Marc Mantha’s Phlog - Creativity lives here.

Portable Photo Storage, Using Your iPod Update

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 23:47:10 -0500

In a nutshell...

This is not a usable solution for offloading large amounts of photos on the go.

I’m talking about the Apple iPod camera connector. Great buy, super simple and it worked without a hitch. Turn on your iPod, plug in the camera connector. Turn on your camera, plug in the USB and plug into the iPod camera connector.

The test :

I filled a card with 327 photos for total of 3.5GB using a freshly charged iPod.

It took 2 hours and drained the iPod battery leaving just a red sliver showing in the battery gauge. The camera is tied up for that time. Too slow and not intended for several card offloads on the road as I might have hoped. There are some card readers (although never intended for a reader) that will work according to some of the reviews for the camera connector at the Apple.com product review forums, but still only able to do one 4GB card without recharging the iPod. I was using an 80GB 5th generation iPod for the test.

After a lot of online research, I decided to take a drive out to one of those national electronics store chains to take one more look at some known and a few more possibilities.

Well. I decided on the tried and true super simple and “just happened to be on sale” solution.

The 8 GB SanDisk Extreme II CompactFlash memory card. 4 of them. Just marked down to $50 CAD each.

No parts, no batteries and likely enough storage to outlast the 5 Lion Rechargeable batteries for the Digital SLR. I’ll will test the new Optex Lion Rechargeables (1400 maph) to see approximately how many shots they’ll be good for expecting about 300 shots or so per battery.

The Apple iPod camera connector might be more useful for point and shoots and or general JPEG shooting to offload 1 or 2GB memory cards if you don’t mind the transfer pace or finding a card reader that works with it. I’ll still keep it handy for a “just in case” back up but have a feeling it’ll spend most of it’s time in the darkness of my desk drawer.

The CompactFlash will do just fine.

Best regards,
Marc Mantha

Sharing Digital Photography Worldwide Forums / Featured Photographer / Photography Articles / Marc Matha’s PhlogCopyright © Marc Mantha 2009

Portable Photo Storage and a Press Pass

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 19:25:57 -0500

There was some disappointment when I purchased my iPod, now called a 5th generation when just a few months later the announcement of the iPod Touch came out.

That wasn’t so bad, because I still needed a lot more storage then the initial new Touch models had to offer, although I have to admit after having played with one, the cool factor is off the cool gauge.

Anyway, I have but 25GB left on that 80GB iPod.

Shortly I’ll be heading to Trinidad with a couple of press passes and photography gear in tow. With a total of 3 X 4GB Compact Flash Cards and shooting in RAW format. that’ll only give me be about 224 shots per card and total of 672 shots. Dragging around a laptop won’t cut it. I’ll have enough gear on my back.

Some options considered were mini-notebooks, the Epson P-7000 or just buying some 16 or 32GB memory cards. Anything was going to cost at least $400.00 CAD. Not a problem and I was approaching considering the Epson P-7000.

I kept googling and came across the iPod camera connector. Checked out the specs and requirements. The planets aligned and it’s perfect to my 5th generation iPod (or earlier). If you read this blog and think this might work for you, check out Apple.com first. A lot of people who wrote reviews were only disappointed because they didn’t read the requirements and how to check for camera compatibility. I won’t be able to view RAW format, but that doesn’t matter to me. It’s about offloading my media cards.

The kicker is still coming. Hang in there with me.

If you’ve ever dealt with Apple, you know the service. Unbeatable. Through my whole career of having owned numerous computers, gizmos, gadgets and cameras, no one comes close. Let’s hope that remains the Apple creedo.

First, I tested clearing my iPod which was a cinch. Just uncheck what you don’t wan’t to sync, in my case over 50GB of music and click Apply in iTunes. Super Simple and now some 70GB of storage that fits in the palm of my hand with about 14 hours of power, well maybe. Typically 14 of play time, but if that translates to even 7 hours of downloading, that should do it for on the road storage for a full day of shooting. I’ll update you on that in a future phlog entry.

