Apr 20, 2016 | Field Reports
The relatively new DeHaze feature in Photoshop is a great tool that hasn’t received much love. Many don’t know it exists (in ACR / LR) and if they do, don’t apply probably as much as their images could use. The biggest thing about DeHaze I want to bring to your attention is when you’re behind the camera! I’ve found some shooters don’t shoot because of what they’re seeing in the viewfinder which is crude that could be spectacular with a touch of DeHaze. Here are two examples from our recent time in Santa Fe, NM to encourage you to explore it. What you see above is the finished photo with DeHaze and the bottom photo what we saw with our eyes.
When we were at San Francisco de Asis Mission Church outside of Taos, it was raining and snowing (we really had marvelous shooting wx all week!). The light was flat the vast majority of the time. Now Ansel Adams made this little chapel famous with the SHADOWS he captured which show off its adobe construction so well. If you have rain and snow, you have gray skies and with that, little to few shadows. SO if trying to capture a hint of what Ansel did, you need them shadows. That’s where DeHaze comes in. When there was a slight hole in the gray skies, I went click (D5 in Auto2 / 24-70VR). Then in ACR (Adobe Camera Raw), I clicked on my Preset and then DeHaze and the image was finished. As you can see, there is a dramatic difference.
I finally got to Tent Rocks this last week. The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is a pretty cool place. We got to walk the Slots Trail which is a really gorgeous early morning walk with some cool photo opps. Like any slot canyon, it’s dark near the bottom and bright at the top. The D5 had no issue capturing the range in a single click so it made the photography easy and fun. There was a challenge though with the overcast. While it softened the light in the canyon, it made the key elements to showing its texture hide, shadows. Understanding though what DeHaze brings to the photo, you could shoot basically carefree looking at patterns, shapes and texture.
In the main section of the Slots, I shot with the D5 in Auto2 with the 16Fish. Shooting that wide, lots was taken in but it was no issue in finishing. Opened up in ACR, clicked on Preset, then DeHaze and the only thing different here was, the increase in the contrast from DeHaze was a tad too much so I lowered the Contrast. And that was it. The best way to learn how DeHaze might fit into your photography is to play with it. Take photos you otherwise might not because of the light and apply it. You’ll quickly teach yourself how this new tool might help your visual communication.
Apr 12, 2016 | Field Reports
Kung Fu Chicken
The D5 has blown past my expectations! I’m so grateful B&H got one to me ASAP upon their release! The first 24×30 prints are on the drying rack and I love the results. Many keep asking me if I see in my photos all the bad things they’ve read about on the web about the D5. Wow, negatives about a new body on the web, glad I was sitting down when they asked me those questions! This photo of a Greater Prairie Chicken is a perfect example of my complete satisfaction with the D5.
Shot D5, 800mm w/TC-25e, Standard Picture Set, Auto2, ISO 800, no exposure comp in low light with Group-Area AF doing the focusing, all I had to do (and that was enough) was keep the sparing chickens in the viewfinder. The D5 did all the rest! The 24×30 print is stunning having qualities I don’t see out of the D4s. So, the D4s is going to be sold, D5 is firmly in my camera bag (here are my updated D5 settings). I have to rethink the way I do exposure compensation, White Balance and low light photography now which is a good thing, means personal growth. Do you need a D5? It’s very possible that the D500 which I’m told is basically a DX version of the D5, might be perfect for you. I can answer that question better in a month when I first see and shoot with a D500. But for me and my photography, the D5 is there perfect body for my photography!
Apr 7, 2016 | Field Reports
Up until yesterday, when shooting a sunrise or sunset, I would switch the WB from Auto to Cloudy. This was because AW just didn’t capture the reds I was seeing or feeling. Well, no more! The D5 in Auto2 NAILS the vivid reds and oranges of sunrise and sunset incredibly faithfully! I realize this is a very small detail and for many, they just do it in post. But I’m still old fashion and want to get it right when I go click. This little thing means that I don’t have to remember to switch to Cloudy or, switch back from cloudy. The best thing to me is, all the little nuances in the color which are so important to me are captured. Simply gorgeous! This is a D5 / 24-70VR click.
The other thing I am quite giddy about is the sensor cleaning option in the D5. Never being a believer, never put any stock in it, I’ve never relied on it. Well, while photographing these Sandhill Cranes landing on the Platte River last night, I noticed a flying goober amongst them. Had no time or means to clean it (Standing on the Lower Bridge ramp), I thought I would just turn the D5 on and off five times (activating the sensor cleaning) to see if that would take care of it. To my otter shock, it did! Now, I’m trying to find a way to test this to see if it works all the time. But after a week of shooting, I’ve noticed I’ve not had to clean the sensor so it gives me hope. The D5 just keeps delivering more and more great features! This shot was captured with D5, 300PF & TC-14eIII.
Apr 6, 2016 | Field Reports
It was cold, blustery and gusts of 35mph on the lek this morning, but the Sharp-tailed Grouse were out none the less. That meant we were out and had a great time! As you can see, it was dark, light on the flat side. My bud Kevin should me his results yesterday shooting the D5 in Auto-area AF and I really didn’t believe him so shot it myself today. Blown away! As you can see, there are TONS of targets for the AF system to lock onto. Time and time again though, it locked on the grouse producing wickedly sharp photos. D5, 800mm, ISO 800, 1/250 and there is grass between the subject and the sensor and the D5 locked right on! Bloody hell! The D5 even displays the AF sensors it is using, visually confirming where it is focusing. Never seen this performance before in a Nikon AF system. I’ve lovin it, worth dancing about!
Apr 5, 2016 | Field Reports
It was a cold, dark, spectacular morning today on the grassland prairie of Nebraska where I got to give my D5 its first hard core shoot (3062 frames, 70GB in 85min). Our subjects where Greater Prairie Chickens, a killer bird with lots of hutspa! So, how did the D5 do IMHO? AF response in really low light attached to the 800mm w/TC shooting 1000mm, f/7.1 with Grp AF … spectacular! Locked right on and held. Didn’t see that coming. Blows away D4s AF performance, hands down. This particular shot was at ISO1600 so I could maintain 1/125 … gorgeous file! The Auto2 WB worked beautifully in the cold light. The best part though was the 12fps sound, feel and performance. I was shooting next to Kevin who has his D5, we compared notes the whole time. Both of us, more than satisfied with the D5 performance. The D5 was simply, big smile, killer fun! Will be updating my D5 settings shortly, made some tweaks. mtc
Apr 1, 2016 | Field Reports
I don’t remember a camera where more folks were clamoring for my settings then like the D5. Well, here are my preliminary (D5 settings). I will be updating my settings as times goes on, so you’ll need to check back on my Gear page to keep up to date with them. And once I have the SB-5000 in hand and it’s very cool settings on the D5 figured out for my photography, I’ll post them as well. There is lots more to come, this is the fun time with a new body when you just experiment. For example, head to CS d1 > Continuous shooting speed > 14fps (mirror up), set camera to M 1/8000 and just experience the hummmmmm, over and over again :-)
