Adobe Camera Raw, ACR Not as scary as you would think!

Megan,

Great question and just the right size! First step is to shoot a RAW file! And also, and if possible a jpeg to compare the two. You'll see generally that the jpeg looks good, almost just right,while the RAW file is flat and dull. This is good! The camera adjusts the jpeg, in camera, to a set of adjustments that the camera thinks should be done, by it,the camera and not bother you with doing any of this later,yourself. The RAW capture is just the opposite and does nothing to the image, but captures everything it sees and will make NO adjustments. This is the best possible scenario for the photographer,because any adjustments that the camera makes to the jpeg,sharpening,contrast,saturation,etc. is done and you really can't go back with a jpeg and unsaturate or unsharpen it with out doing something detructive to the image/file. All jpeg are 8 bit, while RAW files will be 12,14 or 16 bit files, with a million times more color depth and image information in the file.

When you open the RAW file for the first time, you will see in Photoshop and Elements that you have a series of sliders and boxes that all can make adjustments, but not all are really needed,at least to start learning.

I'm planning on doing a short video soon, maybe this week on the Adobe Camera Raw functions and what I generally use to get the image into Photoshop or Elements, but here's a few basics to get you started.

When you first double click on a RAW file, it will automatically open up ACR. There are tools all over the place, but for now, we'll just start with the basic few that I always use. First, if you have a known "white space" in your image or a true neutral grey, you can go over to the top and left and you will see 2 eye droppers, but click on the first one and then hover over the known "white space" and click and like magic, ACR has just corrected the color of you image! This is great for painters,since there are always some caste in a copy of the artwork and this will clean it up. I don't use this tool very much,because sometimes, I want an image to be slightly warmer than true color,so I go over to the other box on the top of the right hand,where it says"White Balance" and in the box, the first one says "as shot", if you click on the drop down box, you will see 8 more choices, Auto,Daylight,Cloudy,shade,Tungsten,Fluorescent,Flash and finally Custom. Just click on through these and see how the image gets warmer or even cooler and just select you one you want and that's done!

Further down, you will see the sliders and the first is temperature, which allows you to further adjust the image warmer or cooler. I don't often touch this or the one under it either,tint,but play with them so you see what's happening with the image.

I do adjust the next one,which is exposure and will move back and forth,watching the histogram up in the top right corner, to make sure I'm not creating hot spots or dark areas that I need to fix later.

Next is recovery, or if you have a new version of Photoshop, shadows and highlights. This one I always do too. Usually with the "recovery" slider, I have someplace in the image, where it's a bit blown out and this "recovers" those pixels!

Fill light is next and acts just as it sounds, it's almost like having a small flash unit in the computer and will fill in the dark shadows.

"Blacks" is the next one and I usually tweak that just a few points,which helps the blacks in the image,get nice and black, if they were a bit over-exposed.

Brightness is next and I always adjust that a bit too.

Then "clarity" which is a type of sharpening, but also can soften the image. slide it towards the left and you'll get a nice soft glow in the image, which works with people,portraits,etc. and then slide it to the right and you'll see the image getting "sharper". I usually go almost all the way to the right and then pull it back a bit.

Vibrance is almost another type of saturation and I usually bump that maybe 10 points and leave it.

Finally, saturation, which I don't use very much here, because I take the image into Photoshop and then into "Selective colors" and adjust each color individually there.

Click on open and you're now in Photoshop/Elements and ready to go!

 

Rich

Megan, we can try and do this over the phone if you like, just email me and we can set up a time. Ideally, I should have a RAW file sent to me,so we both are looking at the same image.as it gets adjusted. The RAW file doesn't need to be anything special, just a RAW 

file of anything. 

ISO,Shutter Speed, and Aperture, the Musical!

Patricia,

 

 Shutterspeed even easier! Think of photography as a 3 bowl weight scale thingie, one bowl is the ISO or film speed if you will and the other bowl is the aperture and the last bowl is the shutter speed. All must be balanced,for a correct exposure. If you change the aperture to allow more light to come in, you then need to shorten the amount of time the aperture is open, to keep the balance working. If you open the aperture and keep the shutter speed the same, it will cause an overexposure of the image. If you change the ISO, from 100 to 400, you now have to decide which other"bowl" to change, to compensate for the "more" film speed you just added,since now, the camera needs less light/time to make the same image. So you can close down the aperture to a smaller f stop and keep the balance or you can turn up the shutter speed to keep the balance. But for now, really one at a time,to keep this simple.

