Why Megapixels Really Do Matter

When I teach my workshops or speak in front of groups of serious amateur photographers, I love to shake things up a little bit, just to get folks thinking “outside the box”. I’ll often start out with a statement like “there is only one reason for someone other than a working professional to own a 21 megapixel camera and it’s because size really does matter”. It’s fun to see the men in the class sit up just a bit straighter after making a statement like that and the women blush slightly.

Of course I’m talking about megapixels here. Quite honestly, any camera with a 10 megapixel can take shots that can be printed up to 24″ x 36″ without any special processing and still look great. What you get with the very high megapixel sensors like that found in the Canon 5D Mark II or the Nikon D3X is incredible flexibility in cropping your image in a number of different ways without loosing significant resolution.

Take the shot above for example. The original capture was a normal 2 x 3 ratio landscape orientation shot with the crescent moon in the far left of the scene. The evening I took this image the light was fading fast and I wasn’t able to recompose for a vertical shot as I would have liked. Upon reviewing the image in Lightroom, I felt that a tight vertical crop balancing the crescent moon and the “wave” of the land would look better in print and the 21 megapixel sensor in the Canon 5D2 allowed me to create the final image with plenty of resolution to spare.

A few years ago, only the high-end professional sports or fashion shooter could afford a 18 or 21 MP camera. Today, this technology has become very affordable in the Canon 1D Mark IV (16MP – $5000), the Canon 5D Mark II (21MP – $2500), the Canon 7D (18MP – $1500) and the Canon 60D (18MP – $1000) cameras. Everyone from a working pro to the advanced amateur or serious hobbyist can benefit from the continuing megapixel race and don’t let anyone tell you different. It is a race that both Canon and Nikon aim to win.

And before you start flaming me on this issue remember this; as technology continues to advance we can look forward to even higher resolution sensors that not only produce less digital noise but which also extend the dynamic range they are capable of capturing. These advances in technology are fueled in no small part by the megapixel race we all write about with such disdain. Advances in new technology often come directly from a competitive marketplace where companies “race” to gain market share. I for one, hope the “race” for a better sensor continues for years to come.

Crescent Moon – Kingsland, Texas
Copyright 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II set on aperture (Av) priority using an EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 97mm, f/8 for 8 seconds at ISO 100. Post capture processing was done in Adobe’s Lightroom 3.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

View Location on Panoramio & Google Earth: Crescent Moon – Kingsland, Texas

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM, Kingsland, Landscape Photography, Photography, Texas Hill Country, Texas Landscapes

Pedernales Falls Sunset

Pedernales Falls State Park is one of my favorite spots in all of Texas. Its unique geological structure, colorful foliage and shear size make it a target rich environment for landscape photographers. You could spend weeks exploring each tier of the falls and never see the same thing two days in a row. The water level varies greatly depending upon how much rainfall the area has gotten and this section of the river is prone to flash floods.

My favorite times of year to visit is in the early spring and the late fall when the sunrise and sunset are aligned with the top of the falls. As you can see in this image, the clouds at sunset can be spectacular.

Pedernales Falls at Sunset – Johnson City, Texas
Copyright 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II set on aperture (Av) priority using an EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 28mm, f/16 for 1/2 second at ISO 100 with a Singh-Ray warming polarizer filter. Post capture processing was done in Adobe’s Lightroom 3.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

View Location on Panoramio & Google Earth: Pedernales Falls at Sunset – Johnson City, Texas

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM, Landscape Photography, Nature Photography, Pedernales Falls State Park, Photography, Texas Hill Country, Texas Landscapes

Sunset at Lighthouse Peak

I wrote a post last November about how to outfit your Canon PowerShot “G” series cameras for landscape and nature photography and I thought it might be time to update it a bit before the holiday season.

I love the resolution and detail the Canon 5D Mark II is capable of producing and for most of my commercial and landscape work it’s my camera of choice. However, like all other DSLRs the 5D2 can seem like quite a load to lug around during a serious day-hike or weekend backpack trip to the mountains of west Texas. I generally hesitate to leave my 5D2 and lens kit behind on the off chance that I’ll stumble upon a once in a lifetime photographic opportunity and won’t have by best gear along to capture it.

