A Review of the Wacom 12WX

Wacom 12WX

WACOM 12 WX

I have just received the new Wacom 12 wx tablet and thought it appropriate to write alittle bit about it before I do a full review of it’s features. I have been interested in advancing my skills in the design stage of Lightroom and Photoshop CS4 and have found that with a mouse there is only so many things you can do before accuracy becomes somewhat hit and miss.

I read various reviews of the tablet before handand then watched a podcast by the team at Layers TV and decided that this was the tool for me to be able to add different effects to my processing in CS4.

Once the tablet arrived, it became clear that I could not run the same system that I have had for some time. This is focused around two large 24 inch HD screens supported by a GeForce Ultra Graphics Card. Whilst this supports two DVI ports, attempting to wire up a VGA splitter just produced poor quality graphics and an unstable system. So, to get around this I have arranged the Wacom to be my primary screen and one of the main monitors to be my secondary. As I do most of my processing on this large system, the accompanying laptop can be used for the internet stuff.

Although I have had the tablet for only a few days, the benefits are evident straight away. To allow the easy use of CS4 and LR2, I have set my main workspace in CS4 onto the large 24 inch screen. Here the panels are all visible and it allows me to access the tools I need by a simple ‘toggle’ button on the Wacom tablet.

The tablet itself displays the image, whether in jpeg or raw formats. However, if I then try and place the working image on the main screen, the image disappears and a black canvas replaces the work.

To get around this I have increased the navigation panel to its largest size for the screen, so now I can see the image on the main screen, which does help for overall perspective and composition. LR2 is as easy as ever to use and with the great benefits of the hot keys on the tablet accessing them is a easy as you would expect for the price of the item. Cheap, it is not, however if you want to invest in something that will alter the way in which you conduct your workflow and have dramatic changes to the finished product then this item does the job a treat. I am going to spend a little time getting use to the overall performance of the tablet and will poast an updated article once my overall review is completed. I will also post a couple of images that I have created using only the tablet and include the ease of use, if that is the case; and what I thought of the overall performance.

My set up at the moment has the tablet plugged directly into the secong DVI port on the graphics card, however I intend to do some research to see if this can be improved with no concequences to the overall performace and calibration of the hardware.

Filed under: Equipment

Portrait Collection gets a new look..

The People Collection in the main site gets a new image

 

 

I have been working on this image for a few hours today in between work on my Module. The image was shot as part of a series whilst I had the studio set up. The subject, ‘Matty’, has appeared before in the portfolio and being a black belt in his style of Karate, makes the shooting of the subject so much easier as it is not staged.

I have various images that I shot of him, of which some were ideal as test shots for another shoot I have planned shortly. More about this later though.

I wanted to produce something that wasn’t just to standard portrait shot taken in a studio, so I began to play around with the image a little. The workflow here was complicated due to the amount of layers and masks that I had to incorporate into it. I made the first audjustments in Lightroom 2 and then exported the image as a PSD into Photoshop CS4.

In PSCS4 in then began the work of cleaning up the image, skin tone, contrast and changes to the light. The easiest way to do this was to add a silver refelctor glow from camera left and drop the opacity down to 48%.

The main subject was altered first, duplicating the image and converting it to black and white through Nik Silver Efex Pro. I then dropped it ontop of the original, masked it and added a gradient fill from the top right showing the Silver Efex Filter underneath.

Using another duplicate I then altered the left eye by making adjustments to the Hue and Saturation Layer after making a selection with the Polygonal Lasso Tool and feathered the selction by 2 pixels.

Again, dropping this over the original, adding a mask and then using a paintbrush with a soft edge I painted in the eye colour.  I then made some general alterations to the skin colour and tone, adding some defintion to the muscle area. A hue and saturation levels adjustment was added to the hair following a selection with the Lasso Tool and then I dropped it back over the top of the image. I then painted with a hard brush bringing the new colour to the top layer.

