Saturday, 2008 · Popularity: 19% · pic tips
As indicated in the title, if you are not a photo geek looking for some geeky information them perhaps you might want to just over to my gallery and just look at some photos and come back next time, but, if you are a DSLR user, this is for you.
Brief Background
A brief background to my workflow. I have been shooting digital since I bought my first Nikon D100 in 2002. Prior to that I was shooting all slide film like Velvia and Kodak 100s.
I had used a similar workflow process when I was shooting with my Nikon D2X up until 2006 when I switched to some very casual shooting back to my Nikon D100 and did not mess with much of a workflow process. Now that I am once again shooting with the Nikon D300 (and soon to be D700, possibly the D3X), I have gone back to learning the process I did back then.
Digital Postprocessing Workflow
In the world of digital photography, the dark room has been replaced by the editing process after you finish shooting. Same as with film, except there seem to be more and more steps involved in the process now to get the image you want, the one you took in the camera.
Some people look at the images directly from a digital camera and think they look terrible when shot in RAW. That is because most of the time, they do, unless you have a specific workflow process for the image. If you are using the standard jpg file, then that is different. The jpg’s are pretty much done when you press the trigger. You can’t effectively adjust for anything in postprocessing with a jpg file.
Since I shoot Nikon, this is based on a Nikon workflow, but Canon shooters do the same sort of thing. I usually take my RAW files, same them to my HDD, then convert them to a DNG (Adobe’s digital negative format), then view them in Adobe Bridge, opening the file in ACR (Adobe Camera Raw), make some minor adjustments, then the file opens in CS3 (Adobe Photoshop 3) to do my final touches and output a PSD file copy and a jpg for web use.
This was all fine but not giving me the results I wanted until I remembered how Adobe handles Nikon’s Picture Control Modes… they don’t.
Nikon Picture Control Modes Default to Download
Nikon Picture Controls are basically preset points for saturation and contrast. A very good explanation can be found on Ken Rockwell’s website (review here). You can also read where some believe these picture controls will fade away, read The Slow Passing Away of Nikon Color Modes, although I am not so sure as popular as they seem to be, and another good place is the Nikonians Forum or dPreview Forum (see this post).
These picture modes for the Nikon D300 are called Standard, Neutral, and Vivid. You can manually adjust each one and they give you the same sort of effect that different films would. If you wanted to shoot something in nature with saturated colors like reds and greens, you would use the Fuji Velvia 50 film. Today, you would choose Vivid picture control mode on the menu.
If you were use to the picture controls from the Nikon D2X, you can still download these and use them on your D300 or the newest D700. These are called D2XMode I, II, and IIIa from the D2X or today on the screen they are D2XI, D2XII, or D2XIII. These are the same picture controls used on the D2X, and are totally different from the D300 options.
Nikon also just released two new picture controls called Landscape and Portrait. All of these can be downloaded from Nikon’s website (download Nikon Picture Controls here). I am going to post some examples in the upcoming parts but you can see some good ones from the Ken Rockwell website.
Photoshop CS3 and Nikon Capture NX2
So, I setup, take the shots, then proceed into my postprocessing workflow. One thing I had totally forgotten is that Adobe will not read Nikon Picture Control modes. There are many aspects that determine how a final image will look besides how you took the image. Color space, picture controls, and of course the software you use to edit the images.
Since I just purchased the $200 upgrade to CS3 I wasn’t real happy to find out (or remember) that it doesn’t matter what picture control mode I use, it isn’t going to even show in any Adobe workflow process. If you want to ditch the color modes, then process away. Bridge will start out by removing your color mode that will show in the preview, leaving an image (to me) less than what was shot.
The solution is to use a large combination of software and workflow processes to get what you want, unfortunately. As I said before, if you are just using the jpg files, no need to bother. If you aren’t using a picture control mode, no need to bother.
But, if you shoot in RAW format, using a specific saturation you want, you will need to use Nikon’s Capture NX2 software to utilize the color modes. Of course that’s another $200 to Nikon I didn’t want to spend, but who’s counting at this point.
Workflow Process AND Using Nikon Picture Control Modes
If you followed me this far, you might wonder how anyone ever gets a final image they want, or why anyone would bother with all this, don’t we just pull the trigger and email the photo to someone? Well, all the more serious photographers I know are pretty particular about their images, so they (we, I, us) tend to go to these lengths in the post editing phase, although, many don’t care for the editing process.
