The Lumix G9 and Post Focus

I have been asked this many times and no matter how much I explain it there is still some confusion.  Basically, the Post Focus function in the supporting Lumix cameras rely on the high-resolution video capability in conjunction with focus racking to capture a sequence of images that can be selected by defining the plane of focus.  So as an example, if you were to set up a yardstick and let the camera take a post-focus image - the camera would focus on the nearest point to the lens take an image and then gradually refocus a bit further out and take another image till it reached the end of the frame at the farthest point.  There would be a series of images each one at a different point of focus.  Note however that this sequence is captured using the video mode of the camera. Once the images are captured, the camera does internal processing that then allows you to tap on the screen to select the image that has the best focus at that selected point.  You can then opt to save this selected image.  Supporting this function is post-capture peaking to confirm focus and in addition, you can magnify the image for a selective selection.This feature is further augmented with a merge function.  You can merge all the images captured into a single image that is tack sharp from the closest focus point to the farthest.  However what is even more useful, particularly if you use large apertures for a shallow depth of field and you want to keep your background out of focus.  You can select the range you want to merge and thereby leave the remainder of the scene out of focus.The following image that I used as the lead image was captured in post focus and merged in its entirety.For this next Post-focus demonstration I placed a postcard on the background and merged the entire set of images.  As you can see the postcard is in focus as are the flowers. Next, I used the same Post-Focus set but this time iI selected just the range I wanted, just the flowers and executed the merge.  The following is the resulting image with the postcard nicely blurred:I hope this gives you a better understanding of the power of this feature and the many ways you can use it.  Please note that when these images are captured using 6K Photo Mode, the resulting images are 18 MP and suitable for very large enlargements when processed with the appropriate software. 

One Day Workshop Schedule

ALL ONE DAY WORKSHOPS ARE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED

Workshop details are available from the Registration Page.

Macro and Close-up Photography

Flash Photography, High Speed flash, creative lighting

Portrait and Lighting Techniques

Digital Photography A-Z.  This is a one day three part course that will teach you camera basics, post processing and printing.

The Digital Darkroom - a course that covers image capture, asset management, processing and enhancement, output to print and web media. A one day program for digital image making workflow

Timelapse Photography, post processing and video assembly

If you have any questions or would like more information please call 617-759-0010 or email sv@shivverma.com

Please use this REGISTRATION link to register for these workshops.

Wild Flowers, Smoky Mountains and Cades Cove - Spring Workshop

April 17 to 22, 2016 - Six Day 5 Night Photo WorkshopGreat Smoky Mountains National Park is a world-renowned preserve of wildflower diversity over 1,660 kinds of flowering plants are found in the park, more than in any other North American national park. In fact, the park is sometimes referred to as the “Wildflower National Park.” From the earliest hepaticas and spring-beauties in the late winter to the last asters in the late fall, blooming flowers can be found year-round in the park. Wildlife is fairly abundant in Cades Cove and we will have opportunities if lucky, to photograph bears. Landscapes, rivers, waterfalls and much more - a photographer's paradise.CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Peony

"Dusk on the FlowerOf the white peonyThat embraces the moon."Gyodai - Haiku from the Edo period (1603 - 1868)

This image was inspired by Chinese/Japanese art where paintings of peonies proliferate. In this culture, it is not only the symbol of wealth and status but can also be a metaphor for female beauty. In Western culture the flower was named after the Greek God Paeon. The root of the white peony like many other plants is used for medicinal purposes.

As a photographer the beauty of this flower captivates and inspires me.

Since there is no direct translation of my name into Chinese, I had to create my own "chop" - an an S and a V.

Rendezvous with the Sensuous

"Every direction offers a lesson in form and aesthetic options; one element after another attracts the eye with texture, color and tension that provokes a spectrum of emotion."an excerpt from Rendezvous with the Sensuous: Readings on Aesthetics - Linda Ardito, John Murungi

Hummingbird Moth Hemaris thysbe

The Hummingbird Moth Hemaris thysbe, unlike most moths that are nocturnal or shade loving, is seen on bright sunny days. It is a fantastic hovering species  that flies like a hummingbird and hence its name.They feed on nectar using a very long proboscis.  Their wings flap at incredible speeds.  This image was captured at 1/1600 sec and I was unable to freeze the wings. 

When all you see is snow and the temps are 17 below.

There is no point freezing in these temperatures so here are three images begging for spring.  Each was shot using a Zeiss 50mm at f/ 1.4 and a shutter speed of 1/80 to 1/100 sec, ISO 100.  A high key setup with a single strobe on the background and two for the flower.  Each image was compiled from a stack of 6 to 9 images for the best DOF.Image personality achieved by post processing in LR5, PS6, NiK and Macphun.   

Diaphanous Flowers - Rose of Sharon

This is the fourth flower in this series.  A Rose of Sharon from the yard.  This one was lit from the side and the back with a low intensity cross fill.  All lighting for these images have been cool LED lights, daylight balanced.  Once again please click on the image for a larger view.

