Books, Camera Gear, Creative Tips, Digital Imaging Tips, eBooks, Featured Images, Guest Post, Press, Interviews and Info, Reviews and Recommendations

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Primer for New Readers: 10 Posts That Define This Blog

Hello and welcome to my newest readers. If this is your first time here, or if you’ve only read a handful of my articles, then you may not know how much stuff lives buried in the archives on this site.

Even if you’re a regular reader, you’re likely to miss a few posts. Totally understandable. You can always subscribe and catch up via email.

So, to introduce you to the flavor of this blog and get you up to speed, here are 10 recent post that illustrate the types of gear and book reviews, creative tips, lighting tutorials, introspective rants, witty humor, and general photography related banter that I post each week.

Hopefully you’ll find some of this stuff useful, or at least mildly amusing. If so, then stick around and explore the world of outdoor photography with me. Then subscribe. Share this post. Leave a comment. Say something. Or don’t. At any rate, thanks for reading.

1. 3 Great Budget Carbon Fiber Tripods

As I wade through the endless ocean of photography gear, I pull out and review those items that I feel are relevant to outdoor shooters so you don’t have to. This one is a look at 3 good quality carbon fiber tripods that all cost under $250. Think “affordable” but not “cheap.” Another post of this type is my Best Budget Wide Angle Lenses review.

2. Landscape Photographers on Creativity and Inspiration

Often times I write my own insight about photography. However, in this popular post, I asked 8 accomplished landscape photographers, including Ian Plant, Guy Tal, Jim Goldstein and Bret Edge to give me their own insight on photographic inspiration and the creative methods they use to approach their subject matter. Great images and words of wisdom from some truly talented photographers.

3. Comparing Nikon Speedlights: The SB-700 vs. The SB-900

Many of my reviews are real world comparisons between two pieces of similar gear. Rather than give you all the specs, which you can easily find elsewhere, I give you my practical analysis that’s based on things like experience, usability, value, weight and price, not numbers. I clearly outline why you should consider one over the other based on your own experience, and I don’t always tell you to buy the more expensive item. (If you’re a Canon shooter, check out Which Canon Speedlite Should You Get? 580EX II vs. 430EX II vs. 320EX vs. 270EX II.)

4. 3 Tips for Stronger Photographic Compositions

Tips are always great, because they’re usually concise, easy to digest and easy to pass along on Twitter and Facebook. Sometimes a few easy tips are all that’s needed to get you thinking differently and churn up your own creative juices. Sometimes my tips revolve a specific piece of gear, such as my 4 More Reasons Why I Love My 85mm f/1.8 lens article.

5. Sh*t Photographers (NEVER) Say

Sometimes I throw in a little humor to mix things up and to remind us that photography doesn’t always have to be so serious. Numbers and specs are serious. How we apply our own personal quirks to them is not. For more humor, also check out Technical DSLR Terminology For Regular People.

6. Download a Free eBook from Craft and Vision

eBooks are great. They’re immediate, they often provide valuable and great looking photography content and instruction, and you can take them with you on your iPad or other mobile device. I write regular eBook reviews here on this site, including this one for a FREE Craft and Vision title called 11 Ways to Improve Your Photography. Check it out.

7. People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs

I also write a number of regular book reviews here on the site. Who doesn’t like real books? Sometimes I’ll search out and find what I feel are noteworthy titles that I think will inspire your creativity or provide valuable insight on increasing your photographic skills or workflow productivity. Other times, I’ll give you lists of what I feel are the best books on a particular topic, such as my 5 Great Books for Learning Landscape Photography post. Check out my review of Chris Orwig’s People Pictures book.

8. Video Review- Lowepro Photo Sport 200 Camera Pack

In addition to lists and comparison reviews, I’ll also do full user reviews on gear that I use and have firsthand experience with. I’ll give you my thoughts and impressions on things like usability, practicality, durability and accessibility; again, the important stuff that really matters when you’re out in the field. As a pro adventure photographer, I can be pretty tough on my gear and my reviews reflect well desinged products that I highly recommend and that I think other outdoor photographers will also find useful.