I never learned how to use a dark room and develop film. I don’t know the first thing about it. But this is the dark room of our current time, and to be a well rounded photographer it is important to know how our dark room functions and how to properly use the tools we have.
It looks like if I want to use the picture controls I have a few options. I can:
- Download my NEF files, convert all to DNG for archiving
- Use Nikon ViewNX to view my NEF RAW files and output to jpg or tiff immediately
- Use Nikon ViewNX for initial edit, then move to Nikon Capture NX2 to adjustments
- Output the needed file from NX2 in jpg (using color space ProPhoto RGB)
- Open in Bridge, convert the jpg to a non 16-bit sRGB file for uploading
- Save my edited NEF file to preserve the original
or if I want to use Photoshop CS3 that I just paid for I can:
- Download my NEF files, convert all to DNG for archiving
- Use Nikon ViewNX or CaptureNX2 to convert all NEF files to TIFF for opening in CS3
- I can now open all files with the Picture Control Modes saved in the tiff… but… I loose all ability to adjust anything in ACR as ACR will not open a tiff file.
You can download Nikon Capture NX2 for free for a 60 day trial. Might not be long enough to learn the software, it is not the easiest piece of software I have ever used, but the more I use it the easier it gets. It does have some good innovations as well, but I am so use to, and like, CS3, Bridge, and ACR that using a combination of all these will take some adjustments.
If you are just interested in reading more about the digital workflow process, John Shaw has a great digital workflow process outline on his website.
What is your workflow process? Do you use the Nikon Picture Controls or does it even matter? Stay tuned for part 2.
A Random Entry of Interest From This Blog
Thursday, 2008 · Popularity: 15% · journal, pic tips
It has been another hot week here down in the south but there are still many things to photograph. To gear up for the fall when sports seems to jump out everywhere, I have moved my photos from my flickr account to a new gallery called Auburn Images.
I will still continue to post personal images on flickr, but anything that I consider to be photography related will be located on the Auburn Images gallery.
This new gallery gives me some great flexibility along with being able to sell and order prints from right there within the gallery. Along with moving to a new platform and back end system, I have gone with a new domain and a new name that will be more closely aligned with my current photography interests, mainly that of Auburn Alabama and the surrounding areas.
I will continue to post and discuss images and photography here, but the bulk of my photography work will be loaded into Auburn Images, located at http://www.AuburnImages.com. In addition to the new gallery, I am going to focus some blog posts on this blog, specifically aimed at photographers, equipment, and tips.
Hopefully I will learn something in the process as well and I hope you enjoy for new gallery format. Special thanks to gotroot for the use of his mug shot too.
A Random Entry of Interest From This Blog
Monday, 2008 · Popularity: 22% · image of the day, journal
We had a nice weekend of hot weather, but it finally started raining. We have been in such a drought that any rain at all is a welcome site. After the rain cleared out our unknown bulb started blooming, rapidly. We were given this and told it was a “4th of July plant” and it started looking very star trek like before the blooms opened.
Cahaba or Shoals Spider Lily
Once the blooms opened we could see that it was indeed what is known locally in Alabama as the Cahaba Lily. Hymenocallis coronaria (Cahaba Lily or Shoals spider-lily), is known within the state of Alabama as the Cahaba Lily (outside the state it is known as the Shoals spider-lily) because it grows on the banks of the Cahaba River. It is actually an Amaryllis bulb and should multiple quite nicely in our garden.
You can see from the image that it has several more blooms to go, hopefully we can get some more rain over the next few days and it should be very happy. What is funny about this Lily is we actually got it from Texas. My father-in-law ordered it online, probably at Jackson & Perkins, but we took it from the box in Texas, back over here to Alabama and planted it in the garden back in March/April.
The image was taken very late in the afternoon. I love photography of flowers, but the conditions have to be just right to be able to get a sharp image, with a good background, and in good light. Especially when photographing a white flower, special care should be taken not to overexpose the white part of the flower.
