The Digital Photo Guy

Busted!

Andy, a fine photographer who regularly reads my drivel for laughs, caught me cheating on my post about cropping. When I posted those images, I knew the seed head in the background was a problem but I was too lazy to fix it. Andy suggested I blur it with Gaussian Blur  but I felt that would still leave a distracting element. Instead, I recropped following my basic cropping rule, “When in doubt, square it out.” In other words, when at a loss for the right crop, try a square.

The first photo above is the original crop, the second is a square crop and the third has a repaired wingtip. Jill, a long-time reader, friend and competition terror in her local club, pointed out that the main element shouldn’t be touching the edge. That’s what I regard as a “soft rule,” something that depends on the situation. One photo below follows the rule but the other doesn’t. Can you tell why?

San Diego Natural History Museum Contest

The deadline for entries has been extended to November 6, 2011 so you still have time to get your act together and enter a photo. While you’re there, check out the previous winners.

This may not be the London Natural History Museum Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest but it will help you get there. Look at the 2011 winning photograph by Daniel Beltrá of Spain and tell me it doesn’t bring a tear to your eye.

How Much Is Too Much Editing?

Most photo contest only allow minimum editing including cropping, adjusting levels and sharpening. Cloning and healing are generally not allowed and removing an entire element is definitely verboten.

The San Diego Natural History Museum Best of Nature Photography Show is different in that it’s more of a fund raiser for the museum so pretty much anything goes. With that in mind, I decided to try the following.

The first image is the original and the second is the edited version. Most contests would never allow the edited version but I felt the single landing eagle was more impactful. What do you think? Is this too much editing? Does it change the essence of the photo?

This was made at Bosque del Apache NWR, San Antonio, NM with a Canon 40D and a 300/2.8 and 2x TC on a Gitzo 3530LS with a Wimberly Sidekick. Exposure was 1/160, f/25, ISO 1600, 0EV. It’s titled The Eagle Has Landed.

This photo will be used in the Wacom tablet webinar this Wednesday, 10/26 from 7 to 7:30PM.

Ansel Adams Would Have Been Proud

For years, I’ve tried to practice Ansel Adams’ concept of previsualizing an image before releasing the shutter. To be perfectly honest, I never really felt I had a handle on the concept but, hey, it made me feel as if I knew what I was doing.

Yesterday, while flipping through a past issue of Outdoor Photographer (the only magazine to which I subscribe and read on a regular basis) I came across an article titled “Think Like Ansel Adams Today” that sparked a thought in my tiny brain. I suddenly realized I had been previsualizing many photos.

Ever since I first made this photo at Lake Tenaya, I’ve had in mind the same image on a calm, windless day when the reflection is as if on a mirror. Add in clouds and snow and the photo would, in my mind, be perfect.

This particular attempt was made late in the day when the last remnants of daylight cast a soft glow. At the time I made this photo, I was pleased with it but, now, in retrospect, I see many things I want to improve.

You don’t have to travel to Yosemite to previsualize a photo. Here’s another I made in my front yard that I’d like to replicate and improve.

In this case, I’d like to see the bee turned a bit more so I can see its eye and antenna in sharp focus. I lost the original in a hard disk crash so all I remember is that it was taken with a 20D with Canon 100/2.8 macro at f/2.8.

The take-away? Review past photos and think how you can improve them the next time. In short order, you’ll be able to previsualize new photos as you come across new scenes.

Check All Memory Cards Before Formatting

Back on October 9, I posted photos from Alabama Hills including a night shot of Mobius Arch framing Lone Pine Peak. I wasn’t happy with the full size print because the photo was slightly out of focus (OOF) and a large print emphasized the misfocus.

While taking photos of the two B&W prints in the last post, I discovered a dozen in-focus photos of Mobius Arch at night made with my Canon 40D and Sigma 10-20. I had switched to the 40D after framing the Mobius Arch with the 24-105 and realizing it was too long. I had completely forgotten these photos and nearly formatted the card without checking. Ergo, I am an idiot. The take away is very simple: Always check and double check your memory cards before formatting, d’oh!

The one on the left is 20mm and the one on the right is 10mm. These were made within 2 minutes of each other. They appear quite dark because a) it was night and b) compressing and resizing reduces the brightness. Printed at 13×19, they appear fine.

As an afterthought, although I typically print at 13×19, the Epson 3880 is capable of printing 17×24. The reason I don’t is because of increased cost and greater hassle to store and display larger prints.

The Complaint Department is Closed

I received an e-mail stating George Jardine’s video on B&W conversion was, “…filled with too much technical stuff…” I deleted the reader from my mailing list to protect him from himself. I’m sorry if everything isn’t simple and easy but, if it were, any 6 year old could make photos like Ansel Adams or David Meunch. The complaint department is now closed!

Life is Hard at Olmsted Point

My Friends, the Ancient Bristlecone Pines

The Magic of Bodie in Snow

This was the second time in four years that I managed to get to Bodie for the first snowfall of the season.

All photos were taken with a Canon 7D and 24-105 or Canon 40D and Sigma 10-20. These have become my favorite “go-to” combos. All photos are SOOC (straight out of camera) except resizing, compression, cropping, very minor levels adjustment and sharpening in Lightroom 3.

More photos and Exif details after I get back to the office next week.