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Viewing by Category: Photography / Main
September 30, 2009
Photography Lessons from my China Trip
In the last year I've entirely revamped my camera gear and digital darkroom, taken classes, and read tons of books on the technical and creative aspects of photography. I've been making a journey of photographic discovery, and my trip to China was the chance to find out what I'd learned, and to learn more.
The main goal I had was to throw off the yoke of "automatic" and "scene modes" to take control of creative decisions about every picture. My previous cameras always had an array of scene modes (portraits, landscapes, sports, etc) which made settings decisions that took good pictures, but they always looked the same. The 5D has an automatic mode, but none of the scene modes of my previous cameras, so it forced me to learn the different settings, and when to use them. Over the summer I read several books about composition and exposure, which I followed up with two classes that put that knowledge into practice through various assignments. The classes gave me a basics of how to navigate my camera, and a level of confidence to use it in the real world. Now it was time to spread my wings...
Before the trip I made a couple of decisions about my approach. First, I decided that I would take no pictures in automatic mode. None. Every picture would be shutter or aperture priority, or full manual. No training wheels. Second, I decided that I would take no JPG pictures. Every picture would be RAW. Shooting RAW meant that I would have to process every picture when I got home, but it meant that I had greater control over exposure and white balance outside of the camera, in a non-destructive way. When you shoot JPG, you're basically stuck with the decisions you made when you fired the shutter. After the fact, all changes you make are destructive. These decisions meant I was a little wobbly for the first couple of days with making settings changes on the fly, but as the trip went on I got much faster and more confident with using my camera.
Besides the technical things I learned, I found out more about what subjects work the best for me. I've always loved landscapes, but am coming to the conclusion that they may not be for me. The difficult part of landscapes is they are so dependent on quality of light, which I had no control over in the context of group travel. Seemed like it was always hazy during the trip, and very few of my landscape shots came out. Great landscape photos are rarely an accident, they come from planning and patience. The upside to it being hazy for most of the trip was that it meant a soft, diffuse light that works well for taking pictures of people and things without having to deal with shadows. Most of my favorite pics turned out to candid shots of people, animals, and still life.
Gear Decisions -
Here are the results. I feel like they are the best pics I've ever taken. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to say that after every trip I take in the future as my journey continues.
The main goal I had was to throw off the yoke of "automatic" and "scene modes" to take control of creative decisions about every picture. My previous cameras always had an array of scene modes (portraits, landscapes, sports, etc) which made settings decisions that took good pictures, but they always looked the same. The 5D has an automatic mode, but none of the scene modes of my previous cameras, so it forced me to learn the different settings, and when to use them. Over the summer I read several books about composition and exposure, which I followed up with two classes that put that knowledge into practice through various assignments. The classes gave me a basics of how to navigate my camera, and a level of confidence to use it in the real world. Now it was time to spread my wings...
Before the trip I made a couple of decisions about my approach. First, I decided that I would take no pictures in automatic mode. None. Every picture would be shutter or aperture priority, or full manual. No training wheels. Second, I decided that I would take no JPG pictures. Every picture would be RAW. Shooting RAW meant that I would have to process every picture when I got home, but it meant that I had greater control over exposure and white balance outside of the camera, in a non-destructive way. When you shoot JPG, you're basically stuck with the decisions you made when you fired the shutter. After the fact, all changes you make are destructive. These decisions meant I was a little wobbly for the first couple of days with making settings changes on the fly, but as the trip went on I got much faster and more confident with using my camera.
Besides the technical things I learned, I found out more about what subjects work the best for me. I've always loved landscapes, but am coming to the conclusion that they may not be for me. The difficult part of landscapes is they are so dependent on quality of light, which I had no control over in the context of group travel. Seemed like it was always hazy during the trip, and very few of my landscape shots came out. Great landscape photos are rarely an accident, they come from planning and patience. The upside to it being hazy for most of the trip was that it meant a soft, diffuse light that works well for taking pictures of people and things without having to deal with shadows. Most of my favorite pics turned out to candid shots of people, animals, and still life.
