Grand Teton is Grand!

We have limited space available for our Grand Teton Wildlife Photo Workshop 

 June 6-9. 2012

Grand Teton National Park in spring! What an amazing place. This bull moose image is one of my favorites from last spring. 

Here's another of my favs. When nature presents you with dramatic light, don't walk, RUN to find something to put in the foreground.

Okay, it's not a bald eagle soaring over the Grand Teton's, it's a swallow. But we almost always find and photograph bald eagles, osprey, owls, white pelicans, and bluebirds. But that's just our winged friends. We'll also find wolves, grizzly bears, moose, bison, pronghorn, coyote, fox. Wow! bring lots of memory cards! 

Shoot me an email if you're interested in an excellent adventure!

Chain of Fools

I've been shooting anything I can find with the new D800E and every time I download my images I'm blown away. I can take an uninteresting composition, grab the crop tool and find some little jewel within the image and still have enough pixels to make a great print!

I know, that's cheating. I'm supposed to compose in the viewfinder, but as I said, I'm just out shooting anything and everything to learn the camera and all the features. And there are features galore! Like the new Virtual Horizon that shows roll and pitch in the VIEWFINDER! I set the fn button to activate it. It's so handy for keeping the horizon straight without going through the menu and having it displayed on the LCD. I'm likin' this feature.

Okay, sing along...Chain Chain Chain... Yesterday I was out playing with the D800E and found an interesting subject in the tack shed, an old tow chain that probably weighs 30 lbs.  I strung the chain between to trees and got out the hose. I had so much fun I'm going to do more today!

Still have a couple of seats for Grand Teton workshop in June. We'll be looking for Bear, Moose, Bison, Pronghorn and a whole lot more including cubs, calfs, and kids.

Face Time with the D800E

As you know I'm not a people person...I mean people photographer. Occasionally I do shoot people when I'm out and about at an event like the Genoa (NV) Cowboy Poetry Festival I attended over the weekend. I went with some fellow photogs just to have fun. Usually I take my point-and-shoot memory camera on fun outings. I call it that 'cause it helps me remember where I've been and what I've done.

Since I'm still playing...eh...working with the D800E I was anxious to see how it would preform with people and clothes so I took it instead of my p&s. I'm happy to report I found no moire'. I'm also happy to report that I'm still blown away by the results I'm getting from this new film; 36 megapixels of low noise and maximum detail.
Check these out!

These images were shot at ISO800 with the 70-200mm Nikon Zoom 2.8 VR @ 200mm handheld. Both images were shot in FX mode, full frame 24x36mm. Detail from the full frame image follows each:

Cowboy Stare Down.

Here's an enlarged section from the above image You can count the hairs on his nose!

 

The bad guy getting ready for a shootout with the good guys.

Enlarged section from above image - sunglasses reveals 3 good guys in white.

Nikon D800E Hawk in DX

Just returned from a quick shoot in Carson Valley. Found a Red-tailed hawk. Switched the Nikon D800E  to DX mode and attached a 1.4 extender to the Nikon 200-400mm f4. I try not to use an extender on zooms as the results are not consistent as far as sharpness and detail are concerned. But this hawk was not that close so I needed all the reach I could muster.

Here is the full frame from the DX mode, 15mp 24x16mm, and cropped image follows. This is incredibly sharp!

More Results E v nonE

We left off with me being pretty satisfied that the D800E is a little sharper than the D800. Little is subjective. I think the larger the print, and I mean really really large, the benefits of the E become more apparent and useful. If your a pro shooter and your images are on billboards the E is the only way to go! Or if you like to crop the * out of your images...

Let's move on to my next big question: How often will moire' crop up in my typical shoot? As you know I'm a wildlife photographer and for me wildlife includes everything in nature, but mostly things that go bump in the night (and day). I love to shoot landscapes, abstracts, and macro, too, and I love to make huge prints. So will the E or the nonE be the best choice for what I do?

