Mormon Row Barn
The Panasonic Lumix G7 IR Converted camera with the 7-14 mm lens is ideal for these vast sky IR images.
The Grand Tetons and Mt. Moran
Just back after a truly wonderful trip to Yellowstone and The Grand Tetons.This is a panorama captured at sunrise yesterday October 8, 2016, just a few hours before heading to the airport to return home.Please do click on the image for a lager rendition. In its native state the image is 153 inches wide at 240 ppi.
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Iceland Sept 2016 - IR was fun
On a whim I took my IR converted Panasonic Lumix G7 to Iceland. Knowing fully well that a lack of deciduous trees could yield not so great IR images but wanted to try it out anyway. Here are a few from various locations. All images were processed using Capture One 9.2 and then converted to Monochrome using Silver Efex Pro.
TWiP - The iPhone 7 arrives and a lot more
Once again it was a pleasure to cohost TWiP this past week with Frederick van Johnson and Andy Biggs.Apologies that this post is a week late as I am in Iceland with limited internet access.Click here for the podcast audio and video.
Imagination
"The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity... and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself." William Blake
This is an image created when I saw this Birch tree and imagined it as an IR - Black and White (pre-visualizing the end result). Panasonic Lumix G7 Enhanced Color IR converted camera with the Lumix 14 - 140 mm lens at 14 mm. Exposure triad: ISO 200, f/5, 1/800 sec. Processed using Capture One and Photoshop CS6.
TWiP 481: Photokina Preview
With the Photokina tradeshow just around the corner, vendors are polishing up their offerings, and teasing us with the next amazing thing that will make us whip out that credit card. DJI has new drones, GoPro also has new drones, and even Garmin is entering the fray with an action camera that takes direct aim at GoPro. There are definitely some interesting announcements ahead and Frederick, Doug and I had a great opportunity to discuss these and more.CLICK HERE FOR THE PODCAST
2016 Labor Day Weekend in Maine
On a whim, decided to spend two nights in ANP Maine. With no hotels available we ended up in Searsport about 1.5 hours from the park. The plan was to do some night photography. Here are a few of the images from the trip.
Think Tank introduces Version 3 of their popular Airport Roller Bags
Think Tank Photo has just released completely updated versions of their award-winning Airport rolling camera bags. They feature improved handles, greater durability, and dedicated laptop and tablet compartments. The Airport International V3.0, sized for international carry on requirements, holds two gripped DSLRs with lenses attached, plus two to four additional lenses, a 15” laptop, and a 10” tablet. The roller fits up to a 500mm f/4 detached or 400mm f/2.8 attached (hood reversed). The Airport Security V3.0, sized for US domestic carry on requirements, holds two gripped DSLRs with lenses attached plus four to six additional lenses, a 17” laptop, and a 10” tablet. The bag fits up to a 600mm f/4 detached or 500mm f/4 attached (hood reversed). With our partnership with Think Tank, you receive free gear and free shipping with every order you place for their gear.Click Here for the Airport Security Version 3Click Here for the Airport International Version 3
Panasonic Lumix Post Focus Stack vs. Racked Focus Stacking
This comparison was done using the in camera "Post Focus" feature of the Lumix GX85 for one image and an automated focus rack of the same number of images (40 total) as RAW files. The "Post Focus" video was rendered into an image sequence using Photoshop and the output files were generated as TIFF. Both sequences were stacked using Helicon Focus using the Depth Map option for stacking. Each stack was saved as a TIFF file. The images were cropped to proportion and exported using Lightroom. Both stacks are excellent, further validating the viability of the "Post Focus" capability of Lumix cameras. The lens used was the Lumix H-HS030 30mm f/2.8 macro at f/4.0, ISO 200, 1/100 sec.Please click on the images for a larger view.
Eastern Sierra Fall Adventure with Lumix Luminaries in attendance
Eastern Sierra Fall Color AdventureOctober 20-23, 2016Based in beautiful Mammoth Lakes you will traverse the Sierra capturing nature's beauty and amazing locations…Lee Vining Creek, Lundy Lake, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake and many more.You’ll receive hands-on help to find and capture amazing pictures. Have fun with great people and inspirational photographers.Panasonic's Mark Toal, Suzette Allen and Jon Yoshinaga will be at the workshop and will have a loaner trunk of Lumix G Series cameras for you to use.The Sierra Adventure is ideal for beginners to advanced photographers Click here for more info and to register
Out of New York - 2016
Are you familiar with the Out of Chicago Photography conference? Now the producers Chris and Malinda have put together another amazing, inspiring, and fun photography conference bringing it to New York City.As the “Shooting-est Photography Conference on Earth”, not only will you learn in a classroom setting with photographers like Lindsay Adler, Bryan Peterson, Rick Sammon, Valerie Jardin, and MORE, but they’ll also take you on the streets of Manhattan to use what you learn! One of the many reasons for its success is the smaller, more intimate class size. You will be in a classroom with no more than 60 people (other than the keynote speakers), and you will be able to interact with your favorite instructors!Out of New York is set for Friday and Saturday October 14 and 15, 2016. Included in your fee is 2 full days of classes along with many social photowalks to choose from. There will also be opportunities for educational, smaller photowalks for an additional charge. Check out the Sunday, full day on-the-street workshops too! Sign up at www.outofnewyork.com or email malinda@outofchicago.com for more information. Here is what attendees from the Out of Chicago 2016 event had to say:Attendee Jessica Zoller Kaplan posted in the 2016 Attendee Facebook group…“As I continue to process the many amazing moments of this weekend, I'm feeling inspired, motivated and grateful to have been a part of something so special. Thanks to Chris, Malinda, Michelle and the whole team for your work on this incredible conference. (I'm already signed up for OOC2017 - are you?) Thanks in particular to Angie, Ron, Levi, Bryan, Valerie, Tim,Ken, Steve, Steve, Eugene, Corwin, James, Rick and Scott for your wisdom and encouragement. My feet and shoulders were aching last night, but the view from Maggie Daley Park made it all worth it.”Per Bette J. Kauffman, “Thanks to Chris Smith and the #OOC2016 team for a terrific experience.”From Jim Jones“HUGE thanks go out to Chris Smith and the entire army of volunteers and speakers - Out of Chicago 2016 was phenomenal! It was fun, educational and inspiring! Grateful to have met so many great people and to have learned from so many awesome photographers and instructors. You guys are awesome!!!”