Gear Decisions -
What worked well:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II - No brainer. The 5D delivered. EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM - Another no brainer. Might be the best lens in the L series. This is my workhorse. Sharp. Fast. Durable. It is heavy, but totally worth it. Extender EF 2x II - Last minute addition that paid off. It let me reach out farther to get candid shots of people, with only a loss of one f-stop. Tamrac Expedition 5587 Camera Backpack - Great "big" bag for a long trip for carrying everything. A real beast, and really protects your gear. Kata T-216 Sling Bag - Great "small" bag for day tripping. Easily carried the camera with my biggest lens, plus another lens and some chips. Easy to access and very flexible. Adobe Lightroom 2 - Best software I've ever used for organizing and processing pics. Don't know how any serious digital photographer could live without it.
What didn't work so well:
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM - Great lens, but not flexible enough to be indispensable. Monopod - Never used it. The IS is good enough in my 70-200 that I really didn't need it. Not stable enough for doing good HDR or long exposures, so I left it at the hotel. Flash - Never used it. My lenses are fast enough, and the 5D has such great high-ISO performance that I just didn't need it. Missing Lens - Before the trip I sold my 24-105 L, because I wasn't happy with the results I was getting from it (f4). That was a mistake. I've been waiting for Canon to release a new 24-70 L f/2.8, but they haven't done so. This leaves an unacceptable gap that my 16-35 doesn't fill. I will correct this before my next big trip.
Here are the results. I feel like they are the best pics I've ever taken. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to say that after every trip I take in the future as my journey continues.
Pics:
Favorites People Textures Structures Landscapes History
August 25, 2009 What's in my digital darkroom
Great camera gear will get you only so far. If you want to take it to the next level, you need to have a great digital darkroom. Here's what's in mine:
Adobe Lightroom 2
Adobe Photoshop CS4
Nik Collection (Lightroom) (Dfine 2.0, Viveza, Color Efex Pro 3.0, Silver Efex Pro, and Sharpener Pro 3.0)
onOne Plug-in Suite 4.5 (Lightroom/Photoshop)(Genuine Fractals 6.0, PhotoTools 2 Professional, PhotoFrame 4 Professional, FocalPoint 1.1, Mask Pro 4.1, PhotoTune 2.2 )
Adobe Lightroom 2
Adobe Photoshop CS4
Nik Collection (Lightroom) (Dfine 2.0, Viveza, Color Efex Pro 3.0, Silver Efex Pro, and Sharpener Pro 3.0)
onOne Plug-in Suite 4.5 (Lightroom/Photoshop)(Genuine Fractals 6.0, PhotoTools 2 Professional, PhotoFrame 4 Professional, FocalPoint 1.1, Mask Pro 4.1, PhotoTune 2.2 )
August 25, 2009 Camera Gear Updates
Picked up some new gear in the last couple of months, so figured I'd update what's in my bag.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
500D Close-Up Lens
EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Extender EF 2x II
Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Tamrac Expedition 5587 Camera Backpack
Kata T-216 Sling Bag
Bogen-Manfrotto 055XB Tripod
Bogen-Manfrotto 680B Monopod
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
500D Close-Up Lens
EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Extender EF 2x II
Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Tamrac Expedition 5587 Camera Backpack
Kata T-216 Sling Bag
Bogen-Manfrotto 055XB Tripod
Bogen-Manfrotto 680B Monopod
February 26, 2009 Latest Camera Gear - The full monty...
I sold my Olympus camera and gear a little while back and have been acquiring replacements built around the Canon 5D Mark II. Here's what's in my camera bag now. Speaking of bags, I need to find a bigger camera bag. The Naneu Alpha just isn't roomy enough anymore...
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
September 15, 2008 New gadget: Olympus 1030SW Underwater Camera
One of the things I picked up for our Galapagos Trip was a new underwater camera. My old Pentax was only good to 6 feet and didn't take the greatest pics. After doing the research, I decided on the Olympus 1030 SW, and it didn't disappoint.
Here's the info:
Specs
Here's the info:
The camera that redefines tough. The Stylus 1030 SW is one tough camera. The Shockproof, Waterproof, Freezeproof and Dustproof design gives active people the confidence to take this camera anywhere and shoot in nearly any condition. Plus, the wide-angle lens lets users capture more of what they see. Great for divers, surfers, rafters, skiers and anyone with an active lifestyle.
