Happy Halloween. An iPad Treat!

Happy Halloween everyone!

As a treat, I am giving away 10 free redeem codes for the iPad version of my flagship app, Rick Sammon's 24/7 Photo Buffet.

Here at the codes!

JAATTE3TEH36
3EYXRN6FMTXA
A4LFKMFRX4JK
AMM9FP6XMFXA
M34ELNXAA7EF
H47EEXWHLJPE
MAX766FMX3RM
TR6KH33FATFE
YFEEJJ9364T4
9EYRKLATTKJ4

Please read this: To redeem a code, go to the home screen of the App Store and click "Redeem" in the upper right hand corner. Enter your redemption code and sync your iPad (in this case). Make sure to do so immediately as promo codes do expire and cannot be replaced if this occurs. Sorry friends around the globe, but the codes only work in the US App Store. Also note that the process for redeeming a code is Apple's standard process, not ours.

Explore the light - and enjoy the app!

Rick
P.S. It's not yet listed on the B&H Event Space site, but I am giving a talk on apps in the Space on December 13th from 3 to 5 PM.

Good Fun – and Learning – at the Canon Booth at Photo Plus Expo

Several of the photographers who stopped by the Canon booth yesterday at Photo Plus Expo had an opportunity to shoot with the Canon 5D, Canon ST-E2 wireless transmitter, and two Canon Speedlite 580EXII flash units. For a change, I acted as the assistant :-)

The idea was to show how a snapshot with an on-camera flash (left) could be turned into a much cooler shot by using one or two off-camera flashes.

For more tips on lighting, see my latest app, Light It!

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. I am planning some one-day Canon Speedlite sessions (indoors and outdoors) for early next year. Shoot me an email if you are interesting in joining the photo fun: ricksammon at mac.com.

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 27/101: Take The Darn Flash Off the Camera

This is tip #27 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Take the darn flash off the camera!

Once you take the flash out of the hot shot and fire it remotely, a whole new world of creative lighting possibilities away you – because you can place the flash at an angle, and more easily control shadows. You can also use a light modifier (soft box, umbrella, flash diffuser, diffuser etc.) to soften the light.

Here are two shots at I took yesterday at the ExpoImaging booth at the Photo Plus Expo in NYC.

Model: Rebecca Leigh West.

Info:
Left photograph: Canon 580EX II (full power) with Rogue FlashBender to camera left.

Right photograph: Canon 580EX II with Rogue FlashBender to camera left, plus another Canon 580EX II (– 2/3 power) with Rogue FlashBender to camera right.

For more lighting tips, see my lighting book and apps.

Explore the light,
Rick

Yes, That is Model Minyoung Cheong!

Several photographers at Photo Plus Expo asked me yesterday if the model for my ExpoImaging booth shoot (see previous post) is the same model that's in the opening movie for my latest app, Light It!

Yes! It's Minyoung Cheong – who is a true pro.

To see the movie, click here.

For info on all my apps, click here.

Explore the light,
Rick

A Quick Thank You

Above: My favorite photo from my shoot at the ExpoImaging booth: Rogue Flash Bender, Canon 580 EX II, Canon 24-105mm IS lens, Canon 5D Mark II. The Rogue Flash Bender rocks.

Above: Lexar travel photography talk.

Above: Unique Photo HDR talk.

Just a quick thank you, after a very long day, to all those who stopped by my presentations at the Lexar, Unique Photo, Nations Photo Lab, Expo Imaging and Wiley booths at the Photo Plus Expo show in NYC.

I'll be there tomorrow.. after a good night's sleep! Saturday, too.

C U there.

Explore the light,
Rick

HDR Rocks!

Hey gang,

I am off in a few minutes to the Photo Plus Expo show in NYC. I'll be showing some new HDR images.

Without HDR, this image would have been impossible to create.

Info:
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 14mm lens.

I hope to see you at the show!

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Get some cool discounts on HDR plug-ins and programs here.

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 26/101: Manually Activate Your Camera's Self-Cleaning Feature

This is tip #26 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Manually activate your camera's self-cleaning feature

Many of today's digital SLRs automatically clean the sensor when you turn on and off the camera.That feature works quite well in removing small particles from the low-pass filter that's placed over the image sensor.

A more effective method is to manually activate the self-cleaning feature.

