A Walk in the Woods: A photographic approach
This image was shot with the Sigma DP2 and processed with Luminar Neo photo processing software.
Point-and-shoots find their place in the woodlands
Part three of a series
It started as a small project to get some serious exercise, experience the spring woodland in all its glory, and test a few of my favourite point-and-shoot cameras.
It quickly grew into a little bit of a passion, some might say even an obsession.
Before long, I found myself hiking the woodlands around our home several times a week exploring the many paths – big and small, some nothing more than a deer path – that meander through the Conservation lands and lead me to new areas for exploration.
Now, my “Walk in the Woods” project to document this fabulous woodlot I had been ignoring for far too long, has become more of a labour of love than anything that resembles work in any form.
The project combines two passions in my life – woodland/native gardening and photography.
What more can you ask for in life?
How about an outlet for my love of everything photography. Inspired by the works of Canadian photographer Freeman Patterson and his suggestion to embrace projects in your photographic endeavours, I set out to document the spring woodlands.
More posts from the Walk-in-the-Woods series.
• Native plants in the Woodlands
• Walk in the woods photo gallery
I didn’t want to carry in all my heavy equipment, so I opted for lightweight, but higher-end, enthusiast point-and-shoot cameras which I had collected over the years, mostly for the price of a couple cups of good coffee and a donut.
Part of my plan was to show readers of this website how simple, inexpensive enthusiast cameras are more than capable of creating good, maybe even very good images. And, always hoping that a few of the images would more than meet my expectations and enter the realm of excellence. I’m not sure I’ve reached that level, but I’m more than happy with many of the images to date and many more to come.
I’m more than happy with the whole experience and the lessons I’ve learned about woodland gardening from the master herself, Mother Nature.
Point-and-Shoots are not perfect
I’m not kidding myself here. I know that point-and-shoot cameras – even the better ones – have inherent problems with them.
Not the least is the fact they have difficulties achieving soft, out-of focus backgrounds. Their small sensors and minimum aperture openings can be seen as both a pro and con, but mostly influence the images in a negative way.
Photographers looking to achieve beautiful bokeh, for example, either have to work extremely hard to achieve it or simply give up trying.
Well, that’s not entirely true any longer. Today’s post-processing software has changed all that, providing you know how to take advantage of these features.
In addition to trying to get the most out of these enthusiast cameras, part of my challenge was to also show how proper post processing of these images can take them to higher levels than ever expected, especially with modern post processing, including Ai or artificial-intelligence-based applications, including Luminar Neo. But more on that later.
The cameras of choice
I’m going to narrow this review down to four of my favourite, inexpensive, enthusiast point-and-shoots. Here’s a quick look at my cameras of choice.
Lumix DMC-ZS8
• The Lumix DMC-ZS8 travel camera with its 16X, 24-384mm (35mm equivalent) Leica lens that packs a lot of power in its sweet 14.1 megapixel CCD sensor. It’s tiny and very pocketable, but has the heft of a well-made, high-quality camera. Add to these specs, a 3.0-inch LCD display with 230,000 dot resolution.
Lumix DMC-ZS8: CCD sensor.
I got this sweet little package for the ridiculously low price of $10 Canadian, so how could I go wrong? When I went to pick it up, I expected to receive a beat-up old camera that barely worked. What I got was an almost mint CCD-sensored camera with a quality build that left me more than impressed.
I actually managed to capture two of my favourite images of all time driving home from picking up the camera from a distant town. Looking for more information, check out my review here or another one here.
• Then, I added another real gem – the Pentax WG-2 underwater, go-anywhere adventure camera. Again, an on-line marketplace purchase I could not resist.
Pentax WG-2 adventure camera.
My plan was to use the camera to photograph the beautiful clear stream that meandered through the woodland from above and below the water. In fact, I wanted to drop the camera in the stream to get underwater images impossible with any normal camera without underwater housings. Let’s just say my plan is working, but I need to experiment more to get the results I know are possible.
The camera sports 16 megapixels with an aggressive, military-looking armour design that begs to be abused. I’m doing my best, but it still looks like new.
One of the features I find fascinating is its unique macro and digital Microscope modes that feature lights around the lens that light up very, very close subjects in super-macro mode. There is too much packed into this camera to get too deep into it here, but suffice to say that it comes with a 5X Pentax lens that provides a 28mm to 140 (35mm equivalent) internal optical zoom. For a detailed review go here.
