Category Archives: General

Q&A: FLASH AND GUIDE NUMBERS

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Drew. Sunlight with Fill Flash. Photo © Jim Doty Jr.

Sunlit Portrait with Fill Flash. Photo © Jim Doty Jr.

Today’s question is brought to you by Powdermilk Biscuits.

Wait – wrong show. My apologies to Prairie Home Companion. (The delightful movie was on TV recently.)

Today’s Q&A is for all of you that learned to use Guide Numbers and manual flash exposure. If you are a little rusty in that department, or if you were weaned on TTL flash, you can brush up on how to use the guide number (GN) for your flash to determine a manual flash exposure by reading the Flash Basics article at my photography web site.  If you are a little rusty with f-stops and exposure, go here.

Now for the Q&A:

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BUYER BEWARE: IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE . . .

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Rule of Thumb:  When buying photographic equipment, check the price at B&H Photo, Adorama Camera, and Amazon.com (all three are linked and recommended at my main photography site). If an item is selling for significantly less than at these three companies, something is downright suspicious.

A friend of mine is looking for a Canon 7D. Prices from reputable dealers are generally in the $1700 price range. He found it at SkyPoint Digital for $879, an apparent savings of over $800. I told him that a price that low raises all kinds of red flags for me. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I might believe someone can sell the 7D for $1600 (and it would probably be gray market), but not $879.

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GET THE BEST RESULTS FROM THE BEST ONLINE PHOTO LABS

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Online Labs Rated

How do you pick a good online photo lab, and how do you get the best results from your lab?

It is almost Christmas (or any other time of year), you want some prints or cards made from your digital files, and you are thinking about sending them to an online photo lab. With so many labs out there, which lab do you  use? And how do you get the best results from your lab?

My short answer: Use Mpix and Shutterfly for prints of all sizes, plus a host of specialty items. Use EZPrints for panoramas. Why these three labs? Keep reading. For maximum color accuracy, convert the files to the sRGB color space before sending them to the lab, and turn auto enhance off at the online photo lab. More about that later.

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BEST DIGITAL SLRs – 2009

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You can’t go far wrong buying a recent model Digital SLR.  They are all good cameras and most of them are great cameras.

Over the last twelve months, the following DSLRs received a “Highly Recommended” rating from DP Review, their highest rating (with sensor size in megapixles – mp):

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 21 mp
Canon EOS 7D, 18 mp
Canon Digital Rebel T1i, 15.1 mp
Nikon D3X, 24.5 mp
Nikon D300S, 12.3 megapixels
Nikon D5000, 12.3 mp
Olympus E-620, 12.3 mp
Olympus E-30, 12.3 mp
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1, 12.1 mp
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, 12.1 mp
Pentax K-7, 14.6 mp

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BEST POINT AND SHOOT DIGITAL CAMERAS – 2009

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2009 SHORT LIST (Top rated cameras listed by name, sensor size in megapixels – mp, and the zoom range of the lens):

Best point and shoot “transitional cameras” (point and shoot cameras that take interchangeable lenses):

Olympus Pen E-P1, 12.3 megapixels, interchangeable lenses
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, 12.1 megapixels, interchangeable lenses

Best point and shoot cameras:

Canon PowerShot SD880 IS, 10 mp, 4x zoom
Canon PowerShot SX110 IS, 9 mp, 10x zoom
Canon PowerShot SX10IS, 10 mp, 20x zoom lens
Fujifilm FinePix F100fd, 12 mp, 5x zoom
Fujifilm FinePix F200 EXR, 12 mp, 4.4x zoom
Panasonic Lumix FZ28, 10.1, 18x zoom
Panasonic Lumix LX3, 10.1, 2.5x zoom
Panasonic Lumix TZ5, 9.1 mp, 10x zoom
Panasonic Lumix ZS1, 10.1 mp, 12x zoom
Panasonic Lumix ZS3, 10.1 mp, 12x zoom

Best underwater point and shoot cameras:

Canon Powershot D10, 12.1 mp, 3x zoom lens
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1, 12.1 mp, 4.6x zoom

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BOOKS: BASIC AND INTERMEDIATE PHOTOSHOP AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

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How do you learn the basics of Photoshop before going on to the books I recommend in the MASTERING PHOTOSHOP series? Look at the books below. And why did I lump Photoshop together with digital photography? Because some of the basic and intermediate books cover both.

