The Streak Continues: 320
I spent a full day in the office yesterday and got back to my usual routine: swim, healthy eating, and ice bath. Today and tomorrow I will be working on getting the DPP 4.0 RAW Conversion Guide ready to send to Arash. I hope to get the final PDF from him no later than Monday. Exciting times.
This blog post, the 320th in a row, took me about 2 1/2 hours to prepare. It was published just after 7:30am from my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL.
To show your appreciation for my efforts here, we ask that you use our the B&H and Amazon affiliate links on the right side of the blog for all of your purchases. Please check the availability of all photographic accessories in the BIRDS AS ART Online Store, especially Gitzo tripods, Wimberley tripod heads, and the like. We sell only what I have used, have tested, and can depend on. We will not sell you junk. We know what you need to make creating great images easy and fun. And we are always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail.
You can find the following items in the store: Gitzo tripods, Mongoose M3.6 and Wimberley heads, plates, low feet, and accessories, flash brackets, , Delkin e-film Pro Compact Flash Cards, LensCoat products, and our unique line-up of educational materials including ABP I & II, Digital Basics, Site and Set-up e-Guides, Canon and Nikon Camera Users and AF e-Guides, and MP-4 Photoshop video tutorials among others.
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This image was created just before sunset on the afternoon of October 12, 2014 on day 2 of the recently concluded Fort DeSoto IPT. I used the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, with the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and a beta version of the Canon EOS 7D Mark II . ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed: 1/200 sec. at f/6.3 in Av mode. Central Sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus AF on the bird’s eye and recompose. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #1: Great Egret in pink reflections |
One Problem With the EOS-7D Mark II
One problem with the EOS-7D Mark II is that you will often find yourself with too much reach. To fit the whole bird in the frame with a nice border for this image I needed to back up about fifteen yards. Here is a tip on moving back safely: turn around and walk back or at least turn sideways otherwise you might trip on something and wind up flat on your back with damaged gear…. The situation is even more dangerous when you are working in a foot or two of water so use extreme care when doing so. And that applies whether you are backing up or getting closer.
Having too much reach is a nice problem for most bird photographers. Those who go over to the 7D II will like want one on their big tripod-mounted lens and another on a Black Rapid RS-7 Strap on their shoulder with a 70-200 II or the promised 100-400 II….
A Note on the Image Optimization
I painted a Quick Mask of the sandy triangle at the bottom of the frame, put that on its own layer, and applied a 100 pixel Gaussian Blur to give the sand the same dreamy quality as the rest of the background. In addition, some distracting shells and pebbles disappeared as well.
The DPP RAW Conversion Guide
To learn why I use Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) to convert every image that I work on, click here. The current guide will teach you how to best convert all of your Canon images in all 3 point something versions of Canon Digital Photo Professional including the current v.3.14.41.0.
Coming very soon: The DPP 4.0 RAW Conversion Guide by Arash Hazeghi and Arthur Morris. The more that I use DPP 4.0 for my 1D X and 5D III RAW conversions the more I learn about it. And the more I learn about it the more I am impressed with it. Note: at present, DPP 4.0 will work only with 1D X, 5D III, and 6D images. I am hoping against hope that at some point Canon will release a new version of DPP 4 that will support 7D II images.
Digital Basics
Everything that I did to optimize today’s images is covered in detail in my Digital Basics File–written in my easy-to-follow, easy-to-understand style. Are you tired of making your images look worse in Photoshop? Digital Basics File is an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. It includes my complete digital workflow, dozens of great Photoshop tips (including Surface Blur settings), details on using all of my image clean-up tools, the use of Contrast Masks, several different ways of expanding and filling in canvas, all of my time-saving Keyboard Shortcuts, Quick Masking, Layer Masking, and NIK Color Efex Pro basics, Digital Eye Doctor, using Surface and Gaussian Blurs, Tim Grey Dodge and Burn, how to create time-saving actions, and tons more.
APTATS I & II
Learn the details of advanced Quick Masking techniques in APTATS I. Learn Advanced Layer Masking Techniques in APTATS II. Mention this blog post and apply a $5 discount to either with phone orders only. Buy both APTATS I and APTATS II and we will be glad to apply at $15 discount with phone orders only. Please call Jim or Jennifer at 863-692-0906 weekdays to order.
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This unsharpened JPEG represents a 100% crop of the TIFF created by converting the RAW file in DPP v3.14.41. |
The 100% Crop
Note here especially the virtual lack of noise in the black legs. The dark areas are always most susceptible to noise. If you are familiar with viewing your images at 100%, please feel free to let us know what you think of the noise and the image quality here at ISO 800.