 

If the scene you're taking has the folowing recipe: ISO 100, shutterspeed 1/30th and aperture is F16, then you can change the ISO to 200 and now the aperture will stay the same, f16,but you need to change the shutter speed up,since you increased the ISO, to 1/60th of a second and if you chage the ISO again, to 400, then the aperture is still f16, but now the shutter speed needs to go up to 1/125 of a second, to keep the balance working.

 

Once you understand this very basic "recipe" you then can change ANY of the three and know what else will have to change. Example: ISO 100, but you andare handholding the camera now, you left the tripod in the car, and you know you probably can't hand hold the camera for a short 1/30th shutter speed, so you will change the shutter speed to 1/125, but now, since you've changed the recipe, you have to adjust something else, the ISO to 400 OR the aperture to F8, which will give you the balance you need. You upped the shutter speed 2 stops, from 1/30 to 1/60(one stop) and then to 1/125 (another stop) for a total of 2 stops(aperture or f-stops), so to keep the image from being dark or under-exposed, you need to open the aperture 2 stops to F8 and we're back in balance,

 

Hope this helped,

 

Rich

One of my favorites! 

A Priest, A Rabbi And A Layer Walk Into A Bar Or "what Are Layers In Photoshop?

Hello to All,

 

I know I've mentioned and others here have mentioned, "layers" a feature of Photoshop and if you don't use Photoshop or you do, but don't use the "layers" function, because you don't really understand it, then after reading this, you still might not understand it!!! I'll try and simplify what "layers" are and what purpose they provide, get comfortable. To graphically enchance this exercise, we'll need a few props, 1. A small framed photo or painting, 2. 3 Crayons, red,blue, yellow, 3. A roll of Saran Wrap(Blimey, I don't know what yer talkin\' about\"), which is a clear plastic used to cover/wrap food dishes, wrap sandwiches,etc. (Greg, polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC). Ok we're ready to go.

 

Lay the framed 8x10 on a table and look at it, good. Now take the Saran Wrap, cut off enough to completely cover the frame, now, look at it, still the same image. Take your red Crayon and make some red circles on the Saran wrap, not the artwork! Now look at it, something has changed, but not what is underneath the red circles. So this Saran Wrap, or "LAYER" of red doodles, has added something to the original art work, but not in a "destructive" way. Now get another piece of Saran Wrap and cover the 1st piece of Saran Wrap and look at it, nothing has changed again, you can still see the original and the red circles. Pick the yellow Crayon and draw some yellow squares on the Saran Wrap, but try not to write over the red circles. Ok, good, let's get the blue Crayon and make some random shapes and see what we have. You have now created the bottom "layer" which is called the "background" layer and have 3 additional layers, called "yellow, red and blue" and these "layers" are called "Adjustment" layers.

 

You've just come back now, with a glass of Shiraz and looking down onto the artwork, you notice that the 2nd layer, "red" is really affecting the 3rd layer, "blue" and you don't like this affect at all. Peel back the top layer, remove the "red" layer and replace the 3rd layer, "blue" which become layer 2. Throw away the 2nd layer, red.

 

You have now passed the "layers" test and will be receiving a "certificate" in the mail! Good Job All!

 

When I start to work on an image, I do the same as above, without the Crayons and Saran Wrap, but it's still just layers and really, no different. (I know there are heads exploding on this forum right now, but I'm trying to keep this simple). Once I have created the first layer, which is the background layer, the image is the bottom of the stack, I then create a "duplicate" layer and I call this layer "clean". On this layer, I will clean any dust spots, always there, and do any minor cloning or removal of items, like wires, broken branches, garbage,etc. Any and all fine tuning of things that need to be repaired, replaced or removed is done here and I'll be here a while for some images. And another tip, once you invest some effort in this image, keep hitting the "save" button, so you don't have to start all over again, if the computer burps.

