Wildebeest herd migrating across the savanna.

Like the wildebeest of the Serengeti, we are migrating.  Effective immediately, the Through the Lens with Chris Gamel photography blog will be relocated to a new website.  This move is be made to improve the functionality and appearance of this site, permitting new features that are not available on the wordpress website, including image galleries, subscription feeds, and a better format for showcasing photography.  So, click on the link and reset your address books as we migrate to our new home, www.TTLwithChrisGamel.com.

Nile Crocodile in HDR (High Dynamic range

Last week my high school photography students went on a field trip to the San Antonio Zoo.  As the students explored the photographic opportunities, I wandered through the Africa Live exhibit where I found this Nile Crocodile resting by the water with its mouth open.  Fortunate enough to have a motionless subject, I captured three different exposures and merged them together into a single HDR (High Dynamic Range) image using PhotoMatix Pro.  For creative effect, I decided to push the colors and contrast outside the realm of reality, creating the grungy image above.

Lion image using HDR (High Dynamic Range)

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

Close encounters with wildlife are one of the main reasons wildlife photographers keep returning to the field.  In this case, my close encounter was with a female lion lying down a few feet away from the road.  She allowed our vehicle to approach to within a few yards and spent most of her time concentrating on the flies instead of us.  One a few occasions she did look our way and one of those times I was able to catch her direct stare on camera.  After normal development, I decided to try something different with the image.  I began with a severe crop of the original, eliminating everything except the eyes.  I then took the image into Photomatix and manipulated the HDR settings to take the dynamic range to the extremes.  I have seen a lot of landscape images done in HDR, but almost nothing that includes wildlife.  I like the end result, which looks almost like a detailed painting instead of a photograph.

What do you think?

Image created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 120-300mm lens, at ISO 400.  The image was captured from a vehicle, with the lens supported on a beanbag.

Every image is impacted by the camera's aperture setting. Leopard, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.

Previously in the understanding photograph series; I discussed the basic camera controls. In that discussion, I explained how shutter speed and aperture work together to control the amount of light used to record an image. Understanding these two controls are really the key to photography, both technically and creatively. For more detail about shutter speed and how it impacts motion, click here.

Lets begin with a definition. The aperture is the size of the opening through which light passes as it moves through the camera lens. As the photographer, you can make this opening larger or smaller, thereby controlling the amount of light reaching the film (yes, we shoot digital cameras, but I shot film for a long time and film is easier to type then digital sensor). By doing this, you will cause the resulting image to become either lighter or darker.

Aperture is measured in f-stops. A standard scale of f-stops would include:

.. 2.8 .. 4 .. 5.6 .. 8 .. 11 .. 16 .. 22 .. 32 ..

Depending on your camera and lens combination, you might find all of these f-stop values on your camera, some of them, or additional values. No matter which f-stop values are present, they will always occur in the order listed above. F-stop values are calculated based on the diameter of the lens opening. This means that the sequence order is locked. F/2.8 will always come before f/4, which will always come before f/16.

So, what does this mean and why should I care? F-stop values on the low end (2.8, 4, etc) are what we call large apertures. These f-stop values correspond to large lens opening, which permit a lot of light to enter. The result, more light reaching the film. F-stop values on the other end of the scale (22, 32, etc) are small aperture settings, with small lens opening and a corresponding decrease in the amount of light.

How can you use this? Next time you are taking a picture, look at the light meter. If the exposure marker is off, you can adjust either the shutter speed or the aperture to get the correct brightness. Either one will change the amount of light and make the image lighter or darker.

Now, let me clarify something. As an enthusiastic photographer, you probably are shooting with a nice, DSLR camera. When you look at the aperture settings, you see a lot more numbers then I listed above. For example, your camera aperture values might look more like this:

……. 2.8  3.2  3.5  4  4.5   5  5.6   6.3   7.1   8 ……..

It looks like some crazy camera maker added a whole bunch of extra numbers just to confuse you. Now, take a deep breath and relax. Everything still applies, and the camera manufacturer is actually trying to help you. Instead of just giving you the standard f-stop values, camera makers now give you partial f-stop values. Instead of making you jump from f/2.8 to f/4, the camera lets you take partial steps, commonly called 1/3 stop values. If you look at our aperture values list again:

……. 2.8 3.2  3.5  4 4.5  5  5.6 6.3  7.1  8 ……..

You can see that the original values are still there, but two transition values have been added between each.

So, what aperture should you use?  That very much depends on how much depth of field you need.  (Article on Depth of field coming soon.)

