H F Bowern Photography

The Little White Truck that could

2010-03-28T10:08:00.001-04:00

Last summer when I got my Sigma 10-20mm wide angle I took some pictures of my son’s truck sitting outside in our driveway.

Recently I took the photos and used them in a HDR process to get a new look. As well I took the photo and converted the finished HDR photo image into black and white.

The original photo

These are after applying Photomatix

All I can say is it amazing what HDR does to bring out detail.

Nostalgia

2010-03-27T20:07:00.002-04:00

We were on tour last weekend to visit Pat’s mom and went for a drive. We stopped by an old church that my wife’s family used to go to when they were on the farm. It is also the church where we were married in back in 1974.
I took the opportunity to take some photos which I used Photomatix to turn into HDR photos.
Enjoy!
The Deemerton Church and Rectory

The church and school building

This school building was where my wife went to school for grade 1 to 8.

I also converted the school building into black and white after I completed the HDR work

A little HDR on single files

2010-03-23T14:44:00.001-04:00

After reading a little in Pete Carr and Robert Correll book, HDR Photography I found that I could do some experimenting on HDR using a single file. Single file meaning, a single picture file saved in RAW format. The key thing to be able to do is to change the “Exposure Value (EV) by a specified value of the single file. This process mimics taking three separate pictures of the same view.
The first thing I did was go through my RAW files that I had taken and found one taken with my Sigma wide angle of our van. I edited the photos in Capture NX and in the “Quick Fix section of the edit I moved the slider to –2EV and saved the file and then moved the slider to +2 EV and saved the file.
The original image at 0EV
This is the image saved at +2EV
This is the image saved at –2EV
After putting the three images through Photomatix and doing a bit of tone mapping the end result was

Another example is an Excelsiors Lacrosse game I attended last summer.
The original image at 0EV
This is the image at +2EV
This is the image at –2EV
After putting the three images through Photomatix and doing a bit of tone mapping the end result was

Quite a difference. I know this year will be trying to take as many contrasting photos to use in HDR development. The results although maybe not the best contrasting images at least shows that HDR does bring back the details that you seen at the time you took the first picture.
The book, HDR Photography is quite good and covers not only the various types of software but also discusses the different types of photos, those being landscape, cityscapes, interior shots, black and white, and nighttime that you can get HDR images from.
Enjoy

Holly Macro – AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR lens

2010-03-22T14:43:00.001-04:00

Well I have bought a macro lens so I that I can try out macro photography. The lens has all the autofocus and produces macro’s at 1:1. The pictures have been quite good and I have found you can really get in close to your subject.

Here are samples of photos using a ceramic subject of a fine Scottish golfer (it’s the tilt in the kilt,they say), some of my favourite candy “Smarties” and a portrait of my wife.

Quite reasonable price and good pictures.

Enjoy

Creating watermark using GIMP and adding watermarks to your pictures

2010-03-22T14:43:00.000-04:00

I have been playing around making watermarks for my photos. I found several videos on YouTube making the actual watermark using GIMP 2.6.

This is the best one that I found

The video goes through making the watermark and saving the watermark file as a .PNG file (you save as PNG in order to have the file appear as a transparency).

To apply watermark to your picture file,

open your picture you want to watermark using GIMP
open your watermark .PNG file as a layer
move you watermark around to get to where you want it, using the tools in GIMP
save the picture with the watermark with your filename you want

An example

By the way GIMP does have some features that are similar to Photoshop as far as editing filter effects etc. It’s a freeware program and quite good. There are lots of videos on YouTube that show hoe to use GIMP. I thinks it’s a good program to add to your arsenal of photo editing workflow.

Link to GIMP http://www.gimp.org/

Enjoy

My first HDR test with Photomatix

2010-03-21T14:42:00.001-04:00

Boy I am impressed with the photo that I got after trying a set of three test pictures using my camera, tripod, manual release and my Nikon 85mm Micro lens.
Here are the photos that I took each taken 1/3 adjustment to EV

This is the end product using Photomatix and doing some adjustments to the end photo before processing

Good looking photo detail and shadows.
I think this will be part of my regular picture taking processes.
Enjoy

HDR with Software

2010-03-20T14:41:00.000-04:00

HDR photography, “High Dynamic Range” photography is a type of process that combines several images taken at various exposure limits, i.e. over, under, and normal exposured images and combines the grouped images into one final image that displays the details of the different contrasts of an image that normally could not be done.

This video explains HDR equipment used and using Photomatix software

The link shows another way to do HDR development using Photomatix and qtpfsqui software

Links to software they talk about in the video

Photomatix http://www.hdrsoft.com/

qtpfsqui http://qtpfsgui.sourceforge.net/

For additional information of HDR here is a website that was setup to specially speak to HDR

http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-tutorial/

Enjoy

Checking the lens before you buy

2010-03-19T14:41:00.000-04:00

Want to see pictures from lenses you are thinking of buying? This site has many lenses and example pictures from users of the lenses. The site covers many varieties of cameras and lenses.

