Hydrangeas and My Point & Shoot

I thought I would take a break from my technical posts and show some pictures of hydrangeas that are blooming in our garden right now.  These were taken with my Coolpix point and shoot camera in aperture mode.  Unfortunately, I don't have the names of these beauties.  I have to wait for hubby to give me clues....

I'll be back to with a post about this nifty point and shoot camera!  Stay tuned!

Slave Settings for Nikon SB-600 Speedlight

I finally had a chance to take some pictures of my SB-600.  Here's my instructions on how to set the Nikon SB-600 Speedlight as a slave flash.

My SB-600 flash with normal settings:

SB-600 normal display (P7100)

Press the "Zoom" and "-" buttons simultaneously and hold until the CSM setting mode displays.  Then press the "-" or the "+" to get to the wireless connection setting.  This will appear as a squiggly "z" shaped arrow and displays "OFF" by default:  

SB-600 showing wireless communication is Off  (P7100)

Press the "Mode" button once to change from "OFF" to "ON":

SB-600 showing wireless communication is On (P7100)

Press the Power "ON/OFF" button to exit the CSM setting mode.  The display will now show the SB-600 in slave mode with CH set to 3 and Group set to A (default settings):

SB-600 set to slave on Channel 3 and Group A (P7100)

Once my SB-600 is set to slave, the flash will remain powered on and ready to go.  Red LED lights will blink until I take a picture and then continue to blink afterwards.  Also the SB-600 will make a chime sound when I take a picture to let me know that the flash was fired.  Nice!



Here is my new SB-700 Speedlight.  It is set to Master and would be installed on my D7000.  On the lower right, is the On/Off/Slave/Master toggle and button switch.  To set this flash to Master, I press and hold the round button while moving the toggle to Master.  Here's what the display settings look like:

SB-700 set as Master (P7100)

In the above picture, you can see that I've set my Group A flash exposure setting to -1.00 EV and the (M)aster set to 0.0EV.  Group B flash exposure is showing "---" as there are no flashes being used for this group.  Pressing the "SEL" button several times allows me to move between the different fields displayed.  I use the rotating dial (around the OK button) to make my changes.  Once I make the appropriate changes, I just press the "OK" button to accept the changes.  Now I'm ready to take my pictures.

My next adventure will be to use my D7000 DSLR as the commander or master flash and then set my SB-700 as a slave as well as my SB-600.  Stay tuned!

Pictures were taken with my Nikon Coolpix P7100 and Nikon SB-400 flash.

Gadget: ExpoDisc...a True Winner

I received a new toy...an ExpoDisc by ExpoImaging.  It's a White Balance (WB) incident tool that eliminates the need for post-production color or WB adjustments.  With the ExpoDisc I can set a custom WB in my camera, shoot a WB reference frame to be used later in my photo editing software, or I can use it to set the exposure.

My 77mm ExpoDisc with the outside facing up

There's two sides to this ExpoDisc.  On what I consider the inside is a flat plain white filter.

Plain side of the ExpoDisc with included lanyard

I put this side against my lens.  I then set my camera to WB Pre-Set (or custom) and take a picture at my light source with the ExpoDisc covering the lens.  Basically, I'm taking an "incident reading" of the light source.  After the WB shot is taken, my camera is ready to take a picture.  

ExpoDisc place against the lens (picture from ExpoImaging site)

I took the following picture before setting up my custom WB:

WB set to Auto (without ExpoDisc)

Here's the results after using this nifty WB ExpoDisc gadget:

WB set to Pre-Set or custom (with ExpoDisc)

More test shots:

ExpoDisc with WB set to Auto 

ExpoDisc with WB set to custom using the ExpoDisc

Can you see the difference?  This device is so easy to use and so far, I think it's the best WB tool.  Each ExpoDisc is hand calibrated and certified for neutrality.  Included in the box was a quality control card.  My ExpoDisc was certified at 17.85% light transmission (close enough to the 18% neutrality).  Also in the box was a nylon case (storage) and a woven lanyard (wear the disc around my neck).

