Index
References to illustrations are indicated in italics.
1/focal length rule 66–7, 68, 69, 78
1.5TB external hard drives 206
12MP RAW files 9
14–24/2.8 lenses (Nikon) 23
16–35/2.8 lenses (Canon) 23
16GB memory cards 13
18 percent gray 40
32GB Compact Flash cards 13
32GB memory cards 13
50mm macro lenses 124
64GB Compact Flash cards 13
65mm macro lenses (Canon) 79, 98, 124–5
100mm macro lenses 124
180/3.5 USM Macros (Canon) 18
180mm macro lenses (Canon) 89
200–400mm f/4 lenses (Nikon) 23
300/2.8 lenses (Canon) 18
300/4.0 ED-IF lenses (Nikon) 18
300/4.0 lenses (Canon) 18
Acratech, leveling heads/bases 173
Adams, Ansel, The Negative 55
adjustable self-timers 9
AF-On button 9; see also autofocus (AF)
ambient light: and backlighting 148; and exposure meter 39–40; “killing the ambient” 145; see also exposure; light
animals: bighorn lamb 25; bison in snow 39; black bear cub 30–1; bobcat 12; coastal brown bears 18, 113, 162, 202, 203; elk and snow 80; gray wolf 6–7; horses 160; Kirk’s dik-dik 168; mountain goats 77, 81; spiders 27, 94, 125, 207; warthogs 43; white-tail deer 76; wild dog 14; yellow-bellied marmot 170; zebra 158; see also birds; butterflies; insects
anise swallowtail butterfly 115
aperture: and close-up/macro photography 128, 130; and depth of field 89–90, 97; f/stops 31, 33–5, 36; maximum aperture 18; and night photography 181; optimum apertures 76–8; see also focal lengths
aperture-priority exposure mode 41–2, 145, 194–5
architectural photography, and tilt/shift lenses 24
ArcSoft 176
aspen trees 97
autofocus (AF): back-button focusing 3, 9, 83–6, 175; and close-up/macro photography 128; continuous focus 81–3; and fast lenses 19; multiple AF points 80; and night photography 184; single-shot AF 80–1; and teleconverters 28; and Ultra Sonic Motor (USM) 18
Auto FP High speed Sync (Nikon) 150
automatic flash 40, 135, 145, 154
Auto WB (white balance) 107, 174
autumn colors, Moccasin Lake and Hiawatha National Forest (Michigan) 198–9
B (bulb exposure) shutter speed 33
B + W polarizing filters 28, 118
back-button focusing 3, 9, 83–6, 175
backgrounds, and composition 168–70
Balanced Rock (near Castleford, Idaho) 183, 193
ball heads (for tripods) 72, 72, 174
batteries 12–13, 75, 181; batteries and chargers 12–13
battery packs 181
bears, coastal brown bears 18, 113, 162, 202, 203
bighorn lamb 25
birds: booted racket-tail hummingbird 155; brewer’s duck 84–5, 85; calliope hummingbird 141; duck swimming 73; greater prairie chickens 23; lesser flamingo 8; red-billed oxpecker 158; red-footed booby 15; rufous hummingbird 138–9; shoebill stork 84; Steller’s sea eagle 47; tufted puffin 82
bison in snow 39
black and white film, and burning and dodging techniques 55
bluebonnet blossoms 26
bobcat 12
booted racket-tail hummingbird 155
Bow Lake (Canadian Rockies) 171
buffer, built-in 9
built-in teleconverters 24, 28
burning and dodging 55
burst mode, and HDR images 58
butterflies: anise swallowtail 115; caterpillar 133; fritillary butterflies 123, 135; Mormon fritillary 151; pale tiger swallowtail 80, 131; pearl crescent 122; silver-bordered fritillary 35; sulfur butterfly 120–1; two-tailed swallowtail 34; Weidemeyer’s admiral 206; western green hairstreak butterfly 127; western white butterfly 140; yellowstone checkerspot 32
cabin 50
cable release 9, 15, 78, 128; see also locking cable release
cactus blossom 100
calliope hummingbird 141
calypso orchids 169
camera buffer 9
cameras: camera system choices 7–8, 15; firing procedures 78–9; key camera features 9–11; memory cards 13; for night photography 179–81; protecting against shock 15; protecting against water 13–15; sensor size 11–12; ‘spaghetti’ problem 15; see also Canon; contrast and HDR; exposure; filters; flash; lenses; light; mirror lock-up; Nikon; self-timers; sensors; shutter speeds; viewfinders; white balance (WB)