There are any number of good, basic and intermediate photoshop/photography books. Look for books by Tom Ang, Rick Sammon, Tim Grey, Martin Evening, Bruce Fraser, and Scott Kelby.  Also worth reading are Deke McClelland, Barbara Obermeier, and Peter Bauer who authored the popular “Dummies” series of books for various versions of Photoshop.
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MASTERING PHOTOSHOP: RETOUCHING, PART TWO

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Two essential and challenging Photoshop skills are Masking and Compositing.  Fortunately for all of us out in Photoshop land, Katrin Eismann has written a masterful book on developing these skills, Photoshop Masking & Compositing.

You will learn about selection tools and techniques, how to use masks and layers, advanced selection techniques for difficult subjects like human hair, and how to do flawless composites.

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MASTERING PHOTOSHOP: RETOUCHING, PART ONE

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Katrin Eismann is a world class expert on photo retouching. She is one of the best of the best. In 2005 she was inducted into the Photoshop Hall of Fame. Anything she writes should be high on your reading list if you are serious about making the most of your Photoshop skills.

Adobe Photoshop Restoration & Retouching (3rd Edition) has become a classic and it is is now in its third edition. You would be hard put to find a better book on Restoring and Retouching photos with Photoshop. Once you’ve learned the basics of Photoshop, this book is a must read. Just look at all the 5 star ratings at amazon.com and read the glowing reviews.

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MASTERING PHOTOSHOP: ADVANCED COLOR CORRECTION, PART ONE

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If you want to master color in Photoshop, Dan Margulis is the best of the best. He is one of the first three persons to be named as a member of the Photoshop Hall of Fame. And the book to get is Professional Photoshop: The Classic Guide to Color Correction (5th Edition). What Margulis teaches you to do with color is amazing. The before and after images will make your jaw drop.

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THE BEST OF THE BEST – 2009

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Updated December 13, 2009.

TRIPOD RECOMMENDATIONS – BEST TRIPODS – 2009

BEST TRIPOD HEADS – 2009

THE BEST TRIPOD HEAD QUICK RELEASE SYSTEM

BEST MEMORY CARDS FOR DIGITAL CAMERAS

THE BEST DIGITAL PHOTO STORAGE

BEST GENERAL PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS

BEST BOOKS: NATURE AND LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

MASTERING PHOTOSHOP: ADVANCED COLOR CORRECTION, PART ONE

MASTERING PHOTOSHOP: ADVANCED COLOR CORRECTION, PART TWO

MASTERING PHOTOSHOP: CAMERA RAW

MASTERING PHOTOSHOP: RETOUCHING, PART ONE

MASTERING PHOTOSHOP: RETOUCHING, PART TWO

BOOKS: BASIC AND INTERMEDIATE PHOTOSHOP AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

BEST POINT AND SHOOT DIGITAL CAMERAS – 2009

BEST DIGITAL SLRs – 2009

GET THE BEST RESULTS FROM THE BEST ONLINE PHOTO LABS

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS – 2009

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It is the time of year that I get asked a lot of questions from people who are buying gifts for photographers, or from photographers wanting to drop hints. (In this post, “photographer” means anyone who likes to take pictures.) “What is the best book for . . . ?” “What are the best point and shoot cameras?” “Is there any really good image editing software for less than $100?” Many of those questions are answered in the posts above and below.

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BEST TRIPOD HEADS – 2009

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The short list.

3-Way Tripod heads:

Manfrotto 056 3D Junior Head (replaces 3025)
Manfrotto 3025
Manfrotto 115 3D Super Junior Head (replaces 3028)
Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head

Ball Heads:

Slik Pro Ballhead 800
Kirk Enterprises BH-3
Kirk Enterprises BH-1
Really Right Stuff BH-40
Really Right Stuff BH-55

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TRIPOD RECOMMENDATIONS – BEST TRIPODS – 2009

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Looking for a tripod? This is the place to find information, recommended models, and links to more information.

It is best to buy your tripod legs and tripod head separately. The best brands are interchangeable so you can match the legs you want with the tripod head that you want.

For years I have been recommending Bogen/Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods. . . .

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BEST BOOKS: NATURE AND LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

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One of the best ways to improve your photography is to read some good instructional books and then go out and try what you just read about. My favorite landscape and nature photography books are here and here.

Some of these are out of print but they are still well worth finding on the used book market.

FALL COLOR REPORTS

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Sangre de Cristos Mountains, Wet Mountain Valley, Colorado. Photo copyright Jim Doty Jr.
Wet Mountain Valley, Marble Mountain, Crestone Needle, and Crestone Peak (Sangre De Cristos Range), Colorado. Photo © Jim Doty Jr.

The air is getting cooler and fall is on its way (if it hasn’t already arrived, like in Alaska). It is a great time to take pictures. Fall colors will begin appearing in the northern U.S. and at higher elevations and work its way south and down to lower elevations.