These tests and images were done with the E unless otherwise stated.
Initially I was having a hard time finding the usual suspects, eh, subjects. Birds are a little scarce in the high Sierras right now and the ones that are flittering around are not very cooperative. As I was doing my sharpness test a robin appeared not too far away but in the shade. Okay, I shoot in the shade, let's have a go at it. Here's the original shot:

A little dark but I took a look at it in LR4 anyway. I zoomed in and thought I saw moire' in the gray feathers! So I tweaked a little and I did, I did see moire'. To make it obvious I increased the vibrance so you can see it too:

Exposure  +.45 and opened shadows a touch.

On the following image I increased Vibrance a lot so you can more easily see the moire'

Okay, now I'm a little nervous. I didn't expect this. I have been reading a lot on the web how moire' usually only occurs if there are grid type lines like you'd see in machine woven cloth or window screens. Feathers have been a controversy. Will moire' show up in feathers? How often? How intense?

Okay Jim, slow down, this is only one bird, and it's a robin. Nothing against robins mind you, they're just not in my viewfinder that often. I like large birds like geese, ducks, swans, egrets, herons, and birds of prey like Eagles! of course, Eagles! What's going to happen with Eagles? I don't know. But I do know what happens with this goose:

Whew! Not much, this goose looks good. No sign of moire'. I made a few images but not enough and with not enough variety of birds to be conclusive, I will keep shooting. I'm also thinking that the shade may have something to do with it. Is moire' more evident in shadow areas? Will bright sun reduce the chance of moire' in bird feathers? Will I have to shoot all my birds in bright sun? or will I opt for the D800? Stay tuned...

D800 or D800E? Here's my results.

Are you confused reading everything on the internet about the D800 and D800E Nikon cameras? I was, so I set out to find the truth...for me. 

I’m a wildlife and landscape photographer and there are several challenges that one of these new Nikon bodies may help me with in future image making. Which, if either, is right for me? D800 or D800E? Which one will serve my needs best? I have a few questions that I want answered before I decide which one I should use.

If you are reading this you already know the difference of the 2 new bodies recently released by Nikon. Let me re-cap. Just like the butter spread, No Différence...other than the low pass filter has been removed from the E. If you don’t know about low pass filters then you probably need to read up on it here: http://www.nikonusa.com/Learn-And-Explore/Nikon-Camera-Technology/gy43mjgu/1/Moire-and-False-Color.html 

These are the questions I wanted to answer:

How much more detail is available in the E compared to the nonE in large prints?

When and where in nature does moire’ appear, if at all?

How can moire’ be removed in an image in post processing and which software will do the best job?

Those are the basic questions of which I found no easy answer. Each answer led to more questions. I did get the answers I was looking for...eventually. 

Disclaimer: I am not a tech geek and with no disrespect to the techies, I don’t want to be. I don’t know all there is to know about diffraction, refraction, detraction, attraction, et al, but I do know image making. I do know what I like and how to get it without knowing all the techie stuff, although some knowledge of it is helpful, it's what I see in the finished image that makes my day.

Here are the initial criteria I used to make the tests:

I kept settings on both cameras identical.

All tests were shot in raw, white balance set to 5500k, Aperture Priority and Manual exposure settings were used.

I used two lenses during the tests. The 70-200mm f2.8 and the 200-400mm f4. The choice was based on the ability to mount either lens on a tripod and change cameras without moving the lens, the focus, or the zoom. It was also based on the fact that those are my most used lenses. Remember, I was testing for me. VR (vibration reduction) was turned off.

Image Process:

All images were shot in RAW. 

I used Lightroom 4 to import images. I set all LR adjustments to zero including sharpening and noise reduction. For some tests I set LR sharpening at default, +25.

Camera Calibration was set to Adobe Standard and Process is 2012. If you don’t know about all this it doesn’t matter. What matters is that all compared side-by-side images were processed the same. That’s the important point. I was not trying to make one image look like the other, I was trying to see the difference when settings were equal.

