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Posts for: Deanie1113
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Sep 10, 2019 07:48:09   #
I use this combo every day for birding. The weight is ideal for me, even on very long hikes. ISO performance in dim light is noisy, but I have Topaz AI clear ($60) that performs magically and I love the results. For flying birds, I just pan with a large-ish center focus area and that works very well. It is a bit delicate as the lens is a plastic mount, so don't drop it, it won't survive. I love the weather sealing. Since it's mirrorless you see your results before taking the shot and it's silent. Burst mode is fantastic and I use this combo for all sports. All in all, I am thrilled that I found this light and super-easy to use combo and am pleased with the image quality.
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Aug 9, 2019 09:40:15   #
We have just returned from Little Switzerland and the Switzerland Inn. Outstanding outstanding restaurant there with rustic rooms and a view to die for. Fire pits at night for watching the night view, cornhole, a pool. We then headed south and photographed every pull-off before landing in Asheville.
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Aug 9, 2019 07:00:48   #
Elmo55 wrote:
I am at, and have been here for 2+ months, and I can not disagree with any comments made. I do agree with take your time, and enjoy your time here. The park service offers 2 free guided photography tours of 2-3 hours each (different guide each day), one on Tuesday and one on Friday (have to sign up 3 days in advance, and they start 7:30 AM). Highly agree with Longshadow's comment. 127 miles of hiking trails, and 57 miles of carriage trails to explore (if you are into walking and/or biking). Don't be afraid to talk to other photographers for recommendations. Who knows we might even cross trails as I am here until late October.
I am at, and have been here for 2+ months, and I c... (show quote)


Wow, FREE guided tours of 2-3 hrs. would be so cool ... and I love talking to other photographers, so yes, asking them for recommendations is a great idea. Thanks!
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Aug 8, 2019 20:58:30   #
rehess wrote:
I don’t know why you need a tour guide. My family went there about twenty years ago, and I don’t remember a minute of anything other than beauty. You shouldn't need to depend on someone else’s judgement.


Photographers who specialize in tours know places to go with beauty that aren't on the well-known grid and therefore aren't super-crowded. Acadia, I have heard, is extremely crowded and they probably know where and when to go to avoid crowds. I am sure that things have changed there in the past 20 years regarding navigating around the island and getting to great spots.
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Aug 8, 2019 20:54:39   #
MDI Mainer wrote:
JK Putnam has a good reputation, though I personally have never taken one of his workshops:

https://www.jkputnam.com/private-photo-tours-workshops/

Howie Motenko has been an artist-in-residence at the park and is well regarded:

https://www.nps.gov/acad/getinvolved/air-motenko.htm

https://acadiaphotosafari.com/about-acadia-photo-tours

He, like Putnam, offers a personally designed guided tour.

If you want to self-guide, there are two photography guides to Acadia, both are very good:

https://amazon.com/Photographing-Acadia-National-Park-Essential/dp/0983380473/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=acadia+photography&qid=1565302659&s=books&sr=1-1

https://amazon.com/Photographers-Guide-Acadia-National-Park/dp/0881508861/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=acadia+photography&qid=1565302698&s=books&sr=1-2

And here is an old article from Yankee Magazine:

https://newengland.com/yankee-magazine/travel/maine/bar-harbor/best-5-photo-ops-in-acadia-national-park/

These should give you a good idea of the places you'd like to visit.
JK Putnam has a good reputation, though I personal... (show quote)


Such a great response! Thank you so much for taking the time to help me out. Will check all these out.
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Aug 8, 2019 13:38:43   #
I will be in Acadia NP for the first time in three weeks. I was wondering if anyone here can recommend a photographer/tour company who gives tours of all the fantastic scenic spots while allowing me to set up my tripod and let me shoot. I don't want a multi-day thing, just several hours and don't mind being with a group. I don't think I need a lot of guidance, but am certainly open to new ways of doing things. Acadia is crowded and since I've never been there I thought going with an expert would help me get to many pretty places with less stress. I checked into Photo Safari, but they only take you to photograph three spots. Thanks!
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Aug 8, 2019 10:23:09   #
I purchased a used Nikon 24-70 with VR from B&H and saved a lot of money, plus it needed no fine tuning on my D750. I love it. (Is there any such thing as too sharp?-- it's sharp1)
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Aug 5, 2019 06:28:58   #
I have the Panny G9 with the Leica 100-400 strictly for birding and sports. This combo is SO light I hike with it all day! And I'm weak! However, once the light gets dim it does drive me crazy with the high ISO's and noise. So, I spent a few bucks and downloaded AI Clear, which is nearly a miracle in my book and even the high ISO images get looking really good. Also, the zoom is a little stiff which can be annoying. The G9 feels remarkably good my small hand and is incredibly easy to learn to use. If light weight/portability is high on your list of wants, you cannot go wrong. But keep in mind that you will pay for this in low light.
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Jul 30, 2019 16:01:56   #
texashill wrote:
After upgrading to Topaz 2, I was very surprised to see all of the adjustments that I now have. I only had Precision Contrast and Dehaze that I paid for before but it appears that I have them all now. AI clear is incredible.


