Posts from the ‘Nature’ Category
It started out like any other Saturday morning. Wake up early, make some coffee, head to the darkroom, and process a week’s worth of images. This has been my standard operating procedure for the last couple of months and it seems to work pretty well. I will dive into my holding project entitled “On Deck” and grab and couple of stacks that I want to process and post for the next week. Everything is quiet, the coffee is bottomless (which isn’t necessarily a good thing), and I’m taking a stroll down memory lane as I review images and remember the great times while making them. I was on my second cup of coffee when I began to process this image. I finished it well after the coffee pot was empty. Not only were the clouds a bit of a struggle, the canyon walls (both left and right) were riddled with Chromatic Aberration. The left side was plagued with magenta fringing on the vertical lines and the right side was spotted with a touch of blue fringing. To solve this problem, I processed the images where the problem was prevalent. This was the the two overexposed captures from the bracketed sequence. However, the CA really became an issue because once the right side was corrected, the left side was worse and vice-versa . Eventually I was able to establish a reasonable balance and carried on with my standard HDR/Tonemapping process. Now that I think about it, I might have been better served to process each problem image biased towards the specific CA fringing (one for magenta the other for blue) and then blended the two images together prior to processing. Hmm…a more appropriate tile would have been, Never Retreat, Never Surrender, and Hindsight is 20/20? Next time!
Scene: This image of the Canyonlands National Park, outside of Moab Utah, was shot on a short hike, about half way down from the mesa above.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Tokina 11-16 ATX Pro
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 11 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Note:
Capture – 8 images @ 1EV
Adobe Camera Raw – Raw conversion (CA correction on 2 images)
NX2 – Raw conversion on 5 images
Photomatix 3.2.9 – HDR/Tonemapping
NIK Define 2.0 – Noise reduction
Photoshop – Curves adjustment global
Nik Color Efex Pro – Tonal contrast
Photoshop – Lens correction (CA fix)
Nik Define 2.0 – Noise reduction selective to sky.
Nik Color Efex Pro – Correct color cast, still wasn’t happy, so I cooled it down a bit.
Sized For Web
Nik Sharpener 2.0 – Display 50%
LightAsMagic.com
….ugghhhhhh
A bit of departure a from the norm here at LightAsMagic.com, however I thought someone out there might benefit from it. Over the weekend, I noticed our bleeding hearts were in bloom and I wanted to make a ‘thank you’ print for the friend who gave them to us. I grabbed my 105mm Micro VR and snapped a quick image, then another, and another, and another. As I have mentioned in a previous post, I began to ‘work the composition’. Just short of the kitchen sink, I threw everything at it. Why not, film is cheap these days! I selected these 3 images as an example of my approaches.
The first image was the metered exposure, the one the camera told me was the right one. It is the one I will probably print and give to my friend. I think she will like it. After the light began to shift, and a slight shadow was cast on the bleeding hearts, I noticed that the most pronounced heart was highlighted by a single ray of sun. I quickly changed my camera’s light meter to ’spot meter mode’ and dropped the exposure compensation by a full stop. My intent was to exaggerate the light’s idea. It worked, and I made an image my wife really likes. Finally, my vision became less focused on details and more on colors and shapes. I grabbed the focus ring, manually focused in front of the flowers, and achieved the final image. You can probably guess, it is my favorite, which is usually the case. I rarely like the first image I make.
The Metered 'Thank You' Print Exposure.
The Spot Metered (-.7 EV) Exposure. My wife's favorite.
Colors and Shapes Exposure. My favorite.
When your good friend calls and asks “Are you getting this?!?!” You don’t ask what? You grab your camera a head out! That is exactly what happened last night. I got the call, grabbed my gear, and headed up the hill, realized I forgot CF cards, cursed like a sailor, headed back down the hill, ran into grab a my cards, startled my wife, headed back up the hill, and made some images!
