stage performances-just how?

Last night I went to a concert. It was a dancing performance. Stage light seemed ok, fairly bright and stable, the closest dancers some 10 meters away from me (that would be a little over 30 feet I guess).

I've taken 80 shots from which maybe 5 are acceptable. Auto focus locked ok, although with max focal length the lens appeared not too bright, allowing me no shorter shutter times than 1/15 - 1/40 sec at ISO 200. Ofcourse, using tripod was out of question and, as a result (long times, long focal length, aperutre wide open), 90% of the photos are blurred with motion of the dancers and/or my hand. Just to add more bitterness, ISO 200 produced visible noise, no matter that I had switched on the NR and auto white balance set WB in a different way in every picture although the lights were exactly the same all the time (couldn't have figured one myself, neither fluorescent nor incandescent looked good to me, so decided to depend upon auto WB which usually works OK but not this time).
So the bottom line. How do you work your 5700 in such conditions?
Thanks for help in advance.
--
Alek

Well, I happened to use my CP-995 in a quite similar situation (street artists performance nightime). You may view a few results here:
http://www.pbase.com/rapick/bw

It was my first attempt - of course most of the pics resulted trash quality - but I think I learned something. See below:

Alek J. said:

Last night I went to a concert. It was a dancing performance. Stage
light seemed ok, fairly bright and stable, the closest dancers some
10 meters away from me (that would be a little over 30 feet I
guess).
I've taken 80 shots from which maybe 5 are acceptable. Auto focus
locked ok, although with max focal length the lens appeared not too
bright, allowing me no shorter shutter times than 1/15 - 1/40 sec
at ISO 200. Ofcourse, using tripod was out of question and, as a
result (long times, long focal length, aperutre wide open), 90% of
the photos are blurred with motion of the dancers and/or my hand.

Click to expand...

Distance is a major issue (I was able to go much nearer, because of the different context). I found the lowest shutter speed for limiting motion blur from camera shake was 1/30 s - then worked in S mode at 1/30 (pics 2 & 3 - I used reduced power flash for the 1st one). However, the above is true keeping the zoom near the W end. I would never go longer focal length than 50 mm. Telephoto will ALWAYS produce unacceptable blur (and produce shallow DOF). Better go to digidarkroom , maybe upsample the image with the best available algorithm (you might try Genuine Fractals) and then crop.

Alek J. said:

Just to add more bitterness, ISO 200 produced visible noise, no
matter that I had switched on the NR

Click to expand...

Well, due to very poor lighting, I had to go to ISO 800! MUCH more noise. Reduced it with Neat Image. Note that I turned original color pics to B&W due to very bad street light color cast. After that I didn't erase noise completly (I like the grainy photo effect in B&W). NOTE: Coolpixes' NR does not work at all with ISO noise: it just help with long exposure noise (a quite different issue).

Alek J. said:

and auto white balance set WB

Click to expand...

White balance preset would have been the best choice. However with some types of artificial lighting (Hg, Sodium, Halogen) there is nothing to do: the problem is emitted wavelength spectrum (missing colors).

Alek J. said:

in a different way in every picture although the lights were
exactly the same all the time (couldn't have figured one myself,
neither fluorescent nor incandescent looked good to me, so decided
to depend upon auto WB which usually works OK but not this time).
So the bottom line. How do you work your 5700 in such conditions?
Thanks for help in advance.
--
Alek

Click to expand...

In these extreme conditions, we can only fight agaist the limitations of our tools and try the way to squeeze the best possible result (and accept that it will be far away from a perfect one!)
I would really appreciate if you can post a few example of your stage pics.
Ciao.
--
Rapick
PBase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/rapick

Because, if you do, there're 2 Noise Reduction actions that you can run that will help reduce noise.

Here are 4 examples, although not of stage performances, which I hope could convince you of the value of shooting at ISO 800:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=5955962

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=5939548

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=5963819

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=5964737

These are of course resized, therefore appearance of noise is reduced. I haven't tried printing at full size, but I guess it should be acceptable too. Proper noise reduction technique can give the appearance of film-like grain for your pics.

If you don't have Photoshop, you might have to use Neat Image.
--
Rgds,
David, C o o l p i x 4 5 0 0
Out-of-the camera, full-sized, unedited pics:
http://www.pbase.com/dlcmh/outofthecamera Fantastic Majeske's 4 5 0 0 gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/ryenke/coolpix_4500
THE post that convinced me to buy the 4 5 0 0:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=3087176

Rapick said:

I would really appreciate if you can post a few example of your
stage pics.

Click to expand...

The best I managed or the worst I screwed up?

