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Gimme Some Bokeh

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bo·keh

/bōˈkā/

noun

Photography

noun: bokeh

  1. the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, mostly as rendered by a particular lens.
  2. “a quick, visual survey of the foreground and background bokeh of a variety of lenses.”

Creating a bokeh in a photographic image is a technique that can have a positive impact on an image.

Bokeh is also known as a shallow depth of field, selective focus, or a blurring background. This process helps define the subject, and the remainder of the image becomes a negative space.

What are the three methods of creating a bokeh?

First, the most commonly used method is choosing a wide aperture: the wider the aperture (2.8 is wider than 5.6), the greater the blur. If you are interested in achieving a creamy background, choose a lens and aperture to give you the best results. Below are examples of images that illustrate the effect.

Notice the amount of blur and f/2.8 and lack of it starting at f/8

The second method for creating a bokeh is choosing a long focal length lens. The focal length is defined in millimeters, and The longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view, and the higher the magnification. The shorter the focal length, the wider the angle of view, and the lower the magnification. For example, if you have a 70-300mm lens, the longer focal length of 300mm will provide a more noticeable bokeh than a focal length of 70mm. Below are examples of a 200mm focal length, a 400mm focal length, and a 600mm focal length.

200mm lens f/4
400mm lens f/5.6
600mm at f/4

The third method is the proximity to the subject. The closer the camera is to the subject, the blurrier the background will be. This procedure can present a focus issue, so make sure you use your single AF points.

Not sure what AF Points are? Check out my online courses and private lessons.

ART BEAT: Duluth photographer finds new artistic subjects in her own back yard

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Reprinted from the Gwinnett Daily Post – May 24, 2020. Article by Holley Calmes, Staff Correspondent

Mary Buck has traveled far and wide, creating photographic art at colorful locales of Cuba, Venice, and Paris.

Quarantined at home by COVID-19 and wondering how to spend her time, she found new artistic inspiration outside her window.

The Duluth resident, a talented and versatile photographer, found being sequestered difficult. To pass the time, she decided to decorate her backyard, adding new visual interests that include a birdbath, a squirrel feeder and a hummingbird feeder.

“Little did I know what was in store for me,” Buck said. “I soon found the silver lining in my quarantine when birds started to appear.”

Buck’s small, intown back yard was perfect for bird watching, with young trees and the new birdbath and feeders.

“Little by little, more birds started to appear. I was fascinated by their colors and songs, and marveled at their instinctive skills,” she said.

Gifted photographer that she is, it didn’t take long for Buck to grab her camera and start photographing her winged visitors. Using her longest lens, she was able to capture photos of birds splashing in the birdbath. The fascination grew from there.

Bucks said: “I knew little about birds except for the common ones like robins and cardinals, so I installed a bird identity app on my phone. I quickly learned to identify the birds and learned so much about them. I was astonished at how many types of birds my yard in Duluth attracted.”

Buck has learned to be prepared for her avian friends.

“My outdoor set up is simple,” she said. “It consists of fencing, which acts as a perching platform, as well as many small trees which are within reach of my 400 mm lens. And it amazes me how often the birds splash in the bird bath.”

As a portrait photographer, Buck knows that light is an all-important factor in capturing the perfect image.

“Lighting is a key element in achieving optimal results,” she said. “The morning light is best and provides that ‘glint in the eye’ which is just as important for a bird portrait as a people portrait. The late-day sun is a little harsher, but I am able to capture rim lighting on the birds which highlight their unique feathers and plumes.

“I am partial to the brightly colored birds which are usually the males.

I love the goldfinch, Carolina bluebird, and the cardinal. The house finch is also a favorite and probably the most common bird in my yard.”

Before she was sequestered at home, Buck knew nothing about birds.

“I never took the time to listen and watch birds. Now that I have become familiar with them, it has opened up a whole new world for me,” Buck said. “All this time, they were right in front of my eyes.” Now they are in front of her camera, too.

Mary Buck teaches private photography lessons for photo enthusiasts who would like to learn how to take better pictures.

To learn more about her private lessons visit the website.

You can visit Buck’s fine art web site at https://1-mary-buck.pixels.com/

A Creative Guide for Photographers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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Are you a photographer stuck at home?