9. Quick Layer Masks with Photoshop CS5

I’m lucky to have experienced author and Adobe educator Dan Moughamian as a frequent guest on the site. He brings us digital imaging tutorials that help you with the computer part of photography. This lesson is all about how to isolate and applying changes to specific parts of your image while leaving other areas unaffected. Useful stuff.

10. Magic Hour in Barrow, Alaska

Sometimes it’s all about the images. My images. I’ll frequently feature my newest photos here on the blog, but rather than just show you pretty pictures, I’ll usually try to incorporate some kind of tip or lesson into the post. I try to extract and pass along some of the things that I learned from a particular shoot.

April 10, 2012
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Primer for New Readers: 10 Posts That Define This Blog

Featured Images

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Shooting In Manual Mode With The Fujifilm X10

The more I use the Fujifilm X10, the more enamored I become with its flexibility, its selection of very usable features and it’s overall image quality. I’ve had the camera for about three months now, and every week, I find myself increasingly convinced that it’s one of the best compact cameras in its class.

I shot with it exclusively over the weekend, either keeping it in my pocket or on the strap around my neck, where it was accessible for whatever burst of visual creativity that came my way. In other words, I tend to geek out pretty hard on it, so it’s always accessible.

I snapped this window light portrait of my friend Jim while we waited for burgers at the Brown Bear Saloon on our way back from Alyeska Resort on Friday. As you know, situations like this usually throw the camera meter way off and overexpose the subject. My first few frames did just that.

However, changing to Manual Mode and using the spot meter gave me a much more usable exposure and really cool photograph. Sure, there are a couple tiny hot spots on his face, but for a straight JPEG with a quick Tone Curve adjustment in Lightroom, I think it’s pretty darn good, considering the extreme level of contrast in this scene. A little tweaking in Photoshop and I could probably bring those under control. Shooting RAW would give me even more control.

Even if I’d had my DSLR with me, I likely would have left it in the car and missed this opportunity. Recognizing the appealing light, I might have tried to capture it with my iPhone, but the iPhone has a fixed lens. The effective 28-112mm f/2.0-2.8 lens on the Fuji X10 offers a lot of creative flexibility, and it allowed me to frame this exactly how I wanted with that door on the left side of the frame.

For more information and a rundown of all the features on this camera, read my full review of the Fujifilm X10.

April 9, 2012
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Shooting In Manual Mode With The Fujifilm X10

Camera Gear, Reviews and Recommendations

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Nikon D700 vs. D800 – Which Camera Should You Buy?

I realize that this one seems like a no brainer, especially for those photographers (yes… me), who are completely caught up in the reviews and excitement about the new Nikon D800. Bear with me, though, because I’m trying to come at this from a practical standpoint.

Yes, the D800 is an incredible camera that is the right choice for many photographers. However, there are some very valid reasons that you should not count out the D700.(Edit- August 24: Nikon has discontinued the D700. It’s still an awesome and relevant camera, and as of right now, it’s still my main DLSR body. Read my thoughts on this matter and my hopes for what may follow.)

Let’s do a brief comparison of both bodies, check out the real world specs and see which one might be right for you.

The Nikon D800

The brand new D800 is Nikon’s most ambitious, and perhaps most hyped HD-DSLR camera to date. With it’s 36.3 megapixel CMOS FX sensor, it delivers image resolution that rivals medium format. It also blows every other Nikon completely out of the water when it comes to Full HD video capability.

Essentially, the D800 is a media making machine. It shoots a variety of image sizes in multiple image formats: FX (full frame, 24×36), 1.2x (30×20), DX (1.5x 24×16), 5:4 (30×24), and seven different video resolutions. The largest image that the D800 can produce is a 14-bit RAW file, which is a 74.4 MB and 7,360 x 4,912 pixels.

