Ugly and chilly late afternoon. Fog is becoming thicker and thicker. Visibility decreasing, hard to see car tails in front of me. Well, if it is so bad and thick here – it must be nice somewhere up. Driving slowly and carefully all serpentine up the mountains and …. yes! In just 15 minutes, few meters before reaching the top and arriving to a small village up there – I have literally emerged from the cloud and it felt like when your plane take off at overcast day and after few minutes you’ll get above the clouds, where everything is beautiful and peaceful.And there I have found magic place. A castle above clouds! Like – are you kidding me? I am pretty sure, Dreamwork guys got their inspiration here, when they were creating Puss in the Boots scene where giant bean took them for a golden eggs hunt. If you don’t know what I am talking about – check this video here.Of course, right timing was again critical and I had about 20 minutes, before light disappeared and fog went higher and become thicker, covering my view. But those 20 minutes – oh man!Can you imagine you live in such a castle (or even just a normal house – see below) and you have to get use to such a view? Must be boring. Nikon D800, Nikkor 24-70mm @ 32mm, f/10, 8 sec, ISO 400 Škaredý a chladný podvečer. Hmla hustne, viditeľnosť sa znižuje, už takmer nie je vidno na zadné hmlovky auta predo mnou. Ale keď je tak hnusne tu dole, tak niekde hore musí byť krásne. Pomaly a opatrne sa autom škriabem serpentínami do hôr… a áno! Asi za 15 minút, len tesne pred vrcholom kopca a pred tým ako dorazím do malej dedinky, ktorá tam je – sa […]
Author Archive: Patrik Banas
snow dunes
I love shooting dunes. But I do not have an easy access to some proper ones. I was so happy then to see, that mother Nature helped me and created an excellent field full of dunes – just right behind our house!Do you remember few days ago when it was sooo cold and sooo windy? Snow got crusty and then strong wind created the art. It was really cool and I waited two days to shape it even stronger. For my “trip to dunes” timing was critical, as I needed late afternoon with a low sun, which created all the shadows and added third dimension to the image. I have equipped myself with snow pants, snow boots, hat, gloves (-10°C!), one lens (24-70mm) and went out. Then it was just a matter of looking for a strong lines, nice curves, interesting patterns and had an amazing almost an hour just for myself! And as a bonus after the photo session – kids joined me for a half an hour intensive sledging fun! 😉 All pictures taken with Nikon D800, Nikkor 24-70mm, f/16 and timing apx. 1/200 sec. Contrast enhancement and white balance shift to cold blue in Lightroom. Zbožňujem fotiť duny. Bohužiaľ, tie pravé nemám v jednoduchom dosahu. A tak som blo šťastný ako blcha, keď ma matka Príroda vyslyšala a vytvorila mi celé dunové pole – a to rovno za našim domom!Pamätáte si keď nedávno bola taká zima a tak strašne fúkalo? Sneh úplne stvrdol a následne vietor mohol “vyfúkavať” a vytvoriť toto umenie. Vyzeralo to skvelo a vydržal som čakať až dva dni, aby sa tie tvary prehĺbili a zvýraznili. Načasovanie môjho foto výletu bolo dôležité, nakoľko som potreboval poobedňajšie slnko, nízko nad horizontom, ktoré to zboku pekne nasvietilo a vytvorilo všetky tiene a pridalo tak do záberu […]
Château in blue
When the timing is right, old castle looks magnificent! Isn’t it? 30 minutes session and – voilá! Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm at 22mm, f/8, 30sec, ISO 125 Stačí si to správne načasovať a starý kaštieľ vyzerá úchvatne, však? Stačilo 30 minút a voilá! Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm at 16mm, f/8, 15sec, ISO 200 Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm at 16mm, f/8, 8sec, ISO 100 Nikon D800, Nikkor 24-70mm at 48mm, f/8, 15sec, ISO 125 Nikon D800, Nikkor 24-70mm at 24mm, f/16, 30sec, ISO 500 Now, this red “thingy” is just a simple metal column in the dock, use to tie the boats. It was illuminated by the small red lamp in the dock and I like the way how it is incorporated in the image. Strong front subject with a red color… Well, there is a saying… “if you don’t know what to do with a picture, add something red!” 😉 See the small behind-the scene image at the bottom. A táto červená vec je jednoduchý pylón v prístave, o ktorý sa priväzujú lode. Bol osvetlený malým červeným svetielkom a páčilo sa mi, ako je zakomponovaný do scény. Výrazný červený objekt v popredí… Veď viete, čo sa hovorí: “Keď nevieš čo s fotkou, vraz tam niečo červené! 😉 Viď malý záber z mobilu nižšie, aby ste si to mohli lepšie predstaviť… Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm at 20mm, f/11, 20sec, ISO 320 Mobile shot to show the “red” column.
