Location Shooting

I am constantly looking for places to shoot, sometimes the light may not be great and sometimes it works out. The more I shoot a specific location the more I learn about the light and how it affects the landscape around me. This was my third trip to the Golden Gate and each time I have discovered a new angle or a preferred location, I haven't yet nailed the Gate, but with my scouting of locations, I soon will.

Ross

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More on the 5DSR

From Canon Asia

Conceptual Diagram of Low-Pass Filter Effect Cancellation

5DS manual is here at Canon Europe

On the EOS 5DS R, the image of the subject is first separated in the vertical direction by Low-pass Filter 1, after which the separated images are merged again at Low-pass Filter 2. In the case of the EOS 5DS, the subject image is separated in the horizontal direction by Low-pass Filter 1, and in the vertical direction by Low-pass Filter 2.

A newly-developed full-frame CMOS sensor is employed on both models, but they vary significantly in the structure of the low-pass filter that is located immediately in front of the image sensor. As with the other EOS models, the EOS 5DS prevents false colours and moiré effect from occurring by separating the subject image using the low-pass filter effect. In contrast, the EOS 5DS R separates the subject image with the low-pass filter, but merges them again using a technology uniquely developed by Canon. Doing so successfully cancels the low-pass filter effect to achieve an apparent resolution that is similar to that when a low-pass filter is not used. Other than the optical LPF feature, the EOS 5DS R and the EOS 5DS are basically twins with no difference in their functions and mechanism. Various measures have also been introduced on both the hardware and software of the two models to address camera shake, an issue that may become more pronounced with a high pixel count that exceeds 50 megapixels. In the following, let us take a look at these two cameras with “super high” image quality.

Shutter time lag can be set manually

Unlike conventional models, the shutter time lag after the mirror is locked up can be set manually. By selecting an interval setting, both the mirror lockup and shutter release operations can be performed successively with a single press of the shutter button, thus helping to reduce camera shake.

both beneficial to  getting ultra sharp images. I am keeping a close eye on this camera, I have not yet decided if I will pull the trigger on it, or a new lense. I will keep you posted when news and reviews become available.

Ross

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Time Lapse

 Interesting artical on time lapse with the Canon 7D Mk II from CPN and George Lepp

Winter Clouds Over the Oregon Cascades 2 from George Lepp on Vimeo.


Ross

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Hand Held Landscapes

Nikon D800E,  AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 G II ED, f/7.1 at 195 mm 1/500 sec

Oak tree and flowers outside Gilroy, Ca.

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Hand held landscapes can be achieved by using fast shutter speeds and good camera technique to ensure sharp images. Always shoot as fast as possible, open up the aperture as needed to maintain a fast shutter speed, hold your breath and brace the camera or your body against a solid object, use image stabilization.

Whats a fast enough shutter speed? I would try to stay above 1/250 sec, but faster is better, once you drop below that threshold its time to get out the tripod. I would not raise the ISO unless you have no choice, but its always better to get a shot than not.

Ross

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EF 11-24 f/4

The new EF 11-24 f/4 

• World’s widest angle ultra-wide zoom with 11-24mm focal length.
• f/4 fixed aperture, high-performance standard zoom L-series lens.
• Uses four aspherical lens elements (including the world’s largest diameter ground aspherical lens within a photographic lens) and UD and Super UD lens elements, ensuring the highest image quality.
• Canon unique SWC and new ASC anti-reflective coatings.
• Fluorine coating on the lens surfaces to prevent dirt sticking to lens elements.
• Silent, fast autofocus using a ring type USM.
• A nine-blade circular aperture creates beautiful out-of-focus highlights.
• Full-time manual focusing.
• Minimum focusing distance 0.28m (at 24mm zoom position).
• Highly resistant to dust and water allowing shooting in the harshest conditions.

About lens copy variation here

buy it here at B and H, the best place to by camera equipment

Lee filter system for the EF 11-24 here

See Bryans full review at the Digital Picture here

CPN here

DPreview here

Ross

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Canon EOS M3, Europe only?

Hoping this is a worthy camera and much better focus than Canons last offering. Also that they actually sell it here in the US.

