The Photo Journey » 50mm

Shoot the finer details

Scott — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:38:12 +0000

So how often do you swap your wide angel lens for a prime or macro lens when you are out on location? Capturing the small details that make up the larger picture can be a great way to tell the entire story of an amazing landscape.

Canon 40D @ 10mm, f8, 1/30sec, ISO 200 with Tiffen HD polarizer

Once again I have used the jetty pillars to block the sun directly entering my lens, but still get a very warm feeling to the shot. To capture the details in the shadows in the underside of the jetty I have exposed the image for a little longer than usual at 1/30sec. At this slow shutter speed it is imperative to use a tripod. A Tiffen HD circular polarising filter has also been used in this shot to reduce the glare of the ocean.

For this weeks additional images I used a 50mm f1.4 prime lens. The shallow DOF that this lens gives you is amazing. You can turn a simple rusted bolt into something captivating to the viewer. Whilst these bolts are visible in the wide angle landscape image the finer details are not visible.

A macro lens is also a great 2nd lens to have with you. If you cant afford a new macro lens don’t forget that many point and shoot cameras have great built in macro modes that (with the use of a tripod for an extra steady shot) can yield some great stock shots.

Shots like these can look great when used as page backgrounds for coffee table books that document things like holidays or your portfolio. Just drop the opacity and slightly de-saturate them. Textures like concrete or grass can also look great as backgrounds.

So next time your on location and you’ve captured the sunrise stick around for another 30 minutes and snap the finer details to help tell the story. The warm morning light can really lift some subjects. Who knows you may prefer one of these shots to your sunrise image.

Hugin Panorama Software

Scott — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:26:23 +0000

This week I came across a great bit of software called Hugin, for panorama stitching. Other than being a very powerful stitching program its 100% free. It is avaliable for Windows, Mac and Linux in both 32 and 64 bit OS.

I captured the below 10 image stitch taken with my 50mm prime lens at Sanctuary Cove Resorts Marina. I really wanted to test the stitching program by having subjects that would be slightly moving and offer a great range in highlights and shadows. Once again I have made sure that I have at least a 25% overlap between images to allow for the best chance of stitching the final image. Click on the image to view it at 50% of the final image size. I was amazed with the resolution and seamless stitch with great exposure blending.

10 Image stitch with Hugin. Click image to view at 50% of actual size to fully appreciate.

When it comes to stitching complex panoramas where you have multiple rows to give you a larger image or you capture more than 5 images to make up a panorama, I have been somewhat disappointed by Photoshop. I have already given up on one 30 image (5×6 grid) cityscape stitch thanks to Photoshop having a hard time merging the images let alone handling the changes in exposure. I ran that same 30 image batch through Hugin and after about 10 minutes or defining a few extra control points I have a very good base image to work with. Something I didn’t achieve in over 2 hours in Photoshop.

The screen capture above shows you the control points that the software automatically plotted so that the stitch could take place. Hugin allows for you to add in manual control points and to fine tune the control points. It is a very easy to use interface and if for some reason it can’t find a match between 2 images you can manually plot points and then Hugin will try and expand the possible points after using your original point as a reference.

There are so many great functions inside Hugin that I’m yet to explore but here is a short list of some of the amazing tools it offers.

High Dynamic Range output
Perspective Correction
Blending Masks
360° enfused panoramas
Focus stacking
Stitching photos from different lens
Stitching photos from differing angles.

I can highly recommend you download Hugin and run it through its paces. At first it looks like information overload with the processing but once you find your feet you will feel comfortable knowing that your panorama will have the best treatment possible once you get to the processing of it.

Stitched Panorama Video Tutorial – 2/52

Scott — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 04:12:50 +0000

I have heard from a few people that they are having trouble with stitching together panoramas and most of them think its the software that’s the issue. Unfortunately a lot comes down to the base images you are using.

Its not the most amazing subject to be shooting for the weeks image but it will have to do considering the devastating flood Queensland has been hit by. I haven’t had another chance to go out shooting this week with volunteering to cleanup some of the worst affected areas in Brisbane by pushing mud out of homes.

