Social Media Burnout & Frustrations with Instagram

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I am primarily a photographer though I create videos of my travels and reviews for my Youtube channel. As a photographer, Instagram has become an increasingly frustrating platform- algorithm changes and their desire to be more like TikTok means fewer and fewer of my followers see my posts and as a result engagement and comments are dropping. I don’t just post online for engagement but I do really enjoy the community and discussions that have happened there over the years. It is instagram’s choice to do what they want with their platform but it does mean it is no longer my first choice for sharing my favorite photos - which is a little sad since I have put almost a decade of my photography on Instagram. Vero is a promising platform - I first joined in 2015 and then let regular posting there slide as I realized I have a finite limit to my time and energy when it comes to posting to social media. I am not the only one frustrated with Instagram and Vero seems to be surging in popularity. Vero is a platform that really does well sharing high-quality images and AT ANY CROP!! That’s right - you want to do a 2:1 vertical? Go ahead!

You can find me on Vero at https://vero.co/photorectoby and I have started posting more regularly here on my own site, it is nice to have my own little corner of the internet where I control exactly how my photos are displayed. Photorec.tv/tobygelstonsphotos

Remember you can get your own Squarespace website and save 10% starting at http://photorec.tv/squarespace

A Camera Battery from the FUTURE! Nitecore UFZ100

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The Nitecore UFZ100 battery pack for Sony NP-FZ100 offers a USB-C Rechargeable battery! That's right! you can plug a cord directly into the battery to charge it! And, a little LED light lets you know the charge level. That's the good news - the bad news.. well it's pretty bad.

Nitecore UFZ100 USB-C Rechargeable Battery

I bought this dual USB charger last year It came with two batteries that I don't use in my camera.

USB-C Charger, Baseus 65W - Wall puck shown in video. I use for charging/powering my 14” M1 Macbook Pro as well as all the rest of my USB-C gadgets.

NEW LR Classic Update = Super Fast Editing, Mask & Edit in 1-Click!! 🤯

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The June 2022 update to Lightroom Classic (11.4) now makes it possible to save an AI mask in a preset making it possible to 1-click edit. My Lightroom Classic Workflow is now 150% faster and I show you how to build your own presets or download mine for free (scroll down).

Canon RP Beats the Sony a1!?! 5+ Ways the $999 Camera is Better

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The Canon RP, a $999 camera is better than the $6500 Sony a1, Sony's flagship mirrorless. It is better by some measures. I share my list of Canon RP Pros and Sony a1 Pros and give you a chance to tell the difference between images from both cameras. < Answers are now on this page

Is this a fair comparison? No -but it is a great reminder that all current cameras on the market do a great job of taking photos - just some may be better suited for certain tasks than others and if you don’t need those features you are just fine buying the more affordable camera.

The Canon RP offers the following advantages over the Sony a1

  • Lighter and smaller

  • Better touchscreen experience

  • Visible Charging Light

  • Bulb Timer

  • Focus Stacking

  • Innovative Telephoto Lenses

  • $5500 Cheaper

The Sony A1 offers the following advantages over the Canon RP

  • More Megapixels

  • Higher dynamic range with better low light high iso performance

  • Faster and more responsive autofocus and Animal and bird Eye Af

  • Faster top shutter speed 1/8000 sec vs 1/4000 in RP

  • Faster flash sync speed

  • Larger buffer 

  • More white balance presets with white balance bracketing

  • Anti-dust shutter mechanism

  • Higher resolution rear screen

  • MUCH higher resolution viewfinder with faster fps and no blackout 

  • Electronic shutter fast enough for fast action

  • Stabilized sensor

  • 8k video and 4k video without a crop

  • 4k slow-mo

  • USB 3.2 connection for WAY faster connection

  • Full-size HDMI port

  • More than double the battery life.

Topaz DeNoise & IQ Bundle is Amazing and on Sale!

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Huge Savings currently on the IQ bundle which includes DeNoise, Sharpen and Gigapixel - Use code IQBUNDLE15 to save an additional 15%

Battling Noise and Topaz DeNoiseAi - is it Magical?

