Uncategorized Archives - Page 5 of 8

Feather River Express video clips

Posted on August 20, 2014August 17, 2014 by Kurt

The Frog shot some short video clips of the Feather River Express and Keddie Flyer / Keddie Dinner Train.

They were taken without a tripod (I know better, but I couldn’t keep it with me on the train, so that explains it for two of the three clips).

What these clips do give you is a brief glimpse of what some passenger trains that ran in the west looked like in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

You’ll see vintage railcars from the original California Zephyr and Santa Fe’s famous Super Chief as they are switched and spotted at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum and at the station in Portola.

You’ll see and hear Western Pacific GP-7 #707 as she switches the cars. The 707 was build by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in 1952. (Yes, GM was everywhere…) She’s got 1500 horsepower put out by a V-16 diesel engine, and weighs about 126 tons. In other words, she won’t win a drag race, but she can pull the freight.

Check out the videos on the Laughing Frog Images YouTube page and take a trip back in time.

Here’s the rest of the Feather River Express that you won’t see in the video:

(For the technically curious, the videos were taken with a Lumia Icon smartphone.)

The Feather River Express

Posted on August 17, 2014August 17, 2014 by Kurt

Last weekend, The Frog rode the Feather River Express IV, a private train chartered by Trains and Travel International and operated by Amtrak over the Union Pacific Railroad. The train ran from Emeryville, CA to Sacramento over the rails of the former Southern Pacific Railroad, and from Sacramento to Portola, CA over the rails of the former Western Pacific Railroad. The timing of the trip coincided with Railroad Days in Portola, complete with a parade!

The Western Pacific Railroad (“WP”) operated the famed California Zephyr (“CZ”, “Silver Lady”) in conjunction with the Denver and Rio Grande Western (“Rio Grande”) and Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (“CB&Q”, Burlington, or, simply, the “Q”). The train ran between Chicago, IL and Oakland, CA. The Q took the train from Chicago to Denver, CO. The Rio Grande took her west to Salt Lake City, UT. The WP carried her from Salt Lake to Oakland. The Silver Lady was the first train with regularly scheduled Vista Dome service. You can read more about the past and present CZ operated by Amtrak here.

Our train was made up of private vintage railroad cards from several owners. The Frog elected to do the trip “old school”. When the CZ was new back in 1949, most cameras had exactly one lens, used film, and most folks photographed in black and white simply because it was cheaper than shooting in color. So, out came the D-90 and the 35mm lens. And that’s how the trip was documented – one camera and one lens. No all-in-one zoom, no mega-zoom, no wide-angle. Strictly old school.

As the trip ended last Sunday, the images have just been uploaded to the hard drive and the real work is beginning – selection, straightening, conversion and preparation for uploading to the galleries. Look for three new galleries to be added – Eastbound, Westbound, and the Western Pacific Railroad Museum, which is located in Portola, CA.

Stay tuned for the new posts and galleries, and don’t forget to subscribe to new posts by clicking the link below so you don’t miss a thing!

Thanks for visiting, and remember, Christmas is just four months and 8 days away. Don’t forget Laughing Frog Images when you’re looking for that unique gift for someone (or yourself!)

Third-Party Camera Lenses: Yes or No?

Posted on August 16, 2014August 2, 2014 by Kurt

Some folks swear that the only way to get good pictures is to only purchase lenses from the maker of your camera body. The Frog begs to differ. There are some great third-party camera lenses out there!

Some third-party camera lenses are as good as the lenses from the camera manufacturer’s, some are better, and quite honestly, some are just plain bad. Keep in mind that the lens can be the weak point in your system, so do your research and get the best lens you can!

First, whether your camera body is made by Nikon, Canon, Sigma, Pentax, Sony, Panasonic, Leica, or whomever, they’ve all got good lenses. Similarly, so do lens makers like Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, and others. Do your research!

Here’s a suggested approach to buying any lens: First, identify what you want. Then, check out the manufacturer’s websites (links above), check out Ken Rockwell’s site and Digital Photography Review. Check out buyer reviews on retailer sites such as B&H and Adorama.

Look at the results, and study the QFLs. Look at price. You might find it helpful to keep notes or make a table to track your findings.

In the case of All-in-One lenses, recognize that none of them are perfect, no matter who makes them! They’re great as long as you know their quirks, flaws and limitations (“QFLs”) – and your work within them. You might find that the third-party lens that costs half as much as the manufacturer’s lens has some QFLs that are different than the QFLs that the manufacturer’s lens has. And, for half the price, you can live with that! (In one instance, The Frog did that and ended up with two third-party camera lenses for the price of one manufacturer’s lens.) That said, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is…

Keep an eye out for specials, rebates, and package deals, especially before major holidays. You can save $$ if the timing works for you.