 

Ok, done with the "clean" layer and now to the "adjustment" layers. At the bottom of the stack, but above the "clean" layers, these all will be "Global" adjustments, that is everything in the image will be either brighter, more saturated, more contrasty,etc. I usually start with "levels" and will move the histogram around and see what I like visually, without losing any pixels at either end. I may then go to "brightness&contrast" and move these around a bit, but not much, because I know in a few layers, I'll probably be playing with "curves" and that will affect the contrast, as will saturation. (when using sliders to make adjustments, always go past where you think you should be and then come back, otherwise you maybe just a point or two from a "perfect" adjustment)

 

So now, I may have 4-6 layers and you can hit the "eyeball" on any of the layers, over on the Layers pallette and see what you've done. If you find something is offensive or redundant, you literally can grab it and toss it into the garbage can at the bottom of the layers pallette.

 

Now, my layers are very specific, and may be called " Fix Green Leaf" or "Adjust green" or "add contrast to water", because believe it or not, after about an hour or so of this, you won't remember what's what. And you may see like my example above with the crayons, something up here maybe affected by one of the lower layers and you want to be able to find it and adjust it or trash it. I have been hitting the "save" button on every layer, right before I choose a new layer, just make it a habit and you won't regret it.

 

Finally, I've cleaned, fixed,adjusted,color balanced and anything else with this image, with an hour or more time invested and before I do anything further, I save this as a PSD, which is a Photoshop file and it keeps all the layers in the same order as I created them and I take this giant file and call it "Ball of Light 1,Master". From this file, I then can duplicate the file, "flatten" the layers, which further reduces the file size, convert it in "mode" to "8 bits" from "16 bits" at capture, size it and then after sizing it and only then, I will sharpen it to that size, say 13x20. But I never take the "Master" and use that for a print, I always duplicate the Master.

 

My fingers hurt! Class dismissed!

 

Rich 

Setting up your camera for "Birding" which can also be used for many other situations:

Dear Forever,

 

 "If you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail"! And the same with cameras and settings. There is no "one" setting that will work 100% of the time.

 

With that said, you will have to know/understand a few basics and I bet you already do and being the shy person you are,won't admit it! But for the "others" out there, here goes. Your camera has a fantastic zoom, equal to a 1200 mm lens! So the zoom, is taken care of, but everything else needs a tweak or two.

 

By the way, are you always,sometimes,never on flat ground,when you go birding? Can a tripod help? A monopod? Even in the water, a monopod would help.

 

Let's see if I can come up with a recipe or two.

 

 1.Bright sunlight: ISO at 200 or even better, 400. Shutter speed, 1/250 or 1/500 and f11, at the very least. F16 or F22 would be great for the feather detail. So in this case, to me, to stop the "fuzzies", I would set the camera @ISO 400(you may have to bump it down to 200,if really bright) and then set the camera at "Shutter"priority and 1/500. This will stop any blurriness from occurring, unless the boat be rocking!

 

2. Same as above, but the sun is shining right into the camera. You will need to set the camera to "spot" and not matrix and center on the bird itself. This will take into account, the exposure of the bird and not be affected(too much) by the light streaming past the bird.

 

3. Early morning or late afternoon/sunset light(my favorite). And here's where you're gonna get involved, because I can't do this test. Tonight,assuming that you have the time, take your camera out, anywhere, the back yard,front yard,whatever and shoot,whatever, something alive and moving would be good, a dog,neighbor walking a dog,etc. and take a few shots, in late afternoon or early evening light, @ ISO, 400,800 and 1600 and then see on the computer, if you can use 1600 or even 800. If after this test, you can, then you're golden! Just do the same as #1, but set the camera's ISO on either 800 or 1600 and shoot away!

 

I know, I know, this means getting the manual out, but, while you're doing that tonight, I'll have a glass of Malbac, in your honor!!!

 

Good luck and let me know if this helped,

 

Rich   

Lens questions come up all the time and here's an answer to one of those: What to look for in a lens!

