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Photography Bleg

#21
Here's a fairly high level discussion of "raw" digital images vs. jpeg files that I found pretty interesting...

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We received a new PRS guitar yesterday, and I just shot it using the "raw" setting on my camera... how's that for confidence? I can't process the photos yet, but now I have no choice but to solve that problem or re-shoot... and I hate re-shooting.
 
#23
Wow! Why didn't I do this years ago?!?! The background color you see here (at least on my monitor) is THE background color. I usually strugle to get the right balance between blue and green, and I usually err on the "too green" side...

This was done using my just-purchased version of Photoshop CS 5 to process a "raw" shot from a Canon Digital Rebel (DS6041). The camera is a little ancient, but it's getting the job done!

Working with a raw file gives me a whole new set of controls to change the image's temperature, exposure, etc. From my so far brief experience with PSCS5, I think I can safely say that it is WAY easier to dial in colors that are more true.

Yeah! Thanks for the tip, Jerry! That's TWO Bud Lights in GA with your name on them. Keep it up, and you might just end up with one "real" beer! :D

3664-LG.jpg
 
#25
Between your upgraded processing skills and the guitar, that is a great shot!

I may have to give in and upgrade my version of PS and start shooting raw.

This has turned into a real educational thread.

+1 one for the tunnel shots Todd. They always make me think of Europe for some reason.
 
#27
One of the tunnels is heading into Yosemite Valley. The other is on the 110 fwy in LA heading towards the hood. Just goes to show beauty is everywhere. Well, most everywhere...

Greg, the only downside with raw is storage space if you have a high MP sensor. I shoot nothing but raw with my 5D2, but generally will shoot jpg (which is heresy amongst photo geeks) with my Leica DLux4, mostly due to file size and the fact that I really like the Leica jpg engine in the camera.

I use Aperture for doing my "raw developing" and cataloging of photos. Once you're into 5 digits worth of images you'll definitely want some app to handle things. Aperture (Mac only, sorry) is nice because I can do all the post processing I normally would within the app and never have to touch PS unless I want to do some radical manipulation. On the win side, Lightroom is a good alternative app.

Yeah, more $$$ to spend. We're just glad to be the ones inducing *you* to spend money for once :D
 
#28
RocketMusic said:
Wow! Why didn't I do this years ago?!?! The background color you see here (at least on my monitor) is THE background color. I usually strugle to get the right balance between blue and green, and I usually err on the "too green" side...

This was done using my just-purchased version of Photoshop CS 5 to process a "raw" shot from a Canon Digital Rebel (DS6041). The camera is a little ancient, but it's getting the job done!

Working with a raw file gives me a whole new set of controls to change the image's temperature, exposure, etc. From my so far brief experience with PSCS5, I think I can safely say that it is WAY easier to dial in colors that are more true.

Yeah! Thanks for the tip, Jerry! That's TWO Bud Lights in GA with your name on them. Keep it up, and you might just end up with one "real" beer! :D

3664-LG.jpg
Click to expand...

Yo, Greg - that pic is hot! I agree that the background matches how it looks in person, and the guitar really pops on my screen. The headstock has a lot of definition and the body looks really naturally lit. Whatever you're doing now works!
 
#29
I'm willing to be the color balance is much better, especially if tungsten lighting was used (AWB usually has a tough time with that). One caution I have is to be careful not to over-sharpen images. I speak from experience as someone who has abused unsharp mask far too often :D
 
#30
Nice, Greg! Sorry to hear about the extra purchase...I'm still clinging to CS4, even though CS5 has some great advantages. If it helps ease the wallet pain, a few of my friends with newer cameras had to upgrade as well. Adobe really drew a line in the sand with their raw plugins. Great article, too. Pages 3 & 4 really put things in perspective.

FWIW, white balance adjustments are the biggest factor for me in editing raw images. Some traditionalists prefer to do this on the camera, but have I mentioned that I'm into instant gratification? :D Exposure is another. Whenever possible I shoot without flash, so even with great high ISO performance on my camera and fast lenses (i.e. low aperture settings) I occasionally under-expose when shooting. A little bump here and there within the raw editor, and bada boom. So, for me, post processing isn't about cool effects, filters, or even...say, pasting in a bottle of Bud Light to a picture of Gard...but rather a means of ensuring the image matches what I saw and wanted to capture. Or, in other words...my camera is a heck of a lot smarter than me, but it only t does what I tell it to do. Editing raw images allows me to fix whatever I missed when shooting.

I'll say this...not to tempt you, but because I suspect it's inevitable. DSLR. If you go Canon, definitely ping Jon. He's a great shooter and can offer great advice. Actually, ping him no matter what, because he's a great shooter. Photography is just like bass in that regard...Roscoes and Gadows both work great as vehicles for making music. If you go Nikon, I'm happy to offer anything I've learned about gear. Finally, I'll say that I am constantly amazed at how many bassists emerse themselves into photography. It goes back to Milt Hinton, if you want a bit of fuel for a google search. We can chat about why over a few beers in Jor-juh. :)
 
#31
Yeah, my canon ties go back to the pre-digital era, so I've got some nice lenses that I can still use with my Digital Rebel (and I suspect any other Canon DSLR). I usually shoot instruments with my favorite, the EF 20-35mm wide angle. I've got a bitchin' telephoto, too, but I mainly use that outdoors where I can get far enough away from the subject to play some fun games with depth of field.

I was running Photo Shop 7, which was the version before CS1! Danny has an archive of every piece of software he's ever owned. I asked him if he had photoshop 3 years ago, and that what he gave me. :rollno::D

CS5 is really nice. It's familiar enough that I can be productive right out of the gate, but it also clearly has a LOT more features that I will have mucho fun exploring.

I think my next serious leap will be having a better room for shooting. I shoot in a tiny area with off-white walls and just two lights. I have some control over glare, but I can't really eliminate it. I also have limited access to the space because it's basically the hallway outside our lesson rooms, so I can't shoot when lessons are going. Not to mention I have to set it up and tear it down every time. Arrrghh, I won't miss that!! I'm looking forward to building a dedicated room at our new building, painting all the surfaces flat or satin black and adding 3-5 more lights. That should lead to a pretty significant improvement in my photo quality (not to mention my quality of life).
 
#32
Say hello to me little friend!

Hat tip to Addison and no_static for the "Unsharp Mask" tip! I've been using plain old "Sharpen" and then manually faiding that back to 30-50%. "Unsharp Mask" seems to work even better for making figure pop. The blue guitar above was done my old way, and my bass below was using "Unsharp Mask".

3000-2011-03-05-LG.jpg

3000-BACK-2011-03-05-LG.jpg

3000-BODY-2011-03-05-LG.jpg
 
#34
The joy of pushing pixels :D

Truth be told, most of my best photos were shot with various point and shoots (albeit good ones). The best camera is the one you have with you. But for proper studio stuff like you're doing, you can be more deliberate. I'm decidedly not a studio shooter - I'm run and gun "street" stuff. I have never been able to get close to serious studio guys when I try. I switched from Pentax (love their small primes) to Canon to get the 5D2 and go full frame for better lo iso as I only shoot available light. I don't even own a flash. More heresy but I always was more in the "art" side of things rather than product. And I've been so busy playing music the last 2 years I haven't shot much at all.

The last couple Canon dSLRs have been pretty spectacular, and they are a big leap from a few years back. Glass pretty much remains glass though. I almost always shot primes with my Pentax stuff but oddly enough my favorite Canon lens is the 70-200/4. Just gotta find a focal length you bond with and a look that you like.
 

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