And… you probably know what’s coming… don’t forget to check things out at your local camera store!

You know that the Frog is shooting with Nikon DSLR bodies. So, whose lenses does he use? Nikon, and third-party camera lenses from Sigma, and Tamron.

It’s the lens, silly!

Posted on August 11, 2014August 2, 2014 by Kurt

As you may be pondering what to do if you’re looking to buy your first DSLR, or if you’re thinking about upgrading your current DSLR, here’s something to remember:

IT”S THE LENS, SILLY!

Think about it…

Your image must pass through your lens to get to the image sensor in the camera in order to create your image file that you use to print your picture.

If the lens isn’t up to the task… well…

So, as you’re contemplating what to do, focus (pun was not planned, but it works, so we’ll keep it) your attention on the lens, and if you’re wondering where your money should go, it’s the Frog’s humble opinion that the answer is the lens. Get the best lens you can afford. Don’t forget to consider refurbished and used lenses to stretch your dollars.

If you do your research on DSLR bodies, you’ll find that some of the “amateur” or “prosumer” bodies have the same image sensors as the “pro” bodies, or maybe they have the “old” sensor that was the “new” sensor six months or a year ago. The most significant difference in many cases is that the amateur or prosumer bodies don’t have all of the controls, options, bells and whistles that the pro bodies do – and they’re a lot cheaper. As was discussed in the Buying a DSLR post, think about what you photograph and what you absolutely need in a body first, then think about what you want.

And now, we’re suggesting that you think about the lens just as much, if not more. Check out the post on Camera Equipment for Basic Travel Photography, and also the post on All-in-One versus Prime Lenses for more food for thought.

Don’t forget to visit your local camera store as part of the process! We need small businesses to survive and thrive.

Because…

IT’S THE LENS, SILLY!

Is VR – IS – OS a must for your lens?

Posted on August 8, 2014August 2, 2014 by Kurt

There are a lot of different names out there for lens stabilization features. VR, or Vibration Reduction. IS, or Image Stabilization. OS, or Optical Stabilization. These are just a few of them.

They all do the same thing. They help the human condition that is lens shake. They are fancy devices that can help you take a picture when you don’t have enough light by allowing you to use a lower shutter speed. You can read more about the technical aspects here – we’re not going to even try to explain the science and physics behind it…

These features can be your best friend in some situations.

They also add $$ to the price of some lenses (new or used). With some of the newer lenses on the market, you don’t get a choice. There’s some great used glass out there without VR – IS – OS that can save you a lot of money as you work on filling up your camera bag.

But, do you need them?

After all, most of us lived without these features until very recently and still managed to get some great pictures throughout our lives.

The answer is maybe…

Let’s say you’re photographing a soccer game late in the day, and it’s getting dark. VR – IS – OS will allow you to take a picture at a slower shutter speed – but that’s not going to do you a lot of good, because you’re photographing fast action, and it’s all going to be blurred. In this case, you’re better off cranking up the ISO as much as possible within the performance limits of your camera.
Let’s say you’re in a museum that doesn’t allow flash photography or tripods. Here, VR – IS – OS will definitely help you!
You’re at home, and your pet is sleeping in one of those contorted and twisted positions that defy your imagination and logic, and you know the flash will wake them up. VR – IS – OS is your friend in this case.
Let’s say you’re photographing a scenic valley and you’re using your friends Mr. Tripod and Ms. Cable Release. Turn your VR – IS – OS off! In some cases, it will try to work on the tripod and cause vibration.
You’re shooting detail in the rocks in a canyon with your telephoto lens and you don’t have a tripod. VR – IS – OS is your friend here.
You’re on vacation and your tripod didn’t fit in your suitcase. More likely than not, somewhere, sometime during your trip, VR – IS – OS may be your friend.
It’s a sunny day and your shutter speed is well above 1/length of lens (for example, you have a 300mm lens and your shutter speed is 1/500). VR – IS – OS is overkill.

So, now that we’ve established it’s a definite, absolute “maybe”, think about what you shoot most of the time and consider your lens options before you buy that new or used lens.

You might decide that you really need VR – IS – OS. Or, you might decide that you can live without it and be able to get more bang for your buck.

Some of the Frog’s lenses have it. Some don’t. And he does just fine…

Growing the Image Galleries

Posted on August 4, 2014July 27, 2014 by Kurt

Growing the image galleries at Laughing Frog Images isn’t happening quite as fast as was hoped. There are two good reasons for that. First, this isn’t my day job. The second is explained in this post.

There are slides and negatives that go back longer that I care to admit, because I can’t be that old! Over 30,000 of them, as a matter of fact. There are planes, scenic views, parks and places, trains, and things I probably don’t remember that are waiting to be rediscovered.