Now the results for image quality:

My assistant for the first series of test was Griffin Gregory, he did a terrific job in the field as well as with side-by-side image comparisons on the monitor. After an exhaustive first morning we found the D800E to be slightly sharper with slightly more detail in most of the images. There was one comparison where the D800 appeared to be better. That could be a result of operator error.

The afternoon shoot produced some fantastic results. My wife Kathy and I headed out to Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe for some side by side landscape images and here is where the E proved itself. 

Here are a couple of side-by-side images from Emerald Bay:

The next day I printed the above images for comparison. This is the most important test for me. Images viewed on the web or even on the monitor won’t show all the nuances that may be apparent in the print. Here’s how I made the prints:

I did not resize. I used the image size that came right out of the camera, 7360x4912. What ever dpi you choose for printing without resizing will determine the print size. Divide ppi by selected dpi equals image size. 7360ppi/240dpi=30inches 4912ppi/240dpi=20inches. At full resolution without resizing at 240dpi you get a 20x30 print (rounded) from the 36mp sensor of the D800/E. At 120dpi you get a huge 40x60 inch print! 

Now before I get a lot of flack on 240dpi and 120dpi understand this; you can use what ever dpi you are comfortable with. I use 240dpi almost all the time when printing with my wide format Epson. Sometimes I use 120dpi if my image is really large. I can’t see the difference when the print is viewed at the normal distance for the size. (let’s not go there either) Please keep in mind, everything I am saying is what works for me. You may have different criteria and different needs.

This side-by-side of Fannette Island is a crop from the images above. I took an 8x10 section of the  tea house out of a 40x60 inch image size. I printed both and found the E to be noticeably sharper with more detail. You may not be able to see the difference as easily on your monitor.

Well, that’s it for now. My conclusion so far is that the D800E is apparently sharper with more detail in large prints than the D800. But only in large prints. What will my next blog reveal and which Nikon did I choose? Stay tuned...

LET THE GAMES BEGIN...

Here is Steve just moments ago at Leo's Camera receiving MY new D800E. I know he'll play with it before he ships it to me, but that's okay. I'll have the D800 and D800E in my hot little hands tomorrow. Right Steve?


I've laid out the criteria for my testing. The set-up: I’ve decided to use my 70-200mm 2.8 Nikon VR lens for most of the tests. I may use the 200-400mm f4 Nikon VR as well. I chose these lenses as they mount directly to the tripod. I can change cameras without changing lens position or focus. 

The settings on both cameras will be factory defaults. I don’t usually shoot this way but I am only interested in the difference in detail at this point and since the cameras are identical except for the low pass filter default setting should be identical too. (I will verify before starting test)

Other Settings: same on both bodies:

Manual focus mode. (Lens is set to manual focus only, VR off) 

All exposure readings will be made with the D800. The D800E will be set to match.

ISO: 100.

Quality: Raw

White Balance: 5500 

Shutter: Single Servo

Mirror Lock-up

Cable release 

I have several locations staked out including cows in Carson Valley as a substitute for wildlife fur. Birds as I can find for potential feather moire'.

I will also do a quick test of video between the two for moire' problems.

I'll be making prints of the images as well as posting results. Hopefully by Monday.

See you then.

Jim

D800 vs D800E Print Test

The questions I, and many other photographers have are, is the D800E that much sharper than the D800? Will moire' show up in wildlife and nature? Will it be hard to remove when it does show up? The only way to get the results is a to shoot side by side in real world conditions. Therefore I've decide to get one of each. I will be getting the D800 in a couple of days and the D800E in a week or so. (so I've been told)

Comparing images on a computer screen doesn't really do much. Computer screens are 72dpi so no matter what size sensor you have the results will not be completely apparent. We need to see prints, large prints, to really see the difference. My thought process is to put a 70-200mm lens on a tripod and shoot both cameras on it leaving the lens pointing at the same subject. I will make several shots of different real world nature subjects. I will print images from each camera at full resolution without adjustments and compare the prints side by side.

I'm not going to test the cameras for auto focus, follow focus, or any of the extra features they possess. All I want to know is image quality comparison and moire' challenges.