Debra,

 

Here's a "rating" of lenses" by DP Review and will show how both prime and zoom lenses did in their tests. I'm suspect, and surprised to see Canon out number the Nikons, which here on the DXO site, the Nikons show up in masse, way before the Canons! And the After Market brand, Sigma, is on top. The lack of Carl Zeiss lenses here on the DP Review also is suspect. Regardless, both of these listings/rankings will give you a sense of how lens makers try and produce the best possible quality and seldom acheive that goal, with each lens they design.

 

Carl Zeiss lenses, which you can purchase, for your Canon 5D MKIII, is $4,000, Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 ZF.2  and is arguably one of the World's finest lenses ever made.

 

 http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews?sort=rating

 

And here's DXO's info:

 

http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Ratings

 

As Paul,Andrew and Patrick pointed out and I mentioned, there will be choices to be made,when you are putting together your "kit". On a long list of parameters, I wouldn't have weight anywhere near the top. A pound here or there doesn't matter and you not hiking the Appalachian Trail,where ounces may make a difference. It's like carrying an extra water bottle. 

 

As a general rule,

 

1. Prime lenses will always be sharper than zooms, mostly due to the mechanics of the lens and and things moving in and out. Prime lenses don't move and remove one obstacle from the designers and the result, are amazing lenses,even less expensive prime lenses will out perform most zoom lenses.

 

2. The aperture generally indicates the relative quality of the lens. So a F4.0 lens will generally cost less than an F2.8 and a F2.8 lens will cost less than an F1.4 lens,generally!

 

3. With that said, an F2.8 lens will generally produce better images throughout it's range, but the "sweet spot" is usually closer to the middle numbers, F8,F11,etc. but again, really hard to see in actual use.

 

 So with those 3 statement above, used as the basis of what I'm going to say,let's try and answer your main question, "Rich, does buying the most expensive lens, guarantee me the sharpest images?" NO, not always and not if you don't use the best techniques to produce those images, but it will give you the opportunity to take the best images.

 

Another question: "Rich, How does the aperture at f/4.8 differ from the aperture at f/2.4 but more importantly is it worth the difference in cost which is quite a bit (I think so)? Will it make the difference between spending twice as much? You seem to imply that those factors don’t have any effect on the overall results and that only one’s expertise and personal technique can create any real effects that are satisfactory on the final results.?"

 

So there are a few questions here and I'll answer what I can. As I stated in #2, the aperture "hole" and in this case, let's say,is F2.8 and another lens you have is F4.0, doesn't make much difference in tha actual capturing of the image, landscapes,since with that wide angle and shooting landscapes, the actual aperture used will be almost ALWAYS towards the other end, F11,F16 or F22,etc. So the questions about taking images of landscapes with a wide angle lens and the largest aperture is either F2.8 or F4, doesn't really matter. Those aperture will be seldom used and if used, then the "softness" of the image, on either side of the focal point, is desired.

 

And furthermore, buying an inexpensive lens, with an aperture range of  F5.6 to F16, the resulting "sweet spot" wil be very narrow, like one f-stop,where on the more expensive lens, with a range of F2.8 to F32.0, the the "sweet spot" is much wider and that is what you're paying for.

 

So I hope this has answered a few of your questions and let me and the others here,know if you have other questions that we might be able to answer,

 

Rich

Photoshop Quick Tips:

Ryan,Billy,et al.,

 

 If you are using PS, then no need to start all over. And as far as color rendition and your lens, don't worry any more brain cells about it. We, photographers have the best equipment probably ever made and even cheap lenses are better than older expensive lenses, the glass just can't compete with today's technology. If you were shooting fashion and needed accurate color, then maybe,maybe the lens would be an issue, but the lighting would have more effect than the possible color shift in the lens.

 

Here's a quick tutorial on a "quick way to do stuff to your images.

