Flying high

Sure, preparation is key. 

But every now and then you just get lucky with being in the right place at the right time. This weekend, we were in Trondheim and we happened to bump into the guys from bmxshow.no. They provided a spectacular BMX show, right in the city center! 

From having prepared for cityscapes, we quickly shifted to doing extreme sports shots! These guys barrel down the 'runway' at amazing speeds, so we used fast shutterspeed on an overcast day to catch the action. 

So hang tight, we will be posting on cityscapes later on. But we thought this too cool to not share with you today! 

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You only fail when you stop trying

Time flies. It was almost a week ago that I hiked to the Pyramides. As you can tell by looking at the pictures, it was a pretty cloudy day. The weather forecast was a lot more optimistic than the weather actually turned out. But still, I reckon I got at least a few decent shots and with all the clouds the images get a bit more depth and colour. 

On days like these, you appreciate it even more when the sun does come out for a bit. 

But if I'm honest, I wished I had a bit more sun. So I've made a promise to myself to go back here at least once (and maybe meet the king and his following). 

I actually learned a lot of this trip. I shot some really bad pictures, some pictures that are OK but could be way better and just a couple of images that I really like. I've found that with my photography and I guess with photography in general it's a matter of learning and trying. And I consider it really important to be really critical when looking at your own images. What do you like, what can be improved and how do you reckon you'll achieve that next time? 

A few days earlier I took a stroll along the lakeside close to where we live. Although weather predictions change by the hour here, I did look at the weather forecast before I set off. It was predicted that the sun would come out in about an hour. And yep. The forecast changed while I was out because I ended up never seeing the sun! 

Wandering along the lake side in the rain I did take some pictures, trying to capture the autumnal beauty. Turned out that of all the pictures I took, there was only 1 worth saving: the one I took with my Samsung phone, go figure. 

Don't overthink your pictures. There's beauty in simplicity. 

This weekend we're off to Trondheim. I'm really looking forward to doing some architectural and street photography. I haven't looked at the weather forecast in the past days, but I'm hoping for some sunshine or at least a great sunrise and sunset to take pictures in the blue and golden hour.  

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Tutorial: make a drawing from a picture

Trying something new, forces you to grow. So this post is about something that was completely new to me. Until today.
Taking it from the top, I'm showing you how to make a photo into looking like a drawing. And believe me, it's real easy! 

1. It all starts with opening a picture in Photoshop

2. Then you make a copy from the background layer using CMD J (CTRL J in Windows)

3. Now desaturate this layer (layer 1), using CMD + SHIFT + U  (CTRL + SHIFT +U in windows) / menu: Image > Adjustments > Desaturate)

4. Then copy the layer

5. And invert the layer with CMD i (CTRL i in windows)

6. Now change the blending method of the layer to Color Dodge

7. And add Gaussian blur (menu: Filter > Blur > Gaussian blur / It's up to you to choose a radius. To each his own, pick what you think works best for your drawing

Voila! There's your drawing! 

To add a little bit of spice to it, you can add a lined paper as background. I have to say, I did erase some lines I didn't like in the drawing. I used a white brush to do so. 

Now, moving on to adding a lined paper to the drawing: 

1. Open a picture of a lined paper

2. Move the paper, using the move tool, to the drawing

3.  Make the lined paper bigger with the free transform tool (CMD T,CTRL T in windows)

4. Chang the blending mode to Multiply

Now if you want, this is the moment to paint your image. First make a copy of all layers CMD + Opt + SHIFT + E). Now you can paint with a brush with a low flow. Or you can lower the capacity of the layer to create a cool effect. 

I didn't fancy doing some painting in my drawing, so let me show you my end result. 

A drawing of a soccer girl. 

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Travel tip! Swedish pyramids...

A little bit of a different post today. We're taking you to one of those hidden Swedish gems: the pyramids of Jämtland. 

I have to admit, we were kinda surprised to learn that there are actually pyramids only an hour's drive away from where we live. No need to scramble onto a charter to Egypt, just get yourself to Jämtland to visit one of natures beautiful surprises. 

