Messages

31

Lenses / Re: Advice 5d3, wide angle

« on: December 03, 2012, 02:55:44 PM »

Fuck.

Now I need the 8-15.  You bastard.

Always glad to help 

I actually have the 17TS-E for high end real estate interiors, but if I know the image is only a filler and not a brochure leading headliner then I will often shoot the 15mm and de-fish. But don't tell anybody, it is my secret!!

Once it is defished, what is the resolution (pixel x pixel)? Do you by chance have a full res shot you could link to, for science?  Thanks in advance.

32

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Ultra long daytime exposures - 5D mkiii

« on: December 03, 2012, 02:53:31 PM »

Just don't forget to do the MLU (mirror lock up) to avoid vibration. 

Any vibration caused by mirror movement should affect the image minimally, as long as the vibration lasts for <1 second, and the exposure on the order of minutes

I've read about the IQ degrading at F16 and F22 or higher (one of mine goes to F32) but I believe that only applies to shorter exposures example 1/15, 1/10, etc.  if you have that lens open long enough the sensor will pick up more detail, colors etc which would somewhat mitigate the worry over IQ (excluding diffraction of course).

Diffraction is the main cause of image degradation at small apertures, and it occurs regardless of integration time.

-h

+1, MLU is pointless on these shots as any vibration would happen so fast that no light would even be registered on the sensor yet.

33

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Ultra long daytime exposures - 5D mkiii

« on: December 03, 2012, 02:52:20 PM »

So an ND 1.2 is 4 stops. Where can I get one of these crazy 10 stop filters? I've never seen more than a 1.2.

Search the internet.  I think B&H or adarama..

34

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Autumn/Fall Color Photos on 5D Mark III - Any Lens

« on: December 03, 2012, 02:57:23 AM »

Just a couple I took recently...


The Tops of an Empty Town… by @!ex, on Flickr


Shadows at the Windowpanes by @!ex, on Flickr


Last Ride by @!ex, on Flickr


The Door That Peels by @!ex, on Flickr


Everything Peels... by @!ex, on Flickr


Fall in Boulder by @!ex, on Flickr


Fools Gold by @!ex, on Flickr


End of the Road by @!ex, on Flickr

35

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Ultra long daytime exposures - 5D mkiii

« on: December 03, 2012, 02:50:00 AM »

Daniel Flather: I did not know that! I guess that shows how much I look at the back of a lens.

Where can one purchase gels that fit?

Any gel will fit, there is an outline on the back of the lens, can't remember exactly the measurements, but you just cut the gel with some regular scissors and then you pop it in (they are just like pieces of transparency paper).  A nice thing is that the standard gel size could actually give you more than one filter at the size you need, that way if you mess one up you can just cut another one.  I use a folded lens cloth to hold them in an old, small lens-filter case for portability.  Much nicer then carrying around a lee big stopper, which is why I prefer them.  Also they are much better in terms of color neutrality than glass because they are almost perfectly neutral, AND they are a LOT cheaper...

36

Lenses / Re: Advice 5d3, wide angle

« on: December 03, 2012, 02:43:17 AM »

my bad.  your points are valid and very much appreciated.

how does one de-fish?  is a separate plug in needed?  ( I use Aperture).  Is it built into Lightroom?

There are many different software options and they all remap your image differently. My most used one is Image Trends Fisheye Hemi, very basic control but it remaps the edges particularly well especially when there are people towards the edge of the frame, they have an Aperture Plugin too. Lightroom does a good job sometimes, but crops heavily, DxO Optics has a very good tool but I hate their software, Hugin and PTLens are others. I used to use a very badly interfaced program that was so powerful you could remap the canvas to the pixel dimensions you wanted but OS support for that went a long time ago so I had forgotten it.

Give them a try, you will be amazed at how flexible a fisheye can be. This might be of interest http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/reviews/lenses/canon_ef8-15f4l.html

Hope it all helps.

Fuck.

Now I need the 8-15.  You bastard.

