Help me Obi-Michael, you're my only hope..

[Mr.FUD]

Years ago, you helped....

(opps... (^_^) )

Michael,

In 2000 I visited India with my new bride to visit her family there. I got to see many wonderful things, and I should have brought more than 1 case of Velvia along, but had a blast none the less. The results of the photos were spectacular. Spending the time and effort to find good shots, being at the interesting places as they opened or closed, or even staking out a location on a rooftop cafe to get late day light was well worth the effort. Even my family, who gave me a hard time for all the delays, found the resulting photos spectacular.

I will be going back with our first child in a few weeks and want to be able to capture just as stunning images as I did my last trip. However, I feel that digital has finally reached the level of film for your average photos (Of those 20+ rolls of slides I took last time, I've enlarged maybe 4 over 8x10)

So, I got a Nikon D200 this fall and I've been learning how to use it. Exposure is a little different, but for the most part, I've been fine with that. It's the post-process that's been a real issue.

I got your WiBal recently, and I no longer worry a lot about my selection of color temperature. What I do need to remember is to get my WhiBal reference in the light I'm in. (^_^)

It looks like your video will not ship in time before I have to head out, and even if it did arrive just before, I'd never have time to practice with all the packing, runs for medical things, and all the American Products that we need to bring as gifts. (Like Efferdent and Dove creams)

So...

I'm already committed to shooting in RAW. Besides exposure (ISO, Shutter, Aperture) what else should I pay attention to? I understand the "Expose for the Highlights" and understand the Histograms and the fact I should try to keep the etail pushed as far right as I can without blowing out channels. Is there anything else I should be sure to watch for in making my initial photo?

I'm going to worry about processing AFTER I get home, so much of the "workflow" isn't goign to be an issue during my trip. In fact, I'm not even going to take my laptop just to avoid any temptation. I have multiple CF cards, an Image Tank, and will be burning DVDs at various family homes along the way, so I should have at least one set of images make it home.

I'm a little more worried about this trip as the family is all taking their vacations with us and we are traveling to many of the most beautiful and some of the more remote areas of India. Since the family set this up, we are doing a lot more things than the average tourist could ever hope. My Brother-in-law and I have been 'asked' to be the official photographers of the journey so that everyone doesn't have to drag their own camera along. So if we screw up, nobody gets photos.

(I am packing a Coolpix P&S as a backup, but I don't have, nor can I justify another SLR for just one trip)

And I know I need to get a WhiBal reference in every light I take photos in. I have purchased the WhiBal as well as pre-ordered your video. (RAWWF-XX276 and RAWWF-XX439.)

Anything else I should think about while gathering images?

I know for a fact that many of the shots with people will be during the day in the harshest of light. Is there any digital 'tricks' that can help these situations besides the use of fill flash?

Anything else that you can suggest would be of help. (anyone else reading this too)

As for your video, if there was anything I REALLY need to know it is this:

How does one use the RAW to create a distributable collection of images that can both be viewed on the screen as well as dropped off at the local photo processor for prints and have the results look good?

If I get that really good shot, how do I get a print with all the color and detail I captured? I used to get great enlargements from slides, but now everyone scans the slides and the results are never as good.

Is it worth taking a mosaic of images to be stiched together later for a higher resolution image? For example, we've got permission to visit the Taj Mahal at both sunrise and sunset and during a full moon. I'm thinking that using a tele lens and taking a 4x6 array of photos will yield more detail and potentially a better enlargement than a single image.

Thanks,

Mr.FUD (full of Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt)

[MichaelT]

Mr. FUD,

Sounds like you have the bases covered. The beauty of RAW is that the technical capture details, (other than proper lighting, composition, and exposure) can be left until later (since you are shooting a WhiBal).

Only things I can add to the above...

bring along a collapsible reflector and/or diffuser, that might be even more useful than fill light in harsh lighting situations.

Pano stitching can be great, but also make sure you capture what you like in a single shot in case you blow the pano. Make sure that you use manual exposure and focus during panos.

The post production and enlargements we can discuss later. Enjoy the trip...

Make great pictures, and have a lot of fun with your family!

[jpegman]

Hi Mr. Fud

I think you need to get unstressed about what you are getting paranoid about and focus solely on you photo background, equipment, and ability, not what you feel uncertain about! If you have ISO, shutter, aperture, and focus down pat - you have it all. You can safely leave the camera's program mode do the rest unless you want to be creative. You have it all in the D200 or Coolpix if needed. If you worry about clipping, underexpose the photos by a 1/2 - 1 stop and let the ACR filter restore the correct exposure in post processing - you nor anyone else will ever need to know.