• 24.2 MP APS-C size CMOS sensor
• Premium image quality using DIGIC 6 Processor
• Selectable ISO range of 100-12,800 with expansion to 25,600
• Hybrid CMOS AF III focusing system with 49 AF points
• Focusing assist with Manual Focus Peaking and AF+MF
• Large, tilt-type 3.0in (1040k) 3:2 ClearView II touchscreen with sRGB colour reproduction
• High quality Full HD 1920x1080 movies at 24p and 30p in MP4 format with full exposure control
• Built-in WiFi with NFC support
• Fully compatible with Canon Speedlite System and advanced levels of controls
• Premium body construction and handling with stainless steel chassis and all aluminium exterior

CPN here

DPreview here

Ross

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Canon 5DS and 5DSR

Canon 5DSR

Update: rumors have it that the noise and DR are in fact better at base ISO with the cost of high ISO noise, if this is the case the new camera may be designed specifically for low ISO shooting, which makes total sense. This does present a problem for people that shoot on both ends of the ISO scale, you will now need two cameras, one for low ISO 50mp studio/landscape shots and one for everything else.

Can you say 50mp? Well Canon can, this should be an interesting press release, the big one here is the EF 11-24 f/4 lens, but I'm very interested to see what this new camera can do, it needs to have better shadow recovery and higher dynamic range to get my interest, especially at the rumored price of $3900.

New info at Canon Asia here

DPReview test samples here

• EOS 5DS: 50.6 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with ISO 100-6400 (Lo: 50 and H1:12,800) sensitivity range.
• EOS 5DS R: 50.6 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with low-pass cancellation filter and ISO 100-6400 (Lo: 50 and H1:12,800) sensitivity range.
• Dual DIGIC 6 processors for outstanding image processing speed and camera responsiveness.
• 5 frames per second (fps) with selectable burst speeds and silent shutter mode.
• 61-point wide area AF with 41 cross-type sensors with iTR, AI Servo AF III and AF Configuration tool.
• 150k pixel RGB+IR metering sensor.
• 100% magnification Intelligent Viewfinder II with electronic overlay.
• 1.3x, 1.6x and 1:1 ratio crop modes with masked viewfinder display.
• Mirror Vibration Control System to reduce mirror vibration blur.
• Fine Detail Picture Style.
• CF + SD (UHS I) dual memory card slots.
• Peripheral Illumination and Chromatic Aberration Lens Correction in-camera.
• Multiple Exposure and HDR mode.
• Customisable Quick Control screen.
• Built-in timer functionality – bulb timer and interval shooting timer.
• Time-lapse Movie function.
• Super Speed USB 3.0 for high-speed tethering and image/movie transfer.
• 150,000 shutter cycle life.
• Compatible with most EOS 5D Mark III accessories (note: for WFT-E7 new USB cables required and firmware needs to be updated).

Purchase 5DS here at B and H

Purchase 5DS R here at B and H

 Resources:

The 5DS manual is here

Always the best place for review info is The Digital Picture: review in process

Northlight here

Imaging resource here

CPN here, in the studio here

CPN interview with Mr. Tsunemasa Ohara here

DPreview preview here

Ross

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Go Hawks!!

 
Image: the Space Needle lights up to honer the NFC champion Seahawks

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5D Mk III, EF 70-200 f/4 L IS, 144mm, f4.5, ISO 400, 1/1.7

ISO 400 to speed up the shutter and stop the flag, f/4.5 to keep the ISO as low as possible. A decent compromise under really crappy conditions.

Rooting for my team, Go Seahawks!!!!

Ross

Shooting the Bay Bridge

Bay Bridge, 5D Mk III, EF 24-70 f/2.8 L II, f/11

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Bay Bridge, 5D Mk III, EF 24-70 f/2.8 L II, f/11

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Bay Bridge, 5D Mk III, EF 24-70 f/2.8 L II, f/11

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Its fun to get up close and wide on Treasure Island, getting to the location is not an easy feat, but worth the effort. Next I'd like to try super wide from the beach. Maybe with the new canon (rumored) 5Ds R and 11-24 f/4. I'm ready for higher resolution.

 

I can print these at 24 x 36 on metal prints, it would be nice to go to the next level, a 50 mp camera would do that.

Related Post and Here and Here

Ross 

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iPhone 6, or the camera you have with you.

