Jim Doty - Photo Blog
 

 
Photography: Photos, News, and Tips
 
 
   
 
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
 
REMARKABLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

This is the most remarkable Christmas light display by a home owner that I have ever seen. It is computer synchronized to the music and the most spectacular part is at the end. You will need a broadband connection and Windows Media Player. Go here or here or here.

Merry Christmas!
 
MAGIC DIGITAL ERASER

Digital Eraser Illustration


It would be nice to have a magic digital eraser to remove unwanted objects from photographs. Just click on the object and it is gone.

It can be done, it just takes lots of clicks, some time, some skill, and the "digital eraser" tools that come with most image editing software. The photo above was edited entirely with Photoshop Elements 2, excellent software that you can get for less than $100. (I have the full version of Photoshop CS but didn't need it for this task.)

I was asked if I could remove the hands and arms from this photo. The task was more challenging than the usual digital removal request, but I decided to give it a go.

Simple removals, like taking a power line out of blue sky, are easy. Just use the CLONE STAMP tool, click to select some blue sky pixels next to the power line, then click again to drop the blue sky pixels right on power line. Voila! That part of the power line disappears. Simple. Repeat up and down the power line until it is gone. The same is true for removing a small skin blemish from a face. Click on some clear skin nearby, then click on the blemish and it is gone.

The challenge with this photo was the need to create whole new areas from scratch, or so it seems.

Part of the hands and arms were easy to remove. Grab some orange from the tiger costume, some burgundy from the caballero costume, or some of the dark shades from the background, and clone them right over the adjacent hands and arms.

In other areas, using the CLONE STAMP tool was more like free hand drawing. Grab an orange and black edge and drag it over the hand, extending the existing line. This works well if you don't have to drag too far. If you make a mistake, simply undo the last step, or back up a few steps in the history palette and try it again. It takes a steady hand and a bit of an artistic touch. The more you do this, the better you get.

The trickiest part of this photo was creating the missing one and a half fingers on the right hand. Use the CLONE STAMP tool and drop or draw pixels from the fully visible fingers.

For larger sections, instead of using the CLONE STAMP tool, it is easier just to grab a "selection" from somewhere else in the photo. The missing part of the right shoulder was taken from the left shoulder. This is easier than the description of it sounds.

Using the LASSO tool, draw a SELECTION around the area to be borrowed from the left shoulder. From the menu go to LAYER > NEW > LAYER VIA COPY. This turns the selection into a new layer. Pick the MOVE tool. Hold down the ALT key, left click, and drag the left shoulder layer over to the right shoulder area. The shoulder is backwards so you will need to flip it. From the menu choose IMAGE > ROTATE > FLIP SELECTION HORIZONTAL.

To make minor changes, go to the menu and pick IMAGE > TRANSFORM > FREE TRANSFORM to resize or make slight changes in the rotation of the layer so it fits the new location. Change the OPACITY of the layer to see what is underneath it.

Once your layer (shoulder) is in place, change the OPACITY back to 100%. Use LEVELS (under ENHANCE > ADJUST BRIGHTNESS AND CONTRAST) to match the layer brightness as closely as possible to the new location. Then go to LAYER > FLATTEN IMAGE. Use the CLONE STAMP tool to do any necessary blending and matching of colors where the new selection was dropped in place.

The same technique took the left sleeve to create the right sleeve. The area under the right sleeve (next to the yellow cloth) came from the area under the left arm.

Using selections and layers to take one area of a photo and use in another is a lot easier than trying to create the area free hand. This works for small touches too. The star on the caballero costume was selected, turned into a new layer, distorted in shape (IMAGE > TRANSFORM > SKEW) and moved to two other places of newly created costume.

There really is a magic digital eraser. The tools in the image editing software provide the eraser. You provide the magic!


Support this site. Buy your image editing software from the links at the bottom of this page. Or use the Amazon link at the bottom of the pages of my photo website and search for the software of your choice. Thanks.

Saturday, November 26, 2005
 
PHOTO OF THE DAY: CLIFTON MILL

Clifton Mill, Ohio
Clifton Mill Ohio. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.

Clifton Mill, built in 1802, is one of the largest powered grist mills still in existence.

Of several mills that were built along the Little Miami River near the Village of Clifton, Clifton Mill is the only one still in existence. Clifton is in the Dayton area and just east of Yellow Springs.

From late November through January 1 there is a nightly lighting display from 6 PM to 9:30 PM. More information is here. You can eat at the mill, shop at the store, and watch 3 million lights go on. Go early so you can park near the entrance. More mill infomation is here.

