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Another image for my ongoing project to document Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario, although, in this case, a spot just off Barton. About 75 metres North on Sherman Ave North sits the Playhouse Theatre, an independent art theatre at 177 Sherman Avenue North. The draw is the big red lighted sign above the entrance (you can just see the base of it here) but I also liked the entrance facade with its posters and doors. Hence this view. - JW
Date Taken: 2025-04-05
Date PP: 2025-04-11
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Two overlapping frames taken with the intent to stitch them together to get a panorama format view of the front of the theatre, taken using tripod-mounted Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 30mm, ISO100, Daylight WB, Matrix metering, Aperture Priority Mode, f/9.0 1/60 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. Images stitched together into a panorama using free Open Source Hugin software to produce a TIFF format file. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from the Hugin TIFF file: Set final image size to 10000px wide, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, use the Shadows/Highlights tool to recover shadow detail and then use the Tone Curve 2 tool to brighten Lights and Highlights as well as Shadows, increase Contrast as well as Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, boost Vibrance, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Curves tool to pull up the top end of the curve and brighten the white walls, use the Hue-Saturation-Brightness tool boost overall saturation a bit, add a non-destructive Dodge/Burn layer and use it to darken the sidewalk as well as the brickwork along the left edge of the frame and then brighten the poster to the right of the doors as well as the glass portion of the entrance doors, on the result apply the Contrast/Brightness tool increase overall contrast slightly, sharpen, save, scale to 7800 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 4000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project to document Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario, although, in this case, a spot just off Barton. Just after I had parked on Clinton Street in anticipation of doing a short, camera-toting wander along Barton, I walked over to Sherman Ave North. Right at the corner sits a brick, side-by-side duplex building which has its left side, i.e. 5 Clinton Street, painted in a now-weathered red. Another red, and hence, Red Rule image. - JW
Date Taken: 2025-04-05
Date PP: 2025-04-07
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using tripod-mounted Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 82mm, ISO100, Daylight WB, Matrix metering, Aperture Priority Mode, f/9.0 1/50 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, level the image and apply some perspective correction, apply Tone Mapping as well as Dynamic Range Compression at default levels, slightly brighten overall by setting Exposure Compensation to EV+0.28, slightly increase Contrast as well as Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, use the Shadows/Highlights tool to bring the white painted areas down in brightness to better show some detail and then slightly boost Vibrance, slightly warm the image by setting White Balance to 5300K, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: slightly increase both overall contrast and brightness, use the Hue-Saturation-Brightness tool to slightly reduce the red channel saturation and also increase its brightness, use the Curves tool to slightly boost/brighten the top 25% (approx) of the curve to brighten the white door as well as its, and the windows, frames, add a non-destructive dodge/burn layer and use it to dodge/brighten the window above the door as well as the glass in the lamp to the right of the door, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project to document Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario, although, in this case, a spot just off Barton. About 150 metres North on Sherman Ave North sits the Gizio Sports Club at 197 Sherman ave North. The dark interior gives no clue as to the nature or amount of activity taking place there and a scan of Google is not at all informative. However, the sign, upper left, would suggest that potable fluids may be involved. But it presents a visually wonderful face onto the street as seen here. Red features prominently in the exterior colour scheme whether it be in the window blinds on the right, the table top below those blinds, the lettering used for the club name, the flag, sequined hats, red disks, red step faces or the Buzz Beer sign. So, Red Rule applies. And the light but steady rain really brings out colours. - JW
Date Taken: 2025-04-05
Date PP: 2025-04-05
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using tripod-mounted Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 105mm, ISO100, Daylight WB, Matrix metering, Aperture Priority Mode, f/9.0 1/25 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, slightly darken overall by setting Exposure Compensation to EV-0.33, slightly increase Contrast as well as Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, slightly boost Vibrance, slightly warm the image by setting White Balance to 5300K, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: slightly increase both overall contrast and brightness, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project to document Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario, although, in this case, a spot just off Barton. Just after I had parked on Clinton Street in anticipation of doing a short camera-toting wander along Barton, I spotted this nice red fire hydrant and as I am a follower of the Red Rule, I meandered over to check it out. This is just outside Lucy Day Park and behind the fence is some type of park-related building. To make it a little more appealing to the residential area just behind me, a mural had been added. But not wanting to deprive neighbours of the view beyond the building, a representation of the Hamilton industrial skyline had been incorporated, along with some green to soften the blow, I guess. - JW