Eastern State Penitentiary
I had the opportunity to visit the ESP on my way to the Art in Nature Festival where I am presenting Color Management and Workflow.The ESP invites artists to create work that address ESP's themes—including issues of crime and justice, architectural history, and the site’s fascinating past. Ruth Scott Blackson is one of the artists who has created a fascinating piece of work entitled No Trace Without Resistance
As you can see from the image, Ruth applied new paint chips, coated in gold leaf, to the flaking walls of this cell. Quote from the ESP site "In the resulting “shimmering constellation,” sunlight on the installation may entice the visitor in the same way an inmate may have been forced to concentrate on the walls during solitary confinement. The prison’s neglect reveals something surprising and rare underneath."And the as you walk through the cell blocks - you see cell after cell all in arrested decay. Al Capone - spent his time in a rather elaborate cell - the age old radio still plays.
The other inmates did not have such comfort as you see in the typical cell below.
Though each cell block had a Barber Cell with a centrally placed Barber's Chair there are currently just two that remain.
Like the spokes of a wheel the never-ending corridors of the ESP.
Whales - Cape Cod
We had an exceptional whale watch on July 23rd. Having been on many whale watches, this was my first time experiencing Humpback Whales bubble feeding. This method of feeding behavior is when the whales blow clouds or rings of bubbles around a school of fish. The bubbles then rise around the fish which are trapped inside the column of rising bubbles while the whales rise up with their mouths open and trap the fish using baleen as the filtering mechanism. “Bubble feeding” is unique to the Humpback whales.
We were also fortunate to watch a fairly recent feeding method that has been adopted by the Humpback Whales - "Kick feeding" where the whale pounds the surface of the water with its tail before diving and blowing a bubble ring. It is believed that the tail pounding stuns the fish and makes them easier to catch.All Monica's images were captured using a Panasonic Lumix GX8 and the Lumix 35 - 100 mm f/2.8 lens
Petite Pointe Au Sable Lighthouse, Mears, MI
Spent the last three days in Holland, MI at the SWMCCC conference. Went out to Mears last evening to get some images of this lighthouse. It seems that all of Mears shows up to see the sun set every evening - sure it tough shooting between the crowds. This post has two views - both worth the effort. Photographed using the Lumix GX85 and the 14-140 lens. The non anti aliasing filter GX85 sure bring out a ton of detail.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 and DMC-G7 Firmware updates
Panasonic released firmware updates for the GX8 and the G7 bodies late yesterday. The key updates are:New functions are added in Fn button.
- The option "Wireless Setup (Flash)" has been added to [Setting in REC mod] on the [Fn Button Set] of [Custom] menu.
- The option "Wi-Fi" and "LVF/Monitor Switch" have been added to [Setting in PLAY mode] on the [Fn Button Set] of [Custom] menu.
Infrared and More
This image was made using a Panasonic Lumix G7 converted camera. The RAW image was processed using Capture One and the channels were swapped using Photoshop. Topaz BW Effects and Macphun Intensify were used to further enhance the image.
Cape Cod Sky - 10 minutes apart
Join us in October for a grand weekend and photo workshop in Cape Cod - CLICK HERE for details
The Joy of Mirrorless and IR
Typical cameras are designed to capture the visible spectrum. Geting your camera converted to capture IR opens up another world of photography.Keep in mind that IR wavelength is longer than the wavelength range of the visible spectrum and thereby focuses differently. When you convert a DSLR you are limited to certain focus adjustments that must be made so as to achieve the best quality of images with sharp focus. As lenses with different focal lengths behave differently you need to select one lens and have the camera sensor calibrated to achieve sharp focus with that lens. Any other lenses will not be in a position to achieve good focus. Live view can help but it is not the best option.Mirrorless cameras on the other hand rely on the imaging sensor for focus attainment and metering they are able to discern the IR focus shift in real time and adjust accordingly. This feature allows you to use any lens, prime or zoom and capture sharp IR images.In my opinion a mirrorless cameras with no in body image stabilization is a better choice for conversion.Lifepixel is who I use and their service and conversions are exceptional. Click on the icon to get started.
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July 2, 2016 Fireworks in Boston
