Chobe National Park - Leopard
Leopards are normally shy and elusive, not this one. This very large male allowed us to follow him for an hour while he marked his territory. At times he came to within ten feet of the Land Cruiser we were following him in. We lost him when a large male hyena charged him. This was one magnificent specimen and as per the guide one of the largest leopards in Chobe National Park - Botswana.
The animal is partially backlit that made this image worth including in this post. Click on the image for a larger view.Photographed with a Panasonic Lumix GH4 and the 100 - 300 mm Lumix lens. Exposure triad: f/8, 1/500 sec at ISO 400. Focal length 170 mm (340mm full frame equivalent).
In search of the Lilac Breasted Roller
I do not believe a trip to Southern Africa would be complete without a good image of the Lilac Breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus). Many images were taken during this trip to Botswana and many rejected till this opportunity. The bird is fairly skittish and very fast in leaving its perch. Here it gave me a lovely pose and the catchlight was just right.Panasonic Lumix GH4 with the Panasonic Lumix Vario 100-300 f/4-5.OIS lens at 264mm. Exposure Triad, f/5.6, 1/3200 sec, ISO 400. The image has been slightly cropped on the left for improved composition.
Using Mirror-less Cameras in Africa
For my 2014 South Africa and Botswana photo tour I used only MILS cameras - a Sony A7R for some of the big landscapes and night photography, a Panasonic Lumix GH4 for action and wildlife (mainly with the Lumix Vario 100 to 300 mm which is a 200 to 600 mm equivalent) and the Olympus OMD EM1 mainly with a Lumix Vario 35 to 100 mm (70 - 200 mm equivalent) for closer subjects and wider FOV. Have no regrets and no disappointments at all. The focusing is fast, shutter actuations at 12 and 11 FPS, accurate tracking and continuous focus. The next two images are of a sunset captured in the Shinde concession in Botswana:
Earlier in the day this Red-billed Francolin was captured sitting on a termite mound.Contact Gary Farber or Keth Patankar at Hunt's Photo & Video for all your Mirror-less Camera Needs
Absence
It has been over a month since I posted on my blog. Here is the excuse - I left for an Iceland trip (the third one this year). We did a complete circle around the island and more. It was an incredible trip. Many images - downloaded but not reviewed yet. Came back to the USA for three days - enough time to pack for the next excursion - Africa. Specifically South Africa and Botswana. A WOW trip. Flew back on Thursday arriving at 11:30 AM. Home by 1:00 PM - a quick switch of suitcases, shower and off to Amherst for the 69th annual NECCC conference. This is undoubtedly the best photography related event in the US if not the world. Next year it will be extra special - the 70th.It has been a lot of fun and getting used to the mirror-less world. Took a Sony A7R full frame, Panasonic GH4 and Olympus OMD EM1, both MFT bodies with a full compliment of lenses from 7 to 300 mm (14 to 600 equivalent in full frame terms) I have never been happier - small, light, easy, and super image quality.I posted this on Facebook but here it is again:
Panasonic Lumix GH4 with the Lumix Vario 100 - 300 mm f/4 - 5.6 lens at 300mm. EXIF info: ISO 400, f/6.3 and 1/100 sec. Hand held with image stabilization on.Contact Gary Farber or Keth Patankar at Hunt's Photo & Video for all your Mirror-less Camera Needs
Falls at the Basin
Was in New Hampshire yesterday so drove to Sugar Hill for some lupines. What a pity - the fields have a handful of flowers. It seems the weeds have choked the lupine plants.On the way back, stopped at the Basin and took a few images with the Sony A7R, 28 - 70 f/3.5 - 5.6. Did not have any ND filters on hand so used ISO 50, f/22 for a 2.5 second exposure. The A7R has excellent dynamic range - impressed. Click on the image to view larger.
New versions of Macphun Intensify and Intensify Pro now available
The new versions of Intensify and Intensify Pro are designed to give you the most powerful photographic detail enhancements possible. With faster performance, enhanced RAW processing and new ways to share your images online or in print, there’s no better way to make eye-popping images that everyone will love. If you already own the previous version the update is free. You can use the Apple App store for the update too Intensify and the Macphun web site for Intensify Pro. Please use the link below to order from Macphun.Click Here to order
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OnOne's Perfect Photo Suite 8.5 Now Available
Perfect Photo Suite 8.5 Now Available - Photo Editor for Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Apple Aperture, and standalone use.
Update adds super-fast photo browsing, more file-management options, and improvements to the Perfect Eraser and Masking Bug tools.!
