The Digital Photo Guy

Hummingbird Chicks Have Fledged

The larger chick, Big Guy  (BG, front) fledged this morning, just after I made this photo using a Canon 40D with 50/1.4 plus a Kenko 12mm extension tube and Canon 550EX with a Stofen Omnibounce. I was a bit concerned about using flash but thought the chicks were old enough not to panic. They got annoyed after about seven photos but didn’t seem worried. Since then, I’ve watched mama try to push the younger one out of the nest by flapping her wings but LG (Little Guy) wasn’t going for it.

It’s been an amazing journey, from watching mama lay the eggs to faithfully sitting on them for as much as 50 minutes each hour to seeing the chicks just after hatching. Now, the cycle is almost complete and the new hummingbirds are ready to start their own lives. I’m not a religious person but I can’t help but believe that there’s more to life on earth than PDL (Pure Dumb Luck.) I hope we don’t waste this opportunity with our self-absorbed, entitlement-minded, me-me mentality that says humans can do as they wish.

Photo Editing Tools Overview

Last week, I presented a short webinar discussing the differences between Photoshop CS, Photoshop Elements and Lightroom. I produced this because I saw too many people buying things simply because some “expert” told them so.

Most digital photographers just don’t need all these programs. Even professionals rarely use all these tools. Watch the video and learn how these programs differ and which best meet your needs.

Unlimited access to Photo Editing Tools video

After making a PayPal payment, you will receive a link to the video.

Cleaning Your dSLR Sensor

Unlimited access to Cleaning Your dSLR Sensor video

After making a PayPal payment, you will receive a link to the video.

More Photography, Less Marketing

Starting immediately, I am offering classes by appointment only. I will, of course, finish classes I am currently teaching or scheduled to teach (e.g. Palomar College) but I will not develop, schedule or market new classes or workshops except on request. To schedule a class, send me an e-mail with two or three days that are convenient for you and, at least, two weeks in advance. After I check my calendar, I’ll confirm a date and send you an invoice. All my current classes and workshops are available on-demand.

The only other services I offer at this time are an Annual Photography Coaching Plan at $60/year ($5 per month) and a Premium Photography Coaching Plan at $120/year ($10/month).  For $60/year, you get unlimited access to the site and timely answers to e-mail questions. The premium service also includes 10 hours of webinar. If you have a complex question, you can request a face-to-face meeting via webinar. Each meeting is also recorded for you to review for up to 60 days.

The 10 hours can also be used to schedule standard webinar classes such as Digital SLR for New dSLR Owners (3 hours,) Photoshop Elements in 3 Hours (3 hours) or Photoshop Elements for Digital Photographers (6 hours.) The hours cannot be applied toward special events. Another use for the 10 hours is individual Feedback and Coaching Time Sessions (FACTS.) Webinar classes and meetings can be scheduled anytime between 8AM to 8PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday with, at least, two weeks notice. Immediate or after hours services are available at an extra charge.

Former students are always welcome to e-mail questions and they will always receive a reply. Registered readers will receive a response to questions of interest to larger audiences.
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Are You Familiar With Your Q Button?

On newer Canon dSLRs, there’s a button on the back, labeled “Q.” Pressing it brings up an editable display on the rear LCD. Nikon labels it’s the button either INFO or “i.” Newer dSLRs from other manufacturers all offer some variation of this control. Until recently, I’d ignored the button because it didn’t fit my workflow. I knew what it did but I never made the effort to retrain myself.

Recently, I began playing with the Q (Quick Control) and found that it has benefit in certain situations. The primary reason for using the Q button is when setting up for a completely different shoot. For example, I grabbed my Canon 7D to photograph a huge dove sitting atop my neighbor’s flag pole. It was so big, I first mistook it for a hawk. The camera was still set up from the day before when I was photographing products in a studio. With a press of the Q button, I could see all the important settings in one place (60D screen used for illustration, right.) Before the Q button, my fingers were trained to automatically run through all the knobs, dials, switches and menus, checking for the correct settings. Now, in one glance, on one screen, I can check all my critical settings. Better still, I can adjust all my important settings with the same three or four controls. This is a huge time savings when I have just moments for a “grab” shot.

So, when do I NOT use the Q button? When I’m in the middle of a series or sequence, I still find it faster and easier to dial in adjustments by watching the display along the bottom of the VF (viewfinder) viewfinder. For example, as I’m shooting a scene, I may decide to add or subtract EC (exposure compensation.) This is much more convenient to do via the back dial and the ELI (exposure level indicator) along the bottom of the VF.

Birds in the News

The hummingbird is back with a new clutch of eggs! Last Thursday, as we were leaving for a quick trip to check on the Arizona house, we noticed the hummingbird is back with a new clutch of eggs. Based on what I’ve read and heard, this new pair of eggs has a better chance. The first pair was quite likely a “dry run,” as it were. I imagine humans wouldn’t be quite so fecund if they had to mate while one was flying upside down!