To finish the image off I added a fence by bringing it into the image as the top layer, changed the image layer to multiply, showing the original underneath and then set about bringing out the detail of the fence. This was done by numerous layers set between overlay and multiply modes. I created the hole in the fence to show the main area of focus and then tidied it up. Back into Nik Colour Efex Pro and I added a white vignette filter dropping the opacity to all three layers I brought in. I then addeda mask to them all and painted back the inversion in deifferent flows and opacities.

Two unsharp mask filter were applied, one to the hair following a tonal contrast adjustment and then the other to the face and eyes. Flattened and exported. Set on a black card the image pops more than the standard white card.

I am working on some other images similar to this and once completed I will post them on the blog for comments and feedack.

Filed under: Collections, People

Some Updates…

AP Diploma Wildlife Module is near completion

 

An update regarding the Amateur Diploma Module: After much deliberationa nd work the module is near it’s final stages and ready for submission within the next few days. Once the articles is done, I will post a watered down version of it on the blog so other students can see the type of work I have submitted.

I am also messing about with some new styles of designs for a few portrait shots I have taken recently, using half tones in an attempt to reflect a bit of art work.

Wacom Tablet

 

I have spent some time this week looking into the possibility of introducing a Wacom Tablet to my workflow to help in the digital darkroom process. I saw the tablet being used on a Layers TV Episode, hosted by Corey Baker from Kelby Media Group. After an excellent review of the items available in todays market, I have narrowed it down to one of two. A little bit more research and a final decision will be made. I will post my result here and add it to the equipment list that I am currently working on.

Equipment List

 

This is near completion although just requires a little tweeking here and there. I didn’t want to produce a list of just text, rather a more visual look of the type of equipment I am currently using. As soon as the item is completed I will publish it for viewers to use as reference to links placed in my blog.

Filed under: Editor

Lesson One – It’s all worth the waiting

A picture paints a thousand words…

 

 

 

The title says it all for this image and I cannot emphasise enough, the patience needed for me to take a shot like this. These creatures are extremely quick in movement, nervous and just don’t stand still long enough to get a decent composition. As I was shooting various angles of these creatures, I noticed this subject climbing into a position that was away from the main group. I ramped the lens upto 800mm and began to follow it.

After a time it had moved around the stage, gone up and down a few times and then parked itself facing away from the lens, I thought I would burst a few frames to see if I could manage to capture anything decent; unfortunatley nothing came of them. Then just as I was about to try another angle by moving the kit around, the subject turned. The image was one of those that I couldn’t believe was happening infront of me. It was as if it had said, look mate; get the shot and then go away and i’ll sit her for a few seconds so you can get it.

I burst with the shutter, Nikon D3, ISO 400, Sigma 300mm – 800mm f/5.6 at 9 frames per second on an 8GB Lexar Digital Media CF. Focusing on the eye which even at this distance on a monopod was difficult and more look than judgement, due to the sheer weight of the equipment.

The final image, 16.67 % of the original; just tells its own story, kept in cavity, a moment of sadness, call it what you will; just captures a moment that unless I was ready I am sure I wouldnt have got. The weeping of the right eye, adds to the story being told and the background consisting of the tree bark just finishes off that final contrast and shape that the image needed.

This image will be submitted as part of my Amateur Diploma, Module IX. If you have any comments on this image, then please leave them here on the blog for others to read.

 

 

 To conclude this working set another image of these amazing creatures. Yet again, shot with the Sigma 300mm – 800mm f/5.6, the composition was the main attraction with this frame.

 

 

Composition, foreground interest and contrast made me shoot this image above. At the moment I am working on all of these images for consideration as to whether they will be submitted as part of my final presentation for this specific module of the course. Any feedback is welcome and will be included on the site.

 

Filed under: Collections, Wildlife

Wildlife Catalogue is under construction

Amateur Diploma collection starts to build for the Wildlife Section

 

 

The above image is part of the diploma catalogue that I am currently working on for final submission to my Tutor. The image, taken with the Sigma 300mm -800mm f5.6 lens is part of a series of this animal. I have chosen this one as a favourite due to it’s composition and simplicity to view. The image throws the viewer to the obvious point of interest, providing both foreground and background and tends to leave the viewer in the image for that little bit longer. Adjustments were made to the original RAW file in LR2 and then it was edited in PS CS4, with adjustments to the curves, levels and contrast. To prevent too much of a distraction a filter was added to the top left hand side of the image blendng in just enough to avoid distraction to the main subject of the frame, the rotation and transition of this was important to be able to get the final image print I wanted.

