Talking Pictures by DCW

We created a short introductory video for our revamped channel. All of our videos will now be under Talking Pictures brought to you by DCW and will host a stack of exciting new content. We will feature gear reviews, interviews with photographers, industry news, tips and tricks, amongst other things.

You will see a few changes on the channel in the following months and into the future. If you are wanting to see any specific content, please let us know in the comments.

This video was shot using:

• Canon 5DmkIII
• Canon 7D
• Canon 24–105mm lens
• Canon 135mm lens
• Rode NTG–3 microphone
• Zoom H4n audio recorder
• Sandisk memory cards

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Photographing Water - in all its glory!

Photographing Water 

We’ve all seen those great landscape photos of the beach with wonderfully soft looking water washing onto shore or silky smooth waterfalls flowing over the edge of a cliff.  How do we recreate this?  It’s actually quite simple, there are just a few things that need to be done to create this effect.

Canon 5DMK2 with 24 -70 L at 24mm, ISO 100, f22 @ 2.0 Seconds.
Shot at Isabella Falls near Edmonton, Far North QLD  

Technique
The technique is very simple: long shutter speeds with your camera on a tripod.  But there can be problems that you will need to correct, for example, your shutter speed is not slow enough due to the scene being too bright, the sky blowing out above the scene due to too much light hitting the sensor from bright parts of the image, water ruining your equipment, camera movement, etc.  There are a number of pieces of equipment that can solve these issues.

Equipment
Before we head off and attempt these images there are a few things which are absolutely essential and a few things that are nice to have.

• Camera – Your camera should allow you to adjust ISO, aperture and shutter speed.  This will give you total control over your exposure.  The shutter speed needs to be able to stay open for at least a few seconds to properly blur the water movement.  A CSC or DSLR would be ideal but you can get good results from higher end compacts, as long as they allow you to control the exposure variables (ISO, aperture etc.).  Wide angle lenses are ideal.
• Tripod - A good, solid tripod is ideal, try to stay away from the cheaper tripods as they can have some movement in them with factors such as wind.  Heavy tripods are more stable over long exposures.  Also the shorter you have the legs, the more stable the tripod due to the lower centre of gravity and less flex.  Generally with landscape composition it’s a good idea to be low to the ground anyway and some tripods can go lower than others.
• Shutter Release - The shutter release allows you to remotely activate your cameras shutter, either with a cable (which is ok) or wirelessly (which is much better).  The wireless option eliminates the possibility of you causing movement in the image due to snagging or accidentally moving the cable.  Wireless shutter releases generally do more than just release the shutter, some of them allow you to do multiple exposures for star trails or time lapse movies.
• Filters - There are a few filters you can use.  The most obvious one is the neutral density filter (ND) which reduces the amount of light getting to the lens.  This slows down your shutter speed allowing the water movement to be slowed down to give a silky water effect.  This filter is available in darkness ratings from ND2 (blocks one stop of light) all the way up to an ND400 (stops 9 stops of light).
• The other is a circular polariser (CP) filter.  This filter removes or reduces reflections off of non-metallic surfaces, including water, glass and tree foliage and grass.  This tends to make water look clearer as it removes reflections from it allowing you to see through the water easily.  It also makes colours seem more saturated: think bluer skies and greener grass.
• The last filter to consider is a graduated neutral density filter (GND); this one is clear on one end but dark on the other with a gradual move between the two ends.  Here is a link to a Cokin kit that starts you off with three filters and a holder.  This filter is used in landscape photography to darken the sky if it’s overexposed in the image.  For example, if the sky has lost all details due to over exposure but the waterfall is correctly exposed then you would use the GND filter to reduce the brightness of the sky but leave the waterfall correctly exposed.

The Shoot

First you need to find the right location.  Ideally this would be a spot where the water is moving noticeably such as a beach where the waves are hitting the sand or a rocky outcrop in the foreground.  A waterfall or quick moving stream are also good to photograph as you can smooth out the water to give a nice effect in contrast to static rocks in the stream.