 Shanghai, iPhone 6

 

 Tumwater Canyon, iPhone 6

 Lake Wenatchee, iPhone 6

 747-400 to Shanghai, iPhone 6

I am pretty amazed at the improvements made in iPhone 6, image stabilization, sharpness, micro-contrast, you name it, its improved. It is now to the point I no longer have a need for a pocket camera, it has replaced my PDA, my calculator, my pocket cam, whats next?

The biggest improvement is the algorithms used in the local tone mapping, allowing for much better exposures across all image types.

If all you have is a phone camera, most modern ones will take decent pictures, if your an IOS fan, well, you can't get any better at the moment. Keeping it to 8mp was a smart move, the bigger the pixels the better the image quality that can be achieved.

Zoom is really all we are missing, but the FOV in the iPhone 6 is very good for most purposes, a break through in lens technology is needed next, so we can get some type of zoom in a phone without increasing the size.

Its now the camera I have with me all the time, I've been waiting a while for that.

Ross

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Looking for reflections

Panther Beach, 5D Mk III, EF 24-70 f/2.8 L II

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Instead of doing the same old beach shot, look for tide pools and get down low and see if you get a decent reflection. Panther Beach is always a great place to shoot, just north of Santa Cruz, on this return trip I noticed a huge tide pool behind the beach and came away with some interesting images.

Ross 

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Color or Black and White

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Choosing when to convert to black and white is not always easy, fortunately its as just a few clicks away in Lightroom. The above shots I took with black and white in mind, images with snow and rock always make for good conversions due to the high contrast.

 

Selecting the B & W tab will give you a quick preview of what your image will look like and then its a matter of processing how you like, the color slider increase or decrease the luminance of their corresponding color in the color image. Try making a virtual copy of the image and then use the compare tool to see which you like better.
 

Ross

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Blue/Red Woman

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Marco Cochrane's sculpture "Bliss Dance" was moved from the Black Rock desert where it was erected for Burning Man in 2010 to Treasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Bliss Dance brings a lot of tourists to Treasure Island to view it and the views of the city.

A really well choreographed light show goes on every night, arrays of LED lights surrounding the sculpture and from within, light it up with a multitude of colors and reflections from its mesh surface.

Black Rock Arts

Ross

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Lee Big/Little stopper Filter

5D Mk III, EF24-70 f/2.8, Lee Big Stopper. F/5.6 at 5 sec.

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5D Mk III, EF24-70 f/2.8 L, Lee 0.9 GND. F/13 at 0.4 sec.

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5D Mk III, EF24-70 f/2.8, Lee Big Stopper. F/11 at 21 sec.

Neutral density and polarizing filters are about the only filters really needed any more for landscape photography, there are a few exceptions, but currently these filters dont really have an option that can be done in camera or in post.

ND filters allow you to control the amount of light hitting your sensor, along with aperture control, you can allow the right amount of light to do exactly what you want in most lighting conditions.

This allows us to shoot in bright light and get the feeling of motion in our images, there are many uses for this; smoothing of water, motion of a running animal or person, motion in vehicle traffic, abstract images and more. I arrive at a shoot long before the golden hour, its nice to be able to start my process before the light dims enough for normal shooting and allows for far more abstract images than with out an ND filter.

Frequently I cant shoot slow enough when at an ocean front shoot, with ND filters I can shoot at 30 seconds on a bright day, allowing me to get in more shooting time as the evening progresses, I can maintain long shutter speeds or change to a different filter to speed up my shutter. Varying the aperture and the filter density allows me to select the exact speed for the effect I'm looking for.

These are the ND filters I use regularly.

Lee Big Stopper

Lee Litttle Stopper 

Lee 0.9 GND Filter

Lee 0.6 GND Filter

Lee foundation kit

Shutter speeds with Big Stopper

 

 



Ross

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Long Exposure in bright light

5D Mk III, EF 24-70 f/2.8 L II, 35mm, 8 sec at f/16, Lee Big Stopper

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Shot mid day with the Lee Big Stopper, 10 stop neutral density filter. I was hoping for faster moving clouds to achieve the look I wanted, but this was a decent start. I will try some more in San Francisco in the next few weeks.

Its pretty cool to be able to shoot so slow on such a bright afternoon, it opens new doors and gives one a chance to try some new technique's.

The Big Stopper requires the Foundation kit to use.

Ross

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