Still exploring my Canon G9’s closeup capabilities and how it can be used to my advantage.

The greater depth-of-field at the shortest focal length, 7.4mm, has one advantage. The background in this photo, a blue sky with wisps of clouds, is more in focus than it would have been with the 60mm f2.8 Nikon lens I usually use for closeup work.

The sharper background adds to the sense of space for flower and insect creating a more three dimensional viewpoint that evokes a different emotional response to an ordinary bug and flower photo.

Most photos of insects or flowers place the viewer as a distant observer removed from the subject. They are more observer than participant.

The shorter lens of a point and shoot style camera and a high-numbered f-stop places the viewer in the scene, as if they were actually just below the flower looking to the sky.

Similar effects can be created with DLSR cameras with extreme wide angle lenses with the exception of closeup focusing. Few DSLRs with a 12mm wide-angle can focus to an inch in front of the lens.

The post title explains it all. Check out the full set of photos here.

I purposely did not request a media credential for the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends air show at Rickenbacker. Nor did I want a reserved seat in the stands.

Give me the open spaces where I can work to find the photos that best tell the story of the event without restriction.

There were sufficient numbers of photographers assigned to cover the show, each with different expectations and editorial requirements. Most were after photos of the crowd of P51 Mustangs gathered at the former air base named for World War One ace Eddie Rickenbacker now converted to a cargo hub for business air carriers.

I preferred, as I always have, to shoot the people’s experience. There’ was nothing wrong with shooting the planes. I shot the frame below to illustrate the uniqueness of the show with a trio of Mustangs flying with an F-22 modern fighter.

The photo at top always elicits an amazed gasp when viewers realize how close to the ground the P51 pilots dared during low-level demonstrations.

In the median at South State and the I270 westbound exit.

From an editorial shoot today to illustrate story on Best Buy’ continued profits.

I’ve shot Best Buy more times than I’d like to remember. They are a friendly company usually welcoming news photographers with a legitimate need access to their store with little more than a knock at the door. Other consumer electronics companies, such as Circuit City, are prepared to physically remove news photographers from their property without any opportunity to discuss the story’s efficacy for their product line and the possibility of getting free mention of their company in newspapers from Shanghai to Des Moines. I’ve been escorted to my car and berated by overly efficient corporate guardians when simply wanting a photo of MP3 players or a sale sign during after Christmas closeouts.

There probably isn’t a quantifiable method by using my anecdotal experiences to measure  Best Buy’s continued success as an electronics retailer. All I know is its profits continue to increase as they allow photographers easy access. Circuit City has experienced little profit as it denies access without national corporate public relations office approval which is rarely given or provided too late for daily deadlines. Best Buy leaves the decision up to the store manager. Rarely have I been refused and only when a new manager or assistant manager didn’t understand the policy.

Today’s photo, taken in their install bay, was from a D200 lit by an off camera SB800 using Nikon’s Creative Lighting System.

How could you get anymore cooperative than allowing me to throw a direct flash beam into the face of an installer working on a customer’s car?

Not a great image but it pleased my wife to shoot flowers from our gardens on the rain-soaked bench in our front yard.

A simple arrangement of quickly collected flowers  shot during an off and on drizzle.

Nikon D200, SB800 with SC17 cord held on the end of a monopod for off camera directional lighting. Underexposed cloudy daylight by 2/3rd stop which allowed strobe to become the main light at upper right.

Here’s a quick test. What’s the difference between these two photos?

The top frame is RAW file, unedited, from a Nikon D200 set to Auto white balance. The lower frame, taken just minutes before, came from my Canon G9. It is also RAW, unedited, auto white balance.

Now you understand why I shoot RAW files.

Although the Canon frame is closer to the natural light, it is still too contrasty, and the color has too much magenta and yellow.

The Nikon frame is way too yellow although close to the color of the church. Its shadow detail is also much  better.

Below are the images run through Adobe Camera Raw. Nikon on top. Canon on bottom.

Nikon

Canon.

Now, imagine trying to color correct and hold detail in either of these images if the originals were saved as JPGs. Want a better reason to shoot RAW?

All that’s left in the neighbor’s backyard after the birthday party is a collapsed inflatable playground and trampled grass. Another good test for the Canon G9. Contrasty and colorful.

From a year ago today. It does appear he celebrated a little too early dropping the ball before crossing the end zone marker.