With dual CF/SD card slots, a built in mic, stereo mic jack, time lapse photography options, a 51-point AF system, EXPEED 3 image processing engine, Advanced Scene Recognition System, a built in pop-up flash and a newly designed, highly ergonomic body that’s even small and lighter than the D700, the D800 is an awesome little camera. In fact, many of the same features that are found on the flagship D4 have been brought to the D800 as well.

However, is it a perfect camera? Not quite. The D800 does have limitations. In packing all that resolution into each shot, the Nikon engineers had to compromise in a couple of areas. The main limitation in most people’s eyes is the reduced frame rate. Max frame rate on the D800 is only 4 fps, which seems eternally slow in this day and age. (My Fuji X10 will fire bursts at up to 10 fps.) In DX mode, you can get 5 fps, and 6 fps with the optional battery grip.

The D800 comes with some hidden costs that don’t always get mentioned. First of all, to take advantage of it’s 36 megapixel sensor, you’ll need the best quality lenses. This pretty much means pro quality “gold label” Nikon lenses. You may find that some lower price glass and “kit” lenses just won’t hold up when shooting in maximum resolution. 36 megapixels will show any imperfection in both equipment and technique.

Also, 74 MB RAW files could very well mean that you’ll need to upgrade software, hard drives and possibly even a new computer, not to mention a whole slew of new memory cards. Are you sure you’re ready for that yet? A $3,000 D800 camera could easily become a $5-7,000 investment. More if you throw in new lenses.

Nikon D700

Don’t count out the highly popular and successful D700. It’s lived a good life so far, and even though it’s been dropped from the lineup, there are still a few to be found online. With it’s 12.1 megapixel full frame FX CMOS sensor, EXPEED image processing engine and excellent low light, high ISO shooting capabilities, the Nikon D700 produces very high resolution 4,256 x 2,832 images and has become the favorite DSLR for many professional adventure and outdoor photographers.

The D700 has, and continues to be my camera of choice for many applications. It’s small, rugged, compact and ergonomically designed body fits perfectly in my hands, and has survived the various rigors that I’ve put it through over the past few years. Basically, my D700 has done just about everything I’ve ever needed it to do, and I’ll be honest, I was in no hurry for the impending D800 announcement.

It has a fast, highly accurate 51-point autofocus system, a 1,005 pixel RGB sensor, a built in flash and a host of custom functions that offer wide flexibility. The D700 doesn’t do video, but it does shoot at 5 fps, and 8 fps with the optional MB-D10 battery grip, and for many people, including me, that’s a big plus.

The Bottom Line: Which One Should You Get?

Despite the incredible hype and total photography nerdiness that many of us are prone to when it comes to gear, the reality is that most people, professionals included, don’t need anything larger than 12-16 megapixels. How many of us make 6-foot wide prints? That’s how big an image that the D800 produces at max file size.

In this day and age, MOST pictures that are EVER taken by MOST people only end up being reproduced on the web at 1/4 page or smaller. We’re taking Facebook and blogs. Even a full screen image on a 30″ monitor is still only about 2,500 pixels wide. Not even close to the D800’s 7,360 pixel size.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t consider a camera like the D800. It’s a fantastic DSLR that will allow you to express your creativity with high caliber, professional quality work, as long as you have the technical skills to match. Besides- Gear is cool, and modern technology has a lot of offer the modern photographer/storyteller.

That said, keep in mind that even the Nikon engineers have said that the D800 is NOT a replacement for the D700. It’s a whole new class of camera, designed for professional media creators. Despite the hype, the D700 is still a very relevant and capable camera.

Why you’d want the D800: If you’re a professional photographer who shoots for high end reproduction or who consistently makes large format prints, or if you want to expand your video capabilities in a big way, the yes, definitely consider the D800.

It will give you the best possible image quality of just about any camera out there, and it will put professional quality movie making capabilities in your hands. Just make sure you’re ready to drop some cash for new hard drives and make sure your lens collection is up to the task.