camera-shake: and 1/focal length rule 66–7; and close-up/macro photography 128, 129, 130, 136; and handheld shooting 69; and image-stabilization 20, 69, 75; and short flash durations 130, 136; and shutter speeds 41, 42, 58, 78; and telephoto lenses 24
Cannon Beach, Oregon, Haystack Rock 11
Canon: camera systems 7–8, 202–3; Canon 7D, sensor size 12; Canon Digital Photo Professional 60, 176, 207; extension tubes 125; focusing mode AI Servo 81; High speed Sync 150; image-stabilization 20, 69, 75; multiple exposure capability 11; Speedlites 143–4, 153–4; teleconverters 28; see also Canon 5D Mark III; Canon flashes; Canon lenses; Canon locking cable releases
Canon 5D Mark III: exposure control dials 45; HDR Mode menu 59–60; ISO choices 36; larger pixel sizes 181; locking cable release 191–2; metering modes 40; metering scale 43, 45, 45; multiple exposure options 186, 189; picture styles 107; sensor size 12; sync speed 150
Canon Digital Photo Professional 60, 176, 207
Canon flashes: ST-E2 flash controller 153–4, 154; ST-E3-RT wireless flash 145; wireless flashes 10, 146
Canon lenses: 16–35/2.8 lenses 23; 65mm macros 79, 98, 124–5; 180/3.5 USM Macros 18; 180mm macros 89; 300/2.8 lenses 18; 300/4.0 lenses 18; close-up lenses 126, 127; L series 18; macro lenses 27, 122; for night photography 181; own brand 17; super-telephoto lenses 24; tilt/shift lenses 24, 25, 91
Canon locking cable releases 191–2; Remote Switch RS-80N3 183; Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3 183
cascades see waterfalls
Castle Geyser (Yellowstone National Park) 178–9, 191
caterpillar 133
chickens, greater prairie chickens 23
chrominance noise 38; see also noise
claret cup cactus blossom 116, 134
Clepsydra Geyser (Yellowstone National Park) 112
close-up and macro: close-up lenses 126–7, 127; close-up vs macro photography 121; diffusers 132; extension tubes 125–6, 126; flash (balance light between foreground and background 136; freeze subject and camera-shake 136; improve color 136; increase contrast 133, 135; reduce contrast 132–6); ideal close-up light 130–1; macro lenses 122–5; magnification definition 121–2; reflectors 132; shooting strategies (aperture 128, 130; flash 130; focus stacking 130; manual focus 128; mirror lock-up or live view 129; Plamps 129–30; rushing water 129; self-timers and cable/wireless remote release 128; tripods 128, 128; wind 129, 130); summary 136; see also close-up photography; macro lenses; macro photography
close-up photography: definition 121; and edge clutter 170; and focus stacking 94, 98, 101; and macro lenses 27; and manual focus 80; see also close-up and macro; macro lenses; macro photography
Close Up Photography in Nature (John and Barbara Gerlach) 77, 89, 100, 136
Cloudy WB (white balance) 107, 174
“clunker” images 202
coastal brown bears 18, 113, 162, 202, 203
Color Matrix (Nikon) 40
color of images, and flash 136
color of light 105–7; see also light; white balance (WB)
Color Temperature WB (white balance) 109–12
CombineZM 93
common St. John’s-wort blossom 4
Compact Flash (CF) cards 13
composition: backgrounds 168–70; compose handheld 158–61; compositional abilities 157; depth, suggestion of 170–1; edge clutter 170; effective viewpoints 166–8; horizon lines 161, 168–9; landscape vs portrait orientation 162, 164; lines 165; and northern lights 195–6; panoramas 171–2, 173–6; perspective 171, 172; simplify the image 158; subjects, ideal number of 164–5; subjects, placement of (don’t center 161; rule of thirds 161–2, 163); summary and advice 176–7
coneflower blossoms 204
contrast see contrast and flash; contrast and HDR; contrast in light
contrast and flash: increase contrast 133, 135; reduce contrast 132–6
contrast and HDR 53–4; dodging and burning 55; graduated neutral gray-colored filters (GNDs) 55; High Dynamic Range (HDR) 55–6 (autobracketing 58; manual bracketing 58–9; Photoshop to add contrast 63; processing, in-camera 59–60; processing, software solutions 60–1; RAW format 56–7; single image HDR 61–3); see also backlighting
