Photographer
All photos on this website were shot by Allen Matheson; read
the bibliography if interested.
Licensing and Photo Use
or contact Allen Matheson with specific questions at allen@photohome.com or
by phone at 281-554-4393.
Camera Equipment
Most images were shot with Canon and Sony digital cameras:
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Canon Cameras, Lenses, and Accessories
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These digital SLR cameras have features that are simple enough for the average consumer to use, in addition to several advanced options to satisfy professional photographers.
They have a very fast startup time, long battery life, a fully usable ISO range, and very solid bodies.
They can also shoot in a continuous burst mode,
as well as save both RAW and JPEG formats at the same time.
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Canon EF 70-200mm
f2.8 IS Lens
The pinnacle in Canon's
constant-aperture telephoto zoom lenses, the
70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens can help produce
incredible photos. Incorporating Canon’s second
generation Image Stabilization technology, this
lens responds in as little as 0.5 seconds, while
providing up to three stops of correction for
camera shake.
Two-stage Image Stabilization
can correct for all types of camera shake or
just up/down shake (for use when panning with a
moving subject).
Its AF system has been refined
from previous lenses for better response time
and tracking speed, and the 8-blade circular
aperture offers a more pleasing out-of-focus
image. Constructed to professional standards,
this fast zoom is also highly resistant to dust
and moisture.
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Canon EF-S 18-55mm
Lens
A low cost, lightweight lens that
works great for wide angle and landscape shots.
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Canon Zoom Wide
Angle-Telephoto EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6
Autofocus Lens
A great all-purpose lens with a
very wide zoom range.
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Canon 580ex Speedlite Flash
The Speedlite communicates with
the Canon EOS camera body to determine
information about the image, such as the
distance of the subject, then adjusts the power
and the flash zoom based on this data in order
to provide an accurate exposure.
The flash has a very fast
recycle time and is compatible with Canon's
E-TTL (Evaluative Through The Lens) auto
exposure technology. It can serve as a wireless
master to compatible slave units, or as a slave
to other Speedlites.
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Kenko Teleconverter: Teleplus PRO 300 DG 2.0x for Canon EOS cameras
This cost effective teleconverter doubles the range of any attached lens, and works best with telephoto and zoom lenses between 200mm and 500mm. It should not be used with lenses starting under 50mm, but works great with the Canon Telephoto EF 70-200mm lens.
These converters are made with precision quality multicoated optical glass supplied by Hoya. The glass elements are designed to match the optical quality of the attached lens. They also have Gate Array Integrated Circuitry, which enables the converter to maintain signal integrity between the camera body and lens. |
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Kenko Automatic Extension Tube Set DG (3 rings) for Canon EOS cameras
Extension tubes are designed to enable a lens to focus closer than its normal minimum focusing distance, which has the effect of magnifying the subject. This enables you to convert almost any lens into a macro lens at a fraction of the cost, while maintaining the original optical quality.
These extension tubes have no optics. They are mounted in between the camera body and lens to create more distance between the lens and the sensor. By moving the lens farther away from the sensor, it focuses much closer than normal. The greater the length of the extension tube, the closer the lens can focus.
The Kenko extension tube set has three tubes of different lengths: 12 mm, 20 mm, and 36 mm, which can be used individually or in any combination to obtain the desired magnification.
As long as enough light is available, Kenko's extension tubes will maintain auto focus and TTL auto exposure between the Canon camera body and lens. |
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Sony Cybershot High-End Digital Cameras
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These High-end F-Series Sony Cybershot
cameras have a swiveling Carl Zeiss lens, allowing for
taking shots in awkward positions, and a digital viewfinder.
They produce high-quality, sharp pictures with low noise. |
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Sony High Grade 0.7X Wide Angle Lens (VCL-MHG07)
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Great for those shots where you're really cramped for space. |
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Sony external flash for the DSC-F707 (HVLF1000)
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Triggered by a sync cord instead of hot shoe, allowing you to handhold the flash and easily direct or bounce the light as needed.
For this shot of Willie Nelson, I held the flash in my hand and bounced it off of a wall, creating a fill effect similar to light coming in through a window. |
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Minolta XG-1 35mm SLR film camera
In use from 1982 to 2001. Three lenses: a 28-70mm macro/zoom, a 75-200mm zoom, and a 500mm telephoto. Also, I usually shot with Kodak Royal Gold film (usually ASA/ISO 100).
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Software and Hardware:
Filters
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was! I haven't used filters much since switching to digital, but back in the day, it was all Cokin:
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Cokin Creative Filter A160 Linear Polarizer
- If I've got a good subject with some blue sky and my back is to
the sun, I'll usually try to enhance the blue by snapping in the
Polarizer and rotating it until the sky is as dark as possible.
I used this filter lots. |
Cokin Creative Filter A005 Sepia - Although the primary intent of this filter is to get that "antiqued"
look, I prefer to use it for sunrise and sunset photos. In this southern Kauai coastal shot, the sun was creeping up to
the left, but it wasn't necessary to have it in the frame or to
have any clouds to help paint the sky; the sepia tones gave it the
effect I was looking for. |
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Cokin Creative Filter A056 Star 8
- This filter can help produce some beautiful sunrise and sunset
pictures if used properly. To achieve a pinpoint starburst with
thin lines, I position myself so the sun is barely peeking
through the subject before snapping the picture. Combining
this filter with the sepia or polarizer (as shown here) can also produce some striking results. |
Cokin A375 Filter, A, Creative Filters
- This is a collection of acetate filters that I rarely use
because of their low quality optical definition, but they can
create a nice diffusion effect in some cases, such as in this Colorado
landscape. |
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Photohome.com
Allen Matheson
3304 Walnut Cove Ct.
Friendswood, TX 77546
allen@photohome.com
(fastest response is by email)
281-554-4393
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- Image editing
- Workflow for large collections
- for scanning in old negatives and slides