Most cities now have a “shelter in place” mandate to stop the spread of the awful Coronavirus. The safest thing to do is stay at home, but how can you keep your creative juices flowing? Our new normal (at least for the next 30-60 days) can be a great time to learn new skills in Photoshop, Lightroom, photography and video. I have found many ways to continue being productive and help pass the time while having fun. I would like to share a creative guide for photographers with you.

Below is my shortlist of ways you can be creative.

  • Linkedinlearning.com
  • CreativeLive
  • Harold Davis books and videos
  • Spring flower photography
  • Macro photography
  • Start a photo journal

Let’s start with Linkedinlearning.com

Formerly lynda. com., LinkedIn offers a plethora of online learning including everything you have ever wanted to know about Photoshop, Lightroom and ACR. If you are new to Photoshop, I would start with the Essentials Training Basics and Essential Training Photography. I took both courses and then I jumped on to Photoshop 2020 One-on-One Fundamentals. I have been a Photoshop user for almost twenty years, but I still learned so much about the software and how I can improve and enhance my photography. Best of all, the subscription is only $30 per month and you can cancel it anytime you want.

Here are some of the best tips I learned so far:

  • Use the content-aware tool to extend a background when cropping.
  • Add your copyright to an image that will be posted online.
  • Use scrubby sliders to increase or decrease a setting (now I am getting really excited)
  • Converting to a smart object for a non-destructive edit.
  • Lots and lots of keyboard shortcuts.
Here is just one of the Photoshop tips I learned.
The image above was converted to a smart object and next an oil paint filter was applied. Copyright information was embedded using the file info command.

Creative Live rocks!

I have been an active member of Creative Live since 2012. Their online workshops are intended for those who have a passion for being creative. You can learn new photography skills such as wildlife photography, or try something new like public speaking. (we can all use that). If you are a parent homeschooling your child, you can probably find some crafty projects to work on with them. Creative Live’s tagline is: Master your craft, your passion, or something new with creative classes taught by the world’s best.

The trick with Creative Live is to find out their schedule for their FREE ON-AIR and LIVE classes. They are usually during the day, and now what else to you have to do? You can also pay a fee to watch an online course at your own freedom. Creative Live offers a Pass for a very affordable monthly or annual fee. To learn more about Creative Live click the link below.

Join in on the this phenomenal, ground-breaking, learning environment and register for a CreativeLive Photography online course, or any course that interests you.

If you haven’t heard of Harold Davis

you are in for a big treat. He is not only one of the best photographers on earth, he is also a poet and wonderful instructor. He has a knack for creating beauty out of simple subjects and is willing he is to share his skill and talent. I would start on his website to learn more about his books, webinars and live workshops.

Harold’s creative vision is unparalleled in the industry. He has been one of my favorite photographers for a long time. I have enjoyed one of his webinars: Painting in Transparency Using a High-Key Layer Stack Webinar with Harold Davis, that I have watched it over and over again. For this process, you will need a lightbox, and there are lots of DIY instructions available online. It will be worth your time to check out Harold Davis.

An example of a high-key layer stack.
(Harold’s are much better)
Here is another example of the high key layer stack method. Apparently I used it for a holiday greeting.

The spring flowers are amazing

depending on where you live. In Georgia, spring has sprung, and the landscape is filled with cherry blossoms, azaleas, tulips, dogwoods, and a very high pollen count. Going outside in nature can be a great way to unstress in today’s uncertain times. Maintaining social distancing is a must.

You can research the botanical gardens where you live to see if they are open. Near where I live, Gibbs Gardens is still open. Although I have been there many times, I find the early spring to be the most beautiful time to witness and photograph nature. Gibbs Gardens is in Ballground, GA, about 50 miles north of Atlanta. If you go, make sure you pay online in advance and go online for their hours.

An image from Gibbs Gardens taken March 22, 2020. A Topaz Impression filter was used to enhance this image.
I tiptoed through the tulips at Gibbs Gardens on March 22 and never saw such a beautiful display of tulips in my life.

Macro Photography is like discovering

a parallel universe that can not typically be seen with the naked eye. I am just beginning my adventures in this genre of photography, so I do not have tons to share except get out there and give it a try.

