Long exposures and overheated pixels…

May 16th, 2013

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 I just got wind of a long exposure issue from friend, Glen Gilchrist. Glen posted about losing a day of long exposure work because of numerous hot specs. These specs, looking like anything from a consistent bright pixel in every image in night photography to small white specs in images shot in daylight.

Here’s the folly pier in Charleston, SC at about 1030 am on a bright blue sky day. Using 15 stops of neutral density, I was able to get up to a 4 minute exposure in very bright sunlight. Although, everything looks ok in the lead image, here’s a magnified section with the overheated pixels more apparent:

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Even when using an infrared filter (Singh Ray iRay) on a color camera, the resulting 4  minute exposure in very bright Florida summer sun recording moving clouds looks interesting:

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but, upon closer inspection:

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These white specs are all over the sky and took a while to clone out for a clean black sky.

These two examples were both 4 minute exposures in very bright sunlight, resulting in bright spots resulting from over heated sensors.

This is a known issue and one only need to search online under “long exposures and hot pixels” and read the many information links.

However, what about long exposures in bright diffused light??

Here’s one from Poverty Beach in Cape May, NJ: 4 minute exposure

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 And upon close inspection at 200% magnification:

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no burnt pixels!

So it appears that long exposures in bright light is the culprit and there’s an unattractive fix: Turn on long exposure noise reduction.

This will help tone down to possibly eliminate the burnt out pixels at the cost of doubling the exposure time. After a 4 minute exposure, there is a 4 minute write time. One could miss a lot during the write time! However, if you are working close to the car, set up a second tripod (if you have one) so that you can continue to work while the processing is taking place on the long exposure camera.

So, is there anything we can do to remap the hot pixels?

I found this online from an anonymous Canadian photographer and will be giving it a run through in Cape May next week on my D3X:

Trick #1:
This worked for me on a D300 and had 3 hot pixels. I set the menu to give me immediate access to the sensor cleaning, than placed the camera in BULB mode, pushed down the shutter for at least 20 seconds, then as soon as I released the shutter immediately went into sensor cleaning mode twice in a row. Strangely enough, this mapped out the dead pixels…they were flat gone and not seen again. It’s worth a try.

Trick #2: (This is the one that worked for me with both a D300 and a D700):
I had two hot pixels on my D300 last week. I did a sensor clean. Then set the camera to ISO6400 and with the lens cap on, took three
10 second exposure photos. The hot pixels disappeared!!! Much quicker and cheaper option than sending back to Nikon.

Not all of my hot pixels disappeared, but the vast majority did.

Source (where you can read about people’s results): D700 Hot Pixels? Help! – FM Forums

Any feedback on this would be really great to pass on to anyone with the hot pixel issue.

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 Thanks for taking the time and we’ll see ya online from Cape May!

Tony

p.s. oh yeah, don’t forget to check HERE for software/hardware discounts

Posted in Long exposures | 3 Comments » horizontal divider line

An Icelandic Odyssey #1…..August 19-25

May 14th, 2013

Witches Hat Pan - Version 2

 AN ICELANDIC ODYSSEY

This is our fourth consecutive year conducting our workshop in Iceland, and we have a few spaces available!
I’m not gonna lie to ya, we need three more people for this to go. So, if you’re thinking about it and have some time in August, consider coming out with Susan, me, and Focus on Nature (Einar!). It is truly a trip of a lifetime to one of the world’s most photogenic locations!

Our tour company is Iceland’s Top Dog, Focus on Nature! No one knows the country better than Einar. Being a native Icelander, Einar knows every nook and cranny in Iceland! Constantly watching the weather, we know where and when to go and what to avoid. The weather is milder than one would expect, since Iceland is in the Gulf Stream! And since there is actually night time darkness in August, it’s possible that we’ll see the Aurora. This prime Aurora year occurs once every 12 yrs or so !

Iceland is our absolute favorite photography venue, bar none! Here’s a small “warm up” gallery to get the ball rolling. 
Under each image in the gallery is the location. Also, you can click on the image for a larger view.
There will be more images coming your way! 

We look forward to sharing this incredible location with you!

 You can GO HERE for more information and/or to register.

You can also feel free to email Susan or me for more info.

NEXT BLOG: Digital Infrared and hot sensors!

Thanks for taking the time and we’ll see you online!

Tony

Posted in iceland, Workshop, Workshops | 3 Comments » horizontal divider line

ok, not my last trip to Lonaconing…

May 13th, 2013

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 After 10 weekends shooting the Mill, this past weekend was intended to be my last trip individually or in a group to photograph at the Lonaconing Silk Mill, but, came to the realization that I’ll be returning there every 6 months or so until it collapses, is sold for salvage, or looms are refurbed and sent to a texture museum.

