Messages

121

Software & Accessories / RAW processing parameters

« on: February 06, 2012, 03:57:15 AM »

This is closely linked with my previous post, but I thought it might keep things clearer not to compound the two issues. My first post was about workflow as such. This post is about what parameters to use (or not to use) in ACR when developing the RAW files.

If you've read my previous post, you'll be gaining the impression that I tend to be a creature of habit. True to a point, but I'm also curious and very open to persuasion that there is a different and/or better way to go about things. Also, I'll freely admit that I'm on a steep learning curve that has started to acclerate recently since I retired from the 'day job' and have more time to devote to photography

I'm aware that I've probably developed (excuse the pun) a lot of bad habits over the years when it comes to workflow and post processing of images. Due to my increasing work rate recently, I've also become painfully aware that I need to develop more efficient methods of working if I'm to have any remote chance of keeping up with client demands for finished work within tight deadlines.

OK, so I shoot mainly people using a 1DMkII and then use ACR via Photoshop CS5.5 to develop the RAW files. Custom white balance set in camera. Colour rendition chart used to create custom camera profile. Apply camera profile to RAW files, double check white balance, synchronise all files for camera profile and white balance and then adjust individual files further as follows:

1) I note that by default the files are sharpened - I tend to turn this off and sharpen later in CS5.5

2) I note that by default medium contrast is applied - I tend to leave this on and even apply further 'linear contrast' at around 66% opacity in an adjustment layer in CS5.5 to most files; I guess this is just personal taste for contrasty files but I sometimes wonder whether I overdo the contrast as a matter of habit?

3) I tend to set the blacks to zero to maintain shadow detail but use the recovery slider to recover blown highlights (although these are mostly in the red channel only and I sometimes wonder whether I overdo the recovery - how important really is it to ensure that the red channel highlights are reading less than 255?)

4) I tend to leave brightness and contrast sliders on their default 50 and 25 respectively, leave clarity alone for portrait shots or even reduce it slightly and increase vibrance until colour saturation e.g. of clothing is pleasing to my eye without affecting skin tones too much.

I could go on, but I think these are the main adjustments I'm looking for opinions on. The main questions in my mind are:

Are there any advantages to sharpening in ACR or am I right to turn sharpening off at this stage?

Am I applying too much contrast routinely (medium contrast curve and default 25 setting in ACR, with further linear contrast added in CS5.5)?

Is there any advantage to adjusting blacks in ACR or am I right always to set this to zero?

Am I overdoing the recovery of blown highlights, which are almost always exclusively in the red channel?

I'll be really interested to hear other people's take on all this (if you've had the patience to read this far!)

122

Software & Accessories / RAW processing workflow query

« on: February 06, 2012, 03:25:35 AM »

Q. Currently, I shoot with a 1DMkII and mainly people. I've fallen into the following workflow habit:


1) Shoot just RAW (I used to shoot RAW+jpeg but upon reflection hardly ever used the jpegs) with custom white balance set in camera; also shoot a few frames of a color rendition chart using bracketed exposures

2) Develop in Adobe Camera RAW via Photoshop CS5.5 applying a custom camera profile created from the color rendition chart frame showing the most accurate exposure and double checking white balance by clicking on a light grey square from the chart; synchronise camera profile and white balance to all files, then tweak each file individually before step 3

3) Save all developed files as 16-bit psd files to a separate folder named 'psd from RAW'

4) Make further adjustments to the psd files in CS5.5 and save the resulting files to another folder named 'psd edited'

5) Convert to 8-bit mode and save as jpegs to a further folder named 'jpeg for print'

6) For selected files only, 'save for web' into yet another folder named 'jpeg for web'


In this way, I end up with no less than five versions of at least some of the files in five different folders and find myself questioning whether this is the most efficient or appropriate way of working. For example, could I just work with the RAW files and skip the 'psd from RAW' stage?

For background, I usually upload all of the hi res jpeg files from a shoot to my website in a password protected client gallery with the option to purchase prints and personalised gift items for automatic fulfilment by a partner pro lab. The selected web sized jpegs are usually just used for my own portfolio on various other sites.

All opinions and suggestions will be valued. Do you think I'm working along the right lines or is there a better way?

123

Lenses / Re: Wresting photography

« on: January 21, 2012, 02:19:14 AM »

Thanks for all the advice.