I don't know if you needed the pressure (it sounds like the official photograper label thrown at you and your B-I-L was not exactly welcomed by you - even if you were flattered), but having been in a similar situation, I would suggest that you ignore the title and responsibility, and shoot for yourself and family only. Having multiple cameras dramatically guarantees that someone has got picture of everything, so if your camera(s) or images have problems (Murphy's Law) of get damaged, or whatever, others having "dragged" along their cameras will be able to substitute for you. "Maximum Cameras and Photographers = Guaranteed Photographic Success". If they choose not to bring them, and someone wants pictures later, then fine - they can pick from your choices. Otherwise, if they are expecting to tell you to shoot this or wouldn't that make a great picture, you will lose your own interest in trying to get "their" pictures because they will always ask you to shoot this or that and then be driving you crazy with trying to make your pictures look like their previsualizations in post processing - moral-shoot for Mr Fud.

As great an aide as the WhiBal is to all of us, remember digital photography didn't start after the WhiBal and RAW got teamed. Great photos are (and still) are being taken without WhiBal (and for that matter even without RAW) just as great silver images were taken before and without the zone system. It is a tool to make all our lives easier, and we thank Michael Tapes for that.

One thing I think I would revisit if I was you (or at least have a contingency plan, if possible) is your decision to leave the laptop at home and rely on a portable hard drive like the Image Tank - which DOES NOT have an image viewer! How do you know the files you transferred from your CF cards to the Tank are readable? SmartDisk and Epson Media Viewers are a little bit more expensive, but you can view (even watch slide shows) your files (including RAW files) and you know the file is usable. As an alternative, you could bring a RAW viewer with you and test the Tank files on borrowed PC's in India just to give you peace of mind.


Regarding post trip processing of RAW, in addition to color balance (with or without the WhiBal) don't forget to calibrate your specific camera (D200) photo sensor, which is another area that RAW files allow fine tuning in a way totally unique to anything remotely similar in the pre balalanced jpeg world. The RAW file bits can be tuned to idiosyncricies from sensor to sensor (even among different production units of the same model). Try to google for a free calibrator from Tom Fors called the ACR Calibrator (http://fors.net/chromoholics/download/) which Tom worked out with Thomas Knoll (Inventor-father of Photoshop) and there is a calibration page in Adobe ACR where you can enter in the color balance and saturation of each of the primary colors - This calibration can totally change the overall color balance since it changes the response curves in a non-linear fashion before any other changes (WhiBal or Photoshop tweaks) are effected. Without Tom Fors Photoshop Action Script ACR sticks a nominal calibration value in, and when compared at a local studio forum groups meeting, the actual numbers run all over the place. One member had two D2X cameras, and they were as different as any two different brands used by others!

Your trip sounds great - keep the fun alive and don't dwell on the photo issues. Enjoy the trip, and if you get a bit paranoid, just shoot how you are comfortable - not the theoretically technically best, if you will be worrying about it - your pictures will show it.

Have a great trip.

Michael - we're waiting for FUD, as a New Years present?

Jpegman

[Balliolman]

Hi Mr. Fud

IHave a great trip.

Michael - we're waiting for FUD, as a New Years present?

Jpegman

Yes, Mr. FUD, have a great trip and enjoy your photography! :)

Likewise, Jpegman, I too am looking forward to watching FUD: soon!

[Mr.FUD]

WOW. What great advice.

Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of Photoshop, and after this trip, I'm not likely to be getting one soon. Maybe by summer. All my RAW conversion will hae to be done via Phase One's Capture One that I got for free with one of my SanDisk cards.

Same deal with the image tank. The only one the budget would support was a 40 gig Wolverine. I've been dumping all kinds of data to it and it's been great. Since Sept when I got the D200, I've now taken over 2000 images of all kinds and perhaps 2.3 of that have been transferred to the computer via the Wolverine. I'd love to get one of those fancy ones with the big color screen, but as always, the budget just doesn't allow for it now.

Between world journey, one year old child, standard daily expenses, and all the little things I need for the trip, I have to make due with what I have.

The reason to not take the laptop is that it's HUGE, HEAVY, and I can not afford to have anything happen to it. A $100 image tank is a much better choice in that regard.

I will be able to burn DVDs on family machines, so I'll have some backup.

Well, I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Well, as ready as anyone can be to spend 14 hours on a plane with a 1 year old that is JUST starting to walk.

Wish me luck. Well, I still have about 3 weeks left to fret as we don't leave until just before New Years.

Mr.Fud

[MichaelT]

Agreed. RAW helps lower the stress level a lot. A few notes just for correctness.

Regarding an Epson or other storage system with screen. Generally these display the embedded JPEG within the RAW so seeing an image on one of them is no assurance that in fact the RAW data can be read. But I would agreed, that a minimum of image tank AND CD/DVD BEFORE you erase a memory card is a minimum requirement. If need be buy some 1 or 2 GB cards. They are quite cheap right now.

Like I said, have fun, and enjoy the vacation and time with family, and as icing on the cake make some good pictures.

Regarding the FUD DVD. No XMAS present unfortunately. Looks like mid to end January. Sorry for the delay.