Faraway, so Close! (full moon)
To utilized the name of 1993’s movie – December’s moon appeared to be so close, while I know it was so faraway! After my initial lazy shots from the bedroom, I have realized moon is still very high at 7.30am! So I quickly jumped into a car, drove to the nearest hill and run towards to the little chapel where is guaranteed a decent view above our little valley. Well, I caught my breath after few shots, but then again – it was so rewarding! Wouldn’t you agree? Aby som parafrázoval film z roku 1993 – decembrový super mesiac sa zdal taký blízky a pritom som vedel, že je tak ďaleko!Po mojich úvodných lenivých záberoch zo spálne – viď tu – som zistil, že mesiac je o pol ôsmej ráno ešte stále riadne vysoko! Tak som rýchlo naskočil do auta a odviezol sa k neďalekému kopcu s kalváriou na vrchu, kde sa dal zaistiť pomerne slušný výhľad na našu dolinu. Po vybehnutí do strmého kopca som síce chytil dych až po niekoľkých záberoch – ale ako zvyčajne – stálo to za to! Čo poviete?
Under the water
When super dad meets enthusiast photographer – then results are so beautiful! Yes, our daughter is fully emerged into a synchronized swimming and she is enjoying that. And whole our family is living around it. Trainings three times a week, tests and shows over the weekends… We are synchro-positive, and we love it! So, when Christmas show has been announced, I knew my opportunity awaits. After last years balcony shots (see here), I wanted get closer, MUCH CLOSER! With a waterproof camera case ready, I was a parent with an exclusive access to the best view in the whole pool. And girls and two boys were fantastic. We all enjoyed it so much! It was absolutely a different point of view. I had no idea, how does it look like under the water and what they actually do there to entertain us above the water! Needless to say, that it was so so worth it! Like, are you kidding me? How many times you can get a chance to photograph such an unusual event, from totally unusual place and angle? How many times you can do candle light portrait and be under the water!? I was thrilled. And so much respectful to all swimmers after two hours in the pool 😉 Thank you all around Synchro club, thank you Inna for allowing me to be part of it! And don’t forget to watch the video at the bottom with the synchronized show – from above and below! PS: And for all photo-geeks, technical details, EXIF and settings are below. Keď skombinujete super otca s nadšeným fotografom, tak nádherné výsledky sú zaručené!Áno, naša dcéra prepadla synchronizovanému plávaniu a tak celá naša rodina tým žije. Tréningy trikrát do týždňa, testy a preteky a show cez víkendy… Sme proste synchro pozitívny a máme to […]
Supermoon (from your bed room)
So I have missed November’s SUPERmoon – it was so foggy, I couldn’t see a thing and I envied all supermoon shots posted around. And I spent two days scouting for the best location, using various photo apps and drove about 70km!So, my second chance came on 14th of December, when full moon was pretty close to the super one, only a wee smaller. And this time I have decided to take it easy! No driving, no apps.My huge advantage: morning’s “moon-set” was right in front of our bedroom’s window.Thus the only preparation evening before was to set up tripod, with 70-200mm telezoom and 2x teleconverter and get jacket and hat to pull over PJ (see below). And sure it is – 6.30am I got my chance! 😉Well, it wasn’t so spectacular as I was hoping so and nearby branches started to block my view very soon. But as a proper lazy photographer I took an advantage of that and that’s how this super moon tattoo triptych was born! 😉PS: And you know what – to my surprise moon stayed up for pretty long and then my curiosity won and I climbed up nearby hill and got wonderful shots of the valley with HUGE moon… This will come later… Tak sa mi podarilo zmeškať novembrový SUPERmoon – týždeň vkuse bolo tak hmlisto, že som nevidel ani ň a závidel som všetkým, čo uploadovali svoje zábery. A to som strávil dva dni hľadaním čo najlepšej lokality s pomocou viacerých foto aplikácii a najazdil som asi 70km!Ale moja druhá šanca prišla 14. decembra, keď spln bol takmer taký istý veľký ako ten supermoon, len o kapánek menší. No a tentokrát som sa rozhodol to zobrať zľahka. Žiadne jazdenie, žiadne aplikácie. Mal som totiž obrovskú výhodu, že ranný “západ mesiaca”sme mali rovno pred […]
Men at work (roasting chestnuts!)