I have been testing Topaz DeNoiseAI and I was impressed with the level of noise reduction while maintaining detail. But, I don’t want to just make this an ad for Topaz so I have shared some tips and tricks for dealing with noise while you are out photographing, while you are editing in Lightroom and shared a few examples where Topaz produced much better results. 

denoise1.png

ISO 16,000 vs ISO 100

Let’s make sure we are all on the same page about noise and how to avoid it when photographing

Noise - the grain and specks that appear in your photo, especially noticeable at higher ISOs or in darker areas of the photo after you raise exposure when editing. Noise is annoying because it reduces the clarity and details of your photo.  Some higher ISO photos will end up in the trash because of the loss of detail.  

Quick Tips to avoid noise/higher ISOs - All things being equal - when photographing the only way to lower your ISO is to either lengthen your shutter speed or open your aperture (e.g. going from f/4 to f/1.8) 

  • If shooting static subjects put your camera on a tripod to shoot at a slower shutter speed.

  • Open your aperture to its widest setting or change lenses to one that provides a wider maximum aperture.

  • Handholding your camera? Get your safe shots where you know your subject will be sharp even if that means a higher ISO. Then you can lower the shutter speed below the recommended speed (2x your current focal length) and shoot a burst of photos. Continue this process lower and lower, remember as you lower the shutter speed you will be able to lower the ISO.

  • Move to an area with more light or add more light to your subject.

  • Avoid underexposing if you will need to brighten when editing. Raising the exposure in your editing program will increase the noise in the shadows.

Note - in any situation don’t be afraid of selecting the settings that you need even if it means your ISO will be higher. Simply put, do not sacrifice your settings just to try and minimize noise. Noise is often very fixable and a blurry photo or one where the depth of field is too shallow is much less fixable. 

How much noise is too much noise? There is no easy answer here. Photos with strong impact - real heart and soul - I can deal with a larger amount of noise, maybe the noise is even part of the story.  But if your image is more clinical feeling - I want it to be relatively noise-free and I certainly wouldn’t want so much noise that detail or sharpness is negatively impacted in those photos.

Fixing Noise 

Removing noise is easy! Removing noise without losing detail is the challenge. 

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You can see the photo on the left has noise. The photo on the right has no noise but it also has lost a serious amount of detail. It has been mushified. 

Lightroom has a dedicated Detail Panel for detail and noise reduction. The panel is capable of removing noise but in my recent tests, Topaz DeNoise AI does a better job, especially in photos with lots of fine detail. But first, let’s briefly look at these sliders. 

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The Luminance slider removes the monochromatic noise that is shown as grain.  The higher the number the more aggressively Lightroom removes the noise and sadly the detail. 

Luminance slider set to 0, 50 and 100 respectively&nbsp;


Luminance slider set to 0, 50 and 100 respectively 

The detail slider allows you to bring back … detail - the higher the number the more it tries to dig out detail - I find that this often introduces some splotchy areas. 

The contrast slider attempts to bring back contrast - the higher the number the greater the increase in contrast - I find that this too often introduces some splotchy areas. 

The Color, Detail, and Smoothness slider combat color noise. 

The photo on the left has the color slider set to 0, see the colored grain? The photo on the right has the slider set to 50. The colored grain is gone. The monochromatic grain remains.

The photo on the left has the color slider set to 0, see the colored grain? The photo on the right has the slider set to 50. The colored grain is gone. The monochromatic grain remains.

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My Personal approach to reducing noise in Lightroom is to be very gentle with these sliders. Move them just enough to combat noise without losing detail. And, I often use the local area adjustment tools to more aggressively remove noise in the less important areas of the photo (non-subject, non-detail rich areas). 

Here I used the brush tool to brush on -100 texture, -100 clarity, noise 100 (this is noise reduction), and sharpness -100. I don’t typically use settings at their max but this shows you how easily you can combat the noise with a little local area adjustment

You also want to be very careful with the sharpening sliders - as you increase the detail slider it will increase the noise.  Be sure to use the Masking slider to remove the sharpening from areas that don’t need sharpening. Hold down the Alt key(Mac) or Option key(Windows) to get a helpful high contrast view that makes it clear where you are removing the sharpening. 

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Is Topaz DeNoiseAI that much better?  Yes.

The degree to which it is better depends on the photo and the level of detail but in general, I find Topaz easier to use and it produces better results. 

Two Modes in DeNoise AI

DeNoise AI provides four sliders and has provided great results in my testing.
AI Clear is more simplified and I find it does not do as well as DeNoise AI.