Date Taken: 2025-04-05
Date PP: 2025-04-05
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using tripod-mounted Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 105mm, ISO100, Daylight WB, Matrix metering, Aperture Priority Mode, f/9.0 1/25 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, slightly darken overall by setting Exposure Compensation to EV-0.33, slightly increase Contrast as well as Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, slightly boost Vibrance, slightly warm the image by setting White Balance to 5300K, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: slightly increase both overall contrast and brightness, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project capturing Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. I took advantaged of of a nice warm Spring day to wander the portion of Hamilton, Ontario’s Barton Street East between Wentworth St N and Sherman Ave N to capture more images of the area that has seen better days and is likely to be subject to gentrification efforts. In the Alley behind 665 Barton Street East is a cinder block building painted bright yellow and featuring two multicoloured doors and large, painted bees. This is Burdin’s Comics. From Barton Street proper you would never know this was here. But enter the alley behind and this dominates the scene. - JW
Date Taken: 2025-03-18
Date PP: 2025-03-25
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 58mm, ISO100 (Auto ISO), Daylight WB, Ctr Weighted metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/5.0, 1/320 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide and crop to aa 16:9 format, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, use the Tone Curve 2 tool in Parametric mode to further recover Shadows detail in Shadows, Darks and Lights areas only, brighten overall by setting Exposure Compensation to EV+0.65, slightly increase Lightness, contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, very slightly increase Vibrance, sharpen, save, very slightly boost Vibrance to bring out the subtle tones a little, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP:use the Hue-Saturation-Brightness tool to boost the Yellow channel brightness a bit, use the Contrast/Brightness tool to very slightly increase both overall brightness and contrast,use the Curves tool to further apply a little more brightness to the upper mid-tones, sharpen, save, scale to 7100 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3700 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project capturing Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. I took advantaged of of a nice warm Spring day to wander the portion of Hamilton, Ontario’s Barton Street East between Wentworth St N and Sherman Ave N to capture more images of the area that has seen better days and is likely to be subject to gentrification efforts. This shows a pair of entrance doors to what once were shops in a building located at 620 (right) and 622 (left) Barton Street East. This was the location of the now-permanently-closed Nick Casciano Custom Tailor shop (and formal rentals service) but everything has been allowed to become very dilapidated. That said, it appears the upper level is still used as housing. The near-monochrome paint scheme of pale blue and grey, all seriously in need of some work, not to mention the slightly wonky nature of the architecture. Better days ahead, perhaps? - - JW
Date Taken: 2025-03-18
Date PP: 2025-03-24
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 28mm, ISO100 (Auto ISO), Daylight WB, Ctr Weighted metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/4.5, 1/320 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, apply a little perspective correction, apply Tone Mapping as well as Dynamic Range Compression at default levels, use the Shadows/Highlights tool to recover shadow detail, specifically the dark beams along the top of the frame and the use the Tone Curve 2 tool in Parametric mode to further recover Shadows detail in those beams, very slightly increase Contrast in L-A-B mode, very slightly boost Vibrance to bring out the subtle tones a little, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Curves tool to darken the very darkest areas only, slightly increase both overall contrast and brightness, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project capturing Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. I took advantaged of of a nice warm Spring day to wander the portion of Hamilton, Ontario’s Barton Street East between Wentworth St N and Sherman Ave N to capture more images of the area that has seen better days and is likely to be subject to gentrification efforts. This shows a building located at 164 Sherman Ave N so this is not strictly on Barton St E as the theme would suggest. It is, instead, about 50 metres North of Barton and easily visible from the intersection of the two streets. This dilapidated building sports a large garage door likely intended for a vehicle of some sort. The near-monochrome paint scheme of pale blue and grey, all seriously in need of some work, is accented by some colourful bits of materials adhering to the glass windows in the doors. It also makes the Positively No Parking sign stand out as well. There is no indication on the building or in a Google search, of any commercial function, although it is next door to Wheel Wizards, if that is any help. - JW
