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Monthly Archives: November 2010
Doll Face
More Best Of The Best
Maybe a commentary on how marketing tagets self esteem in the perpetual search for the best unattainalbe self. And it’s very entertaining too.
A machine with a doll face mimics images on a television screen in search of a satisfactory visage. Doll Face presents a visual account of desires misplaced and identities fractured by our technological extension into the future. Created by Andy Huang.
Look for more Photography Back to Basics in the next couple of weeks.
I’ll be taking a look back at some of the first steps anyone can take in getting out the Auto Shooting mode and moving towards the beginnings of understanding the language and essentials for better digital photography.
Besides, photography should be fun!
Salamagica, The Master Digital Artist
You have to see this talent. Incredible imagination and technique. Any budding graphic designer will appreciate the awesome imagery of Ricardo Salamanca (aka Salamagica).
Ricardo is a master at gathering photos that will meet the needs of the vision he has in mind. Then, he takes it into his world. This is top notch photography blending and digital editing art at it’s best. From fun and playful to dark and emotional, Ricardo conveys powerfully.
Link advisory.
Although most of Ricardo’s work is creatively playful, a small portion does depict violence and a bit of sexuality. The photos we are showcasing on this web page should be just fine for most viewers. The Creative Commons license does require a link to Ricardo’s site and credit.
Just so you know.
Here’s a link to a more complete collection of Ricardo Salamanca’s work.
MAMA Photography is always G rated.
Are you a trend spotter? Find something out of the ordinary? Tell me about it.
The Other HDR Photographs Gallery
Going through the vault I found various HDR photography projects. Some never published on the internet. If something doesn’t work out, delete. But sometimes…some projects just hang out on the hard drive until I get an inkling. So I’m inkling.
The HDR journey continues. Recently back from Niagara Falls too. More to come!
A look in the rear view mirror.
Click any thumbnail to enlarge.
Your questions and comments are always welcomed.
MYTH: ISO Makes Exposure Lighter Or Darker
What is ISO? How Does It Work?
I don’t care much for a bucket full of technical terminology. Let’s use language we can all understand. Information for the masses, yeah!
The ISO setting is common to all digital cameras and I’ll show you how, why and when to change it. You’ll be on your way to becoming one of the more enlightened photographers of the day.
Challenging the ISO myth.
I’ve updated the test challenge with some shots I took today.
NOTE: Some have tried this test hand held, then cling to the myth because the exposure changes…and of course it will. That’s because it’s not possible to take the exact same shot in succession holding a camera. The slightest movement from one shot to the next changes the outcome.
Setting up for the ISO demonstration shots:
- Tripod.
- Panning head locked in position.
- Remote shutter release.
- Repeat the same shot at ISO intervals 100, 200, 400, 600, etc.
- Upload to the blog.
- See with our own eyes.
Results: (see the film strip on the right)
The exposure for each is about the same. Pretty boring huh?
If the camera sensor is more sensitive to light as the ISO setting goes up, why doesn’t the shot get lighter?
That’s the right question.
There’s a balancing act going on inside your camera.
Each time the ISO gets higher with more light sensitivity to the camera sensor, the shutter speed gets faster and faster letting in less light to the sensor.
Higher ISO + faster shutter speed = no significant change in exposure outcome.
Together, they create a balance.
Sort of canceling each other out with the benefit of a faster shutter speed.
Summary:
Increasing the ISO value boosts your shutter speed without significant change to the exposure.
It’s that simple.
How, when and why to use ISO.
Use the ISO function in any low light situation where you need to boost the shutter speed, better avoiding camera shake (blurry photos).
- You can’t change the ISO setting in Full Auto Mode. The camera makes all the decisions. You Need to use P (Program Shooting mode or any other semi automatic or manual shooting mode you are comfortable with).
- Light indoors is most commonly inadequate. Even in a room your eyes perceive to be well lit. The camera shutter needs to remain open longer. This causes blurry photos when you hold the camera. Good time for a higher ISO.