If you’ve got money to burn in your pocket, then yes, get the D800, and order it now so that it will arrive at your doorstep sooner. Note:  D800 bodies are starting to trickle in at Amazon. Right now, this is your best chance for picking one up. Stock is in and out, so if you miss out, check back in a few days.

Why you’d want the D700: If you’re a pro, semi pro or enthusiast photographer who wants a rugged camera that will get the job done in a wide variety of situations, and if you don’t HD video on your DSLR (maybe you have an HD video point and shoot), then definitely consider the D700. It’s also a great choice if you’re looking to upgrade from an older DSLR like the D40, D90 or from an entry level camera like the D3100 or D5100, or if you’ve got a D90 or D7000, but want a full frame FX body.

The D700 is an awesome camera that is still used by pros worldwide, including me, and it shoots a faster frame rate than the D800, which makes it great for shooting action and sports. Throw the MB-D10 on it and you’ve suddenly got an 8 fps action shooting powerhouse that costs half as much as a D3S, and nearly one third as much as a new D4.

Also, the D700 is $800 cheaper than the D800, and the D700’s are in stock right now. You could order one today and be shooting with it tomorrow. Order a D800 and you’ll likely be waiting until May.

Finally, the D700 doesn’t come with the hidden costs of computer, hard drive and CF card upgrades. Chances are, your system is already capable of handling it’s RAW files, which are only 13 MB in size.

Remember what I said – Photography is not about the gear, it’s about the creative eye and technical skills behind the lens. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t get one or the other; just be smart with your money and use careful evaluation before you pull the trigger.

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April 4, 2012
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Nikon D700 vs. D800 – Which Camera Should You Buy?

Creative Tips, Fast With Light, How To

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Alaska Portrait – Shot with the Lumiquest Softbox III

This past weekend, I shot an assignment on a frozen lake in front of a glacier. The client wanted the shots to look “uniquely Alaskan,” so I chose a location that no one would mistake for someplace else like New Hampshire or Colorado.

With a mix of blue and slightly overcast skies, and the world’s biggest reflector at our feet, the light was actually quite good for most of the action shots. However, for the portraits, I wanted a little more zing in the shots, so I broke out the speedlights.

Since I was going fast with light in my traditional Dan Bailey style, I only had a couple of small light modifiers with me. This image above was shot with single flash on a sync cord and a Lumiquest Softbox III, which is an awesome, ultra lightweight, foldable diffuser. When packed up, it takes up less room than a FedEx envelope.

The SB III does a great job killing harshness and adding a bit more drama to your photographs. Slightly underexposing the background by -1/3 stop to a full stop under can also enhance the look of your shots even more. Experiment. Play. Be creative.

For this shot above, I used a Nikon SB-800 TTL mode with straight Aperture priority exposure. Watch this video below to see the Softbox III in use, and a comparison of no flash, straight flash and diffused flash.

Right now, you can save $15 on Lumiquest gear (orders over $50) by visiting the Lumiquest Store and using discount code SOCIAL MEDIA in your shopping cart.

You can also enter to win a Lumiquest Softbox III by entering my Spring Photography Giveway. Click that big orange bar at the bottom of the page for details.

April 3, 2012
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Alaska Portrait – Shot with the Lumiquest Softbox III

Uncategorized

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Enter The Spring Photography Giveaway!

The Spring Photography Giveaway

To kick off the new season, I’ve teamed up with Lowepro, Manfrotto, Lumiquest and Focal Press for a Spring adventure photography gear giveaway.

Grand prize is a Lowepro Photo Sport 200 Backpack, which is my current go-to bag for nearly all my outdoor adventures and fast and light photo assignments.

In addition, we’re also giving away a Lumiquest Softbox III, (and Ultra Strap) which is my favorite super lightweight light modifier, a Manfrotto Pocket Series DSLR Tripod, a copy of Chris Gatcum’s gorgeous book, Landscape Photography, The Four Seasons, published by Focal Press, and a copy of my latest eBook, Going Fast With Light.

