Original

I will not post much until next release of SPP5 is out. It’s just an amazing amount of work to get anything right and out without looking too off from your original idea. But please enjoy this small selection.

All images taken using the Sigma SD1 + 18-50 2.8 macro.

Original

Original

Original (look closer)

Original

Original

Original

Original

Original

I was talking to Bengt Werner today, a former Nikon user who switched to Sigma for his landscape photography. And we tried to put our finger on why we love the way Sigma images look and what it is that makes them different. It’s always been debated and I often stayed outside those discussions as it’s not been “my thing”. But today I will give you a list the top reasons why I love the way Sigma / Foveon images look and why you should be interested in the new Sigma SD1. :)

1. Nuances! With a three layer sensor you get even the tiniest shifts of colors.

2. Density! And this is what some people refere to as “3D”. Everything feels more massive, more dense, more slide photo. Often seen in images shot at very low ISO often at 50-100. This is also why Bokeh is rendered so beautifully with a foveon sensor!

3. Micro contrast! Due to the design of the sensor you capture everything. That includes dust and scratches which makes the picture seam more real and true. Sometimes annoying as you don’t really want that in some situations (beauty photography or jewelry photography).

4. True sharpness! This is one of the biggest reasons to go Sigma for many – and the trueness of it is seen when resized big, with only 4.6MP’s to go it’s a bit strange that images looks so good at larger sizes – it still looks crisp and clear and never really brakes. It resized in a similar manner as film.. (if you use a really good scanner that is). Jaggies can sometimes be a problem but not often.

5. Dynamic Range! Bengt has often received the question if he uses HDR for his photography – He never does but the amount of useful range between black and white in Sigma raw feels very wide. I never measured in comparisons to others, but I often felt let down by other sensors in this regard.

The Sigma SD15 has slightly less dynamic range (or at least highlights) than SD14. Same with DP1 compared to DP1x. SD15 and DP1x on the other hand has cleaner colors.

(6). Very little post production needed! Often it’s just open in SPP and then publish.

And now, some images from TODAY! All shot using the Sigma 50-500 OS. A bit crazy but it’s actually really useful and the glass quality is amazing! Such clarity!

Above images of the kingfisher was shot with the same lens on approximately the same distance. The second one being zoomed in at the maximum 500mm the first at 167mm.

Should be seen at 100%.. See it now!

Developed using Sigma Photo Pro and post processed using LR3 and PS in some cases. There is only one bird not two. The single bird is heavily cropped.

All images available at it’s maximum size over at my spring 2011 set.

Click image to download – I included some shots from around home as well as a christmas gift from me to you. Now, DP1x has support from Sigma photo pro as well as the latest Lightroom 3.3 and also Raw Developer 1.8.11 – Silkypix? Please try and let me know! <b>Pack is 140MB</b>

Linn bought an ipad and i just needed to edit some so this post is completely edited using wordpress for ipad. :)

Did a shoot earlier today and wanted to share a few of those shots. The three first shots using the Sigma 10-20mm lens and the last (fourth) one using the new 17-50 OS with Sigma 530 Super on a tripod. The tree below using the Elinchrom quadra.. Will not give you original sized shots as they’re meant for a customer. The three first (or all) images also had polarizer attached which made the sky absolutely stunning and they’re all processed using Sigma Photo Pro 4.2 using the neutral color mode and then edited slightly in Lightroom to enhance contrast some. I can’t tell you how much I love the 10-20mm. :)

Above photo is shot using the new Sigma 17-50mm OS and the SD15 at iso100 – didn’t use the polarizer on this shot – or maybe I did, too bad exif doesn’t say that type of info. :) The Sigma 530 DG Super used on a tripod a few meters away “naked” – no added accessories on it like soft box or umbrella.

Here’s a short wrap up on how far I’ve come to date. I now actively use my home built opal plastic tube thingi that some of you have seen and I want to thank Ted who gave me the idea (the round shape that was). Also a big thanks’ to all of you that gave suggestions and comments in my “HELP ME” post – for you that missed it, please visit and read. Great comments!

On the right is my original sketch of how I thought the opal stuff could be used and my setup right now more or less looks the same, although I only use three light sources – One from beneath as the picture show and one from the left and the big soft box from right, tilted 45 degrees. So it’s not exactly as the sketch but very close.

