Archive for April, 2007

I received a comment on my previous post from Michael D. Rubin of Nikon with a link to Capture NX “How to ” series. It’s quite a good resource for Capture NX users.
Articles on that page today:

• How to batch convert files.
• How to adjust contrast using Control Points.
• How to crop an image.
• How to brighten a portion of an image.
• How to enhance sunset images.
• How to batch process using the “Save As..” option.
• How to enhance a dull blue sky.
• How to enhance dull withered looking grass.
• How to use the Plus and Minus Brush for localized enhancement.
• How to use the “Zoom Tool” and “Light Table” views for viewing thumbnails.
• How to isolate an object or subject and apply gradated saturation.
• How to use the Edit List.
• How to use the Base Adjustments.
• How to use the different print options.
• How to print copies at a specific size.
• How to print contact sheets with or without image information.
• How to manage and organize your images using Labels.
• How to reduce the effects of Chromatic Aberration.
• How to Crop an image and print to that size.
• How do I correct for red-eye that occurs with flash photography?
• How to rename multiple JPEG files without resaving them.
• How to convert multiple RAW NEF images to JPEG
• How to correct a color cast in a JPEG or TIFF image for more natural color.
• How to blur the background to accent your subject.
• How to eliminate or reduce dust spots visible in some images.
• How to compensate for loss of detail in an overexposed NEF RAW image.
• How to use the Levels & Curves tool to optimize contrast.

I keep testing Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Nikon Capture NX.

The first thing one might need in a software designed for professional photographers is a photo organizer that helps labelling, rating, naming, keywording, and later finding a photo.

Capture NX calls it’s organizer Browser.

click on the screenshot to see it in full size

You can add labels to images and rate them, but there is no way to assign keywords. The worst thing with the Browser of Capture NX is that when you resize the browser window or change the size of the thumbnail images with the Bird’s eye tool in the top right hand corner the images are not rearranged and you are forced to scroll right-left to find a picture.

Lightroom’s photo organizer is called Library.

click on the screenshot to see it in full size

In Litghroom’s Library you can flag, rate and keyword your images and assign them to collections. You can make some basic adjustments as well activating the right hand side panel.

click on the screenshot to see it in full size

The user interface of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is much more handy with its folding and unfolding panels. I also prefer it’s black and grey background color which is – apart from that it looks stylish – supports color perception throughout the image adjustment work. I also like the shooting details – EXIF info – that is available on the screen without a mouse click.

Looking at the photo organizer capabilities of the two software packages I’d vote for Lightroom.

Lightroom vs. Capture NX – part I
Lightroom vs. Capture NX – part III
(photo adjustment)

I found an interesting blog post on Photography Tips about what lenses to use for portrait photography.
I like that blog and keep reading.

Other links on the topic:

• Nikon D80 Portrait Lens Tests – a great comparison of lenses written by William Castleman
• www.photo.net
• www.starephotography.com

I started to read lens reviews only after purchasing my D80 with the 18-135mm kit lens. Smart, eh?
I found Bjørn Rørslett’s Lens Survey And Subjective Evaluations to be the most authentic and reliable review collection on Nikkor lenses.
Not to rely on only one source it’s worth looking at Ken Rockwell’s Nikkor SLR Lens Tests and maybe David Ruether’s Subjective Lens Evaluations as well. Based on experts’ opinion I have a short wish list of three lenses.

I feel a burning desire for the first one.
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED (Bjørn’s review, Ken’s review)

I’m really not sure about the second one. It’s reported to be too heavy that one might not want to carry all day. I’ll keep thinkign about it.
AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED (Bjørn’s review, Ken’s review)

The last one may seem to be redundant if we consider the two others, but is so simple and so nice.
AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D (Bjørn’s review (scroll down a bit), Ken’s review)

It may seem ridiculous, but I’m proud of it . This is the blog statistics chart of my original blog at Wordpress.com on 24 April 2007.

It’s a relatively fresh blog that I started in December last year. Since that time I haven’t achieved my original goal – improving my photography skills by receiving comments on my pictures – because very few people comment on my pictures. However I became passionate of writing posts for my blog and seeing the – still very low, but sometimes jumping – number of my readers day by day. Furthermore I discovered some of the inner workings of the blogsphere.

• the title of a post does matter: other bloggers on Wordpress.com are surfing through posts possibly like me – reading as little as possible and selecting just by a few words
• textual posts are – quite understandably – more attractive for search engines than single picture entries
• posts with strong visuals are more attractive for human readers
• there are cold periods throughout a week: during weekend days I have even fewer readers than other days
• there are hot – or at least warm – periods within a day: I suspect that the majority of the users of Wordpress.com are living in the US since the number of my readers start increasing after 4 p.m. CET.
• there are hot topics that might attract much more visitors than others: the best day ever of my blog was – don’t laugh, please – when I posted the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom vs. Nikon Capture NX article
• traffic can be generated by being nice and posting on other’s blogs
• building popularity and attracting traffic is hard work and requires time

A much more authentic article on the topic and a great collection of links can be found on www.copyblogger.com.

Update on April 26, 2007

I thought I had understood a few things about blogging and number of readers attracted by blog posts. I know nothing. I have no idea what might have happened here. See this chart below:

I was experiencing the limitations of my equipment. 135mm focal length was simply too short, and I could not get any closer without getting wet.