Over the last month or so I have been testing out the Nikon D5000. For me, it is a great back-up camera as well as a light travel companion. If you are looking to upgrade to a digital SLR, or wanting to get started in photography, this camera is a great option. In order to complete the review I thought it would be interesting to hand it off to my wife for a trip up to Alaska. She has the eye of a photographer, but lacks the patience to deal with all the various dials and settings. So I put the camera in program mode, set the auto ISO, and put her in front of grizzlies, glaciers, whales, moose, and mountains. You will see other images from her portfolio in the final review. For now I thought I would share this one. No question about it, she didn’t let this one get away!

Capture Notes:

Nikon D5000
Nikkor 70-300 AFS VR

Processing Notes:

Capture – 1 image
Nik Silver Efex Pro – B&W conversion
Sized for web
Nik Sharpener 2.0 – Display 30% selective to tail
LightAsMagic.com

A while back I was searching for a reasonable backup camera to travel with over the summer. After quite a bit of deliberation, I decided on the Nikon D5000. I have been putting it through the paces and I am quite pleased. Here is a simple capture from the camera while we were out on a drive over the weekend. I will be writing up a more formalish review of it shortly, as for now, here are a couple things I like about it.

• Same image guts as its big (D90) and bigger (D300s) brother.
• Quiet shutter mode. It helped when shooting some street photos in France. Very stealthy.
• It has video! I made a quick movie while I was in France that I am still editing. Once it is done I will post it along with a more detailed review.
• Super light and compact.
• You can get the same image quality of a D300s, for under $500 (if you are willing to buy refurbished).
• Swivel LCD – Much easier on the back when having to shoot in yoga poses.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D5000
Nikkor 16-85 VR II

Processing Notes:

Capture – 1 Image
Nik Silver Efex Pro (B&W Conversion)
Sized For Web
LightAsMagic.com

To recognize Bike to Work Day, here is a story unrelated to the image.

I was hammering home today on my bike. I mean I was really suffering coming up a local hill here in town. I felt lean, my legs felt great, and I was chasing a Tour title in my head. Suddenly, my dream was interrupted by the sound of a bicycle behind me. I thought to myself, ‘no way…no one could catch me at this speed’. Sure enough, this guy was gaining. To quote the Princess Bride, “Inconceivable”. I began to make excuses. He probably isn’t carrying a pack home from work, or maybe it is a local pro? Just as he catches me, I look over my shoulder, positive I was going to see George Hincapie, decked out in a National Champion jersey. Nope, no Hincapie! I see a guy in jeans and flip-flops. He even has enough breath to tell me I am riding really fast. What the heck was this? I know I’m no pro, but common, I can’t be that slow. Thankfully, upon closer inspection, he was riding an electric bike. My tour dreams are still intact! Anyways, I hope everyone here has the opportunity to participate in their local bike to work days. Once you do it, you will be hooked.

Craft & Vision: If you have ever wanted to start experimenting with the video capabilities of your DSLR (I know I have!) Trevor Meier just published a great new eBook titled Vision in Motion about the issues of motion storytelling. It is full of useful tips regarding composition, capture, and gear.

Craft & Vision Coupon Codes (expire June 27th):

• MOTION4 to receive the eBook for a mere $4.00.
• MOTION20 to receive 20(percent) off of the purchase of 5 or more eBooks.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 17-35 AFS
Gitzo Traveler

Exposure:0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture:f/4.0
Focal Length:17 mm
ISO Speed:200

Processing Notes:

Capture – 1 image
Photomatix – HDR/Tonemapping
NIK Silver Efex Pro – BnW conversion (Red filter for day to night trick)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

Tip: What my man Rick calls the ‘Ole day to night trick’ is applying a red filter (either in post, or at the time of capture) to your image which will basically render a blue sky black. I use this technique when I have a big, uninteresting, blue sky. If you have a white or lightish foreground element, it seems to work pretty well.

p.s. This image of a booming metropolis was from the little town of Cisco, UT.

After my run this weekend, I decided to swing by a couple locations I have had on the radar for a while. Surprisingly, this facility is fairly accessible at 7am on a Sunday. I approached it from a variety of angles, however because the sky was as clear as it has been in quite some time, I didn’t have the backdrop of interest I was looking for. I did find a couple of interesting foreground elements to incorporate, but nothing was really working. I thought to myself, what can I do with huge white silos and a blue sky? My decision was simple….Orange Filter! I applied an orange filter in my Silver Efex pro conversion, darkened the sky up, and created the contrast I was looking for to surround these structures.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Tokina 11-16 ATX Pro
Gitzo Traveler

Exposure: 1/4000 sec
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 14 mm
Exposure Bias: -2 EV
ISO Speed: 200

Processing Notes:

Capture (1 images)
Nik Siler Efex Pro – High contrast orange filter
NIk Viveza 2 – Selective boost to structure/brightness in foreground
Sized for web
Nik Sharpener 2.0 – Adaptive 40%
LightAsMagic.com

After a 5 hour drive, 1 hour of which was being stuck in a traffic jam, we finally broke clear of the weather and horrible drivers. I tend to over hydrate while driving, so a quick break was in order. Boy, we couldn’t have picked a more beautiful location. I kicked off my flip-flops (we were in the desert 4 hours earlier), strapped on the boots, and grabbed my D300. Click, Click, Click….then off to the restroom!