124

Lenses / Wresting photography

« on: January 19, 2012, 05:44:39 PM »

Is anyone experienced in photographing wrestling matches? What lenses and camera settings do you use? I've been trawling the net this evening for tips and have so far come up with the following plan for action shots in a dimly lit gym:

Fast lens e.g. 70-200mm f/2.8
High shutter speed - at least 1/250th sec
Widest possible aperture e.g. f/2.8
Manual exposure - set shutter speed and aperture, then vary ISO to obtain correct exposure
NO FLASH - shoot RAW to allow exposure adjustment in post e.g. if images too dark and/or noisy
Centre focus point
A1 Servo
High speed continuous shooting

Any thoughts or suggestions?

125

EOS Bodies / Re: 1D Mk II dioptric adjustment method

« on: January 08, 2012, 07:53:48 PM »

The AF point marks and spot circle are etched on the superimpose screen that's right up against the focusing screen and as such make the best reference to set the diopter.

The problem I'm finding is that on the ID Mk II (at least on the one I have) there are no AF point marks actually etched on the screen, only the spot metering circle and that is such a fine line I find it hard to focus on. The viewfinder information is much bolder and therefore easier to focus on. The AF points do illuminate when activated, but I'm not sure that provides a good focus target? In any event they are only illuminated for a very short time after achieving focus, which doesn't give much time to adjust the dioptric adjustment knob whilst observing the illuminated points. I hope this makes sense? I guess I'll just have to squint a little harder to focus on the spot metering circle, unless anyone can suggest a viable alternative?

126

EOS Bodies / 1D Mk II dioptric adjustment method

« on: January 08, 2012, 07:15:49 PM »

Apologies in advance if I've posted this in the wrong forum, but I couldn't find another that seemed more appropriate.

Could anyone please clarify the method for dioptric adjustment on a 1D Mk II (or presumably any other model)? i.e. the camera manual states "turn the dioptric adjustment knob to the left or right until the AF point or the center spot metering circle looks sharp in the viewfinder" but in another forum I seem to remember someone saying that they adjust until the viewfinder information looks sharp. I've tried both methods and find the latter easier although there does seem to be a slight (almost imperceptible) focussing discrepancy between the two methods. Is this just my imagination or is one method correct and the other incorrect?

127

Lenses / Re: Lens recommendations for fashion photography (catwalk)

« on: January 08, 2012, 07:07:13 PM »

Thanks again for the advice! The models seem to me to virtually race down the runway though, although I guess it's all relative e.g. compared with an Olympic sprinter, skier etc. Would there be any advantage at all do you think to upping the A1 servo tracking sensitivity (or would there be any positive disadvantages in doing so)? Also, would you stick to automatic AF point selection for A1 servo mode (which I understand from the manual is the default) or some other method?

128

Lenses / Re: Lens recommendations for fashion photography (catwalk)

« on: January 08, 2012, 11:35:00 AM »

1D mkII will be fine, lots of people use them for runway. Before the 1D mkIII and mkIV they were what everyone used. In 5 years people won't be wanting to use the 1DX as it won't be as good as the "newest" body, it's a never ending cycle  ;-)

I do take your point I guess the 1.3 conversion factor will give my 70-200mm a little more reach, but I can't help wondering whether the image quality will live up to today's expectations (given the relatively poor high ISO performance and relatively low 8Mp resolution)?

129

Lenses / Re: Lens recommendations for fashion photography (catwalk)

« on: January 08, 2012, 11:23:37 AM »

with the 1D AI servo will work well, i use back button focus so you hold the AF-on button down to focus, older ones might not have the AF-on button but you can configure the * as the AF button. (this was how i had to do it on the 1D mk1) this way you can just hold that button down and keep tracking the target and just shoot as required with the shutter button. just make sure you give it a second or 2 to achieve lock before you start shooting ie lock on well before you are going to be firing off shots. practice the back button focus technique in advance to get an idea of how it works.

Would that be C.Fn-04 option 1:"You can focus at one location and obtain AE lock at another location in the scene. Press the <*> button to autofocus and press the shutter button half way to attain AE lock"?

How about C.Fn-20 (A1 Servo tracking sensitivity)? Would you set it on 1, 2, 3 or 4?

And C.Fn-21 "{shooting is possible even when focus has not been achieved. Even though the focus is not quite sharp, at least you will have a picture"

[All quotes are from the Canon 1D Mk II manual]

All this might seem self explanatory, but no substitute for experience in the field (which I don't have with catwalk)?

In addition to the above, are there any other custom functions you'd set?

130

Lenses / Re: Lens recommendations for fashion photography (catwalk)

« on: January 08, 2012, 06:37:19 AM »

Also, can anyone advise me regarding A1 servo in these conditions e.g. custom functions to set for best results?

