Category : The Learning Center

 

I get lots of emails both from Nikon customers and folks that read my blog!  I’m always quick to answer them, but I often think a lot of people might like to know the answer, or at least my attempt to feebly answer the questions.  I think I will make this something I do every once in a while, after I have enough interesting questions to answer, hope you enjoy it!  f you don’t let me know and I won’t do it again!  I know some smart folks visit the blog, so if you have an opposing view or another take one any of these, please post a comment!

 

Question:  When do you think digital images will exceed the quality of film?

 

Answer:  In my opinion that has already happened.  Digital holds several distinct advantages over film.  1. It’s less expensive over the long haul.  It is true that digital brings with it it’s own costs, like computers, hard drives, software, but over a period of several years a person that shot a lot of film will spend less shooting digital.  2.  Shooting in very low light with high ISO films was not anywhere near as good as doing the same at high ISO settings on current digital cameras.  I remember when pushing Tri-X to 1200 was about the limit and it still had very large, very apparent grain.  Today many camera in the digital area can shoot up to 1600 and even 3200 with very little noise, (the digital equivalent of grain).  3.  Instant knowledge of what you got in terms of color quality and exposure.  This one reason alone would be priceless.  4.  The tremendous opportunities for artistic post processing.   Programs like Photoshop, Lightroom, and Capture NX2 have made processing a very powerful.  Add to that such great filtration programs as the NIK programs and Topaz and you can take your work even further.  5.  Because of all the processing avenue and lower cost it has encouraged photographers to experiment and that experimentation has produced some ground breaking work!   I know what the person was really asking was is the quality of digital up to the best films.  In my opinion film is very far behind in the rear view  .

 

 

Question:  If you could only choose one camera for the rest of your life, what would it be?

 

Answer:  That would be depressing, that’s what that would be!   I use different cameras for different purposes.  I think cameras are so good today that you could probably do most everything with a Nikon P7100 or similar point and shoot!  I think if I was pressed I would say if only one, it would have to be the top pro camera from Nikon which is currently a D3s.

 

 

Question:  How much do you post process on your images?

 

Answer:  With the exception of HDR and filtered for effect shots, I adjust levels to get proper contrast, add a little saturation, rarely more than 12 points.  I then sharpen with unsharp mask and that’s it.   I may crop an occasional shot, but I try to shoot very tight so I have the final cropping in the camera.

 

 

Question:  Do you use Capture NX2, and how much?

 

Answer:  Actually quiet a lot.  I love the U point technology and have found it a much quicker way to do localized adjustments.  It’s also the best software for Nikon NEF files!

 

 

Question:  Do you use a tripod all the time?

 

Answer:  No, but I do use a tripod as often as I can, and that works out to about 75% of the time.  Sometimes a tripod is just not feasible, but I always hate not using one.  It is the only way to get tack sharp images all the time!

 

 

Question:  I’m just starting a system and not sure how to allocate my funds, should I spend more on the body, the lenses, or accessories?

 

Answer:  I think the glass is the most important thing.  Buy the best lenses you can afford, and start with a good solid mid-range body.  I would rather have a D700 and two pro grade lenses, than a D3s and several lower end lenses.  The glass makes the image!  A tripod of course is a high priority item with a good ball head.   If you can get started around there you will have room to grow and still use what you started with.  I think a mid range zoom that gets you back to 24mm and a telephoto zoom in the 70-200 ranges or 70-300 range will serve you very well indeed……

 

 

Question:  I know this is personal, but do you ever feel unworthy before God?

 

Answer:  I sure do, I am unworthy, but God elevated my worth when He gave His Son to die for me.   I am not a Saint, but in God’s eyes I am because He washed away all my sins, past, present, and future!  I’ve always believed that two things are vital to keep on this walk; (1) know you are unworthy, but (2) know that He has made you worthy through His sacrifice for you!

 

 

Question:  Do you ever wish you had gone into another field, other than photography?

 

Answer:  Many years ago I felt led into the ministry.  I didn’t act on it and I often wondered what would have happened if I had.  Now, many years later, I realize, in many ways I did go into the ministry, just a different, rather unconventional one.  I love what I do and I enjoy photography, and I’m so thankful He can use me in some small way while I do what I love!  I would rather be a photographer than anything else as long as it is His will for me!