Photographing people at work fascinates me and it is for me always very rewarding. Especially, when they are doing something interesting, something what they do with passion and something you can’t see everyday (yup, project update meeting on Friday afternoon doesn’t count! :). That’s what was happening at on of the Christmas market stall. Like in the last years, guys were roasting chestnuts again in an old traditional way, burning coal under huge metal tubes, where on the tops were ceramic jars with chestnuts! This way of roasting of course attracted me again. And when I noticed all the sparks flying around, I immediately knew that longer exposure of about 1 second will be able to capture the fire and sparkles in a firework big style. So to be able to take a nice image and not just a snapshot, I’ve started to chat with guys from “Carlito castagna” and asked them if it would be alright to take pictures (which I will be happily sharing with them via email!). Sure enough, my tripod was ready, one second with handholding would not work. I’ve stayed for about 15 minutes and I was focusing to capture especially those big flames and sparkle fountains when guy added fresh new coal (and I’ve asked him to do that several times! :). Next challenge was to capture moment when my chestnut-roaster wasn’t moving for about one second to get his face sharp. I wasn’t looking for a super sharpness, as a little bit of his motion was a nice addition to express activity, but I was lucky enough with the shot below. So, to sum it up: a) look for interesting job with passionate people b) get to know your men and explain your intentions, they’ll be happy to cooperate c) look for colors, […]
Christmas lights around you
Tis the season to be jolly, enjoy and … shoot all the colorful lights. Yes! Christmas markets are the perfect spots right now. So, make all your christmas shopping online and instead of being shopping frenzy, take your camera and go out there! There will be for sure plenty of colorful objects and actions to photograph. Plus – muled hot wine is a worthwhile bonus. And – if you arrive just in time to hit the blue hour after the sunset – beauty is guaranteed. Have a look around, get inspired and play. PS: And – do not forget that hot wine!! 😉 Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm @19mm, f/5, 1 sec, ISO 1600 Sezóna krásnych predvianočných chvíľ je v plnom prúde, preto si ju užívajte a … foťte všetky tie farebné svetlá okolo vás. Samozrejme! Vianočné trhy sú tie správne miesta, kde by ste mali byť. Vianočné darčeky objednajte online a namiesto zúfalého pobehovania po shopping centrách si vezmite foťák a vypadnite von. Určite nájde hromadu krásnych farebných objektov a aktivít, ktoré sa vyplatí fotiť. A ako bonus – môžte si dať teplé varené víno (alebo aj svařák ;). No a keď navyše dorazíte tak, aby ste stihli modrú hodinku po západe slnka, tak o krásne fotky nebude núdza. Pozrite sa, čo sa mne podarilo zachytiť, inšpirujte sa a bavte sa.PS: A nezabudnite na to varené víno! 🙂 Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm @16mm, f/5, 1 sec, ISO 1600 Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm @16mm, f/5, 1 sec, ISO 1600 Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm @16mm, f/10, 2 sec, ISO 200 Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm @16mm, f/11, 2.5 sec, ISO 50 Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm @16mm, f/11, 2.5 sec, ISO 50 PS: A keď vám chýba ľudský element, tak sa hoďte do záberu 😉 Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35mm @16mm, f/10, 2 sec, ISO 200, flash fired with Rear sync curtain
cyclo cross (damn so close!)
We decided to go for a family walk over the weekend to a nearby lake. And to our surprise, there was cyclo cross race going on in the area. Great weather and colorful fast bikers – of course I was ready and in a moment I have found a strategic position below the hill, where the cyclosrossers were passing me with apx. 1m distance. Shooting low with 16mm wide angle I was hoping to get darn close and got some action. And I was doing fine, until the moment this one crazy biker go off the track and pass apx. 20cm in front of me! I could smell his wheel and feel the vibration! And believe or not, I just click the shutter (probably just triggered by the passing wind) and voilá – when I looked at my display after all the group pass – I could’t believe how lucky I got! I framed the guy perfectly, he is looking directly to the camera – with a fear I guess of hoping not to hit me – and he is perfectly sharp! Picture is not even cropped a bit. You can see below, how closely they were riding anyway (and my strategic position at the very bottom). So, what’s the moral story here? I was lucky and probably stupid to get so close, as I was really few centimeters away not to get hit. But you know what? As a real photographer, I am of course now very happy I was there – in that decisive moment and click it in the right moment. Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35@16mm; f/5.6 @1/2000sec Rozhodli sme sa vybrať cez víkend na rodinný výlet k neďalekému jazeru. A k nášmu prekvapeniu sa v oblasti práve konal cyclo crossový závod. Nádherné počasie a farebné a rýchle […]
Tuscany | is it summer yet?
Fall season is almost gone and long dark winter evenings are here – whether we want or no…Good time to warm up while going through the folder taken during May’s Tuscany visit! Oh that helps! Is it summer yet?And you know what? I am going back to Tuscany next year again! This time as co-instructor (and scout agent, entertainer, Nikon expert and driver) with Scott Stulberg, who invited me after our famous trips to Death Valley, Palouse and of course one in Tuscany, where we spent nice time together scouting and preparing a year in advance! This Scotty’s workshop was sold out within literally few hours and I am really looking forward to revisit this Italian gem… Meanwhile, open the bottle of the good wine (Italian would be preferred), light up the fireplace and … enjoy! Jeseň je takmer preč a dlhé, tmavé, zimné večery sa pomaly ale isto vkrádajú – či sa nám to páči alebo nie… Správny čas na zohriatie sa tým, že jeden konečne pretriedi adresár nafotený v máji v Toskánsku! Oh, to ale pomohlo… Už je tu leto?Najlepšie na tom je, že do Toskánska sa chystám znova na budúci rok. Tentokrát ako spolu inštruktor (a vyhliadavač miest, zábavač, Nikon expert a šofér) spolu so Scottym Stulbergom, ktorý ma pozval po našich skvelých spoločných výletoch do Death Valley, Palouse a samozrejme v Toskánsku, kde sme strávili spoločný čas obhliadkou miest a pripravovaním sa rok vopred! Tento Scottyho workshop sa vypredal doslova za pár hodín a ja sa fakt znova teším na návštevu tejto talianskej perly…Medzitým, otvorte si fľašu vína (odporúčam talianske), zakúrte si v kozube… a užívajte!