Diaphanous Flowers - Mandevilla

This mandevilla bloom was photographed last week.  This is the third flower in this series.  Currently I am working on a Rose of Sharon and hoping to post the result in a day or two. Please click on the image for a larger rendition.

Diaphanous Lily 2

This is the second image in the series.  The process is the same as Diaphanous Lily with the exception of lighting.  Here I used two lights instead of the single light in the first image.  Please click on the image for a larger view.

2014 - 1st Quarter One-Day Workshops

Here is the schedule for the first Quarter of  2014.  Please use this REGISTRATION link for details about each workshop and to register.REMEMBER ALL ONE-DAY WORKSHOPS INCLUDE A PIZZA LUNCHJanuary 11 - Product Photography and Lighting TechniquesJanuary 12 – Food Photography and Lighting TechniquesJanuary 18 – Lighting for PortraitureJanuary 19 – Timelapse Photography, post processing and video assemblyJanuary 25 - Macro CloseupJanuary 26 – The Digital Darkroom – a course that covers capture to process and enhancement to output to print and web media. A one day program for digital image making workflowFebruary 1 – Flower Photography, Textures, Blending and moreFebruary 2 – Lightroom 5February 8 – HDR – done right using Photoshop, Photomatics, NiK HDR Efex 2, EnfuseFebruary 9 - Macro CloseupFebruary 22 – Timelapse Photography, post processing and video assemblyFebruary 23 - Photography Basics 1 day Class March 1 – Flash PhotographyMarch 2 – Lightroom 5If you have any questions or would like more information please call 617-759-0010 or email sv @ shivverma.com (please remove the spaces) 

Smoky Mountain - Wild Flowers and Landscape Workshop

7 Days in the Smoky Mountains and Cades Cove - pure thrill.  The incredible light, superb lush green of fresh spring leaves, beautiful wild flowers and dogwood trees that were exceptional.  Rivers and streams flowing pristine water, moss covered rocks and the occasional mist made for some great photography.  The participants were fantastic and we all had a lot of fun.  Yes, days were long 4:30 AM wake-up and late evening bedtimes were worth it - every bit of it.Here are a few comments (Audio) from some of the wonderful participants.  Click on the links to listen:ArmandLoisNanMany images were captured - this is one of my favorites.  Captured on the last day - Sparks Lane - all to ourselves and just two other photographers.  Most photographers are under the impression that Cades Cove is closed on Friday - not true, not in the spring. This image is from the night before.       

Some images that hit it off

This past week I posted two images of left over flowers from last weekend's workshop.  What wonderful comments and feedback.  I truly appreciate what the viewers have to say - thank you all.  Both images treated with NiK. Here are the two: 

Weekend Workshops

Two awesome days, two awesome workshops with some truly great photographers.  Yesterday's Lighting Demystified workshop was great - even the heat and humidity was not a hindrance.  The Macro and Closeup workshop had many Ah Ha moments in particular with stacking.Here are a few images form the macro and closeup workshop participants: 

There is beauty in a dead flower

This is a single flower from hydrangea bunch from our backyard.  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.

Plymouth - Macro & Close-up - Part 1

Despite poor weather I had a great turnout for Part 1 of a two part series on Macro and CLose-up photography.  65 plus attended.  Great feedback from the participants.  Part 2 (the hand on session) will be this weekend and as there is a sizable waiting list,  August 20 will be a repeat of Part 2.  Thanks to Amy  Davies and Graham Custard for organizing the program and a big thank you to all who attended.A few comments from part one as posted on the Plymouth Groups web:

• I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture, punctuated with examples and humor. It reminded me of my University days, listening to a professor, a true master and genius in his own specialty. A privilege to attend and absorb the information. But .... I have so far to travel in this macro journey !
• Great presentation; a lot of information to look over. I can't wait to go to Part II and actually do what Shiv was talking about.
• Very interesting and I learned alot
• While Shiv was clear and precise and had a lot of information to give it was way beyond anything I would venture into......but thank you for inviting him to share his EXPERT knowledge with all of us.....thank YOU Shiv.........
•  Thanks, Shiv! I appreciated all the tips that you had to offer and look forward to learning how it is all done on Saturday! Thanks once again, Amy for opening yet another wonderful venue for all of us at PDP !
• Very well organized! Looking forward to class on Saturday!
•  A very enlightening evening! If I heard Shiv correctly, I need to pack some aluminum foil, my granite counter top, and toothpicks for Saturday's shoot. I may add a camera just in case.
• Excellent presentation. Filled with tons of details about macro and photography in general. I left with a number of new insights.
• Still trying to process all of the information given out tonite, it was wonderful, intereting, entertaining, what a skilled professional!
• Excellent presentation. Hopefully will be able to participate in the 2nd part to this lecture when it is scheduled again.

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