37

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Ultra long daytime exposures - 5D mkiii

« on: December 01, 2012, 04:32:39 PM »

Been playing around with some black glass (or film) recently.  Here are a few of my first attempts.  I can get up to 20 minute exposures in broad daylight if I push everything to its max (or should I say min), but these are all around 4-5 minutes each.  All shot with the 5D mkiii and the 14mm 2.8 L II.

That first image is exceptional Alex.  I really, really like it!  Great composition, color, and texture variety is pretty moving!  Very Cool 

Thanks!

38

Lenses / Re: Advice 5d3, wide angle

« on: November 30, 2012, 09:08:16 PM »

I'm going to throw my hat in the ring for my favorite current lens, the 14mm L II.  I have shot most of the Sigma UWA lenses and actually find the 8-16mm one of the most outstanding lenses for a crop body that you can get, I shot the siggy 10-20 for a long time, and figured the 8-16 would be just as soft in the corners or even softer because it was much wider, but that is not the case.  I usually only shot those lenses at their widest, and usually found myself wanting even wider (its how I see the world I guess).  So when I moved to Canon this year and to full frame (5D mkiii) I first got the sigma 12-24, but was totally disappointed.  I then sucked it up and bought the 14 LII and I have to say, this thing is nothing short of remarkable.  The thing kills is in speed, especially useful for astrophotography, sharpness corner to corner (even wide open), color, and lack of distortion, and almost compete lack of flare.  it is small, built like a tank, and a joy to shoot with.  The rear gel filter is actually an advantage in my opinion, especially when using huge ND filters (you can also buy a system for using large grad filters on front if you want to go that route, I have it and don't use it much). 

All and all it is a badass lens, my only small grip on it is because it has only 6 aperture blades the starburst when stopped down is only 6 pointed, but this is easily corrected in post if you really hate it.

enough talk, I'll just post some of my favorite images I've shot with it the last few months since getting it, and you can judge for yourself.


The Things You Find by @!ex, on Flickr

Last Ride by @!ex, on Flickr

Everything Peels... by @!ex, on Flickr

Fonda's Madonna by @!ex, on Flickr

Is Where I Drew Some Blood by @!ex, on Flickr

Empty at Rush Hour by @!ex, on Flickr

Sunset on a season by @!ex, on Flickr

Light Pollution by @!ex, on Flickr

DOF for Miles (literally) by @!ex, on Flickr

Sitting on the Dock by @!ex, on Flickr

Mile High 'Murica by @!ex, on Flickr

The Plunge by @!ex, on Flickr

Big Sur by @!ex, on Flickr

No Lines by @!ex, on Flickr

Power Sources by @!ex, on Flickr

Drought by @!ex, on Flickr

39

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D MARK III with 50 mm f/1.2 performence

« on: November 29, 2012, 12:05:32 AM »

Alex, lovely shots! BTW, how do you do the distortion correction in post? Thanks

Lightroom, photoshop or DPP all have the 50L profile preloaded, one click really.  I actually turn off the vignette correction most of the time (both in camera, if I'm shooting JPEG, and in post if I'm shooting RAW), as I feel it really adds to the character of the lens.  I do always leave the CA correction on, as even this technically beautiful lens can get a little CA wide open.

40

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D MARK III with 50 mm f/1.2 performence

« on: November 26, 2012, 06:39:53 PM »

If you are shooting low light indoor portraits of your family 5d mkiii and the 50 1.2 are an awesome combo.  Just be sure to know how to use your continuous AI in servo mode.  I actually set the front function button (normally used for DOF preview) to quick switch into continuous servo mode when ever I hold it down, that way whenever the moment is right I am always ready.  Also, head shots with a 50mm are totally fine, especially with a little distortion correction in post.

One thing no one has mentioned is the motivation factor certain gear can have.  This lens camera combo is so sexy and creates such lovely images that it compels you to shot with it, even if you aren't feeling in the mood.

Here are some shots with the combo I've taken recently.