Also, before an important shoot, shoot a test shot of the sky. Open the image in your image-editing program and search for dust spots. If they are still visible even after you have manually activated the self-cleaning feature, use a blower to try to remove them. Still there? I recommend having a professional clean your sensor. Why? If you use a swab and cleaning fluid, it's not impossible that you could turn the spots into streaks. I have seen that happen more than a few times.

Explore the light,
Rick

I'll Be Sharing Some New Images at Photo Plus Expo in NYC Next Week

I'll be sharing some new images – from my recent trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos – at Photo Plus Expo next week.
Here's my schedule. Please stop by and say hi!

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. How many faces do you see in the image from Angkor Wat? Look VERY closely.

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 25/101: Reduce Noise for Cleaner and Also Softer Images

This is tip #25 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Reduce noise for cleaner and also softer images.

As the ISO increases, so does the amount of noise in a digital image – especially at high ISO settings, and extra especially in low light situations. Long exposures also add to noise in a digital file.

Also, low-end digital SLRs have more noise at high ISO settings than high-end digital SLRs. In addition, compact digital cameras have more noise than digital SLRs when set to the same ISO – due to the smaller size of the sensor.

Reducing noise is easy. One method is to use the in-camera noise reduction feature, but that slows down the shooting rate. A more popular method is to use a noise reduction program or plug-in.

For this HDR image, taken before 6 AM in very low light in a Buddhist temple in Cambodia, I had my 5D Mark II set at ISO 1000. As good as the camera is at delivering low-noise images, the resulting file did have a bit of noise – due to the very low light and relatively long exposure (several seconds).

As an aside, this image looks very soft because there was no direct light – only very soft, diffused, low light. The light level was so low, in fact, that I had to use the LCD illumination button on my camera to check my settings. In this image, the mood and feeling is most important.

I first created this HDR image with Photomatix, and then enhanced it in Topaz Adjust. In Topaz Adjust, I used the Noise reducing feature in that plug-in. It worked quite well at cleaning up the image.

When you reduce noise, you also reduce the sharpness of an image. Check out the image below.
For this image, taken in Bodie State Historical Park in California, I reduced the noise (again using the Noise feature in Topaz Adjust) to the point where the detail in the image was lost – creating a painterly-type image. Try this effect. You may like it.

For info on Topaz Adjust, which also offer Topaz DeNoise, click here. You can save a bundle by ordering a bundle :-)

For info in Photomatix, click here.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. A note on noise: My dad used to say: If a picture is so boring that you notice the grain, it's a boring picture.

A Big Thank You To a Great Guide - and New Great Friend in Laos

I have had many of good guides in my travels to more than 100 countries. My guides helped me get good pictures, imparted their knowledge of the area, and made the experience fun.

On my recent photo adventure to Laos, I was fortunate to spend five days with Vong a thit, pictured here having a Beerlao me.

I could not imagine a better guide. Vong knows everything about the area – culture, flora and fauna, how to get around, etc. What's more, Vong is a very, very sweet, kind, flexible and fun man.

If you plan a trip to Laos, contact Vong at vongla@yahoo.com.

Have a Beerlao with Vong for me!

Rick

P.S. It's good beer!

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 24/101: Save Time When Processing Your HDR Images

This is tip #24 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Save HDR processing time by working with JPEG files.

Sure, you should always shoot RAW files - because you can pull out a lot of data from a single RAW file. But when making HDR images, try converting your sets of RAW files to JPEG files before your start processing. I use Image Processor in Photoshop to convert my images. Works amazingly fast.

Working with JPEGs saves you a lot of professing/waiting time. Plus, if you captured the entire dynamic range of the scene in your set of images, you will not lose any details your HDR image – as illustrated by these before-and-after images from Angkor Wat, Cambodia (taken yesterday).

I processed my sets of JPEG files with Nik Software's new HDR Efex Pro. After that, I spiced up the images with the Spicify Filter in Topaz Adjust – which is totally amazing. Info on Topaz here. (Save a bundle by ordering a Topaz Bundle.)

HDR Efex Pro + Topaz Adjust/Spicify.

Original average single exposure.

HDR Efex Pro + Topaz Adjust/Spicify.

Original average single exposure.

Camera info: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 17-40mm lens.

For discounts on Nik plug-ins and Photomatix (another HDR imaging program) click here.

For info my my HDR book, click here.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. A BIG thanks to Mukesh at TravelInterlink for putting together such a fantastic photo tour. For info on my 2011 photo tours, click here.

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 23/101: Remove Reality to Create a More Artistic Image

This is tip #23 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Remove reality to create a more artistic image.