Check it out..

http://www.pixel-peeper.com/lenses/?lens=902

enjoy :)

Neat Photo Editing program, and it’s freeware for home users

2010-03-18T14:40:00.000-04:00

Here is a link to a website that has a great program for editing photos. The author would like a donation if you find the program useful. It is quite powerful and has lots of features and options . It supports Nikon, Canon, Pentax RAW file formats.

http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

Enjoy

Lethbridge railway bridge – 100 years old

2010-03-17T14:41:00.000-04:00

A website has been set up to showcase the high level railway bridge in Lethbridge, Alberta, which celebrated its 100 year birthday during 2009. Pictures can be purchased from a local photographer John Davies.
The bridge is set in the coulees near the main city and is a true marvel of construction. When I was living there in 1983, the bridge was being used daily and seeing trains running over it was a true sight to see.
http://homepage.mac.com/maui_underwa...ite/index.html
Enjoy

Camera body selector

2010-03-17T14:39:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder what type of camera you would like or what lens you would like or what it would be like to switch the type of lenses between different camera bodies. Well here is a link the Nikon USA website that allows to simulate these choices

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/lens/simulator/index.htm

Enjoy

Another Good Photography BLOG for Amateurs

2010-03-16T14:39:00.000-04:00

Here is another good BLOG for amateur photographers. Lots of good information and sample photographs to illustrate the proper use of the DSLR.

http://www.lightstalking.com/

Enjoy!

Nikon’s TTL system – explaining by example

2010-03-16T14:38:00.000-04:00

I was on the Nikon-digital blog this morning and found a post that linked to excellent video series that shows the Nikon TTL light system. It was made by Joe McNally. To find it search the Google Videos for Joe McNally Nikon School photography. The series is called “The Speed of Light”

Enjoy

The Built-in Flash and some Kleenex – light diffusing :)

2010-03-14T14:37:00.000-04:00

I had seen a video on YouTube about how to use a simple Kleenex tissue to diffuse the built in camera flash. So when I mounted the new 35mm to see how it worked I tried out the experiment.

With the Built in flash only…

With the built in flash and a tissue held over the built in flash…

Amazing difference for such an inexpensive tool for photography…

New Lenses

2010-03-13T13:37:00.000-05:00

Well today me and my brother Bill went to the International Center to Henry’s Photo show. Bill picked up a new lens for his D40 and I picked up 2 lenses for my D5000. I got a Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 wide angle and a Nikkor 35mm F 1.8.

I went outside to try my wide angle out and took some pictures of my son’s pickup truck. The shots below are at 10mm F4.5 ISO 200

The shots below are at 20mm F4.5 ISO 200

I also took a shot inside of my Garfield penny container (filled with pennies for my next lenses purchase :) ). This shot was with no flash, 19mm ISO 200 and F4.5

The new 35mm without flash F1.8

Now to go on a field trip and take some scenery pictures….

Nikon Capture NX 2 and Color Efex Pro 3.0 Complete

2010-03-12T13:36:00.000-05:00

Well since I have chosen to shot pictures using RAW format to get all the detail from each shot I needed to look at software that could interpret and give me the best results from my shots. I did not have the funds to buy Photoshop, although the best based on the number of photographers using it, it is also very expensive.

So when I looked further I decided to take advantage of the trial package of Capture NX 2 that came with the software bundle when I got my camera just to see what it could do. Well it is an impressive bit of software and does a nice job editing images in RAW , Jpeg and TIFF formats.

Capture NX 2 is part of Nikon’s workflow to develop your images. Nikon supplies two free software packages, Transfer NX which transfers your images from your camera to computer and View NX which allows you to view and organize your images. With Capture NX you can do quite a bit of editing and manipulation of each image file and make sophisticated edits if you want to.

In addition I started looking on the web for other packages that were available and found Color Efex, written by NIK Software (the original manufacturers of Capture NX 2). This software allows you to add the effects of different types of filters to your image, thus eliminating the need to buy lots of different filters for your camera. The Color Efex program works as a plug-in in Capture NX. The “Complete” version of the software has 52 photographic filters with over 250 effects that you can add to each image. Enough to loose yourself if you want.

Price wise, NIK had a special deal where by you purchased Capture NX 2 and Color Efex 3.0 complete for Capture NX2 together for around 300.00 USD. If you factor in the fact that you do not have to buy a large number of camera filters, the package is a good deal.

A sample of photos touched up with the Color Efex…

Without filter effect

With polarising filter effect applied

With graduated neutral density filtering applied

Lots of filter choices and combinations which are added to an already great program

Enjoy!

Will you have ICE with that?

