Orchid Photos with a Nikon D60 and 35mm 1.8
By Ryan Ward | March 14, 2010
This is my favorite lens. Combined with the Nikon SB-600, it makes for a perfect pairing on any DX camera indoors. These were all shot at f 1.8 with the flash straight up.
Category: Flowers | No Comments »
Nikon D60 ISO Comparison 100-3200
By Ryan Ward | March 12, 2010
This is the first time I have sat down to “pixel peep” at the different ISO settings on the D60. The ISO range is 100-1600 with a Hi setting that simulates 3200. I shot with the AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1.8G ,which, is my favorite lens. The auto focus is accurate and wide open there is no comparison to the kit lens which is f5 at 35mm. 35mm is convenient enough to take a couple of steps forward or backward to frame your shot since it’s a prime lens with no zoom. Don’t let it scare you. It’s a fantastic lens on a DX body.
All images were shot at F/8, white balance set to incandescent, sharpening +1, noise reduction off and D-lighting off. JPEGs converted from RAW with no processing in Capture NX 2.
Here is the subject. It’s a hand painted (by my daughter who was 3 at the time) and a glazed ice cream cone inside a dirty old terracotta pot. There should be different types of detail in the pot and on the ice cream cone so it should give us lots to compare. The original image is 3872 X 2592 and 3.66 megs:
All of the shots below are 100% crops:
ISO 100 @ 2.5 seconds
ISO 200 @ 1.3 seconds
ISO 400 @ 1/1.6 (.625) seconds
ISO 800 @ 1/3 (.333)seconds
ISO 1600 @ 1/6 (.167) seconds
ISO 3200 @1/13 (.077) seconds
My Conclusion
I have 8 X 10 prints hanging on my wall shot at ISO 400 @ f8 of some extremely sharp photographs taken with the kit 18 X 55 lens and there is only visible noise if you are within 6 inches of the print so keep that in mind when you look at the pics above.
To me, ISO 100 & 200 look very clean with no detail loss at all. When we step up to ISO 400, there is very clearly visible noise, but, it isn’t distracting – remember, this is a 100% crop and represents about 18% of the full photo. Reduced to a size that would fit on your screen, there would be little to no noticeable noise. By the time we get to 800, there is definitely noise and my experience with this camera is that you can typically shoot and print a 5 X 7 at ISO 800 without too much noise. The problem is that by the time you get to 800, you are loosing some detail and saturation. Both can be corrected in post processing. Most of the time, I have found that ISO 1600 can be corrected for smaller sizes, but, there is hardly any use for the “hi” setting of 3200 on the D60. I’ve used it, but, I don’t think I have many keepers.
RAW Files Edited in Lightroom
I took the ISO 800 & 1600 RAW files and edited them in Lightroom. The only settings I changed was luminance noise 65, saturation +10 and vibrance +5
ISO 800
ISO 1600
Let me know what you think in the comments! The ISO 800 photo looks useable to me although it is soft due to the noise reduction.
Category: Testing | No Comments »
Frozen Fountain in Alpharetta
By Ryan Ward | January 9, 2010
Here is something we just don’t get to see too frequently in Atlanta. Most of the time, below freezing temps come and go in 24-36 hours. I think we have been below freezing for about a week. Small ponds that do not see much sunlight are even frozen over. I suppose it’s a neat treat, but since I am from Miami I don’t quite see it that way. I’m ready for some warmth!
Category: Odds and Ends, Outdoors | No Comments »
209 Roseville Place – Milton, GA 30004
By Ryan Ward | January 4, 2010
(Click on the photo to view a larger version)
This is a new listing that I have in Crabapple Crossroads in Milton. The photo migtht have been a little better if I would have been able to get inside and turn on some of the lights prior to taking the shot, but, it was the night before I got the keys. I shot this with a Tokina 11-16 at ISO 100, 16 mm, f5, SB-600 and 1/60. I love the way that the flash filled the house perfectly while not illuminating the houses to the left or right. The sun was setting behind me which gives some nice depth to the picture.
Category: Architecture | No Comments »
Dragonfly in Buckhead
By Ryan Ward | January 3, 2010
(Click on the image for the full size image)
This is a photo that I took in June of a Dragonly in the backyard of my mother-in-law’s house. I did no editing to the photo. It’s shot at ISO 400, F8, 1/640 sec. The detail on the larger version of this one was amazing to me as I was only beginning to learn how to use the camera. I know it’s a few months old now, but, I fully intend to use this photo blog on a regular basis now so this is the first in a line of several photos I’ll be adding.
Category: Outdoors, Wildlife | No Comments »
Camp Grace
By Ryan Ward | April 28, 2009
Our Keller Williams office in Roswell contributes time and money to Camp Grace, an organization that helps at-risk children by providing them a safe camp environment with mentors to help improve the children’s lives. Camp Grace recently moved to a beautiful facility near Macon and several people from our office went down for a day of fence building and painting. The slideshow is some of the pictures from that event.
Category: Odds and Ends | No Comments »
Protected: Abbey’s 3rd Birthday Party
By Ryan Ward | April 12, 2009
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Protected: Sam, Abbey and Ryan at Callaway
By Ryan Ward | March 21, 2009
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Mountain Fire and Helicopters in Otto, N.C.
By Ryan Ward | March 21, 2009
It’s not exactly Atlanta, but, it’s pretty close and I was on my way back to Atlanta when I came across this. I was disappointed as I had wanted to take a detour onto the Blue Ridge Parkway on my way home from Maggie Valley, but, it was closed. As I was just about to cross back into Georgia on 23, I noticed what looked like a small fire off in the distance. As I passed it and turned back to have a look, it was clear that this was no small fire. I could see a helicopter and was curious so I turned back and got these photos. I was literally sprayed with the water from the helicopters as they were rotating drops on this mountain. The orchestrated water drops were truly impressive and in the time that I was there taking these photos, the fire went from raging to under control. About 45 minutes.
Category: Outdoors | 1 Comment »
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey in Atlanta
By Ryan Ward | March 21, 2009
It’s been some time since I’ve gotten a post up – been quite busy at work and wanted to make this site look a little better. Anyway, we went to the circus at Phillips Arena in February and I was pleasantly surprised by the circus. It really was an excellent production. Below are the best of the shots that I got. It was quite dark in the arena and this was my first run at a darker environment with higher ISO like 1600 and 3200. Enjoy…
Category: Odds and Ends, Wildlife | No Comments »
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When I'm Not Enjoying My Hobby
When I'm not enjoying my hobby or spending time with my family, I'm a professional real estate agent. Please visit and/or spread the word about my Atlanta real estate website. Otherwise, I won't be able to afford what has become quite the expensive hobby!
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