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The Auto-Detect setting attempts to analyze the photo and sets the values accordingly. I find that I almost always make additional adjustments and only suggest them as a starting point. 

Low Light Mode is excellent at removing color noise. 

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DeNoise AI on the left vs Lightroom Noise Reduction on the right

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DeNoise AI on the left vs Lightroom Noise Reduction on the right

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DeNoise AI on the left vs Lightroom Noise Reduction on the right 

Example of Topaz Denoise with African Paradise Flycatcher

Left original RAW straight out of camera. Right is after quick topaz Denoise adjustments..

Three examples where the noise reduction is far superior to Lightroom. Especially when you take the time to compare the quality of the higher detail regions. DeNoiseAI is able to remove the noise without reducing the details to mush.   There are some drawbacks to introducing DeNoise AI.

Downsides - 

  • A separate expense and program to run- Currently $41 USE CODE: SKEYS15

  • Creates a separate file without your Lightroom editing history.

  • Limited zoom views available - Cannot fit the entire photo on the screen.

  • Slow to update after every change.

  • Very slow on larger files and I find it slows my whole machine down when processing. Older computers may really struggle to process files.

Topaz offers a free 30-day trial and I do recommend the program and the cost if you find yourself consistently battling noise in your photos. 

Toby

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$999 Full Frame vs $6500 Full Frame - Can you tell the difference?

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Can you determine which photo was captured with the Sony a1 (50mp): a pro level $6500 camera or the Canon RP (26mp) a sub $1000 camera?

Exposure Info: 15 seconds f/4.0 ISO 400

Exposure Info: 1/1000 f/2.8 ISO 400

Exposure Info: 1/800 f/8.0 I SO 100

Exposure Info: 1/250 f/2.8 ISO 100

Exposure Info: 1/800 f/8.0 ISO 160

 

Answers Below - Canon RP vs Sony a1

Sigma 16-28 DG DN DG f/2.8 Review - Battle of the Budget Wide Angle Zooms for Sony

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Sigma has just released the Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens for Sony and Leica L mount systems. I test the lens in Olympic NP and compare it to the Tamron 17-28 f/2.8 lens for Sony.

Support my work - Buy the Sigma 16-28 f/2.8 from B&H Photo or Amazon

Comparing Sharpness in Center and Corners Sigma 16-28 f/2.8 vs Tamron 17-28 f/2.8

Chart comparing Sigma 16-28 and Tamron 17-28

Photos Captured with Sony a1 and Sigma 16-28 f/2.8

Olympic NP - 2023

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lone photographer on beach 2 - Olympic NP

We just wrapped up our Olympic National Park workshop. We hit the highlights - snow capped peaks, the stunning coastal beaches, waterfalls and this year we had an awesome low tide, bald eagle day (26 eagles together in one place!!) and I added a new location that was a real hit. I will lead this tour again next year - roughly mid-June start. Want to be notified when it launches? Add your name below.

Recommended Astrophotography Lenses

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My Favorite Lenses for Astrophotography

Looking for a basic astrophotography tutorial?

Budget Friendly Astrophotography Lenses [$]

Mid-Tier Astrophotography Lenses [$$]

High-End Astrophotography Lenses [$$$]

Do you have a favorite lens for astrophotography? Leave a comment below.

Alaska Coastal Brown Bears - Photography Workshop

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We have ONE spot that just opened for our Sept 2022 Photography Workshop.
Workshop info and registration

Highlights from the 2019 trip -

A few photos from the 2021 trip

Winter Yellowstone 2022 Park Highlights

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Happy Birthday, Yellowstone National Park - Celebrating 150 years!!! We just finished our Winter Yellowstone 2022 workshop and I put together a short video with the highlights of the two days in the park. If you have visited in the summer it is a very different experience in the winter. The crowds are gone, the wildlife is out and the scenic snow-covered landscapes are gorgeous!

Join us in 2023 - https://forms.gle/6iN2kHLfT9hbAZYw8

Antarctica by Drone

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Scroll down for my favorite Antarctica Photos

It is very difficult to get permission to fly a drone in Antarctica but with the help of my friends at Poseidon Expeditions and McKay Photography Academy I was able to once again fly in Antarctica - it feels special and it is special to capture such an incredible place this way - Please watch full screen. Also big thanks to Steve Scurich for being my spotter and catcher - it's no simple task to safely bring a drone down to a small zodiac bouncing around in the Antarctica Ocean.