- Many cameras will display the shutter speed when you partially depress the shutter button. Do this while pointing at your proposed subject(s). You’ll require about 1/300 of a second on telephoto (zoomed in) shots and about 1/30 of a second on wide angle shots (zoomed out). Results will vary depending on the camera and lens, so this is a guideline. Need more speed? Increase the ISO.
- Use higher ISO settings outdoors on very overcast (heavily clouded) days or in the shade where natural sunlight in compromised.
- ISO becomes more important to Digital SLR shooters who, when implementing other functions, features and lens capabilities still need an extra boost to the shutter speed. ISO may be the last consideration.
- Increasing the ISO is not a concern in most cases when shooting still life using a tripod and a remote shutter release (or self timer) as there is very little or no risk of movement. Slow shutter speed + movement = motion blur.
What about noise?
There is some notable digital noise (graininess) that can creep into photos shot at the highest ISO settings. My take on it? I’d rather have some digital noise than a memory card full of blurry shots. ISO performance in digital cameras keeps getting better over time.
Let me know if you have any questions on this or any related topics. I’ll be glad to help and maybe even feature your question.
Elvis Presley Cheetos Painting on Velvet?
Who knew? Artist media just gets more and more creative. Cheese puffs. Add some high speed video and it gets pretty entertaining.
Cheetos and Rock ‘n’ Roll!
It’s Eclectic Asylum Art. They have lots of imaginative media to choose from like french fries and ketshup or chocolate just to name a few. It’s always fast and fun. Enjoy the show.
You know you’re always welcomed to share anything with us.
Weird, I’m feeling hungry.
Xi3 4 Inch Cube Computer Starting @ $849
Tip from Carter Apps. Thanks!
You just can’t ignore it. It’s cool. With ever changing technology, today it’s an awesome footprint.
Starting at $849, you can choose your color too. I’m looking at my PC right now and thinking about the space I can reclaim. Looks like you’ll have to pay extra for your Windows OS though. So that puts you at about $1000 to get started.
So would you like fries with that? Pick from blue, green, yellow, purple, red, orange, turquoise, black, chrome.
OK, now we gotta look at some specs!
- AMD Athlon 64 X2 up to 35 Watts – AMD 780e and SB710
- Integrated 2GB DDR2 667/800 for increased capability in shock
- Supports dual display for 1080p DVI, VGA, HDMI, LVDS and DP
- Supports 128MB of side port memory, Blue-Ray hardware decode
- Supports 6 USB Ports and 2 SATA Ports, Xi3p and PCIe 1x
- Supports TPM and ISV Software Hardware License Lock (optional)
- Patent protected platform to build your solutions around
Please always consider donating your old computers for recycling or to organizations that can continue to put them to good use.
Look, I don’t blame you for being off the the Xi3 site to have a closer look. There’s no fighting it.
Here’s the link.
See ya back soon.
More On Making Panoramas
Manfrotto 804RC2 Pan Tilt Head with Quick Lock
I like the simple ball head mount with quick release for my tripod and monopod because it’s fast. One clamp to release, set, and shoot. The more typical pan tilt head has three handles to adjust. I don’t worry much about horizons being straight because I can eye it up pretty good and adjust it easily with PhotoShop. Today I tested a Manfrotto 804RC2 pan tilt head. Just a test, then the real fun begins hunting for more panoramas on those cloudy days to come. I’ll certainly share to good stuff with you.
First Panning Test – Old Main Street in Newmarket, Ontario.
Click photo to enlarge.
How this was shot for photo stitching.
- Level the camera on the tripod. The pan tilt head used here has a bubble level.
- Eight portrait orientation photos with lots of overlap for better stitching results.
- f14 aperture for long of depth of field (use Aperture Priority so the DOF is the same on every shot).
- Engaged the auto focus on the first shot and switch the lens to manual for the same focus on every shot.
- Picked an overcast day so dynamic range is less of a problem. Clouds are great.