With the Canon Powershot “G” series cameras this fear can finally be put to bed. The resolution, sharpness and lack of barrel or pin-cushion distortion offered by the G10/G11/G12 cameras make them ideal for landscape work when used with the Lensmate filter adapter shown above. Add a custom designed aluminum L-Plate from Really Right Stuff to the “G” series outstanding materials of construction and you’ve got a sturdy but lightweight rig that any landscape photographer would be proud to carry.

With results like this, taken from the Lighthouse Peak mesa in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, it’s hard to justify carrying around the extra weight of a full-size DSLR when hiking.

Sunset at Lighthouse Peak – Palo Duro Canyon, Texas
Copyright 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon Powershot G10 set on aperture priority (Av) using a circular polarizer. The exposure was taken at 28mm, f/6.3 for 1/50th of a second at ISO 80. All post capture processing was done in Adobe’s Lightroom 3. Click on the image above for a larger version.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

View Location on Panoramio & Google Earth: Sunset at Lighthouse Peak – Palo Duro Canyon, Texas

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon Powershot G11, Landscape Photography, Lensmate, Nature Photography, Palo Duro Canyon, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Photography, Really Right Stuff, Texas High Plains, Texas Landscapes

Nothing But Blue Skies Do I See . . .

The new Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II lens is quite possibly the sharpest lens Canon has ever developed. It’s certainly the sharpest lens I’ve ever used, bar none. If you’re interested in all the technical details I recommend reading the in-depth review at The-Digital-Picture.com.

I bought this lens last month after shooting interiors and exteriors for several Bed & Breakfast establishments in the Texas Hill Country. In some situations I’d found that my workhorse lens, the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens was creating too much distortion and making the interior spaces look smaller rather than larger.

The “shifting” abilities and almost complete lack of pin-cushion and barrel distortion in the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II lens solved this problem completely.

Another area where this lens really shines is in how well it controls chromatic aberration (CA) at all apertures, even wide open. It’s amazing to pixel peep a shot of an interior room with lots of windows and find almost no “fringing” around the window glass. This is the first lens I’ve ever shot with that controls CA this completely.

This is one tack sharp lens! I shot with both the incredible EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM and the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II lens before making my purchase decision and while the new 24mm f/1.4L II is sharp, the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II blows it away in a side-by-side comparison.

Yes, it’s heavier, larger and more expensive than the 24mm f/1.4L lens but the performance and features of the TS-E 24mm lens make it well worth the investment. It’s also a really fun lens to shoot landscapes with, which is why I keep humming this Irving Berlin tune to myself.

Blue skies smilin’ at me.
Nothing but blue skies do I see.

Blue Skies Over Palo Duro Canyon – Claude, Texas
Copyright 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II set on aperture (Av) priority using a Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L II lens tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 24mm, f/18 for 1/15th of a second at ISO 100 with a Singh-Ray warming polarizer filter. Post capture processing was done in Adobe’s Lightroom 3.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

View Location on Panoramio & Google Earth: Blue Skies Over Palo Duro Canyon – Claude, Texas

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Canon, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L II, Landscape Photography, Nature Photography, Palo Duro Canyon, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Photography, Texas High Plains, Texas Landscapes

French Garden Getaway For Teenagers

French family refurbished the old building with four split levels completely lined in silver birch. More of this teenage hideout is seen on Inthralld.

Win a FREE 30-Day Stock Photo Subscription Pack from 123RF.com! Participate here!

French Garden Getaway For Teenagers

French family refurbished the old building with four split levels completely lined in silver birch. More of this teenage hideout is seen on Inthralld.

Win a FREE 30-Day Stock Photo Subscription Pack from 123RF.com! Participate here!

French Garden Getaway For Teenagers

French family refurbished the old building with four split levels completely lined in silver birch. More of this teenage hideout is seen on Inthralld.