contrast in light: diffusers 114–16; electronic flashes 117; graduated neutral gray-colored filters (GNDs) 117; High Dynamic Range (HDR) 117; Photoshop’s Shadow/Highlight Controls 117; reflectors 117
Costco, 1.5TB external hard drives 206
Council Lake, Michigan x, 3
cowboy cooking 143
crab spider 207
Cramer, Charles 206
cross-lighting 114, 131, 133, 148
Custom WB (white balance) 109
damselfly, dew-laden 71
darkening, and polarizing filters 28–9
darkroom techniques, burning and dodging 55
Daylight/Sun WB (white balance) 107, 174
dead center (bull’s-eye) composition 161
dedicated flash cords 145
deer, white-tail 76
Delkin, memory cards 13
delphinium flower 129
depth of field: and close-up/macro photography 128; and focus stacking 93, 94–5, 97; vs image sharpness 89–90; and photographing stars 186–9
diagonal lines 165
diffused light 114
digital office: decline in stock photo sales income 199–201; editing and storing images 202–4 (editing procedure 204–6; software favourites 206–8; storage devices 206); photography education 200–2; see also software
dim light: and Auto (variable ISO) 36; and fast lenses 19; and focus stacking 94; and ISO 104; and manual focus 79
dodging and burning 55
dog, wild 14
Double Spirit Level (Hama) 174
dragonflies, dew-laden 10, 200
East Channel Lighthouse (Munising Bay) 64–5
EasyHDR 60
edge clutter 170
ED glass lenses 18
editing/organizing images 202–6
El Capitan (Yosemite National Park), and focus stacking 94–5
elk and snow 80
Endres, Patrick J., How to Photograph the Northern Lights with a Digital Camera 196
Enormous Balanced Rock (near Castleford, Idaho) 183, 193
environmental problems, and sharp shooting 75
evaluative metering 40
“Expose to the Right” (ETTR) 37–8, 146–7, 174, 195
exposure: aids (highlight alert 38; histogram 32, 35, 37–8); autobracketing 49; exposure control dials 45; exposure controls (f/stops 33–5; ISO 35–6; shutter speed 33; stops 32–3); exposure guidelines 31; exposure modes (aperture-priority 41–2; autoexposure 40; manual 42, 45; problems with autoexposure 45–9; problems with manual exposure 49; program 41; shutter-priority 36, 42; shutter-priority and Auto ISO 42, 45); exposure strategy summary 32; and focus stacking 95–7; JPEGs vs RAW 31–2; law of reciprocity 36; metering modes 40; metering scale 43, 45, 45; meters 38–40; multiple exposure capability 11, 186–9; and panoramas 174; and photographing stars 49–50, 185–6; summary 51
exposure compensation control 48, 58, 195; see also FEC (flash exposure compensation)
farm house, old 172
fast shooting speed 9
FEC (flash exposure compensation) 40, 117, 132–3, 135, 141, 142–3, 144–5, 146–8
filters: gelatin filters 136; graduated neutral gray-colored filters (GNDs) 55, 117; polarizing filters 28–9, 75, 117–18; protection filters 15, 28; skylight protection filters 75; split-ND (Neutral Density) filters 29, 55; UV protection filters 28, 75; variable ND filters 29
flamingo 8
flare problems: and lens hoods 28, 66, 74–5, 114; and protection filters 15
flash: advantages 139–40; automatic flash 40, 135, 145, 154; and close-up/macro photography 130, 132–6; and contrast in light 117; and diffused light 114; and fast lenses 19; fill flash 142–4, 146, 153; flash cords, dedicated 145; flash durations 140–1; flash exposure compensation (FEC) 40, 117, 132–3, 135, 141, 142–3, 144–5, 146–8; flash ratios 153–4; inverse-square law 142, 153; LED Lenser M7 181; main flash 144–5, 146–8, 153; multiple flash 152–4; and night photography 184; pop-up flashes 48–9, 142; sync speed 49, 141–2, 148, 150–2; through-the-lens flash metering 141, 184; wireless flashes 10, 145–9, 145, 152–3, 184
Flash WB (white balance) 108
flower photography, and f/stop (aperture) 35