When you remove the true color from a scene, you remove some of the reality. When you remove some of the reality, your picture can look more creative and artistic.

The same is true for sharpness.

Here I used the Midnight filter in Nik Software's Color Efex Pro to create a more artistic image from a shot I took today in Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Camera info: Canon 7D and Canon 24-105mm IS lens.

For discounts on Nik plug-ins, click here.

Explore the light,

Rick

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 22/101: Play With Plug-ins and Expand Your Creative Horizons

This is tip #22 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Play with plug-ins.

Plug-ins – for Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom and Aperture – can expand the capabilities of those programs and expand your creative horizons.

Above image (Laos): Midnight filter in Nik Software's Color Efex Pro.

Below image (Cambodia): Antique Plate filter in Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro.

For discounts on Nik plug-ins, click here.

Explore the light,

Rick

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 21/101: Alway Look Up

This is tip #21 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: Always look up (and down and back).

As simple as it may sound, looking up, down and back can yield different photo opportunities, as illustrated by this HDR photograph that I made today in Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

I make this photograph with my Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 14mm lens.

Nik's new HDR Efex pro was used, as well as a touch of Topaz Adjust. (Click here for info on both programs.)

I hope to see some of you at Photo Plus Expo in NY. Here is my nutty schedule. Stop by and say hi!

Explore the light,

Rick

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 20/101: Get It All in Focus

This is tip #20 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: For maximum depth-of-field, use a wide-angle lens, set a small aperture and focus 1/3 into the scene.

Here I use my Canon 5D Mark II and 17-40mm lens @ 22mm. My aperture was f/20.

This is an HDR image from Buddha Park in Vientiane, Laos.

HDR rocks in situations where the contrast range of the scene is just too great to be captured by a digital camera.

I used Nik's HDR Efex Pro to create this image. It's a brand new HDR plug-in. Photomatix is a way-cool HDR program, too.

For discounts and info on both HDR Efex Pro and Photomatix, click here.

Explore the light,

Rick

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 19/101: Sharpen Selectively and Sharpen Last

This is tip #19 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip (still from Laos): Sharpen Selectively and Sharpen as a Final Step

One of the cool features in Adobe Photoshop CS5 is Convert for Smart Filters. Using this feature, you can apply a filter as you would use an adjustment and an adjustment layer – painting in and out an effect.

This picture started out as three RAW files. First, I used Nik's HDR Efex Pro to create an HDR image. Then I applied the Spicify effect in Topaz Adjust. As a final step, I sharpened everything in the scene except the soft and beautiful water.

Also, if you sharpen earlier in the image-processing process, and then adjust the contrast, for example, you have an chance of over-sharpening an image.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. For info on HDR Efex Pro (and a discount) and Topaz, click here.

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 18/101: Fade a Filter

This is tip #18 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip (still from Laos): Fade a filter.

After you apply a filter in Photoshop, you can fade it by going to Edit >Fade Filter immediately after you apply the filter.

In Photoshop Elements, you can also fade a filter:

– Dupe the Layer

– Apply the filter to the top Layer

– Reduce the Opacity of the top Layer.

Here I applied the Spicify effect in Topaz Adjust – one of my favorite plug-ins. After applying the filter, I faded it just a bit for a custom effect.

Learn more about Topaz Adjust here.

Save a bundle on Topaz plug-ins by ordering a bundle.

Explore the light,

Rick

iPhone for $60 in Laos?

It's true. You can buy what (at first glance) looks like an iPhone in Laos for only $60 - if you can talk the shop owner down from $80. However, it's a Chinese fake that is far from the real iPhone that we all know and love. Plus, it will not play apps, including mine!

It comes with two SIM cards and a stylus for typing. Warranty? Good luck. And try getting it to work in the U.S.

Fake Blackberry phone are on sale, too. Only $30.

If you want a real iPhone, you can get one here for $900.00.

Explore the light,

Rick

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 17/101: Shoot Vertical Panos, Too

This is tip #17 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip (from Laos): Shoot vertical panos, too.

The world (and fun) of panos is not limited to horizontal images. Remember that you can shoot vertical panos, too. This idea comes in handy when you don't have a lens that's wide enough to capture the entire scene.

I created this pano using Photoshop's Photomerge.

Explore the light,

Rick

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 16/101: Add a Sense of Motion to Your Still Images

This is tip #16 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip (from Laos): Add a sense of motion to your still images.