You can still do panoramic photo stitching using hand-held shots. As I’ll be doing more of this, using a pan head will mean being successful more often.
How to stitch with PhotoShop’s Photomerge
- From the file menu at the top, select File > Automate > Photomerge.
- When the Photomerge dialog box opens, select Cylindrical when using wide angle focal lengths. If you find your horizon bulging upwards, select Spherical. Some experimenting may be required.
- Now browse your and select all the images for your stitching.
- If preferred, you can open all your images for stitching in PhotoShop first, follow the same steps and instead of Browsing, select Add Open Files.
Similarly outlined in this article complete with screen shots.
Manfrotto 804RC2 Pan Tilt Head with Quick Lock
It’s pretty bulky for my liking and hiking. This will be fine for urban safaris. Before the next trip I’ll likely pick up a Markins Q-Ball. The Manfrotto for now is a great value and sturdy enough for a full size SLR and lens. The horizontal pan moves smoothly with no vertical jiggle. Not pro gear, but good’n'firm build, very well priced.
For panoramic shooting, the Markins Q-Ball is really optimum for trekking and traveling. It’ll cost ya, but it’s top shelf.
Thanks for dropping by.
Questions and comments are always welcomed. Hey, got any cool panoramas to share?
Animator Versus Animation – Best of the Best
When Flash Goes Bad
Yes, another all time favorite. Flash Animation Designers wish they’d come up with this. You likely thought about something like it before it ever hit the internet. Alan Becker is the brains behind this creative desktop take over with hits in the millions since around 2006. Alan’s creative gem has since evolved into a few other dramatic versions. Here’s the one that started it all.
Why? Because Alan can.
So what do you have that’s cooler than this? Send it to me. Fun was meant to be shared.
Revisiting the Best of the Best in Creative Commercials
Red Versus Green
This one came out a few years ago and still reigns as a memorable production. Don’t you just love it when advertisers have the gumption to do something different? That’s often what good marketing is all about. Standing out from the rest. Looks like the ending was cut off showing us this was an ad for Snickers. Careful though, sometimes the ad can be too entertaining and we forget what the product was. That ever happen to you?
Mesmorizing Footwork
Soccer Trivia
- Diego Maradona was only 16 when he made his soccer debut for Argentina.
- Soccer is the most played and most watched sport on Earth.
- Soccer is called football in practically every country except America, who call ‘Grid Iron’ football and call football soccer.
This web-cast is of awesome sports talent in an entertaining compilation of fancy footwork highlights. These professionals make the moonwalk look like child’s play. It’s the art of misdirection, mesmerizing opponents and messing with their minds.
Shot Of The Day (Country Panorama)
I like to go out and find what I wasn’t looking for.
Eight shot panorama.
I’m off to the local farm to get fresh free range eggs. That means I grab my back pack full of shooting gear and tripod because you never know what you might find along the way. Sure enough, after I get the eggs I feel the mysterious magnetic pull in the opposite direction of home.
So there I am on a hill top. The clouds are great and fill the skyline with texture. This will do nicely. Eight portrait orientation shots across the horizon. Back at the studio, I’ll stitch it all together.
Click to enlarge…
Curious about anything? Have any questions? Ask.
Anyone Can PhotoShop
I still doodle with a pen. It’s fun just kinda letting the pen take me to unexpected places. Now, I sort of do that with PhotoShop. I’ll poke around some photos stored I might not have seen in years and start having fun.
Do you find PhotoShop intimidating?
Beginners usually do. My first kick at the can didn’t go very well. I never looked at PhotoShop for six months after my first try. Glad I went back and persisted. A terrific hobby turned career. I’ll tell you more about that in just a minute.
Here’s today’s PhotoShop fun. Click to enlarge.
You can make photos sing!
Before…
Let’s take a look at the before image here with no editing applied. It’s a good shot, but PhotoShop can make images sing! You can see we added a little visitor to the completed photo edit above.
PhotoShop versus PhotoShop Elements. What’s the difference?
