Architectural Photography In the Digital Age

Architectural Photography In the Digital Age...

is simple with a program that lets you stitch together a panorama from multiple images. Super wide angle is still handy, but making panoramas is so easy nowadays.

click to enlarge

FUJI X-M1 RELEASED

Fujifilm X-M1 available for pre-order!

 

This is going to be a very good camera system for some people. Not only is it based on a very professionally capable camera, it is reasonably priced and will have features to appeal to novices and budget minded advanced users. 

Features as we know them now, check back here for updates and details:

Fujifilm X-M1 Features

• Extremely high quality images, Super fast AF, Crisp and clean low light shooting
• 16.3 MP APS-C CMOS X-Trans Sensor
• EXR Processor II
• 3" Tilting Screen/ 920k Dot LCD
• WiFi
• Artistic Filters
• Hot Shoe and Built-in flash
• Fully manual and easy operation
• included Fuji XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS
• Lens (2.5 stop OIS) 24-76mm Equivalent

The "Big Moon" Illusion

Fools a lot of people. Many will absolutely swear that the Moon (Earth's natural satellite) is actually bigger, filling up more sky, when it is near the horizon as it sets or rises. Not so! It remains the same size, but seeing it near ground objects like trees or buildings, or even mountains, makes it seem so.

I can make it bigger if I want with Photoshop!

A good way to prove this to yourself is with a quarter and a few hours time. When you see the full Moon rising on the horizon, hold out a quarter in your outstretched arm and put it over the Moon. It just fits. A few hours later, when the Moon is high in the sky and you would swear that it is smaller, repeat the quarter test. It just fits.

The mind is a powerful thing! And the Moon rising over trees or a lake or downtown Denver IS beautiful! Understanding the universe around us makes it even more beautiful, in my opinion.

Here is a nice, easy enough to read, scientific paper explaining the ever so powerful Moon Illusion.

orange lines are same size

orange circles are same size

Fun and Affordable Backyard Astronomy

Astronomy! When the nights become comfortable in the summertime, many people look up to the sky and wish they had a telescope. 

SnapKnot contest continues

Enter Here for a chance to win a Canon or Nikon pro camera.

Planet of the Photographers

Planet of the Photographers

Gamma Delphinids Tonight

An 'elusive' meteor shower possible tonight or early tomorrow.

Link 1

Link 2

DIY backgrounds and stand

Way back in 2012, I posted about my idea to make my own color canvas backgrounds and a cheap home made stand.

Well, I finally got around to it!

I went to my local big box store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc) and got some PVC pipe and connecters. I decided on 3/4" PVC. Smaller would be too weak to hold a canvas, bigger would be fine, but any more than 1" would probably be overkill.

Notice I also purchased some med duty clips, some dye, and salt.

You will need to design your own stand based on what adapters and connectors are available in your stores. I made some feet, risers, and crossbeams here:

I found that I had to cement some of the pieces, esp the feet, to keep the stand secure, but I left other connections unglued so I could tear it down for transport and storage.

Here is the stand all connected:

Dying the canvases I purchased last year was fun. The salt helps the dye penetrate the fabric. Since the canvas was rather large, I used a bathtub. Be sure to clean afterwards with a bleaching cleanser.

 

Put it all together and you have a portable back ground system!

I liked the blue jean denim color, basic black, natural canvas color, and dark green.

Next, I'll show the system in use. At full height, it is useful for portrait work, half height and a table will work well for product photography.

Total cost, including what I spent last year on the canvases was right around $50.00. And that's for the dual use stand and four color canvas backgrounds. Not bad for about 3 hrs worth of work.

Chance for some astrophotography practice Monday

Moon, Venus, and Mercury make a good photo opportunity tomorrow!

For planetary conjunctions like this, I like to include some foreground subjects. Cityscape, trees, mountain, just about anything anywhere you are. Remember, anything you combine with planets, Moon, or stars will be a foreground subject (think about it). 

Enjoy your astrophotography outing!

Nikon D90 One Day Price

A SUPER DEAL!

Nikon D90 w/18-105 lens $599.00

For this awesome camera and better than average kit lens, you would have paid $1199 just a year ago. Regular current price is $799, so today's deal drops it with a $200 instant rebate.

Though it has an older sensor, this is still a very serious camera. Besides the resolution, this camera also adds a focus motor in the body allowing use of older AF Nikkors (see specs) and it is built tough. Not as tough as the 300S or D4, but still pretty durable. Think of the days of the F3, FE, and FG. This is an FE.

My Review of Nikon D3200 24.2 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm NIKKOR VR Lens - Black - Refurbished by Nikon U.S.A.

Originally submitted at Adorama

Nikon D3200 24.2 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm NIKKOR VR Lens - Black - Refurbished by Nikon U.S.A.

Great camera

By Mooshie the Moose from USA on 6/4/2013

 

5out of 5

Pros: Quiet, Good Image Stabilization, Easy To Use, Large Clear LCD, Fast Shutter Speed, Good Image Quality, High ISO Performance, Fast / Accurate Auto-Focus

Best Uses: Family Photos, Travel, Video, Wildlife photos, Indoors/Low Light, Weddings/Events, Landscape/Scenery

Describe Yourself: Semi-pro Photographer

Was this a gift?: No

Can't beat the image quality (with good lenses and technique) at this price. I just wish more image processing programs supported it's raw NEF file. Why is it so hard to keep up? As it is, I use the supplied Nikon software to convert to tiff and work from that, but that slows things down unneccesarily imho. Get with it, guys!

(legalese)