Portland, OR - May 13, 2014 - onOne Software, Inc®., the leading developer of innovative digital photography solutions, today announced that Perfect Photo Suite 8.5 is now available, a new version of its full-featured photo editor, which works as a plug-in with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, and Apple Aperture, as well as a standalone app. Version 8.5 includes speed and productivity enhancements to the Perfect Photo Suite’s Browse module, improved performance with the Perfect Eraser tool, and enhanced masking support in Perfect Effects and Perfect Layers. In addition, RAW file support is now included with the Standard Edition in version 8.5.
Perfect Photo Suite 8.5 is available today as a free update to all owners of Perfect Photo Suite 8. It supports Photoshop CC, CS6, and CS5; Lightroom 5 and 4; Photoshop Elements 12, 11 and 10; and Apple Aperture 3.
onOne’s Perfect Photo Suite includes eight powerful, integrated applications, each one targeted to a specific photo-processing task:
- Perfect Effects. The richest and most versatile photo-stylization tool available on the market today. It includes an extensive library of one-click presets, fully customizable and adjustable effects and powerful masking tools, all of which help make your photos !pop.
- Perfect Enhance. Offers essential tools for basic enhancements, including brightness, contrast, sharpening and color cast removal. Enhance also has retouching features like the Perfect Eraser and a Clone tool, which makes it easy to remove objects, fix dust spots and repair flaws in a photo.
- Perfect B&W. Create stunning photos that recreate the timeless look created by the masters of black and white photography. Perfect B&W adds dramatic and elegant looks to photos, letting you easily create the many moods black and whit photography can evoke, resulting in beautiful, one-of-a-kind photos.
- Perfect Portrait. Offers simple, yet powerful, portrait retouching, with automated feature detection and enhancement tools to smooth skin, remove blemishes, brighten eyes and teeth, and correct skin color. Fast processing speeds also allow photographers to retouch images quickly for simply stunning portraits.
- Perfect Mask. Creates high-quality masks quickly and easily with automated functionality and powerful tools that make selecting subjects and isolating backgrounds for removal extraordinarily accurate.
- Perfect Layers. Gives photographers the ability to combine images and extend their photo-editing options in a layered file workflow without Photoshop. Photographers can create and edit multi-layered files with Perfect Layers directly from Lightroom, Aperture or when using the Perfect Photo Suite as a standalone application. Also included are blending modes, textures, borders, PNG file support, and the powerful edge-detecting Perfect Brush.
- Perfect Resize. Still the industry standard for photo enlargement. It is renowned across the photographic and printing industries for its ability to increase image size well over 1000% without the loss of sharpness or detail that is normally expected. Proven Genuine Fractals technology has been applied to algorithms that optimize the clarity and detail of different photo types, including mobile snapshots.
- Perfect Browse. Quickly get to the photos you want to edit wherever they're stored— whether they're on your computer, network, or on a cloud-based storage service. Now includes one of the fastest previews available for browsing photos. Also great for viewing photos side-by-side in a thumbnail grid or in a larger, more detailed view along with important metadata and navigate through them with intuitive keyboard shortcuts.
In addition, all Perfect Photo Suite 8 customers are automatically enrolled in the onOne Loyalty Rewards program. Each month customers receive free product add-ons such as presets, textures, backgrounds, ebooks, and other creative assets to help expand their photo editing arsenal and get the most from onOne products.
Availability and Pricing
Perfect Photo Suite 8.5 is now available. Existing owners of Perfect Photo Suite 8 are eligible for a free update. New users may purchase the Premium Edition for $179.95 or the Lightroom & Aperture Edition for only $99.95. The Standard Edition, a standalone application, is available for $79.95. Owners of earlier versions of the Perfect Photo Suite can upgrade to the Premium Edition for $99.95 or the Lightroom & Aperture Edition for $79.95.
CLICK ON THE BANNER TO GET YOUR COPY.
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Free Camera Strap when you buy a Think Tank back pack
Think Tank Photo just announced a special “Gear Up For Summer!” special offer. Buy one of their highly acclaimed backpacks and they’ll include a Blue Camera Strap V2.0 and Camera Support Straps V2.0 (a $44.50 value) for free!Take a load off your neck, shoulders, and back by using Camera Support Straps V2.0 along with the Camera Strap V2.0. These straps keep your camera’s weight off your neck and shoulders and transfer the load onto your backpack’s shoulder straps and waist belt. You'll hardly notice your camera is there even though it will be ready to go for hassle-free shooting.Think Tank’s backpacks are renowned for three design principles:
- Capacity -- Their backpacks are the most efficient shape for carrying the most amount of gear in the smallest package. They've got you covered whether you're hauling around multiple bodies with a vast array of lenses and support gear (like a laptop and tablet), large telephoto lenses or a lightweight, stripped down kit.