--
Alek

PS Thanks for your reply and suggestions.

Alek J. said:

Rapick said:

I would really appreciate if you can post a few example of your
stage pics.

Click to expand...

The best I managed or the worst I screwed up?

Click to expand...

The best ones, of course! I've got plenty of trash night pics of mine own.
Hmm ... would you include EXIF data? Thanks.
--
Rapick
PBase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/rapick

Alek:

Here's a thread I contributed to earlier this year. You may find it helpful.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=4467671

I've been shooting high school theater for about a year and some of the results are here:

http://www.pbase.com/steveg003

Hope this helps.

Steve

Rapick said:

The best ones, of course! I've got plenty of trash night pics of
mine own.

Click to expand...

Well, I'm afraid the best ones are still trash

rapick said:

Hmm ... would you include EXIF data? Thanks.

Click to expand...

OK, here they come. I have resized them from 5 mpix to 1600x1200, apart from that I have done nothing with them. Probably because not much can be done to improve them Everything shot handheld.



Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:19:25
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/232 seconds
FNumber - 3.7000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:19:25
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:19:25
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 27.3000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

This one (above) is pretty much ok, I believe. I haven't gone nuts on the zoom so, however the shutter speed is long, it is not yet so blurry. Also, "Polonez" is a dignified dance and that helped in relative freezing the scene.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:22:42
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/392 seconds
FNumber - 4.1000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:22:42
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:22:42
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 56.7000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

This one (above) would be nice if I had managed to handhold the cam better. My fault then, since the focal distance is not over the top and 1/40 sec seems to suffice for a sharp pic. I enclosed it, however, because I like the scene, the light and shade.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:23:11
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/483 seconds
FNumber - 4.1000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:23:11
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:23:11
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 56.7000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

Not really interesting but fairly sharp hence made the cut.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:23:20
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/877 seconds
FNumber - 4.1000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:23:20
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:23:20
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 56.7000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

Same comments as previously... Note how auto WB is going mad, however trying everything, still never got the colors right.

--
Alek

ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:25:43
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/390 seconds
FNumber - 4.2000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:25:43
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:25:43
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 71.2000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

(Above) My favourite of the handful. Only wish she hadn't stepped the way to make her legs look like X.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:27:33
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/166 seconds
FNumber - 4.2000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:27:33
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:27:33
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 71.2000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

(Above) Fairly sharp but probably thanks to underexposure. But at 1/16 and max zoom I guess I did a good job holding the camera.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:30:16
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/481 seconds
FNumber - 3.9000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:30:16
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:30:16
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 41.1000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

I like the exposure (above). Everything else undenyably sucks.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:39:28
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/207 seconds
FNumber - 3.6000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:39:28
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:39:28
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 23.7000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

The band Fairly sharp, hence my choice.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:39:38
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/661 seconds
FNumber - 3.1000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:39:38
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:39:38
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 14.7000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

Again it proves that I shouldn't have used max focal length... Because when I haven't, it was not that bad after all.

--
Alek

ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:40:17
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/449 seconds
FNumber - 4.2000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:40:17
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:40:17
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 71.2000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

Cool expression He's singing by the way, not death threattennig me But he will if he sees the picture



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:42:19
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/534 seconds
FNumber - 4.0000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:42:19
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:42:19
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 48.5000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

No feet but a semblance of no-blur.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:44:23
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/545 seconds
FNumber - 3.9000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:44:23
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:44:23
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 41.1000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

I love the guy's expression She's spinning nicely too. One of the best of the handful, I would estimate.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:45:19
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/683 seconds
FNumber - 3.9000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:45:19
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:45:19
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 37.7000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

Pretty good except for this weird reddish white balance. My fault, shouldn't have relied on auto WB.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 21:48:36
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/302 seconds
FNumber - 3.7000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 21:48:36
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 21:48:36
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 29.5000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

Would be a nice one except for the bald lad with D1X.

--
Alek

ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 22:17:30
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/598 seconds
FNumber - 4.1000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 400
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 22:17:30
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 22:17:30
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 52.4000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

A bit overexposed.



ImageDescription -
Make - NIKON
Model - E5700
Orientation - 1 (top left)
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - 2 (inch)
Software - E5700v1.0
DateTime - 2003:09:04 22:24:04
YCbCrPositioning - 2 (datum point)
ExifOffset - 284
ExposureTime - 10/182 seconds
FNumber - 4.2000
ExposureProgram - 2 (program normal)
ISOSpeedRatings - 100
ExifVersion - 220
DateTimeOriginal - 2003:09:04 22:24:04
DateTimeDigitized - 2003:09:04 22:24:04
ComponentsConfiguration - 1 2 3 (YCbCr)
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 3 (average)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.0000
MaxApertureValue - F 2.83
MeteringMode - 6 (partial)
LightSource - 0 (auto)
Flash - 16
FocalLength - 71.2000 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 100
ColorSpace - 1 (sRGB)
ExifImageWidth - 2560
ExifImageHeight - 1920
InteroperabilityOffset - 1026
FileSource - 3 (digital still camera)
SceneType - 1 (directly photographed)

Maker Note (Vendor): -

Blurred and overexposed but for some misterious reason I like it.