The disc comes in several different lens sizes.  I purchased one of the larger sizes (77mm) to accommodate my largest lens or future lens.  When I use my smaller lens, I just place and hold the ExpoDisc against the lens and take a picture.

Note:  the only post production I did was to crop the photos and add my copyright.  Pictures were taken without flash and in a room with incandescent lighting.

Here's a link to the ExpoImagining site.  Here you will find a few videos on how to use the ExpoDisc.  It's pretty cool!

Nurturing the Right Side of My Brain

In my quest to to nurture the right side of my brain with creativity, I took a trip to an art center.  The Workhouse Art Center used to be a reformatory or correctional facility.  Knowing this, I figured I would bring my camera along.  I'm glad I did.  

The Workhouse Art Center

There are several buildings on this campus.  Each building connected to a long corridor like this one:

All the bricks seen in the photos were produced by the prisoners who resided here.  They built their own prison buildings.  

Small gallery:  bricks on the left side of the wall painted white

Many different artists' studios can be found here.  From mixed media to fiber arts to beading and jewelry making.  I enjoyed hanging out in the studios.  I'm getting ideas for my future studio.

Many of the studios looked down right comfy:

The oil paintings here look so realistic...like photos.  

Walking across the lawn

Inside one of the buildings with long hallway galleries and studios

Inside the ceramics building:  several potter's wheels

Here is one of three guard towers that are still standing:  

Guard tower

This is a very unique art center.  I feel like I could spend hours here observing and learning.  I'm looking forward to coming back during a work day to see all the artists in action.

Nikon CLS (Master and Slave)...My First Studio Shot

This evening I was staying out of hubby's way.  He was working on his sermon for tomorrow's service.  I decided to pull out my Nikon flashes and try out the Nikon Creative Flash System or CLS.  I did an informal studio setup.  Nothing elaborate.

I had my SB-600 with a medium size softbox on a tripod.  My new SB-700, attached with my Gary Fong Lightsphere was perched on my camera on another tripod.  I placed the SB-600 (slave) to one side and turned the flash head/softbox up towards the ceiling.  My camera was turned sideways (portrait) and the SB-700 (master) flash head was turned up towards the ceiling as well.  

I had to program my SB-600 as a slave.  Not having any instruction book handy, I just played with a couple buttons.  Okay, not knowing what all the icons and symbols meant...I headed over to my buddy Google.com and found what I needed.  I made the change on my flash to slave and it gave me the default channel 3 and group A.  

I configured my SB-700 to master which entailed holding down a button and turning the flash on to Master on the dial.  That was way too simple.  I tried a test flash with the master flash and noticed my slave wasn't going off.  Hmmmmm.  I remembered the number 3 and the letter A from the slave flash default setting.  I looked at the settings again on the master and noticed it was on channel 1.  A quick change to channel 3 and I was all set.  

It took several shots before I finally got the hang of taking a self portrait using the two flashes.  Here's my first studio test shot.  

BTW, I also used my corded remote control to take the pictures.  All I had to do was plug it into my camera and it was ready to go.  

I'm just having way too much fun!

A Bit of Patience With a Bumble Bee

I hung out in the garden this evening taking more pictures.  Our beautiful Stewartia tree was in full bloom.  I noticed a few bumble bees were hovering at the top of the tree.  I waited.  A lone bumble bee ventured down and buzzed around my ear.  I knew it was time.  I got my camera ready and focused on one of the flowers closest to me and waited.  These critters can be fast and I knew I had to do just click away and hope for the best.

Stewartia flower (40mm micro)

There was no way I could get a clear and sharp picture without my flash.  Good thing I had my SB-400 with me.

More Blooms

More flower pictures from our garden:

Peony

Bletilla Orchid

Geranium

All pictures were taken with my 40mm micro lens and small SB-400 flash.  I'm in a flash mood.  Can you tell?

Learning Something New...White Balance and Histogram

While I was visiting my local camera shop, the topic of White Balance came up in conversation.  I never thought too much about it as I leave my D7k on WB-Auto.  I have noticed that my pictures sometimes come out with a blue-ish tint and sometimes with a yellowish tint.  Different light sources have different "colors" or light temperatures.  Sometimes I can see it on my camera's LCD while I'm previewing my pictures...it's mostly the blue that I see.  Most of the time I see it on my computer screen.

