Kevin Gebhardt

United States of America: AIR FORCE ONE

kgebhardt2011 — Wed, 23 May 2012 06:17:08 +0000

On Saturday the 19th of May, I was unexpectedly asked to leave work early. I also happen to live in Chicago, IL and the NATO protests were happening. And about half an hour after clocking out and expecting to hang out with my girlfriend for most of the night, my friend Paris asked me to come to his office early for “AF1 landing”. I knew what that meant but waking up that day never did I expect to photograph Air Force One, the aircraft that moves our POTUS around the nation. I was thrilled, anxious, full of exhilaration. These are my photos! Amazing experience.

Proudest moment ever

kgebhardt2011 — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:47:53 +0000

This is possibly my proudest moment in my photo history. Official photos coming soon!

[NEW] Portfolio is Emerging!

kgebhardt2011 — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:02:15 +0000

Progress has slowed but this is what I have to show! Updating my portfolio section shortly!

Extensive Re-edits

kgebhardt2011 — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:33:02 +0000

For the past several months, I have been in a class instructed by Peter Thompson. I have add the pleasure of basically learning how to professionally use photoshop and use smart organization techniques as well as making an image look believable and not “over edited.”

So what I have been planning for sometime is to go back and do extensive work on my collection of photos that already have been published to the web and reissue them with all new global and local adjustments, brand new softening/sharpening techniques and new HDR (for landscape only) techniques.

It is a huge undertaking but I am still in the position to do such a thing in my career and it would also be a really good learning experience.

This is also in preparation for me to print a professional portfolio.

Here are two reworked images:

Chicago Cyclist Commuters, Part 2.

kgebhardt2011 — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:19:56 +0000

First set of TREK Bicycles I have photographed! Also the newest generation in frame geometry! (Sloping top tubes)

Definitely a challenge at hanging them at first but the Soho was the easiest by far after the 1.2 WSD. These are also the first pair(or perhaps 3) to get my latest lighting technique that will be applied to all future bicycles that I will photograph.

More to come!

- Kevin Gebhardt

(The End) Winter Cycling Commuting, Continued

kgebhardt2011 — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:59:26 +0000

(Continued from previous post: here)

Today marks the first day of spring with a high 0f 80. I can proudly say I survived my first Bike Winter 2011-12 Chicago!

Despite forecasts of a bad winter, my bosses telling me I would hate it a lot, and other people thinking I’m crazy, well, guess what! It was super mild, dry and a blast! Yeah, there were some really cold days with temperatures down to 10F but I made it through. I know it’s still the end of March and things could still go awry weather-wise but the worst is over in terms of low temperatures and the probability of heavy snow fall is very small now.

Regardless, KEEP RIDING! BIKE SPRING IS HERE! And this warm weather is very rewarding after these past cool months.

Ride on!

- Kevin

Chicago Cyclist Commuter: Bicycles

kgebhardt2011 — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:56:26 +0000

A series I am working on to display the bicycles being used in the City of Chicago.

Those that would like to contribute a bike to be photographed, email me! kevingebhardt@gmail.com

- Kevin

Mock Chrome Advertisements

kgebhardt2011 — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:41:47 +0000

I definitely posted this late, however, this is the rough draft of an advertisement line of Chrome bags. The intent of the project is for my Studio final. While the final will be in B&W (class requirement), the official version will be in full colour. The idea is to be shot in and around Chicago as well as some shots done in the studio.

That’s all the info for now!

Kevin Gebhardt.

New Portrait Work

kgebhardt2011 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:07:21 +0000

Very happy with the results of all three, really great people that I worked with. I was able to really work on new editing skills and work on how to compose people in my frame. Definitely not easy but I also get a huge joy out of it. In all honesty, I could shoot all day nearly every day and be the happiest man alive.

Calesta, Paris, Sierra: Thank you very much! Hope to work with you guys again.

Now, on the technical stand point, and finally being able to say that I am extremely comfortable with my new camera. I am comfortable with my new camera. I do go by the saying or “philosophy” of it’s not the camera it’s the photographer. But I would not have achieved the clarity and editing capability that I have done with the low-end imaging device I used to wield. The Nikon D7000 is a winner in my book and am quite happy investing in this camera system. But I am no fan boy!

Links:

Calesta’s Photo Set

Paris’s Photo Set

Sierra’s Photo Set

Winter Cycling Commuting, Thus Far.

kgebhardt2011 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:29:35 +0000

Some people think I am a nut for cycling in the winter time. Some people think it is dangerous to ride in the winter or led to believe bikes should not be allowed on the streets during the cold months. In my opinion, they are flat out wrong and definitely do not understand at all.

First and foremost, being to cold out? Never. Even when the temperatures plummeted to single digits (in F) I still rode. I still came to work sweaty. Why? Body heat. I was far warmer then those waiting for buses, trains or just walking. I felt bad for them. While you are driving your car and your heater still hasn’t heated up, I was warmer then you even though you were in an enclosed metal box. It’s all about how you layer! And there have been times, even at 24F when I had one too many layers on. And I usually only wear two at most!

I am not hating on cars in this blog. Just to get that out of the way.

Now, you ask, what about snow? That’s something completely different. I wouldn’t even drive with heavy snowfall. And we’ve only had 3 heavy snowfall days. I took 4 or 5 days off just for that. Common sense ruled in this case. Still have I have knobbier tires and shoe covers, I will stay off the bicycle.

I did ride in one of those snowstorms! Unbelievably fun, but the end result led to soaked shoes and extremely dirty bike. So worth it though. From a commuting stand point, I’ll pass till the day after the snowfall for clear roads.

To sum it up, this winter cycling commute, has been amazing and totally worth it and has proved to me that cycling is a VERY viable way of getting around even on the coldest days. Sometimes, yeah, common sense will work its way to mind, especially on bad weather days.

Light snow, cold days, and layering don’t bother me. Get a bike and ride!

To Be Continued.