Specs
June 2, 2008 Adding to the lens collection: The Fisheye
With our Galapagos trip on the near horizon, I wanted to be sure that we had a full range of lenses for getting the best pics. So DRE* picked me up a Zuiko Digital Lens ED 8mm F3.5 Fisheye for my birthday.
Here are the digs: 
Some sample shots:
Here are the digs:
ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 8mm F3.5 Fisheye
High-performance Diagonal Fisheye Lens with 180° field of view. The focal length is equivalent to 16mm on a 35mm camera, and the focusing range is incredible with a working distance down to 2cm from the lens front. With great depth of field, exaggerated perspective and extreme deformation, the marvelous image of fisheye lens make your image world broaden. ED lens greatly reduce chromatic aberrations to provide the highest image quality with high resolution and contrast.
High-performance Diagonal Fisheye Lens with 180° field of view. The focal length is equivalent to 16mm on a 35mm camera, and the focusing range is incredible with a working distance down to 2cm from the lens front. With great depth of field, exaggerated perspective and extreme deformation, the marvelous image of fisheye lens make your image world broaden. ED lens greatly reduce chromatic aberrations to provide the highest image quality with high resolution and contrast.
Comments 
February 8, 2008 Extending my digital reach
Since we just booked our big vacation for 2008 to the Galapagos Islands, I figured that I need to extend my reach for taking pics of animals. So I picked up a Zuiko Digital Lens E 70-300MM and a Olympus Zuiko EC-20 2x Teleconverter.
I'll put up some test shots when I get a chance.
Here are the digs:
I'll put up some test shots when I get a chance.
Here are the digs:
Zuiko Digital Lens E 70-300MM
Covering field of view to 600mm (35mm equivalent), this high mobility super-telephoto zoom lens weighs only 620 grams. Also, this lens incorporates three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens elements to offer sharper, higher-contrast imaging performance. Furthermore, 1x magnification (35mm equivalent) tele-macro photography is capable. Thanks to Four-Thirds system, the lens offers a lot of the footwork out of both super-telephoto and macro photography world. Minimum Field Size - 26 x 35 mm Maximum Aperture - f 4.0 (70mm) - f 5.6 (300mm) Minimum Aperture - f 22 Dimension - Diameter 80x127mm Weight - 620 grams
Product Description- EC-20 digital 2x teleconverter
Double the focal length of your Olympus Zuiko lens with the EC-20 digital 2x teleconverter. The ultra-compact, high-performance unit fits on any Zuiko digital lens, dramatically extending the lens performance and putting more subjects within the photographer's range without affecting mobility or ease of use. Complementing the Zuiko EC-14 digital 1.4x teleconverter, the EC-20 provides a convenient, cost-effective solution to the demands of telescopic shooting, as well as wide-angle macro and ultra-high-magnification shooting.
Covering field of view to 600mm (35mm equivalent), this high mobility super-telephoto zoom lens weighs only 620 grams. Also, this lens incorporates three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens elements to offer sharper, higher-contrast imaging performance. Furthermore, 1x magnification (35mm equivalent) tele-macro photography is capable. Thanks to Four-Thirds system, the lens offers a lot of the footwork out of both super-telephoto and macro photography world. Minimum Field Size - 26 x 35 mm Maximum Aperture - f 4.0 (70mm) - f 5.6 (300mm) Minimum Aperture - f 22 Dimension - Diameter 80x127mm Weight - 620 grams
Product Description- EC-20 digital 2x teleconverter
Double the focal length of your Olympus Zuiko lens with the EC-20 digital 2x teleconverter. The ultra-compact, high-performance unit fits on any Zuiko digital lens, dramatically extending the lens performance and putting more subjects within the photographer's range without affecting mobility or ease of use. Complementing the Zuiko EC-14 digital 1.4x teleconverter, the EC-20 provides a convenient, cost-effective solution to the demands of telescopic shooting, as well as wide-angle macro and ultra-high-magnification shooting.
- Focal length: 2x of the attached lens
- Lens construction: 7 elements in 5 groups
- Dust and drip proof: Yes
- Maximum image: 2x of the attached lens
- Compatibility: Any Zuiko digital interchangeable lens
- Accessories: Lens cap, lens rear cap, lens case
- Dimensions: 2.67 inches in diameter and 1.61 inches long
- Weight: 0.49 pounds
September 7, 2007 Test shot with the new camera
I realized that I hadn't posted any test shots from my new camera and thought I should rectify that. Here's one I took of Tokaji. I'll be putting up our San Diego pics in the near future, which are all with the new camera.