 

1. Open the image and "duplicate" it. Close the original.
2. On the layers side, right click on the background layer and create a new layer,"duplicate" layer and call it "saturation"
3.Either go to "adjustments" and then "saturation" or if you have the big Photoshop, go down to "selective color"
3a. If saturation, go in and saturate the entire image, go beyond what you want and then come back. The whole time, just look at the tiger, not the grass or any thing else.
3b. If "selective colors", open box and start at "red" and at the bottom of the box, you'll see sliders,grab the "black" slider and slide it towards the right. This will show you the effect of intensifying the red in the image and only the red. If you slide it towards the left, it will decrease the "red" in the image. Now, if you slide the individual sliders,cyan,magenta,yellow, you are adjusting those colors in the "reds" only! So if you have a "red" and you want a warmer red, then take the yellow slider and slide it towards the right and the "reds" in the image will get more yellowy!!!
3c. Just play with the red and yellow, for this test.
4.Now,regardless if you used the "saturation or selective colors",you can now go over with the tools and above the "bucket or gradient tool", is the "eraser" click on that.The "brush should be about 100-200 and soft and @ 100%.
5. Enlarge the image to atleast 100%, more if this is the first time that you've used a brush.
6. Now just erase away the effect from anywhere you DON'T want the effect, so in this case, everything but the tiger, go ahead, I'll wait..............................Looks good Huh!
7. If you're happy with this effect/adjustment. then flatten the image, but make sure you're done with this layer.

 

BUT WAIT, IF YOU ACT NOW, WE'LL INCLUDE ANOTHER GREAT TOOL TUTORIAL!!!

 

Here's another easy tool and sometimes simpler to use for larger areas.

 

1. Follow the instructions above to create a "duplicate"layer.
2. Over on the tools, find the "sponge" tool,which is usually under the "burn/dodge" tools. Click on the sponge. Above you'll see, "Brush" size,saturation,desaturation and also "Flow".
3. Set the brush for a soft brush, and depending on the size of the area to work, a brush relative to that size and if this is the first time, then small, maybe100 pixels, to start. Click on Saturation and then about 20-30% for flow.
4. Now, just brush or paint in the saturation and it might take a few strokes,since you're set at 20-30% flow,which is like "thinning" out the paint. If you overlap, it will be twice as strong or so. Go ahead, I'll wait...................Looks good too,huh!

 

So, Billy and Ryan, these techniques will work with most programs that have brushes and layers and these tools. I think "Selective Colors" may only be with the big version of Photoshop.

 

Hope this helps and if anyone has any questions,ask away and I'll try and answer them. I am no "GURU" when it comes to Photoshop and know the bare minimum to get my images to where I think they should be, so some questions may be over my bald head!

 

RIch     

Here's another response to a question from a photographer that was hired to shoot a friends wedding, her first, the photographer, maybe not the brides!

Amber,

 

Which is it, 2 hours or only the ceremony? Big difference. Looking at your site, I think you'll do fine, but here's what I would suggest.

 

1. Have a list of shots, that both you and the bride agree upon, BEFORE the wedding day, couple,parents,family,wedding party,etc. and then check off each shot, as you finish them.
2. Since for this kinda money,you won't have an assistant, ask the bride for somebody, NOT in the wedding, to be your "wrangler" and this person should know everyone and will help gather them for the next shot.Shoot the largest shot first,the most people and then ask those not needed to LEAVE! And by the time you're ready for just the Bride&Groom shot, everyone will be more relaxed and better images will be made.
3.If the budget allows, buy a mounting bracket for your flash,a diffuser and you'll need a cable from the hotshoe to the flash,once it's mounted on the bracket. The bracket holds the light off to the side and looks more natural, then having ALL the shots with the flash directly over the camera/lens.And don't forget the diffuser, some of your shots look like they were all shot without one on your site.
4. For this job and price, don't offer to do ANYTHING to the images, just turn over the memory card at the end of the ceremony. There is typically hours of editing from these events and for $200, that ain't covered! Offer to edit images for $50/hour and let her know for 1 hour, what she'll get,for each hour you edit.
5. Ask to have your "assistant/wrnagler" announce at the beginning of the ceremony, please allow the photographer to capture her images, before rushing in with your smart phones. I would suggest that everyone not in the wedding party,leave and then you can deal with the ones needed for the shots. What will happen, is somebody with a smart phone, will get a good image or two and the bride will then wonder why did she pay you ALL that money, so try and limit those opportunities for others.
6. A few days before,scout out, at the time of the wedding, the site and then have a list of locations, ahead of time, so the day of the wedding, YOU are in charge and people aren't coming up to you and saying "wouldn't this be nice for a shot" and interrupting your job. Remember how large the group will be for each shot and plan on that space.
7. Have business cards with you and be ready to hand them out, if asked for. Try not to talk money right then and there. If you need to, suggest $200/hr, 2 hour minimum and editing is extra@$50/hr. Each hour of shooting will probably involve 1 hour of editing. 4 hours is $1,000 and includes editing+++
8.DON"T LOSE THAT SHOT LIST!!!
9. +++ MARKETING! You can suggest to the bride, before the big day, that you will include the editing in your price, but will need to keep the files for a while and let people order through your web site or through FAA and let them know the price for 5x7,8x10,etc. and this will compensate you,you're telling this to the bride, for your labor in the editing. Might work or it might be something you don't care to do, but it's a thought.