I also love AI Clear and use it daily. I edit in LR/PS and only go to AI Clear to polish particular images. It can do miracles!
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Jul 16, 2019 21:59:35   #
burkphoto wrote:
If you're just looking for cheap prints, they won't be inkjet prints. They will be conventional 'C' (chromogenic, silver halide, wet process) prints.

Ink used in the best HIGH END inkjet printers (from Canon, Epson, and sometimes HP) is pigment based. It is very expensive, compared to 'C' prints, and the printing process is relatively slow and labor-intensive. Inkjet prints are made by better professional color labs and imaging service bureaus. Many of those same labs make conventional 'C' (chromogenic silver halide) prints.

mPix and Millers (same company), Adoramapix, Shutterfly, Bay Photo, Full Color, UPI lab, H&H, and many others you've never heard of are out there. My suggestion is this:

Use Google to find a professional lab near you. Download their catalog if possible. VISIT their facility and have a conversation about how to best use their services. They will usually discuss things like monitor calibration, soft proofing, color space for submissions, file sizes vs image dimensions in pixels, and their specific products and processes available.

About print life: Wilhelm Research tests various photographic processes. They have found that under comparable conditions, the best type 'C' color prints last, at best, 50 years. Typically, print life is 20 years or so before significant fading has occurred. I know this from making retrospective video slide shows from scans of peoples' prints.

Wilhelm's tests of the best dye-based inkjet inks shows print life of around 100 years (i.e.; Epson Claria). The best pigment-based inkjet inks (various Epson Ultrachrome variations) can last more than twice that long.

I have a 20x16 print framed under glass in my ping-pong room that I made in 2004 on an Epson 9600. It looks almost exactly like the image on my calibrated monitor does today. I have a 10x8 type 'C' print of the same image made on a Noritsu mini-lab at the same time. It's been in an album in an archival sleeve. The image is slightly faded, has less overall color saturation, and the edges are starting to turn brown! As I remember it, it NEVER looked as good as the Epson print, and could not be made to look that good. (Both were made in the lab where I worked back then... I ran the digital printing departments from 2000-2005.)

The good thing about digital images is that IF PRESERVED, the files never change. But you have to store them on a currently readable medium, and that medium has to survive the test of time.
If you're just looking for cheap prints, they won'... (show quote)


Burkphoto, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! I think I will contact my local print company and see what they say. Again, thanks for all the info!
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Jul 16, 2019 09:54:30   #
burkphoto wrote:
Most photo labs use the old, conventional wet process printing method. It uses a silver halide-based, light sensitive paper and a digital laser printer.

While many folks prefer that look, it is not the ultimate in quality — just cheapness.

High end inkjet printers using 8-12 inks can produce much better color accuracy, 2-5 times longer print life under similar storage conditions, and can print on canvas, art board, metal, and dozens of different paper surfaces.

But... we get what we pay for. A good “giclee” inkjet print is much more expensive than a silver halide print.
Most photo labs use the old, conventional wet proc... (show quote)


Thank you! I AM enjoying the cheapness of Costco, but do you have a commercial print place recommendation that is not real expensive, but maybe a little better quality than Costco? I just don't want the ink to fade quickly. Thanks!
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Jul 16, 2019 06:25:05   #
PixelStan77 wrote:
Wayne, I use COSTCO. They give you a site to go to to calibrate your monitor. Problem solved and quality silver halide prints.


PixelStan, "quality silver halide prints" ... I use Costco also and have never heard of this. Are all their regular prints that? Or is this an option I am not seeing?
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Jun 8, 2019 10:47:44   #
mikeroetex wrote:
This is one very generous offer. CHG_CANON is right, you could improve 100% with current gear with better settings on present camera, better shooting technique and LR. I suspect you are shooting on auto everything and need to take more control of the camera. BBF, Single point or d9 focus, matrix meter, and manual shutter speed with auto ISO and exposure compensation. Master those, then buy a faster lens or prime. The 18-140 has great flexibility, but you may be asking one lens to do the work of two or three scenarios.
takes practice, but doable!
This is one very generous offer. CHG_CANON is righ... (show quote)


Yes, I have taken CHG CANON up on his offer. Thank you for your good recommendations for me.
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Jun 8, 2019 09:30:29   #
mizzee wrote:
Because of weight issues for me I traded my Nikon gear for an Olympus OM-D E-m5 Mark II and the
14-150 II lens. Both are weather sealed. I couldn’t be happier with my choice. The M 5 II will run you a max of $899 and the lens about $600. The image stabilization is phenomenal. You would have enough money left over for an Oly 50mm 1.8. The images I’m getting from this camera are great. The Live View feature makes a huge difference. Do pick up an extra battery.


I thought of that! I am concerned about noise ... how is the noise with this combo?
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Jun 8, 2019 09:27:55   #
CO wrote:
Another thing to do is to download Nikon Capture NX-i or Capture NX-D from Nikon's website. If you open your RAW file in those software packages, you can turn on "Show Focus Point". In your photo, it looks like the tennis racket is in better focus than the young man. The focus point landed there or it's front focusing.


Thank you! Good ideas. I do believe the focus point just fell on the racket -- he was moving very fast!
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