When you are setting up in these locations you need to be mindful of your safety and the safety of your equipment.  The nature of these places can be slippery and rocks are very unforgiving to falling gear and people.  I have smashed a lens shooting a waterfall before and it’s a bad feeling when you see it happen.  Also watch out for wildlife (snakes, spiders and leaches) that can make surprising appearances at surprising times and also can lead to damaged gear.

Set up your tripod low to capture the foreground clearly in the image and try to relate the foreground to some background elements, this brings a cohesive nature to the photo.  Make sure to get your camera level (using one of these) and then attach the filter.  Note that some filters can make it impossible to see through the lens to focus, for example an ND400. In this case you will need to focus prior to attaching the filter. 

When exposing the image to get the water smooth, set a slower shutter speed.  How slow will depend on several factors such as the speed of the water, the limits of your equipment and even whether you are shooting between waves and need to move out of the way before you get drenched.  The longer the shutter speed the smoother ocean waves will look in the final image.  Waterfalls can be exposed for as little as 1 second and get good results as the water is falling so fast that it blurs very quickly.  Experiment to find what works best for you in the situation you are in.  You can slow the shutter speed down further by using one of the ND filters, the darker the filter, the slower the possible shutter speed.

In the two photos below the one on the top had a shutter speed of 1/20th of a second and you can still see some definition in the water drops.  The photo on the bottom had a shutter speed of half a second and the water is much smoother in appearance.

 

Canon 5DMK2 with 24-70 L at 46mm, 

ISO 500, f4 @ 1/20th Second

Shot at Baron Gorge, Cairns

Canon 5DMK2 with 24-70 L at 46mm, 

ISO 500, f13 @ 0.4 Seconds

Shot at Baron Gorge, Cairns

When exposing for long times it’s important to remember that any movement made by the camera will result in a blurry image. As already mentioned a good tripod is very important.  Also set your camera (if it has the function) to “pre mirror lock up” which reduces mirror slap movement by locking the mirror up when you press the shutter once and then taking the photo on the second shutter press.  Also make sure to use a cable or wireless shutter release to stop your finger moving the camera when firing.

The Last Rule

The last rule is to experiment!  Leave the shutter open longer and see what happens, move your filters around, get coloured sunset filters, change your white balance setting or adjust your aperture.  Continually try new things and shoot as much as you can, there is no substitute for getting out there and catching some light!  Go on over to Facebook and send us some shots that you’re proud of!  Good Luck!

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Canon Releases the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Lens

 

Canon have finally released the long awaited EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens that was originally seen at a tradeshow in Japan two years ago in prototype form.  The trick this lens has is the inclusion of a built in 1.4 x extender that is activated via a switch on the lens.  This turns the focal length from 200-400mm to a massive 280-560mm and the maximum aperture changes from f4 to f8.  The lens also features all the usual high quality things you would expect from Canon including a fluorite element and four UD elements to give superior sharpness and contrast.  The great thing about this lens is the extender can be activated without the need to remove the lens from the body, greatly reducing the risk of dust and moisture getting inside your camera. 

Below is the official press release from Canon for those of you that want all the nitty gritty detail.  The lens is expected to ship to us at the end of May.

CANON EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Press Release

Sydney, Australia, 14 May 2013 – Canon announces today the launch of a new addition to the company’s line-up of interchangeable EF lenses for use with Canon EOS-series SLR cameras: the EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x. The ground-breaking L (luxury)-series lens, the world’s first*¹ super-telephoto zoom lens to incorporate an internal extender, delivers enhanced convenience and exceptional imaging performance on par with large-diameter super-telephoto prime lenses. Covering a wide zoom range from 200–560 mm, the new lens supports the advanced needs of professional photographers and contributes to expanding the possibilities in imaging expression.