I will intentionally shoot some images that should produce moire'. I will be using Lightroom 4, Photoshop CS6 beta, and NX2's moire' removal tools and test which will be easiest to use and which does the best job.

I will report on the results on this blog and other sites when I'm done, hopefully in a couple of weeks.

Here's the challenge. I can only keep one body according to my financial adviser (wife) so I will need to sell the one I don't keep. It will be used only for the test and I'm looking to sell it for my purchase price.

If you are interested, let me know. I already have 3 photographers on a wait list for the D800.

I am not paid by Nikon or anyone else to do these tests. They will be made to satisfy curiosities. These will not be scientific tests as I am not a scientific photographer. I'm looking for real world shooting results. I'm a wildlife/landscape photographer and am looking for the best tools to make great images. If you want to read the results subscribe to my blog or drop me an email...Jim

Looking for Life...wild that is.

Lately I've been spending way too much time in the bay area. Sorry friends, I grew up in San Francisco and love the city...to visit occasionally. But since I moved to the mountains 42 years ago it is increasingly difficult for me to adjust to the traffic and congestion.

So what's a wildlife photographer to do? Surprisingly enough there is more wildlife around the bay area then one might first imagine. I've seen more deer in the peninsula hills then in Tahoe! Then there is the occasional mountain lion sighting. Sometimes near schools! No, they're not after the kids, they are following the deer.

Probably the easiest and most accessible wildlife for me are the birds of San Francisco Bay Wetlands. In fact it is almost amazing what's going on just blocks from Hwy 101! Take any exit, go toward the bay, and you will most likely find some natural treasure for hiking, biking, and wildlife photography!

D800E more to ponder

I woke up thinking if I'm doing the right thing. I do that a lot. Do I need the E version of the D800? or will the D800 be just as good. Looking at the Nikon site and their comparison between the two they almost seem to be discouraging the D800E. Odd, isn't it? Here's a link; http://www.nikonusa.com/Learn-And-Explore/Nikon-Camera-Technology/gy43mjgu/1/Moire-and-False-Color.html . 


They even say when comparing the two images from the D800 and the D800E that there is only a 'slight' increase in resolution with the E. So why bother? In fact, do I really need either?


 I have two challenges that I'm attempting to find a solution for and that's why I'm bent on getting even the slightest more detail and resolution. 


When making a decision to buy the 'newest' camera I have to make the decision based on whether the new camera will solve a problem that may exist for me.  If I don't have a specific need for this camera than I won't waste my money. 


Most shooters that are used to banging out images with their DSLR will be disappointed in the results of either D800. Why? Because to get the maximum results from a 36mp sensor you will have to know how to use it.


First, you have to have the best glass, (lens) that Nikon makes. Those kit lens zooms won't do justice to the resolution of the sensor.


Second, good shooting technique is a must. Sometimes we get lazy and instead of using a tripod we opt for VR (vibration control, image stabilization) to make up for not using a tripod. If you're looking to get the max out of the D800/E, don't use VR and always use a tripod.


Third, take your time. This is a camera that can make images that will blow away anything else created by a DSLR. Make sure the image you are making warrants the quality of this camera. Don't make images that are just sharper and have more detail. Make images that are stunning, different, and better than you've ever done before!

Selling Prints

I've been getting a lot of questions on selling prints lately. Questions like what size should my prints be, what images sell best, what size should my limited edition be? All valid questions that may have different answers depending on where you are selling and where you are placing yourself in the market. Probably the most important question you should be asking yourself is; Do I really want or need to sell my art?

Selling your art is a big decision. Once that decision is made you have committed yourself to a business. If you don't want to run a business don't sell your art! Running a business is only fun for those types that like to own and operate a business which for the most part leaves out artists. All artists, photographers, painters, sculptors, and other creatives, are seldom good at business. In fact they usually hate the business part of selling their art.

If you take the plunge I have two tips for you. First, treat your art like any other product that needs to be marketed and sold. Cut the umbilical cord! Remove your emotional ties! Only then will you make good business decisions on price and presentation.

