Homeward Bound

[mpkirby]

I was homeward bound today. All in all a good vacation. My wife bought (allowed me to buy?) a new 10D, so I am happy. Took a bunch of pictures over the holiday, and I though this one captured today the best.

http://www.fototime.com/50B322DCC436A6F/standard.jpg


I took it in Av mode at f6.7, 1/60th with a fill flash using the 28-135mm IS lens (at 105 here). ISO 800 with a touch of noise reduction...

The actual technical question was when I went to sharpen it a bit, I picked up a bunch of artifacts around the hairline of the boy. I was using an Unsharp Mask in photoshop set at 80/1.2/1

I originally thought it was perhaps JPEG, so I reconverted as a TIF image, but got the same thing.

Suggestions/Explainations??

Thanks,
Mike

p.s. Needless to say, I never made it home...Perhaps tomorrow.

[Belmondo]

You will pick up artifacts in high contrast areas. Suggest using the high pass filter technique (create a new layer. use the high-pass filter on the new layer. Use USM on that, and then blend the two layers using 'soft light.' Adjust transperency for best effect.)

If you use the search engine above, you should be able to find a better description of the technique. I've seen it brought up a couple times in the past----once fairly recently.

Tom

[scottbergerphoto]

I think that at ISO 800 you would expect a fair amount of noise which sharpening will exacerbate. In addition to what has already been suggested, you might do a selection leaving out the area with the hairline and sharpening inside the selection and feather about 75 pixels.
Enjoy the new 10D,
Scott

[mpkirby]

belmondo wrote:
If you use the search engine above, you should be able to find a better description of the technique. I've seen it brought up a couple times in the past----once fairly recently.

Tom

Ahh... I had known about the technique, but didn't understand the specifics. I now understand...Works pretty well actually.

Thanks
Mike

[mpkirby]

scottbergerphoto wrote:
I think that at ISO 800 you would expect a fair amount of noise which sharpening will exacerbate. In addition to what has already been suggested, you might do a selection leaving out the area with the hairline and sharpening inside the selection and feather about 75 pixels.
Enjoy the new 10D,
Scott

One of the things I have been doing is experimenting with high ISO settings. I need to understand the limits of the equipment otherwise, I will forever take pictures like I did on my G1 (P mode, lowest ISO). And presumably not get results much better.

For exmple, The following was a ISO 1600 shot I took at a basketball game (Warriors vs. Celtics...Celtics won).

http://www.fototime.com/4C78137C3418C39/standard.jpg

ISO 1600, 1/125 at f/6.7 28-135mm (135mm) -- Tv Mode w/ AI Servo.

The original noise was hideous. I used neat-image (nice tool), and it cleaned up pretty well.

Most of my shots came out terrible, but this one wasn't bad. (mostly out of focus...I still need to figure out the AI Servo mode).

Mike

[defordphoto]

mpkriby: That shot needs nothing. It's fine the way it is. Sharpening would take away from it and make it look unnatural. Many times leaving well enough alone is better than doing anything at all. The only thing I'd do with that picture is print it and frame it.

[scottbergerphoto]

I agree with RFM. That's a great shot. I used to take my 10D into Madison Square Garden with my 70-200 2.8 until they started stopping me in the seats. Keep experimenting. Your right, it's the only way to know what you and your equipment can do.
Scott

[mpkirby]

scottbergerphoto wrote:
I agree with RFM. That's a great shot. I used to take my 10D into Madison Square Garden with my 70-200 2.8 until they started stopping me in the seats. Keep experimenting. Your right, it's the only way to know what you and your equipment can do.
Scott

Thanks...They tried to stop me. I explained that technically the 10D wasn't a "pro" camera, and that my 135mm lens wasn't very long. (didn't mention the 6 megapixel or magnification factor built into the camera).

I don't get why they try to stop people. It's not like I'm taking business away from "real" sports photographers. And even if I was, I would assume it would be because I get better shots (which should be what the team wants...)

Mike

[defordphoto]

Who tried to stop you from doing what?

[mpkirby]

RFMSports wrote:
Who tried to stop you from doing what?

Sorry. Upon entry to the stadium, they told me I couldn't take in the 10D. I argued, and they told me that "Pro" cameras weren't allowed in with fans. In particular, "Pro" cameras with long lenses.

I told them that this wasn't (technically) a pro camera, and that the lens (135mm) wasn't very long. The guy seemed to take more pitty on me, then be convinced by my arguments, so I got in.

Mike