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Gitzo Traveler

Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Processing Notes:

Capture (3 images @ 1ev)
Photomatix (HDR/Tonemapping)
Nik Sliver Efex Pro – BW Conversion and Vingette
Nik Color Efex Pro – Glamour Glow selective to water
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

Underprepared.

The Book Cliffs are located just on the outskirts of Grand Junction CO. They face the Colorado National Monument. That puts the town of Grand Junction smack-dab in the middle of both, making it a landscape photographers dream destination.

I would like to get back there soon to spend an entire weekend working with these incredible mountains. This image was from a photo-walk sandwiched between a 5 hour mountain bike ride in the desert and some margaritas with the A-team.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 70-300 AFS VR II
Gitzo Traveler

Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 165 mm
ISO Speed:200

Processing Notes:

Capture (1 Image)
Photomatix (HDR/Tonemapping)
Nik Define 2.0 (Noise Reduction)
Nik Silver Efex Pro (B+W Conversion)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com

Lately I have had a bit of full frame/big glass envy. I have my kit, and I’m very happy with it. But there always seems to be something I would like to add or upgrade. At least for me, this desire (rationalized as an artistic need) is that fact that I don’t ever want to let an image get away. I want to be prepared, with the best possible toolset, for when ‘that’ image presents itself. It is when I find images like this, shot with a sub $150 camera, that I remind myself that its not about the gear, it’s about being there. There is no question that great gear will help, but it won’t help you if you aren’t out chasing it.

Capture Notes:

Panasonic TZ4

Processing Notes:

Capture (1 Image)
Nik Silver Efex Pro (High Structure Red Filter)
LightAsMagic.com

I went to shoot light and wine glasses, but the jazz was captivating. I had been introduced to Randy’s guitar playing before, so I knew the image was in ‘his hands’. I decided to shoot a really slow shutter, trying to capture the fulcrum of his finger in focus as the rest of his hand shook like a bird. His vibrato is stellar. I didn’t quite get it, but I got close. Close enough for Jazz. I will say I am looking (listening) forward to the next shoot.

If you are in the Denver area, you can catch Randy’s playing over a glass of wine here on Sunday nights.

http://www.indulgewinebar.com/

Or, you can visit his web site here:

http://www.randyrigby.com/

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 35mm 1.8 DX AFS

Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/2.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Processing Notes:

Capture (1 image)
Aperture 3 (High Contrast Grade 5 B&W Preset)
Export for web
LightAsMagic.com

Tip: As a photographer, you get opportunities to engage people in a different way. One thing to live by, and this is a lesson I learned from an early mentor, is if you make an image of someone, and you promise them a look, make sure you get them a print or an email. It will make their day and it’s generally a nice thing to do.

Red Rocks Amphitheater has been the home of many a great concert. There is something magical that both the crowd and the band experience. It’s feels weird, I ride or run by this place several times a week, and I have seen countless shows here, so I kind of have the misplaced sense of ownership. However, I have never been backstage. I have no idea what lies behind those brick walls. Some day I would like to find out…. actually, maybe I should leave the mystery alone?

If you are interested in the tool I used for the black & white conversion, I have added an overview of the Complete NIK software suite. If you are considering their tools, feel free to check it out..

www.lightasmagic.com/reviews/nik-collection/

You can use the Coupon Code LIGHTASMAGIC to save yourself 15% on any of their tools.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 70-300 VR II
Nikon CPII (polarizer)
Gitzo Traveler

Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 125 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 200

Processing Notes:

Capture (1 image)
NIK Silver Efex Pro (High Contrast Yellow Filter + Silver Toning)
Photoshop (Resize for web)
LightAsMagic.com

We had front row seats on the roof of our hotel in Cozumel for this one! Most of the time I leave sunsets in color, in all their glory. However, because of the smaller clouds dancing in the foreground I decided the contrasts would make a nice black and white composition.

Capture Notes:

Nikon D300
Nikkor 70-300 VR AFS
Singh-Ray 3stop Reverse GND
Gitzo Traveler

Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 300 mm

Processing Notes:

Capture (1 image)
NIK Silver EFX Pro (B+W Conversion)
NIK Viveza 2 (enhance the glow of the sun on the sea)
Photoshop (resized for web)
LightAsMagic.com

Tip: It might seem counter intuitive to shoot sunsets with a long focal length, but it is a great way to get up and close and personal with a setting sun. I always carry a 70-300 with me while traveling.