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Thursday, 2008 · Popularity: 35% · image of the day, journal
This week has gone by in a blink. Yesterday we planted 5 oak trees before breakfast trying to avoid the mid-morning heat and by about 10am it was to hot to do anything outside. I looked over at our rose bush today, a red Double Knockout Rose (or aka a Double Knock Out Rose) and it was in full bloom.
Thinking again like I was yesterday, I went out to try and capture a photo of the bloom before it got way to hot outside. As my luck would have it, the wind was blowing like crazy.
The Red Double Knock Out Rose Bloom
Normally this time of year they are covered in red double bloom flowers but this one was not planted to long ago and it sat in the hot dry drought we have going on for several weeks looking rather pitiful. Two days ago Deb put some rose food around its base, and now, blooms everywhere.
This variety of rose is a sister to the Knock Out Rose which can get to be a very large, tree, shrub sized rose bush. The Double Knockout is quite a bit smaller and well suited to our very young garden. I took this shot this morning, about 7am, before it got really hot outside.
The wind gave me fits as it decided this morning was the morning to blow, continuously, but I was still able to enjoy a small amount of time to smell the roses this morning before I went to work.
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Monday, 2008 · Popularity: 48% · image of the day, journal
What a busy weekend it was this past week. Being a holiday weekend with the 4th of July on a Friday it was just a little chaotic but all tranquility of a Monday has returned. I think I would have to qualify a Monday or Tuesday in January or February as the most tranquil, but this one will do.
For those of us in the south, the summer bring little rest from the heat but a rare foggy morning is one of those reprieves for July. We have been in a horrible drought for the last few years and this summer has proven to be more of the same, except a few mornings where fog blankets the grass and trees.
Our tree swing has quickly become one of my favorite places to eat breakfast and today, it wasn’t cool, but it wasn’t hot either. I took the photo of the tree swing about 5:30am right out my bed room window, and by the time I grabbed a bowl of cereal most of the fog had burned off, but still left a quiet misty pasture to look at while I ate.
The spider webs I just love early in the morning. They are transformed into some pearly design only nature can create. Now as I write this post, it is full blasting sun at what feels like 95* or higher. Guess if we didn’t have the heat the cool foggy mornings would get boring, but I don’t think so.
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Saturday, 2008 · Popularity: 54% · journal, low light
Last night we went to see the fireworks display in Auburn. It was a very enjoyable night to have even just an hour or so to hang out with some friends and family while we waited for the fireworks. The fireworks display that the city of Auburn Alabama puts on each year is great, and we have been to see fireworks all over the country.
This year they started a little early, we presume because a storm was on its way, but they were still great to see. I decided to take my camera equipment and do some fireworks photography this year. I have not shot any public fireworks display in many years, but still came away with a few good shots (see full gallery here).
Normally when doing fireworks photography you want to setup using a sturdy tripod so you can use your remote shuttle release in manual mode, but I found another Auburn photographer on Twitter (ToomersCoffee) who also got some great shots hand holding with a faster ISO.
I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July weekend.
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Friday, 2008 · Popularity: 53% · journal, music
Happy 4th of July to everyone
Holiday’s always seem to be a time when we neglect our blogs and online lives for that of something in real life. Tonight I am going to spend the evening with some family and close friends watching the fireworks in Auburn.
Each year the city of Auburn puts on one of the best fire works displays I have seen in person. Great for such a small town, so tonight of course I am going to try and get some good fireworks photography.
I love that type of photography but I haven’t shot fireworks in almost 10 years now, should be great.
Holidays, the 4th, and Some Hendrix
I wasn’t going to even do a blog post today, but I had iTune on random and up came the famous version of the Star Spangled Banner by Jimi Hendrix, and I thought about this particular holiday. If any of my two or three readers read my rant on Father’s Day (Why I Don’t Like Father’s Day // Top 10) you might get an idea I don’t like holiday days. Generally, I don’t. Everything is out of sync, but maybe I just have a problem taking some time off.
So, here comes the Hendrix Star Spangled Banner (video of performance). If you have never heard it before, it is not for the faint of heart. Hendrix played this on August 18th, 1969 on the final performance at the Woodstock music festival. He only played it two more times, once in Greenwich Village and once in Harlem where two kids actually stole Hendrix’s guitar out of the back seat of his car before he went on stage.