Here is the video I made that shows how I built the box.

And yes, it’s very irritating that the video size came up wrong – Mom looks fat! :D I tried to use the built in uploader within ScreenFlow – but as you see it doesn’t cope well with my wide screen iMac. I better export using x264 in the future as well.

I also try to eliminate the need to paint those rings – and by painting I mean using the curve tool and then paint in Photoshop using the brush – which you need to do if you have bad reflections – and with this setup I more or less eliminated any unwanted, unfriendly reflection. The thing that looks like a light source is actually a white paper thing that I put inside to give a shape. (Clive). I’m still experimenting.

In order to make it look as goldish as possible I needed to see gold because these rings are all made out of different materials – and has slightly different tones of metal color – kind of goldish but often not so I have to work on each to make them look kind of the same. Although I do feel that I over did it some on these below. I used this shot / illustration as gold model.

All images developed and edited using Photoshop Lightroom 3 and Photoshop. No painting this time – I might do that with the final thing but I’ll try to avoid it as much as possible. ISO100 used. Might change back to ISO50 as it’s MUCH denser to work with.

I have some left to do, but something tells me that the hardest part is behind me now.

Here’s a second movie about the set in action. :)

Now I moved so much away from my initial setup that I feel that I will show you a picture or two of what my current setup actually looks like. Woohoo! I will post some in the comments section.  The above shot is slightly cleaned up – the gold surface was slightly scratched and some dents so I repainted the middle reflection and the bottom left - but other than that it’s the original photo – I’m now very satisfied with how reflections works – and if I change ring reflections still look beautiful. I must say that the pure IQ that the Sigma SD15 gives is extremely high. I’ve been looking at other photographers works with jewelry and once you go closer it just doesn’t look good. This shot is available in full size as well. A bit too full really. :)

This time I didn’t use anything else than LR3 and PS5. The only thing left now is to continue with OOF – and see where I should stop before text is readable. This shot is ISO50, 105mm, f11, 1/160s.

(Strobist info: Behind blue pillow is a gridded speed light. High left slightly infront of girl is a naked flash shooting at low power directly at subject). Camera: Sigma DP1 @ ISO400.

I couldn’t resist playing some today using my Sigma 530 flash – I brought with me a cheap transmitter from China as well that works pretty well, although not as smart as the one I have already from Elinchrom (Skyport). The Chinese version flashes as many times as it can until shutter is closed – so shooting indoors with low shutterspeeds and using the super fast Sigma gun, you will most likely get a strobe effect – lots of flashes in a short session. Nice if subject is STILL! People hardly ever is.  Skyport never does this – it sends ONE signal not a continues flow. The Chinese version is a 10th of the price of the skyport.

Using the Sigma DP1′s fantastic ability to make colors is a sport in it self! Little sister holding the Sigma 530 and myself holding the second gun. Super simple setup. Without light this picture is totally dead. Camera, the Dp1 stands by itself on my Benro 91M8 tripodded monopod. Used in all shots above. :D

Playing indoors using the same two guns as in above shots. Myself being the tripod for the second gun. Not a perfect shot but still fun. :) (And yes, she was tired. :D)

Being outdoors a dull day as today isn’t always fun – incase you don’t have my gear! Then it’s FUN! One speed light (Sigma 530) with the grid, the tripodded monopod and a 2s delay. hmm.. perhaps it was 10s.

All shots edited using Sigma Photo Pro and uploaded using LR3.

Those fire shots from a couple of days ago made me wanna try SPP 3.3 again and I realize that I should try it much more in the future. Above shots are developed using SPP33 too even though I’m not sure it would differ that much from SPP4.1..

It’s also interesting to note that it’s the same light – well, more or less the same exposure too just a few minutes apart but I played differently with white balance in SPP. Which do you prefer?

Lots of new shots taken mostly with DP2 at my China 2010 set at flickr.

Sigma SD14, 120-300 @ 2.8  1/500  ISO50 (hand held)

The 120-300 is a classy lens, here I’m trying hard (especially the second shot) to shoot it against the 50-500 and I might add it was a bit tricky as the wind was blowing and I could feel how much movement I was making. Now, these shots are both ISO50 and both wide open at 2,8! Quite a bit faster than the 50-500 can do. Also, colors came out quite different compared to the 50-500 shot. Now, I used two different SD14s and they have a little bit different coloristic, and I’m not sure how much is down to the lens, camera or work in SPP.

