercial real estate that dwarfs our religious symbols?

    churchhdr

    From Denver

  • I destroyed my second f/2.8 17-50mm lens after working with this capture.  I guess I will have to let it go and part ways with the lens series.  Despite my absolute and undying devotion to the lens, it has brought me most of my favorite pictures, there is a point where I should probably get the message.  Time to head to the camera store and find a new one ... or perhaps ... maybe the same one if I can't let go ;-)  Here is union station, another one of the penultimate pictures in Denver proper.

    I destroyed my second f/2.8 17-50mm lens after working with this capture. I guess I will have to let it go and part ways with the lens series. Despite my absolute and undying devotion to the lens, it has brought me most of my favorite pictures, there is a point where I should probably get the message. Time to head to the camera store and find a new one ... or perhaps ... maybe the same one if I can't let go ;-) Here is union station, another one of the penultimate pictures in Denver proper.

    unionstationhdr

    From Denver

  • Untitled photo

    cograilroadhdr

    From Pike's Peak Colorado Springs

  • Not exactly Denver, this is the Evil Knievel pinball machine in Lyons

    Not exactly Denver, this is the Evil Knievel pinball machine in Lyons

    pinballlyonsevil knievelarcadehdr

    From Denver

  • Untitled photo

    guanellacascadehdrcotton candyfall

    From Fall Colors

  • Untitled photo

    guanellacascadehdrcotton candyfalldry

    From Fall Colors

  • Morning in Arches National Park

    Morning in Arches National Park

    MoabMorningHDRfeatured

    From Moab

  • Untitled photo

    familiahdr

    From Barcelona

  • An HDR version of the front red rocks at Roxborough.  I hesitated at the artificiality / painteresque feel of this picture but I've really, really grown to enjoy it immensely.  I love the texture and the sun coming over the trees as well as the snow clouds rolling in.

    An HDR version of the front red rocks at Roxborough. I hesitated at the artificiality / painteresque feel of this picture but I've really, really grown to enjoy it immensely. I love the texture and the sun coming over the trees as well as the snow clouds rolling in.

    roxboroughcoloradofeaturedhdrdrd

    From Roxborough Park

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