131

Lenses / Re: Lens recommendations for fashion photography (catwalk)

« on: January 08, 2012, 06:35:07 AM »

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I knew I could rely on the CR community to come up trumps! One thing tha'ts still bugging me is that I only really have a 1D Mk II to shoot with at the moment and I'm not sure that will give me good enough image quality. It seems that for various reasons flash is far from ideal during the actual shows, so to maintain a fast shutter speed to keep the models in sharp focus, some pretty high ISOs might be necessary, up to 1600 or even 3200 depending upon the lighting conditions. I know for a fact that images from my ID Mk II at those sorts of ISO are going to be very noisy. For the last two weeks, I've been toying with the idea of buying a 5D Mk II. However, I don't have bottomless pockets and I already have a 1Dx on pre-order and it seems that a 5D Mk III might be just around the corner. I feel that my limited funds should be invested as wisely as possible. What would you guys do in my position?

132

Lenses / Lens recommendations for fashion photography (catwalk)

« on: January 07, 2012, 03:49:42 PM »

Scenario:

I've been invited (along with about 30 other photographers!) to an Off Schedule Fashion Show during London Fashion Week in February. Unpaid, but apparently the designer is willing to pay for pictures that are to his satisfaction. Hmmmmmm ... OK! The images will be used for website articles, press releases and flyers. I'll probably be shooting with a 1D Mk II (my only body at the moment, other than my old 10D which hasn't been used since I acquired the 1D Mk II in 2005). I have two zoom lenses i.e. 24-70mm f/2.8L and 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II. Both have recently been serviced and calibrated alongside the 1D Mk II body so I should think they are pretty reliable e.g. as to autofocus. No backstage images are required, only catwalk images. I also have 85mm f/1.8 and 100mm f/2.8 macro (non-IS) primes. Flash is allowed and I have 550 EX and 580EX speedlights (one of each).

Question:

I'll be grateful for any advice from those in the CR community experienced in photographing fashion on the catwalk, specifically as to lens choice and also more generally on the best shooting position (presumably at the end of the runway, for head-on shots?), shooting mode (e.g. AV, TV, manual?), drive mode (i.e. single shot or A1 servo, if the latter which custom settings would you use?), natural light or flash (if flash, which mode i.e. manual or TTL?) general photographer etiquette and any other advice you can offer?

I'm thinking end of runway, as high a shooting position as possible (get there early and if possible set custom white balance and shoot a GretagMacbeth Colour Rendition Chart for custom profiling in post), 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, manual shooting mode at f/5.6 (fixed for reasonable depth of field on the models combined with reasonable separation of the models from the background) and 1/100th sec minimum (vary speed according to ambient light), 580 EX speedlight set on ETTL, drive mode A1 Servo (as the models will probably be walking towards me at a pretty fast pace, plenty of spare batteries and ... last but not least ... don't jostle the other photographers! Am I more or less there or am I way out on my approach?

[I'm hoping the other photographers are not CR members or lurkers] 

133

EOS Bodies / Re: Do you REALLY need a new camera?

« on: January 06, 2012, 07:56:48 AM »

Well, I'm currently using a roughly six year old 1DMkII and it's OK but looking decidedly 'old technology' compared to current models, especially the 1Dx. I'm pretty sure upgrading to a 1Dx wouldn't improve my basic photography technique but it sure would open up new possibilities.

134

United States / Re: Prime lenses you currently own or on your wishlist.

« on: December 27, 2011, 03:19:27 PM »

Prime lenses I currently own:

EF 85mm f/1.8
EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

Prime lenses on my wishlist:

EF 50mm f/1.2 L
EF 85mm f/1.2 L II
EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS Macro
EF 14mm f/2.8 L II
TS-E 17mm f/4 L Tilt-Shift
TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L II Tilt-Shift
EF 500mm f/4.0 L IS II

135

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D Mark III Sooner Than Later [CR2]

« on: December 27, 2011, 03:06:13 PM »

I'm not usually this indecisive ... but there again ... help me someone ... PLEASE!

How much do you want to spend and how much do you not want to spend? If you want to spend $2K and do not want to spend $3K then you got your answer! (and my answer too)

That's the dilemma i.e. I wouldn't mind spending $3K (or whatever the equivalent is in GBP) provided that the extra investment is worth it - and I won't know that until the final specs are known. In the meantime, I have potential paid work that I can't realistically undertake with my current kit The paid work hasn't materialised yet but hopefully will do prior to the official Mk III announcement. I fear I might be forced into an early (maybe premature) decision.