That would be it. Can you comment on these please?

--
Alek

I had a look to your pics, and substantially confirm my advice:

• Stay in WA: Telephoto at slow shutter speed adds camera shake to subject motion, increasing blur
• Try WB preset
• risk going to ISO 800, and remove noise with Neat Image
• Set Shutter Priority, and manage to avoid going under 1/30 s - Is max available aperture and lighting allow, stay at 1/60!

About possible image enhancement through postprocessing, here is the result of a (quick and inaccurate) trial with one of your pics:
crop and horizon adjustment run Neat Image for noise removal
Local Contrast Enhancement (UMS) selective desaturation
Sharpening (UMS) resizing



Not the best possible - just an idea.
Ciao
--
Rapick
PBase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/rapick

Rapick said:

I had a look to your pics, and substantially confirm my advice:

• Stay in WA: Telephoto at slow shutter speed adds camera shake to

subject motion, increasing blur

• Try WB preset
• risk going to ISO 800, and remove noise with Neat Image
• Set Shutter Priority, and manage to avoid going under 1/30 s - Is

max available aperture and lighting allow, stay at 1/60!

Click to expand...

That's now clear to me, they say here "wise Pole after detriment"

rapick said:

About possible image enhancement through postprocessing, here is
the result of a (quick and inaccurate) trial with one of your pics:

Click to expand...

A few questions, if you allow me...

rapick said:

crop and horizon adjustment

Click to expand...

By horizon adjustment you mean adjusting verticals/horizontals?

rapick said:

run Neat Image for noise removal Local Contrast Enhancement (UMS)

Click to expand...

What is UMS?

Thanks a lot! Regards.
--
Alek

Alek J. said:

Alek J. said:

crop and horizon adjustment

Click to expand...

By horizon adjustment you mean adjusting verticals/horizontals?

Click to expand...

I mean (slightly) rotating the image in order to get horizontal lines (in this case the stage rear edge) aligned to the frame (in this case I rotated 1.4 degrees clockwise) - sorry I'm not native English speaking.

Alek J. said:

Alek J. said:

run Neat Image for noise removal Local Contrast Enhancement (UMS)

Click to expand...

What is UMS?

Click to expand...

You find Unsharp Mask (UMS) in Photoshop (any version) under Filter / Contrast. Basically you use it for making contours sharper, or for local contrast enhancement . The trick is setting the three parameters available. In this case I first set (20, 50, 0) for boosting contrast, and then (150, 0.4, 0) for sharpness. You can get better information on this topic searching various relevant threads in these Forums.

Note: I'm still not satisfied cause was not able to correct color rendition.

Alek J. said:

Thanks a lot! Regards.
--
Alek

Click to expand...

Ciao.
--
Rapick
PBase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/rapick

Rapick said:

rapick said:

By horizon adjustment you mean adjusting verticals/horizontals?

Click to expand...

I mean (slightly) rotating the image in order to get horizontal
lines (in this case the stage rear edge) aligned to the frame (in
this case I rotated 1.4 degrees clockwise)

Click to expand...

Yes, that's what I meant.

rapick said:

• sorry I'm not native

English speaking.

Click to expand...

Neither am I.
Your English is great.

rapick said:

rapick said:

rapick said:

run Neat Image for noise removal Local Contrast Enhancement (UMS)

Click to expand...

What is UMS?

Click to expand...

You find Unsharp Mask (UMS) in Photoshop (any version)

Click to expand...

I have seen unsharp mask related to as USM, hence my query.

rapick said:

under Filter
/ Contrast. Basically you use it for making contours sharper, or
for local contrast enhancement . The trick is setting the three
parameters available. In this case I first set (20, 50, 0) for
boosting contrast, and then (150, 0.4, 0) for sharpness. You can
get better information on this topic searching various relevant
threads in these Forums.

Click to expand...

I use the filter too, although I never knew that it could change contrast as well.

rapick said:

Note: I'm still not satisfied cause was not able to correct color
rendition.

Click to expand...

I try to process it with color balance but I do not remember achieving anything close to satisfaction whenever skin colour was concerned.

--
Alek