Camera Calibration

I recently picked up an X-Rite ColorChecker chart and used it to create a custom Lightroom develop preset for my Canon 30D using the Chromoholics ACR Calibrator script. It was really simple:

1. Download and install the script (download and directions at the link above).
2. Take a photo of the ColorChecker.
3. Download the photo to your computer and open it in Photoshop.
4. Run the script, then use the output values to tweak Lightroom's Camera Calibration settings in the Develop module and save a preset. Done!
   

Previously, I'd created a develop preset by eye, using landscape images I'd taken and averaged/optimized the camera calibration settings. The new preset created with the ColorChecker and ACR Calibrator script is slightly better.

I use this preset as my baseline develop settings and apply it to all images on import. This gets a vast majority of my images 90% of the way to a finished state - a big time saver!

I recommend trying this method if you have, or can temporarily get your hands on a ColorChecker chart.

Google Earth 4.3

Google Earth will be releasing version 4.3 today. It will include some nice new features. You can read a good summary of the new features at the Google Earth Blog. Happy GEing!!

Utah!

I recently returned from a long weekend in Southern Utah - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park. We saw some amazing country, did some hiking and a lot of shooting. I've gone through most of my shots and posted a Trip Report & Slideshow.

Enjoy!

New Images from Cedar Mesa, UT

Added a few images (finally) from my trip last fall to Cedar Mesa in Southern Utah. Check them out in the Utah Gallery.

Website Tweaks

I recently made some changes to the website...

1. Images are now ordered so that the newest images are displayed first.
2. Some of the navigation in the gallery section has been tweaked - hopefully for the better.
3. A little code optimization.

Please drop me a note if you run into problems. :-)

Lightroom Geotag Plugin

Last week, Jeff Barnes released a Beta version of a Lightroom Geotag Plugin. It is definitely Beta software - limited features, performance issues and a couple bugs. But it is AWESOME to see someone working on a plugin to add this feature to Adobe Lightroom!!

After installing the plugin, I got it to work pretty easily with a few .cr2 files from my Canon 30D and .gpx files output from Garmin Mapsource. I did not get it to work with DNG files. I think that's because the plugin works with the .xmp sidecar files. Before running the plugin, you need to write metadata to a file (under the Metadata menu item in LR). Next, select your photos and run the plugin, which updates the metadata .xmp sidecar file. Lastly, select the option in LR to read metadata from the file.

If you're not a software or geotagging geek (like me) you might want to wait for a more stable release. But this has great potential and I'll be watching for updates closely.

Really Right Stuff BH-40 LR II - Wow!

I've used, and been very happy with my Kirk BH-3 ballhead since it's initial release. It's seen action with various camera systems, from 35mm SLR, to medium format, to DSLR, to 4x5 field camera. And it has traveled the world and many a backcountry site with me. It is one of the best photo-related investments I've ever made. So why would I part with it??

About a month ago I was IM'ing with a photographer friend and he pointed me to the Really Right Stuff website. He was looking at upgrading his ballhead with the RRS LR II quick release. It's cool. A patented lever clamp that adds even more speed to the quick release system. The quick release also has a small spirit level - convenient. I started poking around the RRS website and found the BH-40 ballhead. Again, it's cool - sleek finish, stylish knobs, low profile (a full 1 inch shorter than my BH-3), and even lighter weight. I searched around the internet for some reviews, pinged some fellow photographers that have been using the BH-40 and everyone raved about it. It turns out that since I was perfectly, perhaps ignorantly, happy with my older BH-3, I had just not paid any attention to ballhead discussions when they came up on the internet. I placed an order with RRS and 4 days later the BH-40 arrived.

Wow. Initial quality, fit and finish is amazing. This is really a superior product. The BH-40 is an upgrade to the BH-3 in every way. Well only time will prove out longevity and reliability... The ball action is very smooth and it locks securely with a nice lever knob. The tension knob is numbered, making it simple to return to a particular tension level. After a short time I found 2 different settings that worked well for me in different situations and the numbers make it ridiculously simple to switch back and forth. No more guessing. And the lever clamp was everything I'd hoped it would be. I've been using the BH-40 for a couple weeks with my Canon 30D and I couldn't be more pleased. It is a perfect match to my trusty Gitzo G1228. And with the Gitzo short column, the combination weighs only 4.5 lbs.

If you're in the market for a medium weight ballhead, the RRS BH-40 certainly warrants your consideration.