Second; the most important thing you can do to be successful is to write a business plan! WRITE a business plan, don't just have it in your head. Get out the pencil and paper and make a plan. You plan your vacation, when you leave, where you stay, how you get there, and what you will do once you arrive. You'd be surprised at how many businesses are started without a written plan. And then they can't figure out how it failed.

So before you decide to sell your art make sure you are committed to running a business 90% of the time and making art 10% of the time.

Ordered It! D800E

Okay, after much consideration, I ordered my D800E. I ordered it from Leo's Camera in Klamath Falls, OR. They don't sell over the net but they are a pleasure to deal with over the phone. No, they don't have them in stock, nobody does or will until mid April, and they sold their last D800 as soon as it arrived. Steve told me he has been getting calls daily looking for the D800 but not so much for the D800E. So now I'm sitting here like a kid the day after Halloween waiting for Christmas.

There is a lot of stuff on the net about 'which camera should I order?' D800 or D800E? And there are a lot of pros and cons and a whole bunch of mis-information. My suggestion is to get the D800E if you want the sharpest images ever available in a DSLR! But there is the moire' problem. If you shoot people, or subjects with texture, go for the D800. You will have the second sharpest images ever!

Here's an image from my D700 that you can enjoy until I get my 'MEDIUM FORMAT' camera in a DSLR body!

 Nature's Neckless

To D800 or E or NOT

Okay, I admit, I've been drooling. But then when Nikon release a new pro camera I usually do. I've held off updating my equipment (D300, D700) waiting for the next version of each with 1080p video. The D300s just didn't make it for me. But now! The D800 with 1080p and 36 megapixels! I'm ready...or am I?

Here's the thing. I shoot nature, mostly wildlife, but I'm good for landscapes, too. Back in the day I printed large pieces on a regular basis. Now the print business is less important and the really big pieces this camera will allow me to do, well, are not in huge demand in my biz.

So do I need 36 megapixels? Do I need to have a camera that will easily print to 40x60 inches? Will the difference be so dramatic at 24x36 that it will blow away everything I've ever done? Do I really need that critical detail in every hair of the bear or feather of the bird?

Probably not! But hey, I'm drooling and I will probably order the E version soon. I mean if you're gonna go for it, you might as well max it out.

This image is with the D300, somewhat cropped. Do I need more detail?

Great Green Macaw in Costa Rica

I'm back from our Adventure Costa Rica and I'm excited! We had a great time and a great group of very funny people. Hey, where you from" was the question of this tour. We met so many people from so many countries we couldn't keep track. What a hoot!

What I'm most excited about is the endangered Great Green Macaw that I've been trying to photograph for several years. There are only 30 nesting pairs in Costa Rica. I've seen them before but never in a great position to get great photos. This year changed all that. Enjoy...

GRAND TETON PHOTO WORKSHOP

Only one spot left for what may be the best Teton Photo Workshop ever! FILLED!

Several years ago I photographed this mother grizzly and her triplets.

This year one of her daughters had twins. (image below) And if that wasn't enough, the original mother had triplets again! During the summer the daughter adopted one of her mothers cubs. Now the daughter has 3 cubs and the mother has 2 cubs.
If that's confusing join me in the Tetons to learn more CLICK HERE!

So there you have it! This could be one of the best fall shoots in years.
2 mama grizzlies with 5 cubs, , moose, eagles, osprey, beavers, otters, elk, bison, pronghorn, and the best fall colors in the Rockies.

Grand Teton Summer

So I tried a summer shoot in a popular National Park, the Grand Tetons. Wow! I loved the new opportunities for different photos. Snow on the peaks, water everywhere, including this seasonal pond of which I have never seen wet. It only has water after above normal winters. But there were more people, too!


I came to this pond to find a wildflower shot with Mt. Moran. I couldn't find a great shot of wildflowers so I started to hike around the pond for a different view. I was startled as I made my way through the thick willows and two large bull moose jumped up from their nap. They didn't move far so I backed off and waited for them to show themselves. I was able to photograph them for 2 hours before another photographer found me and MY moose. A cell phone call and a few minutes later the calvary arrived.

