Now there’s a tongue twister. I’m not adding any photos to this blog since I don’t want to detract from this inspired article. Take a moment to enjoy it.
Frank
May, 2010
22
May 10
Just Add Water
With the cool, wet spring that we’ve had in Colorado, it’s been hard to take photos without getting wet. While that may not be the most pleasant experience for the photographer, it’s great for the photograph. There is something about water that we find irresistable.
A quiet lakeside sunrise at Steamboat Lake State Park, CO
Being creatures born of a water planet, we are made of water—about 70%, actually. The fact that we have legs and lungs instead of fins and gills is a quirk of evolution. Even though we are land lubbers, somewhere in our ancestral memories, we retain a primal affinity for water. In the 21st Century we’ve cast a sheen of culture over that affinity, but we’ve never forgotten water. We are still attracted to water.
Dewdrops add interest to a wild geranium
So it’s not surprising that we find an added attraction to photos containing water. Whether the water is crashing ocean waves, a serene mountain lake, a thundering waterfall, or just a single drop, water, in any of its myriad forms, results in a primal connection that goes deeper than the subconscious.
Will adding water to your images make them irresistable? Not necessarily, but it certainly isn’t going to hurt. Add some water to your images and see if there isn’t a little added attraction.
Enjoy,
Frank
15
May 10
Enjoy the Storm
If you live in Colorado, particularly the Front Range, Mother Nature has born out my description of spring as a knock down, drag out battle between winter and summer. The past week has been very cool (some would say cold) with plenty of rain and snow. Up here at 8500 feet, we’ve had about a foot of snow over the past three days, although the accumulation hasn’t been more that about 8 inches.
But the point of this post isn’t just for me whine about the weather. Actually, I want to praise the weather. For most folks, stormy weather is a pain in the posterior. But for a nature photographer, it is like getting a white Christmas. Storms make for some of the best photographs. Well, not the heart of the storm, but when it’s breaking up it often provides an interesting mix of clouds and clear skies. The light can change rapidly and dramatically, providing some really exciting opportunities for great photos.
Shreds of fog drift through the pines
Fog-diffused sunlight saturates colors
I got out for sunrise this morning as yesterday’s storm was breaking up. Everything was wet from the rain and snow. During the night, most of the water drops froze on everything. The cold temps also left low clouds and fog lingering in the valleys. So the sunrise was a mix of glowing fog, clear skies, dense gray fog, frozen water drops and thawed water drops. Needless to say, I spent much of the morning cold and wet, but as you can see, it was worth it.
Raindrops on grass are always good subjects
The fog provides soft diffused light that makes most colors glow with their own light. The water drops on the grass and pine needles offer great macro opportunities. And the constantly changing light offers many different facets of the same scene.
If you want dramatic photos, head out into the “not-so-nice” weather as a storm is breaking up and you may be rewarded with some surprising photos. Another advantage is that most normal people are still in bed, so the wildlife is out more and they seem to be a little more active right after a storm.
Enjoy
Frank
13
May 10
Is There More in Your Camera Than Your Image?
There is a rumor going around that spring is here, but you’d never know it looking at the 6 inches of new fallen snow here in Conifer. But for those of you fortunate enough to really have spring, you’re probably thinking more and more about getting out at taking photos. And you may notice, particularly in clear blue skies, you see little dark, fuzzy spots on your photos. Chances are, you have dust on your sensor. If you have a point-and-shoot camera, about the only thing you can do is have it professionally cleaned. If you’re using a DSLR, you have some options for cleaning your sensor. You may have your camera professionally cleaned for $50-$75, plus shipping, plus being without your camera for umpteen days.
Sensor dust
Or you can do it yourself. Admittedly, this can be a scary process the first time you do it. Sensors are delicate and can be easily damaged. I’ll admit that the first time I cleaned my sensor, I was scared silly. Tools are now available that make this process a little easier and more effective.
I’ll give a brief run through of the various cleaning steps here. For detailed step-by-step instruction on the cleaning process, I’ve add a couple of links at the bottom this blog.
There are five steps in sensor cleaning:
check for dust on sensor,
in-camera cleaning,
air cleaning,
brush cleaning,
swab cleaning.
Check for Dust on Sensor. This is the most important step. Check and see if your sensor needs cleaning before you do anything else. The easiest way to check your sensor is to take a baseline photograph. Use a lens that you’ve just cleaned to ensure that you’re not photographing dust on your lens. You want to see only the dust on the sensor. Set your camera to f22 and focused on infinity, then photograph a clear blue sky or any uniformly colored (except gray) smooth surface. Download the photo and look at it at 100% magnification. If you see little fuzzy spots on the photo, you have dust on your sensor.
In-camera Cleaning. This step utilizes a sensor cleaning function that many manufacturers are building into their cameras. Check your owner’s manual for instructions on how to activate this function.
DISCLAIMER. If you choose to continue, you do so at your own risk. Please realize that I cannot accept any responsibility for any damage done to your camera.
Air Cleaning. The next step involves exposing the sensor so you can clean it. Read your owner’s manual to find out how to raise the mirror to expose the sensor. Follow the directions exactly.
In this step, you will be blowing a jet of air across the sensor to remove dust. DO NOT USE CANNED AIR OF ANY KIND. The chemicals in many types of canned air can damage your camera.
Brush Cleaning. If the air cleaning did not remove the dust, the next step is to use a brush to remove the dust. This is the part where I get a little nervous. Don’t use just any brush for this step. The brush must be absolutely clean. Any dust or oils (including oils from your fingers) on the brush will be transferred to the sensor, making a bigger mess than you started out with. One of the most popular sensor cleaning brushes is the Arctic Butterfly. It’s not cheap, but considering the cost of professional cleaning, I think it’s a good investment. In most instances, this will get the job done.
Swab Cleaning. This is the scariest step because you are actually touching the sensor with a cleaning swab. If the brush doesn’t remove the dust, the dust is “welded” to the sensor. To remove this “stuck” dust, you need to use a specially treated, lint-free swab to remove the dust.
Detailed Instructions. Here are some links to sites that give good, detailed instructions that I used to help me my first time. I highly recommend that you READ THEM THOROUGHLY before you try cleaning your sensor on your own. It is important that you use the proper equipment and technique.
http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/index.html
http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm
There are, no doubt, other sites that also provide excellent cleaning information. Don’t hesitate to read them. You cannot have too much information before you tackle this job on your own.