We’re scanning slides at 5000dpi and negatives at 7200dpi, and quite frankly, it’s a slow process. These are archival scan settings to give you the widest range of product choices when you shop at Laughing Frog Images. If you decide you want that killer shot from the Colorado National Monument as a 30″x40″ print and you found out it was scanned at 2400dpi, you wouldn’t be too happy with us. (You’re going to have to wait for that gallery, by the way.)

To give you an idea of what’s behind growing the image galleries, here’s a snapshot of the process:

Get the scanner going.
Cat-proof the work area. This is perhaps the most important step.
Proof the slide or negative and make sure it’s worthy of steps 4-11.
Clean the slide or negative. While this sounds obvious and simple, we’re looking at them through a loupe and using a fine brush and blown air because it’s absolutely amazing how big that speck you can’t see with the naked eye is once it’s scanned!
Load the slide tray or negative holder.
Each image scan takes 4 to 5 minutes for each slide or negative.
Wait for the software and computer to process the image file ( we’re scanning to .dng format).
Image data is added to the file before the slide or negative is returned to storage.
The image goes into a temporary folder to await the next step.
The image is proofed. Any final cleaning takes place here, as well as any adjustments or corrections.
The image is then filed awaiting use.

As we intend to post image galleries and sub-galleries that are related to each other as opposed to posting random images here and there throughout the site, you can start to see that it takes a while to make all of this happen.

This image is part of a gallery that will feature the former Western Pacific Railroad lines from Reno, Nevada to Sacramento, CA.

Obviously, it’s a lot easier when the starting point is a digital image file!

We’re hoping to get some additional galleries up of steam engines that ran in the 1980’s in time for the holidays, because if you don’t love steam engines – you probably know someone who does. And they have walls. Or drink coffee. Or tea. They might even have an iPhone or an iPad. And we might have just the image for them!

Be patient with us as we grow the image galleries! It is happening…

iPhone Case Photos!

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Kurt

I purchased some iPhone cases for gifts and thought I’d share photos of them with y’all, especially since there’s a sale on.

Of all of the photographic stuff I have, none of that stuff includes a copy stand, so these photos were taken with my Lumia Icon phone (more on that someday). They’re not anywhere close to perfect – but they do give you an idea of what could be wrapped around your iPhone (or Galaxy S4 or iPad). They also make great gifts!

Somewhere out there, someone is saying “Why doesn’t he have a copy stand?” Well, unless you do miniature photography or similar small subjects, there’s not a need for one. It would be a toy for me at this point. But… I do have some other samples to share, so… maybe…

Anyway, back to the subject at hand.

From top to bottom, here are the iPhone case photos:

BNSF Pasadena Subdivision Local Freight. Glendora, CA. This was taken in 2013 – Santa Fe merged into BNSF almost 20 years ago!
Union Pacific westbound doublestack train on the former Western Pacific Railroad crossing the famous Keddie Wye in Plumas County, CA. This one is not yet in the galleries.
The view across Kauai’s Nawiliwili Harbor.
Cape Neddick Light (a.k.a. Nubble Light) in York, ME. And yes, if you are wondering, I did get wet just after I clicked the shutter.

If you’ve found that image that you’ve been wanting, and have needed an excuse to buy it, now you have it (at least if we have a case for it)!

There’s a video on the Laughing Frog Images YouTube Channel that shows you how to create your own case, or how to create a gift for someone who deserves something special.

Think of the conversations you can have about your case! The stories you can tell about where you were and how you took the photo! (I won’t pretend it doesn’t happen – just remember to tell them you got it from Laughing Frog Images at some point!)

Or, just think of the smile you can bring to someone’s face when they unwrap their case.

Thanks for looking!

All-in-One versus Prime Camera Lenses

Posted on July 31, 2014July 26, 2014 by Kurt

Over the years, lens technology has improved and lens size has decreased. Following on our post about buying a DSLR, we’re going to talk about camera lenses – specifically All-in-One versus Prime Lenses.

Way back when, if you wanted to cover the range from 28mm to 200mm when shooting film, you were probably carrying a 28mm lens, a 50mm lens, a 28-70mm and a 70-210mm lens. Most high-quality zoom lenses were in the 3X range – that is a range of three times their base number. Examples include 28-70mm and 70-200 or 70-210mm. Yes, there were “superzooms” out there with 5X and 10X in those days, but they were known to be compromised in their quality – and if you wanted serious quality, you were carrying around prime lenses.

A prime lens is a lens with a fixed focal length – 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, etc. Most of the time, they are going to give you better results than a zoom lens or a superzoom lens. I have 35mm and 50mm prime lenses that I carry on a regular basis – they are fast (f1.8), small, and light. They are relatively “cheap” – some call them “fantastic plastic”, and can’t be beat for interior or low-light photography.

