The Photo Autocracy

Why Am I Such A Boring Bastard On Facebook?

2012-09-04T20:54:00.000+12:00

I have just been doing a little social media navel gazing and came to the realisation that I am a really boring bastard on Facebook.

On my Google+ stream and this blog I am irreverent, fairly un-censored and a probably a little bit odd. Just like the real thing. But when I enter the blue on white world of my Facebook business page I find myself morphing into Mr Dryballs. It's all family-friendly, professional, non-confrontational and sterile. I actually wear a suit and tie while posting to Facebook (but still no pants).

I think my self-sensorship is driven by the fact that on Facebook I deal with existing customers from our website, to whom the real me may well be too much. On G+ I am surrounded primarily by like minded whack-jobs who can take it or leave it if they want. Here on this blog I am surrounded by exactly no-one so I could pretty much extoll the virtues of the Nazi party manifesto and do zero damage to my credibility.

What I do find interesting is how seemingly similar social media sites ooze quite different vibes to me (God only knows what I am supposed to do on Twitter). I guess it is the people that comprise the audience, but I think it goes beyond that, I think the architecture of different social media sites infer a different tone. Maybe not. Maybe I am just a pussy on Facebook*

What do you think? Comments welcome....

Cheers - Todd

* ~~to prove I am not a pussy I have posted a link to this article on Facebook~~ I didn't post this to facebook - I am indeed a total pussy...

Nikon V1's Going Cheap......

2012-08-31T10:44:00.001+12:00

I'm not sure what to make of this, but the Nikon V1 price just drove off a cliff this week - Amazon currently have the Nikon 1 V1 with 10-30mm VR 1 Lens (Black) listed for $596.95 - previously this rig was breathing the rarified air found at it's $899 list price.....

I am not paid the big bucks to sit around not drawing outrageously unfounded conclusions from stuff I see on the interwebs - so here goes....

I think this is a really bad sign for the Nikon 1 series of cameras less than a year into their perky, petite little lifespans.

These are really good cameras - I have only played with the V1's little sister the J1(it was a girly white one) and I was amazed by it. Gordon Laing has the world's most comprehensive review of the VI at cameralabs (put aside a Saturday afternoon to read it) and he really rated it.

However, like me, most of the world has no idea what the 1 series cameras mean to them - they are (were) expensive and not as fully featured as a similarly priced DSLR and they have a tiny sensor. And then there is Sony, who are kicking it with APS-c models in the V1's category.

Personally, I will be doing a lot of comparison shopping before I enter the mirrorless market - and I won't be buying a Nikon just because I shoot their DSLRs. Me-thinks Nikon has been taken to school and given a spanking with the V1's pricing (anyone remember the D3x, anyone?)....

I would love to hear your thoughts on the V1 / J1 below.

Cheers - Todd

New Zealand Photos | Mt Taranaki at Dawn

2012-08-30T21:36:00.000+12:00

Well, yet again, my free Wednesday Wallpaper is a day late and a buck short on Thursday :-)

I am running well short of time this week as I am deep in web development mode on our new site - staring a mountainous mountain of mountain photos to keyword and upload to photoshelter....

While we are discussing mountainous mountains, this photo of volcanic Mt Taranaki was made at dawn after a long night of hiking in the dark, from the Pouakai Ridge track in Mt Egmont national park New Zealand.

You can grab the full size iPad wallpaper download from my photoshelter account: http://bit.ly/NibI3J

Just follow the download instructions on page.

Made on: a Canon 5d Markii (I'd buy the Canon 5D Mark III these days) with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens @ 24mm. Captured to 16GB Lexar Cf Card (still on special at Amazon) .

Filters: Marumi Circular Polarizer (read my polarizer review here) and 3 stop Singh Ray ND grad filter.

Thank you to everyone who uses my links - the small amount I make from these helps to keep my kids feet in shoes each winter!

Cheers - Todd

Nikon D800 In Stock At Adorama | Still No D800e

2012-08-27T08:50:00.000+12:00

Just a quick update to last week's 'D800 in stock' alert post.

Adorama must have a pair of hot envoys (Male & Female, this is an equal opportunity blog) based in Japan sake-ing and dining key figures in Nikon's despatch department. Why do I jump to such spurious conclusions?

The adorama webstore still has D800's in stock and ready to ship.

As a point of reference: Amazon is backordered and so are B&H

Unfortunately, the D800e (lusive) is nowhere to be seen.

If you have been looking for the D800 get on over to Adorama.

If you have any D800 queries - please message me via the comments stream. I'm loving mine and I'd be honoured to help you if I can.

Cheers - Todd

TSS Earnslaw, Queenstown New Zealand

2012-08-25T08:32:00.000+12:00

TSS Earnslaw (Lady o' The Lake) Steaming out of Queenstown Harbour on an Autumn morning. The Earnslaw (Ernie) celebrates her centenary this year. Visit http://www.tssearnslaw.co.nz/ to check out the details.

This image has just been sent off to our printers for a lucky client - you can find it on our website:

Nikon Coolpix S800c Android Camera | Nikon Goes All Googley Eyed

2012-08-24T06:00:00.000+12:00

Nikon Announces First Android Camera - Finally A Nikon You Can Root?

The photographic world may just have come one tiny step closer to Nirvana this week with the announcement of the Nikon Coolpix S800c Android ~~phone~~ camera.

It is a well documented historical fact that ever since the days of yore (when the must-have camera accessory was an ass - or donkey, (to carry your glass slides)), photographers have dreamed of instantly sharing their work with a breathlessly waiting worldwide audience.

Back in the hitherto, aforementioned days of yore this entailed availing oneself of another ass. On this second ass sat a slave-type assistant who would battle bears, snakes and bogans to extricate your work out of the wilds and into civilisation.