The giveaway entry period runs from today until Monday April 16 at Midnight, Alaska time, and the randomly selected winners will be drawn and announced shortly two after that. It’s open to residents of the U.S. and Canada who are 18 and older.

After you enter, be sure to mention this giveaway on Twitter and tell all your friends about it!

Click Here to Enter the Spring Photography Giveaway

April 2, 2012
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Enter The Spring Photography Giveaway!

Press, Interviews and Info, Uncategorized

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Get Ready for The Spring Photography Giveaway!

 

Get ready for the Dan Bailey Photo Spring Photography Giveaway!!

To celebrate the onset of the new season and the promise of rebirth and warm weather outdoor photography, I’ve decided to hold a sweepstakes and give one lucky winner a cool selection of photo gear from Lowepro, Manfrotto, Lumiquest and Focal Press, as well as a free copy of one of my eBooks.

Want to try and win this stuff? Come back here on Monday, or find me on Twitter or Facebook for details on how to enter. Or sign up for my Newsletter over there on the right, and you’ll get a friendly email reminder about the giveaway early next week.

Happy Spring!!

The really small print: This giveaway will be open to residents of the U.S. and Canada who are 18 years or older. Entries will be collected for two weeks starting Monday April 2. Buying one of my eBooks before or during the giveaway will, in no way, affect your chance to win, but it will make me happy and it’s likely to make you a much better photographer at the same time. Win win, all around! Have a great weekend. Oh, and don’t forget to share this with your friends. Bye.
March 30, 2012
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Get Ready for The Spring Photography Giveaway!

eBooks, Reviews and Recommendations

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Anne McKinnell’s Free ebook: “Before The Shutter”

Photographer, writer, traveler, nomad Anne McKinnell released her brand new eBook today, Before The Shutter: How to prepare for your award-winning photograph.

The book features a collection of great travel photos, plus 28 pages and 7600 words of great tips and insight that she’s gained during her year long road trip around the USA.

Anne wrote Before The Shutter to help other outdoor, travel and landscape photographers get the most out their next photo excursion by walking through the planning stages and all the necessary steps that happen before you take the shot.

Highlights include researching locations, identifying your own creative vision, trip planning, creating a shot list and more. She expands with solid detail in each chapter and she clearly illustrates each tip and idea with wonderful photos. The book is well laid out, clearly written and a real joy to look through. And having been on the road for many months now, Anne has a wealth of great information to share!

I’ve known Anne via the internet for a couple of years now, and it’s been really enjoyable to watch her progress as both a photographer and a writer. In my mind, she’s a great example of someone who’s taking life by the reins and writing the story as she wants it to read. We could all learn a little bit from her just on that account. (Read her insightful guest posts that she’s written here on my blog.)

I’m excited to keep watching Anne in the coming years and see where she goes with her photography and writing. Download your free copy of Before The Shutter, because great photographs should never be left to chance.

Also, read Anne’s excellent and insightful guest posts that she’s written here on my blog.

 

March 29, 2012
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Anne McKinnell’s Free ebook: “Before The Shutter”

Personal and Pro Insight

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Duh… Of Course Photography Is About The Gear

Lately, there seems to be a trend of overpuffed, self important people in the photo industry who claim that Photography is NOT about the gear. Well, I don’t know who those folks are, or what their qualifications are for making such arguments, but I wholly disagree with that utterly preposterous statement.

Of course, photography is about the gear. It’s always been about the gear. Even back in the day when the first Daguerreotypes were created, the process involved a camera, and as long as I’ve been using cameras, I can attest that they are indeed “gear.”

Despite what some people say, a camera is not just a light tight box. Not these days anyway, it’s a light tight box that holds a specially constructed light gathering sensor, lots of gears, wires, springs, microchips, circuit boards, mirrors, smoke and little electronic whizbangs that are all controlled by a series of strategically placed buttons, knobs, dials and miniature TV screens.