At Denali National Park in Alaska, fall color is well under way in late August, and wintry conditions can arrive by early September.

In Colorado, fall color starts up north at the higher elevations in mid-September and works its way south through early October. At Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National PArk, the aspen usually peak in mid to late September. When the aspen at Bear Lake at bare in early October, the aspen at lower elevations in the Park should be be hitting their peak. In southern and southwest Colorado, the aspen should be a pale green in late September and usually hit their golden peak in the first 10 days of October.

In Michigan, fall color starts in the U.P. in early October and works its way south through the rest of October.
Weather conditions can change the usual fall color season in any part of the country, and the quality of the color can change from year to year. I timed my last trip to southern Colorado for the peak color season but the leaves weren’t at their best when they turned, and heavy rain, snow, and high winds combined to strip the trees early. No aspens for me down south but I was able to catch a few patches of color at lower elevations up north.

“Leaf peepers” can keep track of conditions and plan their fall color trips by keeping a close eye on a variety of web sites.

I have a long list of fall color web sites for much of the U.S. on this page. Fall color web sites become active at various times during the fall.

MArshall Pass, Colorado. Photo copyright Jim Doty Jr.
Marshall Pass, Colorado. Photo © Jim Doty Jr.

RESIZING PHOTOS FOR THE WEB WITH PHOTOSHOP

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Bay Area Bridge, photo copyright Jim doty Jr
Bay Area Bridge. Photo © Jim Doty Jr.

I was asked recently how to re-size images for the web using Photoshop. The person asking the question was not only having problems resizing images, but the photos looked desaturated with muted colors.  My instructions (below) are for using Photoshop CS3 for Windows, so some menu items may be a little different in other versions of Photoshop or with Photoshop Elements, but the basic principles and steps are the same.

My reply follows.

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THIS WEEK’S SALE ITEMS AT ADORAMA

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Check out the items on sale this week at Adorama. Be sure to note the Buffalo external drives (Buffalo external drives are my current favorite) and Nik Sharpener Software. If you like to do closeup photography, look at the extension tube set for Canon EOS film and digital cameras. There are special prices an Kata bags and Kata rebates, and much more.

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ON THE MOON: 40 YEARS AGO TODAY

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Buzz Aldrin on the moon
NASA Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Walking on the Moon

Photo details: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot, walks on the surface of the Moon near the leg of the Lunar Module (LM) “Eagle” during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA). Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. While astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the Lunar Module (LM) “Eagle” to explore the Sea of Tranquility region of the Moon, astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) “Columbia” in lunar orbit.

Sending astronauts to the moon seemed like an amazing thing in 1969. They landed 40 years ago today. Like millions of others, I was glued to the TV set.

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CAPA PHOTO: FAKE OR REAL?

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Photo by Robert Capa
“Loyalist Militiaman at the Moment of Death, Cerro Muriano, September 5, 1936.”
Photo by Robert Capa

Robert Capa’s famous photo of a falling soldier during the Spanish Civil War, unquestioned for decades, has been the subject of a lot of controversy in more recent decades.

A recent Yahoo news item, based on an article in El Periodico (a Barcelona based newspaper) again question’s the authenticity of the photo.

Personally, I think biographer Richard Whelan’s article on the PBS web site is the definitive statement on the issue. Whelan maintains, based on a lot of evidence including the identity of the soldier and Capa’s whereabouts, that the photo is authentic. Read the article and see what you think.

INDEPENDENCE DAY – JULY 4

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Fireworks over Yukon, Oklahoma
Fireworks over Yukon Oklahoma on old U.S. 66. Photo © Jim Doty, Jr.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

From the Declaration of Independence, signed July 4, 1776. Written by Thomas Jefferson (1762-1826). 3rd US President (1801-09).

Declaration of Independence

To see an engraving of the original and George Washington’s personal printed copy, go here.

to read the entire declaration, click the page 2 link at the right

Pages: 1 2

FARRAH FAWCETT POSTER

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With the news of Farrah Fawcett’s death on Thursday morning, it wasn’t long before the media started talking about THE poster. With over 12 million copies sold, the iconic poster of Farrah is is one of the most popular of all time. One copy is in the Smithsonian. The photo was taken by Bruce McBroom.

McBroom: “Like any photo shoot, we did a lot of different stuff. But it was just Farrah and myself. It was before the days where you had to have stylists and hair and makeup and background art directors and assistants. It was just me and Farrah and my Nikon, at the home she shared with Lee Majors, a house on Mulholland Drive overlooking Hollywood, with a beautiful view.”

He tells the whole story in this online article for Time.