Stay tuned for iPhone Friday tomorrow. I have a few new coupon codes to offer as well as a couple new features that I have added to the site. You can probably find them now, but I normally try to package all the news and notes into Friday’s post.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VRII
Gitzo Traveler
Exposure: 18
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 16 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (1 image)
Adobe Camera Raw – Process .NEF
Photoshop – Cropped a bit of the sky out.
Sized For Web
LigthAsMagic.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.
A stand of trees I have worked with before, caught my attention again. I probably tried 20-30 images as I was experimenting with various panning timings and techniques. I settled on this image because I enjoyed how a touch of detail was retained in the background. In order to capture the detail and still achieve the motion, I would turn the shutter over, pan quickly, then pause.
Click..Pan..Pause…Review….Click….Pan…..Pause…..Review…..until I got it right.
Capture Notes
NIkon D300
Nikkor 70-300 AFS VR II (VR ON)
Exposure: 0.5
Aperture: f/32.0
Focal Length: 100 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: -1 EV
Flash: No Flash
Processing Notes:
Capture 1 image
Aperture – Raw processing (including definition and contrast boost)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
Sorry for the quick post, but the weather is beautiful and I need to get back out to make some images.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (9 images @ 1ev)
Photomatix (HDR/Tonemapping)
NIK Define (Noise reduction automatic profile)
Nik Color Efex Pro (Tonal contrast selective to the fence)
Photoshop (2 selective curves adjustments)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
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 was racing the clouds home, just hoping there would be enough light left to grab my camera. Once home, I grabbed my gear and headed up to a nearby bluff to make some images. In my haste, I had forgotten to take a pair of gloves. After shooting about 20 images, the scene was just starting to peak. I switched my camera in to manual focus and tried to flip the switch to spot meter. At that point, I was rudely awakened from my creative haze by the realization that I could no longer feel my hands. The cold air and howling wind had completely shut down my dexterity. I didn’t let that stop me, I kept on shooting for another 10mins or so. It wasn’t until I was back in my truck driving home that I slowly began to regain feeling….and boy I felt it. It was like two hammers were crushing my thumbs. After about 2 blocks of screaming in pain, everything was back to normal and I was excited to download the new images.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 70-300 AFS VR II
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 90 mm
Exposure Bias: -1 EV
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (1 image)
Nik Color Efex Pro (Procontrast)
Nik Viveza 2 (Structure boost to the puffy white clouds)
Sized for web
LightAsMagic.com
The Flat Tops Wilderness here in CO is one of the most dramatic places I have backpacked. The plateaus are miles wide and longer than you can see. There are no trails. You navigate by cairns and imagination alone. This image of my buddies (John and Matt) was a hasty capture as we were trying to out run the storm. Although it was hasty, I am still glad I made it.
Capture Notes:
NIkon D300
Nikkor 17-35 2.8 AFS
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/806)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO: I am embarrassed to admit that I shot it at L01
Processing Video:
I had a couple folks ask about generating HDR images from a single RAW file so I decided to make a short ( < 3 mins) video illustrating it. It is a quick look at opening your RAW file in Photomatix and then Tonemapping it. Download a trial version and give it shot!
If you are interested in Photomatix, you can find it here:
Make sure to use the coupon code LIGHTASMAGIC to receive a 15% discount.
If you thought this was helpful, you can find other processing videos here:
http://www.lightasmagic.com/category/tutorials/
Note: Email subscribers, if you want to view the video you will have to visit the site.
Here are a couple behind the scenes ‘Quick Draw’ (Lumix TZ4) shots from God’s Country.
Beauty and the Beast!
I just got done with a brilliant Friday afternoon bike ride. If feels like spring is upon us! This is an image from several months back, an archival print from the dark days of January. You can find a larger desktop version of it over on the ‘Desktops’ page. Although these clouds make great candidates for HDR images, let’s hope there days are long gone.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 35mm 1.8
Gitzo Traveler
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Note:
Capture (7 images)
Photomatix (HDR Tonemapping)
Nik ColorEFX Pro (Tonal Contrast Boost Contrast and Desaturate)
Nik ColorEFX Pro (Bleach Bypass)
Nik Define 2.0 (Automatic)
Photoshop (Crop Resize)
Nik Sharpener (Display 30% Adaptive selectively applied to tree and foreground)
LightAsMagic.com
Tip: I’m not sure if this is necessarily a tip, but an interesting technique. I have discovered with trees like this is to use a bit slower shutter speed on a mildly windy day. The main trunk will stay stable and in focus, where the smaller branches will move around and blur. It definitely gives it a Tim Burton vibe.
