Creative photography

[Tamarack]

Muddy, blurred pix on recent trip with S2

Hello there! I'm back again with a different problem with my S2. I was doing very well thanks to your suggestions. But I took the camera to my hometown in Montana over the break and was most dismayed to find the majority of the photos just didn't do justice to the magnificent scenes there.

The pix tended to be muddy and dull and/or to have a bluish cast that wasn't really indicative of the actual scene. I know from reading here that without the proper settings, snowy photos can look blue. I thought I had counteracted that with the EV setting, but no. Also, I cannot seem to get the sharp focus to produce the beautiful contrast against peaks and sky that make winter so spectacular. The pix are almost always too soft and I have to use sharpening to bring them up.

The muddy quality bothers me also. I was using a polarizer filter most of the time; could that have contributed if it was a foggy or overcast day? Should I be using polarizer in those conditions?

I've put the problem pix in a set labelled "Problem Pix." Here is the link to the Flickr site and this set. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitterroot/sets/1773456/

Some of the better photos are on the first page of my photostream (see link http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitterroot/), but except for the "Otherworld" pic, I am still not satisfied with them either. The "Gleam at Dusk" is pitiful compared to how the scene really looked. I did do some photoshopping with these to try to optimize them, but to no avail. Professional nature photographers' photos have a beautiful luminosity that I would love to be able to emulate.

One other thing: I did not use a tripod, as I was hiking with my cousin and there was not time to set this up as we were setting a steady pace. There were a couple of times when I could steady the camera on surfaces, but the result sadly was still the same. However, I don't think these muddy/color problems could be solved with a tripod. Ironically, I seem to get better results in these Montana situations with my lowly Sony Cybershot.

I'd love to hear your suggestions about the photos in the set "Problem Pix" and also the first page of the photostream.

I'm going to Argentina next month and am now thinking I should just rely on the point and shoot Sony as these pix are so disappointing and I clearly have a much longer learning curve.

Many thanks for your thoughts about this!

Tamarack

[bdery]

Hi Tamarac!

First, I'd like to tell you that composition on these pics is very, very beautiful. The mountains are dramatic and the pics are pleasing.

Now, about your "issues". I looked at the EXIF data displayed on the web site, and if it is correct then you often used Manual white balance and long exposure times. If the manual white balance isn't done correctly, it will lead to color casts.

Second, long exposures will increase the risk of motion blur, even with IS. I find it surprising that on one of the pics at least, the exposure seems to have been 10 seconds. Is that correct? If so, I'm guessing the polarizer maybe cuts more light than it should, acting as a polarizer + neutral density filter.  I don't know what filter you used, but it could be a part of the problem. The lack of a tripod probably factored here too.

Using EV compensation will not change the way colors are displayed, but it will affect the brightness of the scene.

The "muddy" effect you refer to looks to me like haze. That's caused by humidity in the air. Notice how in your pics with distant and near subjects the near ones are always brighter and warmer? That's because haze tends to create a blue shift. The best example of this is found on the Mona Lisa portrait, where Da Vinci willingly exaggerated that effect. Mona Lisa is reddish, the background blueish. I'm guessing the Sony camera uses a higher contrast or saturation setting to increase the brightness of the colors. You could run tests with your S2 to see if this affects your pics : these settings can be accessed via the FUNC button. On mine, saturation is always up a crank, I prefer it that way.

The slight soft focus can also be caused by too wide an aperture. On the pics that I've looked at in details, the aperture is often f3,6 or more. That means your DOF is greatly reduced. For panoramas I'd advise you to use a smaller aperture, up to f8, to increase DOF.

As for the beautiful colors of nature photographers, they often shoot their images during the "golden hours" near sunrise and sunset, where the light is coming almost horizontal and the colors are more vibrant.

[ShutterbugGail]

Georgeous photos! What a breath-taking place.

I even think the ones you label problems are very, very good. Then again, with a camera like the S2, I expect some tweaking will be needed. I've added a bit of levels to two of your; you can see them here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/digicam/83034307/

I'll make a few comments then hopefully some of the other mods will be around to give additional feedback. I've lived in Florida for more than 20 years so it's a long time since I've taken snow photos but I know all three mods have.    

You have a lot of photos so I'm not able to look at all of them. Most of the "problem" photos were shot using centerweighted metering. Because of the vast range of light and colors in the scenes, I would have used matrix metering.

Of the photos I looked at, I didn't see one bit of blow out (white areas with no detail).  In fact you have detail in every aspect of the "problem" photos I looked at. Honestly, that's great!

I thought I had counteracted that with the EV setting, but no.

The EV settings were probably fine, but to help control color casts, you need to adjust the white balance. Maybe use a custom one.