Low Key by @!ex, on Flickr


In the Dark by @!ex, on Flickr


Confederate Cloth. by @!ex, on Flickr


Bugging Out by @!ex, on Flickr


Into the Sun by @!ex, on Flickr


Available Light... by @!ex, on Flickr

41

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Too much dynamic range?

« on: November 24, 2012, 06:37:52 PM »

I hope that someday I could get a shot with this much dynamic range in a single exposure.  I bracketed 7 shots at 3 EV spacing per bracketed shot.  That is 18 EV spread, but each shot has it's total EV range (minus clipping) so the DR spans almost from pure black to pure white.  My eye saw these images like this, but with a single exposure (including using ND filters) I could never get these shots without increasing the DR of the camera via multiple exposures.  Sorry, not trying to go off topic, just thought it was relevant to the subject.

Shot #1
Shot #2

No offense, but these scenarios look uninspiring to me. And I believe it's not about how you or I see it, it's about everyone's way of thinking towards DR that makes HDR overused by lots of photographers around the world.

I believe that HDR imaging has its own niche, but it should be used when the result doesn't tell you whether it's HDR or not. So better scenes is what really matters for me (rather than increased DR):

That is what I'm talking about.  We are all going to have a different eye for what compositions touch us the most, but my argument was about the utility of high DR and of fusion/hdr.  There are a lot of scenarios where they are indispensable in getting the shot we (as artists/photographers) want.  I was just showing a few extreme examples of what extreme DR can be useful.  If you don't like those particular shots that is fine, as I was mainly using them to illustrate a point.  I agree with you that HDR as a techniques is overused, and used as an effect to over emphasize details, rather than used to achieve dynamic range that would otherwise be unachievable without either unwieldy supplemental lighting or impossible (non linear) and creativity inhibiting ND filters.  Here are a few more examples, maybe one of them will resonate with you more...


TiVo by @!ex, on Flickr


They breath profits; they eat the interest on money... by @!ex, on Flickr


Home on the range... by @!ex, on Flickr


Electric Sunset at City Park by @!ex, on Flickr


Drought by @!ex, on Flickr

42

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Too much dynamic range?

« on: November 23, 2012, 11:18:07 PM »

I hope that someday I could get a shot with this much dynamic range in a single exposure.  I bracketed 7 shots at 3 EV spacing per bracketed shot.  That is 18 EV spread, but each shot has it's total EV range (minus clipping) so the DR spans almost from pure black to pure white.  My eye saw these images like this, but with a single exposure (including using ND filters) I could never get these shots without increasing the DR of the camera via multiple exposures.  Sorry, not trying to go off topic, just thought it was relevant to the subject.


End of the Road by @!ex, on Flickr


Everything Peels... by @!ex, on Flickr

43

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: some pin-up shots

« on: November 21, 2012, 08:06:46 PM »

Just a piece of friendly criticism, I think that these shots would be much more impactful if you shot them in studio, with a white background and high key lighting.  The background and white balance/lighting is really taking away from the beauty  of the models and the period costumes...

44

HDR - High Dynamic Range / Re: Problems with Noise in Dark Areas

« on: November 18, 2012, 02:52:49 PM »

Here is another shot from the same day and location as the one I posted above.  Again, try getting this exposure in a single shot.  One of the biggest improvements you can make with HDR shooting is thinking in high dynamic range before you shoot. 


End of the Road by @!ex, on Flickr

45

HDR - High Dynamic Range / Re: Problems with Noise in Dark Areas

« on: November 18, 2012, 02:49:11 PM »

Here is a shot I took a few weeks back that would literally be impossible without HDR or exposure fusion.  It is 7 AEB at 3EV per step.  Yes you heard that correctly, 18 EV spacing total.

Great picture!

We are currently at 14 EV if I am not mistaken, so maybe in few years we are there in one shot 

Sort of true, because I am at 14 EV per shot with and 18 ev range on base exposure.  It might be a bit before we get that far;)