Experiment with different slow shutter speeds to blur the movement in a scene in which the subjects are moving. You have probably seen this effect in National Geographic magazine.

I took the opening photograph for this post at 1/30th of a second. It has a much greater sense of motion than the above photograph.

Use your camera's LCD monitor to check the areas of the scene you want blurred . . . and sharp.

Also keep this in mind: the closer you are to the subject, the more it will be blurred.

I took this photograph with my Canon EOS 7D and what is becoming one of my favorite city-shooting lenses, the Canon 14mm lens.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. If you travel with an iPhone, check out my 24/7 Photo Buffet app. Tons of travel photo tips.

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 15/101: Love Live View

This is #15 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip (from Laos): Love Live View

Live View is totally cool when you need to shoot very low to the ground... as well as way above your head. As always, practice makes perfect.

Info: Canon EOS 7D and Canon 17- 40mm lens.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. These novice monks are making lanterns for the light festival next week!

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 14/101: Set Your Camera's LCD Monitor to Display the Image and the Historgram

This is #14 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip (from Laos): Set Your Camera's LCD Monitor to Display the Image and the Historgram.

The histogram is the best (only) way to check your exposure. If you are not checking your histogram, you are not checking to see if you have the best possible in-camera exposure.

The image on your display only gives you an approximate idea of the exposure. It's a JPEG of your RAW file.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. Bonus tip: Keep your radar on all the time. The opening picture for this post is one of my favorite images from today. I got the idea after seeing the scene in a remote village: a young woman hanging several weaving on a line. I noticed the opening in the weavings and thought that it made a perfect frame for the woman. I simply asked her to walk into position and took a few shots.

Actually, I asked my guide, Vong a thit, the best guide in Laos, to ask the woman to pose for the photograph. Vong's email address: vongla@yahoo.com.

Hey, I know the image below is just a snapshot. I just wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the village.

I also shot the image vertically. It's usually a good idea shoot a scene both horizontally and vertically – because you may prefer one over the other at a later date. Which version do you prefer?

If you like digital imaging tips like this one, as well as general photography tips, check out my 24/7 Photo Buffet app.

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 13/101: Include a Person In the Scene

Update 11/12/10: I originally posted this post from Laos. See the last three images. Then read this, which was in the NY Times yesterday.

This is #13 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

No matter how small, a person can add interest to a scene – as illustrated by this photograph that I took this morning in Laos.

Bonus tip: You snooze, you lose! Get up early to capture the beauty dawn light.

On another note, what do the three snapshots (taken in a very remote village in Laos) below have in common? Let me know here on the blog, which is easier for me to track than facebook and twitter. Try to be as detailed as possible with your answer. I will respond when a reader gets it right.

Peace, love and joy,

Rick

Bonus Tip from Laos, Thailand and Cambodia Photo Trek: Be Good for Goodness Sake!

Hi All,

So far, I have posed some pretty pictures of Buddhist temples. Well, here are some paintings from one Buddhist temple in Laos that depict what can happen to you if you are not so good.

These painting depict the Buddhist version of hell, according to our guide.

Explore the light - and be good for goodness sake!

Rick

Quick Digital Imaging Tip 12/101: RAW Rules, But HDR Rocks

Today is day 1 in Laos, but I took today's blog post image a few days ago in Thailand. More than a few bugs are crawling over my laptop's screen. Hot as heck, even at 8:05 AM.

This is #12 of 101 digital imaging tips I plan to post here over the next few months. Stay tuned.

Today's tip: RAW Rules, but HDR rocks when it comes to high-contrast scenes.

My workshops students know me as Rick "RAW Rules" Sammon – because I use Adobe Camera RAW as my main image-editing program.

Adobe Camera RAW is, indeed, a very powerful tool. Among other features, you can rescue areas of an image that are up to an f/stop overexposed by using Recovery and Curves. Plus, you can pull out detail from shadow areas using Exposure, and then pull out even more details by using the Shadow/Highlight control (among other adjustments) in Photoshop.

However, when you try to pull out too much detail from deep shadow areas, those areas can look very grainy. That's why when the contrast range in a scene is more than three stops, I recommend shooting a series HDR images.

I took three photographs and merged them together in Nik Software's HDR Efex Pro to create this image.

Camera info: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 17-40mm lens.

It's getting hotter by the minute.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. Click here for discount on HDR Efex Pro and other plug-ins.