Shooting for Digital PSPA/PMA09

Here is the Power-point presented at the PSPA/PMA09 seminar inLasVegas convention center on March 3rd 09.
And just as a reminder 3TWSAKAL: QQD  means: 3 things we should all know about light : Quality-Quantity-Dispersion

Photoshop world in Orlando

I will be at PhotoshopWorld in Orlando April 2-3-4. I will be giving a hand to my friends Jim DiVitale, Helen Glassman, Frank Chriccio and Joe Glyda. In each of these classes we will have raffle of some PhotoMasterTarget as well as in Kevin Ame’s, Pete Bauer and Shawn King workshops.
Photoshopworld is a truly amazing [...]

Why do I get only three peaks on my histogram?

One regular question about the color balance coach target is: why do I get only trree peaks on my histogram?
as you can see on the left side of the hand-drawn graphics that the target is used facing the camera instead of facing the light. When you do so the difference of the light from [...]

FAQ PhotoMasterTarget/ColorBalanceCoach: Do I use the exposure info (F-stop and shutter speed) taken from the grey surface or the exposure info taken from the whole disc including the white and black colors ?

The exposure info that you will have when aiming at the target whole or grey patch, will be used as a starting point to set the final exposure using the 4 patches and representation on the histogram. The 4 peaks pattern on the histogram ill be the confirmation of proper exposure.
Once your histogram is perfect, [...]

FAQ PhotoMasterTarget/ColorBalanceCoach: When I take the picture of the grey surface, should I leave my WB settings to AWB to take the picture for use in setting custom WB ?

For Canon, Nikon and other brands, it does not make any difference the mode that you are in when you take the image you will use for setting the white balance. As a second step the camera will white balance the surface or the image that you have chosen to perform the custon WB.

The FAQ [...]

FAQ PhotoMasterTarget/ColorBalanceCoach: My camera has trouble focusing on the grey surface to get a picture for setting the WB. Would an out-of-focus picture acceptable ?

Many cameras have that limitation of focussing before exposure. When you walk in to fill the screen with the target, it may be impossible to focus. There is no problem as long as you are not casting a shadow on the target. So sharp or out of focus target will be as usefull to set [...]

The ColorBalanceCoach in the figure study

In difficult situation like this one, the ColorBalanceCoach target played a key role.
I wanted a light rolling on top of my nude model’s stomach. I needed to calculate exactly the light passing horizontal al the model’s point. By putting the ColorBalanceCoach target flat on the floor I was able to preform the necessary readings, and [...]

How to read the photographic histogram?

How to read the photographic histogram?
watch this video to learn about the histogram.

Official launch ColorBalanceCoach

(TEXTE FRANCAIS À LA SUITE DU TEXTE ANGLAIS)

Montreal Photographer Turns Inventor
Making Digital Photography Color-Perfect at the First ShotMontreal, Wednesday, September 27, 2006- This week Montreal Photographer Jean-François O’Kane will introduce in a world premiere, a new colour balancing system for digital photography that he invented and perfected himself at the Photokina international fair in Cologne, [...]

The Color Balance Coach target instructions

Easy to follow video instruction have just been published on the ColorBalanceCoach web site click here to watch. Do not hesitate to contact Customer service for any info. cbc@colorbalancecoach.com
Jean-Francois O’Kane
The Color Balance Coach