My brother had at one time mentioned that I need to check my histogram on the pictures I take.  Something about the peaks of the bell-looking curve should be in the middle.  Most of my pictures come out with the peaks towards the left or somewhere in between.  I know the histogram represents the light and dark elements of my picture...the exposure.

After doing some research, I'm finding that the left side of the histogram represents or suggests that my pictures tend to have shadows and dark areas.  That is true.  I have learned that my D7k tends to overexpose in outdoor light.  So, I step down on my camera exposure setting.  Sometimes, I have to do some post-production processing to brighten my picture.  Better to do that than have an overexposed picture that I cannot fix.

In the histogram, the middle scale represents "gray" while the left represents "black" and "white" represents the right side.  Makes sense.  I need to work on getting my pictures' histogram reading towards the middle or mid-gray.

I believe learning about White Balance or WB will help me get there.  I purchased an inexpensive Lastolite Ezybalance Color Calibration card.  It's a 12" flexible screen that is white on one side and 18% gray on the other side.  I set my D7K to a "custom" WB mode and take a picture of the white calibration card in the light setting where I'll be taking a picture.  My camera stores the WB picture and settings.  It's that simple.  My camera is ready to take a picture with the new custom WB setting I just created.  If my lighting changes, I'll need to redo my WB setting.  My camera remembers the last WB setting I created.  If I want to void the setting, I just switch my camera back to WB-Auto.

I'm still in practice mode.  I'll be back to post the results of my test shots.

A Visit to a Local Camera Shop

Earlier this year, I was devastated to learn that my local camera shop, Penn Camera, had closed half of their stores including the one within driving distance of my home.  Local to me is within 10 miles.  They were a true camera shop where they provided all types of services:  camera & lens rental, photo processing, and classes.  Besides cameras they sold a limited supply of bags, refurbished and used cameras/lenses, offered an array of studio products, and some unique photography accessories.  I enjoyed spending time at their shop.  Their sales personnel were very knowledgeable and often spent time answering my questions.  I purchased my DSLRs from them.  

Recently, I had the chance to visit another camera shop, Ace Photo.  I had read their ads and visited their website a few times.  I thought this shop would be similar to Penn.  Was I wrong!  As I walked inside this shop, I was immediately drawn into the nostalgia feeling.  The shop had a "mom and pop" feeling.  Nothing fancy, except they had a lot to offer for a photographer.  They carried the latest camera models as well as used/refurbished and vintage cameras.  

I spent quite a bit of time at this shop.  I met a very knowledgeable sales person who answered all my questions.  Ace Photo is now my favorite camera shop.  Their inventory is probably the best I've seen for a brick and mortar store.  Their selection is better than B&H Photo Video in NYC.  

One area of the shop that really intrigued me was their camera bags.  They carried a big selection of Tamrac, Lowepro, Think Tank, Kata, Domke, JillE, Tenba, Crumpler, Canon, Nikon, Bower, Vanguard, Clikelite, etc.  I'm sure there were a few others I might have missed.  

Camera bags galore!  (Picture by Ace Photo)

Yes, I did spend some wonderful time here.  Time well spent.  

A Type of Hyacinth

Here's an interesting flower I found in our garden.  The Latin name is Camassia.  The common name is Indian Hyacinth or Wild Hyacinth.  This was hidden underneath some tall shrubs and I ended up using my small external flash to bring out the color.  

The flowers were growing at the edge of the garden.  I sometimes hesitate to go beyond that point as I might come across a snake or some other critters that are lurking around.  I prefer to avoid those kinds of surprises.  

National Photography Month

Happy May!  This month is National Photography Month.  I was trying to think of a way to celebrate all month long. Maybe take a picture a day and do a daily post on my blog.  So, here's my first picture for May:

Peony bud and a tiny friend (40mm micro)

What do you plan on doing to celebrate National Photography Month?