Valley of Fire Panorama
This is a 9 image panorama stitched using PTGui. The images were captured a little more than an hour after the sun had set. The rocks become intensely red in the afterglow.
Do click on the image for a larger view.
Panasonic Lumix S1R, 24-105 f/4 lens. Exposure triad: f/16, 1 sec., ISO 200.
Valley of Fire
I had a little time to myself today so I decided to check out Valley of Fire State Park. It is a little over an hour from Las Vegas. By the time I got there, it was Noon and the light was not good. Also disappointing was the sky. There were no clouds even though while driving there the sky looked promising.
The image above was taken as the sun dipped behind one of the many ranges in the park. I was using the Lumix S1R with the 24-105mm f/4 lens. Exposure triad: f/16, 2 sec., ISO 100.
The next image is from a more direct viewpoint and captured shortly after the first image. For a brief moment, the colors in the sandstone just came alive. Exposure triad: f/16, 2 sec., ISO 100.
Photo Geek Weekly Episode 97 – A Piece of the Pie
I just finished a great podcast episode with Don Komarechka, the host of Photo Geek Weekly and Inside the Lens.
Lumix G9 and GH5S Firmware updates
Yesterday, February 17, 2020, Panasonic released two firmware updates for the G series cameras. The G9 firmware is now 2.1 and the GH5s is 1.2.
Firmware updates can be downloaded from:
https://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index.html
Hard to Believe!
You may be aware that I have been involved with Platypod and its inventor Dr. Larry Tiefenbrunn from the very inception of the "tripod alternative. I am equally proud to have been deeply involved with the introduction of the absolutely incredible and revolutionary ball-head the Platyball.
It’s hard to believe it was only two weeks ago that the Kickstarter campaign was launched!
The Platyball announcement has been picked up by a dozen different publications, podcasts, and video interviews in addition to the original launch on The Grid. Now, we want to take it one step further:
The response from photographers and journalists around the world has been remarkable, including the video above shared by photographer, author, and educator, Jay P. Morgan on "The Slanted Lens." And, showing the product “live” at Imaging USA in Nashville last week, also created another flurry of activity with positive reactions across the board, bringing us to over 1100 backers.
Starting today, we’re launching our Kickbooster program, giving you the chance to share in the success of Platyball with a 10% commission for every dollar you help us raise for the campaign! If you’re not already set up with Kickbooster, click on the link below. There’s no charge for setting up your account. We need your help to spread the word, and at 10%, your commissions are going to ramp up quickly.
HELP BOOST OUR CAMPAIGN
Thank you for your support of Platyball. We have a proven track record of on-time deliveries and quality products. We have 46 days to go and you too can be a part of this fabulous launch.
It's Time to Meet Platyball!
Tomorrow on The Grid Platypod will unveil a new Kickstarter campaign for an incredible product, Platyball. It'll be best explained and demonstrated during the show, but for now, here's what can be shared.
The Platyball presents a new, revolutionary way to level. Featuring an inverted design, single-handed ergonomics, and a unique twist-action Arca Swiss compatible clamp, we have literally taken the classic tripod head design and turned it upside down. Redesigned from the ground up, the Platyball becomes an extension of your hand and allows you to quickly level your camera better than ever before. It is heavy duty and accurate to 0.5 a degree.
Want to see the Platyball in action? Check out this thirty-second segment of the upcoming launch video. It's just a click away.
Join the team on Wednesday at 4:00 pm EST on The Grid at kelbyone.com/livewebcast. Registration is FREE.
Make sure you don't miss the launch. Visit www.platyball.com and click on the launch notification button. For first day backers, there's a special bonus of a FREE Platypod Ultra!
Post Focus & Focus Stacking
Just posted my latest YouTube episode on Post Focus and Focus Stacking
The Platyball
"Everything you know about tripods and ball heads is about to change. Check out this week's announcement from Platypod and visit www.Platyball.com. Their Kickstarter campaign launches on Jan 15 and there's a special bonus for early backers. What a kick!"
The Kickstarter campaign launches on Jan 15 on The Grid. Larry T. will be Scott's guest along with Don Komarechka. The show starts at 4:00 and the Platyball Kickstarter video and announcement should kick off at 4:30. It's a pretty remarkable product. Here's a general description...