This is a 3 image stitch taken with my Canon 40D and a 50mm f1.8 prime lens. The real trick to a good stitched panorama is to make sure that there is at least a 25% overlap from 1 image to the next. All this and more is explained in my first of many video tutorials for the Landscape 52 Project.

If there is a post processing tutorial you would like me to do please drop me a line on the contacts page.

Incense Black & White Brief Video Tutorial

Scott — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:37:52 +0000

Here is the 2nd in a series of videos on how I took my photos for this years Canon Photo5 Competition. Check on the other photo5 blog posts here. For more information on the competition check out the website.

Brief 3 was to be a black and white shot capturing smoke from the supplied incense stick. I had shot smoke before but this time I wanted to engage the viewer with a message not just have them think, “Hey kewl smoke shots”. I wanted to get a message out about the effects of smoking to a persons health. I had been searching for an empty packet for the shoot for about a week when Anna managed to come across a drenched packet in the middle of the street near her work. It has been raining 2 weeks solid here so the packet had certainly copped a beating. It was perfect for the look I was going for.

Check out the BTS video on how I setup for shooting the smoke and a few tips of taking your own smoke shots. You may want to check out a older blog post I did on this with post processing video also. Check it out here – Smokin…Tutorial

Once again it was recorded and edited all on my iPhone 4. Interesting exercise. Love to hear your comments.

365 Day Photo Project & Christmas

Scott — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:34:37 +0000

I hope that everyone has had a great Christmas and that they have been enjoying some time off with their families.

Well the year is nearly over and its time to announce that in 2010 I will be doing a 365 day photo project. Whats a 365 project I hear you say. Well basically the idea is to take at least 1 photo every day of 2010. Some people limit themselves to Self Portraits, black and whites or strobist style shots. I won’t be limiting myself like this however. I want to in the next year take more landscapes, portraits and strobist shots.

I will uploaded the photos as close as possible to daily to my flickr stream and once a week blog about my weeks photos here. There are are numerous groups on flickr that are dedicated to these projects.

The success rates with these projects isn’t particularly high. Hopefully this blog can keep me honest and motivated.

All the best to everyone for the year ahead.

Viva Le Tour & DIYPhotography.net

Scott — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:57:18 +0000

Well one of my favorite blogs DIYPhotography.net has just launched a competition series about setting yourself up a cheap but professional studio at home. DIYPhotography.net has been bringing interesting projects to us hacks for years now and Udi has decided its time for us to make a background and take a photo that will remind us the photographer of the things we love.

Its been a month of late nights for me watching the Tour De France. So I wanted to pay tribute to the great race. Bike in the pictures is actually my brothers GT single speed that we are looking after currently. Its not a light bike I would like to add.

Canon 40D,17-85mm, ISO 800, 17mm, f5, 1/200th

For the above shot I basically used my garage as a massive light tent. Its actually much easier then it at first looks.

After a nice new coat of white paint to the brick wall we were ready to go. The wall will now allow me to make it a brillient white or what ever colour I gel my flash for.

To get the whole wall and roof illuminated I setup my Canon 430ex and set it to full power for the bike shots, and 1/4 power for my profile shots. I had it resting about 2 foot up on my esky as i don’t yet have a light stand let alone an umbrella. (Its my birthday in like 5 days so that will be rectified soon).

Attached was my DIY Yogurt Diffuser. I went for this as it will spread the light in all directions like a gary fong. However this mod is alot cheaper and tastes better too. If I had just used the flash without the mod only the back wall would get a proper covering of light. Flash was fired with my Cactus remotes. All shots were on a 10sec timer. Trust me 10 seconds flys when you are trying to pop-a-mono.

The below shot was the portrait version of the leading photo on this post. Not sure which one I like the most.

Canon 40D,17-85mm, ISO 800, 17mm, f5, 1/200th

Below are 2 shots taken with my nifty fifty. I didn’t need as much illumination as by background was much smaller. Flash was set yo around 1/4 power.