• Next is maybe the piece-de-resistance of my compact point and shoots – the Sigma DP2 complete with a micro 4/3-sized Foveon sensor. If this means nothing to you, no worries. Just know that very few cameras in this class compare with the quality obtainable with this incredibly frustrating camera.
Sigma DP-2: Foveon sensor.
Frustrating for so many reasons: A fixed 42mm equivalent lens that is neither wide angle nor telephoto, a writing speed that is slow enough to take a nap waiting for it to complete the process, weird noises on start-up and focusing, and autofocus that leaves something to be desired.
I have not even mentioned the fact that you basically need special Sigma software to properly process the RAW files from the camera. But, when it all comes together, the results can be magic. (More on this later.)
• Finally, there is the 10 megapixel Lumix LX7 workhorse of a camera that continues to impress me in so many ways every time I pick it up.
The Lumix LX7 is an high-end point and shoot with some old-school touches.
This sweet little Lumix brings a touch of old-school to enthusiast cameras with its manual aperture ring, but its 24-90mm equivalent fast Leica f1.8-f8 lens is what makes this one special.
It’s got 70 megapixels built into internal memory. It can take an optional EVF and shoots RAW with the best of them. The LX7 is just one in a line of excellent Lumix LX-series cameras.
For more on the camera and Lumix’s LX series of cameras, check out my full review here.
Can these point-and-shoots deliver?
Okay enough about the tools, let’s take a look at the results.
A couple of images from each camera will help give you an idea of their capabilities and I’ll touch on their shortcomings.
Be sure to check out my “Walk in the Woods” photogallery for many more images made with these cameras.
The Lumix DMC-ZS8 was the first camera I chose for the project. I used it to document the early spring before most of the foliage from the trees and flowers had emerged, so the images can be a little stark.
The Lumix ZS-8 is a pocketable gem
Skunk cabbage emerges from wet areas in the woodlands. The The Lumix ZS-8 was able to capture the lovely muted colours in the scene as well as show off its solid close-focusing ability.
The Lumix ZS-8 was able to capture the fine details in the forest floor of a lovely pine forest. In early spring before the foliage has emerged, it’s important to explore the details the woodland offers us.
My first butterfly of the spring, captured on the Lumix DMC ZS-8, handheld at ISO 100 at 250th/second, at f6.3.
This photos was made more as a documentary image showing the work of woodpeckers on dead and dying trees. I liked the soft muted tones, the story the holes in the tree trunk tell viewers about nature and the search for food as well as the importance of leaving dead trees standing whenever possible. This is also an example of how modern technology can benefit a typical point-and-shoot camera. In the original image, the background trees were all very much in focus, but by using Lightroom’s blur/depth of field module, I was able to soften the distracting background and focus on the main subject. Too much depth of field is a problem with small-sensored cameras. This module can save many pictures that would otherwise be lost by distracting, busy backgrounds.
The Pentax WG2
I had never owned an all-weather camera prior to purchasing the Pentax Optio WG-2. (Most camera makers have one including the Olympus Tough series and Nikon) Frankly, I didn’t expect much from the camera considering its small sensor, many features and the low price I was able to purchase it for.
Boy was I surprised. Although, in landscape mode, the images seem to have a very warm cast, it’s nothing that can’t be adjusted in any photo editing package. I have only had the camera for a short time, but have managed to capture some of my favourite images with it.
The Petax WG2 all-weather, indestructible camera captured this scene of a stream while being half submerged in the water. That’s not something you would do with any other camera without a waterproof housing. The results can be hit and miss but the possibilities are limitless. Fish in the stream, a frog half in and out of the water, waterlilies photographed from underneath the water looking up onto the flowers. Although these cameras are often advertised as “beach and vacation” cameras, they certainly have a place in any nature or garden photographer’s arsenal.
Some flowers’ shapes beg to be photographed from above. I thought these two dog-tooth violet flowers and mottled leaves benefit from a top-down approach. The image was given a mystical effect in post processing using Luminar Neo’s outstanding editing opportunities.
The scene appeared almost out of nowhere as I walked along a path through the early-morning mist. Marsh Marigolds as far as the eye can see were captured by the Pentax WG2’s wide angle lens at 5mm (28mm). And, if this does not impress you, check out the image below shot with the camera’s extreme macro-capable lens and built-in ring light.