Well, the dream is maybe just a little bit closer to reality thanks to the Coolpix S800c (catchy name for a revolutionary product Nikon!). The S800c runs a mildly outdated version of Google's Android OS (2.3.3 Jolly Rancher) and it sports an ~~iPhone~~ Samsung-like touch screen, it connects with the world via WIFI and bluetooth and it is actually a real camera (if you don't mind having nothing to grip onto).

If I sound a tad dismissive of the Coolpix S800c Android phone it's because I am more than a little peeved with Nikon. I was actually hoping that my long awaited D800e would have sported a nifty little 'Share' button on it. Pushing said 'Share' button would have effortlessly spat out a little JPEG via (the inbuilt) WIFI to my iPhone (Samsung knockoff) for distribution to the (still breathlessly waiting) world.

Of course my Nikon D800 is about as sociable as that Swedish gunman creep and now I find Nikon building wireless sharing into a me-too, point & shoot camera with less battery life than the Energizer bunny after an all-nighter at the Playboy mansion.

The Coolpix S800c is far from bad news. It has a real zoom lens, GPS and it does let you share high quality images directly from the field - so long as that field has WIFI....*

Actually, I couldn't think of much else. The S800c (still had to look above to remember that name) is not a phone with a real zoom lens - it is a camera that doesn't need cables (much). You still need to carry a phone and an S800c.

I may be wrong, but I struggle to see developers leaping into developing Apps for a niche product running an old version of an OS that has now moved on to the frozen confectionery phase of it's lifespan. I also don't see Nikon as being capable of successfully fostering an ecosystem around their Android cameras (yes, there will be more). However, the Android brand is strong at present and I can see early adopters leaping in on the S800c just to do what early adopting Androidites seem to do best - root it (yes, Kiwi and Aussie readers - they actually call it rooting....)

Personally I think Nikon's efforts would have been better spent creating a seamless hardware / software bridge between all of it's upcoming products and the iOS and Android communication devices that everyone is already toting about.

As you may have gathered, I won't be buying the Coolpix S800c, but I will be intrigued to see how it all evolves - what do you think, or are you even thinking about this at all?

Cheers - Todd

ps - Don't let my a moribund nay-saying deter you from buying the S800c B&H are taking pre-orders here - I'd love to hear whether you like this Coolpix if you do buy it - keep me posted :-)

*yes, you can create a personal hotspot via your smartphone - but that would have ruined my flow...

Moody Morning View - Coronet Peak Road, Queenstown New Zealand

2012-08-23T09:25:00.000+12:00

Morning View From The Coronet Peak Road, Queenstown

Earlier this week I wrote a post expounding the benefits of the new and improved Lightroom 4 Shadows Slider. This powerful tool 'opens up' shadow areas in images like this, unlocking a full range of tonality.

However, sometimes it I think it is nice to let the shadow chips fall where they may - this photo is a good example of that in my opinion.

This is an in camera jpeg from the Canon 5dmkii and it is completely untouched by post-processing. Why? because I like it just as it is.

You don't always have to 'work' your images - trust your artistic instincts.

Anyone else feel this way sometimes?

Comments welcomed :-)

Cheers - Todd

Autumn morning view over Queenstown from the Coronet Peak Road. Photography by Todd Sisson. View more beautiful New Zealand images here

Shooting Data: f/16, 0.3 sec, ISO 50.

Made on: a Canon 5d Markii (I'd buy the Canon 5D Mark III these days) with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens @ 24mm. Captured to 16GB Lexar Cf Card (still on special at Amazon) .

Filters: Marumi Circular Polarizer (read my polarizer review here) and 3 stop Singh Ray ND grad filter.

Thank you to everyone who uses my links - the small amount I make from these helps to keep my kids feet in shoes each winter!

Please ask any questions in the comments stream :-)

Cheers - Todd

Wednesday Wallpaper | Sheep At Wedderburn

2012-08-23T05:00:00.000+12:00

Howdy Blogger-lings.

This week's free ipad or desktop wallpaper is here!

Sarah made this image about a year ago after the second big snow storm of the winter. Wedderburn is about 40 minutes drive up the road from our home - these hardy girls didn't seem too phased by their lot - it made me glad to be a bi-pedal cave dweller though.

You can download this image here - just use the password freewallpaper when prompted.

Feel free to view more of our New Zealand Landscape photography in our webstore at www.sisson.co.nz

Have a great day!

Cheers - Todd

Snowy Sheep Paddock, Near Wedderburn, Central Otago New Zealand. Photography By Sarah Sisson

Mac Memory Upgrade - The Cheapest Way to Boost Mac Performance.

2012-08-22T04:30:00.000+12:00

Want to speed up your Mac Book Pro or Mac Pro? Buy some RAM. Actually buy shedloads of RAM - upgrade that mac memory!

Apparently I have been living in a cave (or in New Zealand). Last time I undertook a memory upgrade to my Mac Pro it was an over-draft extending exercise and I must admit that I noticed bugger all boost in performance. Out of sheer desperation I have just maxed out the RAM on my MacBook Pro (to 8GB*) and on Sarah's iMac (to 16GB) the whole exercise was cheap as chips and the performance increase has been sensational.

I think I should take a little step backwards. It turns out that I was not only living in a cave, I was also living in 2008 (a time when packing 4GB of RAM was worthy of a custom printed T-shirt or bumper sticker) and I had become unaware of the memory demands of Apple's latest iteration of OSX - 10.7 Lion.

Apparently Lion eats 4GB RAM chips for breakfast and our hitherto snappy had Macs become practically un-usable when running Photoshop and Lightroom consecutively after the Lion migration. The Beach ball of doom became my screen saver.