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This unsharpened JPEG represents a 200% crop of the TIFF created by converting the RAW file in DPP v3.14.41. |
The 200% Crop
With the relatively huge crop here we are beginning to see some significant noise in the darker yellow tones and for those with excellent close-up vision, in the pupil. To my eye, the noise in the background and the white feathers is minimal. With all three images here a dose of Filter > Blur > Surface Blur applied to the backgrounds only would render them smooth as a baby’s tush.
If you are familiar with viewing your images at 200%, please feel free to let us know what you think of the noise and the image quality here at ISO 800.
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This image was created at 6:42pm on the clear afternoon of October 11 on day one of the Fort DeSoto October IPT with the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 1.4X III, and a beta version of the Canon EOS 7D Mark II . ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop as framed: 1/800 sec. at f/8 in Av mode. One sensor to the right and one row up from the central sensor/AI Servo Surround/Rear Focus AF fell on a spot just below and behind the bird’s eye and was active at the moment of exposure. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #2: Non-breeding plumage Reddish Egret |
Light Makes Right
I’d much prefer to photograph this species in its loverly breeding plumage in early spring but the sweet light of late afternoon got me to overcome my reluctance. Part of the key to success here was making images when the bird was perfectly parallel to the back of the camera. F/8 and working at 1.6 crop factor distance yielded more than enough depth-of-field while still leaving the image with a pleasingly blurred background.
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This unsharpened JPEG represents a 100% crop of the TIFF created by converting the RAW file in DPP v3.14.41. |
The 100% Crop
Note the incredible sharpness achieved with an equivalent focal length of 1344mm. This represents 26.88X magnification. Image quality on the bill and the eye looks fine, less so on the bird’s feathers, the latter in part due to mild over-saturation of the REDs from the rich late afternoon light.
If you are familiar with viewing your images at 100%, please feel free to share your thoughts on the noise and the image quality here at ISO 800.
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This unsharpened JPEG represents a 200% crop of the TIFF created by converting the RAW file in DPP v3.14.41. |
The 200% Crop
With the relatively huge crop here we see some loss of fine feather detail and the appearance of some background noise as well. The latter is easily dealt with by applying Filter > Blur > Surface Blur to the background only. I am confident that if DPP 4 eventually does support 7D II images that controlling the noise during the RAW conversion will yield improved results as DPP 4 allows photographers to deal with both chrominance and luminance noise. In DPP 3 we recommend never using any luminance noise reduction.
If you are familiar with viewing your images at 200%, please feel free to let us know what you think of the noise and the image quality here at ISO 800.
Noise Primer
Here is a small excerpt from the DPP 4.0 RAW Conversion Guide that I added last night while putting the final polish on the text:
Your digital camera’s sensor is made up of millions of tiny pixels. Each one of those pixels is incredibly small. The tinier they are, the less surface area there is to collect light. Smaller amounts of light mean less information to work with and less information to work with leads to errors. Some of the pixels might register the wrong color (resulting in color or chrominance noise). Others wind up with the wrong quantity of light (resulting in luminance noise). As the amount of light diminishes, both types of noise increase with the darker tones being more susceptible than the lighter tones.
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This image was created at 5:57 pm on the afternoon of October 12, 2014, day 2 of the recently concluded Fort DeSoto IPT. I used the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, with the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and a beta version of the Canon EOS 7D Mark II . ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop as framed: 1/320 sec. at f/5.6 in Av mode. 65-point Automatic Selection Rear Focus/AI Servo AF selected an array of three sensors on the base of the bird’s neck that was active at the moment of exposure. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. Image #3: Great Blue Heron neck, close-up of torso, neck, and legs |
The Torso Shot
Many Great Blue Herons have ratty-looking faces in summer, late fall, and winter. What to do? Concentrate on making close-up images of their necks and chests which always feature a collection of beautifully colored and detailed feathers and patterns.
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This unsharpened JPEG represents a 100% crop of the TIFF created by converting the RAW file in DPP v3.14.41. |
The 100% Crop
Here again we see a smattering of noise in the darker feathers but not much background noise. If you are familiar with viewing your images at 100%, please feel free to share your thoughts on the noise and the image quality here at ISO 800.
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This unsharpened JPEG represents a 200% crop of the TIFF created by converting the RAW file in DPP v3.14.41. |
The 200% Crop
With the relatively huge crop here we again see the somewhat expected loss of fine feather detail; background noise looks pretty good to me. Please realize that all of the the 100% and 200% crops here are straight out of camera with nothing but a tiny amount of capture-sharpening applied in DPP v3.14.41.0 during the RAW conversion. If you are familiar with viewing your images at 200%, please feel free to let us know what you think of the noise and the image quality here at ISO 800.
