Focus Bracketed – Yellow Orchid

Aug
20
2018
by sverma | 0 Comments

Yellow Orchid- Panasonic Lumix G9 with the Lumix 30mm macro lens. Exposure triad: f/8, 1/6 sec, ISO 200.

One of the greatest features of the Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 is “bracketing”. Yes, like most cameras the G9 can bracket exposure.  However, the G9 can bracket aperture, white balance and focus.  While in camera focus stacking is possible using the “Post Focus” function, the individual images are JPEG as is the final stacked image.  For RAW images and high-resolution stacks, it is best to use focus bracketing.  With focus bracketing, you set the stepping distance and the number of images that need to be captured.  You can also set the sequencing for how the images are captured, similar to exposure bracketing – 0/-/+ or 0/+.  I prefer the second as I always start my stack from the front of the subject and work the focus away from the camera.

Posted in Photography Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |

Hosta – flowers in color

Aug
13
2018
by sverma | 0 Comments

Hosta – Panasonic Lumix G9 with the 12-60 mm Leica lens. Exposure triad: f/10, 1/125 sec., ISO 100.

While the intent is to create a book, using sepia or color is still a big  debate.  Here is an image that adds to the dilema.

 

Posted in Photography Tagged , , , , , , , |

Notre Dame Basilica in monochrome

Aug
12
2018
by sverma | 0 Comments

Notre Dame Bascilica – Panasonic Lumix G9 with the Leica 8-18 mm lens. Hand-held. Exposure triad f/6.3, 1/2secat ISO 800.

This was another hand-held image inside Notre Dame.  I used the G9, a camera that has the best image stabilization I have experienced.  I had not enlarged a image from the G9 so tried with this one.  Using On1’s resizing I enlarged this to a 60 inch image at 300 ppi and saw no significand degredation in detail or quality.

Posted in Photography Tagged , , , , , , , |

Using the new Panasonic Leica 50-200mm

Aug
11
2018
by sverma | 1 Comment

 

Orchids – Panasonic Lumix G9 with the 50-200mm Leica lens. Exposure triad: f/9, 1/125 sec., ISO 100

I received the newly released Panasonic Leica 50-200 mm f/2.8-f/4 lens yesterday.  I paired it with the G9 for this image.  This is the first and only image captured with this lens and I am in love with its quality.  A lot more testing to do but I have no doubt it will perform exceptionally well.  What is great is that the lens can be coupled with the 1.4x and the 2x teleconverters.  Stay tuned for more on this piece of glass.

Posted in Photography Tagged , , , , , |

Panasonic Lumix GH5s – Performance

Aug
10
2018
by sverma | 0 Comments

Notre Dame Basilica – Panasonic Lumix GH5s hand-held with the Leica 8-18mm lens. Exposure triad f/4, 1/40 sec, ISO 3200. 3 image panorama.

The GH5s is a 10.28 MP camera optimized for movie recording and low-light performance. Its large individual pixel size allows impressive low-light performance to an extended ISO 204800, along with Dual Native ISO technology at ISO 400 and ISO 2500. The camera is designed for low light video parformance but its stills capapbilities are exceptional.  It records 14 bit RAW files that provide ample editing felibility and has a burst shooting rate of 12 fps with single-shot AF, or up to 8 fps with continuous autofocus. What I found trully impresive is the camera’s capability to focus really fast in very low light conditions.

The camera does not have in-body image stabilization nor does the 8-18mm lens.  This image was shot as a three image panorama, hand-held and stitched using Lightroom.

 

Posted in Photography Tagged , , |

Botany Project – Zantedeschia aethiopica (Calla Lily)

Jul
28
2018
by sverma | 0 Comments

Once done, I am hoping to get these image printed as a coffee-table book. Here is another image (right side page) that I completed last evening.

Calla Lily. Panasonic Lumix G9, Leica 12-60mm lens at 60mm. Exposure triad: f/11, 1/125sec ISO 100

Posted in Photography Tagged , , , , , , , , |

A new project

Jul
26
2018
by sverma | 4 Comments

There are a number of artists who have created some wonderful flower images that I admire and appreciate.  I have started a project that will take a year or more to finish but I feel it is worth the effort.  Here is an example of one of the elements from the project.

Number 3 of the series. Captured with the Panasonic G9, Leica 12-60mm lens at 60mm. Exposure triad: f/11, 1/125 sec., ISO 100

Posted in Photography Tagged , , , , , |

Milky Way Arcs Over Bar Harbor

Jun
24
2018
by sverma | 0 Comments

Milky Way – a 7 image panorama

Captured from the top of Cadillac Mountain last weekend, June 16, 2018. Please click on the image for a larger rendition.

Posted in Night Photography, Photography Tagged , , , , , |

The Milky Way and a Photo Workshop – Acadia NP

Jun
23
2018
by sverma | 2 Comments

On a whim last weekend, we drove up to Acadia for a night.  The weather report looked decent so we took a chance.  The weather was just perfect.  The sunset was nice though a cloudless sky does not make for great images.  We waited for darkness as the moon went lower on the horizon and the stars appeared.  Not much waiting and we started photographing the Milky Way.  It is amazing how many cars just hang around with their headlights on (just perfect for astrophotography).  Folks running around without a care – so what if I hit your tripod – I did not mean to – it just happened.  We managed to get a few shots and a panorama that I will post later.

We decided to come down Cadillac Mountain and head for Boulder Beach to photograph the Milky Way with the boulders in the foreground and Otter Cliffs as an anchor on the right. As we approached the walkway to the spot where you climb down, we met two photographers. Strangely there was a lot of shouting from some people down at Boulder Beach.  They were yelling about lights and how they were doing a workshop etc. – extremely rude.  The two photographers who were up on the walkway indicated that the workshop leader asked them to leave Boulder Beach as he was conducting a workshop. Excuse me – this is all a National Park and we all have a right to be there.  As a workshop leader, these people need to be considerate and courteous to fellow photographers – not be nasty and rude.  Based on this feedback Monica and I decided not to go down but shoot from the overlook above.  You need a light to get to the overlook so as Monica started toward the overlook the shouting started all over again.  She was rudely told to switch off her headlight – now must one walk in the dark and risk a fall?  There is a way to accommodate other photographers in situations like this.  Give them space and the time to set up, it is a public place after all.  There is enough room and the stars are not running away.  I did look up to see who it was that was conducting this workshop, I don’t know him, but I hope he learns a little photographer’s etiquette.

Here is an image captured from Park Loop Road:

The Milky Way – Panasonic Lumix G9 and the Leica 8-18mm lens. Exposure triad f/2.8, 20 sec, ISO 1600

Posted in Photography Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , |

Nature Photography Day – June 15, 2018

Jun
15
2018
by sverma | 0 Comments

Hyena – Botswana – Panasonic Lumix GH4 with the Lumix 100-300 mm Version 1 lens at 162mm. Exposure triad: f/5.6, 1/200 sec, ISO 400.

It was June 30, 2014, 4 years ago that I photographed this Hyena in the Okavango region of Botswana.  Felt this to be an appropriate image for Nature Photography Day 2018.  I still have a few spaces open for my Tanzania Migration Safari in August – message me if you would like to participate.

Posted in Photography Tagged , , , , , , |