 

Featuring a built-in 1.4x extender that employs eight lens elements in four groups, the new Canon EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x enables users to instantly change the lens’s zoom range from 200–400 mm to 280–560 mm with the single flip of a switch.*² In addition, the super-telephoto zoom lens realises high image quality even when the extender is in use.*³ Offering superior convenience, the model is particularly useful for capturing sports, nature and other types of photography involving weight and shooting-space restrictions that limit the amount of equipment that can be brought to a location, or in situations where users are unable to get close to a subject.

 

Through a simple one-touch operation, the zoom range of the EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x can be extended without having to switch lenses, eliminating the risk of dust or moisture entering the lens or camera when changing lenses. In addition, with the attachment of an external 1.4x extender (sold separately), users can realise image capture up to a maximum focal length of 784 mm and auto-focusing at a maximum aperture of f/8.*⁴

 

The Canon EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x incorporates a new optical design that makes use of a fluorite lens and four UD (ultra-low dispersion) lens elements, which effectively correct for colour aberrations across the entire zoom range, making possible high-resolution, high-contrast imaging performance comparable to that made possible by large-diameter super-telephoto prime lenses. Greatly minimising the occurrence of flare and ghosting, the new lens employs optimal lens positioning and coatings, as well as Canon’s proprietary SWC (Subwavelength Structure Coating) anti-reflection coating technology.

 

In order to equip the new lens with an internal extender, Canon newly developed a compact IS unit that delivers image stabilisation equivalent to approximately four shutter-speed stops.*⁵ The EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x allows users to select from three different IS modes, including IS Mode 2, which is ideal for photography where panning is necessary, such as when shooting motor sports and moving trains; and IS Mode 3, which provides optimal image stabilisation when capturing fast-paced action, such as sports.

 

The new super-telephoto zoom lens has been thoroughly reduced in weight through the liberal use of magnesium alloy and features a construction that ensures a high level of durability and ruggedness in the face of harsh shooting conditions to satisfy the demands of professionals.

 

The Canon EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x super-telephoto zoom lens is expected to be available in Australia from the end of May with pricing at dealer discretion.

 

*1 Among interchangeable lenses for interchangeable-lens cameras (SLR and compact-system cameras). As of May 1, 2013 (based to a Canon survey)

*2 When switching on the internal extender, different restrictions may apply depending on the camera used

*3 When using the internal 1.4x extender, the amount of light is reduced in accordance with the amount that the focal length has been extended (one f-stop), making it necessary to adjust exposure

*4 When using a camera that supports auto-focusing at an aperture of f/8

*5 Based on a Canon standard. A shutter speed of 1/(focal length) seconds is generally considered the limit to prevent hand-shake blur during hand-held photography

 

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Canon EOS 5D MKIII 1.2.1 Firmware Update Now Live!

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

The latest firmware update to the Canon 5D MK III has just been released and promises to further improve this awesome DSLR.  This is what Canon have to say about the latest update -

“The upgrade, which was first announced in October 2012, enables the use of the HDMI output functionality for more efficient video editing and monitoring workflows by professionals in the fields of cinema and TV production. With HDMI output, users can record HD uncompressed video data (YCbCr 4:2:2, 8 bit) to an external recorder via the camera’s HDMI terminal, supporting minimal image degradation during video data editing for greater onsite efficiency during motion picture and video productions. Additionally, video can also be displayed on an external monitor while being captured, for real-time on-site monitoring for HD video during shoots.

To further improve functionality, the upgrade improves the AF system with centre AF point now enabled at f/8 supporting the needs of photographers to achieve more from their camera when using fast super-telephoto lenses with extenders. Drastically increasing the shooting range, version 1.2.1 now makes it possible to use an EF600 f/4 lens and two-times extender to achieve a massive 1200mm focal length with precise AF performance. This will benefit sport and nature photographers who shoot over long distances. This upgrade also increases the range of lens options with full AF capabilities, including the EF400mm f/5.6 and the EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS with 1.4x extenders, for zoom ranges up to 560mm.“

The short version being that this update makes possible the use of the HDMI output for uncompressed video output and improving auto focus performance at smaller apertures i.e. f/8.

You can download the update from here .

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