The other images that form part of my final submissions will be posted here along with the workflow I have used.

Filed under: Collections, Wildlife

Studio Shoot goes into the People Collection

My first portable studio collection shooting tethered and straight into LR2.

 

 

This image was shot recently and is part of a project I am working on for understanding the principles of shooting in a studio. The studio idea was set up following numerous research on the subject matter and has all been self taught. I have been fascinated with the principle of lighting for some time and have found that the work I am either submitting or working on needs to be taken to the next level. This, I have found is all about the learning process and the wider subject knowledge criteria I need to be both confident and competent in my work.

The above image was shot using a white roll paper background set on a studio background stand. The subject, a black belt in karate was willing for me to take numerous shots in different poses, altering the shape of the light around him as we went.

I set the studio up using two addiitonal light sources to the available natural light that was coming both from around the sides and above. I did this by using two Nikon SB800 flash units controlled by the Nikon SU 800 command unit. Shot using the Nikon D3 and the Nikon 70mm 200mm f/2.8 lens, the flash units were set up as follows. The main light was off camera left about six feet away from the subject at a 45 degree angle to him and set high also about 45 degrees to the subject. This light was controlled by the use of a 110 cm transulent umbrella, which provided a nice soft light source to illuminate the subject.

The second SB800 was placed behind and inside a softbox, the lastolite hot shoe soft box, which works great with this type of set up. Both units were operated in ‘remote’ mode, the main light at half power, the fill light at one eigth power. The camera was set to manual mode aperture f/5.6 with a shutter speed of 1/60 second. I set the white balance on the camera to pre-defined by taking a reading from the position of the subject using an expo disc. I then set the cameras WB to this and began shooting. Incidently, ISO was set to 200.

This shot was cropped in close compared to most of the others and placed in landscape mode for the web, giving me a focal distance of 85mm. The main focal point was the eye nearest to the camera, which at the aperture setting blurred the left hand glove just the way I wanted it. Composition worked a treat for this shot and the viewer is automatically drawn to the clarity and sharpness of the eye.

I am currently working on some other images from this collection and will get them posted as soon as the workflow is completed. I will then give you the opportunity to read about the workflow I used for these images and more importantly how I softened the skin, brough more contrast to the face and applied the unsharp mask filters to the final image.

For a larger view, visit my main portfolio galley by using this link

Filed under: Collections, People

Diploma Modules

The AP Diploma module is starting to take shape.

 

  

This is one of the images I am considering submitting as part of the wildlife collection as part of the module work I am undertaking for the Diploma in Amateur Photography. The image captured recently is an example of the final production after going through my own workflow.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, the selection process of images that are suitable for submission is part of the self critique that develops as the course unfolds. Being ctirical of your own work is harder than some might think, because we all think we take good images all the time, everytime. The image above was captured over a period of about an hour, watching, monitoring and then choosing the best angle to capture the animals. I took approximately three hundred images in RAW, using the Sigma 300mm – 800 f/5.6 monster lens. Close up work with htis big lens enables me not to frighten the animals and is not only important but allows me to get the real details that I would otherwise be unable to capture.

I went for this image as an example due to it’s composition, simplicity and above all the animals in their own natural environment, doing what comes a part of their daily routine. Being able to show this type of image gives the viewer more interest and I believe, more time to look around the photo. Yes I have images of them standing, prone, looking about, but being able to show a subject doing something that we don’t often see, for me, tells the story better. 

So, as soon as I process the other images, I will put together a sepaerate mini series of these animals at work, in their environement. The clips, I am hoping will form part of a storyboard and will be posted on this site. The full image has been placed in the wildlife collection on the main portfolio site. Click here to go straight there.