In Wickenburg, we found a dove sitting on a nest in a backyard light fixture. Since we won’t be returning to Wickenburg until July, the chicks will probably have fledged by then. All in all, it’s been a pretty good last few days.

AOL and Yahoo! E-mail Users

I’m having a terrible time with AOL and Yahoo!. Both e-mail services seem to arbitrarily block my Monday Morning Tips as spam. It doesn’t help that some readers forget they subscribed and mark my e-mails as spam.

To combat this, I’m recommending all readers open a G-Mail or other free e-mail service. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) usually offers multiple e-mail accounts so you can set up a second account for newsletters. For example, Cox allows up to 7 e-mail accounts per account. Check with your ISP for details.

Another idea I’m considering is offering cheap e-mail accounts through my web site. That would give you an e-mail address like “yourname@thedigitalphotoguy.com.”  If that’s something that might appeal to you, post a comment here.

What to Look for in Photo Vests

Many photographers, mostly guys, collect camera and gadget bags. I, on the other hand, own just one gadget bag, one backpack, one LowePro Technical Harness & Belt system with assorted lens cases, two Pelican 1510 carry-on cases, one Pelican 1650 case, one Calumet WT411 case, three Interfit light stand/tripod bags and assorted laptop cases.

I’ve always resisted the urge to buy a photographer’s vest because they seemed so pretentious and geeky. I thought only photographer “wanna-bees” wore vests. That all changed recently when, on a whim, I bought a Weekender Traveler vest. I won’t say how much I overpaid by buying on a whim but, suffice it to say, with a little research, I could have paid much less on Amazon. The vest fit well and really surprised me with its versatility and utility.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be of poor quality and one pocket started to tear out almost immediately. Here are some things I learned about photo vests in the short time I’ve owned one.

1. 1. Be sure there is, at least, one zippered pocket for your wallet and valuables. This zippered pocket should, preferably, be on the inside and, if possible, lined with a waterproof liner.
2. Is there a convenient pocket for your cell phone where it doesn’t stick out nor does it get lost in the bottom of a cavernous cargo pocket?
3. If you plan to use the cutesy “D” rings, be sure they’re metal, not cheesy plastic. I hate when I lose my hand grenades because the plastic “D” ring breaks.
4. Buy one that’s loose because it won’t be after you fill the pockets with a Canon 580EX II, Canon 70-200/2.8L, six spare batteries, spare memory card wallet and a partridge in a pear tree.
5. Look for cinch tabs on the sides to take up slack when you’re just trying to look cool as opposed to actually carrying gear. Otherwise, it fits like a cheap suit.
6. Be sure there’s a large back pocket for a 70-200 size lens. While you’re at it, you might want to check for a water bottle size pocket that holds the bottle upright.
7. Be sure there is a pen and notepad pocket but not a whole bunch of small, useless pockets.
8. Tall, thin pockets are virtually useless unless you plan to carry tall, thin things. The contents fall to the bottom and are a pain to remove.
9. Eschew labels. I hate logos like Canon or Nikon or LowePro emblazoned on my gear. If that’s your thing, have at it but birds fall out of trees laughing when they see ‘togs that look like walking billboards.

Piqued by my experience with the Weekender, I searched for a better quality vest designed specifically for photographers. In the end, I settled on a Tamrac 153 World Correspondent’s Vest. I went with the Tamrac because I’ve had excellent service from Tamrac. When my Tamrac straps began to come apart, I returned two to Tamrac and they repaired both at no cost. I thought that was a good sign that they would stand behind their products.

Which Fair Entries Were Accepted?

Friday, April 22 was the deadline for 2011 San Diego Fair entries. I was swamped so I rushed around at the last possible moment to submit my entries (below.) Yesterday, I received e-mails notifying me that only one entry had been accepted. Believing that, in my rush, I hadn’t been careful in selecting or preparing my photos, I shrugged it off as another life lesson.

This morning, I received a new set of e-mails advising me to disregard the previous e-mails and that three of my entries had been accepted. Worse, a former student who had e-mailed to tell me four of his five entries had been accepted, now faced the prospect that only one had made the cut.

Now, at 2PM, I’ve received another e-mail telling to disregard all previous e-mails. The fair implemented a new system this year using a program called FairJudge. Suffice it to say, it doesn’t engender confidence in the San Diego Fair, judges or the program. I’ll follow up with more in my next post.

I’m Gonna Be a Grandpa (Sorta)

A hummingbird has built a nest in a ficus tree on our front patio. She’s very protective and will buzz me if I get too nosy. Today, she laid the first egg. I’ve read that a second should follow in a day or two. I tried to take a photo but it was a bit tricky standing on a 2 foot step ladder with one foot on the window sill. I had visions of another trip to ER so I didn’t push my luck.

When the second egg appears, I’ll use my wife’s Canon G11 with the swivel LCD to take a photo and start keeping a record of the hummer’s progress. I’m already missing the Nikon D3100 I just sold. It had a cool swivel LCD and would have been perfect for making photos peering down into the nest. I may have to give serious consideration to selling my 40D and buying a new Canon T3i. Stay tuned for more details and photos.