Notes for George Lepp’s Seminar
INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES
Featured Web Sites, Products, and Techniques
EQUIPMENT
Tripods:
Gitzo1541Travelerand2531Mountaineer(travel)
GitzoGT2541EXExplorer(4sections/G-lock)
GitzoGT3541(heavy-duty)
ReallyRightStuff
BallHeads:
ArcaSwiss
RRSBH55orRRSBH40(ReallyRightStuff)
KirkEnterprises
Gitzo/Bogen
SensorDebrisTest:
1. Lensatminimumaperture(f/16-f/22)
2. Setfocustoinfinity
3. Exposureatplus1
4. Photographwhiteorgreysheet
5. ViewinPhotoshopat100%magnification
www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com
SensorScope,SensorPen,www.micro-tools.com
LCDViewing:
SetLCDtothemiddlebrightnesssettingtomatchhistogram
Hoodman3”Loupeforviewinginbrightlight
HoodmanCineStraporCraneforDSLRVideo
http://www.HoodmanUSA.com
Filters:
Singh-RayLBColorCombo,Vari-ND(2-8stops),andMorSlo5,10,15stop (www.singh-ray.com)
Infrared(IR)ConversionsofDSLRs:
www.LifePixel.com
CapturingLightningDuringtheDay
LightningBug:www.mkcontrols.com
LightningTrigger:www.lightningtrigger.com
ProjectedFlash
BetterBeamer–www.BirdsAsArt.com$40
MagBeam–https://magnetmod.com/shop/magbeamwildlife-kit/$74.95
CanonMacroFlash
CanonMT-24EXandCanonMR-14EX
CamRanger
CamRanger(www.camranger.com)isanexcellenttoolto
monitorimagesonaniPhoneoriPadwhendoingstacking
orworkingindifficultpositions.Alsohasstackingmode.
StackShotRailMacro(http://www.cognisys-inc.com)
Precise focus stacking movements from 2 microns to 200mm.
Can also be used in the field with an optional battery pack. Two
sized rails available.
PRODUCTSandPROCEDURESforSPECIALTECHNIQUES
EXTENDEDDEPTHOFFIELD(STACKING)FORALL
SUBJECTS(WORKSFORMACROANDLANDSCAPE):
Procedure:
1. Tripodorcopystand(focusingrail)
2. Manualambientexposureorelectronicflash
3. Choosebestf/stop;notediffractionproblemsexist
athigherf/stopswithhighermagnification
4. Setmanualwhitebalance(usuallyflashorsun)
5. Subjectcannotmove
6. ManuallyrefocuseachimageoruseStackShot
7. Overlapin-focusareas
8. Watchforlargeforegroundobjectsthat“bloom”out
offocus
9. CompositewithPhotoshopCS/4,5,6orCC;HeliconFocus
software;orZereneStacker(seebelow).
CanonEOSUtility
Downloadthenewestversion3fromCanon
Canmonitorstackingandcontrol
basicstackingwithintheprogram.
PhotoshopCS/4-CC2017
Autoalign
Auto-blendlayers
HeliconFocus6Windows
HeliconFocus6MacOS
http://www.heliconfocus.com/
ForMacandWindows
LightVersionfrom$30(1yearlicense)
to$115(fulllicense)
ProVersionfrom$55(1yearlicense)
to$200(fulllicense)
ProX64$250
ZereneStacker
www.zerenesystems.com/stacker
MacorPC
ProfessionalEdition(ProUser)$289
ProsumerEdition$189
PersonalEdition$89
Student$39
More on Depth of Field: George and Kathryn’s article, “In Search
of Sharpness: How to take control of depth of field in the camera
and the computer” was published in Outdoor Photographer’s JanuaryFebruary 2013 issue. See it at
http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/insearch-of-sharpness.html. PANORAMAS:
KindsofPanoramas
CompositePanos
MacroPanos
HDRCombinationPanos
Hand-heldPanos
Gigapans
AerialPanos
ActionSequencePanos
CompositePanoramaProcedures:
1.Levelthetripod
--Bogen#3502CompactLevelingHead
--BogenLevelingCentercolumn,#554,555,556
2.Levelthecamera—useabubblelevel(twoaxis)
3.Setexposuretomanual
4.Setamanualwhitebalance(day)
5.Checkthepanarea
6.Photographw/20%to50%overlap
7.Brackettheset
Stitchpanoramasin:
PhotoshopCS3/4/5/6/CCPhotoMerge
AutoPanoPro3,AutoPanoGiga3www.kolor.com
GigapanSofware:www.gigapan.com/cms/shop/software
Horizontal(andvertical,ifneeded)panoramascanextendthe
DOFbyslightchangesinfocusbetweeneachimage.TheDOF
mustoverlapineachimage.