 

Filed under: Author

Wildlife gets a new subject…(and a new lens)

Introducing the Mother of all lenses,

 

 

An image captured recently following some work I am completing on a Wildlife Module for my AP Diploma. Although this image will not be part of the final submission, it is part of the notes sections, where I am giving some thoughts and ideas as to the subject matter and what I wish to achieve.

The image above has been placed through my typical workflow with no cropping. I was concious and tried to practice getting the composition correct in the lens. this itself is challenging with a fast moving subject that just won’t stand still long enough.

Shot with the Nikon D3 and a new Sigma 300mm – 800mm f/5.6 lens, (that’s right); this lens just needed to be tested out. An immense lens offering possibilites that I could only wonder about beforehand. Shooting wildlife has been a challenge itself and given me yet more things to consider when I do this type of shoot. My nearest lens to this monster is the Nikon 80mm – 400mm f/4.5 VR, whilst in itslef is an amazing unit, sometimes it’s just not long enough to get where I want.

I spent a day photographing other wildlife with this lens and I will post some of the images I captured with the lens on the Blog. Using a Manfrotto 055MF4 tripod, I set the D3 to Aperture Priority, ISO 320 at f/5.6, shutter speed 1/750 sec and a focal length of 700mm.

I am still working through the keepers and trash that I collected, but more on this later. As I have said before, alot of photos taken on the shoot don’t make it through the selection process and as I shot the day in RAW with a bracketing compensation of -1.0EV each side of the burst, the digital film soon became full.

Other images in this shoot will be posted shortly and you will see by the focal length of the lens, it gave me photo opportunites I just couldn’t get before. It has, I am pleased to say, also given me a greater interest in wildlife photography, knowing and appreciating the type of images I can capture.

 

Filed under: Collections, Wildlife

Guest Series…image submission by Nigel Woods

Guest Series – from original capture to publication

 

A recent request that has been introduced to me by a friend has brought a new category to the Web log. Guest Series is a new feature, appropriately titled as such as well, the subject of the entry is provided by a Guest to the site.

As this is the first of the series, let me explain. I was asked by a friend, Nigel Woods, to have a look at some of the photographs he had been taking and see what I thought of them. Now as Nigel is a friend, he is happy for the contents to appear on my blog, for a number of reasons. Firstly it is good for the photography community to see different images taken by different styles of photographer, secondly it allows others to learn by peoples publications; this includes their strengths and weaknesses and so long as people are happy to receive constructive criticism and feedback then all readers of the blog benefit.

The following article is based around this theory, my theory; and I am sure is shared by other readers. Nigel has been interested in photography for some time, however only recently has been getting more keen to produce images of a certain quality, composition and is more than willing to practice, learning mistakes and then using this experience in the next shot. Like all of us, alot of images are taken and although may not be what we were hoping for, they give us the opportunity to reflect and then learn, so that we improve next time round. This is something that I always strive to achieve as, I am sure we all do.

The image below was taken by Nigel using a Nikon D70 and a Sigma 70mm Macro f/2.8 lens, mounted on a tripod. The scene was captured on a window within his property. A simple picture, but with alot of hard work needed to achieve the objective; capture a close up shot of a spider, something I have tried on several occasions to achieve.

 

 

 

Ok, so I see you thinking, standard image, nothing special. Firstly, your probably right, secondly, the images in addition to the original are designed to show you the work flow and presentation that I have done to get the final published results.

Filed under: Guest Series

Weeks wrap up….

Framing the Shot.

 

 

I’ve posted another image that I have had just sitting in the collections folder within LR2, so thought that I best do the alterations and get the image published. I used the new features within LR2 to alter the exposure compensation using the brush tool and I gotta tell you, it’s quick accurate and saves alot of time taking the image over into CS3 and doing the aterations in there. I am still using the new features but already have added this to my list of essential alterations within my raw workflow.

That aside, I’m off on a shoot this weekend, so will get some of the images posted when I return. I am going to try and get too seperate shoots in with two different subject matter, one of them is for completion for a module inside the Diploma. All will become more apparent when the images are posted.

Filed under: Collections, Series