Sunday, November 13, 2011
A Great Day for Soccer!
Beautiful light and warm temperatures brought out the best in play at the Richard H. Sheridan field in Union City, CA.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Have pictures with a banding problem? Try Topaz DeNoise.
In a perfect world, digital images would come out perfect and you wouldn't need to perform any kind of post processing. In a slightly less-than-perfect world, image defects would be correctable with the quick click of a mouse in Photoshop.
Unfortunately, the real world of digital imaging is neither perfect nor slightly less-than-perfect.
It's rare that I find a tool which is able to correct image defects quickly and easily using the out-of-the-box settings. In fact, when I hear about products that claim to "magically" fix problems at the click of a button, I usually have a good laugh before I go about finding their fatal flaws.
I recently purchased a bundle package from Topaz Labs. Topaz Labs is a software design company based in Dallas, TX. They produce digital imaging plug-ins that do a range of things, from image enhancement to black & white conversion and image masking. I've only had a chance to tinker with a few of the plug-ins that came with the bundle, and I have to say the one that has impressed me most so far is the noise removal product called Topaz DeNoise.
Since upgrading to the Nikon FX format, I've rarely needed to use any kind of noise removal software. On the rare occasion that I find myself needing to do so, I tend to rely on PictureCode's Noise Ninja. Noise Ninja is unique among noise removal applications because it has the ability to be optimized for any camera model in exactly the environment the images were made. Most people are unaware that noise performance can vary in different environments.
While it's been a life saver for me, Noise Ninja has not been able to help with images that suffer from banding issues. Banding is a type of digital noise that looks like streaks or scratches running across a picture. Although banding isn't really a problem for me any more, I sometimes run into jobs where I need to clean up an old image which has this kind of noise. Thanks to Topaz DeNoise, removing this defect is quite literally as easy as a click.
Below is a before an after comparison of an image that was originally shot on film and scanned using a Leafscan 45 film scanner. While the Leafscan 45 is well known for its excellent scanning abilities, this particular unit would occasionally produce banding in the images. The image on the left is the original scan.
As you can see, the original scanned picture has a mild banding issue. Well, to be completely honest, it had a severe banding issue, but I removed some of it by using the Gaussian blur and despeckle filters in Photoshop. While I was able to make it less noticeable, the banding is still quite visible. There is also quite a bit of color noise in the image.
The image on the right is the result of applying the Topaz DeNoise filter. DeNoise comes configured with several presets. I applied the "Raw - Light" preset followed by the horizontal DeBanding option using the default settings.
The results are nothing short of miraculous. Not only has Topaz DeNoise reduced the amount of noise to an acceptable level, it has completely removed all of the banding.
For more information on the the Topaz DeNoise filter and other Topaz products, check out the Topaz Labs web site.
For more information on the Noise Ninja filter, please visit the PictureCode web site.
Unfortunately, the real world of digital imaging is neither perfect nor slightly less-than-perfect.
It's rare that I find a tool which is able to correct image defects quickly and easily using the out-of-the-box settings. In fact, when I hear about products that claim to "magically" fix problems at the click of a button, I usually have a good laugh before I go about finding their fatal flaws.
I recently purchased a bundle package from Topaz Labs. Topaz Labs is a software design company based in Dallas, TX. They produce digital imaging plug-ins that do a range of things, from image enhancement to black & white conversion and image masking. I've only had a chance to tinker with a few of the plug-ins that came with the bundle, and I have to say the one that has impressed me most so far is the noise removal product called Topaz DeNoise.
Since upgrading to the Nikon FX format, I've rarely needed to use any kind of noise removal software. On the rare occasion that I find myself needing to do so, I tend to rely on PictureCode's Noise Ninja. Noise Ninja is unique among noise removal applications because it has the ability to be optimized for any camera model in exactly the environment the images were made. Most people are unaware that noise performance can vary in different environments.
While it's been a life saver for me, Noise Ninja has not been able to help with images that suffer from banding issues. Banding is a type of digital noise that looks like streaks or scratches running across a picture. Although banding isn't really a problem for me any more, I sometimes run into jobs where I need to clean up an old image which has this kind of noise. Thanks to Topaz DeNoise, removing this defect is quite literally as easy as a click.
Below is a before an after comparison of an image that was originally shot on film and scanned using a Leafscan 45 film scanner. While the Leafscan 45 is well known for its excellent scanning abilities, this particular unit would occasionally produce banding in the images. The image on the left is the original scan.