flowers: bluebonnet blossoms 26; cactus blossom 100; calypso orchids 169; claret cup cactus blossom 116, 134; common St. John’s-wort blossom 4; coneflower blossoms 204; delphinium 129; geranium 32; grey-headed coneflower blossoms 204; knapweed blossom 207; lily pads 95; tulip field (Wooden Shoe, Woodburn, Oregon) 61, 90, 91, 108, 144; in water drops 88–9; see also trees
Fluorescent WB (white balance) 108
focal lengths: 1/focal length rule 66–7, 68, 69, 78; basics 19–20; macro lenses 27; and night photography 181, 182; and perspective 171; and photographing stars 186; prime lenses 22; standard lenses 24; and star trails 191; super-telephoto lenses 24; and teleconverters 27–8; telephoto lenses 24; tilt/shift lenses 24; zoom lenses 21–2; see also aperture; lenses
focusing: and fast lenses 19; IF (internal focusing) 18; infinity focus 185, 191; manual focus 79–80, 98, 128, 175, 181, 184; and night photography 184–5; and panoramas 80, 174, 175; selective focusing 19; see also autofocus (AF); back-button focusing; focus stacking
focusing rails 98
focus stacking: advantages and disadvantages 93; and Canon 65mm Macro 125; and close-up/macro photography 130; and depth of field 93, 94–5, 97; depth of field vs image sharpness 89–90; lens choices 98–9; and manual focus 79; and panoramas 94, 174; process (exposure 95–7; focus/focusing strategies 98; motionless subjects 94–5); processing (Helicon Focus 99; Zerene Stacker 100); software 93, 98, 99–100, 101; summary 100–1; tilt/shift lenses 90–3
forests see trees
fritillary butterflies 35, 123, 135, 151
frost on cone and twig 92
f/stops (aperture) 31, 33–5, 36; see also aperture
Galapagos Islands, Kicker Rock 21
“gardening” (edge clutter) 170
gelatin filters 136
geysers: Castle Geyser (Yellowstone National Park) 178–9, 191; Clepsydra Geyser (Yellowstone National Park) 112; geyser basin under snow (Yellowstone National Park) 156–7; Old Faithful Geyser (Yellowstone National Park) 192; White Dome Geyser (Yellowstone National Park) 184, 192; see also waterfalls
“ghost trees” (Two Top Mountain, Montana) 69, 70
Gimbal tripod heads (Wimberley) 72, 73
Giotto Rocket blower 66
girl with cowgirl hat 48
Gitzo: leveling heads/bases 173; tripods 71
glare, and polarizing filters 28–9, 118
GNDs (graduated neutral gray-colored filters) 55, 117
Grand Prismatic Spring (Yellowstone National Park) 166–7, 167
grasshopper 106
greater prairie chickens 23
grey-headed coneflower blossoms 204
Hama, Double Spirit Level 174
handheld shooting: and composition 158–61; techniques (1/focal length rule 66–7, 68, 69; brace the camera 68–9; crop factor 68; high shutter speeds 69; image-stabilization 69; zoom lenses 68)); see also camera-shake; image-stabilization
hard drives 206
Haystack Rock (Cannon Beach, Oregon) 11
HDR Efex Pro 60; see also High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Helicon Focus 93, 99, 101, 207
Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan 198–9
High Dynamic Range (HDR): advantages and criticisms 54; autobracketing 58; and backlight 114; bracketing 58–9; and contrast in light 117; and focus stacking 94; and manual focus 80; Photoshop to add contrast 63; processing, in-camera 59–60; processing, software solutions 60–1; and RAW format 56–7; single image HDR 61–3; vs split-ND (Neutral Density) filters 29, 55–6
High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI) 54
highlight alert 31, 32, 38, 42
high megapixel count 9
high speed shooting, and HDR images 58
histograms: and evaluative metering 40; examples of 32, 35; and “Expose to the Right” (ETTR) 37–8; and exposure 31, 37, 42; and HDR bracketing 58–9; and JPEGs 32, 37, 38; live histograms 10; and RAW 32, 37, 38; RGB histograms 9, 105; and shutter speeds 33
hoods (for lenses) 15, 28, 66, 74–5, 114
horizon levels 174
horizons, and composition 161, 168–9
horizontal lines 165
horses 160