 

Weddings are stressful, for everyone involved, so try and keep this as a fun thing, a "paid" seminar for you, to see if this is something you enjoy,not everyone does.

 

You're biggest problem will be the guests and their smart phones, so if you can control that, you control your success,

 

Good Luck!

 

Rich

Hello to All! I'm a member of Fine Art America and have two groups, that I manage and also post a lot to the other threads, relative to photography, Photoshop,photo business,camera gear,etc. Many of these never see the light of day again, so I've decided to go and "rescue" them and post them here. 

Here's one form that FAA site, about "Night Photogrpahy", in response to another members question:

Mary,

 One of the easiest techniques to use, along with a cable release or self-timer, is MLU, Mirror Lock-Up. Many photographers mistakenly attribute "softness" of the image to the quality of the lens and in many cases, it's the vibration from the heavy mirror,slapping down,while the shutter is still open. So get the manual out and look this up and see if your camera has this MLU.

Here are 2 good explanations of MLU:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/mirror-lock.shtml

https://improvephotography.com/9442/mirror-lockup-is-a-conspiracy-sort-of/

"However, if you don’t yet have a professional tripod and ballhead (click here to see my good, better, and best tripod and ballhead recommendations), then MLU is one setting you should pay attention to when using shutter speeds between 1/80 and 3 seconds."

So any shutter speed faster than around 1/80th won't see/be affected by the mirror and then from there, to the longer exposures,seconds,it will be seen and then any longer exposures and the vibration will blend in and not be seen. So there is a range when you should use MLU.

Next, night shots! Don't know if you have any "night" around you,probably do,so let's practice before you go to this great location. Now, with no pressure, you should really learn your camera and controls,before getting somewhere and looking to find certain buttons or functions,while the shot of your life is slowly vanishing! Take your camera AND your husband! and just go and find some horizon shots,doesn't need to be pretty for this excercise,set up the tripod,camera,cable release and set the camera's ISO @100 and begin to record the setting Sun. I would actually wait until the sun is below the horizon for this test. Keep the F-stop constant, F11 or F16 or so and watch the sky,as it turns from warm to blue and record the exposure times(should be in "file Info",if you camera records that stuff) and watch your "histogram" too. As it get's darker, the meter is going to want to open up and make the scene brighter,which we don't want! So watch the histogram for that or just watch the screen,but at night,the histogram is better to use for judging exposure.

Ok, here's where the fun begins! To your eye, it's pretty dark and not much color, BUT to the camera, it's GLORIOUS! (By now, most of the other photographers will have left,but you'll know that the best is yet to come, in Acadia.) The sky might look black to you,but it's still has lot's of color to your camera. I'd keep shooting until the exposures are getting long,minutes, instead of seconds, for this test anyway. This may take 30 minutes to do this,more, if you start when the sun is still visible in the sky or horizon line.

It also might help for you to have a small note book and record your "classification" of the sky/sunset and how light and dark it is,as you're capturing the images. Later, you can look at the notes and see " Pretty black now and can't imagine getting anything from this" and then compare that to the actual file capture and you'll be in for a surprise!

Later, your "eye" can be trained to know how the sky looks and know how the image will come out! But I would make a tiny chart,with exposure times and time "time" relative to the time posted for actual sunset and know, 14 minutes after the actual "posted" time for sunset, F16,@ISO 100 and 1 minute and 30 seconds and I've got the shot!

There have been times(usually lot's of bugs were involved) when I won't even get out of the car, until the sun is below the horizon!