After yet another hard restart I googled the problem and found this handy and revealing post about RAM memory use in Lion on the apple forums.

I purchased my mac memory upgrade from RAM city** and I was really impressed. The transaction was processed in NZ but the RAM was couriered in from Australia and they dealt with all the customs bollocks and freight was at local prices - highly recommended to NZ and Aussie readers.

I have also previously purchased Mac RAM upgrades from Amazon and received equally top notch delivery and product.

If your Mac is dying a death from memory starvation, especially under OS-X 10.7 Lion, do not hesitate to upgrade it's RAM it should boost performance instantly.

Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments stream - I'd be happy to assist.

*I'm looking forward to a 16GB capable (non-retina display) Mac Book Pro update as I am still hitting the limits when sending Nikon D800e files from Lightroom to Photoshop CS6 - especially when stitching panoramas. Why no retina display? cost, and I really want to rip the optical drive out of a 15" MacBook Pro and throw in a second SSD drive using one of these OWC Data Doublers.

**The worst part of buying memory upgrades is figuring out what version of Mac you have....

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 | Killer Feature Shadows Slider

2012-08-21T08:15:00.000+12:00

Wondering whether to upgrade from Adobe Lightroom 3 to Adobe photoshop Lightroom 4?

Well, I'm with you. I was sitting on the fence, twiddling my editing fingers and pinching my pennies, delaying the inevitable. Part of the reason for my upgrade sluggishness was the complete absence of a flashy, sequin-bedazzled, must-have upgrade features in Lightroom 4. LR4 sports no automated 'make-this-into-a-Peter-Lik-$1million-print' filter, no horizon-line hugging grad filter updates - just tweaking and fiddling.

Fortunately, my hand was forced by the need to upgrade in order to process RAW files from my new Nikon D800e. It was fortunate, because Photoshop Lightroom 4 is a very solid (and affordable) upgrade and it transpires that version 4 does have a killer feature in it's newly spandangulated Shadows slider.

The replacement of Lightroom 3's 'Fill Light' slider with the 'Shadows' slider is the most noticeable 'Great Leap Forward' in Lightroom 4. Big FD I hear you say - a name change. Well, along with the moniker transplant the white coats and mohawk guys did some serious upgrading to Lightroom's shadow engines. The Shadows slider does incredible things to even the deepest shadow areas of a file and even better - it breathes new life into old files.

I have worked on the egregiously under-exposed image above taking it through Lightroom 3 and then converting it to 'current process' in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4. The results can be found here:

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 | Shadows Recovery User Review

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section over at the review - I answer all sane queries - and even the wonderfully insane ones.

Cheers - Todd

When Art Becomes Art-ier

2012-08-20T19:00:00.000+12:00

We received an email today from a wonderful Australian artist, let's call her Ann, wishing to use the image from our popular Moeraki Boulders Sunrise canvas print as the inspiration for a painting.

Firstly, I applaud the artistic respect proffered by Ann in seeking our permission to work from our image - I find it really gratifying when another artist re-interprets your work especially in another medium. Obviously, our permission was forthcoming.

This is not the first time that this image has been the framework for another artist - the image in this post shows a 1.2 metre wide mosaic by created by Invercargill artist Lyndon Coppin.

Of course, as a man Lyndon decided to employ the time tested maxim "it is better to ask forgiveness rather than permisssion" by approaching us retro-actively - I am not sure what he would have done if I'd said no - Hammer Time? ;-)

Moeraki Boulders New Zealand - From Fine Art Print to Fine Art Mosaic

So, we'd love to hear from you if you wish to use any of the images from sisson.co.nz as the basis for non-commercial artwork.

Cheers - Todd

Photo Details:

The photograph was made about 5 years ago using a Nikon D2x (these days I'd use a Nikon D800 (currently in stock at Amazon!)) Nikon 12-24mm f/4G DX , Singh ray 3 stop ND grad . I use Lexar CF & SD cards. The image was edited in Adobe Photoshop - using three blended exposures from the same RAW file.

Nikon D800 & D800e in stock now at Adorama

2012-08-18T04:00:00.000+12:00

Yep, you heard right - at the time of writing, Adorama have one of Nikon's hens teeth in stock (the D800) ready for immediate shipping (free even, for you lucky Yanks).

I personally have the Nikon D800e and it is hands down the best DSLR that I have owned (in image terms anyway).

I haven't shot the D800 but I suspect that there is very little real world difference between the two cameras. If you have been waiting for a D800 your wait may be over - hop on over to Adorama right now :-)

If you have any D800 queries - please message me via the comments stream, I'd be honoured to help you if I can.

Cheers - Todd

New Zealand Photo Of The Day | Lake Hawea, South Island New Zealand

2012-08-17T09:25:00.001+12:00

This photo was made by my lovely and talented wife Sarah a few year's back while she was taking a well deserved photo-break from our insane toddlers (who have since grown into insane school kids).

Lake Hawea is located about 20 km from it's more famous and fancier neighbour, Lake Wanaka. I have geo tagged the post - so check it out if you are interested.

Please feel free to visit our website to view more photos of beautiful New Zealand.

Cheers - Todd

As always please ask any questions in the comments stream.

[follow sisson photography on facebook]

Last of the light - Lake Hawea, Southern Lakes, South Island New Zealand | Photography by Sarah Sisson

Sunset, Kaikoura New Zealand | Free iPad Wallpaper

2012-08-16T05:30:00.000+12:00

Red sunset clouds over the Kaikoura Coast and Seaward Kaikouras, South Island New Zealand. By New Zealand Photographer Todd Sisson.