hot air balloon (Wooden Shoe tulip field, Woodburn, Oregon) 61
Hoya, polarizing filters 28, 118
IF (internal focusing) 18
image-stabilization 20–1, 69, 75; see also camera-shake
insects: dew-laden damselfly 71; dew-laden dragonflies 10, 200; grasshopper 106; red-tailed bumblebee 207
instructional photography 200–2
intermediate f/stop values 35
intermediate ISO values 36
intermediate shutter speeds 33
internal focusing (IF) 18
ISO: and autoexposure mode 48; Auto ISO 36, 41, 42, 45; and exposure 31, 35–6; and handheld shooting 69; intermediate ISO values 36; and law of reciprocity 36; and night photography 179–81, 182, 185–6; and panoramas 174; and quantity of light 104; and star trails 191; and stops 32, 36
JPEGs: and color of light 106–7; and Custom WB 109; and exposure 31–2; and focus stacking 99; and HDR images 56–7; and histograms 32, 37, 38; and main (wireless) flash 146; and panorama software 176; and photographing stars 185; and PhotoMechanic 202, 204, 205; vs RAW 32
Kelvin (K) white balance option 109, 111, 112, 185
Kicker Rock, Galapagos Islands 21
“killing the ambient” 145
Kirk Enterprise Solutions: focusing rails 98; L-brackets and quick release plates 74; tripod ball heads 72, 72
Kirk’s dik-dik 168
knapweed blossom 207
Lake Ha Hand (Lee Metcalf Wilderness) 52–3, 59, 175
Lake Superior shoreline, Miner’s Castle (Michigan) 68, 68
landscape orientation 162, 164
law of reciprocity 36
LCD displays: and exposure 31; and metering scale 43
LED Lenser M7 181
Lee Metcalf Wilderness (Montana): Lake Ha Hand (Lee Metcalf Wilderness) 52–3, 59, 175; Sedge Meadows 54, 182, 185; sunrise 62
lens caps, attached to lens 15
lenses: avoid extra glass and lens hood 74–5; cleaning procedures 66; close-up lenses 126–7, 127; description and function 18; ED glass lenses 18; fast lenses, advantages of 19; focal lengths 19–20; and focus stacking 98–9; image-stabilization 20–1; lens choices 21–2, 29; macro lenses 18, 23, 27, 79–80, 89, 94, 98, 122–5; manufacturers 17; maximum aperture (fast vs slow lenses) 18; for night photography 181–2; prime lenses 22, 23; standard lenses 24; super-telephoto lenses 23, 24, 72; teleconverters 19, 24, 27–8, 75, 126; telephoto lenses 24, 73, 74, 168; third-party lenses 17; tilt/shift lenses 24–7, 79, 90–3, 91; wide-angle lenses 23–4; zoom lenses 18, 21–3, 29, 68, 74, 126–7, 181; see also aperture; filters; focal lengths
lens hoods 15, 28, 66, 74–5, 114
lesser flamingo 8
leveling, and composition 161
Lexar, memory cards 13
life-size magnification 121–2, 124
light: color 105 (JPEG vs RAW 106–7; picture styles 107; see also white balance (WB)); contrast in (diffusers 114–16; flash 117; graduated neutral gray-colored filters (GNDs) 117; High Dynamic Range (HDR) 117; Photoshop’s Shadow/Highlight Controls 117; polarizing filters 117–18; reflectors 117); direction of (backlight 114, 148–9; cross-light 114, 131, 133, 148; diffused light 114; front light 112–13; sidelight 113–14); golden sunlight 130–1; ideal close-up light 130–1; importance of 103, 118; quantity of 104–5; see also dim light; northern lights
light-painting techniques 184
Lightroom: contrast controls 117; image-processing program 206; and RAW 32
lily pads, and focus stacking 95
lines, and composition 165
live histograms 10
live view: and close-up/macro photography 10, 129; and manual focus 79; vs mirror lock-up 79; and night photography 181
locking cable release 182–4, 191
lodgepole pine trees (Yellowstone National Park) 102–3
long macro lenses 124
Lower Falls (Yellowstone National Park) 67, 99
luminance noise 38; see also noise
macro lenses 18, 23, 27, 79–80, 89, 94, 98, 122–5
macro photography: definition 121; see also close-up and macro; macro lenses
magnification: definition 121–2; and focusing rails 98; high magnification 124–7; life-size magnification 121–2, 124; and sensors 12
Manfrotto: leveling heads/bases 173; tripods 71