PhotoShop
- PhotoShop is the professional industry standard on the planet for photography and graphic design.
- Purchase cost is higher the PhotoShop Elements.
PhotoShop Elements
- Used to be touted as the scaled down version of PhotoShop but in recent years has become very robust of features and support for RAW files of all major camera manufacturers.
- A fraction of the price of PhotoShop and geared more specifically to digital photographers.
- More Auto Fix and Guided features for beginners and novice.
- Lots of advanced editing features if you want to go deeper.
How to get a free 30 day trail download.
When you go to Adobe.com’s download site, you have to create an account. It’s free and you get the privilege of access to all downloads and other cool resources.
Make the pledge…to have fun!
A Better Mouse Trap Shoulder Strap
Real Product Innovation -
Having spent a good part of my career in the retail industry, some of it as a buyer for a national chain, I have a good appreciation for innovative products. Just days before a trip, I had to check out what Blackrapid had first hand. Me and my old neck strap weren’t getting along. We would go our separate ways.
The old strap
- A neck strap works fine and does what it does. Hangs a camera around your neck or across your shoulder.
- The rubber backing at the strap’s mid point always wedgied my shirt around to my back when I had my camera placed at my side and want to grab it to take a shot. I didn’t always want it hanging in front all the time, particularly when hiking or scrambling rock.
- If this were a high noon at the OK Coral, when I need to shoot, sometimes I need to shoot fast. The typical neck strap doesn’t give me an edge. I wasn’t going to win a draw.
The new strap innovation
- Blackrapid figured it out. Even the basic strap in the product line up makes sense. The straps have more relevant functions and are designed for how we shoot and handle a camera. The motion and flow of grasping the camera is smooth.
- I can have my hands free for other things.
- The video says it all…have a look see.
Which one?
You have some choices and price points.
the RS4 is the most basic and other models allow you to add some useful accessories to your Blackrapid strap.
I had watched the video a few times and got one just a few days before traveling. No more fidgeting. Smooth action every time. When taking thousands of shots on the usual trip, it a big deal.
Have fun and happy hunting with your camera!
Got a question, just ask. Comments, share them.
How to Shoot Thundermonks
One More Jam - Thundermonks 2010
“Sorry for the short notice, but are you available this Saturday?”
That was the message from Sandra Cowan. Another photographer fell through. Could be fun. A poolside farewell concert by the Thundermonks. An awesome seven piece band that’s been together for their high school years. Graduating, they’d all be heading off to further their educations. This would be the last hurrah (maybe).
What’s the protocol for shooting a poolside jam? Improvise.
Some lighting, 100 foot extension cords, flash, diffuser, plenty of spare rechargeable batteries and memory cards. I’ll figure it out as I go. I work best this way.
As the band members arrived, I was shooting them like a paparazzi. I approached and with my best Steve Irwin said, “Just pretend I’m not ‘ear, I want to get photos of you in your natural habitat.”
Click any photos to enlarge.
Ben Foran - Guitar
How to shoot a casual poolside concert event:
- Start with some test shots. Check and select your shooting mode, white balance, shutter speed, aperture, ISO.
- Fresh battery, cleared memory card.
- Scope out the grounds. Get a feel for the potential angles and perspectives.
- Shoot constantly.
- When anyone starts to “smile for the camera”, shuffle away like you’re on the go. After the second or third time you come back around, they’ll be used to your clicking and ignore you (that’s what you want). Conversing, laughing and being natural, candid. Be aware of who’s arriving. Make sure you get around to guests flowing in, but not immediately. Let them socialize for a while, warm up. Get some editorial shots along the way, like food and drinks, scenes.
- When the band plays:
- Get up really close and personal. Right in there with the band. Move amongst them while they play.
- Shoot from high points and low perspectives. Any angle that comes to mind, just do it.
- Get wide group shots.
- Have a cocktail. Make it quick.
- Go back and shoot some more. A lot more.
