GEORGE LEPP PROGRAM NOTES
Notes from Feb. 6, 2007
We were honored to be able to have George Lepp do our program this month. 265 people from around the Front Range and several from Wyoming signed up for this special event. The following are some notes taken from the meeting. If you go to the links page, there are several links to some software he talked about.
FROM CAPTURE TO PRINT
The five steps to digital photograph
How many megapixels do you really need? The average point and shoot camera usually has between 4 and 10 megapixles. The problem, though, is that the sensor size is very small so the data being captured is not enough to create a very good image.
Most people should want a DSLR of between 6 and 10 meagapixels. This provides much better light as well as better color. A good consumer DSLR should cost between $600 and $1,200. The better professional DSLRs run between $1,400 and $8,000. The more you spend the better the equipment will be.
Here's a range of what size prints you can get from the different megapixel camera.
Support - A main piece of equipment you have to have is a good rigid tripod. Gitzo has come out with a new 'G Lock' tripod that will cost a bit more but it worth every penny.
For tripod heads, the Arca Swiss and the Really Right Stuff heads are a bit expensive but will last a lifetime. Kirk, Bogen, Gitzo, Artec are less expensive but make some good heads.
Working order - Batteries - Always have a lot extra. The Kirkland batteries you get at Costco are fine to use. They're actually made by one of the major battery companies and the cost a lot less.
Media - Make sure you have enough memory cards to last you for 3 or 4 days of shooting.
Sensor - KEEP IT CLEAN
Exposure - All meters want to make the subject a middle tone. Use the hostogram to fine-tune your exposure in the field.
Long exposures of 1/2 second or more - Use a tripod, use mirror lock up, use a cable release, do not use any filters whatsoever.
Filters - If you like to use filters, use Singh-Ray. They cost more than any of the others but you get what you pay for. These are the best available on the market today.
Panoramas
Extended Depth of Field - Take a series of images with different focal points. A good example is with a flower. A software program called Helicon Focusw works great for selecting and putting the final image together. It does the work in almost no time compared to you doing it in layers in Photoshop.
CS2: Up To Speed
To really learn Photoshop, George recommends this book by Ben Willmore.
Time Lapse
Canon has a cable release that you can set your camera up to take a photo every 30 seconds (or whatever time frame you program it for) for 8 hours or more. You can then use Apple Quick Time Pro and basically create a movie of your images. Costs $29.95.
Adobe Lightroom software
Saving Your Work
Printing