 

Well I hope there was something there of value!

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

 

From time to time I want to produce a number of HDR images very quickly, so this is how I do it.  Before we start, let me state, with out question, that this is not the Jim Begley, R.C.  Concepcion, Trey Ratcliff, or Tony Sweet method, all these great photographers are masters of HDR.  This is the;  I’m in a hurry, don’t have time for layers, and masks, just want it to look cool, and I need it now method!!!!

 

Here we go,  step by step:

Step One I select  a series of HDR exposures of the image I want to work on.  This is a Cadillace logo on a car at Old Car City. Five shots one stop apart.  Shot on a tripod.

 

 

Step Two:  I drop the files into Photomatix Pro and click OK that I want to make an HDR image by merging the images.

 

 

Step Three:  Click OK that these are the five images I want to merge.

 

 

Step Four:  Select Align Source Images as shown in the illustration below and Reduce Ghosting Artifacts/Automatic and then click PREPROCESS.

 

 

Step Five:  This will bring up the  preprocessed image and give you a series of choices for the effect you would like.  I usually use Enhancer/Painterly, and then simply click PROCESS.

 

 

Step Six:  This will yield a processed image, which is somewhat flat and washed out.   It will look like the image below:

 

 

 

Step Seven:  Now the image needs to have the contrast and saturation adjusted so I take it into Photoshop CS5 and use the middle slider (mid-point) to adjust the contrast and color depth to my taste.  I move the slider to the right both darkening the image and increasing the contrast.

 

 

Step Eight:  I now sharpen the image.  I think sharpening is highly personal, you can see my settings below for this type of image.  I experiment and then look at the image at 100% to get the most sharpening without adding artifacts or halos.

 

 

 

The final HDR image:

 

 

Sometimes I want to make the image look a little more grungy, depending on the subject, so if I do,  I drop the image into Topaz Adjust and apply the Spicey Filter.  ( I also use other filters as well but that is the one that usually give me the affect I want.)

 

 

Which gives you this final image:

 

 

So, the bottom line is, you can go through this entire process in about two and a half minutes depending on the speed of your computer.  The results won’t match the careful results of my friend Jim Begley’s art, but they are pretty cool for such a fast, quick and dirty method!  I also get great results from NIK HDR Efex Pro and in about the same amount of time.

 

If you’re a “reality based” based photographer, forgive me for even bringing this up!!  If you don’t mind taking a few chances, and stretching your artistic juices, it can be a lot of fun and great way to breath life into old images……..

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you got a photographer on your list and you’re stumped about what to get them?  Let me make a few suggestions, these are all things that I find very useful and I know they would get great use from any of these items!  I’ll go from the least expensive to the most!

 

The Hoodman Loupe 3.0   $79.99    A great way to see clearly what’s on your LCD screen!

http://hoodmanusa.com/products.asp?dept=1017

 

 

 

2.  The Visable Dust Sensor Loupe    (BriteVue Quasar Sensor Loupe 7X)  $88.15

http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=602

 

 

 

3. A Swiss Army Exploreer Knife  $49.95

http://www.swissarmy.com/us/content/search?searchterm=Explorer

 

 

4. An LED Flashlight  – My favorites are Smith & Wesson and SureFire)  prices vary from $35. to over $100.  A very good small one can be had for around $50. * This one is extra special, I’ll tell you at the end!  The one illustrated is the M&P Tactical MP5 ($59.99)

http://www.swflashlights.com/product-info.php?pid70.html

 

 

5.  Gerber Crucial Knife/Tool  $39.95 at REI *Link below

http://www.rei.com/product/794056/gerber-crucial-multi-tool,-green?preferredSku=7940560027?cm_mmc&mr:trackingCode=DDFE1A37-37BF-DE11-974B-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&{copy:s_kwcid}=&mr:adType=pla&gclid=CIfg3NuZ4awCFQpV7AodKw6P3g

 

 

6.  Gerber Suspension Tool   $29.99  Walmart

 

 

7.  A Micro Fiber Cloth  (Vary from $10. to $15.)  My favorite are the Kinetronic Tiger Cloths link below

http://kinetronics.com/store/tiger.html

 

 

 

And now two little stories for your Christmas pleasure!

