March 2015
Super-color infrared (590nm) image processed in Lightroom and Sliver Efex Pro 2
PHOTO OF THE MONTH | Ol' One-Eye  |Colorado , USA
SPECS: Nikon 1 V1 (590nm infrared) with 16-35mm f/4 AFS G VR Nikkor and FT-1 adapter
Spring is the perfect time to learn infrared photography! The fresh foliage will give your images the "pop" they need to stand out.  Don't forget to check out my new video tutorial on infrared processing!

March Update from Jason 
San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio, TX
Well, what can I say? The warm spell we had in January is now a distant memory and we're back in the grasp of winter. However, I have confidence that spring will eventually come, one way or another, even if it takes until June!

I've taken advantage of the weather to stay indoors and work on new video tutorials and prepare my gear for my upcoming spring workshops. If you find yourself snowed in, it's a great time to learn more about post-processing and other techniques so that you're ready for action when the weather improves. 

-Jason Odell

 
Nikon D7200: 24 Megapixels for action enthusiasts

Nikon D7200 DX-format DSLR camera
A few days ago, Nikon announced the D7200, a replacement to the D7100. While I haven't had a chance to fully digest all the specs, there are a few things that Nikon definitely improved on. 

The D7200 sports a 24.2 megapixel sensor and can capture images at 6fps. More importantly, it gets a better and more sensitive (-3EV) autofocus system, better video, built-in Wi-Fi, and a much larger buffer. These features, especially the AF and buffer size (18 raw captures vs. 6) will make the D7200 a great option for sports and wildlife enthusiasts.


Let's Talk Bird Photography!
Talking Bird Photography with Jason P. Odell
Talking Bird Photography with Jason P. Odell

If you missed my free webinar on bird photography, I've posted it to my public YouTube Channel. I discussed the joys and challenges of capturing bird images and also the elements of dynamic bird photographs.

March 6th is the last day to RSVP for my Florida Birding Safari. I also have two seats still open for my all-inclusive birding workshop in South Texas where we shoot from private blinds for amazing close-ups.

Upcoming Workshop/Safari Links

See all my workshops as they are announced when you join my Meetup Group. 


Two New Lightroom Tutorial Videos Released
Learn to process digital infrared images with Lightroom and Photoshop


 

I've spent the last month putting together two instructional video workshops that are now available exclusively through Luminescence of Nature Press.

 

Digital Infrared Image Processing with Lightroom & Photoshop will show you how to implement a raw image workflow for images captured with an infrared-modified digital camera. Topics include both monochrome and color infrared processing, channel swapping, and texture blending.

 

Add to Cart  On sale through March 8th with code: irspecial 

 

Get Sharp With Lightroom is an in-depth look at the sharpening tools in Lightroom. You'll learn the fundamentals of the three-stage sharpening workflow, and how to sharpen images to create masters free of noise and artifacts.

 

Add to Cart Only $19.99 when purchased direct

 

Both of these video tutorials are presented in clear, 720p HD format and include a set of printable PDF companion notes. QuickTime Player is recommended for viewing the videos.

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Tip of the Month: Manual Exposure For Concerts & Theater
David Lee Roth, captured with a Nikon 1 V1 and 30-110mm lens.
Once strictly forbidden, it's now not uncommon for cameras to be permitted at concerts and arenas. While you still need to check with the venue to make sure you can bring a camera, there are some really great photo opportunities out there!

The challenge with theaters and concerts is that the light is constantly changing and the background is nearly black. This is a prime example of when using Manual Exposure with spot metering and a fixed ISO can really be useful. Use your spot-meter to meter the subject's skin and then manually set your exposure and ISO to get a reasonably fast shutter speed (in this shot, it was 1/80s). 

Once you've dialed in your settings, unless the ambient light really changes, chances are you'll get nice uniform exposures and the background will be left dark. You'll also prevent your camera from boosting the ISO to unrealistic levels.

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Educating Photographers, One Pixel at a Time