Today – it’s common to see lenses in the 10X to 15X range, such as 18-200mm and 18-270mm or 18-300mm. These lenses typically have an optical stabilization or vibration reduction feature as well. Their quality has improved to the point where they give good to great results throughout their zoom range – and, if you’re not trying to make 30″x40″ prints, they’re great lenses. In general, the longer the zoom range, the more compromises (vignetting, pin-cushioning, distortion) you’ll need to be aware of to deal with.

Today, many cameras at retail stores are sold as “kits” – you get the body plus an 18-55mm zoom and a 55-200mm or 55-300mm zoom. Most everyone will find these kits more than adequate for their purposes and needs. If you go to your local camera shop or one of the big camera retailer website, you might find a choice in kits to the point where you might find it’s the camera plus an 18-200 lens.

If you’re going down the all in one path – do your research. Think about what you want to do. Check out the manufacturer’s websites to see what’s out there: Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Pentax, Tamron, Tokina,
Check out reviews on the manufacturer’s websites and on the web.
Talk to your local camera store.
Check out reviews on the web: Ken Rockwell, Digital Photography Review, B&H, Adorama
And, once you’ve made your choice, enjoy it!

I can’t deny or argue the convenience factor of just carrying a body and one lens. It’s something that years ago many of us dreamed of, but the quality just wasn’t there.

And now, I enjoy the guilty pleasure of carrying one body and one lens and being able to accomplish most anything.

Camera equipment for basic travel photography

Posted on July 28, 2014July 26, 2014 by Kurt

Sometimes, The Frog travels lightly, and sometimes not. This post is an outgrowth of the Buying a DSLR post, as it was part of that same discussion with a friend. To me, travel photography means getting good results while traveling without a lot of stuff. It’s easier these days, as the quality of all-in-one zoom lenses keeps getting better – and you can get great results if you know and work within the limitations of your lens.

My travel camera bag is about 10″x10″x6″, and divides into three “slots”. It’s not huge – but there are times when convenience rules and I don’t want to be dragging a backpack around. Since there’s not a lot of room for “stuff”, I have to think carefully about what I take because if it doesn’t fit in the travel camera bag, it doesn’t travel! Camera equipment for basic travel photography isn’t always the same as the camera equipment I take when I’m on a photographic mission (such as trains or a specific landscape objective) – we’ll talk about that in the future.

Here’s a look at what’s in my “light” travel camera bag – camera equipment for basic travel photography. This might give you some ideas about what you want, and/or how you might want to pack your camera bag for your travels.

The basics, which cover most travel photography:

(1) A Nikon D5100 body. Compact, light, great low-light capability, and works well in the “idiot-proof” mode where it does everything or in a manual mode where I do everything.
(2) A Tamron 18-270mm f3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD lens. A great all-in-one zoom with stabilization, and it goes on sale from time to time! Also comes with a great warranty.
(3) The camera’s battery charger and an extra battery.
(4) A microfiber cleaning cloth. (Yes, T-shirts work too, but the cleaning cloth is kinder to your lens.)

The basics and indoor/low light: All of the above plus (5) a Nikon 35mm f1.8 lens. A fast prime lens can’t be beat, especially if you’re taking pictures at night or in low light.

The basics plus: #’s 1-5 plus (6) a Nikon SB-600 external flash. This can be used for fill flash during the day or a night/indoor flash, and it does a pretty good job throughout the zoom’s entire range.

The basics and landscape photography: (1), (2), (3), (4) and (7) a Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 Di II lens. This lens does not have stabilizing or vibration reduction capability – so our friend the tripod often comes along with his friend the remote cable release. If I really want to stuff the bag, the 35mm lens (5) makes the trip as well.

Good things can come from small places!

iPhone/iPad/Galaxy S4 Case Sale!

Posted on July 27, 2014July 27, 2014 by Kurt

It’s Laughing Frog Images’ first summer, and time for our first summer sale!

Time to indulge yourself with an image you won’t find anywhere else, or, if you’re feeling really nice – give someone a unique gift!

iPhone 4 / 4S / 5 / 5C cases now $25.99!

Galaxy S4 cases now $25.99!

iPad cases / folios now $31.99!

Make one your own at Laughing Frog Images!

This sale ends August 31, 2014.

Remember that the printing process for these items is somewhat challenged by high-contrast scenes (for example, bright white clouds and dark areas / shadow areas in the same image). As we’re not able to offer refunds for custom orders, choose carefully. And, don’t be afraid to ask a question about a particular image. We’re not going to push you to get a product that might not be all that you want it to be. As small enterprises go, we’re as small as you can get, and we need happy customers!

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