If I were to ever record an album, I think I would use this image as the cover art. In college, when my band recorded a demo, the cover art was nothing more than contact information. Obviously my rock n’ roll fantasy didn’t work out. It sounds cliche, however my band fell victim to ‘creative differences’. I think we would have been a great band. I doubt we would have headlined a stadium rock show…..without question we would have opened for someone headlining a stadium rock show. Anyways, I added a page to the site where you can check out monthly playlists I have created to spread the word about bands I would have loved to open for. Click here to take a listen.
Capture Notes:
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Exposure: 1/4000 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 85 mm
Processing Notes:
Capture
NIK Silver EFX Pro
NIK Color EFX Pro (Color Stylizer)
Photoshop (Resize for web)
LightAsMagic.com
I believe great images lurk right outside your door. You don’t have to travel far to find beauty and interest. I spend my summer days running by this tree and I knew northern clouds would compliment it beautifully. This afternoon the clouds were building in the north, but the sky remained a brilliant blue. I knew this would be the time to visit my running partner. It just so happened to be the end of a year!
Nikon D300
Tokina 11-16
Gitzo Traveler
Capture Notes:
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 11 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Processing Notes:
Capture (8 images)
Photomatix (HDR/Tonemapping)
Photoshop (Curve adjustment)
NIK Color EFX Pro (Tonal Contrast)
NIK Color EFX Pro (Brilliance/Warmth)
Photoshop (Crop to 4×5)
Photoshop (Size for web)
LightAsMagic.com
By no means do I consider myself a wildlife photographer, I don’t have the patience for it. If you want to see great wildlife photography visit Moose Peterson’s site. His name says it all. I discovered this little fox, along with his brothers and sisters, on my way to the post office. I had my camera with me and thought I would try my hand at ‘Dancing with Wolves’. After a deliberately slow approach, I settled into a seated position and waited. I would yawn, blink, look away, etc; Everything you might learn from watching episodes of the Dog Whisperer. The one thing I didn’t do was immediately start shooting. After about 20 minutes, a reluctant mom let her kits out of the den. She didn’t let them walk up and sniff me, but they were allowed to make eye contact and observe me from a distance. I stayed there as long as a 1 gig CF card would let me (in 2002 that was a boat load of memory). Actually, I stayed a bit longer than that. It was an experience I will always remember.
Nikon D1x
Nikkor 80-200 2.8 AFD
Processing Notes
Capture
Photoshop (Curves Adjustment)
NIK (Sharpen selective to the eyes)
LightAsMagic.com
Tip: In a situation like this you might be tempted to open your lens up as wide as it will go to try and soften the background and emphasize your subject. However, at 2.8 in this case I was barely able to get the eyes in focus if I was focusing on the bridge of their noses. I think f/3.2 – 4 might have been a better choice.
On occasion, you just want to fill the frame with something interesting and click. This one was one of those times. The waves of clouds lit by the rising sun made everything on the ground meaningless, so I pointed my camera to the sky and……click. From my camera to your computers, with nothing in between.
Nikon D300
Nikkor 16-85 VR II
Processing Notes
Capture
Aperture (Raw Conversion)
LightAsMagic.com
Tip: To achieve a silhouetted foreground and a brilliant backdrop, you want to set your camera to capture the appropriate exposure for the sky which will leave your foreground dark and detail-less. To do this you can set your camera to ’spot metering’ mode, and meter for the sky. If you don’t have spot metering capabilities, you can use exposure compensation by reducing the metered exposure by several stops. Try making a couple image and review them in your LCD until you like what you see.