Win a FREE 30-Day Stock Photo Subscription Pack from 123RF.com! Participate here!

French Garden Getaway For Teenagers

French family refurbished the old building with four split levels completely lined in silver birch. More of this teenage hideout is seen on Inthralld.

Win a FREE 30-Day Stock Photo Subscription Pack from 123RF.com! Participate here!

French Garden Getaway For Teenagers

French family refurbished the old building with four split levels completely lined in silver birch. More of this teenage hideout is seen on Inthralld.

Win a FREE 30-Day Stock Photo Subscription Pack from 123RF.com! Participate here!

French Garden Getaway For Teenagers

French family refurbished the old building with four split levels completely lined in silver birch. More of this teenage hideout is seen on Inthralld.

Win a FREE 30-Day Stock Photo Subscription Pack from 123RF.com! Participate here!

Mojo Wang Illustrations

Characters gray, faceless greeting and communicating at the same time. Wang Mojo illustrator seduces with its artistic proposal. Mojo has achieved a very unique identity in visual terms, with the color and strokes defined a constant throughout his portfolio. A work that speaks of eroticism, youth and growth

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My first sculpting experience of a mad bug. Modeling, sculpting and texturing in Cinema 4d R14.

30 Award Winning Wildlife Photography examples for your inspiration

The name of the game in wildlife photography whether you're trying to capture a herd of elephants on the Serengeti Plains or butterflies in your backyard is patience. Wild animals are going to do what they're going to do. Unfortunately, you can't ask them to look this way, do something cute, or stand where the light is better. You have to be there, and ready, when they decide to look cute or do something interesting. Be prepared to wait, and wait, and wait it takes a long time to get good wildlife shots.

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Felice Varini in Paris

Swiss artist Felice Varini returns with a new anamorphic work located at the Grand Palais in Paris as part of the “Dynamo” exhibition. Discover the process of making the video in the future.

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French Garden Getaway For Teenagers

French family refurbished the old building with four split levels completely lined in silver birch. More of this teenage hideout is seen on Inthralld.

Win a FREE 30-Day Stock Photo Subscription Pack from 123RF.com! Participate here!

French Garden Getaway For Teenagers

French family refurbished the old building with four split levels completely lined in silver birch. More of this teenage hideout is seen on Inthralld.

Win a FREE 30-Day Stock Photo Subscription Pack from 123RF.com! Participate here!

Winter Fields

This is the reason I love winter here in Texas! Where else in the country can you find acres upon acres of tall winter hay in December and the warmth of a southwest sunset over your right shoulder.

Winter Fields – Fayetteville, Texas
Copyright 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II set on aperture (Av) priority using a TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II lens tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 24mm, f/16 for 1/40th of a second at ISO 100 with a Singh-Ray warming polarizer filter. Post capture processing was done in Adobe's Lightroom 3.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3, Canon, Canon 5D Mark II, Landscape Photography, Nature Photography, Photography, Texas Hill Country, Texas Landscapes

The Frio River

Few rivers in run colder or clearer than the Frio in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. The Frio is a marvelous work of nature, filled with thousands of smooth, polished stones from millions of years of flow. This shot was taken at a low water crossing near Concan, Texas on a hot and humid summer afternoon when the water is running slow and crystal clear. I’ve taken this same shot dozens of time before but I never get tired of the view!

Frio River Stones – Concan, Texas
Copyright 2010 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II set on aperture (Av) priority using an EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens tripod mounted. The exposure was taken at 19mm, f/16 for 1/40th of a second at ISO 100 with a Singh-Ray warming polarizer filter. Post capture processing was done in Adobe's Lightroom 3.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3, Canon, Canon 5D Mark II, Landscape Photography, Nature Photography, Photography, Texas Hill Country, Texas Landscapes

Using Canon’s “AI-Focus” Mode to Catch the Action

There’s nothing better for a wildlife photographer than catching a beautiful pair of birds in flight and having the camera and lens to track them through a high-speed sequence. Folks shooting with Canon’s new EOS 1D Mark IV or EOS 7D will know exactly what I mean. The “AI Servo” auto-focus mode on these two new Canon DSLRs is nothing less than spectacular, especially after years of mediocre performance from most Canon models.