And then there’s the lens part. What about things like ED glass, internal focusing, multi-coating, De-focus control, vibration reduction, image stabilization, multiple groups of specially shaped ground glass elements? Yea, that stuff definitely qualifies as gear. And we haven’t even talked about accessories yet, not to mention computers and software…

Of course, let us not leave out the most important factor that determines whether something can be accurately considered “GEAR,” which is that every year, people who wear ties and lab coats keep making this stuff better. With each new model, we get more megapixles, faster autofocus, sharper lenses, more frames per second, more durable, lighter weight materials, more features, better electronic brains, smarter metering systems and yes, higher prices.

And do you turn away? No, you fawn over this stuff on the internet until such time as you simply cannot control your justification tendencies or your purchasing urges anymore. You happily run out and buy the brand new improved gear, which makes you excited and even more enthusiastic about taking even better pictures than you did before.

Some pictures cannot even be taken without special gear, and by special, I mean expensive. Try as you might, you simply cannot get the same photographic effects that things like a really big lens, a radio controlled TTL flash, or a 6-foot softbox will give you, without a f/2.8 lens, a radio controlled TTL flash, or a 6-foot softbox. Ok, maybe David Hobby can, but that’s only because after riding The Flash Bus for five weeks with Joe McNally and his 37 suitcases of lighting equipment last year, he probably has severe gear-overload issues. Who wouldn’t?

My point is that photography is inherently so gear intensive that the pure craft of image making cannot be separated from the gear. Whether it’s an old Leica or an AF-S IF ED VR lens, these ultra cool toys are so much a part of photography, that as photographers, we have literally become defined by our gear.

Sure, some folks might say that’s a bad thing, and that you can do make great photos with just an iPhone, but trust me, those are just the people who can’t afford a Nikon D4 or a Fuji X-Pro 1. Don’t listen to them. Doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go buy one. You know you want to.

So, I’ll say it again. Photography is definitely about the gear. Don’t believe me? Then sell your cameras and take up drawing. Now that’s simple. No gear.

Oh, by the way, I hear the best sketch paper is the Strathmore 500 stuff with 106 lb. cotton rag paper and Ultra-Smooth Plate Finish that lets you create sharp lines and for detail work without feathering or bleeding, even when reworked with repeated erases.

We haven’t even started talking pencils yet…

March 28, 2012
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Duh… Of Course Photography Is About The Gear

Personal and Pro Insight

5

I’ll Say it Again: Photography is Not About The Gear

Yesterday I read a short  post by travel photographer Phil Hill that was posted over at Light Stalking, called Why Good Photography Isn’t About The Gear.

In his article, Phil went out and shot landscapes with his girlfriend’s entry level DSLR and f/5.6 kit lens. His intent was to prove that learning how to effectively expose for your scene with Manual and Aperture Priority modes is far more important than just buying more Megapixels.

And you know what? He’s right. He got some perfectly nice photographs, even with a nearly ten year old camera that only has a 10 Megapixel sensor. Compared with the latest offerings from Nikon and Canon, 10 Megapixel seems so… oh, I don’t know… so .

But here’s the deal:

The D800’s 36 Megapixel sensor has enough resolution to produce 6-foot prints. However, most of us will NEVER make a 6-foot wide print. Ever. And even if you do, you won’t look at it from four inches away, you’ll look at it from across the room, or across the trade show floor, where the thing is hanging over 100 feet away. At those distances, you’ll never see grain and pixels, even from an image that was shot with a point and shoot.

The reality is that most photos that are shot these days end up on the web, no bigger than whatever size limitations that Facebook sets. Even if you put them on your website and view them on your 27″ iMac, they’ll still look awesome. And new iPad? Sorry, its super high resolution 2,048 pixel Retina Display still only equates to 3 MP. These days, just about every decent camera, lens or accessory will get the job done.

