Gaussian Blur filter

This post is to show a 100% blowup of a detail in a photo from the nc2000e. When zoomed in at 100% or more, jaggies at the curved edges show up in the photo. After studying the problem, I've found that a .2 or .3 radius adjustment in the blur filter gaussian blur smooths out the jagged edges without affecting the sharpness of the image too much.

The first photo (top) shows the full image with no crop. The second zoomed in image (middle) shows the detail before applying any filter. The third image (bottom) shows the detail with gaussian blur filter applied.

It would be best to download the photos to your own computer and then open them in Photoshop to see the differences. The top photo is the original unaltered image and can be downloaded to do your own tests. Also note that using Photoshop's RAW converter, I set the image to open at its original 1.3MP size. No interpolation was used. The differences would probably be more pronounced if other sizes were applied. It does let you choose between 1.3, 3.4, or 5.2MP. I usually set it to 3.4.

Nikon D2h and Kodak nc20000e comparison

Here's a side by side comparison between the D2h and the nc2000e cameras. Both images were downsized to 72 DPI at 9 inches across. The bottom image is from the D2h while the top image is from the nc2000e. I used a 70-200 VR zoom lens with the D2h and a manual focus 180mm f 2.8 Nikon lens with the nc2000e.



Trumbull's #7 Alexandra Puglisi releases a pitch during FCIAC semi-final softball action against St. Joseph at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. on Tuesday May 25, 2010. The team held off St. Joseph to win 1-0. Photo: Christian Abraham/Connecticut Post

Staples Lacrosse 05-22-10

A bit of FCIAC lacrosse action from Saturday May 22, 2010 in Westport, Conn. St. Joseph High School went on to defeat the Staples Wreckers 10-7. Staples was undefeated in its season until this game. (Shot with the Kodak nc2000e)

Five column spread

Well imagine my surprise when I saw this edition of the paper. I edited 20 photos from the recent excursion to Charles Island in Milford, Conn. (Only 2 or 3 of the 20 submitted were shot with the Kodak nc2000e) and the photo that was used as main art was one taken with the nc2000e. Not only was it published, but it ran a full five columns! I couldn't believe it. But here's the proof that it doesn't matter what the camera is, but that it's just a tool used by the photographer.

Flowers in bloom

I love to shoot the backyard for some reason. It's neat to see the transformation of the seasons and keep a photo journal of sorts. Here are some photos of the flowers that my wife planted or placed in pots around the yard. Also, our dog Cooper was in the yard chillin out. All photos were shot with the Canon DCS-3, an ancient Kodak digital camera from 1995. A few more shots not posted are at my Flickr page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonman24/

Fresh Fest in Bridgeport, Conn.

Here are some high ISO pics from the Kodak nc2000e taken at the Fresh Fest Old School Reunion concert at the Arena at Harbor Yard in downtown Bridgeport, Conn. on Saturday May 15, 2010. I bumped the ISO to 1250 and 1600 and opened the raw tiffs in Adobe Bridge with CS4 RAW.

Interestingly, they all seemed about two stops underexposed, even though I was using the correct shutter speed and aperture based on the reading I was getting from the D3s and D2h I also was using.

I've also opened the same set of tiffs using the original software intended for the camera, an early version of Photo Mechanic called AP Viewer. It also has a plug-in for Photoshop which allows for the removal of moire pattern common in the old Kodak camera, due to the lack of an anti-aliasing filter. On a side note, a trial version of Band Aide (noise removal tool) was also part of the software, but I need a key to continue its use. (Any suggestions?) Anyway, the photos that looked two stops under in CS4 now look completely normal and right on in exposure. I can batch process the photos to jpeg but loose the ability to interpolate the images to 3.2 MP like you can in CS4 RAW.

So, it's a bit of give and take. I can get the better resolution but have to really dig deep into Photoshop to get the underexposed images to come back to normal, or I can have a well exposed image up front, but lack the higher resolution if I needed a photo for printing. Ah, the dilemma!