Canon 40D,50mm, ISO 800, 50mm, f3.2, 1/250th

After a few edits in Lightroom 2.0 and adjusting to the white space like removing a few objects in the side of the frame I recon its come out ok for a first attempt. Next time I think I would snoot a 2nd lighton my tyre tread.

Next upgrades to the studio setup will be some sort of white flooring and a curved board where the wall meets the floor. Then I can do head to feet shots. I can also do a shoot longways down the garage once I clean it up a little more.

Viva Le Tour & DIYPhotography.net.

Headshot, Boot Camp II

Scott — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:42:33 +0000

One of my favorite blogers, David Hobby that runs strobist.com is well know for running free assignment based workshops every now and then. Unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to participate in the past but last month he announced Strobist Boot Camp II. The idea of Boot Camp is for people to put the knowledge gained from his site about off camera lighting into action. The assignments are sort based off real world situations.

The first assignment for this year was to take a nice headshot of someone unemployed or similar that they could use on their resumé so as to stand out from other applicants.

So my subject for the shoot was my wife Anna who is just about to finish a Masters of Environment – Education for Sustainability. She has been applying for relevant jobs like crazy and has had a few interviews of late that she has finished up 2nd best even though the relevant HR Departments couldn’t give her a decent reason why she was just overlooked for the position considering she fulfilled all requirements well. I nice headshot on her resumé may be just what she needs.

So I had my subject but now I had to decide on how I wanted to shoot her and where. Considering Anna is in the environmental field I wanted to give her a natural and warm look. The assignment also happened to begin while we were preparing to go on holidays to the bottom of Australia. At first i was worried the holiday would stop me from getting the assignment done but then it dawned on me. We are going to a massive national park with prehistoric ferns. What better environment to shoot in to convey my subjects passion.

It was getting late into the afternoon and we came across this perfect location for the shoot. I wanted to have Anna backed up against the tree and have the ferns in the background.

Gear for the shoot was:

Canon 40D
Canon 50mm f1.8 mk2
Remote shutter control
Canon 430ex
Home made light mod(shown below)
Cactus remotes
Tripod for camera
Voice activated light stand

With the camera in manual mode I set my exposure to 1/200th and an aperture of f1.8. My ISO was set to 400. I setup the camera on my tripod right next to the ferns trunk seen in the location shot. I then used myself as a voice activated light stand to camera left shooting the flash (1/32th power) with my mod through the ferns branches.

I don’t own a light stand or umbrella yet and there was no way I was going to bring one with me to the other side of Australia on holidays. So it was now time to test my newest flash mod.

Yep that’s one massive yogurt container converted into a diffuser sort of thingy. I have been keeping a keen eye on the container ever since my wife bought the yogurt. After a nice clean and removal of the label all I needed to do was make a nice X cut to the lid and BAM.

After a few test shots I had something i was liking and it was Anna turn behind the camera. I made sure she set the focal point to my leading eye and using the shutter remote she held the flash in a similar area to where I had it and lets just say us photographers are not great at smiling of que. Anna did get a few laughs out of me and she has done very well considering the complexity of the situation.

Next time I may use an aperture of around 4 or 5.6 so as not to blur as much of the background ferns. Also the addition of a 2nd light would be a luxury so as I could have a rim light for our heads to stand out more from the tree. Anna’s blonde hair was a savior here. But overall I’m very happy with my first ever headshot and my first proper go at a on location shoot. This is what Strobist boot camp is all about, pushing our boundaries and exploring the awesome world of off camera lighting. Bring on assignment 2.

Warhol Coke Cans

Scott — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:56:59 +0000

Its amazing how many times you can take a photo and in your minds eye compose what the final processing will deliver. This certainly wasn’t my initial idea but I quite like it.

The setup for this shot was rather easy.