You will need a macro lens or an extension tube kit. The extension tubes are the cheapest way to go and are a great way to start out in macro photography. I used the tube kit for years but decided to invest in a macro lens this year. I have the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens which is an awesome sharp lens, which I can also use for portraits.

Macro photography is something you can do in your own backyard or at your kitchen table. Crawl around on the ground and look under plants and in the soil and you might be surprised what you can see with a macro lens. For indoor work, I usually buy a bouquet of flowers from Publix and photography them all week long. If you live in an area where spring flowers are in bloom, you will have a special advantage.

This image was taken using extension tubes. The water droplets underneath the brush were barely visible with the naked eye.
This image is a macro of the back of a sunflower. I used my extension tubes for this image focusing on the foreground and letting the background present an ethereal look.
Who doesn’t love a rose? I photographed this rose using my Canon Macro 100mm lens. I used an aperture of f/18 so the layers of petals would not be blurred due to a shallow depth of field.

Lastly, I would encourage you to journal

during these difficult times. You never know, your journal could become a best-seller someday. Since you are a photographer, accompany your text with photographs that tell a story. Your story could be handed down to your grandchildren and great-grandchildren someday.

I hope I have given you enough ideas for a month.

Hopefully, we will not be hunkered down after April. We will all get through this together. Be safe, stay healthy and keep shooting!

Looking forward to the day when we can all bask on the beach together!

Learn more about Private Lessons for Adults

Learn more about Private Lessons for Teens

Learn more about the one-day Photography Immersion Workshop

Travel Photography in Panama

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My travel photography brought me to two spots this year

before the pandemic stopped all travel.  I flew to Panama in early February, and in the first week of March, I visited Arizona. Both places are completely different, but I found that I was drawn to the same subjects. I photographed landscapes, flowers, birds, and architecture in both locations.  It was so wonderful to have experienced the travel before social distancing became the new norm.

The beauty of the country of Panama in Central America

was captured ferociously with my Canon EOS R and Canon EOS 80d. I chose to bring two cameras, so I would not have more latitude in focal length choices and not have to change lenses frequently. My favorite telephoto lens is the Tamron 18-300mm lens, which I choose to use with my cropped sensor Canon 80d camera, which gave me an effective focal length of 28-480mm. The maximum focal length is perfect for bird photography. My Canon EOS R is a full-frame camera, which I chose for sunrises, sunsets, and other low light situations where I had to use a high ISO.  My lens of choice with that camera was the 24-105mm. The 24mm provided a true 24mm and was the perfect wide-angle focal length for landscape photography. In my one week in Panama, I created over three-thousand images of

  • beautiful birds
  • architecture
  • flowers
  • sunrises, and sunsets
  • the rainforest
  • and the Harpy Eagle

I would like to share my travel photography in Panama

for the readers of this blog.  For easier reading or skimming, I have categorized the remainder of the blog into the sections which I listed above. Because every picture tells a story, the description of images is kept short and sweet. For more information on a trip to Panama contact Condor Tours and Travel. Read Lori’s blog about Panama.

Beautiful Birds

The hummingbirds are abundant in Gamboa, in the Panamanian rainforest. I used a fast shutter speed of 1/500 sec. to capture this image.

Architecture

The Catedral Basílica Santa María La Antigua is in Old Town Panama. This church was built between 1688 and 1794, its main facade presents a series of architectural elements typical of the prized churches such as the Caravaca Cross, the Papal Emblem and the city keys.

The old barracks once occupied by the US military are now empty shells. Their photogenic nature draws many photographers.

Flowers

Although I do not know the name of this flower, it was flourishing in the rain forest of Gamboa. The flowers are pink or red. The softness of the petals led me to this flower.

Sunrises and Sunsets

A colorful and mesmerizing sunrise was taken at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. A high dynamic image provided a blend of several exposures by using my camera’s built-in HDR setting.

Sunset on the Pacific Ocean does did not disappoint me with its array of golden tones. I also got lucky with the birds. My ISO was set to 400 for this image and I exposed for the sky for a silhouetted effect.

