Sky Spots: While reviewing some photos I took today of tall buildings here in Shanghai, I noticed some round pale spots on the gray sky. They do not seem to be on photos with less sky...

sinderone

While reviewing some photos I took today of tall buildings here in Shanghai, I noticed some round pale spots on the gray sky. They do not seem to be on photos with less sky and more color that I can see. I am using a Nikon D7100. Is this a problem with the camera and can they be removed from the photos? If it's a problem with the camera does it have to go back to Nikon. It's less than one year old.

preachy Loc: Dover Plains, NY

Upload an image for us to see, please.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

sinderone wrote:

While reviewing some photos I took today of tall buildings here in Shanghai, I noticed some round pale spots on the gray sky. They do not seem to be on photos with less sky and more color that I can see. I am using a Nikon D7100. Is this a problem with the camera and can they be removed from the photos? If it's a problem with the camera does it have to go back to Nikon. It's less than one year old.

Sounds like you have a few dust spots on your sensor, its time for a cleaning. This is very common on and DSLR and nothing to be worried about.

MMC Loc: Brooklyn NY

Most likely you have dust on your camera sensor. If you do not have many spots remove it in Photoshop using healing brush tool. Anyway you have to know about sensor cleaning. Google it.

sinderone wrote:

While reviewing some photos I took today of tall buildings here in Shanghai, I noticed some round pale spots on the gray sky. They do not seem to be on photos with less sky and more color that I can see. I am using a Nikon D7100. Is this a problem with the camera and can they be removed from the photos? If it's a problem with the camera does it have to go back to Nikon. It's less than one year old.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Learn to clean it yourself if you are handy. Many different methods demonstrated in youtube videos. First line of defense is a rocket blaster, a good whiff of air may do the trick. Also, your camera has a sensor cleaning function built right in. It's in the menu. Look at your manual.

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

Mr PC wrote:

Learn to clean it yourself if you are handy. Many different methods demonstrated in youtube videos. First line of defense is a rocket blaster, a good whiff of air may do the trick. Also, your camera has a sensor cleaning function built right in. It's in the menu. Look at your manual.

Good advice Mr. PC. Here's another source full of pertinent information:

http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=tutorials

Charles

sinderone

These are not dust spots but what look like round translucent sizable dots. The almost look like oil on water

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

sinderone wrote:

These are not dust spots but what look like round translucent sizable dots. The almost look like oil on water

Spots that are noticeable in the sky but not where there is detail are most likely sensor dust. Post a test-shot of the sky stopped at f/22 so we could see what you're describing. They may actually be "oil" spots and not dust, so an image would help.

Charles

MtnMan Loc: ID

sinderone wrote:

These are not dust spots but what look like round translucent sizable dots. The almost look like oil on water

Nonetheless stuff on the sensor.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

sinderone wrote:

While reviewing some photos I took today of tall buildings here in Shanghai, I noticed some round pale spots on the gray sky. They do not seem to be on photos with less sky and more color that I can see. I am using a Nikon D7100. Is this a problem with the camera and can they be removed from the photos? If it's a problem with the camera does it have to go back to Nikon. It's less than one year old.

More than likely, and from my experience, it's foreign material on the sensor. Either use a sensor cleaning product, or a simple trip to your closest camera repair shop should take care of the problem.
--Bob

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

CharlesA wrote:

Good advice Mr. PC. Here's another source full of pertinent information:

http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=tutorials

Charles

Thank you for that link. Now I know how to check if my sensor is dirty and what to do about it.

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

MadMikeOne wrote:

Thank you for that link. Now I know how to check if my sensor is dirty and what to do about it.

You're welcome. There are various ways of checking for dust, you can take a shot at f/22 of your monitor filled with a light color and you can zoom in on the camera's LCD to view the status. But I think a clear, uniform blue sky is best as well as taking it to PS at 100% and running auto-levels.

In my experience, regular dust specks have a fuzzy, out-of-focus appearance whereas oil spots have a rather sharp halo outline. I'm not sure why this is. A lubricant smear will look like a dark line(s).

Charles

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

CharlesA wrote:

You're welcome. There are various ways of checking... (show quote)

Thanks Charles. One question from a newbie learning the terminology: what is meant by "taking it to PS at 100% and running auto-levels". I suspect if I knew what PS is, I would be able to figure out the answer.
As for the why of the oil spots having a sharp halo outline - that is a result of the physical/chemical properties of the oil. That is a very short answer to the question/observation.
Thanks,
Mike

CharlesA Loc: New Jersey

MadMikeOne wrote:

Thanks Charles. One question from a newbie learning the terminology: what is meant by "taking it to PS at 100% and running auto-levels". I suspect if I knew what PS is, I would be able to figure out the answer.
As for the why of the oil spots having a sharp halo outline - that is a result of the physical/chemical properties of the oil. That is a very short answer to the question/observation.
Thanks,
Mike

Mike,

Makes sense about the oil spots.

PS is short for Photoshop, all version including CSx, Elements and CreativeCloud. 100% means to view it at "actual pixels", so if you take the shot at let's say 1900 X 1500 pixels, to best see the dust spots, view it at that precise size, and not say 900 X 600. Auto-levels is self-explanatory, assuming you have used Photoshop.

If you are brand new to the ballgame, you can demo Elements and/or CreativeCloud for 30 days before buying - http://www.adobe.com

Regards,
Charles

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

CharlesA wrote:

Mike, br br Makes sense about the oil spots. br ... (show quote)

DUH - PS me dense! Knew it had to be something simple. Thanks for not giving in to "newbie bashing" as some others (thank heaven there aren't many) do with questions like this.
FYI - I have never PSd or PPd yet. I am just getting back into photogrphy after a 40+ year hiatus. The basics are coming back to me, but I am learning the new language of DSLR photography. I think I will follow your suggestion of demo-ing a PP program.
Thanks again!
Mike