Duncan Hook - Drums / Vox
Sam Tait - Trumpet / MC / Vox
Now I have all these photos. What do I do next?
A well organized photographer will have a website to upload the photos for choosing prints, print sizes, quantities and the like. It’s a very popular process and works swimmingly for most. I prefer self publishing (more ahead).
Market creatively, stand out.
I want to spend more time taking photos and self publishing if a lot more fun. There are many self publishing services out there.
“I find the self publishing process creatively satisfying and my clients love it.”
.
Here’s how it works:
- Find self publishing software and services that work for your needs. Do something personal for your first few projects. Don’t experiment on a client. That’s like trying a recipe for the first time on your dinner guests.
- Pick a relevant layout, colors, and design.
- Pick the money shot for the cover. That one image that’s going to define the relevant feeling.
- Organizing your shots – go with chronology, keep it simple and the story will unfold.
- Don’t over burden with text. Use very little if any. It distracts. Let the photos speak.
- Order a sample.
- Take some photos of that sample and post web page like this. Now you have some product photography savvy too!
- Send the link to your client.
- Wait for the reaction.
If you don’t have the web know how for the web page suggested, bring your client the sample. It will have the same impact.
.
The usual way:
Online web site with uploaded photos, selecting prints.
- “True” quality professional prints can really add up. Your costs and your client’s.
- Well, it’s the “usual”.
- They would have only highlights of the event. They could buy up just about all the shots online and put them into photo albums.
The self publishing way:
- Now they have all the best photos. The whole story in a great looking hard cover book.
- The web page generates the order.
- The sample arrives in 3 to 5 days.
- The sample can be reviewed and easily revamped. Ben had great suggestions.
- The final order quantities arrive in the next 3 to 5 days.
- Deliver, distribute, enjoy!
Andre Brault (Keys / Vox), Stacey Shopsowitz (Bass), Sam Tait (Trumpet / MC / Vox)
Thank you! Great people and great music…hey, that reminds me, I was suppose to buy a Thundermonks CD!
“Wow! What a great and “Marc-like” idea. Can I get 10 copies?”
-Sandra Cowan
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Creative Commons the New Era for Terms of Use
Photography. It’s for the eyes.
Photography is meant to be seen, shared and enjoyed. Have fun with my photos and share them at will.
Creative Commons brings in a new era for photographers.
Creative Commons is a widely recognized standard to define permissions (or terms of use) for the original work of photographers, artists, writers, etc.
Using Creative Commons allows your photography to get around, to be shared and enjoyed by people around the planet under terms that you the photographer set out, while, if you so desire, have the reins on commercial use. To find out more and define your Creative Commons License, check out creativecommons.org.
Who Uses CC?
- Flickr
- Nine Inch Nails
- Whitehouse.gov
An outline of Marc’s terms -
Use of images -
All of my images are Creative Commons, Non-Commercial.
For Commercial use -
Contact me using this email form.
Feel free to use my images on your blog or website.
You must:
- Show a link to MAMAphotography.ca
- Name credit to Marc Mantha
Here’s more to outline what a Creative Commons License is with some guidelines on how Marc’s photography can be used.
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons means you are free:
- To Share – Copy, Distribute, and Transmit images
- To Remix – Create Derivative works of my images
Under these conditions:
- Attribution - Attribution to Marc Mantha and MAMA Photography must be made along with the image.
- Non-Commercial – The image must not be used for commercial purposes under any circumstances. For clarity on what is commercial use, please see below.
Sample Accepted Use Of The Creative Commons License:
- Blog Post describing about travel in Europe.
- Online article on photography and photo editing.
- A website for a school project on taking photos in low light.
- Someone using an image as a desktop background on their computer screen.
License To Copyright
Commercial Use regarding the use of images online or offline is only broadly defined. The determination of commercial or non-commercial use is based on the contextual use of the image. The determination is NOT based on the tax-filing status of the entity using the image nor on whether or not a financial transaction takes place.