Thanks to the globally connected economy, I am now able to defer this week's Wednesday Wallpaper to Thursday on the basis that it is still Wednesday somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere :-)

If you are wanting to download this image as a desktop or iPad wallpaper, you will need to grab the large version from this link: [free iPad wallpaper] Password = freewallpaper

This photo of sunset over the Kaikoura coastline was made a couple of year's back on a very photogenic trip to Kaikoura, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island.

For many more photos of beautiful New Zealand landscapes head on over to our website.

Cheers - Todd

Tech Wreckage: f/16, 2.5" ISO 100. I made this on a Canon 5d mkii (I'd buy the 5d mkiii these days) and a 17-40mm f/4 zoom with a Marumi DHG Super Circular Polarizer and Singh ray 3 stop grad filter.

The 17-40mm is a fantastic (and I believe under-rated) lens. It is light to carry and has a terrific focal range for landscape. Yes it has more distortion than a Nine Inch Nails concert but who notices it for this kind of image (it's had no corrections applied). Did I mention that it is a bargain too - it's on sale right now at B&H, Adorama and of course Amazon.....

Are Prime Lenses Better Than Zoom Lenses? | Nikon 85mm f1.4G vs. Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii

2012-08-10T22:54:00.005+12:00

VERSUS

Zoom vs Prime - which is better for landscape photography? Are primes just for photo-snobs? Is Zoom lens convenience the last resort of photographic couch potatoes?

These are questions for the ages - I decided to pit two of Nikon's best lenses ( 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii & Nikon 85mm f/1.4G) against each other in a field test death match. This is Chevy vs Ford, PC vs Mac, Coke vs Pepsi for nikonians. Let the fun commence....

When I purchased these two pieces of glassware I was less than stoked about the prospect of dropping $5,300NZ (seemingly about a year's wages at present) on two lenses. I was especially freaked about my illogical decision to buy the 85mm f/1.4, as it seemingly made very little practical sense for landscape photography (which comprises the bulk of my work). So, now that my Nikon D800e is finally with me I decided to have a bit of a side by side shoot off between the big zoom and the porky prime just to see if there were any real image quality differences between the two lenses.

The results of my tests surprised me so much that I had to re-shoot them to ensure I hadn't buggered it up. I don't want to spoil the rest of the review, so I won't elaborate - enjoy the review and be sure to share it around if you think it may be of interest to others. The fine print - all shots are:

Made on the Nikon D800e
Locked down on a Really Right Stuff BH55 ballhead & Benro tripod
3 second mirror lockup delay
Aperture priority
All other camera settings remain the same between shots
Images straight through Adobe Camera Raw with no adjustments (except sharpening 25 to all shots)
100% crops
focus set manually by Liveview on the grey willow tree in centre frame
if this methodology infuriates you in any way please go straight to here

Centre Sharpness

Sharpness Comparison : Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii v Nikon 85mm f/1.4 G - at f/2.8 - click image for full size

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii vs 85mm f/1.4G - Centre Sharpness Comparison @ f/2.8

Sharpness Comparison : Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii v Nikon 85mm f/1.4 G - at f/5.6 - click image for full size

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii vs 85mm f/1.4G - Centre Sharpness Comparison @ f/5.6

Sharpness Comparison : Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii v Nikon 85mm f/1.4 G - at f/8 - click image for full size

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii vs 85mm f/1.4G - Centre Sharpness Comparison @ f/8

Sharpness Comparison : Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii v Nikon 85mm f/1.4 G - at f/11 - click image for full size

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii vs 85mm f/1.4G - Centre Sharpness Comparison @ f/11[/caption] f/11 notes: centre sharpness on the zoom really falls away at f/11 on the D800e while the 85mm still looks pretty good. Diffraction really is something that you need to consider before paying the premium to purchase a D800e vs a D800 - any resolution gains that you may make on the D800e are rapidly eroded after f5.6.

Centre Sharpness Roundup

Frankly, there is not much to separate these two premium lenses when looking at the centre of frame in terms of landscape photography performance. Not many landscape images are made at f/2.8 where the nikon 85mm f1.8G trounces the zoom - not a surprise given that it is already stopped down two stops by this point. By f/5.6 results are so close that only a nit-picker would give a toss and by f/8 diffraction has equalised both lens's centre sharpness performance, with maybe a slight edge to the 85mm. Where the game changes is in the final 30% of the frame heading towards the edges - take a gander at these comparisons.....

Edge Sharpness Tests >>>>

Rustic Stockyard Gate & Hawkdun Range | Central Otago New Zealand

2012-08-10T10:56:00.002+12:00

Weathered Old Gate, Near St Bathans, Central Otago New Zealand
This image is part of our New Zealand Canvas Prints range

I am off up to this gate this weekend as part of our Winter Landscape Photography Workshops - looking forward to it - this is one of my favourite parts of New Zealand!

Tech Details: made with a Nikon D7000 and 12-24mm f/4 DX zoom. B&H have some big savings going on Nikon D7000 kits and lens bundles at present - I highly recommend this camera. Just ask any questions about gear in the comments stream.

Cheers - Todd

Nikon D800e - Save $200 With Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VRii

2012-08-09T18:30:00.000+12:00

As part of my newly (self) appointed role as deal finder to the rich and impoverished photographic community (see yesterday's CF & SD card deals) I feel it only right to share this set of Nikon deals that have just cropped up at B&H photo.

Be warned, the 'flyer' is about as easy to read as a revision of a USA-China free trade agreement, but of most interest to me is the D800(e) and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII deal. You save $200 off B&H's already rock bottom pricing - not bad.....