The pyramide in Grönvallen is one of the mountainworld's most interesting places from a geological point of view. You'll find traces of the ice age, including sources, erosion valleys, and kettle holes. The most spectacular signs from former times are usually considered to be the pyramids. Perfectly shaped by glacial erosion residues and isälvssediment, these structures resemble the form of the Egyptian pyramids. 

The pyramides are located in Grönvallen in the county Jämtland, in the north of Sweden.

One of the best known hiking starting points in the vicinity is Vålådalen. You'll find Vålådalen in Åre kommun, about 20 km away from the biggest ski resort in Sweden Åre and about an hour's drive away from Östersund, the winter capital of Sweden. 

Hiking from Vålådalen to the pyramides is a 12 km route (one way) and the trail is relatively easy and very well marked. I started the hike in Vålådalen from the parking lot, but you can also choose to start the hike in Vallbo. 

After about a kilometer you pass a wobbly walking bridge. Having passed the bridge, the trail meanders along the river bank for a while. Then the route goes slightly up through the forrest. Hiking this trail takes you through a whole lot of Jämtland forrest, including boulders and tree roots. Sometimes you pass the open wet fields. Easy to get through because planks have been laid out across the fields. 

9 km after having left the parking lot, I came to Grönvallen. Grönvallen is a well-preserved Sami camp located in the forest between the tree line and civilization. Huts and buildings remain, and shelters are available for those who wish refreshments in the shelter. The trail continues through the birch forests along the winding roads, and is an excellent alternative when the wind is fierce in the mountains.

 Grönvallen

Only 3 more kilometers to the pyramids. A further 2 kilometers through dense forrest and then suddenly the forrest opens up into a wide open space and you'll get your first view of the pyramides, surrounded by mountains. Only a small river (easy to cross) between you and the pyramids now! 

I spent about an hour walking around the pyramids and taking pictures. It would've been easy to spend even more time there, the views are amazing and it's just so peaceful there. 

You can take the same route back to Vålådalen. Or, as an alternative there's the trail via Issjön to Grönvallen and then back to Vålådalen.  

I've been told the best period to hike here is from June to September when the days are long. And if you'd like to spend some more time at the pyramids, it's also possible to pitch your tent near the pyramids or a little bit further along the trail and then hike back the next day. 

And you might just bump into Swedish royalty whilst out on the trail, as the king of Sweden has his hunting lodge close to the pyramids! 

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Basics: about metadata and keywords

I guess it'll come as no surprise that I love shooting and editing pictures. And in this day and age, it's really useful to know how to present your images on the net too. I want people to find our images relatively easy. 

Almost everyone searches the net using Google. So let's look at that first. If you search for Hamperium, you'll find quite a lot of our images:

In order for Google to be able to present you with your images, you've gotta add keywords to your images (tagging).

One way to do that is add them during the import in Lightroom. But before you do that it's most practical to a preset with your information and copyright.

Click on a photo in your libary and click on Metadata

Click on the small arrows next to 'preset' 

Choose 'edit presets'

Fill in the following fields

Now save the preset by click on the arrows next to preset Custom and choose 'Save current settings as New Preset..'

Give your preset a name and voila! You're done! 

Now you can add keywords during the import of your pictures in Ligthroom. Choose the pictures you want to import and - before you start - look at the right side of your screen. Here can you find the section 'Apply During Import': 

Here you can add your copyright by selecting the metadata preset (the one you created before) and you can add keywords to your file.

Fill in other fields like the destination of your files and start the import. When you look into the Libary and click on a photo, you can see that all the information is actually in the image. 

The copyright information: 

The keyword:

By clicking on Add the keyword, you can modify the keywords if needed.

It's also handy to know that you can look into all the info of your picture in your finder (Mac): 

Adding those keywords facilitates your search in Lightroom. The keyword list gives you an overview of all the keywords you used. By clicking on a keyword you'll see all the images tagged with that keywords. 

Or you can look for one specific keyword:  

One more thing: 

You also might want to check your image online to see if it's got all the data in it. 

First export your picture. Then go this website. Here you can upload a picture and check all the information that comes with it.

 

Drop the image and check the information:

Believe me, it's worth the effort to incorporate this in your editing routine. It saves you from having to 'stamp' every image you lay out with a clearly visible watermark. And it greatly facilitates the search for your cool pictures on the net.  

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