Tag: art

Ohio River Bridges Project Downtown Span Construction Site

Posted on by Nick Roberts
Ohio River Bridges Downtown Span Construction Site
Ohio River Bridges Downtown Span Construction Site

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This image shows the Ohio River Bridges Project Downtown Span construction site looking south from the Indiana approach. The triangular form in the right hand side of the photo is the base for the western section of the north tower that will support the new bridge. Across from that form you can see the rebar structure that will also be formed and filled with concrete to build the eastern section of the towers. These two sections Continue reading “Ohio River Bridges Project Downtown Span Construction Site” →

Mitchell South Dakota

Posted on by Nick Roberts
Mitchell South Dakota VFW
Mitchell South Dakota VFW

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I was in Mitchell South Dakota a couple of years ago and found myself walking around the business district early in the morning. I came upon the local VFW Post and really liked the way the morning sun was casting shadows on the wall. I liked the juxtaposition of the circular kitchen exhaust fan, and it’s shadow, with the rectangular windows, the plaster over door and the street sign’s shadow as well as the texture of the concrete blocks in the wall. I decided to process this image in Black and White to emphasize the texture and lend an air of nostalgia.

2013 in review

Posted on by Nick Roberts

Tonight I want to share the annual report for the Speeddemon2.com blog that the WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared for 2013.

Here’s an excerpt from the 2013 annual report on the progress of Speeddemon2.com :

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 43,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 16 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

This report about 2013 was very exciting news for me. I have worked hard the past year to share my knowledge about Construction photography and HDR photography with the world and the results are very gratifying. People from 136 countries have visited Speeddemon2.com to see my photos and explore the HDR techniques that I have been using to create them. My goal in 2014 is to grow from 950 followers to 10,000 followers and to foster even more interest in HDR photography and my approach to construction photography.

In addition to the Speeddemon2 blog I’m also working on a several year project to document the Ohio River Bridges Project that will showcase the men and women who are building this massive construction project which will forever transform Louisville’s waterfront. My project will encompass nearly three years of photos with quarterly books that will reflect the progress of the project from season to season. Currently I am editing the first volume of these books which will feature the Fall of 2013 foundation work and the people who are building the project. In the end, probably in 2016, I will be compiling a larger book that will draw on the quarterly volumes and document the Ohio River Bridges Project for posterity.

None of this would have been possible without my decision in 2012 to start the Speeddemon2 blog and share my photography with the world. I am so grateful for those who started following and commenting on my work early on which further strengthened my resolve to keep publishing. I also need to thank the men and women of the construction industry who allowed me to embed myself with them as I honed my skills both as a photographer and as an advocate for the people who build our civic infrastructure. I look forward to what the future has in store for me and I sincerely hope that I do justice to the support that so many people have shown for my work as Speeddemon2.com has evolved.

Click here to see the complete 2013 report.

Sparks Were Flying

Posted on by Nick Roberts
Welder using a cutting torch to make some angle iron brackets.
Welder using a cutting torch to make some angle iron brackets.

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I love it when sparks are flying! Whenever I see someone using a torch or a grinder I try to capture the spark patterns that are formed. It is as if the worker is putting on a miniature fireworks display and the kid in me cannot resist watching.

This HDR image was created from a three frame bracket set of +2, 0 and -2 EV exposures using NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 to merge them. After merging the three images I applied a custom preset I have built and saved in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2. I then returned the HDR file to Aperture 3 for final adjustment and sharpening.

One thing I discovered in merging these images was how through use of the anti-ghosting feature I was able to show how the gases used in the cutting torch could be isolated and show where they are pushing the sparks away from the torch.

Texture Tuesday

Posted on by Nick Roberts
Footprint #1
Footprint #1

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Footprint #2
Footprint #2

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Tread #1
Tread #1

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Tread #2
Compactor #1

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When walking around a construction site I like to look for interesting textures and patterns. On this particular day I found these tracks from men and machines on the dry dirt under an overpass. I thought they would be interesting for the patterns of the equipment juxtaposed against the boot prints of the people who were walking in the area. These are HDR images that I used NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 and Aperture 3 to process.