manual exposure mode 42, 45, 49, 95, 174, 185
manual focus 79–80, 98, 128, 175, 181, 184
manufacturers: extension tubes 125–6; focusing rails 98; lenses 17; memory cards 13; third-party camera equipment makers 78; tripods 70–1; see also cameras; Canon; Nikon; software
maple trees 149
marmot, yellow-bellied 170
megapixels, high megapixel count 9
memory cards 13
metering modes 40
Microsoft Word 207
Milky Way 104, 175, 182, 185, 185
Miner’s Beach, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 95
Miner’s Castle (Michigan) 68, 68
Minolta, extension tubes 125
Mission San Xavier del Bac (near Tucson, Arizona) 109–10, 110–11, 112, 180, 190
Moccasin Lake (Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan) 198–9
Mormon fritillary butterfly 151
motionless subjects, and focus stacking 94–5
motion of subjects: and image-stabilization 20; and short flash durations 130, 136
Mountaineer tripods (Gitzo) 71
Mt. Evans, Colorado 25, 77, 170
Mt. Woodward 208
multiple AF points 80
multiple exposure capability 11, 186–9
Munising Fall 96
Nature Photographer (magazine) 207
ND filters: split-ND (Neutral Density) filters 29, 55; variable ND filters 29, 105
The Negative (Ansel Adams) 55
night photography: equipment (cameras 179–81; flashes 184; headlamps 184; lenses 181–2; locking cable release 182–4; tripods 182); focusing 184–5; see also northern lights; stars
Nikon: Auto FP High speed Sync 150; camera systems 7–8, 202–3; Color Matrix 40; D4 camera 181 (intervalometers 183–4, 191; sensor size 12); extension tubes 125; flash (910 flash 140–1; SU-800 wireless flash 145; wireless flash control, built-in 10; wireless flashes 146); image-stabilization 69; lenses 17 (14–24/2.8 lenses 23; 200–400mm f/4 lenses 23; 300/4.0 ED-IF lenses 18; macro (micro) lenses 27, 122; for night photography 181; super-telephotos 24; tilt/shift lenses 24, 91); meter scale 45; teleconverters 28; vibration reduction 20
noise: and ETTR 38; and ISO 36; and sensor size 12, 181; and star trails 189
North Star (Polaris) 162, 186, 192, 193
Old Faithful Geyser (Yellowstone National Park) 192
Oloneo HDR 60
Olympus: camera systems 7; lenses 17, 18, 122
opening up (aperture) 33
Paintshop Pro X6 Ultimate 60
pale tiger swallowtail 80, 131
PanaVue 176
panoramas: and composition 171–2, 173–6; and focus stacking 94, 174; and manual exposure mode 174; and manual focus 80, 175; software 176
pearl crescent butterfly 122
Pentax, camera systems 7
perspective, and composition 171, 172
perspective control lenses see tilt/shift lenses
Pete’s Lake (near Munising, Michigan) 109, 164–5
Photoflex 5-in-1 MultiDisc 117
Photoflex 7-in-1 Multidisc 132
Photomatix Pro-HDR 208
Photoshop: and edge clutter 170; and focus stacking 93; and HDR images 63; Merge to HDR Pro 60; and panoramas 176; and RAW 32, 38, 206; Shadow/Highlight Controls 117; workshops 202
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 22, 44; Miner’s Beach 95; White Birch Forest 147, 159
picture styles 107
pixels: and full-frame sensor cameras 181; high megapixel count 9; and histograms 37
placement of subjects 161–2, 163
PocketWizard 78, 146; Pocketwizard Plus III wireless flash 145
Polaris (North Star) 162, 186, 192, 193
polarizing filters 28–9, 75, 117–18
pop-up flashes 48–9, 142; see also wireless flashes
portrait orientation 162, 164, 175
power packs 13
power points, and rule of thirds 161–2, 163
Priest, Aaron 188
program exposure mode 41
PTGui 176
puffin, tufted 82
quick release plates 74, 158, 161
RAW: 12MP RAW files 9; and backlight 114; and color of light 106–7; and exposure 31–2; and focus stacking 99; and HDR images 56–7; and histograms 32, 37, 38; vs JPEGs 32; and main (wireless) flash 146; and photographing stars 185; and PhotoMechanic 202, 204, 205; and Photoshop 32, 38, 206
Really Right Stuff (RRS): L-brackets and quick release plates 74; tripod ball heads 72; tripods 71
