Open the full image, and see what kind of noise reduction Noise Ninja can handle.   (Note, the after pic also has some sharpening and tone adjustments, but the noise reduction is still clear.

And, for those curious, this is the before and after for the image.   Using RAW workflow can save certain types of images, between adjustments of the exposure and fill light functions in RAW conversion then subsequent editing in Photoshop, we got back a usable image here.   ^_^;;

Hey look, its a photo with flash as the only source of light, closeup, at f/1.4 and its NOT harsh or overexposed!

So I went and finished up the “Do It Yourself” Beauty Dish – based partially on instructions over here.  Its basically a slick way to diffuse light for closeups — and a fun little project to jam together over a few days with parts laying around.   Anyway, did some test shots just to play with it.   Shots of the Dish, along with notes and some more photos after the cut.

This dish is made from a plastic hanging flower pot, a CD Case spindle and cover, a convex mirror I bought on Amazon, and a rubber gasket I bought at Home Depot for a different project ages ago. Along with some house paint I had laying around. And a spare DVD. Its totally rough, more a matter of seeing if it could be done vs. having a clean looking attachment.

Taking the same dish and triggering it at -2 flash compensation, just so you can see what it looks like. It does a nice job of really diffusing the light. Mounted on a tripod its pretty stable too. I AM a little uncomfortable with how much weight it takes up on the flash though. Next project will be to make some black foam core cutouts to fit on the front to make a ring flash, or better yet, some other “special” highlights. XD

Same shot of my plushie models, but with the lens stopped way down to f/13. Razor sharp!  Again, one of the interesting things about using this flash attachment is how I can use it as a single source of light.

Beauty dish can’t save this ugly mug. But check out the circular highlights in my eyes! *grin* Time to have fun with this!   (Okay, I edited this one a bit.   People don’t need my facial blemishes that close up…  ^_^;;; )

Just got my new 85mm f1.8.

*drool* *drool* *DROOL*

I cannot wait to take this on a full shoot.

Happy Bokeh Wednesday! XD

Sorry for not posting much this past week or two. Have been alternately busy with real life job, some Bioshock, and getting my rear end spanked at the poker table. But mostly dealing with the day job. I’ll post some fun stuff soon!

My improvised “Film Scanner”…

If you’re a modern camera geek, you might not know about Split Prism focusing screens. By a simple rule of optics, these screens are an almost ideal focusing aid — and it shames me that they are no longer seen in most modern cameras.

More geekery and photos under the cut.

I am one of the people that fell into ignorance of this marvel of a tool. The film cameras I had worked with in the past were too low-grade to have a split prism lens, and the few mentions of this tool I’d been around slid around my awareness and washed away with the tide.

Until I acquired an old Nikkormat (1965-era Nikon, Japanese Brand) and was reminded forcibly of its benefits. This convinced me within a minute of my need to acquire another camera toy toy..

Since I didn’t really have any cash I forgot about it until a recent trip to Coney Island, where the lack of a precision focusing tool made me lose a bunch of manually focused shots, driving me slightly batty.

So I did some research, and found Katz Eye Optics. They manufacture after-market focusing screens for a bunch of cameras. 110 dollars later, I’d ordered a lens to be sent to me as quickly as possible. (For those of you interested, the lens ordered does NOT have the opti-brite treatment or any special crop marks.)

So. How was the installation, and how is the screen?

Well, installation was simple since the 40D allows for user-swapped screens. It wasn’t hitch free, I found a tiny speck of dust on the screen itself after several debugging sessions (which involve removing a delicate piece of plastic and huffing on the mirror and the screen) — I found the spec, got lucky in removing it, and moved on. Some knocking around to make it centered, and I was set.

The screen itself is tiny, clearly a well polished and produced device, and very delicate. Katz Eye thoughtfully provides a little plastic tweezer/tool to hold the item — and as you can see here I had a little bit of fun holding it in my right and shooting a picture with my G9 in my left…

… and how is it? I was convinced in 2 seconds. See, the optics in the screen offset the split image if you are out of focus. There’s absolutely no doubt. If you aren’t on a vertical that makes it clear, the microprism ring around the split prism gives you a second aid.

Don’t understand? Read more about Split Prisms..

Can I recommend this? Well, if you’re purely auto-focus, you might not want to bother with this, using the high-speed focusing screens that come from Canon and Nikon might suffice. But if you use manual lenses or adjust — this is almost essential. Do it!

——

Wait, why am I trying to explain? Here are three shots – see for yourself.

Compeltely out of focus.

Almost in focus….

SNAP! Focus!

Lightning Strike (Faked HDR)

Originally uploaded by Doc Stampede

This was a “Faked HDR” from the raw files — since this was the tightest shot of the set.

BACHOOOOOOM!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/docstampede/sets/72157621956533273/ for the rest of the photos. XD

So I was cleaning out my shelves this past weekend, and found a big black binder full of photos from Otakon 1999…

So here I give you, AHHHH FLASHBACK!  XD

In several flavors, both my own hosted Gallery and Flickr as well.  Enjoy!

(Keep an eye out for alot of very familiar faces, just… younger. 

I suffered a nasty little commute, then braved the line at Urban Outfitters so I could get this in time to play with down in Atlantic City…

Did I mention I think I’m allergic to hipsters?  XD

Anyway… Behold, a very expensive plastic toy!  The Blackbird Fly – a Twin Lens camera that is almost chibi in its size, and takes 35mm film.    We’ll see how long it lasts me.  XD

—-

What else is going on?  I’m still recovering from the party.  And busy at work.  And very sleepy…

NYPD issues a department wide order reminding cops that taking photos in NYC is NOT ILLEGAL.  Huzzah!

Yes, you read that right.  This kind of thing always triggers my “Oh shit I’ve gotta do try that” bug.  Time to buy some latex balloons, kite string, and an inexpensive camera to rig and shoot.  XD

(reminds me of kite photography too)