You can even score bundle saving on the what must be the world's best value consumer DSLR - the 24MP D3200 (also available in cringe-worthy - and girl-friend losing - red )

If you are teetering and considering the D800 or D800e and don't have this lens - go for it - you will probably still have 4 weeks to figure out how to pay for it while you wait for Nikon to ship your D800/e ;-)

Happy shopping!

cheers - Todd

2012-08-09T11:22:00.001+12:00

Mount Ruapehu in New Zealand's Tongariro National Park during the volcanic eruption 1995 event. I have a full sequence of volcanic eruption photos on our website: sisson | photos of New Zealand

I can't advise travelling to active volcanoes just to get a photo - but this is what it looks like when the mountain you are skiing on erupts!

This is certainly not an experience that I want to repeat, but it was an experience..... This week, here in New Zealand, Mt Tongariro blew it's top and erupted during the middle of the night.

I thought I would share these shots that I made from the 1995 Ruapehu eruption. At the time I wasn't a photographer, I just had a crappy point and shoot - and somehow I ended up shooting full eruption sequence by accident - I then panicked an drove for my life.....

Check out the full sequence (from puff of steam to bigger than this) on my website: sisson New Zealand photography

Cheers - Todd

D800e Recommended Lens | Nikon 85mm f/1.4G Lens Review For Landscape & Nature Photography

2012-08-09T09:12:00.001+12:00

Many would consider the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G an odd lens choice for landscape photography, and maybe it is, but this lens is the one that I find on my new Nikon D800e more than any other - for both landscape and family photography.

The optical performance of the 85mm f/1.4G is so good that I have included it in my 'recommended for the Nikon D800 ' lens list.

The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G - Does A classic portrait lens belong in a landscape photographer's bag? It's damn well staying in mine!

You can read my full Nikon 85mm f/1.4G landscape lens review on sisson - New Zealand photography

Background

I don't recall having been on a drunken bender last April, but it may explain why I have little recollection as to how I ended up owning a Nikon AF-S 85mm f1.4G. This lens is really not a traditional fit for a landscape photographer, in-fact the B&H description for the lens has "Traditional Portraiture Lens" splashed all over it. Anyhow, I did order it, so it was time to see how I could incorporate the lens into my landscape photography repertoire. I am pleased to report that the 85mm f1.4 is now one of my favourite landscape lenses. Thank God - it wasn't cheap.....

In all seriousness, I purchased the 85mm f1.4 in preparation for the delivery of my new Nikon D800e. Prior to the D800e I had been shooting Nikon DX and Canon Full Frame (5dmkii), I had wanted to return full time to Nikon for several years, but the right DSLR body for my needs had not been in the Nikon line-up. When the D800 was announced it was obvious that it's 36MP sensor would settle for nothing short of premium optics and I had nothing in my bag that would stand the D800's onslaught of pixels.

The 85mm is an 'overlap lens' in my bag as I also own the superb Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii (review) however, I purchased the prime mainly because I love defocus in my portrait photography (mainly my kids these days) - the 85mm f1.4 is renowned for it's silky bokeh and after 12 years of professional photography, I figured it was time to treat myself to something a little exotic.

Unfortunately, that is not sound business practice for me - I make my money from landscapes, so I had to figure out a way to make the 85mm f/1.4G earn it's keep - here's how I use it for landscape photography.....

What's It For?

I consider the Nikon 85mm f1.4G to be one of the most 'creative' lenses in my camera bag. By that, I mean that I rarely shoot 'standard' landscape images on the 85mm f/1.4 - I find that have to consciously seek uses for the 85mm. Now, that may seem like putting the tractor before the haybale but for me that is a good thing - I need to stretch my photographic boundaries - I think that the 85mm makes me a little bit more complete as a photographer. So far, I use this lens for four primary uses:

1. Subject Isolation Via Defocus

Frosty Tree: D800e, Nikon 85mm f/1.4G - @ f/1.4. Shooting at f/1.8 delivered the razor thin DOF required to successfully isolate this frosty little tree. I enoy the creative overlap of applying portrait techniques to nature photography.

(Download full resolution D800e & Nikon 85mm f/1.4g sample jpeg - password = freeD800pics

2. Panoramic stitching

I like to shoot panoramas that compress distance, primarily to give greater visual presence to distant mountains - I find 50mm and 85mm to be my most commonly used focal lengths for this purpose. The 85mm f/1.4 provides unparalleled sharpness and detail when paired with the Nikon D800e.

I always shoot in vertical orientation in order to gain the maximum resolution from my stitched files - 85mm provides an excellent field of view when used in this way.

The following stitched panorama is 21,000 x 6,600 pixels wide and prints at 2.1 metres @300 DPI without any enlargement.

Panoramic Stitch from Nikon D800e and Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G Lens. It's a little hard to get impressed this wide - how about a 100% crop....

100% crops from the above panoramic Stitch from Nikon D800e and Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G Lens. The level of detail is simply stunning (a little sharpening has been applied) - this would happily enlarge to a 4m+ wide print. Please note that these look slightly better in the original file - pre-JPEG compression.

Continue reading >>>>>

Free iPad or Desktop Wallpaper | Fall Reflections, Blue Lake, Central Otago New Zealand

2012-08-08T12:41:00.000+12:00

Howdy all you crazy blogger kittens - grab this free iPad wallpaper from our site - sisson - photos of New Zealand - just follow the download instructions on the page. Go nuts!

Photo details: this was made using the very last of the day's rays while teaching a private client during one of my photo workshops.

Fall Reflections at the Blue Lake, Central Otago New Zealand - by New Zealand Photographer Todd Sisson

Equipment Used: The most-excellent and extremely affordable Nikon D7000, the excellent Nikon 12-24mm f/4G Zoom that I have made most of my best images. File written to a Lexar Professional 400x 32 GB SD card. Edited on a Apple MacBook Pro 15.4-Inch laptop using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom V4 .