The Rain Forest

One of the highlights of my trip was to visit the indigenous tribe on the Chagres River. The village of Tusipono welcomed us with music and ceremonial dance.

A local guide led us for a jungle tour on the Chagres River. Disneyworld will never be the same. Our canoe driver was a member of the Tusipono Village.

The Harpy Eagle

Mytrip to Panama would not have been complete without a photo of their national bird, the harpy eagle. I was not fortunate to find one in the wild, so this guy was photographed at the Summit zoo. My 400 mm telephoto came in handy for this shot.

For more information on my photography lessons and workshops visit the website.

Learn more about Private Lessons for Adults

Learn more about Private Lessons for Teens

Learn more about the one-day Photography Immersion Workshop

How to Inventory Your Photography Equipment.

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Do you have adequate insurance for everything in your camera bag?

You’ll know if you take a few hours to inventory your equipment. I just completed this task and I explain how I did it below.

I finally decided to inventory my camera equipment this month. What else is there to do on a rainy, winter day? It occurred to me that if I had my camera bag stolen out of my car or on location, I would not know off the top of my head what exactly what was in the bag.

I decided to use an electronic inventory method, so I could provide my insurance company with a PDF, in the event I had my stuff stolen. So I laid out all my equipment on the floor, photographed all my gear, including camera bodies, flash, filter, SD cards, batteries, and other accessories. I created a Word Table with four columns and wrote down the serial number, date purchased, and the cost new. I inserted the photograph of the item in the first column. Next, I dug up all the receipts, so they were all in one place. I’ve purchased most of my equipment on Amazon or B&H Photo, so I was able to log on to both sites and retrieve my order history.

It is a good idea to contact your insurance company to find out what your home policy covers. If you are over the limit they provide, you may have to take out additional insurance.

Luckily for me, the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) provides $15,000 of equipment insurance with the annual membership.

So get started now, and don’t forget the SD cards, batteries, and lens filters. They all add up. It might be the best thing you’ll do all month.

If you would like the template that I created, contact me, and I will email it to you.

Why I Switched From a DSLR to a Mirrorless Camera

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I have had my eye on several Mirrorless cameras in the past year. My interest was split among the Sony a7 III, the Fuji X-T3, and the Canon EOS R.

When Canon sent me an email last month that the Canon EOS  R’s price was being discounted by $700, it was a no brainer. I quickly purchased the camera and lens. I ordered it before Christmas and it was delivered on December 19, which made a nice Christmas present to myself.

My first impression when I took it out of the box,  was that it was much smaller and looked a little different than a Canon DSLR. As a previous Canon user, the controls are familiar; however, I have had to learn many new things about the camera. To understand them, I have visited YouTube many times. Still, the best aid has been David Busath’s book on the Canon EOS R. David does an excellent job of explaining how to use the features and also provides a refresher on lighting and exposure. I highly recommend David’s books which cover most of the popular DSLR and Mirrorless cameras.

The Canon EOS R is the tenth digital camera I have owned since I went completely digital in 2003. The majority of the cameras I owned were Canons, except for three, including a Nikon, a Sony, and an Olympus. Not only have cameras changed since then, so have my preferences and genres of photography. So far, the camera is beyond my expectations as I continue to learn about it.

In a nutshell, the reasons I like it are:

  • The small size (because there is no mirror)
  • The large articulating LCD screen
  • The touch focus
  • The face and eye detection
  • The RF lens mount
  • The built-in time-lapse feature
  • The capability of using all Canon lenses with a special adaptor
  • Over 5,000 AF points resulting is very sharp images
  • Can connect to your smartphone using Blue Tooth/Wifi

In addition to the features listing above, I also love this camera is because it has an electronic viewfinder that shows precisely how the picture looks, including all Picture Style (color, contrast, etc.) settings, distortion corrections, white balance, highlights and shadows and exposure all LIVE as you look through the finder. It will be an excellent camera for travel and working on location. The camera feels great in my hands, and I cannot wait to use it when I visit Panama next month.

Will I stop using my Canon 5d Mark 1V?  I probably will not.  That camera is a workhorse, and I will continue to keep it in my arsenal as a second camera.

If you would like to read more information about the Canon EOS R check out the Canon website or Google the Canon EOS R and read many of the reviews.