Both sides of the river bank are covered with lights. You can see one of two waterfalls to the left of the lighted mill wheel (the other is not visible in this photo). This photo was taken from a window on the covered briidge. The camera was tripod mounted to allow a long shutter speed.

If you want to make it a day, check out the art galleries and shops in Yellow Springs, then head east to Clifton for the light show. Some of the shops in Yellow Springs have a distinctive kind of "60's hippie" feel.

Canon 10D, ISO 100, daylight white balance. Canon EF 17-40mm lens at 17mm. Aperture: f/8, Shutter: 8 seconds.
 
DVD RECORDERS

DVDs are replacing videotapes. DVD Recorders are replacing VCRs which will probably go the way of the 8-track. Some DVD Recorders will record TV shows to a hard drive and allow you to edit out the commercials before you record to a DVD. You can slo record your videotapes to DVD with a DVD Recorder. If you are worried about your treasured videotapes wearing out or deteriorating over time, now is the time to convert them to DVDs.

Prices are going down and quality is going up. So how do you pick a good unit? A list of good review sites is here. The same site also has its own reviews.

Monday, November 21, 2005
 
PHOTO MECHANIC BETA

Photo Mechanic is an excellent image viewer and editor for Windows PCs and Macs. You can download the current beta (version 4.4) here.

Friday, November 18, 2005
 
PHOTO OF THE DAY - ASIAN FESTIVAL

Asian Festival - Columbus, Ohio
Asian Festival - Columbus, Ohio. Photo copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
 
CANON 5D REVIEW

Canon 5D
Canon EOS 5D

In August, I did a "First Look" comparison of the Canon 20D and the new Canon 5D.

A few days ago, Phil Askey at DP Review published a detailed review of the Canon 5D and gave it a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, his highest. I am happy to report that this review confirms the observations I made in my article last August. In the review, Phil Askey says "The EOS 5D is a fantastic photographic tool which is capable of producing really excellent results. The caveat is that it takes a little more care and understanding of your equipment (especially lenses). We found resolution to be absolutely excellent with crisp detailed results straight from the camera (JPEG) and even more detail available if you shoot RAW."

Phil knows his stuff. DP Review is one of the most widely read and highly respected digital camera review sites on the internet. It has been recommended in several photo magazines.

What is so special about the Canon 5D? It is one of only two cameras now being manufactured that have a full-frame (35mm size) digital sensor. The other camera, the Canon 1Ds Mk II, sells for well over $7,000. The Canon 5D is currently selling for $3299.

The Canon 5D has a 12.8 megapixel sensor which equates to big enlargements. The large photosites (pixels) mean low noise at high ISOs.

So who is buying this camera?

A lot of professionals that use the Canon 1Ds Mk II are now using the Canon 5D as a backup body or when they want to carry a much smaller and much lighter weight camera body.

A lot of serious amateurs (and a number or professionals) are upgrading from the 20D to the 5D, which is the primary reason I wrote my article last August. The advantages of a large, full frame sensor in a relatively compact body make the price worth it for those who can afford it. If past history is any indication, the price should drop below $3,000 sometime in the next few months.

Is the Canon 5D for you? Read my article and the review at DP Review and then you decide.


Order a Canon EOS 5D from Amazon or Adorama to get a great price and pay no taxes (unless you live in a state that collects taxes for internet purtchases). Amazon will also give you free shipping. If you order using one of these links, it will help support my websites and won't cost you a penny more. Thanks.

Thursday, November 17, 2005
 
CANON LENS RECALL

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens

There is good news and bad news.

The good news is that this is an excellent lens, perhaps the best Canon mount walk-around lens in this focal length range. My article on this lens is here .

The bad news is that some early production samples of this lens may have a problem with excessive flare. Canon will repair these lenses at no charge.

Affected lenses have a control number less than 1000. Look on the rear lens mount for the letters UT followed by a four digit number. If it is less than 1000, your lens may need to be fixed. Some early lenses have the problem with flare and some do not. An example of the problem is here.

Canon is no longer shipping this lens and has recalled all dealer stock. When this lens is available again, the problem should be corrected.

This is why I usually recommend waiting a few months after a new product is introduced before buying it. This allows the manufacturers some time to work out the bugs. Do I follow my own advice? Usually but not always.

This is still a great lens and I intend to acquire one when they are back on the market and the flare problem is solved.

You can pre-order the CANON EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM LENS from Amazon or Adorama.

 

 
   
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