Great News!

Waiting for Wisdom

This Saturday, July 31 is the Wildflower Festival at Kirkwood. You've heard me rave about it before. This is the only outdoor show we do and we have a blast!

• Music
• BBQ
• Wine and Beer tasting
• Guided Hikes
• Ride the chair lift
and of course, lots of art! Including my newest images of an owl nest that you won't want to miss. And more large cloth panels to delight your visual senses.
NOON to 5 PM Kirkwood California
See you there!





Badgers










More good news!

I'm heading up a Wildlife Photography Workshop in the Grand Tetons this fall. (see side bar)

I'll be the workshop leader for Nikonians Academy and look forward to many new adventures. Hope you'll join in.

Our MarchTour to Costa Rica is reserved for photographers though Nikonians and we are in the planning stages for Africa next May.

The two tours to Costa Rica in February still have seats available so let us know if you are interested.

Costa Rica Book

Great News! I just published a book on Costa Rica. It was designed by my talented friend, Suzanne, at Picturia Press.  She's terrific and can help you with your own personal book, trips, weddings, etc.. I'll post more about her later. For now, I am excited to have you to see my book and leave a comment.
Thanks, Jim

Click on the book preview below.
When you turn a page it might take a while to load the images, relax and enjoy.

Costa Rica

By Jim Stamates

Book Preview

One Click!

One Click! is inspired by two colleagues, Dewitt Jones and Moose Peterson. Dewitt sends an email once a week titled "Celebrate What's Right With The World" and Moose is now blogging a "Simple Click".  I'd been thinking for a long time on doing something similar but it hadn't clicked.

So what is One Click!? Inspired by Dewitt, I will be emailing one photo to anyone who wants to receive it. I will be including some words of wisdom with each One Click! Here's a sample:

Some days you just have to say UGH!

Okay, this one is comical and has been Photoshopped. They really don't have orange tongues and in the original photo the mouth was closed. I am not going to use this as a One Click! and I am going to try to keep the images to 'real' photos. I just couldn't resist sharing this one.

So, if you want to receive a One Click! in your email to brighten your day, just send me an email with ADD One Click! in the subject. If you are already on my email list you will be getting them starting April 5.

Here's another sample:

...and all the world will smile, too.

Hummers and more

from Costa Rica log 1/31 Sun...

...Slept in, 7 am, Kathy gets up at 8, we have breakfast, they find her decaf coffee which she left at the table yesterday morning. Very hard to find decaf at restaurants in Costa Rica so she has to bring our own to breakfast.

Off to Braulio Carrillo NP to look for hummingbirds at a closed butterfly garden not far from the entry. We meet Miguel, he just started a guide company, Agouti Tours? We will hike with him manana. He tells us of Bat Falcons near Toro bridge. But first we must find the hummingbird place that has become very popular for snowcap and the black-capped coquette. We find it and the snowcap but no coquette. Probably too late in the day. 

Photos of hummers here are difficult because flowers are everywhere and the hummers dart from one to another in no particular order. I don't set up hummingbird shots with multiple flash, bait, or backdrops. I enjoy the challenge and skill of shooting on the fly. I don't get as many keepers but it sure is fun!

Hiked around and found some leaf-cutter ants to photograph. Did you know that they don't eat the leaves? They mulch them up and use them to grow fungi (mushrooms of sorts) and eat them. 

Can you believe that! They cultivate a farm, and grow their own food!

Found the bat falcons, got some lousy pics, bad lighting. This one had just finished eating another bird. You can see the legs dangling from the left talons. 

We had our lunch at El Yugo. Went for snack, turned out to be a big snack so dinner should be light. El Yugo is right at the bottom of the hill coming east from San Jose. It is a cafeteria and has a great selection of typical foods. Naturally the universal law works in Costa Rica, too. Eyes bigger than stomach...

To learn how you can join Adventure Costa Rica 2011, email here!