Oh yes, the kicker.

The iPod Camera Connector, shipping and taxes $46.33 CAD.

Here’s how it works on the road.

Plug in the Connector (about the size of a matchbook) into the iPod.
Plug in the camera using the USB cable that came with it into the connector.
Transfer.

USB 2.0 so it should be reasonably swift. I’ll let you know soon.

We’re not done yet.

All of this is useless unless you have some significant ongoing power for your camera.

I considered a battery grip. Pretty pricey. I was using two Lion batteries each good for about 300 shots, rechargeable. New one, name brand about $134.00 CAD. Well, Optex had the same ones with slightly better maph at 1/3 the price of the name brand. I like that math. I know they’ll work fine because I had used them the past with some of my other Digital SLRs. Same charge time, same average number of shots. Also check out Lenmar rechargeable Lions. They have some new product with high maph (about 1600 to 1800) for extra long power, yet still about 1/2 price of name brands.

5 batteries gives me about 1500 shots. I can always take a beak about midday and recharge.

Good to go!

:)

Looking forward to Carnival...

Marc Mantha reporting

Sharing Digital Photography Worldwide Forums / Featured Photographer / Photography Articles / Marc Matha’s PhlogCopyright © Marc Mantha 2009

The Rainy Day Photographer and Shooting Indoors

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:35:44 -0500

It’s raining here, hence today’s Phlog inspiration.

Being stuck inside on a rainy day is not an excuse to think there’s nothing to do with your camera. Then again, going out in the rain is a whole new world of interesting photo ops!

Back at the Sharing Digital Photography forums we had a “From Where You Stand” challenge to pick up your camera and shoot something from that very spot. Turned out well with the intention of demonstrating that photo opportunities are all around us.

The main shot for this topic (above colored pencils) was taken a few years back on a kitchen counter with one of those under-cabinet lights as the source lighting. It was a fun experience and still one of my favorites. Along the way since, many assumed it was some kind of studio environment.

Shooting still life photos of any kind indoors goes well with a tripod as indoor light is most always not enough to achieve fast shutter speeds where we can handhold the camera. You know the dreaded blur from “Camera Shake”. Using a tripod means you don’t have to be concerned with ISO sensitivity either, adding that digital graininess associated with higher ISO settings. Another tip when using a tripod where you know the exposure will be kind of long and not conducive to a handheld shot, is to use the self timer. This way, your hands are off the camera when the shutter goes off with no risk of movement causing blur from the pressure of pushing the shutter release button down. Every digital camera has the Self TImer feature.

Marc’s DP Tip: The yellow roses (left) were shot on a kitchen table facing a window at an angle using a macro lens (Sigma 70-300mm APO Super Marco). When shooting macro consider turning the switch on the lens to “Manual” focus if the Auto Focus tends to wonder, zooming in and out continually. This way you can set the narrow area of focus in just the right place.

Using a tripod also let’s you take advantage of soft light through a window. You can really drum up some beautiful floral shots. Don’t think for a minute you need to have an digital SLR to merit getting a tripod. You might start out with something very affordable able to handle the weight of your camera easily for well under $50. I had one with a plastic tilt and pan head that served me well when I was starting out having fun with digital photography.

Taking the shot

Take everything into consideration like moving your subject near a window, turning it at different angles and distances in relationship to that light and you shooting from different positions also. It’s a great way to learn and build your experience while getting to know the effects of low light light. On overcast and rainy days, the light will be softer and more delicate.

Your subject can be anything. An apple, a shoe, an egg, a crayon or any favorite object. Take something ordinary and make extraordinary.

Have fun with it! Shoot, share and learn.

Now “stay inside” and find something you never noticed before.

See you back at the Sharing Digital Photography Worldwide Forums!

Best regards,
Marc

Sharing Digital Photography Worldwide Forums / Featured Photographer / Photography Articles / Marc Matha’s PhlogCopyright © Marc Mantha 2008

Back to the Canyonlands and Using Duplicates

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:57:13 -0500

Well, figuratively that is.