Lens choice was my Canon 50mm f1.8 mkII.
Tripod for stability during manual focus
Vivitar 285 flash -1/16th power
2 White foam core boards for fill light
Table with black fabric draped over it
Clear plastic board under Coke can
Coke can (obvious I guess)
Remote trigger
Spray bottle

Camera was set to Manual with an aperture of f3.2 and a shutter speed of 1/400sec. I set the lens to manual and aimed for the sharpest focus on the words “Uplifting Refreshment”.

White foam core boards were used to bounce some of the light back onto the can to define the sides of the can.

Flash was set at 1/16th power with a home made snoot and grid. Flash was hand held during the shoot for 2 reasons. The main reason being I don’t have a light stand, and the other being I was wanting to try a few different angles.

Tripod was set so that the camera was slightly looking down at the can.

Can was placed on a clear plastic board and sprayed with a fine water mist. This will give the Coke can to a cool and refreshing look.

Here is a straight out of camera photo of using the above setup only without the water mist on the can or the clear plastic board.

Once I had the images captured it was time for the post processing in Adobe Photoshop CS2. After sorting through the hundred or so photos I had decided on one particular shot that had a good reflection on the plastic and no major over highlights from the flash.

Here is the post processing for this image.

Crop out the white foam core boards
Clone stamp tooled the clear plastic boards slight reflections in the background of the image and the other foreground reflections
Increased the Canvas size and stretched out the black on the sides of the can to fill in this area
Increased the saturation of the reds in the image
Increased the contrast
Adjusted the levels
Unsharpen Mask to around 102% @ 2.5 pixels radius

Then for the final Warhol image,

Duplicated the layer 4 times with the blend style on each layer set to Screen
Increased the Canvas size by 400% Width
Created a background layer with a black fill
Aligned the 4 Can layers vertically and distributed evenly
Then on each layer using the Image –> Adjustments –> Replace Color tool I made the individual colours
Flatten the image
Then to finish off the image I adjusted the Levels by moving the blacks down a little and then the greys down a little. This cleans up the background and gives the cans more attitude.

Any questions on the image please ask in the comments section below.

My First Self Portrait

Scott — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:16:52 +0000

Well I have seen plenty of self portraits of people in their bathrooms (Clothed thankfully) on flickr in the past. Mainly used for Avatars but also a way of finally getting their mug out there. So I decided to give it a go after doing some product photography the other night.

I wanted to have a photo that displayed the camera as the core subject and me as merely the driver. So a nice amount of DOF was required. The lens choice was easy, as for a greater DOF I needed a larger aperture setting. So out came my Canon 50mm f1.8 II.

As you can see from the photo I was using my Cactus wireless remote to fire my Vivitar 285 flash with my small homemade snoot with grid (I’ll blog about this soon). It was to the camera’s right and about as high as a toilet. Why the interesting height well that’s where it was sitting. I had angled the flash towards the back right-hand corner of the small room. By bouncing the flash off the wall and roof the light will spill over the camera and not leave a massive flare in the mirror. You will notice plenty of people on Facebook and Myspace have self portraits with massive flares in the mirror. This is from on camera flash. It looks crap.

So the lighting was sorted. It was time to throw the camera in to Manual and set the Vivitar 285 to 1/16th power the lowest setting possible. I set the camera to a shutter speed of 250 and the aperture at f1.8.

I positioned myself outside of the bathroom perfectly head on to the small 40cm wide mirror, but I had the camera body inside the bathroom.

For the Autofocus points I selected the centre focus point only. This made the camera the focal point not me. If I wanted to set myself as the focal point I would have selected the left corner focal point.

As you can see in this photo the door frame is intersecting my hand so its no good. Its actually not a bad photo otherwise. I needed to shift myself left. Now I had positioned myself correctly and just needed the correct relaxed look on my face.

Because the photo was taken in a mirror I needed to flip the image in Photoshop. I also gave boosted the sharpness and saturated certain colours like the blue in my shirt. Using the burn tool I tried to patch up the brightness on my arm. I still have a lot to learn about post processing but hey its a start.

Next time I do the shoot I would probably check my background wall, as the framed photo kind of annoys me. Also the brightness on my arm is something I would be carefull of. Otherwise I’m very happy for a first time attempt.