An example of the “macro” capabilities of the WG2 camera that features a built-in ring light type of flash for extreme closeups like this marsh Marigold bloom.
Sigma DP2 a special camera and sensor
If you are unfamiliar with the unique features of Sigma’s Foveon-based-sensor cameras and, you are not alone. Suffice it to say that the cameras (and there are more than a few)would never sell except that they offer the possibility of incredible results that are difficult to obtain on other cameras in their class. I would say impossible, but I know there are too many naysayers out there to debate. Needless to say, the results can be incredibly good, but getting there is not easy. Let’s say it’s a camera for the very dedicated among us.
Although the RAW image out of the camera was perfectly good, I did explore the full capabilities of Luminar Neo photo processing software to bring out the most in this image. The result of this hand-held image is one that I am particularly happy with, especially the fine detail that Sigma’s Foveon sensor is known to capture.
The fine detail that the Sigma sensor is able to capture is evident in this image. The background was blurred using Lightroom’s outstanding lens blur tool to focus more on the trillium.
Skunk cabbage takes centre stage in this early spring woodland image with the Sigma DP2. The moss-covered fallen tree proved to be inspiration to create a similar effect in my woodland garden.
A fallen spruce tree and small waterfalls shot hand held with the Sima DP2. I particularly like the water captured at a slow enough shutter speed to show detail while, at the same time, showing the motion of the water.
The Lumix LX7: A gem in the world of point-and-shoots
I may have saved the best for last. Maybe not the best images, but the best all-round camera. The Lumix LX series of cameras are known for their ease of use and outstanding results all wrapped into a camera that exploits our desire for a little retro in our lives.
In my case, a working aperture ring on the lens where us old-school photographers remember it. It’s all just a nice little package that works. I have only had the LX7 out in the woods once or twice but came away with some of my favourite woodland images.
Fern in late afternoon sun beam is a favourite of mine. I love how the low sun kisses the fern and lights it up against the dark background of a fallen tree and barely visible pathway. The image required a two-stop under exposure to get the proper exposure on the fern while letting the background go dark. The fact that there is still detail in the background gives the image an air of mystery and guides you down darkened path. Unless you are shooting in complete manual exposure, taking advantage of the plus- and minus-compensation feature on cameras is necessary to capture images with strong sunlight and dark shadows.
This image of wild strawberry flowers caught my eye along the path. It’s simple, but the vivid greens and textured leaves play nicely against the white flowers.
The Lumix LX7 was able to catch this ray of sunshine on a group of Forget-Me-Nots along the path. Again, I needed to underexpose by several stops so that the flowers were not blown out. Simply following the meter in the camera would have made the highlights to bright and probably make them unrecoverable. Shooting in the RAW format provides the photographer with more latitude in these situations.
The close-focusing capabilities of the Panasonic LX7, and its pocketable size, make it an ideal choice as an everyday walk-around camera. Here, the elusive Mayapple flower was captured hiding under the leaves of the forest ground cover plant. Although I could have removed the green cast, I thought it was appropriate to leave it to illustrate how the flower grows under the leaf of the Mayapple.
I’m hoping this post convinced you of the value of carrying a simple point-and-shoot camera with you at all times both in the garden as well as when you go for a walk, be it in the woods or just a pleasant walk in the neighbourhood. These camera are incredibly useful. Yes, your smart phone can certainly get the job done in a pinch and I’m guessing you always have it with you, but trust me, in most circumstances the camera will deliver better results.
Of course, the camera involves more work. First you have to learn its features, then transfer the images from the SD card to your computer before you even begin the editing process. Once the post processing is completed, you’ll have to save it and then post it to your favourite social media platform.
Sounds like a lot of work. It is. But when done well, it’s incredibly satisfying and rewarding. Take these images and create a book or, at least consider printing some of them.
Explore your creative side with some of the new photo editing software like Luminar Neo, Lightroom and Photoshop just to name a few.
Many of these images were post processed using the Ukraine-based Luminar Neo. I have partnered with the company and can offer readers a 10 per cent discount at checkout with my code “FernsFeathers.” Using the code will not cost you anything, but I get a small amount of money to keep me writing extensive articles like this one.
If you are interested in exploring Luminar Neo further, check out my posts here (Luminar Neo in the woodland garden and nature) and here (Is Luminar Neo the only software I will need) and here (exploring a film camera and Luninar Leo)
Happy shooting.
