MINWR Field Workshop
January 25, 2019 - 7:00 AM field trip to Merrit Island National
This year the number of Glossy Ibis in the reserve is exceptional. I have never seen so many flocks of 20 Ibis or more.
On the other hand, the Roseate Spoonbills are not as abundant as in past years.
Eldborg - A Time-lapse
This is a video of a time-lapse sequence captured on March 28, 2014 in Iceland. [video type="youtube" id="i5vXFrlGW08" width="600"]Default Message[/video]
Canon Releases EOS 7D Firmware version 2.0
Canon finally released its significant upgrade/update to the EOS 7D.The firmware can be downloaded from this linkVersion 2 of the firmware will provide users of this body the following:Speed, the 7D will now shoot 130 Large/Fine JPEGs or 25 RAW. This compared to 126 and 15. The big jump is for RAW files. The shooting rate remains at 8 fps.The 7D will now be compatible with the Canon GPS Receiver GP-E2 using the 7D’s USB connector. GEO Tagging is not possible with Video.For Video buffs the camera will provid custom audio recording. The firmware will enable manual control of sound recording levels in 64 steps. Visual indicators will warn you of custom recording.Something that Nikon has had now will be available in the 7D. Customization for Auto ISO in M, P, TV, AV and B modes. You will be able to set upper limits up to ISO 6400. The 7D will always auto adjust ISO for best exposure.The firmware will now allow in camera processing to modify White Balance, Picture Style, Auto Lighting Optimizer, High ISO Noise Reduction, JPEG Quality, Color Space, Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction, Distortion Correction and Lens Aberration Correction to RAW images capture.JPEG images can be resized in camera from “L” to “M “ and from “M” to “S” JPEG.An in camera rating system will be available. A five step star rating will be available during image playback/review.Using the “Q” or quick control button you will now be able to apply protection to images, rotate and resize then, see the highlight alerts and AF point displays.A real neat feature with this upgrade is custom file naming. You will be able to set the first four characters of the file name, no more _IMG. Image quality can be applied to the file name too.How about this: “time zone settings”, you can not only define time zones, but also daylight savings time.Significant improvements in the speed of scrolling images that have been magnified for review.
Canon 7D evolves - New Firmware 2.0.X
A new significant firmware update to the Canon 7D is eminent. The new firmware will bring significant enhancements to this already great camera.Speed, the 7D will now shoot 130 Large/Fine JPEGs or 25 RAW. This compared to 126 and 15. The big jump is for RAW files. The shooting rate remains at 8 fps.The 7D will now be compatible with the Canon GPS Receiver GP-E2 using the 7D’s USB connector. GEO Tagging is not possible with Video.For Video buffs the camera will provid custom audio recording. The firmware will enable manual control of sound recording levels in 64 steps. Visual indicators will warn you of custom recording.Something that Nikon has had now will be available in the 7D. Customization for Auto ISO in M, P, TV, AV and B modes. You will be able to set upper limits up to ISO 6400. The 7D will always auto adjust ISO for best exposure.The firmware will now allow in camera processing to modify White Balance, Picture Style, Auto Lighting Optimizer, High ISO Noise Reduction, JPEG Quality, Color Space, Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction, Distortion Correction and Lens Aberration Correction to RAW images capture.JPEG images can be resized in camera from “L” to “M “ and from “M” to “S” JPEG.An in camera rating system will be available. A five step star rating will be available during image playback/review.Using the “Q” or quick control button you will now be able to apply protection to images, rotate and resize then, see the highlight alerts and AF point displays.A real neat feature with this upgrade is custom file naming. You will be able to set the first four characters of the file name, no more _IMG. Image quality can be applied to the file name too.How about this: “time zone settings”, you can not only define time zones, but also daylight savings time.Significant improvements in the speed of scrolling images that have been magnified for review.Unfortunately the release date is still up in the air but August looks like the month.See more on the Canon site
Another image from last week's workshop
The Grist Mill in Brewster lends itself to exposure stacks even when the dynamic range does not exceed 5 stops.
Cape Cod on Sunday
On the last day we were fortunate to get some sun. There was no opportunity for sunrise images as the fog had not lifted. After a brief classroom session we went to the Audubon Sanctuary in Wellfleet. This tree caught my eye. A few layer modifications and NiK Color Efex 4 to give it a border.