7D Mark II RAW File Offer
If you would like to receive a download link to the RAW file for one or more of today’s featured images for inspection and study only, please send a Paypal to us at birdsasart@verizon.net for $5.00 each, or $10 for all three, (to cover our handling costs) or give Jim or Jennifer a buzz at 863-692-0906 during weekday business hours with a credit card in hand. Whether by Paypal or phone be sure to specify exactly which image or images you want. We will send your link or links via Hightail. You can then download and save the RAW file. Note: you may need to download and install DPP v3.14.41.0 in order to view the images and you will surely need to have that on your computer if you wish to convert them. Thanks to all who ordered yesterday’s RAW file. I will be offering additional high ISO RAW files in the coming days and weeks. Please note that all rights remain with Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART.
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Join Denise Ippolito and me for four great days of photography and learning at one of our soul places. Please click on the card to enjoy a larger version. |
Bosque del Apache 2014 BIRDS AS ART/A Creative Adventure Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT). NOV 29 (afternoon photo session)-DEC 3 (morning session), 2014. Totaling 4 FULL-DAYS: $1449. Leaders: Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito. Introductory Slide program: 7:00pm on Saturday 11/29. Limit 16/Openings: 1
Long sold out, the 4-DAY Bosque IPT has a single opening due to non-payment of balance.
Tens of thousands of Snow Geese, 10,000 Sandhill Cranes, ducks, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and blast-offs. Live, eat, and breathe photography with two of the world’s premier photographic educators at one of their very favorite photography locations on the planet. Top-notch in-the-field and Photoshop instruction. This will make 21 consecutive Novembers at Bosque for artie. This will be denise’s 6th workshop at the refuge. Nobody knows the place better than artie does. Join us to learn to think like a pro, to recognize situations and to anticipate them based on the weather, especially the sky conditions, the light, and the wind direction. Every time we make a move we will let you know why. When you head home being able to apply what you’ve learned on your home turf will prove to be invaluable.
This workshop includes 4 afternoon (11/29 through 12/2), 4 morning (11/30 to 12/3) photography sessions, an inspirational introductory slide program after dinner on Saturday, 11/29, all lunches, and after-lunch digital workflow, Photoshop, and image critiquing sessions.
There is never a strict itinerary on a Bosque IPT as each day is tailored to the local conditions at the time and to the weather. We are totally flexible in order to maximize both the photographic and learning opportunities. We are up early each day leaving the hotel by 5:30 am to be in position for sunrise. We usually photograph until about 10:30am. Then it is back to Socorro for lunch and then a classroom session with the group most days. We head back to the refuge at about 3:30pm each day and photograph until sunset. We will be photographing lots of Snow Geese and lots of Sandhill Cranes with the emphasis on expanding both your technical skills and your creativity.
A $449 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2014. If the trip fills, we will be glad to apply a credit applicable to a future IPT for the full amount less a $100 processing fee. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. Whether or not your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit. If not, you can secure your spot by paying your balance.
Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check (made out to “Arthur Morris.”) You can also leave your deposit with a credit card by calling the office at 863-692-0906. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.
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Join Denise Ippolito and Arthur Morris for two great days of photography, fun, and learning at one of our favorite soul places. We will surely be taking you out of the box on this workshop. Please click on the card to enjoy a larger version. |
Bosque del Apache 2014 A Creative Adventure/BIRDS AS ART “Creative Photography Instructional Photo-Tour.” (IPT). NOV 24-25, 2014. 2-FULL DAYS: $729. Leaders: Denise Ippolito & Arthur Morris. Introductory Slide program: 7:00pm on Sunday 11/23.
Get Out of Your Box!
The Creative Bosque IPT is perfect for folks who want to learn to think outside the box, to create new and different images. This workshop is the perfect add-on for folks who are planning on attending the Festival of the Cranes. Learn to unleash your creative juices at the wondrous Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico with two great leaders including the amazingly talented and creative Denise Ippolito. In-the-field instruction will include tips on gear set-up, on creating a variety of pleasing blurs, on getting the right exposure, and on designing pleasing images. And lots more. From vertical pan blurs to subject motion blurs to zoom blurs to multiple exposures we will cover it all. If conditions are perfect, we will not hesitate to take advantage of them to do some traditional bird photography. This workshop will include an inspirational introductory slide program on Sunday evening, 11/23, after dinner on your own, two morning and two afternoon photography sessions, all lunches, a digital workflow and Photoshop session after lunch on Monday, and an image critiquing session after lunch on Tuesday.
