Blog - Page 130 of 151 - Craig Rogers Photography

Google Nik Software Collection is now FREE

6th April 20166th April 2016Craig Rogers

In the mid-90s, Nik began making image editing software applications that operate as a plug-in for all the major image editing software applications (Photoshop, Lightroom etc.). The price for the software collection was around $500 (can’t remember what it was in £).

The collection includes the following software (descriptions taken from Wikipedia)

Analog Efex Pro – Applies film-era camera, lens and film simulation to digital images
Color Efex Pro – Package of filters that comes with many effects e.g. HDR effect
Dfine – Noise Reduction
HDR Efex Pro – Specialised program for processing HDR pictures
Sharpener Pro – Image sharpening
Silver Efex Pro – Black & White conversion
Viveza – Colour control with advanced functions to change contrast and saturation

Even thought they are designed as a plug-in, they can be used as a standalone application, but can be a bit quirky. A Google search shows up many guides to using them as a standalone application.

A few years ago, Google bought Nik Software, they dropped the price down to just $150.

However, Google have recently announced that the entire software collection is now free!

Mice at Night in the Garden (Video)

4th April 20169th October 2017Craig Rogers

A while ago I noticed a small hole in the ground at the side of one of the Pond Filters in the garden. I’ve been wondering if anything lives in the hole or not.

So, I put a small amount of Bird Seed near the hole and pointed the Bushnell camera at it and left overnight.

Nothing came out of the hole, I just think it’s where there may have been a void below the filter housing and it’s collapsed in. One of the Mice does take a look down inside though and the Bird Food was very much appreciated.

The footage was captured over 7 hours last night. If you look at the Mice, particularly the little nips out their ears you should be able to count 4 different ones visiting.

{Remember to watch in HD if possible}

Siskin photos from the Garden and a few others

4th April 20169th October 2017Craig Rogers

I noticed the pair of Siskins on a Nyger Seed Feeder on Sunday morning, so I grabbed my D810 and 500mm F/4 and thought I’d try and get close enough not to scare them away. I was surprised at how close they were willing to let me get to them at around 10 metres. Even with the 500mm, I couldn’t get close enough for frame filling shots, but close enough to get some shots. Maybe I should of grabbed a Teleconverter too.

This first shot is the Male followed by the Female and then as both were on the feeder together, I took a shot so that you can see the difference between Male and Female.

{Click image for a higher resolution, click Flickr Link in caption to view photo on Flickr}

Male Siskin - D810, AF-S 500mm f/4 @ 500mm, f/8, ISO1100, 1/500sec - {Flickr Link}

Female Siskin - D810, AF-S 500mm f/4 @ 500mm, f/8, ISO1000, 1/500sec - {Flickr Link}

Pair of Siskins (Female left, Male right) - D810, AF-S 500mm f/4 @ 500mm, f/8, ISO560, 1/500sec - {Flickr Link}

Below are a few more shots that I took on Saturday afternoon in the late afternoon sunlight. The last photo of a Starling had me thinking and I learnt something new. I couldn’t help noticing how bright it’s yellow beak was and remember that the last time I took a photo of a Starling, it’s beak was black. Starling’s beaks (and even legs) change colour in spring (yellow) and autumn (black).

Goldfinch - D810, AF-S 300mm f/2.8 @ 300mm, f/9, ISO200, 1/400sec - {Flickr Link}

Dunnock - D810, AF-S 300mm f/2.8 @ 300mm, f/9, ISO160, 1/500sec - {Flickr Link}

Starling with it's 'Breeding Beak' - D810, AF-S 300mm f/2.8 @ 300mm, f/9, ISO200, 1/500sec - {Flickr Link}

Not the Siskin shot I was after, but it was still good to be close up.

2nd April 20169th October 2017Craig Rogers

The light was great this afternoon, so I put up my popup hide close to one of the feeding areas I have in the garden in the hope that the pair of Siskins would visit. I saw them this morning at another feeding area I have.

The male did turn up, but very briefly and he flew straight to the Nyger Seed Feeder rather than going via one of the many perches I have setup.

I don’t normally take photos of birds on a feeder, but couldn’t resit this one.

{Click image for a higher resolution, click Flickr Link in caption to view photo on Flickr}

Siskin on the Nyger Seed Feeder - D810, AF-S 300mm f/2.8 @ 300mm, f/8, ISO500, 1/500sec - {Flickr Link}

Rhino Re-Edit

1st April 20169th October 2017Craig Rogers

Another re-edit from 2011 at Kruger, this time a Black Rhino just how it should be, with a full compliment of face decorations!

We were driving along the track when this guy appeared from nowhere with half a mouthful of food, just enough time to grab a few snaps before he wandered off into the thick bush again.

It’s hard to imagine if this guy still wanders the Kruger landscape as it’s 5 years since this photo was taken. It was in Timbavati area Kruger which at the time was quite safe from poachers, but who knows. Hopefully, he’s still strolling around munching his way through the vegetation.

{Click image for a higher resolution, click Flickr Link in caption to view photo on Flickr}

Black Rhino - D70s, AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 200mm, f/6.3, ISO400, 1/1000sec - {Flickr Link}

The Goldfinches are having to share their Nyger seed!

29th March 20169th October 2017Craig Rogers

WARNING! Terrible quality photo, look away if you are offended!

This afternoon, I was running a cleaning procedure on my pond pumps which is about 4 metres from one of the bird feeding stations in the garden when I heard a bird call I didn’t recognise.

I look up and there is a pair (Male and Female) of Siskins looking to come down to the Nyger Feeder. It required a bit of a top up, so I grabbed some seed and topped it up. Of course, by now they had flown away, so I went back to the kitchen and waited.

Soon enough they came back to feed. It was raining at the time and as the kitchen window is around 25 metres away from the feeders I grabbed my D7100 (crop sensor for extra reach) and put my 500mm f/4 and 2x Teleconverter on to try and at least get a record shot.

Actually, it’s a terrible photo, but considering it’s a crop sensor at ISO4000 handheld at 1/125second through a window with it raining outside and with a 2x converter, I didn’t expect it to be this good!

Once the weather clears over the next few days, I’ll get out there in the hide and hopefully get a few snaps.

It’s the first time I’ve seen Siskins in the garden so pretty happy that more and more birds are visiting.