- Portability -- Flying with your gear? All of their backpacks are sized for US Domestic and International carry-on on regular sized airliners. They've got bags for commuter and regional aircraft, too.
- Quality -- Lesser bags use inferior hardware, materials and manufacturing techniques. Professionals choose Think Tank Photo because they know they only use the best YKK zippers and other high quality materials. They know you can’t afford to have a broken bag while on a trek.
And don’t forget that by using my link (Click on the thinkTANK logo) you receive a Think Tank product free with your order, free shipping, and the best customer service in the industry. Offer valid through May 31, 2014.
Perfect Effects 8 Premium Edition - FREE
For a limited time, onOne is giving away Perfect Effects 8 Premium Edition ($100) for free.
Click here to get your copy
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD - Lens Review
My review of the Tamron SP 150-600 mm lens has been published and is available on the Digital Photography School web site.Click here for the review.
1957
In many small villages there will be a few homes and a church. Some regions seem to have a church but no homes or farms in the vicinity. This is a church probably built in 1957 as that is what is on the entrance gate. The church is in the Snæfellsness peninsula. This was photographed in near 100 MPH winds.The original image was posted earlier in my Iceland 1 posts but for this image I used Macphun Intensify first and then treated the image with Topaz.
For Sale - Canon G12 Kit.
I am selling my Canon G12 kit. A rarely used body, battery, battery charger, extra battery, Really Right Stuff L Plate, Canon TC-DC58D Tele-converter and Canon LA-DC58K Conversion Lens Adaptor. All original boxes etc. except the L bracket that never had a box. The Teleconverter and Lens Adaptor are brand new and can be used on a G10, G11, G12 giving you a focal to 196mm. The bundle for $400.I also have a Canon AC adapter for the G12 - also new - AC Adapter Kit-DC50 original price $70 will sell at $40 if purchased with the kit.Contact me if interested.
The Vast Icelandic Landscape
I posted this composite on facebook yesterday more as a "tiny" jab at a photography friend. However, today I felt it worthy of a post on my blog.
Rhythm in Ice
Vatnajökull (Glacier of Rivers), is the largest glacier in Iceland in the background with Jökulsárlón (Glacial River Lagoon) in the foreground with icebergs.
Vestrahorn - Iceland - 2, March 25, 2014
Vestrahorn near Höfn í Hornafirði on the south-east coast of Iceland. Beautiful black sand dunes and yellow grasses make the foreground for the mountains. It is interesting that these are one of the few mountains that are not volcanic in origin. The stone is like granite and is called gabbro.
The black sand is very soft and the patterns exquisite.
Driving toward the lighthouse one can see the old US Navy Radar Station. The ocean waves are lashing at the cliff faces and crash to heights above the height of the lighthouse.
And on the way back after dinner we are rewarded with some wonderful Northern Lights.
Öxarárfoss - Iceland, March 2014
Öxarárfoss is the main waterfall in Þingvellir National Park, Iceland. Please click on the image to view it larger.This is a panorama of 7 images.
Gullfoss - Iceland
I can never get tired of looking at images from Iceland. This is an extract of Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall), one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland and a key stop on the the Golden Circle. It is a multi tiered waterfall on the river Hvítá. The first is a wide but shallow three step fall and then it drops in two tall stages. The first is about 36 feet and the second about 70 feet. This image is a small extract of the final drop. Canon 5D Mk II, 70-200 f2.8 at 200 mm, f/10, 0.8 seconds, ISO 250.
Cloud Formations
I have a passion for unique and captivating cloud formations and felt rewarded on March 27th 2014. We were on our way back from a trip around the Golden Circle in Iceland. Driving to Reykjavik it was foggy with low visibility but the fog really looked like low clouds. About a half hour to the hotel we saw some openings with some blue barely showing through an exquisite wind swept cloud formation. This image was converted to monochrome using Nik Silverefex Pro. I feel that simplifying a scene in B&W can not only enhance the image but also the story.
We spent a while photographing the swirls across the wide snow covered landscape and headed west toward the hotel. The sun set as a fiery ball but mostly obscured by clouds. Soon after there was a semblance of an afterglow that we did stop and capture. I feel the juxtaposition of the warm and cool tones make this image. The lower portion of the scene was intentionally cropped to eliminate a few man made structures that I found obtrusive.