Nikon D800e Recommended CF Cards On Sale!!

2012-08-06T21:35:00.000+12:00

I was just shopping for a new compact flash card for the Nikon D800e and stumbled across some great Lexar savings on Amazon (SAVINGS END TOMORROW - 7 AUGUST)

[UPDATE: B&H SEEM TO HAVE EXTENDED THE SAME SAVINGS FOR ANOTHER DAY - LINKS BELOW

I have shifted to the blazingly fast 400x Lexar cards with the D800 as I find they offer the very best performance value per dollar spent. Sandisk is the other brand that I have had great performance from, but they seem to be pricier than Lexar at present - especially with current 35%-65% saving off my recommended cards.

The D800's monster files really clog up the buffer if you are not using a high speed card - my D800e arrived with an 8GB 400x Lexar CF and I have been really impressed by it's performance - both in the camera and during downloads using a Lexar Firewire CF Reader .

If you are planning to buy the Nikon D800 or waiting for your D800e you should grab a couple of these TODAY - it is hard to visualise how quickly you will chew up and spit out card space until you start shooting 36mp files for real.

Personally, I think 16GB is the minimum card size for serious shooting on the D800 and I moved up to a 32GB pair last month and find it to be good for a couple of days in the field. Here are my recommended sets (I shoot to CF and backup to SD) - The 16GB sets are extraordinarily cheap!!

AMAZON:

32GB LEXAR SET
  Lexar 32 GB 400x Compact Flash Card ($129.88 save 35%)
  Lexar Professional 600x 32 GB SDHC ($69.95 save 49%)

  32GB LEXAR SET
Lexar 32 GB 400x Compact Flash Card ($129.88 save 35%)
Lexar Professional 600x 32 GB SDHC ($69.95 save 49%)

16GB LEXAR SET
Lexar 16 GB 400x Compact Flash Card ($49.95 - save 63%)
Lexar Professional 400x 16 GB SDHC Card ($19.95 save 71%)

B&H:

I have also included the 1000x Lexar cards - absurdly fast and crazy cheap!

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Don't dither - these savings won't last!

Cheers - Todd

Nikon D800e Landscape Photography Reviews | Dynamic Range Tests

2012-07-27T09:53:00.000+12:00

I have been playing around with some informal field tests of the Nikon D800e's much-vaunted dynamic range - I have been so surprised by it's performance that I found myself writing an article on my website that included the strapline Are ND Filters Dead? - something I never figured that I would be writing at this point in time.

In that article I surprised myself as to how well I could brighten the shadows in an underexposed foreground from a Nikon D800e file. I went to sleep that night quite pleased at myself for the scientific rigour that I had engendered upon that test (sad, I know) until I was wrenched from my near slumber by a thought: What about the 'over-exposed' images? Can they be brought into line with a bit of Lightroom magic?

The answer is of course yes - look at this finished image:

A Nikon D800e Landscape Photo | Edited image after Lightroom exposure and highlight recovery. The histogram shows a perfectly contained tonal range (see below).

Histogram and adjustments to the image - a Lightroom grad adjustment was applied to the sky - exposure adjustment - I'm just to lazy to do a screenshot of it :-)

And here is the original image: This was shot at the camera's suggested exposure - turns out the D800's exposure knows it's limits.....

Nikon D800e Landscape Dynamic Range Field Test | The original un-edited image - on any other camera I would have figured this image was toast - especially near the horizon

So, yet more compelling evidence that the world of landscape photography has taken yet another really big leap forward. I can't remember witnessing such a quantum leap forward in meaningful and useable image quality between camera bodies.

As you can see in my previous post, the Dynamic Range capabilities of the Nikon D800/e are in a totally different league to my previous camera body, the ground breaking Canon 5d mkii.

So are Graduated Neutral Density filters still needed? That depends, if you are shooting any other DSLR I think the answer is yes (unless you are into HDR or serious exposure blending). If you are toting a D800/e the answer is no - not really. That makes me a little sad, as I genuinely like my Grad filters and Singh Ray are a great company - but like my postcards, which are being purchased less and less, times change and products become obsolete as technology marches on.....

My advice - if you want to be making the best landscape images possible for an 'affordable' price - buy the Nikon D800 (Amazon)

Cheers - Todd

Nikon D800e For Landscape Photography | Compared to Canon 5d Markii

2012-07-26T14:17:00.000+12:00

Which is better for landscape photography - the Nikon D800e or the Canon 5dmkii? Thinking of upgrading from the Canon 5dmkii to the Nikon D800e? Who knows? Hopefully I will have the answers for you by the end of this test shoot!

UPDATED 25 JULY: NOW WITH DYNAMIC RANGE COMPARISONS

[UPDATE BEGINS] When I first wrote this review I figured that the big story between the Canon 5d markii and the Nikon D800e was the headline grabbing resolution shootout. Well, the resolution battle was indeed interesting, but not quite as blood-spattered and gory as I was hoping to be honest. The D800e certainly out resolves the 5dii but it only matters once huge enlargements are made (important to me).

After shooting with the Nikon D800e for a while it became starkly apparent that it's most usable great leap forward for landscape photography was actually it's dynamic range performance. The D800e is so good in this respect that I actually found myself penning (on my keyboard? :) another article entitled Are ND Filters Dead? - where I revealed the Nikon D800's almost disconcerting ability to create terrific looking landscape images out of RAW files that would be little more than train-wreckage on other DSLR camera bodies.