Another auto-focus feature that “finally” works as advertised is the “AI Focus” mode that will switch between “One-Shot” and “AI-Servo” modes when the camera detects significant motion in the subject. I use this setting frequently with water fowl to ensure that I capture the sharpest shots when they are swimming (One-Shot) and when they take off (AI-Servo) suddenly. This feature allows me to concentrate on the birds behavior to anticipate their flight rather than spending critical seconds switching from one FA mode to another and hoping that I can pan fast enough to catch the action.

Wing Man One – Brazos Bend State Park, Texas
Copyright 2011 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 7D set on aperture (Av) priority using an EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM + EF 1.4x Extender mono-pod mounted. The exposure was taken at 560mm, f/5.6 for 1/640th of a second at ISO 200. Post capture processing was done in Adobe's Lightroom 3.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

Wing Man Two – Brazos Bend State Park, Texas
Copyright 2011 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 7D set on aperture (Av) priority using an EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM + EF 1.4x Extender mono-pod mounted. The exposure was taken at 560mm, f/5.6 for 1/640th of a second at ISO 200. Post capture processing was done in Adobe's Lightroom 3.

Click on the image above for a larger version.

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3, Bird Photography, Brazos Bend State Park, Canon, Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 7D, Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM, Nature Photography, Photography, Texas, Wildlife Photography

Capturing Birds in Flight: Exposure Control

Capturing birds in flight is a difficult task for any DSLR camera. Capturing a “stop action” shot of a bird in flight with enough detail and sharpness to distinguish between individual feathers is exceptional. Accomplishing all this with an exposure that doesn’t blow out the highlights and leave the subject silhouetted dark against a bright background is almost too much to wish for, but the Canon EOS 7D delivers all this and more.

When looking for a wildlife camera I tend to focus on the auto-focus system (no pun intended) more than anything else. However, it takes more than just sharpness to create a great wildlife shot. It also requires precise exposure control especially when shooting birds in flight. The Canon EOS 7D comes with a brand new 63-zone “iFCL” (Intelligent Focus, Color, Luminance) metering system that takes focus, color and illumination into account when determining the correct exposure. This new AE system takes the 7D’s capabilities to an entirely new level of sophistication and precision as you can see in the shot below.

Stop Action – Brazos Bend State Park, Texas
Copyright 2011 Jeff Lynch Photography
Shot taken with a Canon EOS 7D set on aperture (Av) priority using an EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM + EF 1.4x Extender mono-pod mounted. The exposure was taken at 560mm, f/5.6 for 1/1000th of a second at ISO 100. Post capture processing was done in Adobe's Lightroom 3.

For a shot like this I would normally use the “Spot Metering” mode and hope for the best. Shooting a white subject backlit against a very bright background is a recipe for AE failure in most situations but to my surprise and delight, the EOS 7D handled this scenario almost perfectly in “Evaluative Metering” mode. In this situation, my EOS 5D Mark II would have blown out the highlight almost completely in it’s quest to reveal a little detail in the Heron’s neck. The new 63 zone iFCL metering system on the 7D compensated for the bright background to show feather detail but didn’t blow out the highlights at all.

Quite a feat for a non-1D series camera and one more reason why the Canon EOS 7D is a truly great DSLR value.

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3, Bird Photography, Brazos Bend State Park, Canon, Canon 7D, Nature Photography, Photography, Wildlife Photography

Tips for Launching Your Own Commercial Photography Business

Starting a commercial photography business can sound complicated, but with the right tools and ideas, a small business can easily take off into a larger one.

Great retail photography can be a decisive factor when people are choosing a restaurant or catering business, a real estate agent and more. Having great images dotting your client’s marketing materials can be the best references for your work you’ll ever get, if done right.