 

The Swiss Army knife above was a Christmas gift from my wife in a year that even a $49. pocket knife was a real stretch for us financially!  I loved the knife, had always wanted one, but loved it even more because Sherelene got it for me.  While on a trip to North Carolina to interview Richard Petty for a magazine article, I lost my knife.  I was heart broken, I look everywhere and couldn’t find it anywhere.  For months I hated that I had lost it!   The next year my friend Danny Lawson and I had to go back to North Carolina for another story, he had been with me on the first trip.  On the trip down I talked to Danny about hating loosing my knife.  He suggested we took a short hike up into the national forest and wondered if I might have dropped it there.  I said maybe but what  would be the chances be that it would still be there.  We parked the car and walked up the path, and there right on the trail was my weathered leather case and my spotless stainless steel treasure, it was my knife, one year later!  I have to admit I cried.  Every time I pick it up and use it I remember that little miracle and my wife’s love and generosity.

 

Now the LED flashlight.  A few weeks ago I got a package from a very dear friend, I wondered what on earth it might be?  The friend is Carl Turner one of my best photo buddies and a great Christian brother. When I opened the box I could hardly believe the contents, two Smith  & Wesson, M&P Tactical Flash lights,  the small one pictured above which now goes with me everywhere in my camera bag, and a larger one that I use all the time.  As much as I appreciate these wonderful gifts, and I really do appreciate them, even more I appreciate Carl’s friendship, Carl has brought incredible light into my life in more important ways than with a flashlight!!!!

 

Christmas is a time of giving, to show our love, and to enjoy the great blessing of being the giver!  Never forget the reason for the season is Jesus himself, who gave the most anyone can give for us,  His life!!

 

Merry Christmas,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

For years I’ve tried every conceivable way to carry my gear, and on many occasions a photo vest is the right solution, that’s probably why I own five!!!!  Well two were gifts, and I’ll get to that later.  I break vests down into two categories, stylish and utilitarian.  The most commonly seen vest is the Domke vest and for good reason, it doesn’t scream “Photo gear!”.   It can actually look fairly nice.  I have a second that is very much like the Domke but is special to me for another reason entirely!    It was made by Banana Republic back when they made “real” outdoor clothing.  This is the story; My wife and I were at Hilton Head on a summer vacation with the family.  I was tagging along with her while she shopped, not my favorite activity.  She drug me into a Banana Republic, and while she was checking out the women’s clothes I saw this great photo vest, and fell in love with it.  She could see how much I wanted to get it, but unlike herself, she insisted I didn’t really need it.  After a lot of discussion I walked out of the store without it, admittedly a little disappointed.   Six months later sitting around the Christmas tree she handed me a clothes box size package, I wondered as I opened it what she would have bought me in the clothes line, as I seldom let anyone buy my clothes, but myself.  Of course you know what is coming, I opened the box and to my shock found the vest she has slipped and bought me back in the summer.  She said, “You are impossible to surprise, but I got you this time!”  She had, and that vest will always be my favorite!

 

I think the Domke and “special gift” type vests are best when you want to carry just a couple of extra lenses and some small accessories or filters.  They distribute the weight well and as I said,  you don’t look like a pack horse in them.

 

The utilitarian type vests like the Leonard Lee Rue and Vested Interest vests above are best when you have to carry a substantial amount of gear and you want it well protect, and frankly you don’t care what you looks like, after all, photography comes first!   The Vested Interest vest has great padding and hold lenses in pockets that are easy to work our of, and is constructed to last for decades!  The Leonard Lee Rue, is a cross between the Vested Interest and the Domke, slightly less bulky than the Vested Interest but well made and very roomy.  I got mine from the son of a friend who died recently, he found it in his Dad’s closet and suggested he would like me to have it.  I’m honored and will keep it in his dad’s honor.  I also happen to love Leonard and Len Rue, two of the nicest people in photography!

 

Below is one last solution that is not commercially available though several other brands are, a photo jacket.  This one is one of only four in existence,  it’s the Bill Fortney Photo Parka, another of my great ideas???!!!  I made it for photojournalists in the 70’s.  The coolest feature is the tan color is 18% reflectant!  Oh well, not every idea goes over so well!  Only four prototypes exist.  Bill Pekala, Ned Beatty, Don Nelson, an I have the only four.

When you don’t want to carry a shoulder bag or back pack this may be the answer!!

 

Bill