Don’t get me wrong, I love buying the latest camera gear. So do you. In fact, there’s nothing wrong with buying gear, but there is something wrong with raising your overhead to unrealistic levels, putting yourself in debt and forever spending more than you make on your photography. Even if you’re an enthusiastic amateur and you’re not trying to make money with it, you can still go off the deep end.

So, go out and buy gear that you want, based on careful research and consideration. Just make sure that you’re not buying stuff because you think you need it. Chances are good that you don’t. And even if you do need it, be smart about your purchases, because in the end, the money that you save can likely be put to use on something really useful, like a plane ticket to some faraway land where you take some totally rad photos with the gear that you already own.

And, if you missed it earlier this month, here’s my own original post about why Photography is not about the gear.

Note: If you happen to be a rich retired doctor or lawyer who had taken up outdoor photography as a hobby, please go out and buy ALL of the fancy new cameras and lenses. This will make you an astoundingly better photographer. Don’t listen to this dribble above, you know that photography is definitely all about the gear. The rest of us thank you for helping keep prices down.

March 27, 2012
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I’ll Say it Again: Photography is Not About The Gear

Reviews and Recommendations

0

DxO FilmPack 3 Software



Why do we love analog so much? Despite the fact that we know digital reproductions provide the most clarity, sharpness and resolution, we’re still drawn to analog in a huge way. Even as we embrace cameras like the new 36 Megapixel Nikon D800, when it comes to photography, we just can’t seem to leave film behind for good.

And it’s not an age thing, because “retro style photography” is embraced by millions of iPhone toting kids who have never even seen a real roll of film. No, we loved and still love film because it had style. Film had a look. Film didn’t deliver us the subject right to our doorstep, it showed us characteristic visual representation of our subject matter, and by definition, that’s called art.

There are a number of programs that let you apply film style filters to your digital images, but DxO FilmPack 3 software is one of the best ones that I’ve seen. This really cool, and very well done software lets you discover, or rediscover your love of vintage film photography with authentic reproductions of traditional film and processing techniques.

Loaded with a selection of some of the most famous and celebrated black and white, color negative and color positive films in the history of photography, DxO FilmPack 3 offers limitless creative possibilities when it comes to giving your images a unique and personal look.

DxO FilmPack 3 faithfully renders the specific color and grain qualities of films such asKodachrome, Kodak Gold, EliteChrome, Tri-X 100, T-Max 400, Fuji Provia, Astia,Velvia, Reala, Agfa Ultra, Ilford HP5, Polaroid 664 and many more.

In addition, you can adjust and fine tune the level of exposure, saturation, film grain intensity and contrast to any film setting, apply a number of filters for black and white film, or use toning effects, such as sepia or selenium, and cross processed techniques. Love color palette of a certain film, but don’t want the grain? Want more grain? Want a richer or more subdued look? Simply move the sliders and get exactly what you want.

Kodak T-Max 3200
Kodak T-Max 3200 - reduced grain
Cross Processed

Not just a “fun” program, DxO FilmPack 3 is powerful enough for professional use. It will handle large TIFF and JPEG files, it runs in 32 or 64-bit, and it either works as a standalone application or as a plug-in with Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, Aperture or DxO Optics Pro.

The interface is intuitive, simple and very easy to use, and after downloading it out for myself, I really like what I see. Compared to other vintage software photography options that offer lots of presets and color effects, this is the real deal. The engineers at DxO Labs have done an excellent job recreating the specific look of these different films. The effects are as authentic as you’re going to see, and as I said, the creative possibilities are pretty much endless. Below are some examples that I applied to my own imagery- you can see more here.

If you miss the look and feel, but not the chemicals, developing costs and storage aspects of shooting film, and if you want to bring some of that real art and style back into your own digital photography, then check out DxO FilmPack 3.

March 22, 2012
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DxO FilmPack 3 Software