On the last day of our six week high-speed flash hummingbird photography shoots in southern Arizona, I shot 20 gigabytes of these marvelous birds in flight. We were leaving the next day for the three day drive back home to Pennsylvania, and I was busy packing the truck with the assorted flashes,...
by E.J. Peiker | May 29, 2008
As we enter the adolescence of the digital camera age after spending the last 10 years in childhood, one of the biggest weaknesses of digital imaging with DSLRs is finally starting to be addressed by the camera manufacturers. This weakness is sensor contamination, which results in undesired spot...
Modern digital cameras require us to choose a file format for saving our images. The JPEG and RAW formats are the most common choices, but which one to use has sparked debate and led to confusion. This article examines the RAW file format, and provides guidance on how to use it to improve the qu...
To maximize the potential of an area and its subjects, always gather as much information as possible before arriving. To make the most of your shoot, talk to others who have been there shortly before, but never assume things will be the same.
Ask yourself questions about the specific location:...
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To see if there were notable differences between the RAW and JPEG formats when processing underexposed and overexposed images, I conducted the following test. In a series of images, I underexposed the test subject by 1 exposure value (EV), 2 EV, and 3 EV, and then overexposed it by 1 EV, in both...
This is a continuation of the article I wrote a few years ago, “The Mathematics of Depth of Field.”
In the earlier article, I presented some equations and plotted some results from them. I concluded with a series of “rules” about depth of field (DOF). There were sever...
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My first article for NatureScapes.net was a whirlwind tour of the world of inkjet printing. It provided an overview of the essentials, such as equipment choices (printer, ink, and paper) and color management. Read my previous article on Getting Started with Inkjet Printing.
I have lived within a mile or two of the ocean for nearly my entire life, spending a lot of time at the beach over the years. My photography has always centered on ocean-oriented subjects, yet somehow I overlooked one of the most obvious marine subjects of all—waves. I have surfed, kayaked, bo...
by Tim Grey | February 1, 2008
Photography is in large part about exercising control (or maybe that’s just the excuse I use because I happen to be such a control freak). Since the dawn of photography there has been an effort to control the light, the subject, the print, and all other factors that influence the final pho...
For compelling bird photos, go beyond portraits. An animated NatureScapes.net thread recently discussed whether or not “boring” would be a valid bird image critique. As bird photographers, it’s a good exercise for us to consider what draws viewers to a particular bird photograp...
by E.J. Peiker | September 30, 2007
It has now been 4 years since my initial article and challenge to DSLR manufacturers to build a better digital camera. Fortunately, many of the items have come to fruition, but there is still work to be done. My initial wish list, and the one-year follow up, as well as the NatureScapes.Net lette...
by Jeff Hapeman | September 30, 2007
Many nature and landscape photographers have an interest in integrating the night sky into their photo portfolio. Typically, this takes the form of star-trail photography or landscapes lit by only the moon. However, the night sky can make an excellent subject on its own, especially with longer e...
Making panoramas using digital cameras and stitching software can be daunting to the uninitiated. This is because a number of steps must be performed correctly and in the proper sequence for the panorama to be successful. My goal here is to share with you my experience in making panoramas (or &#...
Inkjet printers have made significant progress over the last few years: contrast is higher, colors are more saturated, and print longevity is better than ever. On the other hand, finding all the right settings to make a great print can be an exercise in frustration. At times, the world of inkjet...
by Juza | May 31, 2007
When I photograph birds and wildlife, I often use ISO 400 or even 800. Even though the recent Canon cameras are pretty good at high ISO, there is always some noise, in particular in the smooth, out of focus areas. It is not a problem: with Photoshop, it is quite easy to reduce the noise, and I&#...