As you can see, the original scanned picture has a mild banding issue. Well, to be completely honest, it had a severe banding issue, but I removed some of it by using the Gaussian blur and despeckle filters in Photoshop. While I was able to make it less noticeable, the banding is still quite visible. There is also quite a bit of color noise in the image.
The image on the right is the result of applying the Topaz DeNoise filter. DeNoise comes configured with several presets. I applied the "Raw - Light" preset followed by the horizontal DeBanding option using the default settings.
The results are nothing short of miraculous. Not only has Topaz DeNoise reduced the amount of noise to an acceptable level, it has completely removed all of the banding.
For more information on the the Topaz DeNoise filter and other Topaz products, check out the Topaz Labs web site.
For more information on the Noise Ninja filter, please visit the PictureCode web site.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Cambridge Soundworks Product Shoot 09-14-11
This is one of the many images I made while working with my colleague, web designer Jeff Reber, for the redesign of the Cambridge Soundworks web site.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Quick Tip: Do your pictures have the Noon-time blues? Try using the cloudy white balance
High Noon is regarded as the worst time of day to shoot. The high position of the sun produces deep shadows on subjects and the color of the light gives images a pale blue look.
Unfortunately, we don't always get to choose the time of day that events happen, so we're forced to find a solution to these problems.
The image below was shot when the sun was in a Noon-time position. Using the daylight white balance setting, it produced color with a blue cast. The auto white balance setting produces similar results.
By setting the camera to use the cloudy white balance setting, the camera adds a little warmth to the picture, and the color becomes more pleasing, as seen in the edited version of the image below.
Your tastes may differ from mine, and you may wish to add or remove some of the warming effect. The amount of warmth can be changed by using white balance trims, if your camera has them.
If you're shooting film or don't have manual white balance settings and white balance trims, the same effect can be achieved by using a warming filter such as an 81a, 81b or 81c. When using these filters, the amount of warmth is controlled by filter selection, with the 81a producing the least amount of warmth and the 81c producing the most.
Unfortunately, we don't always get to choose the time of day that events happen, so we're forced to find a solution to these problems.
The image below was shot when the sun was in a Noon-time position. Using the daylight white balance setting, it produced color with a blue cast. The auto white balance setting produces similar results.
By setting the camera to use the cloudy white balance setting, the camera adds a little warmth to the picture, and the color becomes more pleasing, as seen in the edited version of the image below.
Your tastes may differ from mine, and you may wish to add or remove some of the warming effect. The amount of warmth can be changed by using white balance trims, if your camera has them.
If you're shooting film or don't have manual white balance settings and white balance trims, the same effect can be achieved by using a warming filter such as an 81a, 81b or 81c. When using these filters, the amount of warmth is controlled by filter selection, with the 81a producing the least amount of warmth and the 81c producing the most.
It's not what you use. It's how you use it.
Camera manufacturers are always trying to convince us that the equipment we use will determine whether we're able to capture good images or not. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, as camera manufacturers are trying to sell us more equipment.
What's truly disturbing is how many photo industry professionals buy into the hype. It's amazing how many times I've seen photo magazine articles mention how a certain feature is "required" or "needed" to capture a great picture. If a fast-shooting, "professional-grade" camera loaded with fancy features were really necessary to create great images, camera companies such as Leica and Hasselblad would have gone out of business years ago.
To that end, I decided to write an article detailing how I used a Nikon Coolpix P7000 to make some candid images of my nephew Sean. You read that right. I used a point-and-shoot camera.
What many people fail to realize is that many of the features found on today's professional cameras have made it into today's entry-level SLRs and point-and-shoot cameras. In this case, I made use of the TTL flash capabilities -- a feature which has actually been available on point-and-shoot cameras for many years now.
This picture was made using a Nikon P7000 point-and-shoot camera using a Nikon SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander and two Nikon SB-800 flashes. The SU-800 allows the camera to provide wireless, automatic TTL flash control just as it does on the bigger, more expensive professional cameras.
The first flash was placed at the far left side of the room and the second was located to the right of the camera. No umbrellas or sofboxes were used to soften the light. Instead, I used the small, white diffusion dome which Nikon supplies with the SB-800.
What's amazing about this setup is how little effort was involved. The P7000 has a manual mode that works similar to that of an SLR, so it was easy to set the camera to expose the image as if I were using one of my more expensive "professional" cameras. For this example, I used an exposure of 1/100th second at f/5.6 with the ISO set at 400. After I dialed in these settings, I simply configured the flashes to work in their "remote" mode, set the SU-800 to control them and pressed the shutter button.
