Photophys.com: The Science of Photography

Introductory tutorial on High-Dynamic Range Imaging

Comments[0] 08:23PM Jul 13, 2010 by Charles in General

I recently prepared a very brief tutorial on HDRI for the Carolinas' Nature Photographers Association (CNPA) newsletter.This tutorial is not a how-to guide, but rather it attempts to explain what HDR is all about.  It can be accessed here:  HDRI Tutorial (316KB)

Corrections for "Science for the Curious Photographer"

Comments[0] 09:39PM Jul 12, 2010 by Charles in General

I have found a few typos and other minor errors in SCP.  A list of corrections can be found here.  I will update this page when necessary.

Also, some of the photographs are much more effective at a larger size.  The complete set of high-resolution photographs can be seen in this slide show.  They are available on Flickr.

Please report any problems with these links as well as any other suspected errors.

My Author's Page on Amazon.com

Comments[0] 09:04PM Jul 12, 2010 by Charles in General

I understand that from point on my entries on this Blog, Photophys.com, will also appear on my page at Amazon.  When I am sure that is up and running, I will re-post the link to corrections for "Science for the Curious Photographer."

"Science for the Curious Photographer" is now available

Comments[0] 09:42AM Jul 07, 2010 by Charles in General

As of this morning, SCP is in stock at Amazon.com. Please tell your friends!

Here's the link to SCP on Amazon.com.

Corrections for SCP, Set 1

Comments[0] 04:17PM Jul 02, 2010 by Charles in General

"Science for the Curious Photographer" is now becoming available, and I am listing here the errors/typos that I have noticed.  The list is very short and mainly has to do with font conversions in symbols and equations.  The publisher was able to handle Microsoft Word text, but the characters and equations from MathType presented some problems.  Click here to read the pdf corrections page.  Also, I repeat from an earlier post that the photographs at high-resolution can be found here.

An introductory tutorial on the principles of color management

Comments[0] 10:34PM Jul 01, 2010 by Charles in General

Serious photographers now have great tools for making sure that their images have the same appearance on a monitor, a print, or when projected. However, effective color management requires some planning and some effort. I have put together a brief tutorial on color management (calibrating, profiling, etc.) for my own education and hopefully to help others. This is not so much a "how to" guide as an introduction of the principles of color management. If you are interested in this topic, please take a look:

Tutorial on color management (120kb)

Enlarged photographs from SCP

Comments[0] 12:13PM Jul 01, 2010 by Charles in General

The book SCP is now available from several sources.  Some of the photographs are more effective when enlarged, so I am making available high resolution copies here.

Please report any difficulties you have with this link.

A good experience with the Sigma 105mm macro lens

Comments[0] 12:19PM May 18, 2010 by Charles in Lenses

I have been a happy user of Sigma lenses (Canon mount) for several years.  I currently have the following Sigma lenses: 105mm macro, 150mm macro, 15mm fisheye, and 10mm fisheye.  The 105mm lens is compact and light, and I tend to take it on travels instead of the 150mm lens.[Read More]

More publication news. I have an advanced copy of SCP!

Comments[0] 12:05PM May 13, 2010 by Charles in General

Just this week I received a copy of SCP.  It looks good, and I hope it is available soon on Amazon and elsewhere.  The pages are 8"x10" with a two column format, and the figures and illustrations are in full color.  You can see sample pages on Amazon.com.

I am sure some errors will be found.  I plan to make a list and post it here.  Please send me your comments and any errors you find.

Bosque del Apache 2010

Comments[0] 12:17PM Feb 27, 2010 by Charles in General

My wife and I visited Bosque del Apache in late January and were there for the full moon. Reports online had indicated that the bird count in 2009/2010 was low and that some of the magic was gone. This was my first trip so I couldn't compare directly with other years; however, we had a great time with many photo opportunities. I show the bird count here.[Read More]

Publication News

Comments[0] 10:16AM Feb 26, 2010 by Charles in General

SCP now appears on the AKPeters site at:

http://www.akpeters.com/product.asp?ProdCode=5817

I have not seen the final page layout taking into account my recommendations, but I expect the book to be a very nice product.  I understand it will be available in quantity sometime in May.  Also, I do not know what the final "street" price through distributors like Amazon will be.

eBook SCP is no longer for sale online

Comments[0] 07:17PM Nov 26, 2009 by Charles in General

The book "Science for the Curious Photographer" is being prepared for publication by A K Peter, Ltd.  It will not be sold through this site until it is available in book form.  A K Peters also has rights for electronic distribution.  There are no immediate plans for another ebook version.

The type edited book has changes in the arrangement of notes and references and some minor changes in wording, but there has been no significant change in content.

The eBook SCP is for sale again

Comments[0] 05:10PM Oct 12, 2009 by Charles in General

I am happy to report that the eBook, Science for the Curious Photographer, is for sale again. Figure numbering errors have been corrected, and there are a few other minor changes. This is a temporary offering because A K Peters, Ltd. now has exclusive publication rights. Sales on this site will end when the book is published.

Please report any suspected errors in the eBook or the published excerpts.

Mount Desert Island, ME/ Grand Manan Island, NB, August Photoshoot

Comments[0] 05:58PM Sep 20, 2009 by Charles in General

I just posted a sample of my photographs from Mount Desert Island/Acadia and Grand Manan Island here.  I believe the Bay of Fundy is one of the best places to see a variety of whales.  Also, from my experience Cadillac Mountain in Acadia N.P. is unequaled for sunrise photography.  It may also be the first place the rising sun is visible in the United States each day.  My sunrise and sunset photos are usually taken in the HDR mode and processed in Photomatix (Lightroom plugin).  However, the subtle shades of the dawn and predawn sky are often not captured well in the tone mapped image.  I sometimes resort to a single well exposed image.

E-Book off-line

Comments[0] 08:55AM Sep 13, 2009 by Charles in General

The e-book "Science for the Curious Photographer" is temporarily off-line.  I am sorry for the inconvenience.