Now that I look at these, I may go back and lighten them a bit. [edited: lightened already a bit after initial post]
Ken Nelson
Canon 30D
Sigma 150mm
Amazon Pics Part 28
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
Amazon Pics Part 28
On a large fallen tree of about 1.5m in diameter, I have found many interesting insects. One of the most fascinating was a large group of about 50 or so stilt-legged-like flies that acted as if it was mating season on the African savannah. The flies would battle each other, sometimes on their hind legs, and then the 'winner' would go impregnate the female....just a hodgepodge of mating aggression and sex.
Now that I look at these, I may go back and lighten them a bit. [edited: lightened already a bit after initial post]
Ken Nelson
Canon 30D
Sigma 150mm
Now that I look at these, I may go back and lighten them a bit. [edited: lightened already a bit after initial post]
Ken Nelson
Canon 30D
Sigma 150mm
Last edited by Moebius on Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Bruce Williams
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Amazing pics Ken - must have been fascinating to observe behaviour.
If it helps: Neither image requires further lightening on my monitor. Again, based on way they look on my monitor, I would say that gamma is about right although maybe contrast is just a little low (hmmm it's pretty good tho). Could perhaps benefit from just a touch of USM? Great photos anyway!
Bruce
If it helps: Neither image requires further lightening on my monitor. Again, based on way they look on my monitor, I would say that gamma is about right although maybe contrast is just a little low (hmmm it's pretty good tho). Could perhaps benefit from just a touch of USM? Great photos anyway!
Bruce
Last edited by Bruce Williams on Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:06 am, edited 2 times in total.
Nice captures Ken. 
Strange flies with little heads consisting almost entirely of eyes.
Big one has kind a long "tail".
Strange flies with little heads consisting almost entirely of eyes.
Big one has kind a long "tail".
USM is unsharp masking (Photoshop term) I bet.Moebius wrote:B... What is USM?
Ken (not Steve)
Last edited by MacroLuv on Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:24 am, edited 2 times in total.
The meaning of beauty is in sharing with others.
P.S.
Noticing of my "a" and "the" and other grammar
errors are welcome.
P.S.
Noticing of my "a" and "the" and other grammar
errors are welcome.
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Bruce Williams
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Ken,
That was quick! USM is UnSharp Masking (most widely used image sharpening method). It's a controlled method of sharpening an image using 3 variables - it also has the added effect of appearing to increase contrast. I recommend you have a look at this website (5 pages - although you won't need to read them all) for more info:
http://www.ronbigelow.com/articles/shar ... arpen1.htm
Bruce
That was quick! USM is UnSharp Masking (most widely used image sharpening method). It's a controlled method of sharpening an image using 3 variables - it also has the added effect of appearing to increase contrast. I recommend you have a look at this website (5 pages - although you won't need to read them all) for more info:
http://www.ronbigelow.com/articles/shar ... arpen1.htm
Bruce
Ah, I am very familiar with sharpening, just not the acronym USM (though I do remember seeing the term). I use either Photoshop CS's Smartsharpen or NoiseNinja/sharpen on many of my pics. I usually don't sharpen too much, I think I have it set to 100% at 0.7 (A setting I got from Rik used as a general setting...I change it as needed). I can try bumping it up a little more.
Ken
Ken
Last edited by Moebius on Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
Bruce,
Have just started to read the article...will definitely put in my favorites and read later today...just love this type of info. However, I love and hate learning new stuff (I believe it was you who taught me about adjustment layers as well). I hate it because everytime I learn something new, I feel like I need to go back to the originals of all my old pics and redo them.
As far as these Amazon pics go, I am going to create a Photobook for friends/family/whoever after I get these processed. I will put quite a few non-Amazon pics in there as well. When I put the pics in there, I will go back and do each pic over again, taking more time (such as adjustment layers) to get them just right. The ones 'book worthy' will be fewer in number, so can spend more time on each one.
Speaking of photobooks, has anybody here done one? I have been following threads on dpreview.com regarding blurb.com and look quite reasonable. Nothing like looking through a book while sitting down. I will let everyone know the progress of this book project as the months roll on.
Ken
Have just started to read the article...will definitely put in my favorites and read later today...just love this type of info. However, I love and hate learning new stuff (I believe it was you who taught me about adjustment layers as well). I hate it because everytime I learn something new, I feel like I need to go back to the originals of all my old pics and redo them.
As far as these Amazon pics go, I am going to create a Photobook for friends/family/whoever after I get these processed. I will put quite a few non-Amazon pics in there as well. When I put the pics in there, I will go back and do each pic over again, taking more time (such as adjustment layers) to get them just right. The ones 'book worthy' will be fewer in number, so can spend more time on each one.