Comments
July 26, 2007 The Rebel has left the building
With our Vietnam trip rapidly approaching, I decided it was time for a camera upgrade. So I found a buyer for my Canon Digital Rebel XT and ordered an Olympus EVOLT E-510 to replace it.
Here is what they have to say about the E-510 in the product lit:
The new camera should arrive in a few days and I'll be sure to post some test shots.
Here is what they have to say about the E-510 in the product lit:
It is not always easy to use an optical viewfinder – in a crowd you can't see over the heads of those around you, and low angle close-ups can be hard to reach. With the E-510, you have another option - use the Live-View LCD screen to preview and review photos. And you'll see the screen with amazing clarity from almost any angle.
- The high-resolution, 2.5" HyperCrystal™ LCD screen (230,000 pixels) means you can compose your shots easily, even outside in sunlight.
- Advanced Image Stabilization keeps your images sharp even when the camera is moving. The E-510 uses Olympus' sensor-shift image stabilization technology to counter the effect of camera shake. The exclusive Supersonic Wave Drive motors provide two modes of accurate high-speed image stabilization. One mode provides blur-free photography for everyday situations like low-light settings. The other mode helps capture clear images even while panning during action shots. Olympus' Image Stabilization technology is built into the body of the E-510 so it works with every lens, unlike legacy film technologies built into the lenses.
- Keep dust spots off your photos. The Olympus dust reduction system is an industry first and a proven technology. Every time you turn on the E-510, our Supersonic Wave Filter™ - located between the shutter and the image sensor - silently vibrates an amazing 35,000 times per second. Dust is shaken away. You can take full advantage of all the benefits of Olympus SLR cameras and change lenses anywhere without worrying about dust.
- You'll see more details and you'll get stunning color in all your photos with the 10-megapixel Live-MOS image sensor. Create large prints, even after cropping.
- Portable, easy-to-handle body with grip design. The body is ergonomically designed for superior comfort. If you use a long lens, the E-510 feels balanced.
- You'll find 29 exposure modes including 10 advanced modes and 19 Easy to Use Scene Select Modes. Simply select the right mode for your shot. The easy to use Scene Select Modes make you an instant expert, even with the most demanding shots. Choose from any of the 19 selections like Fireworks, Beach or Snow. The E-510 takes care of the rest.
- Get a great shot in any lighting situation with five metering modes including spot metering and the new 49-point ESP Meter.
- The E-510 provides the flexibility of two memory slots that hold Compact Flash Type I and Type II, Microdrive and xD picture cards.
Additional features:
- The new easier-to-read menu background color and the one-button access makes the EVOLT E-510 one of the easiest digital SLRs to set and use.
- Shoot using JPEG format for no-hassle sharing, printing, and viewing. Or shoot using RAW format for highest image quality and control.
- The new TruePic III™ processor gives you brilliantly clear, bright photos with accurate skin tones.
- Compatible with sRGB or Adobe RGB color spaces.
- Fine-tune your photo's colors with five modes: Vivid, Natural, Muted, Monotone, Sepia. Or shoot in black and white using five monochrome modes. Be as creative as your imagination allows.
- Choose all or any one of the three selectable AF points.
- Use the built-in, auto pop-up flash with six modes including auto and redeye reduction. You can even manually adjust flash intensity.
The new camera should arrive in a few days and I'll be sure to post some test shots.
June 24, 2005 Gotta love a Rebel...
I had been itching to make the switch from a Point & Shoot digital to a Digital SLR for awhile, so DRE* got me a Canon Digital Rebel XT for my birthday. It is an 8.0 Megapixel "Prosumer" Digital SLR which supports dozens of interchangeable lenses from the Canon EF series. I've taken a few test shots and they have been amazing. It will get a full outing when we head to Seattle/Vancouver/San Juans for vacation next week. I'm excited about trying out the "Sports Mode" with burst shooting when we go whale watching. Stay tuned for the pics. I also plan on putting together some tests against the other cameras in the house (Canon A400, Canon S50) for comparison. Stay tuned for that too.