When I first started out with digital photography a long, long time ago in a land....ahem. I made some mistakes in the beginning where I’d take those original shots and edit them with my neophyte photo manipulating skills. That’s not the mistake. The mistake was saving them in lieu of doing the “Save As” I was forever changing the my original shot.

So, what, I can always edit it again can’t I?

Yes, but the more you push your pixels around, the more your image is going to degrade. Stating fresh with the original is always going to work best. Some will argue the using the Duplicate command in PhotoShop is the purest way of creating a copy of your photo. Technology and your own skills are going to change over time and that’s a another good reason to keep an unedited copy you have to start fresh.

The photos here were taken a few years ago in RAW format and today using a High Dynamic Range blend of three exposures and post processing with Photomatix Pro.

This photo here is a perfect candidate on how HDR processing opens up details. The hiker (Lynn) sitting in the shadows of this great rock arch was barely visible in the dark range of the exposure on the original shot.

When it comes to shooting in the Canyonlands

While hiking the Canyonlands, the best light (anywhere) is at sunrise and sunset (the golden hours), but I’m out there all day. That bright high-in-the-sky sunlight can wash over the details and colors. I always have a Circular Polarizing Filter to help put some pop back in to those great scenes. It’s very effective on popping the details in clouds. The Circular Polarizing Filter is a must have recommended for any budding nature photographer.

If you ever have a chance to visit the Canyonlands, I recommend the Needles District and the Elephant Hill Trail connecting to the Joint Loop. It’s an 11 mile loop but expect to spend the day, particularly if you’re going to take lots of photos.

I had seem some hikers at the top of the Elephant Hill trail, stop and turn around before doing the Joint Loop. All I could think was “You have no idea what you’re missing”. The sum total of this trail gives every kind of terrain imaginable in one day. Don’t be disappointed and make sure you a bring a big memory card and extra batteries for your digital camera.

See you back at the Sharing Digital Photography Worldwide Forums.

Now go out and find something you weren’t looking for.

Marc’s DP Tip: Backing Up your media means having a “second copy” in case one copy fails. Moving all your media “off” of your hard drive to CDs, DVDs or an external second drive is not a back up.

Best regards,
Marc

Sharing Digital Photography Worldwide Forums / Featured Photographer / Photography Articles / Marc Matha’s PhlogCopyright © Marc Mantha 2008

Photography and Editing Techniques for Dummies

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:30:55 -0500

Yes, Photography and Editing Techniques applied to the above noted Dummies.

I make it a point to do some off-the-cuff creative image editing every day and I’m usually able to stay true to that. I used one photo although it appears to have post blended editing. The street lamps and power line are the reflection in the display window of street behind the shot.

If found the size context interesting. Like they are larger than life compared the city scape.

Shot in RAW format in case I want to get the most out of high end, high quality portfolio or show print. It’s a combination of three exposures (exposure bracketing) which means a tripod was used to shoot. Once the exposures are blended with HDR (High Dynamic Range) Tone Mapping, it’s off to PhotoShop.

The digital post editing was relatively simple.

First a Levels Adjustment. Center (Mid Tones) Slider moved a little to the left. Then the Left (Dark Tones) Slider moved a little to the right is a quick and easy way to pop the contrast on most anything.

The mannequin right in the center gets a makeover as our center of attention. Straight forward editing here. Used the Burn Tool on the eye lashes and brows, eyes and lips for more contrast, then applied saturation (richer color) to the eyes and lips. Finally whitened the outer sides of the eyeballs.

The text was simple. Created a new layer and added a contemporary font. Something light and thin. Duplicated that layer to use behind the first text layer and Rasterized it, then made it black. From Filters, selected Liquify using the Smudge Tool (index finger icon) to pull down each letter making it droop. Reduced the opacity making appear somewhat transparent and gray.

That’s it.

I did try using Neat Image for noise reduction but found I preferred the grittiness.

All work and no play makes Marc a dull boy...so play!

What time is it? It’s time to go out and find something you weren’t looking for.