Commercial use of Marc Mantha’s images is allowed only if expressly granted by him. All commercial uses will incur a licensing fee. Fees are based on the following:
- Media – print, web, television, …
- Distribution Size – number of copies printed, viewing audience size, exposure (regional, national, international)
- Length of Use – 3 months, 1 year, 5 years, …
- Prominence of Display – 1/4 page, 1/2 page, full page, spread, front cover, back cover, online as a home page versus interior page, …
Sample Use Requiring A License To Copyright:
- A marketing campaign for a commercial entity.
- A fund-raising campaign for a not-for profit entity.
- A background image for a website about furniture.
- License to create an individual print for use in a private home.
Photography by Marc Mantha is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Have any questions? Just ask.
So have fun with my photos!
Bike Helmets With Real Outer Skins?
These ought to cause some double takes on the open road. This is what we in the industry call “tight” editing. This is entirely plausible as a product line. The marketing agency is certainly touting it’s outstanding creativity and PhotoShop know-how. It’s worth a look for all you aspiring digital editors out there.
The marketing company is Good.
How’d they do that?
The outer design of the helmet skins are images of real people and things. You’d photograph the subjects you want to put on the helmets at angles that match the product shots and work your PhotoShop magic. Now that’s the 2D way these mock ups would have been created. But could this actually be created as a real 3D product? What do you think? Could several images from multiple angles be mapped out for print and wrapped onto the helmet?
Got something wild, interesting or just really cool to share? Send it to me. This site is G rated by the way.
Have fun! Fun is good. Have some everyday.
Uh Oh, Look What Dad Did!
Where’s the little kid in you?
Kids have the most inspiring minds. Just listen and watch. Remember that little kid in you? Still there you know. Set the child free. That’s what Jason Lee does.
He connects with his kids and he can think like them, bringing their imaginations to life through the imagery he creates. So next time you budding photographers think you’re in a slump, remember Jason’s inner child. You have one too!
Most of Jason’s work we’re showcasing here, are a very clever blend of individual shots, while others are just delightfully clever. For the blending of shots to complete the idea, that’s about thinking ahead. Sort of like…how do I set up some shots to piece the concept to life? Scroll down and take a look. You can probably figure them out.
Now the fun part! The creative imagery of Jason Lee
Following up on Ian Worling’s lead, contacting Jason Lee and getting this article up all took place in a matter of hours. That’s how we roll at MAMA Photography. Oh, and thanks to Ian Worling (again), for bringing Jason and his remarkable creative talent to my attention.
OK, just a few more of our favorites…click to view.
Do you have ideas bubbling?
Let those creative juices flow. Combining photography with photo editing is a great way to build memories and have a ton of fun at the same time. Those kids must love seeing the outcomes of Dad’s work. Imagine showing their friends all the cool photos they have – a zillion giggles!
Anytime you need a little inspiration or a smile, keep this in your Favorites just a click away. Share it with other budding photographers…to be a kid again!
Thanks Jason!
Check out Jason at Flickr. Bet you can’t resist.
World Order In New York (Genki Sudo)
Nice YouTube find by Ian Worling. I agree with with Ian. Even though I don’t know what they’re singing about, it’s very creative and feels inspiring.
They’re looping movements in slow mo to regular speed is so cool. Some New Yorkers look on curiously, while others barely notice the performers. Talent just landed again in New York.
Wider Angle Without Breaking The Bank?
Fabio has a question.
“I am looking for a lens that will give me a little more wide range than the 18-55mm lens that came with my EOS T2i…Can you recommend one that will do “wide angle” type of shots but will also not break my bank account (Without sacrificing quality, etc) I don’t ask for much do I?”
Thanks in advance!
~ Fabio Celeita
Excellent question Fabio, thanks for taking a moment to share that with us.
That 18-55mm kit lens is a great way to get started, but soon enough outgrown. Beware though, the “wider” angle lenses get pricey. Let’s see what we can do.