We are More Than Just one Mind
It just reminded me what a diverse and complex collection of people that have graced the history of the United States. You may not care for Hendrix, his lifestyle, or his rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner (I know many who hate it) but he was a part of what made this country what it is today, just as much as we all are.
Here is wishing everyone a wonderful 4th of July.
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Monday, 2008 · Popularity: 65% · journal, photo shoot
This was a busy busy weekend, but I spent some of Friday and Saturday at the building or construction of the new playground at our church. I think our pastor described this as a Mac Daddy playground on Sunday morning, and he was not kidding. This is one heck of a playground put in, basically over the period of a two day weekend.
You can see the gallery of images from the ground breaking to the finish now except for a few missing odds and ends. The real work, done by all the people who volunteered on Friday and Saturday was incredible. After spending some time out there on Friday I realized that this wasn’t about plastic, bolts, and some dirt, but people.
Through God, it is people that made this possible, and people that will be able to enjoy what was done on this weekend for years to come. So, when I came back on Saturday I decided to focus a little more of my attention on the actual faces of the people that made this possible.
I picked two of my favorites from Saturday above. One of my bud Heath over at gotroot and the other one of those who will use the playground, sitting with dad while everyone is on a break. Towards the end of the completed gallery you will see a little more focused attention on the people that made this possible.
It was a very hot and steamy weekend where many people took time off from work and their families to lend a helping hand.
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Sunday, 2008 · Popularity: 74% · journal, photo shoot
I have been a little off on my postings for the week this past week because my schedule has been so crazy. On Wednesday (18th) I spent some of the day at the Youth Day at the Lake event where, obviously, our youth spend most of the day at the lake.
Nothing can totally prepare a 40ish body for the amount of energy it takes to spend the day with the youth. I met them out at Lake Martin where I thought I would take a few shots of everyone hanging out at the lake. I arrive to find two ski boats and a wave-runner (sea-doo) and several inter-tubes.
I was able to get some shots of all the activities (see complete shoot here) and they all had a great time (how could you not). I was completely exhausted and wondering where the energy I had to do these things went. Although I did get a little burned, even with SPF 75 on, I thoroughly enjoyed doing the photography for and of the youth that day.
Thanks for a great afternoon everyone.
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Sunday, 2008 · Popularity: 100% · journal, photo shoot
How busy was this weekend for you? For me it was close to frantic pace, but a lot was accomplished. The busy pace of our lives got me to thinking about the question in the title or course, and I often ask this question of myself.
Not really to hide out so the world can’t find you but a place to relax, take your mind off of the craziness of the day recharge the batteries a little. I actually “try” to do this twice a day. I usually eat my breakfast outside, walking around in our garden away from the computer or cell phone… but… now I have a place to sit too.
Building a Tree Swing is One Place
On Saturday we put together a stand for a swing in the garden which was too small for our larger wooden swing we already had, so we put the one together the way it had come packaged and put it in the garden, and put the other one under this large Sweet Gum tree close to our house.
From the photo above you can see there was a perfect lateral branch coming off the side of the Sweet Gum and just strong enough to hold our swing, while being completely under the tree’s canopy. Can’t wait to eat breakfast out here this week.
Friday Ice Cream and Board Games
On Friday I went over to our church to get some photos of the first monthly meeting for Friday Ice Cream and Board Games. Actually it is going to be a different activity each month but this one was pretty neat. Hard to beat 10 gallons of ice cream and 25 board games for a few hours.
When I left Friday night it was dark enough to get an image of the entry way of the church at night. I have been waiting to do this and finally got an image I like. The images here is one of many of course, and you can see the entire Friday gallery on the flickr page for Cornerstone.
Saturday Playground Construction Continued
On Saturday we did a mix of things from here at the house, to the church, to running around Auburn. We tilled up the majority of our fenced in back yard to prepare for a fall vegetable garden. We did this until it was too hot to stand it any more and then went into Auburn.
The clearing and tree removal continued in full swing at the church on Saturday and I ran over there to get some additional future playground images. It is not all that easy (to me) to get something photographically pleasing in a construction site with dust and bulldozers flying around, but it does keep me focused on the basics of photography and keeps me from being photographically lazy. See construction gallery here.
After the construction it was back to the house for some more tilling and swing building. It was a busy weekend (so far), but an enjoyable one.
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