Best regards,
Marc

Sharing Digital Photography Worldwide Forums / Featured Photographer / Photography Articles / Marc Matha’s PhlogCopyright © Marc Mantha 2008

Urban Photo Safari Queen Street, Toronto

Sun, 9 Nov 2008 18:15:06 -0500

Weather forecast was overcast and likely some rain in the afternoon. That means great looking clouds as icing on the cake for every scene shot. Had to get a new back pack for my gear. My good old sling pack was getting smaller and smaller.

As always, Toronto’s Queen Street back alleys offer up great scenes and many I’ve shot over and over. A favorite place to return to from time to time. I don’t know about most other big cities like Toronto in other parts of the world, but people will actually detour off the sidewalks to walk back there...safely too.

There’s always something new to see.

This time was different. Seems like the fame of this back alley is snuffing out some of the artistic talent. It’s become over run by tagging or shall we say the “not so talented”. Some really outstanding graphics are still there, but it is changing. This alley way has been the backdrop for all kinds of shows like the Rick Mercer Report and his famous rants, Much Music VJs and numerous interviews all in this really cool urban art gallery.

Along the way I came across this scene (below). A stairway to the heavens. I have to think that if God has a sense of humor this is how he might handle a really busy day so the almighty might have a chance to swing a coffee break.

Despite the weather today, still lots of activity and action on Queen Street. It’s the happening street in Toronto. One of my favorites anyway.

Marc’s DP Tips: Early mornings around sunrise and just before sunset are the perfect time to capture warm light and shadows that emphasize shapes and forms particularly in nature. The light also tends to be warm and colors richer. Sunlight at high noon on a clear day can wash out colors making them less vibrant. On those bright lit sunny days, a polarizing filter added to the end your lens can help restore color and add contrast. A circular polarizing filter helps you control the amount of polarizing.

Now go out and find something you weren’t looking for.

Keep shootin’!

Best regards,
Marc
Sharing Digital Photography Worldwide Forums / Featured Photographer / Photography Articles / Marc Matha’s PhlogCopyright © Marc Mantha 2008

The World of HDR Photography and HDR Processing

Sat, 8 Nov 2008 11:30:15 -0500

Lately HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography and the associated processing has got my attention after some brief dabbling in it a couple of years ago. I spent some time perusing a few HDR post processing applications, including the HDR Merge function that comes with PhotoShop.

I got roped in to Photomatix Pro and the “Tone Mapping” utility. It was the one that had the most available samples and workflows posted online that I could find. Topaz Adjust is another one you might want to consider that can yield some very stylized results similar to Photomatix Pro. Both are contenders.

Some solid hours of practice and experimenting is going to show you that although you can save settings on any outcome as a preset to the name of your choice, you’ll find that each photo is going to be different from the next. I’ll bet too that the first thing you find a problem is “haloing” particularly in skies where branches and power lines can also look embossed in the sky. You’ll be able to solve that in time with experience using the adjustments. One of following will help, but it not always the same for every photo; Light Smoothing, Luminescence and or Highlight Smoothing.

Like any first time experiences with HDR Tone Mapping, you’ll tend to push it for the really cool looking stylized effect that’s so hard to resist. One thing is for certain, it pushes out the details everywhere very effectively.

Best results are had using photos with a long DOF (Depth of Field) where everything is in focus from front to back. That means a wide angle lens set to it’s widest possible focal length. It’s not to say you can’t do shots with narrower DOF.

It’s a ton of fun and makes some of the most seemingly simple scenes and items come to life. It can easily give any image a “have to look” feel.

One thing you need to get used to with taking photos for HDR, it to consider scenes with less than favorable light because the HDR post processing solves it. I really had to wrap my head around that. Now just about anything goes. It’s hard to do any wrong.

Here’s are some prelims for your consideration back at my Art Of Seeing gallery online.

Now go out and find something you weren’t looking for.

Best regards,
Marc

Sharing Digital Photography Worldwide Forums / Featured Photographer / Photography Articles / Marc Matha’s PhlogCopyright © Marc Mantha 2008