Date Taken: 2025-03-18
Date PP: 2025-03-23
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 48mm, ISO125 (Auto ISO), Daylight WB, Ctr Weighted metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/4.0, 1/320 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, apply a little perspective correction and crop to a 5:7 format taking of mainly some intrusive pipes along the left, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, slightly darken image overall by setting Exposure Compensation to EV-0.22, very slightly increase Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Curves tool to darken the very darkest areas only, slightly increase both overall contrast and brightness, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project capturing Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. I took advantaged of of a nice warm Spring day to wander the portion of Hamilton, Ontario’s Barton Street East between Wentworth St N and Sherman Ave N to capture more images of the area that has seen better days and is likely to be subject to gentrification efforts. This shows a side view of the building located at 641Barton St E as well as a bit of the building at 637, as seen from Earl St. The intense sunlight combined with the near-monochromatic colours inherent in the buildings (but NOT B&W), made the decision to PP the image on the lighter side of what I would usually do. FYI, 637 is an appliance and related parts and repair service operation while 641 is a hair and tanning studio. - JW
Date Taken: 2025-03-18
Date PP: 2025-03-21
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 70mm, ISO100 (Auto ISO), Daylight WB, Ctr Weighted metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/8.0, 1/320 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, apply Tone Mapping as well as Dynamic Range Compression at default levels, use the Shadows/Highlights tool to recover both Highlights and Shadows, slightly brighten image overall by setting Exposure Compensation to EV+0.34, increase Contrast and Lightness in L-A-B mode, slightly increase overall contrast, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project capturing Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. This is a boarded-up window in the now-permanently-closed Anytime Convenience store at 653 Barton St E. Looking at the Google Maps Street View image of this building as it appeared in June 2024, there is a For Sale sign on the upper face of the building and that sign indicates it has been depicted as a proposed ‘4-story, 33 units apartment building’. So, gentrification is beginning to take hold. Meanwhile you can have a look at an unintentional abstract illustration in a now-exposed but boarded-up window on the front of the building. - JW
Date Taken: 2025-03-18
Date PP: 2025-03-20
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 31mm, ISO100 (Auto ISO), Daylight WB, Ctr Weighted metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/10.0, 1/320 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide and crop tight to window frame, apply Tone Mapping as well as Dynamic Range Compression at default levels, use the Shadows/Highlights tool to recover Highlights as well as Shadows, use the Graduated Neutral Density/GND tool to lighten NOT darken the shadow area at the top of the window, increase Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, slightly increase Vibrance, sharpen, save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: slightly increase both Contrast and Brightness using the Contrast/Brightness tool, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project capturing Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. I took advantaged of of a nice warm Spring day to wander the portion of Hamilton, Ontario’s Barton Street East between Wentworth St N and Sherman Ave N to capture more images of the area that has seen better days and is likely to be subject to gentrification efforts. This shows a derelict/closed store front located at 587 Barton St E. Once again, my interest was attracted by the various coloured rectangles forming an unintentional abstract. There is no visible identification of the store’s function while open. A bit of Googling provided no enlightenment. - JW
Date Taken: 2025-03-18
Date PP: 2025-03-20