reciprocity, law of 36
red-billed oxpecker and zebra 158
red-footed booby 15
red-tailed bumblebee 207
release see cable release; wireless remote release
SanDisk: Compact Flash card wallet 13; memory cards 13
San Xavier del Bac Mission (near Tucson, Arizona) 109–10, 110–11, 112, 180, 190
Scheimpflug’s geometric rule 24–5
Scott Fall (near Munising, Michigan) 55
“S curve” composition 165
Secure Digital High Capacity (SD HC) 13
Sedge Meadows (Lee Metcalf Wilderness, Montana) 54, 182, 185
selective focusing, and fast lenses 19
self-timers 9, 15, 128; two-second self-timers 78–9, 182
sensors: full-frame sensors 11–12, 181; size of 11–12; small sensors and crop factor 68; see also ISO
Shade WB (white balance) 108, 174
sharp shooting 65; clean lenses 66; focusing (autofocus 80–6; manual focus 79–80); handheld photography techniques (1/focal length rule 66–7, 68, 69; brace the camera 68–9; crop factor 68; high shutter speeds 69; image-stabilization 69; zoom lenses 68); sharp shooting techniques (avoid extra glass and lens hood 74–5; avoid wiggles 75; cable/wireless remote release 78; environmental problems 75; fast shutter speeds 78; firing the camera 78–9; image-stabilization 75; mirror lock-up 79; optimum apertures 76–8; two-second self-timers 78–9); tripods (tripod head accessories 73–4, 74; tripod heads 71–3, 72, 73; tripod leg coverings 71; types and makes 69–71; when not to use 69; when to use 66); see also autofocus (AF); close-up and macro; focus stacking; tripods
Shaw, John 103
shift mechanism, and lenses 26–7
shoebill stork 84
shooting speed, fast 9
shutter-priority exposure mode 36, 42, 45, 145
shutter speeds: 1/focal length rule 66–7, 68, 69, 78; and close-up/macro photography 128; and environmental problems 75; and exposure 31, 40–2; and fast lenses 19; and flash 136; and handheld shooting 69; and image-stabilization 69; intermediate shutter speeds 33; and law of reciprocity 36; and manual bracketing 58–9; and mirror lock-up 79; and night photography 181–2; and northern lights 194–5; and sharp shooting 78; and stabilizers 20; and stars 186; and star trails 191; and stops 33; and sync speed 141–2, 148, 150–1; and teleconverters 27–8; TFS (technique, face, and shutter speed) 76; and tilt lenses 25; and variable ND filters 29
Sidekick tripod heads (Wimberley) 73, 73
Sidemount Wimberley Heads 73
Sigma: camera systems 7; lenses 17; macro lenses 27; super-telephoto lenses 24
silver-bordered fritillary 35
Singh-Ray Vari-ND filters 29
skylight protection filters 75
“slaves,” and multiple flash 152–3
slow speed sync 150
snow: and bison 39; drifts and trees 38; and elk 80; geyser basin under snow (Yellowstone National Park) 156–7; and lodgepole pine trees (Yellowstone National Park) 102–3; and manual focus 79
SNS-HDR 60
software: editing and storing images 202–5; focus stacking 93, 98, 99–100, 101; HDR images processing 60–1; panorama software 176; RAW processing programs 32; software favourites 206–8; star trails images 192; see also digital office; Photoshop
Sony: camera systems 7; extension tubes 125; lenses 17
‘spaghetti’ of straps, strings and cables 15
speed: fast shooting speed 9; of memory cards 13; see also shutter speeds
spiders: crab spider 207; jumping spider 94, 125; spider web 27
split-ND (Neutral Density) filters 29, 55
sports photography: shutter-priority exposure mode 42; shutter speeds 78; super-telephoto lenses 24
spot-metering mode 40
standard lenses 24
stars: capturing techniques 181–2; and focusing 185; as points of light (depth of field problem 186–9; exposure 49–50, 185–6; image format 185; preventing star trails 186); star trails (processing software 192; shooting technique 189–92); see also night photography
StarStaX 192
Steller’s sea eagle 47
stopping down (aperture) 33
stops: and aperture 33–5; and exposure 32–3; and ISO 32, 36