But take a peak at the portrait version – (below) and enjoy that bokeh which I think is amazing! The shot itself isn’t that sharp but it’s hand held and 1/125s on  a long zoom, so I forgive myself.  Lots of talk about bokeh lately, but also light has finally come to Sweden and – that makes me happy! :) – Bengt assisted me with the reflector. (golden from the right)

Sigma SD14, 120-300 @ 2.8  1/125  ISO50 (hand held)

I really do enjoy the Stabilizer, I feel like I could take those impossible shots such as this one. :)  Camera used: SD14, at ISO200. Lens set at f7.1 and a shutter speed of 1/60s. Pretty amazing really. No extra sharpness added. Full size available as well.

And when I think about it, this lens has such incredible bokeh and really really nice color characteristics and also a very functional OS  and it’s a SUPER ZOOM! 10x!!

And thanks Bengt for assisting me with the reflector! :)

Other posts on the 50-500 OS
http://www.rytterfalk.com/category/lens/50-500os/

And at a full 500mm:

Below: And some more from the dog session, this time playing with F16 1/100s compared with F7,1 1/500s. Handheld of course. And you might notice a slight back focus which I think I need to correct when possible. Will wait for the SD15 before I do something though. Still, it’s not clear as I don’t see the ground below the dog. grrr. And if you look at the shot above, which is a full 500mm and perfectly in focus. hmm.. Perhaps it’s only visible on longer distances? Or perhaps it’s me? likely.

And another one at the full 500mm. Not bad.

All images available as full resolution here.

Was caught on tape yesterday from my balcony. 50-500 OS using continues AF.

I almost forgot that I had the 70-200, and I decided to take it for a spin with my students - equipped with both the new 50-500 and the 70-200 we had an outdoor, long zoom, reflector class. Sun was setting and because I didn’t have any yellow toned filter / gel for my Quadra I used a circular golden reflector instead.

Original size

I was really amazed with how snappy my old 70-200 was and how precise it hit the eye – shot after shot after shot! I did calibrate it more than half a year ago and didn’t really use it since then (dark winter) but now I realize how well I did, and how friendly it have become! I didn’t remember the bokeh to be this beautiful! It’s really awesome!

Original size. Above shot might have been taken by Niklas, I don’t remember this to be my framing.

The above girl is one of my students, her name is Elke Knorr and she took the picture below of me. I was also surpriced to find that all her shots were all in focus as well. I will definitely use this lens more!. :) Perhaps I should make a 120-300 vs 70-200 thingi..

Also notice the light. Sun comes in from the left and a golden reflector from the right.

Niklas, here enjoying the 50-500. No reflector.

And this one shot by Martina. Look at those colors!

Click me and see what happens! :D

Oh, and yes. This is me with the 50-500. Look at that sweet bokeh – and those colors all came out so nice. And this is the old 70-200 2.8EX, (not the oldest oldest) without any macro – so it’s a bit irritating to have to go back in order to focus. I think 1.5m is the closest.

No extra sharpening on these images. Some PS levels but that’s more or less it. All shots at f3.5. SPP4. You can find them all as full size, plus some more here!

Went to the famous Hornborgarsjön today, it’s famous because every year tens of thousands of Common Cranes come here to play and so do tourists. And me. The lake is located about 100km from where I live so it’s a bit stupid that I don’t go there more often. It’s such a nice place for the 100-300 to play. Perhaps the SD15 plus 50-500 OS would be even better?

I made them BW because it’s so nice, colors looks perfectly ok too but.. and these are all SPP 4, which actually, believe it or not makes pretty nice BW’s from ISO400 and below. (not above). I had to underexpose some in order to get  decent speed, light was so so.. So BW’s the way to go. Might show you color version another time.

Oh, and do you know what’s so cute about these birds? Once they found their mate, they stick together! :)

Above: Cropped image.

Another way to crop the above shot. :)

Please enjoy the bigger version. Click to get it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc63rO-MuRA