2010-03-10T13:36:00.000-05:00

Just reading some threads on the Nikon Digital group and found someone talking about ICE from Microsoft. ICE or Image Composite Editor is suppose to be able to take a series of photos that you have taken to make a panoramic view,. I am going to try and do that this weekend. Here is the link to the software if you are interested in checking it out for yourself,

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ICE/

Here backyard photo using ICE

Pretty neat the way it brought in the 4 separate photos and stitched them together and developed this picture with no additional steps. I exported the picture using the best quality setting at 90%. I touched the colour up in Capture NX2

happy snapping

Help! I need some help to understand Digital Photography

2010-03-07T13:34:00.000-05:00

I have been wondering through YouTube and finding excellent videos on “How to” help in understanding digital cameras, equipment, understanding concepts of photography. There is lots of good stuff out there and its free!! The only thing you have to do is take care and use the information as a guide…

Here are some good links to the better ones I have found

http://www.youtube.com/user/Lilkiwiguy87

http://www.youtube.com/user/cameralabs

http://www.youtube.com/user/clickherephotography

http://www.youtube.com/user/nikonaustralia

http://www.youtube.com/user/RadsVids

http://www.youtube.com/user/WhatDigitalCamera

If you have ever though about some sort of light diffuser for the flash then you can take a look at Gary Fong.com He makes light diffusers that fit over your flash and even one that fits over the built in flash on Nikon cameras.

http://www.garyfonginc.com/

There so ;lots of good information here, so take a look

Good website for tutorials

2010-03-05T13:34:00.000-05:00

Besides the Blogs I have on my side bar on this site an other good website that gives you details of the many aspects of digital photography is

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

Give this a look.

Flowers in focus

2010-03-03T13:33:00.000-05:00

Well this week I have been playing with my 18-200 zoom and seeing how close it would let me get when I mount it on a tripod.

I have the camera and lens mounted on my tripod and I am using a MC-DC2 remote cable to snap the picture. I have not tried the timer yet although after doing a bit of homework I see that the cameras’ 20 second timer would mean that for the most part I would not need a remote unit as I should be able to get out into the picture in 20 seconds.

What I have found in my brief experimentation with the lenses thus far is that does allow me to get quite close and with the proper aperture setting does a nice job blurring the background.

I have been doing some looking around on the internet for some good review sites for equipment as I am looking at getting a wide angle lens. My son Colin found me a link to a good website http://www.kenrockwell.com/index.htm. This website has lots of good reviews on Nikon equipment.

What I am looking to get is a 10-24mm Nikon lens, which is not a fish eye, but a good lens. It replaces the 12-24 which is better built unit, but gives you the closer wide angle.

Family History in Photographs

2010-03-03T13:32:00.000-05:00

Last winter I took on a project that help me past the time between cabinetry projects and staying inside out of the cold. I found all my family pictures that I had taken and scanned them into my computer so I could have a digital version of the photos. My wife went to her mom’s house and brought me back some photos which I also scanned into the computer.

Together I have some 3,000 pictures that I am now able to pass along to my family and my wife’s family members. I was a few days of work, but the memories that it brought back and backup of family photo’s was well worth the effort.

Try it, you will be surprised

Sample of my work

2010-03-02T13:31:00.000-05:00

Here is a sample of my photographs

Pentax SP1000

Olympus C770

Nikon D5000

My animal friends

My Equipment

2010-03-02T13:29:00.000-05:00

I have acquired a few cameras and lenses over time.

My first camera is a Pentax SP1000. Its was at the time the best camera for all photography. The camera came with the standard 55mm lens and I bought several others when Henry’s downtown Toronto store had a clearance on Takumar lens. I bought a 135mm, 28mm, 200mm and filters. I also had bought a 2x tele-converter and reverse rings which helped me get into macro photography.

My second camera is an Olympus C770 all in one camera. This is a 4 megapixel camera that has small video capability. I use this camera now for quick shooting when I am onsite designing furniture or cabinetry.

My newest camera is a Nikon D5000. I purchased this camera when I went on holidays this year. I purchased a 18-200 Nikkor zoom lens. I would like to add a 12-24 or 10 24mm wide angle lens, flash and either filters or extension tubes so I can get back into some macro photography.

When I look at the money I have spent on equipment and development costs, it seems like quite a large investment. However this investment has provided me with many film shots, in both picture and slide format, that have allowed me to capture important moments in my family’s history and as well capture many wonderful memories. Money well spent I would say!

Welcome

2010-03-01T13:30:00.000-05:00

My name is Harold Bowern and I am an amateur photographer at large. I have been taking photos for years with many varieties of cameras. Many rolls of film and slides developed over the years

My first camera, which I still have is a Pentax SP1000. I purchased lots of lenses and many types of filters for this camera. Now that film photography is seemly being replaced with digital cameras, I have made the upgrade to digital. My second camera I purchased is an Olympus C770. Now I have made another jump in digital to a Nikon D5000.

I like taking photos of nature and landscape so stay tuned to my BLOG for the results of my capturing nature and leaving it the way it was.