The Digital Photo Guy

Quick Fill Flash Tip

While I was at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo, I used the opportunity to make some photos for teaching purposes. Here’s an example of why you want to always be thinking about fill flash.

This old AT&SF (Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe) caboose had been moved so I decided to try a new angle. Unfortunately, the sun was ahead and slightly camera right (notice the shadows). This caused lens flare (spots near bottom of door) in the first photo. I set up my Canon 550EX with a Paul C. Buff CyberSync Remote Trigger to add some fill flash. After a few trials, I got the middle photo which is evenly lit. Had I been more serious about this shot, I would have popped a second flash under the trucks to light up the underside.

The last photo is after I toned down the middle photo in Photoshop Elements. Bottom line, fill flash lit the dark areas and reduced lens flare in one swell foop. The ability to move the flash around until the lighting is even is another great reason for an external flash instead of the integrated pop-up doo-hickey. Click to read more

Your Turn to Critique Me

I won’t have time to update the site this weekend so here’s something to occupy you until next week.

Here are my entries for the 2010 San Diego Fair. The juried photography competition draws about 3000 entries each year of which about half are accepted. Just being accepted is the first step. Placing 2nd, 3rd, 4th or Honorable Mention is the next step and winning 1st and/or Best of Show are the ultimate goals. Tell me your opinion in the poll at the bottom.

The first is titled Open. The second is Book of Accounts and the 3rd is Dinner with the President.

All the photos were processed to some extend with Topaz Adjust4. I tried to emphasize what was already there instead of slathering on weird effects or hide some deficiency in the photo. Each was acceptable as-is but Topaz Adjust4 enabled me to oversharpen or soften or saturate without inducing artifacts.
Click to see more entries

Mastering Canon EOS Flash Photography by NK Guy

Long time readers know PhotoNotes.org has been my go-to site for all things Canon flash. Now, NK Guy, the publisher of PhotoNotes.org has condensed all that information into a 420 page, 8″x10″ softcover book profusely illustrated with photos that show not only good results but also what happens when you mess up.This will be an outstanding addition to any Canon shooter’s library. If you’re a total, complete and absolute newbie, immediately read pages 1-35. Next, read pages 52 to 65. If you are a dweeb, dork, geek, jump in at page 68 and your heart will flutter with happiness through page 116. Between pages 120 to 269, the author covers flash units and accessories interspersed with tips & techniques on how to use them, the pros & cons of each and special situations that require special tools.

To be perfectly clear, the emphasis of this book is on the technical aspects with techniques and tips intertwined. But, I can guarantee, if you read, study and understand this book, you are well on your way to becoming a flash guru.

I bought my copy at Amazon which has the lowest price. You can find a list of on-line book sellers who carry this book on NK Guy’s site.

Macro On the Cheap

The annual Desert Spring Wildflower and San Diego Wild Animal Park Butterfly Workshops are over for 2010 and, as always, many students were fascinated by the world of macro photography. So much so that some wanted to rush out and buy a new macro lens. Before you spend a lot of money on a dedicated macro lens, here are some alternatives as well as the pros and cons of each.

Each photo above was taken with a different macro configuration. Click to read more

FREE Lens Webinar

Saturday, May 15 at 11AM CDT (noon EDT, 10A, MDT, 9AM PDT), Roger Cicala, the man who owns ~3000 lenses from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, Panasonic, etc will explain what makes some lenses better than others. If you’re wondering which to buy and how best to use it, Roger has the answer, backed up with years of experience. When have you ever seen a company with a Lifetime Rating of 9.98/10 on ResellerRatings.com?

To dat, we have the following goodies as door prizes:

1. Photoshop World Workbook, over 800 pages of notes, PowerPoints and photos from every session at PSW Las Vegas 2009
2. Black Rapid camera strap – The newest innovation in camera access technology. Don’t just be fast, be Black Rapid fast.

Click here to register for the webinar.

Fantastical Topaz Deal

Topaz Labs has extended an education discount to my students at Palomar College as well as my private classes/workshops. In the future, all my students qualify for a 25% discount after the 3rd paid webinar or any $150+ Photoshoot Workshop (free webinars not included).

The discount applies to all Topaz products including single modules, multiple modules and the smokin’ Bundle. The Bundle of all 7 Photoshop/Photoshop Elements plug-ins normally costs US$179, a 47% discount off the single module price of US$340. With the extra 25% off, students can buy the Bundle for just $135.

The offer starts today but past students who have paid for 3 or more webinars or Photoshoot Workshops over $150 are eligible. Please send me the names and dates of your classes and I’ll send you the discount code. Before anyone asks, the discount is not retroactive to Topaz modules you purchased before today.