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 24mm, ISO100 (Auto ISO), Auto WB, Ctr Weighted metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/10.0, 1/320 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 8000px wide and crop to a 4:5 format by cutting off a distracting door on the left, level the image and then correct perspective, apply Tone Mapping as well as Dynamic Range Compression at default levels, slightly brighten image overall by setting Exposure Compensation to EV+0.21, increase Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, slightly increase Vibrance, shift Colour Temperature to 5300K (slightly warmer), save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: slightly increase both Contrast and Brightness using the Contrast/Brightness tool, use the Hue-Saturation-Brightness tool to very boost reduce the overall saturation, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project capturing Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. I took advantaged of of a nice warm Spring day to wander the portion of Hamilton, Ontario’s Barton Street East between Wentworth St N and Sherman Ave N to capture more images of the area that has seen better days and is likely to be subject to gentrification efforts. This shows a derelict/closed store front located at 470 Barton St E, across from Woodlands Park. There is no visible identification of the store’s function while open. A bit of Googling suggests its previous life was as Ways To Wisdom a holistic services shop or Future Past Psychics which, as the name would suggest, was offering guidance and wisdom of the past related services. Regardless, the store is now closed and its windows are covered in floral paper, and the facade displays peeling tiles over red brick topped with some purple and green areas. - JW
Date Taken: 2025-03-18
Date PP: 2025-03-19
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 85mm, ISO125 (Auto ISO), Auto WB, Ctr Weighted metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/4.0, 1/320 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, level the image and then correct perspective, crop a little off the right side to better balance the symmetrical composition, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, slightly increase Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, slightly increase Vibrance, shift Colour Temperature to 5474K (slightly warmer), apply sharpening (edges only), save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Levels tool in Auto mode to get a good base tonality and colour balance, use the Curves tool to slightly darken the bottom left portion of the curve, use the Hue-Saturation-Brightness tool to very slightly reduce the overall saturation, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Continuing with the series of images from my wanderings between Hamilton, Ontario’s James Street North and Elgin St, this is an image taken back in October in the alley between 12 and 18 Barton Street East, and shows the wall with window, the bricks of which are painted in black and yellow. An accent of mixed ivies frames the top of the frame. - JW
Date Taken: 2024-10-08
Date PP: 202-03-04
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 44mm, ISO250 (Auto ISO), Daylight WB, Matrix metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/4.0, 1/500 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, apply perspective correction, apply Tone Mapping at default levels, use the Shadows/Highlights tool to recover highlights (the white window frame), slightly increase Contrast and Lightness in L-A-B mode, slightly increase Vibrance, apply a little noise reduction, apply sharpening (edges only), save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the levels tool in Auto mode to get a nice base tonality and colour balance, use the Hue-Saturation-Brightness tool on the yellow channel to slightly increase its saturation, darken image overall slightly by setting Exposure Compensation to EV-0.25, sharpen (edges only), save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Another image for my ongoing project capturing Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. In the back portion of an alley between 355 and 357 Barton, just past the end of the murals at the entrance to that alley, is a shack apparently intended to used for some kind of storage purpose. The doors look like they have been recovered from some derelict building. The remnants of other iterations of paint schemes are revealed as patches somewhat like an abstract representation of this spot. Little touches like a couple of doorknobs and a plastic planter remain. In the hard light on this sunny day, the whole thing has a bit of an abstract painting look. - JW
Date Taken: 2024-10-08
Date PP: 2025-02-21
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
The challenge presented by this frame is the dynamic range: showing the shadow as well as highlight detail. Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 58mm, ISO100 (Auto ISO), Auto WB, Matrix metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/4.5, 1/250 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 8000px wide, crop to a 5:7 format by cutting off some distracting detail along the left side of the frame, level the image, apply Tone Mapping as well as Dynamic Range Compression at default levels, correct the perspective and also level the image, apply tone mapping as well as Dynamic Range Compression, both at default levels, with some additional recovery of the extremes of the tonal range by apply the Tone Equalizer for Shadows as well as Highlights, slightly increase Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, slightly increase Vibrance, apply sharpening (edges only), save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Contrast-Brightness tool to slightly increase Brightness as well as Contrast, boost the colours a little, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