More “wide angle”
Off brands will give you a few more alternatives in this case then Canon. Sigma has been in the lens game for a long time. With your Canon EOS T2i, you’re looking for those Sigma Lenses tagged as DC. The DGs on the other hand are designed for full frame sensors.
No secret that barreling distortion goes up on the “wider” range of the focal length. Barreling is easily corrected with the Lens Correction feature in PhotoShop. Then sometimes the barreling is left for creative reasons and visual drama.
In the Canon line up, it can be a little pricey and most of the “really wide angle” goodies are the high end L series glass. One that is not L series and little more reasonably priced, the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM at around $700 to $800. The effective focal length range is about 16-35mm in 35mm format. Only fits on the EOS Digital Rebel series or 20D, 30D, 40D and 50D, 7D SLR cameras.
Options with the Sigma brand:
- 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM Price: $1,100.00 MSRP
- 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM Price: $740.00 MSRP
- 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM Price: $950.00 MSRP (Constant Aperture)
More details on the above noted Sigma lenses – click here.
The Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM might have just a little more performance that the 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM on how fast the lens is. I find that Canon quoting the effective focal length as 16-35mm a little confusing while stating it’s designed for the APS-C sensors(?).
Cheap and cheerful, not really.
More “specific use” wide angle lenses would be wide angle prime and fish eye. I find these really cool, but limited use.
The Standard Zoom Lenses – The Walk Around Lens
More for others who would be reading this post…
The Sigma so called multipurpose DC zoom lenses (walk around lenses) give lots of choices starting at around $400. Focal lengths on the wide end start at 17mm up to some telephoto range topping at 250mm.
For Canon, a good walk around lens is the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. The IS buys you a few f-stops indoors. So you have some wide angle and a bit of telephoto for under $600.
There’s always eBay. I really like Craig’s list for buying and selling. I can always find people in the region and check out the gear first hand.
Just an L series thought…
We all tend to be budget savvy. I went through two APS-C size sensor SLR cameras before going to a full frame sensor. While I had one those smaller sensor cameras, I came across a good deal on a professional L series lens. The crop factor wasn’t a big deal, I had a ton of fun using it. When that time came for my first full frame digital camera, I enjoyed the top notch performance of that lens and still have it today.
A well maintained L series lens will hold it’s value very well.
If anyone has questions…you know what to do.
Exposure Blending Magic (HDR) & Lab Sharpening
You can make photos sing and expand the dynamic range that the human eye detects in real life. HDR or High Dynamic Range is a blending of exposures that opens up the darkest and lightest visual elements. Now I can bring out a version that’s closer to what I’d seen with my eyes. The cool thing I’m going to let you in on, is creating multiple exposures from just one JPG. Not even a RAW format…and it works. Check out the before and after (Click on the “after” image to enlarge).
HDR Drama!
I’m a professional and I promised not to fall into the pit of over-processing with HDR. But I did. Who could resist that surreal pop of 3D-ishness. After several hundreds of HDR renderings with Photomatix Pro, I have toned it down. You only need to recheck the original to see how much detail pops with only moderately strong Tone Mapping settings. There are a few other types of HDR functions with Photomatix Pro, but Tone Mapping (Details Enhancer) is the star feature.
How to create multiple exposures from one JPEG
This first point is a must – launch PhotoShop and go to File > Open. You must open the JPEG file from the application.
Follow these steps:
- Launch PhotoShop
- File > Open
- Note the Format or File Type at the bottom of the Open dialog box.
- Change the Format or File Type to Camera Raw and open.
- This launches the digital photo in the PhotoShop Raw Editor.
- Now create your three exposures the same as you would using one Raw format image.
Now you’re using a single shot JPEG to create multiple exposure magic!
Once you’ve processed your images in Photomatix Pro and saved your final blended image I tend to use the Smart Sharpen tool on the Lightness layer in Lab Color Channel.
The PhotoShop Lab Sharpening Technique for Printing
- With your photo opened, go to Image > Mode > Lab Color
- In the Layers Panel, click on the Channels tab and click on the Lightness layer.