Also, I cannot seem to get the sharp focus to produce the beautiful contrast against peaks and sky that make winter so spectacular. The pix are almost always too soft and I have to use sharpening to bring them up.

It is probably due to the atmosphere. Probably a skylight or haze filter would have been better than a polarizing filter.

As to sharpening, I haven't met a digital photo that doesn't need some of it.  A lot of "lowly" cameras such as the FinePix 1400 I used to own and which took some of the best images, have higher sharpening built-in. Most people using advanced digital cameras like to control things such as sharpening during post processing (editing). I keep sharpening off, but you may want to try increasing it. Same with contrast and saturation.

I don't think these muddy/color problems could be solved with a tripod.  

You're correct.

I'm going to Argentina next month and am now thinking I should just rely on the point and shoot Sony as these pix are so disappointing

That's your call (bring both   ). I have to be honest and say that if I came back with photos that I've viewed in your "problem" gallelry, I'd be thrilled. Then again, I am willing to take the time to sharpen, adjust brightness, contrast and color.

[Tamarack]

Quick note to bdery and Gail...thank you SO MUCH for your prompt replies! I am going to print your suggestions out and add them to the little notebook I'm accumulating of your tips. I do have some follow-up questions but need to think about this a bit before posting.

I have a totally different question about managing the S2 on a vigorous hike in terms of juggling all the accessories, taking time to get the settings right, etc., especially when I am with other people who are maintaining a strong pace. Totally different experience from the tiny point and shoot which I just whip out of my pocket and snap. Where would I post this question? In this same section? I want to be sure I'm doing this right!

Your words were very encouraging. Thank you! My goal is to be able to ultimately take photos of the quality of this photoblogger:
http://www.dianevarner.com/index.php
The luminosity and depth that I was talking about seems to radiate from each photo. Something to aspire to!

[bdery]

I have a totally different question about managing the S2 on a vigorous hike in terms of juggling all the accessories, taking time to get the settings right, etc., especially when I am with other people who are maintaining a strong pace. Totally different experience from the tiny point and shoot which I just whip out of my pocket and snap. Where would I post this question? In this same section? I want to be sure I'm doing this right!

The best place would be the Photography 101-102 if I guess your question correctly. Or maybe accessories. It's not THAT critical, really. Ask away!

Your words were very encouraging. Thank you! My goal is to be able to ultimately take photos of the quality of this photoblogger:
http://www.dianevarner.com/index.php
The luminosity and depth that I was talking about seems to radiate from each photo. Something to aspire to!

That picture is beautiful. Notice the probable use of a tripod, the water has the flowing effect of longer exposures. Or maybe it's just a soft focus issue (voluntary). In addition, there is HEAVY contrast editing, and probably colors too. The light seems to be the sun during the golden hours, like I told you.

Your pictures, in their own way, are excellent. Beautiful subject, beautifully captured!

[Deb]

Hi, just wanted to add my 2 cents worth. Hope you don't mind.  

When using a polarizing filter, its effect will vary depending on the sun's position and intensity relative to the position of your subject. This effect can vary greatly so that may be the reason why you weren't seeing much filtering going on in some of your shots.

Also, as mentioned earlier, if you're shooting through lots of air, the content of that air (moisture, smog, particulates, etc.) will soften the subject and lessen the contrast of distant objects. The more of this air you are shooting through, the greater the amount of softening and lessening of contrast.

[Tamarack]

Thanks for your added insight, Deb. In looking over these photos again with the benefit of added objectivity and taking your comments into account, I think the problems that were bothering me could be partially attributable to moisture in the air.

As a follow-up to your polarizer comment, if I am in a situation where the sun is going in and out of clouds, should I be taking the polarizer on and off the camera?

Thanks again!

[ShutterbugGail]

As a follow-up to your polarizer comment, if I am in a situation where the sun is going in and out of clouds, should I be taking the polarizer on and off the camera?

Not necessarily. However, if the polarizer causes the shutter speed to be low enough that you can't hold the camera without the potential of camera shake, remove it. Or use your monopod to steady the camera.

[Deb]

As a follow-up to your polarizer comment, if I am in a situation where the sun is going in and out of clouds, should I be taking the polarizer on and off the camera?

Hi there, just thought I'd add .... When you are using your polarizer, play around with the degree to which it polarizes by turning the outer ring away from the indicator dot a bit. Also know that the polarizer will have the greatest effect if the sun's position is 90 degrees from the direction your camera's lens is pointing. Play with water shots too.   Notice how you can adjust the degree to which you can see "through" the reflection on the water in a scene allowing for even greater creativity.

Have fun!

[Tamarack]

Thanks Deb. There is a lot more I could be doing with the polarizer and these are good suggestions.

[Deb]

Have a great time experimenting! We look forward to seeing more of your photos.