[Rockhounds] Software for photo processing

Fri Feb 1 07:06:13 PST 2008

Wow, thank you Michael. Coming from a professional this means a lot for me!

Sharing what I do now:

I use a Canon EOS 400D (bought it 3 weeks ago)
The great advantage is that it allows, via an adapter ring, to be mounted on
my NIKON PB6 bellows. This way I can use my old manual NIKKOR 55mm MACRO
lens (actually turned into a 110mm by the 12/18mm CMOS sensor) which I find
excellent.

My friend Paul Garland invited me to http://flickr.com/ where he started the
"Fluorescent Minerals" group.
I joined that group under the alias of "fluospook".
So, if you want to see some cool pictures of glow-in-the-dark rocks just go
there and sign in. It's free and it turns out that there are quite a lot
different groups there.

You'll come across a few members of this list there too ;-)))

Axel

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com 
> [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] Namens Michael 
> J. Colella
> Verzonden: vrijdag 1 februari 2008 14:43
> Aan: 'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem 
> collectors'
> Onderwerp: RE: [Rockhounds] Software for photo processing
> 
> I have to say, Alex's images are wonderful, Nothing like a 
> good old chrome.
> BUT since most of us have left film and are shooting digital, 
> that's where we are now. And after reading all the posts, 
> take it from someone who sits in front of CS3 every day 
> cranking out images, It's NOT for the NON-professional, 
> UNLESS you have loads of disposable income, want to spend 
> hours figuring out how to do something that you could have 
> done in a couple of minutes and for $100.
> THAT'S why Adobe created Elements ( and Paint Shop Pro is 
> also a very handsome alternative).
> When I teach, I ALWAYS recommend Elements to my students. 
> Adobe has taken the major graphic necessities, streamlined 
> the controls, to do the things you need to accomplish, 
> Quickly, instead of having to deal with all the fine 
> adjustment variables the CS3 provides the pro, the high end 
> graphic artist and the creative Artists as well. As a working 
> Professional, I still only use about 30% of Photoshop, the 
> rest is for multi layering, masking.... you saw the list 
> earlier. By all means, ENJOY the hobby! I personally, would 
> much rather spend time looking at & enjoying (and collecting) 
> my stones than editing images on a computer.
> My humble recommendations:
> 	Spend your money on a good, highest (that u can afford) 
> Mega Pixel camera,
> 	A better lens (unless you're going microscope),( note 
> on lenses, the
> Canon MP-E 65mm Macro 5:1 is 		an incredible lens for 
> SUPER macro
> work, but pricy at $800, BEST I've ever used.)
> 	Make a good, sharp, well exposed, color balanced image 
> and you'll be in GREAT shape.
> 	Do look at Alex's images to see what he does with 
> light, the KEY to ANY Great Photo.
> 
> 
> Michael
> Colella Photography
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
> [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of 
> Axel Emmermann
> Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 3:52 AM
> To: 'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem 
> collectors'
> Subject: RE: [Rockhounds] Software for photo processing
> 
> Thank you Kitty, but I'm a mediocre photographer at best. 
> There a far better amateurs out there.
> What you see on the "lightplay" website are some of my "early 
> attempts".
> Nothing digital, straight to slides and scanned with an Epson 
> 200 film scanner.
> Slides means take 'm right the first time or toss 'm. No room 
> for error.
> 
> My tricks all come out of this book: Photographing Minerals, 
> Fossils, Lapidary Materials - Jeffrey Scovil.
> That will do more for your results than a month of intensive 
> photoshopping.
> ;-)))
> And I still make lousy pictures from time to time... And I 
> throw them away...
> 
> Axel
> 
> > -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> > Van: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
> > [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] Namens Kitty & Bill 
> > Heacox
> > Verzonden: vrijdag 1 februari 2008 0:13
> > Aan: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem 
> > collectors
> > Onderwerp: RE: [Rockhounds] Software for photo processing
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I rather doubt that you need much of a course in photography, Axel. 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > List, take a look at Axel's own work at the following websites:
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > http://users.pandora.be/axel.emmerman/home/lightpla.htm
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > http://www.uvminerals.org/photog.htm
> > 
> > 
> > Aloha, Kitty
> > 
> > 
> > At 12:55 PM 1/31/2008, you wrote:
> > 
> > <snip> I 'd need better
> > lenses, better
> > 
> > camera, or a course in photography.  ;-))) The latter is 
> probably true 
> > anyway...
> > 
> > 
> > Axel
> > 
> > 
> > 
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