This is another image from by ongoing effort to document the places along Barton Street East in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. At 333 Barton St E is a business called Africco Global Market. Catering, as you might suspect, to African styles and services, it has a large shop window featuring a couple of mannequins dressed, in one case, in a young girl’s pink dress as well as an adult green dress and a blue shirt on some kind of display hanger. In the background are signs for beauty products with a distinct ethnic flair. I find the pink-dressed young girl a bit odd-looking. I had also captured this small mannequin back in March 2023 (www.flickr.com/photos/jwvraets/51955433182/in/datetaken/ ) in another somewhat odd outfit. A bit of colour along Barton East.- JW
Date Taken: 2024-10-08
Date PP: 2025-02-19
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 52mm, ISO100 (Auto ISO), Auto WB, Matrix metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/5.0, 1/250 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, use the Graduated Neutral Density/GND tool rotated to lover the lower right diagonal bright area and use it to bring the tonal range back to a level comparable to the remainder of the image, apply Tone Mapping as well as Dynamic Range Compression at default levels and in addition use the Tone Equalizer tool to bring up Blacks, Shadows, and Highlights, use the Shadows/Highlights tool to recover highlight as well as shadow detail, slightly increase Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, increase Vibrance, apply sharpening (edges only), save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: increase overall contrast and brightness a bit to get toe tonal range back to a more realist/natural level, use the Curves tool to pull up the lower section of the curve, sharpen, save, scale to 6300 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3200 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
This is another image from my ongoing personal project to document Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. This building is located at the Northwest corner of Barton and Emerald. Although the commercial portion of the grey building along Barton hides the architectural detail at ground level, the rest of the building displays it’s stucco cladding with some interesting diamond patterns. This view is the East wall of the building showing some of the residential mailboxes as well as some air conditioning equipment. Taken in harsh light to bring out the textures and PP conversion to B&W/monochrome to remove the trivial colour accents. - JW
Date Taken: 2024-10-08
Date PP: 2025-02-15
(c) Copyright 2025 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 55mm, ISO100 (Auto ISO), Auto WB, Matrix metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/5.6, 1/250 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, level the image and apply some perspective correction, apply both Tone Mapping and Dynamic Range Compression at default levels, use Tone Curve 2 tool in parametric mode to bring up Shadows significantly to get shadow detail and then also do the same with Darks, increase Contrast and decrease Lightness in L-A-B mode, convert to B&W/monochrome, apply sharpening (edges only), save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Levels tool in auto mode to get a better overall tonality, use the Contrast/Brightness tool to boost overall contrast and also brighten slightly, create anew/duplicate layer for adjusting the highlights (i.e. mailboxes) and on that layer mask out all but the mailbox areas, then on the mailbox layer significantly boost contrast and some brightness, create new working layer from visible result, sharpen, save, scale to 6000px wide, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
The 1909 Bank of Montreal now serves as a location of a popular Lebanese restaurant.
Another image for my ongoing project capturing Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ontario. This is one of the buildings I assume are becoming victims of gentirification in the area. The It’s Alright Ma is a record store located at 338 Barton Street East but a search on google indicates it is now permanently closed. Loved the red and black colour scheme. - JW
Date Taken: 2024-10-08
Date PP: 2025-01-04
(c) Copyright 2024 JW Vraets
If you are interested in prints or licensing of any of my images, DM me with a brief description of what you may be looking for.
Tech Details:
Taken using hand-held Nikon D800 fitted with an AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm VR 1:4.0 lense set to 30mm, ISO250 (Auto ISO), Auto WB, Matrix metering, Shutter Priority Mode, f/4.0, 1/250 sec with an EV-0.33 exposure bias. PP in free Open Source RAWTherapee from Nikon RAW/NEF source: Set final image size to 9000px wide, level the image and then correct perspective, crop a little off the right side to better balance the symmetrical composition, apply Tone Mapping as well as Dynamic Range Compression at default levels, use Tone Curve 2 in Parametric mode to recover Highlight detail in the windows, use the Shadows/Highlights tool to recover highlight detail, slightly increase Contrast and Chromaticity in L-A-B mode, slightly increase Vibrance, apply sharpening (edges only), save. PP in free Open Source GIMP: use the Levels tool in Auto mode to get a good base tonality and colour balance, add a non-destructive dodge/burn layer and use it to brighten the lettering of the sign above the door, use the Hue-Saturation-Brightness tool to reduce an excessive magenta cast in the ‘red’ wall, slightly increase the contrast and brightness of the two windows using a layer mask, sharpen, save, scale to 6000 px wide, sharpen, save, add fine black-and-white frame, add bar and text on left, save, scale image to 3000 px wide for posting online, sharpen very slightly, save.
Shop front on Barton Street East - Hamilton, Ontario