CompositeMacroPanoramaProcedures(usinga
telephotomacrolens):
Useproceduresandstitchingsoftwareasabove.Iusethe
Canon180mmmacrolensw/2Xtele-extenderformanyofmy
compositemacro/close-uppanoramas
IfusingCanonEOScamerasconsidersetting“SilentLVshoot”
mode1toeliminatemirrorvibration.Disableafterusesoas
tonotslowdownthecamera’sframerate.
ExtendingDepthofFieldinPanoramaswithinMacro/Close-up:
ExamplesofDOFforCanon65mm
1X-5XMacrolens.DOFisminimal!!
*Measured in mm
2
ReallyRightStuff(reallyrightstuff.com)UltimateOmni-Pivot
Packageformultipleimagesusingatele-macrolensinrows
andcolumns
Stackshotcanbeusedtocapturefulldepthoffieldineach
positionofthepanorama;firstassemblethestackedimages,
thenassemblethepano.
Sourceofbutterfliesandinsectstophotograph:
http://www.butterfliesandthings.com/.
CombinationPanoramasusingHighDynamicRange
(ContrastControl&CreativeEffects):
Options:
HDRCS-5/6/CC(seebelow:MergetoHDRPro)
PhotomatixProHDR–www.hdrsoft.com$99
(forHDRandcreativeeffects)
Pangea-Bracketeer,www.pangeasoft.net/pano/bracketeer19.95
NikHDREfexProwww.niksoftware.comFree
HDRExpose
http://pinnacleimagingsystems.com/products/hdr-expose-3
$149
Procedure:
1.Tripod
2.Minimumofthreeexposures
3.Exposeforlightestarea–1stop
4.Onefullstopincrements
5.Finishwithexposuresfordarkestarea+1Stop
Handheld:Setcameraforauto-bracketing:twostops
under,onformiddletones,twostopsover-exposed.Set
cameratomultipleexposures.
CS-5/6/CC2017–MergetoHDRPro:Usesteps
foundinBridge>Tools>Photoshop>MergetoHDR
Pro
Single-CaptureHDR(Photomatix)
1. StartwithoneRAWcapture
2. Outputtheimagethreetimes(ARC)
a) Onceatnormalexposure
b) Onceataplus2-stop
c) Onceataminus2-stop
3. ProcessthethreeimagesinPhotomatix
4. ProcessagaininTopazPlug-in
Single-CaptureHDR(CS-5/6/CCHDRToning)
1. CS5/6/CC>Image>Adjustments>HDRToning
2. Processasifamultiplecapture
GigaPanHighResolutionMultiple-imageComposites
www.Gigapan.com
http://www.omegabrandess.com/gigapan
AerialPanoramas
Classicaerialpanosarecapturedfromaplaneorhelicopter
bytakingaseriesofimagesasquicklyaspossible,andthen
usingstandardcompositetechniquesinthecomputer.
Foranaerialmappingpanorama,onthegroundorintheair,
ratherthanrotatingthecamerafromafixedpointasina
basiccomposite,movethecameraforeachcapturesothatthe
subjectisalwaysparalleltothecamera,overlappingbyat
least50%ineachcapture.Fromanairplane,themovementof
theplatformrepositionsthecamera.