What makes this story even more amazing is that no compensation was required to get the correct exposure. It came out perfect using the default settings. Normally I would have to dial-in some compensation to get the right exposure with the Nikon wireless flash system.
The morale of this story is that it you really don't need an expensive "professional" camera to make great images. The affordable, entry-level and point-and-shoot cameras produced today are more than capable of making compelling images. Many of these cameras even have the same features found on professional-grade SLRs as well as the ability to use the same accessories. Some even have features that aren't found on professional cameras, like the ability to use wireless flash without the need for a device like the SU-800.
Many people have a complex about the equipment they use and worry that their equipment is inadequate for making great images. They couldn't be more wrong about their situation.
One thing that you'll notice about the world's greatest photographers is that none of them obsess over their equipment and they all have the same philosophy:
It's not what you use. It's how you use it.
Happy shooting!
What's truly disturbing is how many photo industry professionals buy into the hype. It's amazing how many times I've seen photo magazine articles mention how a certain feature is "required" or "needed" to capture a great picture. If a fast-shooting, "professional-grade" camera loaded with fancy features were really necessary to create great images, camera companies such as Leica and Hasselblad would have gone out of business years ago.
To that end, I decided to write an article detailing how I used a Nikon Coolpix P7000 to make some candid images of my nephew Sean. You read that right. I used a point-and-shoot camera.
What many people fail to realize is that many of the features found on today's professional cameras have made it into today's entry-level SLRs and point-and-shoot cameras. In this case, I made use of the TTL flash capabilities -- a feature which has actually been available on point-and-shoot cameras for many years now.
This picture was made using a Nikon P7000 point-and-shoot camera using a Nikon SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander and two Nikon SB-800 flashes. The SU-800 allows the camera to provide wireless, automatic TTL flash control just as it does on the bigger, more expensive professional cameras.
The first flash was placed at the far left side of the room and the second was located to the right of the camera. No umbrellas or sofboxes were used to soften the light. Instead, I used the small, white diffusion dome which Nikon supplies with the SB-800.
What's amazing about this setup is how little effort was involved. The P7000 has a manual mode that works similar to that of an SLR, so it was easy to set the camera to expose the image as if I were using one of my more expensive "professional" cameras. For this example, I used an exposure of 1/100th second at f/5.6 with the ISO set at 400. After I dialed in these settings, I simply configured the flashes to work in their "remote" mode, set the SU-800 to control them and pressed the shutter button.
What makes this story even more amazing is that no compensation was required to get the correct exposure. It came out perfect using the default settings. Normally I would have to dial-in some compensation to get the right exposure with the Nikon wireless flash system.
The morale of this story is that it you really don't need an expensive "professional" camera to make great images. The affordable, entry-level and point-and-shoot cameras produced today are more than capable of making compelling images. Many of these cameras even have the same features found on professional-grade SLRs as well as the ability to use the same accessories. Some even have features that aren't found on professional cameras, like the ability to use wireless flash without the need for a device like the SU-800.
Many people have a complex about the equipment they use and worry that their equipment is inadequate for making great images. They couldn't be more wrong about their situation.
One thing that you'll notice about the world's greatest photographers is that none of them obsess over their equipment and they all have the same philosophy:
It's not what you use. It's how you use it.
Happy shooting!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Union City Soccer 08-07-11
Soccer action at the Richard H. Sheridan Field in Union City, Calif., Sunday, August 7, 2011.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Film is not DEAD...
Film, a set on Flickr.
...But it definitely has one foot in the grave. According to this story by the Associated Press, U.S. sales have dropped from nearly one billion rolls of film annually at the turn of the 21st Century to approximately 20 million per year.With it's ease of use and instant playback capabilities, it's easy to see why the general public has made the switch to digital. However, speaking with other professionals, it also seems that the average person perceives digital as having the ability to produce higher quality images. It's also possible that the public has the belief that from an artistic perspective, images produced with digital cameras are "better" and photographers that own more technically advanced cameras have superior skills.
Photography has never been about the equipment people use. It's about how they use this equipment to produce compelling images. The medium does not define the impact of a picture or the skill of the photographer.
Although circumstances may occasionally necessitate the use of a particular medium, it's up to each and every photographer to determine what will work best for them, as their number one responsibility is to produce the most compelling images possible.
Happy shooting!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Best of 2010
Best of 2010, a set on Flickr.
My favorite images from 2010...Please click on a thumbnail to see a larger version of the picture.
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