A $329 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your slot for this IPT. Your balance, payable only by check, will be due on 7/25/2014. If the trip fills, we will be glad to apply a credit applicable to a future IPT for the full amount less a $100 processing fee. If we do not receive your check for the balance on or before the due date we will try to fill your spot from the waiting list. If your spot is filled, you will lose your deposit. If not, you can secure your spot by paying your balance.
Please print, complete, and sign the form that is linked to here and shoot it to us along with your deposit check (made out to “Arthur Morris.”) You can also leave your deposit with a credit card by calling the office at 863-692-0906. If you register by phone, please print, complete and sign the form as noted above and either mail it to us or e-mail the scan. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail.
Be sure to like and follow BAA on Facebook by clicking on the logo link upper right. Tanks a stack!
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Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
I agree the existing noise seems less sharp than on previous bodies. Will be interested to see higher ISO samples. BTW, regarding your recommended Black Rapid strap, I have been using one for 2 years and have experienced a problem. Up to now I have attached the strap to the body while using my 70-200f2.8II with TC. Apparently this is causing too much stress on the lens mount. I sent my 1D4 back to CPS today for the second time in a year because the lens mount connection has become loose. It is unnerving to have a lens disconnect in a zodiac! From now on I will attach the strap to the lens rather than the body.
Coming soon :).
A question for you: do you routinely drive to photo locations with your 1D IV mounted on a lens? artie
Yes when in a vehicle but in a backpack. When I fly I pack body and lens separate. I never thought this put any strain on either the body or lens. Do you think otherwise? BTW, just been told the 100-400II is scheduled to be announced next month at @$2400. Sure hope Canon keeps this schedule. Still may not replace my 70-200f2.8II with 2x though.
I do not think otherwise. I know otherwise. The vibrations of travel by car, air, or boat are death on lens mounts. At the very least, they can cause the tiny screws to come loose. If your lens simply “fell off in the zodiac” as you stated, I would bet that travel with a camera mounted on a lens was the culprit.
I have carried my 70-200 mounted to various pro and pro-sumer bodies for countless miles of beach walking with never a mount problem 🙂 artie
Hi Arthur
I’ve pressed the preorder button what feels like months ago!
Many thanks. Did you use the BAA affiliate link? The camera is not supposed to start shipping until 28 NOV :). artie
Artie: For what it’s worth–and I have no idea what it’s worth–Amazon’s web site says of the 7D2 “Available for pre-order. This item will be released October 30.”
Surprising. I would bet that they do not get bodies to ship before B&H. And I trust B&H a lot more than I trust Amazon and their zillions of affiliate shops, stores that sell under the auspices of Amazon but are Amazon in name only…. artie
Hi, Artie. Well, in the glass half full department, I’m interpreting that as meaning Canon’s shipments will be early and those of us who ordered from B&H will get ours sooner than November 28. 🙂 I agree I wouldn’t expect others to get cameras much if any before B&H, and I agree with your judgments about B&H and Amazon, although Amazon does stand by its customers. I forgot to say what lovely colors and composition that first image has! David
I can only say that I do know that Amazon goes out of its way to screw affiliates and that one guy ordered a “new” lens from an Amazon-related camera shop and found a note from the guy who returned had returned the lens…. Not too swift IMHO. artie
Hi Artie, the ISO 800 examples you show us here look to be about 1 to 1.5 stops better than the 7D which is maybe not as much as some would have hoped…but the thing is that the “quality” of the noise seems so much better thus rendering a much cleaner result. I say this as someone who has always been relatively happy with my 7D. The 7D2 looks like a winner to me, especially when you consider the AF system that comes with it at that amazing price.
Hey Dan, Thanks for your honest assessment. And I agree that the noise that we do see is less sharp and less granular… Strangely, the noise does not get a whole lot worse with the higher ISOs where the improvement seems more dramatic. Coming soon.
I’ve heard that about the higher ISOs and I am glad that is what you are seeing too…it really is looking promising.
BTW, I meant to say that the egret image is quite fantastic with those pastel colours! 🙂
Pleased with the low noise results in this post, Artie. This camera is definitely on my wish list!
No need to wish. Pre-order one now and please be sure to use our B&H Affiliate link :).
I just got off Skyping with Peter Kes. He feels that the image quality and relatively low noise levels show in all of the huge crops are amazing, so amazing as to be unbelievable….
Hi, Artie, and thanks. Those images are pretty amazing. As I said, I rarely look at my images so heavily cropped, and I would be pleased to see the same noise levels you got at 100% on my original 7D at ISO 800 completely uncropped.