This was filmed with the Mavic 3 Cine version in mostly ProRes RAW. I am part 107 certified and was operating with the permission of IAATO under Poseidon Expeditions. DO NOT bring a drone to Antarctica without prior permission.

See my video on drone recommendations for 2022.

Photos from Antarctica 2022

The BEST Drone for YOU in 2022! $99 to $5000

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Text UPDATED with Mavic Mini 3 Pro (May 10, 2022) - Scroll below video for more info.

There are a couple of common questions I get here at Photorec.tv. What drone should I buy? Is certainly near the top of this list. As we move into 2022 here are my recommendations for the drones you should buy along with us some accessories that are worth adding to your cart.

This video is brought to you by Squarespace

The new Mavic mini 3 pro

My Pick for most of you - the NEW Mavic Mini 3 Pro!

Most of your are looking for a reasonably priced drone with features that you won’t outgrow soon. The new Mavic Mini 3 Pro offers 4k 60p video, 48mp stills, obstacle avoidance and active tracking (the drone will follow you), and a 34-minute flight time. $759 for Drone, 1 battery and standard remote. This is more expensive than previous mini drones but it is a much more capable drone and replaces the Air 2S as my recommendation for the best drone for you.

Love it or hate it the new mini 3 pro can shoot vertical video for all your reel and tiktok needs….

Pros of the Mini 3 Pro - Small(easily packable) and Lightweight(doesn’t require registration), Obstacle avoidance can be helpful, active track makes the drone more versatile especially if you are alone and need to be filmed in action. Occusync 3.0 for 7-mile+ connectivity range! High enough video and photo quality that most users will be happy.

Cons of the Mini 3 Pro - More expensive than previous versions of the Mini drone, Limited obstacle avoidance - no side protection, larger battery available for purchase does put drone over 250g limit requiring registration.

The Mini 3 pro is currently sold in 3 packages
Drone only $669.00 [Buy at B&H Photo]
DJI Mini 3 Pro with RC-N1 Remote $759 [Buy at B&H Photo]
Drone with new DJI RC Remote $909 [Buy at B&H Photo]

The standard Battery (2453 mAh) Provides 34 minute flight time
The Intelligent Flight Battery Plus (3850 mAh) Provides 47-minute flight time! It will only be sold in select countries and no pricing is available at this time. Both batteries will charge via USB-C.

The Mini 3 Pro will work with existing remotes you may own from the Mini 2, Air 2, or Air2s making the Drone-only bundle a smart way to upgrade for existing owners of one of the recently mentioned drones.

The new DJI RC remote is a more affordable version of their pro remote - My original review video of the pro remote.

Comparison of DJI Mini 3 Pro Remotes

Standard Mini 3 Pro remote on the left (you supply your phone) NEW DJI RC Remote on the right with 700 nits of brightness

Looking for a more budget-friendly drone -

DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo - The best budget drone with 4k and Raw photo capture. No obstacle avoidance or active tracking. Currently $449 at B&H Photo.

DJI Mavic Mini Fly More Combo - The original Mini only shoots at 2.7k mac resolution, doesn’t have obstacle avoidance or active tracking, and is missing Occusync which makes a real difference in the range(distance from you to drone) that you can get a clear video feed and have control over the drone. Most noticeable in denser areas but is still a decent value and a good beginner drone $399 at B&H Photo

Looking for a more professional level drone for work -

Mavic 3 Fly More - POWERFUL - more than most of us need but starting at $2,000 it’s the cheapest way to get such a large sensor for excellent quality photos and video. Correction to video - the firmware update is already out to provide the active track and additional modes.

Just looking for Fun -

DJI FPV - Pretend to be a jet fighter pilot! So much fun flying.

EZ MAX FPV Drone - a VERY affordable way to try FPV flying

DJI Tello - a VERY affordable way to experience the easy flying of DJI drones.

Accessories -

Landing Pad for Drones (29.5") Keeps your drone cleaner when take off and landing

Freewell Circular Polarizer CPL Filter for DJI Air 2S

Multi Charger - Charge multiple batteries simultaneous. DJI multi charger only charges 1 at a time.

USB Charger for Air2s - Charge more easily on the go

MavMount iPad holder - Upgrade your photo/video capture experience

Apps - B4UFly & AirData UAV

https://airdata.com/ SAVE 20% with code PHOTOREC20