However, I am well aware that a placebo effect kicks in with new cameras - you find results that verify your preconceptions. Maybe my trusty Canon 5d mkii would have been equally capable of rescuing highlights and opening up shadows as the D800. I decided, once again, to channel my newly discovered testing nerd personality and pit the Nikon D800e vs the Canon 5dmkii in a dynamic range fight club - here's what I found:

Test Details: Both cameras were shot on aperture priority -1EV and they selected identical shooting settings of f/8, 1/250th @ ISO 100. I then ran both RAW files through Lightroom 4 at identical synced settings - shadows +100 and exposure +.85. I tested the shadow performance rather than highlight recovery, because I tend to actively avoid clipping highlights when photographing. I prefer blocked out shadows to blown highlights.

This is what we got with the Nikon D800e (another stunning test shot :-) :

Nikon D800e Dynamic Range Shadows Test.

Left Image: -1EV exposure compensation from camera.

Right Image: After +0.85 Exposure and +100 Shadows slider in Adobe Lightroom 4

And this is the Canon 5d mkii:

Canon 5d Markii Dynamic Range Shadows Test.

Left Image: -1EV exposure compensation from camera.

Right Image: After +0.85 Exposure and +100 Shadows slider in Adobe Lightroom 4[/caption]

Let's take a gander at this 100% crop from the two cameras side by side (Canon 5d mkii on left and Nikon D800e on right)

100% Detail Comparison

Dynamic Range Shadows Test 100% Detail Comparison.

Left Image: -Canon 5d mkii after lightroom adjustments

Right Image: Nikon D800e after Adobe Lightroom 4 adjustments.

Now I remember why I never felt inclined to toss away my Singh Ray ND grad filters while I was shooting with the Canon 5d markii (or any other Nikon DSLR for that matter). Compare the dark fence rails - crazy colour noise and criss-cross patterns emerge on the Canon while the D800e looks like it could be pumped up another stop or two. Wood patterns emerge from the murk on the D800 that are almost destroyed by colour noise on the Canon. Compare the midtones on the leaves - the same story repeats itself.

Once again, it is not that the Canon 5d mkii is doing a bad job (noise reduction would tidy this up a bit) - it is that the D800e is doing a freakishly good job. Not only does the Nikon D800/e deliver a significant bump in resolution it does so while re-writing the DSLR book on noise control and Dynamic Range - I didn't think that pixels crammed this close together could do this.

For what it matters I personally proclaim the Nikon D800 to be the world's best (and best value) landscape photography DSLR on the market today.

[UPDATE ENDS]

Please take the time to read the rest of this report and view the image quality and resolution comparisons.

VIEW THE IMAGE QUALITY COMPARISONS>>>

ARE ND FILTERS DEAD? - D800 DYNAMIC RANGE LANDSCAPE EXAMPLES>>>

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii Reviewed For Landscape Photography

2012-07-25T20:39:00.000+12:00

Introduction

Upgrading to the Nikon D800/e and considering the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRii as part of your landscape photography arsenal? You'll want to read this review I have been a full-time nature photographer for 10 years and this lens is a revelation.....

As you may have already guessed, I like this lens - hell, I love this lens. The Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 VR II is an incredible weapon for landscape photographers - quite simply, this lens has been transformational for my long lens landscape photography, particularly when paired with the D800e and D7000.

If you are buying the the Nikon D4, D800 or D800e you need this lens, it is the only zoom in the Nikon range of this focal length that will do justice to the incredible image making abilities of Nikon's latest DSLR bodies. Read no further - just buy it. Actually, do read on - this review took me bloody ages to write :-)

Before we start:
I am a landscape & nature photographer - a simple man. I am not a lens designer, lens tester, or nuclear physicist - I don't know a Bayer pattern from a sewing pattern and I have yet to come across an MTF test chart in the wild (I dread that day - I hear they can be viscious). The results here are no more than my opinions and observations and are based on exactly zero scientific research. With that said, I hope that this is of some value to you - enjoy!

Background

I purchased the 70-200 f2.8 VR II in April 2012, in anticipation of receiving a brand spanking new Nikon D800e. At the time my long lens option was restricted to the surprisingly capable (with caveats) Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f4-5.6G VR IF ED for use on the nikon D7000.
I had previously owned a nikon 80-200 f2.8 AF-D, a lens that I never came to love. I may have had a poor sample but the 80-200 f2.8 's weight and poor handling never seemed to be adequately offset by stellar image quality. The 80-200 seemed to suffer from focus accuracy issues out towards infinity.

If truth be known, I actually didn't want to buy the 70-200 f2.8 VR II thanks to it's cost and weight. This was compounded by the fact that I had been using the Canon 70-200 f4 L IS for over three years. The Canon lens is spectacular from wide open and incredibly light - if Nikon had built an equivalent f4 lens I would have taken it. Nikon doesn't make such a lens and I was pretty much forced into buying the 70-200 f2.8 VR II as my only tele zoom option for the D800e - I am glad that I did.

Technical Specifications

Tech specs deplete my will to live. After 20 years of photography I am no closer to understanding why I would care about the number of optical elements in a lens design - it either works or it doesn't. Hence I present you with no lens cross section diagrams, discussion of lens coatings or tech specs - just practical results and findings. You can find the specs on the B&H product page.

Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 In The Field

Field Handling: The 70-200 f/2.8 VRII handled being in this field really well. (Attached to a D800e and clamped down to a Benro Tripod)

But seriously, on to handling. The 70-200 f2.8 VR II weighs in at a relatively hefty 1,530g - about 250g more than my old 80-200 f2.8 AF-D. Now, given that I ditched the 80-200 largely due to it's weight this should be an issue, but it's not.

Somehow, somebody did something to something within the design of the 70-200 VR II. That something that somebody did has made the lens wonderfully balanced to work with - I just don't notice the weight, and as we will see soon, the results more than compensate for the inconvenience.