storage media, and buffer 9
stork, shoebill stork 84
SU-800 wireless flash (Nikon) 145
subjects: ideal number of 164–5; motion and image-stabilization 20; motion and short flash durations 130, 136; motionless and focus stacking 94–5; placement of 161–2, 163
Sun/Daylight WB (white balance) 107, 174
sunrise (Lee Metcalf Wilderness, Montana) 62
super-telephoto lenses 23, 24, 72
sync speed 49, 141–2, 148, 150–2
Systematic tripods (Gitzo) 71
Tamron: lenses 17; macro lenses 27
teleconverters 19, 24, 27–8, 75, 126
telephoto lenses 24, 73, 74, 168
TFS (technique, face, and shutter speed) 76
three-image exposure brackets 58
through-the-lens flash metering 141, 184
thumb focusing see back-button focusing
tilt/shift lenses 24–7, 79, 90–3, 91
Tokina, lenses 17
tone mapping 60
Traveler tripods (Gitzo) 71
trees: aspen trees 97; “ghost trees” (Two Top Mountain, Montana) 69, 70; Hiawatha National Forest, Michigan 198–9; lodgepole pine trees (Yellowstone National Park) 102–3; maple trees 149; snow-entombed 38; White Birch Forest (Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore) 147, 159; see also flowers
tripods: and close-up/macro photography 128, 128; and composition 158, 161; and environmental problems 75; and focusing rails 98; and image-stabilization 75; and night photography 182; and panoramas 173–4; and Plamps 129–30, 129; tripod heads 71–3, 72, 73, 174; tripod heads, accessories (L-brackets 73–4, 74, 158; quick release plates 74, 158, 161); tripod leg coverings 71; types and makes 69–71; when not to use 69; when to use 66
truck (vintage, 1954) 57
tufted puffin 82
tulip field (Wooden Shoe, Woodburn, Oregon) 61, 90, 91, 108, 144
Tungsten WB (white balance) 108, 185
two-second self-timers 78–9, 182
two-tailed swallowtail 34
Two Top Mountain (Montana), “ghost trees” 69, 70
Ultra Sonic Motor (USM) 18
Union Falls (Yellowstone’s backcountry) 56
vertical lines 165
vibration reduction 20; see also image-stabilization
video, and memory card speed 13
viewfinders: grid lines for leveling 161; light through and exposure 46
viewpoints, and composition 166–8
wallets, Compact Flash card wallet 13
warthogs 43
water: protecting cameras against 13–15; rushing water and close-up/macro photography 129
waterfalls: Au Train falls 23, 173; Lower Falls 67, 99; Munising Fall 96; Scott Fall 55; Union Falls 56; see also geysers
Weidemeyer’s admiral butterfly 206
West, Larry 103
western green hairstreak butterfly 127
western white butterfly 140
white balance (WB) 105–6; Auto 107, 174; Cloudy 107, 174; Color Temperature 109–12; Custom 109; Daylight/Sun 107; Flash 108; Fluorescent 108; Kelvin (K) system 109, 111, 112, 185; and panoramas 174; and photographing stars 185; Shade 108, 174; Tungsten 108, 185
White Birch Forest, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 147, 159
White Dome Geyser (Yellowstone National Park) 184, 192
white-tail deer 76
wiggles 75
wild dog 14
wildlife photography: focus stacking 101; shutter-priority exposure mode 42; shutter speeds 78; super-telephoto lenses 24; viewpoints 168
Wimberley: L-brackets and quick release plates 74; Plamps 129–30, 129; tripod heads 72–3, 73
wind: and close-up/macro photography 129, 130; and night photography 182
wireless flashes 10, 145–9, 145, 152–3, 184
wireless remote release 9, 78, 128
Wooden Shoe tulip field (Woodburn, Oregon) 61, 90, 91, 108, 144
Word 207
WordPerfect Office (v. 12) 206
working distance, and focal length 19–20
yellow-bellied marmot 170
yellowstone checkerspot butterfly 32
Yellowstone National Park: Castle Geyser 178–9, 191; Clepsydra Geyser 112; geyser basin under snow 156–7; Grand Prismatic Spring 166–7, 167; hot spring 20; lodgepole pine trees under snow 102–3; Lower Falls 67, 99; Old Faithful Geyser 192; White Dome Geyser 184, 192
Yosemite National Park, El Capitan and focus stacking 94–5
zebra and red-billed oxpecker 158