Speaking of photobooks, has anybody here done one? I have been following threads on dpreview.com regarding blurb.com and look quite reasonable. Nothing like looking through a book while sitting down. I will let everyone know the progress of this book project as the months roll on.
Ken
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Bruce Williams
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Yes I use Smartsharpen myself, however I only use NoiseNinja to clean up noisy images - I'll have to take a look at the sharpening features.
If you have 5 mins I'd still recommend a quick glance at that website (page 3 considers how to get the most out of CS2's Smartsharpen).
[Edit] Our last postings crossed in cyberspace
Bruce
(Sorry about the mistake with your name
)
If you have 5 mins I'd still recommend a quick glance at that website (page 3 considers how to get the most out of CS2's Smartsharpen).
[Edit] Our last postings crossed in cyberspace
Bruce
(Sorry about the mistake with your name
)
Simply amazing Ken. Wonderful photos. They sorta remind me of those little squeeze dolls that the eyeballs pop out when you squeeze them. Probably because of the red eyes 
I would assume the 30D handled the climate in Peru? They are supposed to be sealed rather nicely.
I would assume the 30D handled the climate in Peru? They are supposed to be sealed rather nicely.Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
Doug Breda
Doug Breda
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rjlittlefield
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You know, I remember that before this trip, Ken was agonizing about what equipment to take and how best to use it.
Looking at the quality and variety of these pictures that he has brought back to share with us, I'd say that all that agonizing was either unnecessary or extremely productive!
(Being a worry-wart perfectionist myself, I'd much rather believe the latter. )
These are beautiful, Ken. Keep 'em coming!
--Rik
Looking at the quality and variety of these pictures that he has brought back to share with us, I'd say that all that agonizing was either unnecessary or extremely productive!
(Being a worry-wart perfectionist myself, I'd much rather believe the latter.
)These are beautiful, Ken. Keep 'em coming!
--Rik
Hi Ken. I use lulu.com for my publications (books, calendars) and they have a photobook option too. They are possibly the cheapest available and I have always found them to be excellent with customer service and support. As a comparison, a 40 page full colour book from blurb is advertised at $18.95 - the cost at lulu is $10.53.Moebius wrote:Speaking of photobooks, has anybody here done one? I have been following threads on dpreview.com regarding blurb.com and look quite reasonable. Nothing like looking through a book while sitting down. I will let everyone know the progress of this book project as the months roll on.
Ken
Doug,
Never had a problem with moisture in the camera. We took precautions such as packing the camera cases with silica gel, but never even experience a foggy lens. We were there in the dry season so perhaps that helped as well. It was definitely humid.
Rik,
Yes, I remember all too well getting advice on what to bring on this trip.
Overall I am pleased, though if I were to go again I would do the following.
1) Use a tripod. I brought an el cheapo along, but never used it. I am going to get a good Gitzo and ballhead this spring to practice upon. I have never used one. It would have been ideal down there because there was never any wind and these insects kept still for the most part.
2) Lighting. I was not pleased with my lighting or exposure down there...many pics were slightly underexposed. I never tried an aperture below f11 I don't think or an ISO above 200. Being a little more seasoned, I would have tried larger apertures and higher ISO's. Inexperience.
I used the Sigma 500 DG Super with Omnibounce directly on the shoe. I tried it on a bracket, but could not get used to constantly adjusting the light source depending on the focal distance....I must not have been doing something right.
Overall though, am very pleased
Ken
Never had a problem with moisture in the camera. We took precautions such as packing the camera cases with silica gel, but never even experience a foggy lens. We were there in the dry season so perhaps that helped as well. It was definitely humid.
Rik,
Yes, I remember all too well getting advice on what to bring on this trip.
Overall I am pleased, though if I were to go again I would do the following.
1) Use a tripod. I brought an el cheapo along, but never used it. I am going to get a good Gitzo and ballhead this spring to practice upon. I have never used one. It would have been ideal down there because there was never any wind and these insects kept still for the most part.
2) Lighting. I was not pleased with my lighting or exposure down there...many pics were slightly underexposed. I never tried an aperture below f11 I don't think or an ISO above 200. Being a little more seasoned, I would have tried larger apertures and higher ISO's. Inexperience.
I used the Sigma 500 DG Super with Omnibounce directly on the shoe. I tried it on a bracket, but could not get used to constantly adjusting the light source depending on the focal distance....I must not have been doing something right.
Overall though, am very pleased
Ken
Ken, well done! The main subjects are nicely separated from the BKG. I normally hate having subjects in the background that are out of focus, but it works well here to convey a feeling of depth. I notice that some are holding their wings upright and others are folded down. Were the wings used as part the competition between males or as displays for the females perhaps?
"You can't build a time machine without weird optics"
Steve Valley - Albany, Oregon
Steve Valley - Albany, Oregon