The Platyball presents a new, revolutionary way to level. Featuring an inverted design, single-handed ergonomics, and a unique twist-action Arca compatible clamp, we have literally taken the classic tripod head design and turned it upside down. Redesigned from the ground up, the Platyball becomes an extension of your hand and allows you to quickly level your camera better than ever before. It is heavy duty and accurate to half a degree.
Peace and Tranquility
f/10, 60 sec., ISO 200
Please click on the image for a larger rendition.
This image was captured earlier this year in Falmouth, Massachusetts. At about 7:00 PM the sun was low on the horizon. I wanted to do a long exposure capture but these pilings had a flock of cormorants perched on them, Fortunately, a noisy ski boat disturbed them giving me just enough time for this 60-second exposure.
2019 Favorite Images Part 2
I just posted the second segment of my 2019 Favorite Images and a few back story video clips.
The start of my YouTube Channel
Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings and All The Very Best for 2020
I am happy to announce the launch of my YouTube Channel. Please click on the embedded link or go to the direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpvJ3CvISYQ&t=19s
I do look for your suggestions for future episodes and I do hope you will subscribe and please do click on the "bell" icon to be notified of future episodes.
Creative Photography
As I tend to spend more time indoors during the winter, I am looking for unique ways of image capture. I love using my Platypod - tripod alternatives as they are so convenient and maneuverable. For these images, I went a bit overboard, one Platypod Max to support my Lumix S1R with the 24-105 f/4 lens, one Max to hold up the LensBall, two Platypod Ultras with a Platypod gooseneck and a Litra Torch 2 each. A third Platypod Ultra with a gooseneck and a clothespin to hold the flower.
Tiny shifts in the camera angle or flower position create beautiful fluid lines since the Lensball acts like an exaggerated fish-eye lens.
I captured hundreds of images - here in this post are two that I really like a lot.
Light Table Photography on a Snowy Day
With 8 or more inches of snow and not being in a mood to go outside, I set up this composition on a makeshift light table. It is the top of a slide viewer placed on four plastic cups for support. The lights are three Litra Pros set at 5500 Kelvin and full brightness. 7 images were captured starting with a normal exposure for the flowers and then increasing in exposure by 2/3 stop for each subsequent image. The images were then blended in Photoshop 2020 with selective masking for this final result that gives the effect of translucency.
The starting exposure was f/14, 1/160 sec at ISO 400. Captured with the Panasonic Lumix S1R and the 24-105 f/4 lens.
Luminar 4 released
Skylum today released Luminar 4. You can get your copy or upgrade your current version. Luminar 4 now costs $US89 for new customers / US$74 for owners of previous versions of Luminar, but you can now get a US$10 discount if you use the code VERMA. Click on the image above or click here
Pushing the Limits
It was very early morning when we spotted this young lion. He has been through some territorial fights - see the scars. The sun had not risen and I was not sure if I could get a decent image. Captured with the Panasonic Lumix S1R and the S Pro 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens. I had the ISO on "auto", and I set the shutter speed to 1/160 sec (i wanted to be as close to one over the focal length I was at). The focal length was at 130mm. The aperture was set at f/2.8 and the camera set the ISO to 16000. Typically I set the limit at ISO 6400 but there would be no image at that sensitivity.
The image a direct conversion from RAW to JPG - no adjustments at all except a crop for composition. The noise reduction is at 0, sharpening at 0. Image processed using Capture One 12.
Please do click on the image to view it larger.
IMPRESSIVE!!!
Lumix S Pro 70-200 f/2.8 hand-held
One of the greatest features of Lumix cameras, the G and the S series is the incredibly good image stabilization. On the S1R was rated at 6 stops. With firmware version v1.1, the in-body IS system will reduce shake by an additional 1/2-stop, for a total of 6 stops with non-stabilized lenses and 6.5 stops with Dual IS-compatible glass. With the new S Pro 70-200 f/2.8, the stabilization is rated at 7 stops.
This image was captured hand-held with the S1R and the S Pro 70-200 and a 2X Teleconverter. The combined focal length was 400mm. Exposure triad f/5.6, 1/125 sec, ISO 800.
Click on the image to view a larger rendition.