- Your image turns to black and white.
- From the file menu, select Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen.
- Set Amount to about 200% or more .
- Set the Radius to about 2 of 3 pixels.
- Set Remove to Lens Blur. Click OK.
- Back to the Layers panel, click on the Lab channel now to activate all layers and make it color again.
Note: To save as a JPEG, you must revert back to RGB. Select Image > Mode > RGB (or whatever your native mode).
It will likely look over sharpened on screen, even badly so. But your display isn’t capable of showing the fine transitions of print output. You’ll find the print output smooths this out remarkably on most any desktop printer. Using an Epson R2400 for 13X19 inch prints, I usually push the Amount close to 400%. Looks terrible on screen, but great on paper.
The PhotoShop Lab Sharpening Technique for Web Ready Photos
Complete all the same steps as above, but change steps 5 and 6 and follows:
- Set Amount to about 35%
- Set Radius to .5 pixel (1/2 a pixel)
These are guidelines with which you’ll experiment and fine tune to what works best for you. Every photo is unique.
If you have any questions, I’m always glad to help.
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A Safety Message Unlike Any Other
Highly creative and dramatic depiction to promote seat belts. Very effective and hugely popular video worth sharing with family and friends. It’s a happy ending.
Panorama in The Hague
Ian Worling and Ellen Graham Worling hosted us on a brief stop over in Amsterdam and The Hague. We had an excellent walking tour and time to stop for lunch and catch up . Great to see our friends again and let it be known they have the most comfortable guest bed in Holland.
Featuring a super wide panorama
From inside the square of the government buildings in The Hague. Click on the image below to enlarge.
Ian, like “Where’s Waldo?”, did you find yourself in the photo?
The application used is PhotoShop’s Photomerge function. Combined four hand-held shots. I would suggest a tripod for consistent results.
The project details
- Hand held panning, four shots.
- Canon 24-105mm lens (like that’s a surprise). Wide angle focal range used.
- PhotoShop Photomerge File > Automate > Photomerge
PhotoShop Photomerge dialog box settings
First, click on Browse and select images from your computer or Add Open Files.- Each image must have overlapping photo information so the application has reference points to match up.
- Select Layout Auto (Experiment with other settings).
- Check Blend Images Together.
- Click OK.
- On the final image, straighten.
- Crop out blank space.
Photomerging takes some practice and patience in the beginning. Trying a few projects from time to time helps build your intuition for what works.
Other photo-stitching applications:
Photo-stitching opens up a whole new style of photography for anyone willing to be adventuresome. Have fun.
Have a question? Just ask. 
Sites & Cities Of Italy
20 photographs featuring Verona, Venice and the villages of Cinque Terra.
Italy is a photographer’s paradise. Shifting through thousands of photos will take time. Here’s humble collection for a flavor.
We get by with a little help from our friends.
Much of what Marguerite and I accomplished in Italy was with the help of our dear friends, the Ciampolini Family. They lodged, fed and showed us around. Verona, Venice, villages, towns and hot spots like Peschiera del Garda. Most notable was their warmth and hospitality. The food was always five star with chef Giorgio’s motto of “cibi genuini” (real food). Next, some photos…click to enlarge.
Cinque Terra (Five Lands).
Cinque Terre is a string of five beautiful villages on the north west coast linked by a seaside trail so it is best seen on foot. Minimum of two days, three is better. Many tourist consider staying in nearby La Spezia with a train to take you to Cinque Terra. We found some terrific micro hotels in Cinque Terra cheaper than the average one we stayed at in La Spezia. Book in advance though.
All the villages are linked by train, road and trail. You can easily hike all five towns in a day, but you’ll want to linger, walk the narrow streets and vineyard terraces, have a bite to eat, something to drink and you get the idea.
Cinque Terra ranks high as a favorite having toured Rome, Tuscany region, Florence, Venice, and Verona. I think Giorgio is trying to lure me into Spain next. He knows where to find some tasty paella.
Talk