ActionSequencePanoramas
1. Followtheactionsubjectwiththemotordrive
continuingwithoutinterruption.
2. Choseaseriesofimagesthatdonotoverlapthe
subject(usuallyeveryotherorthirdimage)tomake
upthepanoramasequence.
3. InPhotoshopRawConverterorLightroom,sizeand
optimizetheimagestothesizeyouintendtomake
theheightofthepano.
4. InPhotoshopmakeablankcanvasthatwillbelong
enoughforalltheoverlappingsequencesinthepano.
5. Dropthesequenceinorderonthecanvasandusing
“LayerMasks”placethesequencestoassemblethe
ActionSequencePanorama.
Moreinformationandscreencapturesaboutwildlifeand
actionsequencepanoramaprocessesareavailableinour
articlesintheFebruary2012andOctober2012issuesof
OutdoorPhotographermagazine.See
http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/wildlifepanoramas.html and
http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/actionsequence-panoramas.html
SOFTWARE,EQUIPMENTANDPROCEDURESFOR
TIMELAPSE
Time-LapseConsiderations
1.Cleanthecamerasensor
2.Cameraonatripod
3.Adequatepowersupply
4.Exposuresettomanual
5.ManualWhiteBalance
6.Selecttheinterval
7.Contentconsiderations
8.JPEGatHD,2K,or4K
9.Processwith“QuickTimePro”
or“Sequence”
Time-LapseEquipment
Youneedanintervalometer:
CanonTC-80N3,7DMKIIand5DMKIVhaveitbuilt-in
Nikonbuilt-in
PhottixAion(Amazon-$84.95)
Michron($59.00),www.alpinelaboratories.com
RadianbyAlpineLabsforTime-Lapsepanoramas
www.alpinelaboratories.com($250) SlidersformovingTime-Lapses
3
TimeLapseWorkflow
Takephotoseries>downloadintofolderoncomputer>load
intoLightroom>selectall>goto“Develop”moduleand
optimizeoneoftheimages>“sync”>Exportatthesizeyou
want(probably1920x1080).Renderinsoftware.
Time-LapseSoftware
QuickTime7Pro–www.apple.com($29.99)Appleisnot
supportingQuickTime7and7Proanymore.
SomeHelphere:https://support.apple.com/enus/HT201175
WorkswithbothMacandWindows
Sequence2.0–www.frosthaus.com($34.99)
Willalsoremoveflicker(excellentprogram)
Notere:QuickTimePro(Version7)forMac
QuickTimeProforMacwillnotloadproperlybecauseof
anotherversionofQuickTimethatisnowincludedwith
thelatestIOSversionsforMac.Theansweristodownload
QuickTimeProforMac(Version7)toyourdesktopand
thenmovetheapplicationintoyour“Utilities”folder.
Openitfromthereandputitpermanentlyinyour“Dock”.
TimeLapse(moviesfromyourdigitalSLRoriPhone):
Canon:IntervalometerTC80N3,7DMKIIand5DMKIV
haveitbuiltin.
Nikon:somecamerashaveintervalometerbuiltin,oradd
IntervalometerMC-36
iPhone App – iLapse
Time-LapseProcedure:
1. Cleanyourcamera’ssensor
2. Cameraonatripod
3. Adequatepowersupply
4. Exposuresetto“AperturePriority”;useAutoISOiflightingconditionswillbechangingand
youwanttomaintainf/stopandshutterspeed
5. Selectthecaptureinterval,e.g.5seconds
6. ContentConsiderations
7. NexttoSmallestJPEG
8. Sync-processoptimizationfirstinLightroom
9. Assemblein“QuickTimePro”($29.95)
VIDEOTIPS:
MinimalorSlowmovementofcamera
Minimalzooms
TripodRecommended
Pansneedspecialfluidtripodhead
Steady!