When it comes to handling, the lens is terrific. VR controls are well positioned, manual focus override is a cinch compared to the 80-200 (which involves pushing buttons and turning rings to move from AF to M) - just grab and focus. The zoom ring has a wonderfully positive tension to it and it's position is excellent for use when hand-holding.

Of course zoom and focus are handled internally on a lens of this calibre so there are no protruding extensions during operation - everything just happens on the inside - all very deep and meaningful.

Build Quality

The 70-200 f2.8 VR II is an exceptional piece of engineering - it is one of those rare cases where you can see and feel where your money went. The lens housing is reassuringly metallic - I believe that it is constructed of the same magnesium alloy used in Nikon's pro camera bodies. Yes, that mottled metallic finish that nikon moulds into it's plastic products is actually for real this time - nice. All this metallic heft and bulk leaves you with the impression that, if money were no object, one could happily use the lens to hammer tent pegs while on a photo-safari.

I have yet to test the weather/dust sealing of the lens to extremes. I have never had any issues with weather sealing even on my cheapest Nikkors, so I presume that this will be the case with the 70-200 f2.8 VR II.

Evidence of build-quality can be found by simply twisting the tripod collar locking nut. The collar swivels around with a velvety motion and the locking is extremely positive, going from free to locked in about half a turn.

But my favourite example of this build quality is the HB-48 lens hood. To me, it is a thing of great beauty, with a stylish yet manly petal shape and, for want of a better term, it mates beautifully with the lens. This coupling is consummated audibly when the metal locking mechanism clicks into place. A better lens hood I have not owned.

Focus Performance

The 70-200 f2.8 VR II is surely the fastest and most accurate lens that I currently own. It locks onto subjects rapidly even under dim lighting conditions.

Nikon's silent wave motor has not always been that silent in my experience but on the 70-200 f2.8 it truly lives up to its name, operation is quiet and fast.

When paired with a relatively high performance body it tracks focus effortlessly - I am no bird or sports photographer, but I am father to two hyperactive kids and this lens just gets the shot when used on the D7000 or D800e.

Too Cute To Need A Title: AF-C Performance: Nikon D800e in DX mode (6fps) : f/2.8, 1/5000, ISO 400 at 140mm 35mm equivalent . Sure, the D800 has state-of-the-art AF, but paired with the 70-200mm f2.8 it delivers incredible tracking performance with the press of the AF-start button.

AF-C Performance: Nikon D800e in DX mode (6fps) : f/2.8, 1/5000, ISO 400 at 140mm 35mm equivalent - 100% crops - no sharpening applied, focus point set to Indi's chest. I am too lazy to give you a crop of every shot in this sequence, so here are some loupe screen shots at 100% - I couldn't cram a loupe onto every shot so you will have to believe me that every shot in this sequence was technically usable. The 70-200 f2.8 VR II delivers stunning AF performance.

Vibration Reduction (VR) Performance

The 70-200 f2.8 VR II is the first top of the range Nikon VR lens that I have owned and I am very, very, impressed by its stabilisation performance.

I have had my reservations about the performance of Nikon's VR on my first generation 18-200mm VR DX and 16-85 VR DX lenses. To me it has never seemed that effective. This impression was only reinforced when I purchased the Canon 24-105 f4 l IS and 70-200 f4 L IS lenses. The Canon IS system just seemed more aggressive or 'active' to me - it may not be the case but that is the way it seems and I have come to rely upon it when shooting handheld - especially with people.

I am happy to report that the VR on the 70-200 f2.8 is stellar, and easily in the same league as the IS on my Canon lenses - probably better in fact, and certainly quieter. Check it out.

Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR II - VR Effectiveness: 1/30th Second, 200mm. Check out the sharpness in that loupe - and Nikon issued warnings about the D800e not being hand-holdable. Nuts! to that I say - I got two in a row like this at 1/30th at 200mm. VRII works wonders. Did I mention that I am very impressed with the VR on this lens?

Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR II - VR Effectiveness: 1/10th Second, 200mm. I needed to shoot something that didn't move to go this slow. 75% of these images at 1/10th were usable. I even managed to get a sharp shot at half a second at 200mm! Did I mention that I am very impressed with the VR on this lens?

IMAGE QUALITY TESTS >>>>

Review | Reassess | Respond | Rinse & Repeat

2011-10-04T21:58:00.007+13:00

Lenticular cloud formation above Old Man Range, Central Otago, New Zealand

My (unofficial) mantra is as follows: nature photographers don't make great photos - nature does.

My job is to turn up on the day and not bugger up a fantastic photographic opportunity.

It is my responsibility to pack my gear, set the alarm clock (especially for sunsets if I get to sneak in an afternoon kip in the car) and at all times ensure that my intravenous caffeine kit is primed and ready.

That's about it - from there on in it's a mind game really; find the right spot, figure out a composition - test shoot it, realise it was crap : panic : find alternative spot : rinse and repeat until done.

The pressure really comes on when nature puts on a show - that's when you find out how good you are. A good nature photographer has to read the signs, pre-visualise shots and then be willing toss all of those pre-conceptions out the window when things change.

Review, reassess, respond - rinse and repeat.

No, it's not very zen like - but I find it thrilling.

Sunset Lenticular cloud formations above Clyde, Central Otago, New Zealand

The two shots on this post were taken on the same evening - I had been watching the cloud formations all day and figured there was a good chance of some sunset goodness.

Over a period of an hour I shot at least 10 top grade compositions. I had never shot at this location before and it was a mission - incredible light and clouds every where you looked but very few clean compositions.

By the end of the evening there were lens caps, filters, lens hoods and jackets spread all over the area - but somehow I came away with a bag full of shots - and a night to remember!