There is beauty in a dead flower
This is a single flower from hydrangea bunch from our back
yard. Last year's bloom that was nice and crisp. The lines and forms were so inviting. This was shot indoors with cross-lighting so as to bring out detail and texture. Conversions to monochrome in NIK Silver Efex Pro.
IR imagery in Incandescent Light
Going a step further with the same Iris,
I took an image with my IR camera and adjusted it in Lightroom 4 so as to take the background to black. As the light was an incandescent source the true IR was not evident. Additional adjustments in LR4 yielded this.
Iris Close-up - the effect of white balance
Decided to do some close-up work this morning with an iris (indoors). The flower was lit with two simple reflector based workman's lamps each with a 60 W incandescent bulb. The first setup was created with auto white balance fooling the camera a bit to consider a cloudy situation thereby enhancing the warm tones.
This next image is with a slightly different composition and crop created after doing a custom white balance to have color accuracy despite the mixed light. Both images were photographed using the identical background.
Great Meadows WLR - Concord
Woke up to blue skies and decided to check out Great Meadows. There is not much happening except Canada Geese fighting for good nesting spots and Red Wing Blackbirds that were in abundance. The dried up marsh grasses and cattails make for fairly drab backgrounds but for this image I decided to leave a lot of negative space while composing. It is more like calling to the nothingness at Great Meadows today.
Boston Skyline March 19, 2011 Super Moon Night
While cleaning up bring to make more room on my Macbook for the upcoming photo tour and workshop to India next week I came across this image. This was captured about a year ago on the night of the "super moon". I am looking forward to doing a lot of night photography and time lapse images on this trip. In particular the Taj Mahal - we will be in Agra the night after the full moon but hopefully will get some good opportunities.
Mother and Child - Cape Cod Workshop
Going through some of the images from the final day of the workshop I came across this one from Coast Guard beach. Shot during the midday hours in contrasty light the monochromatic treatment appealed to me. I took it one step further and applied the antique plate effect from NIK Silver Efex Pro.
Cape Cod - Sunday Sept. 11
Got back late Saturday afternoon after doing my Macro and Close-up presentation in New York but had to do some shooting so decided to go and spend some time at the Cape. The clouds were not looking good all afternoon but decided to take a chance and stayed for sunset. This is the result - I guess just like the rest of New England the Cape is unpredictable.
Canon 7D, 16-35 mm at 24 mm, ISO 100, f14, 1.6 sec
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing500 mm, f5.6, 1/320 at ISO 400
Had planned to go down to Cape Cod today but the weather forecast was not the best so went looking for Waxwings instead. One from this morning. Also want to clear a misconception that a few fellow photographers had - the male and female have the same markings - the red tips do not indicate a male bird.
Asiatic Lily and Sunflowers - July 25
A mid-day trip, first stop North Kingstown, RI to photograph the Asiatic Water Lilies.
Water Lily Bud
In Full Glory With One Gone By
Water Lily Montage
Next stop, Buttonwood Farm in Griswold, CT. The heat was fairy intense but not as bad as on Friday. Regret we did not stay for sunset which turned out to be quite good, may go back this weekend or sooner as the second field was only in bud.
Sunflower Pollination
The Right Field
A Buttonwood Farm Dreamscape
Canon releases firmware update for the 7D
Canon has just released a firmware update Version 1.2.5 for the 7D.Click here for the link and download
Maple Leaf Emerging (Macro)
Unfurling Maple LeavesCanon 7d - 24 to 70 f2.8 26 image focus stackExposure triad: ISO 100 f5.6 1/25 sec
Spring seems to be in the air. The azaleas are blooming and the maple leaves are emerging. With the slight rain last night the ornamental maple looked gorgeous this morning. This is a stacked macro of a set of leaves unfurling.
Anther and Filament of a Maple Flower
Anther & Filament of a Maple FlowerCanon 7D, 100 mm Macro with a 1.4x teleconverter and two full sets of extension tubes for a total of 136mm extension.
This is an image of one of the anthers of the maple flower from the image posted yesterday. Macro done well can be so much fun. Mirror lock up and twenty five images at f2.8 stacked using Helicon Focus.
Macro - Maple Flower Stack
- Maple Flower Macro
Canon 7D, 100mm Macro lensExposure triad: ISO 100, f5.6. 1/3 sec.
Macro experiments - this is a 20 image stack of this maple flower. Used Helicon Focus to do the stack. The depth (front to back of the image) is 7/16 inch while the flower is about 1/4 inch. The magnification is approximately 1.6X. The image has absolutely no post processing or sharpening applied.