HoodmanLoupeandCrane,orCineStrapforLCDviewing
EditingSoftware:iMovie(Mac)orPremier
Elements(Windows/Mac)
Computerwithcapablepowerandvideocard
Tellastoryandkeepitshort!
CameraSettingsforVideo
CanonSettings–ALL-I-Lesscompression,morequality
IPB – More compression, less video quality
Nikon Setting – 1920x1080, 30 fps, High Movie Quality
Frames per Second
30 fps – Normal setting with a 1/60th shutter speed
60 fps – To smooth video or improve look of slow
4
motion when slowing in post production. Faster shutter
speeds for stopping action in slow motion.
iPhoneVideoPossibilities
240fpsSlowMotion
Time-Lapsewithapps
It’sinyourpocket(Alwaysready)
BestiPhoneTime-Lapseiswithapp“iLapse”
Holdthephoneequipment:11-incharticulatingfrictionmagic
armclampmadebySevesto,andMeFotoclampforsmart
phones,bothavailablefromAmazon.com
VideoAutofocus
CanonD70,D80,D77,7DMKII,5DMKIV,1DxMKIIall
haveAFinvideo
VideoEditingPrograms
iMovie – Mac only, beginning program
Premiere Elements – Beginning program for Mac
and Windows
Adobe Premiere – Advanced program for Mac and
Windows
Final Cut Pro X – Mac only
LicensedMusicDownloads
AKM Music (www.akmmusic.co.uk)
BeatPick (www.beatpick.com)
SmartSound (www.smartsound.com)
Melodyloops (www.melodyloops.com)
SeeGeorge’sVideosonVimeo:
Go to https://vimeo.com/georgelepp/videos
4KVideoFramegrabs
http://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/artic
les/2016/lepp-4k-framegrabs.shtml?categoryId=22
CINEMAGRAPHS
Cinemagraphsarestillimagescontainingoneormoremoving
elements.Theseareusuallyderivedfromvideoclipsby
applyingsoftwarefoundinPhotoshop,AfterEffects,ora
programcalledFlixel.
CinemagraphsinPhotoshop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DU0Sim_BJ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKA4cqv0IjE
Findingtherightclipisnoteasy;itmustbeofhighquality
(takenfromatripod)andcontainanelementthat,ifmoving
alone,surprises,enlightens,oramusestheviewer.Onceyou
understandtheconceptandprogramyouwillimagineand
intentionallycaptureyourownclipsforthispurpose.
Workflow:TakeavideoclipandplaceitintheFlixel
program>theprogramwillgiveyoua10secondrangeofthe
videotochoose>youcanmovethiswithinthevideoclip.>
thefirstframewillbethestillandwhateverareayouremove
withthemaskwillcontinuetomoveintheclip.
ThesoftwaretomakethiseasyisFlixel:flixel.com
Downloadthetrialtogetstarted.ForMac,$99.99.Canbe
oftenfoundonsalewithabundleofsoftware.
FAUXMATFORYOURPRINTS:
SeeGeorge’swebsiteforfullinstructions:
http://www.georgeleppimages.com.Clickon“Articles,”
then see “Creating a Faux Mat”
Read George’s monthly column, “Tech Tips,” in Outdoor
Photographer Magazine. Many of George and Kathryn’s articles
in the magazine can be found on the website
(http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/properspectives/george-lepp/)
Follow George on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/georgelepp and see more articles,
images and tips at www.GeorgeLeppImages.com
Canon USA interviewed George about his experiences with the
new EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens, an optic long awaited
by nature photographers! See the interview at
http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/galleries/galleries/sample_i
mages/ef100_400mm_f45-56l_is_ii_usm_lepp_gallery.shtml.
Canon will has addition articles on its website:
http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/dlc/search/search.spr?keywo
rd=George+Lepp about George using Canon cameras for
landscape and macro photography. This link will give you a list
of George’s articles on the Canon website.
__________________________________________________________
This list of products used by George D. Lepp is provided for the
convenience of seminar participants and does not represent a complete list
of products used by George D. Lepp. ©2017 George D. Lepp.