The light was tremendous throughout both days and I was amazed at how many different compositions continually presented themselves. 
Lonaconing is an open air situation, because of all the broken windows, at the mercy of the elements and not unlike a small natural landscape. The light is very clean in the winter, but in the spring/ summer the trees create a canopy-like green filter throughout the mill.

The constantly changing light as the day progressed lit up the interior like a nature scenic. Strong side light, soft side light, overcast, bright sun (hard shadows). The only thing missing was a low lying fog, that we sometimes get in another similar location, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.

The primary software or technique is listed under each image.

Please go HERE for software discounts!

I look forward to going back to Lonaconing later in the year!

Next blog is an ICELANDIC ODYSSEY Exclusive feature!

Thanks for taking the time and we’ll see you online!

Tony

 

p.s. I didn’t forget the Long exposure/ hot pixels blog….coming soon!

Posted in lonaconing | 15 Comments » horizontal divider line

More Nikon CoolPix A

May 10th, 2013

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Before a bit more on the Nikon CoolPix A, let’s discuss the lead image. I can’t count how many times I’ve been to Edisto Beach, south of Charleston. I have photographed these trees, and others in the area, for many years: dawn, dusk, rain, wind, storm clouds, minutes of exposure, lens baby, iPhone, panoramics, and the CoolPix A. I was determined to shoot a completely different image from my past visits. This is where alternative cameras come into play.

Jay Maisel is quoted as saying that, ” The more you carry, the less you shoot.” This is true, although we are all gear heads, really. Equipment is indeed seductive. But, don’t you think a bit differently when hand holding a camera, having the ability to get a shot without preparation? More improvisational? One can truly let the imagination go and shoot from positions that would seem a bit tenable because all we have to do is run if a large wave comes in, for example. Or, just get soaked knowing that there is no equipment at risk. That was the case with the lead image.

I noticed openings in the dead cedar trees that would make interesting frames, if I could get in place. The problem was that the tide was coming quickly and the most interesting frame was, well, almost on the sand. So, with my hand held Coolpix A, I waited for the ever advancing tide to recede so I could jump into place. So….the water receded and I ran into place, the camera preset to aperture priority, f/8, and AF on the distant trees. Well, the next large wave returned a bit earlier than expected….I got soaked from the waste down. Being drenched, I decided to stay and take a few more shots until I got what I thought would work. The quick drying pants were fine in a few minutes. The shoes needed about a week to dry out, however.

The point is that I may not have even opted to break out my larger camera and tripod in such a tenuous situation, and the water may have made it all the way back to my backpack as I was working the scene. Going onto the beach with only the “A,” freed me to think a bit differently, look a bit differently, and with the APS-C sensor, to create a large file size (90MB @ 16bit), coming away with a pro level file!

Anyway….it was fun!

Here’s one more gallery of images shot in Charleston and in the Smokies, all made with the Nikon CoolPix A.
Check out a pretty extensive review by Steve Huff.

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Next blog will cover long exposures and the overheating sensor (!)

Thanks for taking the time and I’ll see ya online!

Ts

Posted in Charleston, cool pix a, Smoky Mountains | 8 Comments » horizontal divider line

Nikon CoolPix A – first Serious look

May 9th, 2013

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 So, I finally got a small mounting plate so that I could use the Nikon CoolPix A on a tripod to get a real sense of the file quality. I’ve been reading about the highly touted Sony RX100 and although it’s quite impressive, discovered that the RX sensor is much smaller than the “A.” Also, it has a bit less dynamic range and 20mp on a smaller sensor is probably more prone to noise, at least it is in BigCamera-land. However, with the zoom range, the RX may be a bit better as a street camera, but that’s debatable, since a great deal of street photography images appear to be in the 28mm, or thereabouts, range. That aside, I decided to purchase the Nikon CoolPix A. So, here’s my take.

The APS-C sensor make files from the “A” equal to the D200 and D300, and other pro cameras of that ilk. Other options are the 30 second exposure, BULB, ability for totally manual control aperture and shutter speed, cable release option, ability to add a hood and filters. Most importantly, it’s easy and quick to get around on after you learn the lay of the land. After bringing into Bridge, 16bit exported files are 92MB.

I’ll let the images speak for themselves:

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 For me, this is a perfect workshop camera while teaching in the field. I am now able to grab shots on the fly that are big camera quality without taking time to work out of a backpack, and most importantly without taking time away from paying clients!

Watch for further posts as I continue to explore the “A” in various shooting situations, but so far….I’m a huge fan!

Highly recommended! 

Thanks for visiting and I’ll see you online!

Ts 

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments » horizontal divider line