The knowledge of the instructors is extraordinary and I always learn far more then my brain can hope to recall.  Best of all, however, attending conferences like Photoshop World expose me to new ideas and approaches to photography.  As a wildlife photography specialist, it is easy to fall into the trap of only looking at the work of other wildlife photographers.  While there is plenty of inspirational wildlife photography out there, there is often a sameness in the work of different photographers.  By looking outside the wildlife photography community, I am often reminded of different techniques and approaches that can help me to evolve as a photographer.  More then anything else, it is this exposure to various styles and approaches that keeps me coming back to Photoshop World.

With this goal in mind, I began the conference by attending the Real World HDR workshop with Matt Kloskowski and RC Conception.  The purpose of this workshop was to expose the participants to both the theory and practical application of HDR techniques.  If you have not played with HDR photography, it seeks to increase the dynamic range that is recorded in an image by combining multiple images together.  The workshop began with a presentation about camera settings and the step by step process of photographing for HDR effects.  Following the presentation, attendees grabbed their cameras and headed out to take some pictures.  When we returned, Matt and RC went over the steps needed to make an HDR image using Photomatix Pro and Photoshop.  The final hour found us each creating HDR images from the images we captured on the photowalk with Matt and RC answering questions and providing feedback.  The workshop provided a good start to the conference and has certainly inspired me to play with HR images in the future.  Below are some of my more successfuly HDR attempts.

The first three HDR images attempt to use the HDR effect to solve a photographic problem.  One of the primary limitations of photography is that the camera can’ record the same level of dynamic range as the human eye sees.  Where our eye sees detail in both right areas and dark areas, the camera only sees detail in the light areas OR the dark areas, not both.  Photographers have found various work arounds to this problem, including flash, filters, and not taking the picture, but before HDR they did not have a way to record the full level of detail in a single image.  These images are meant to look realistic with details in both the highlight and shadow areas.

Staircase at Mandalay Bay in HDR

Mandalay Bay in HDR

Mandalay Bay in HR

The next three images use HDR as both a solution to a photographic problem (limited dynamic range) and a method of artistic expression.  By modifying contrast and colors, it is possible to create what has come to be known as a grunge effect.  The results are a far cry from realistic, but they do create a highly stylized, artistic image that has impact.

Mandalay Bay in HDR

Palm tree at Mandalay Bay in HDR

Staircase at Mandalay Bay in HDR

Hi Chris,

The photo safari trip to Tanzania with you was beyond our expectations. We enjoyed being so close to so many wild animals in their natural environment.  The guides spotted the animals quickly and brought us photographers in the best possible shooting position. They were outstanding.

The travel logistics and accommodations were excellent and all the staff members were very friendly and helpful. Nice hot showers as we returned to camp at the end of the day and great meals.

You shared your knowledge about wildlife behaviour as well as your photography skills with us. You also managed to create a bond between the group members that made the trip even more pleasant.

We want to thank you for this “trip of a lifetime”, hoping there will soon be a second.

Arthur and Janny,  The Netherlands

Cheetah family

Leopard climbing tree

Leopard

Leopard jumping

Lion cubs

Wildebeest fight

Zebra fight

Information about my 2010 photo safaris can be found here.  Spots are limited so don’t delay.  If you are ready for your “trip of a lifetime”, e-mail me at info@chrisgamel.com.

Juvenile Marine Iguana.

Looking for the perfect way to combine wildlife photography with a family vacation?  Have we got the trip for you!  Join me in the Galapagos and the highlands of Ecuador as we cover the country with our cameras.  Exploring the Galapagos Islands your family will come face to face with some of the world’s tames wildlife.  Meet Blue Footed Boobies, Giant Tortoises, and thousands of Marine Iguanas.  Share the shade with a Frigatebird or relax on the beach beside a sunning Sea Lion.

Following the Galapagos, we will journey into the Andes where we will experience the cultural heritage of Ecuador.  Explore 17th century haciendas,  watch Andean Condors soar through the sky, and ride horses in the shadow of the Andes.  Our journey culminates with a visit to one of the world’s largest indigenous markets as we capture the entire adventure with our cameras.

This workshops is designed for photographers of all skill levels, from the novice to the expert.  Never taken a good picture?  Don’t worry, you will on this trip.  Looking to improve the skills you already have?  This is the opportunity you have been looking for.  We will visit the best locations and with Chris Gamel’s guidance, you will bring home pictures that you will be proud of.

For full trip details, click here.

For other classes and photographic workshops with Chris Gamel, click here.

For a first visit I was very happy with the images I brought home.  I lucked out with the weather (temperatures didn’t move out of the low 90s) and we had some good sightings, especially the Baltimore Orioles.  I am convinced that with the investment of some time and effort, future visits to Roma will prove even more productive.  Each of the following images were created this past weekend.

Baltimore Oriole

Tufted Titmouse

Male Northern Cardinal

Green Jay

Turkey Vulture flying