A well-chosen photo in a home store helps customers envision how a room will look with the featured furniture and accessories. Food photography highlights a restaurant’s best dishes, and that’s an art in itself. Real estate agents can make a mark for themselves with think-outside-the-box photography of home listings. The right lighting on a piece of jewelry will put a sparkle in someone’s eye.

There are some basic steps you should take before launching a commercial photography business. Let’s take a look:

Know the Purpose of the Photos

It is important before you start a project that you understand what the images are to be used for. Print ads? Facebook campaigns? Business cards? Printed menu? Online retail?

There are many uses for photographs in retail photography. Advertising a new business, creating food art for a menu or shooting merchandise for an online store are all different ways that imagery can be used in a retail photography project.

Build Your Portfolio

Have you shot retail photos previously? If you’re looking to market your photography for retail, make sure your existing portfolio contains retail shots. It may mean you have to invest a little money or asking friends to let you take pictures of their work. But having a varied set of photos in your portfolio is important to show potential clients creative ideas for their own projects.

One tip you can start using now: Take your best five pictures in each category that you shoot in and assemble them on a website targeted toward that particular client base. For instance, if you want to do more restaurant photo work, set up a site catering to public relations staff who promote restaurants. These professionals are always looking for creative photographers to work their new and interesting projects. And, if you shoot for a consumer-facing business, you should already be using Instagram for business marketing, notes Modern Retail. 

Use the Right Tools

And that leads us into the best tools for commercial photographers. Of course, your business website is the best way to share your portfolio and pricing information and showcase recent work done for clients. Have an email and a phone number listed for contact information. Here are some other key items:

• Use Wi-Fi to upload your on-the-go shots from your camera or Blackberry 10 phone right into a cloud-based account. This way, clients can immediately see your shots and you can access them later for editing. 
• Use a clip-on flash to capture images in their businesses setting. Sometimes existing lighting isn’t optimal, and you’ll struggle to keep the images crisp.
• Extra lights, a tripod, tables and more are necessary to set the stage for effective product shots. A lightbox placed near a sunny window, electronic flashes ready at the touch of a button or continuous-lit lighting sources highlight your craft dedication to the business owner and client. 

A retail photographer should have imaging software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom to edit and fine-tune the images. You can also use photo editing software to add backgrounds digitally to a studio-shot image.

Studio Space

Studio space can be a welcome and useful thing. Having available space means you can recreate an area without having to resort to paying location fees or worrying about the the lighting during a certain part of the day; you have control of the environment. To start, build a mini studio in your home or find studio space to rent locally.

Make effective use of basic backgrounds in your studio space. It can be as simple as a white or neutral backdrop hung from a backdrop stand with clips. Also, having various forms of lighting accessible to you will help you create any images that reflect the needs of the client.

Know the Client

Along with developing your own personal style and skills, it is important to understand the style of the client. Does the client want a modern aesthetic or a more lived-in version? What kind of clientele do they want to appeal to? What are the current trends in advertising, modeling and home decor? This all has an impact on the image you’re trying to capture.

Consider the timing of the photographs as well. Pictures of a business means coming in at off-peak times when there are no customers, so you can take pictures without interrupting service. However, clients who want to show off their busy business will expect you to take photos during peak hours.

Eye Level Shooting

One of the most important techniques when shooting pictures for businesses is to capture the space or model in the most flattering way. Standing up, taking pictures from a taller view of a room means that a lot of the space is taken up with the top of an item, not a good side view of it. It can also lead to distortion of items and people in the images. Keep photos at chest level for any models and consider getting low enough to sit when shooting furniture or room decor in a furnished room. Shooting individual items will mean getting eye level with the product itself, so consider height when creating a lightbox or surrounding for products to be photographed. This should help you take better photos.

Starting a new business can feel complicated and overwhelming, but with these five areas covered you will be on your way to creating a successful business offering commercial retail photography to clients.

Top feature image Photographer Shoots a Business Man via Shutterstock

Megan McClain is a former reporter, photographer and substitute teacher, Megan McClain married her high school sweetheart is now mother to a three year old and a chihuahua. She loves writing and her camera, even though most of her life is captured through her iPhone.

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