More photos from the concert are at my Flickr page here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonman24/sets/72157623957197542/

The Egg at UB

Arnold Bernhard Arts and Humanities Center, University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. (Shot with the Kodak nc2000e digital camera.

http://www1bpt.bridgeport.edu/about/history/paper_11.html

Old man and his best friend

This was a man I came across in Fairfield, Conn. on Wednesday May 12, 2010 while en route to another assignment. I stopped and walked up to the gentleman and told him I was with the newspaper, but oddly no response. He didn't seem to hear me or see me. His dog started to bark as I approached and I heard him say "Be quiet!" So, I proceeded to snap his photo a few times before walking away. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get his name, but I love this picture. The scene reminded me of Scotland for some reason. Maybe the colors, or the man's dapper cap and his dog. (Shot with the Canon DCS-3 with a Tokina 12-24mm lens)

Girls track and lacrosse action

The above photo of Law's Beatrice Vantapool ran on the front page of the sports section today (May 12, 2010) Link for the web post here:

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Tuesday-s-high-school-roundup-Fairfield-Prep-s-483116.php





Some photos from a girls lacrosse game in Norwalk, Conn. and a girls track meet in Milford, Conn. on Tuesday May 11, 2010. The photos were taken with the Kodak nc2000e digital camera. The lacrosse match was shot mostly at 1600 ASA, which is the top ISO setting for this camera. With a little work in Photoshop, I think the grain looks no worse than the Nikon D2h body I use everyday. (And that's not saying much for the D2h!)

Here's some lilies of the valley inside an old antique bottle on my wife's nightstand on Tuesday May 11, 2010. She brought them in after finding them in the corner of our yard. She has a gift for decoration and our home is very beautiful because of it. I dug up the bottle at a home construction site when I was a teenager. (When I had aspirations of becoming an archeologist!) This was shot with the Canon DCS-3 Kodak digital camera.

Downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Some shots of downtown Bridgeport, Conn. from Saturday May 8, 2010. I was supposed to shoot the annual Park-City Sportsfest but high winds cut the event short. By the time I got there, it was over. So, like any photojournalist worth his or her salt, I decided to shoot something else to make use of my time. :-) I like downtown Bridgeport. I'm always shooting it in different seasons, and different light or angles.

(Shot with the Kodak nc2000e digital camera)

I have more complete sets of photos on my Flickr page here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonman24/

60 Chevy

My first car was a 1960 Chevy Bel Air. I hadn't seen one for ages but yesterday in Stratford, Conn. I saw two in a row! One was in from of a bar on Main Street (below) and this one was in a guy's yard rotting away under a tattered cover and this one. Boy, I sure miss mine now.

[20]
ISO: 200
Aperture: F5.6
Shutter: 125
Lens (mm): 18
Exposure: M
Program: HF
Exp Comp: +0.3
Meter area: Mtrx
Flash sync: Norm
Drive mode: H
Focus mode: S
Focus area: Wide
Distance: 1.0m





[91]
ISO: 200
Aperture: F11
Shutter: 125
Lens (mm): 18
Exposure: P
Program: HF
Exp Comp: +0.7
Meter area: Cntr
Flash sync: Norm
Drive mode: H
Focus mode: S
Focus area: Wide
Distance: 1.0m

Fairfield County Hunt Club

I was on assignment at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Conn. for a business forum on Wednesday May 05, 2010. Nearby, horses were being exercised. I love seeing horses so I grabbed a few shots for the blog. (Shot with the Kodak nc2000e digital camera)

Former home of bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad

Well, I didn't think I would have an opportunity to take part in the media coverage of the investigation into the recent NY Times Square bomb attempt, but fortunately I did. I was sent to Shelton, Conn. to cover the police investigation at the former home of bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad on Tuesday May 04, 2010. I covered the event mainly with my daily use D2h but grabbed a few frames shown here that I shot with the Kodak nc2000e.