Get professional ISO picture quality with a normal DSLR.
Image by Werner Kunz
One major reason why you wanna buy a professional full-frame DSLR camera (e.g. Nikon D3) is the fantastic ISO capabilities of theses cameras. ISO settings of 1600 ISO and beyond are not a big problem. But with affordable consumer cameras (e.g. Nikon D90) you discover in dark scenes already significant flaws.
The photo above was done in a very dark church in Porto. I didn’t had a tripod with me, so this shot was usually impossible to do without pushing the ISO setting to its limits. The shot was done with ISO 5000 (!!! means a lot of noise) handhold. Below you see a picture comparison between my final picture and the original ISO 5000 shot. So, how to do this without smoothing it to death?
1. Find the right ... www.werner-kunz.com/world/2011/01/how-to-get-professional...
For the story & technique behind this shot and more, please visit my blog: world.werner-kunz.com
!!! creative commons: Feel free to use photos with credits and links. No commercial use without permission. For commercial use, please contact me on my website and we will find an agreement for the permission!!!
Giant Anthem 29er X3
Image by ex_magician
2011 Giant Anthem 29er X3 Review:
My new ride is a Giant Anthem 29er. It is the X3 so it has the most econo components of the three versions and it was last years model so it was even more econo. This full suspension cross country bike has 29 inch wheels (in lieu of the standard 26 inch wheels) and it is the smoothest ride I have ever experienced.
I am a 52 year old Clydesdale trail rider, with twenty-five years of off road experience, whose days of catching "hospital air" are far behind me. With the XL frame size and the 29 inch wheels this bike simply has the proportions of a gigantic 26er. Finally a bike that fits me perfectly. I am still figuring this out but the rear suspension has two settings - full suspension and a partial lock-out (which I think is supposed to be used while riding the pavement to the actual trail). This bike is designed for and triumphs on technical singletrack; but on smooth trails, like the OC&E Trail pictured above, the ride feels almost like riding on pavement. I normally ride a cross bike (with no suspension) on this trail so the difference is remarkably obvious. On pavement the bike doesn't seem to bob up and down much until I stand up while climbing a hill - then it is sort of annoying. I generally remain seated while climbing off-road, for obvious reasons, so the off road climbing is perfect. And let's face it - on a trail ride in Oregon most of my actual *time* is spent climbing!
The bottom bracket seems a little lower than what I am used to so I find myself clomping my pedals into rocks I have never hit before on long familiar trails - so I will need to get used to that; but a smooth, stable ride is a fast ride. I love it!
I also test rode a Giant Trance 26 X3 - which was also a great ride, and featured a little more range of motion with respect to the suspension. I was all ready to buy the Trance until I tried the Anthem. It is interesting that the Trance has the exact same gearing as the Anthem 29er - given that the Trance has 26" wheels and the Anthem has 29" wheels that means the Trance is essentially geared much lower than the Anthem. Incidentally the gearing on the Anthem seems just right to me.
One thing that will take some getting used to is the handlebars - my old bike (a 2004 {?} Kona King Kikapu) had much narrower handlebars. I've been riding (I think) 23 inch handlebars for the past twenty-five years. The wide handlebars will take a little getting used to - sometimes I feel like I'm riding Pee Wee Herman's bike, and I sometimes find myself moving my hands in a little bit. There is a gate I have to ride through to get from the paved part of the park to the trail section and, previously, I could make it through; but with the wide handlebars I have to stop and lift the bike through. I'm going to keep the handlebars wide for now because I think it may improve handling. I'll just need to get used to them.
I'm old school and prefer bar ends - which evidently are out of style - and might add some. They allow a little more arm power while climbing and allow a wider variety of hand positions for longer rides.
The saddle that came with the Anthem was a small and very lightweight Fi'zi:k Tundra2. It was too small for me. I don't have a big butt, per se, but I am 6' 4" 205 pounds, and I felt I was sliding all over on it - not enough friction - so I quickly switched it for my old Brooks saddle. Being a heavier rider to begin with I don't fret as much about a few extra ounces here and there - especially with respect to something as important to the quality of the ride as the saddle.
Overall I'd give the Giant Anthem 29er X3 my highest recommendation - it suits my size and riding style perfectly. I feel that there are almost certainly better rides available - but for the money this model can not be beat.
Giant Anthem 29er X3 Review
Image by ex_magician
2011 Giant Anthem 29er X3 Review:
My new ride is a Giant Anthem 29er. It is the X3 so it has the most econo components of the three versions and it was last years model so it was even more econo. This full suspension cross country bike has 29 inch wheels (in lieu of the standard 26 inch wheels) and it is the smoothest ride I have ever experienced.
I am a 52 year old Clydesdale trail rider, with twenty-five years of off road experience, whose days of catching "hospital air" are far behind me. With the XL frame size and the 29 inch wheels this bike simply has the proportions of a gigantic 26er. Finally a bike that fits me perfectly. I am still figuring this out but the rear suspension has two settings - full suspension and a partial lock-out (which I think is supposed to be used while riding the pavement to the actual trail). This bike is designed for and triumphs on technical singletrack; but on smooth trails, like the OC&E Trail pictured above, the ride feels almost like riding on pavement. I normally ride a cross bike (with no suspension) on this trail so the difference is remarkably obvious. On pavement the bike doesn't seem to bob up and down much until I stand up while climbing a hill - then it is sort of annoying. I generally remain seated while climbing off-road, for obvious reasons, so the off road climbing is perfect. And let's face it - on a trail ride in Oregon most of my actual *time* is spent climbing!
The bottom bracket seems a little lower than what I am used to so I find myself clomping my pedals into rocks I have never hit before on long familiar trails - so I will need to get used to that; but a smooth, stable ride is a fast ride. I love it!
I also test rode a Giant Trance 26 X3 - which was also a great ride, and featured a little more range of motion with respect to the suspension. I was all ready to buy the Trance until I tried the Anthem. It is interesting that the Trance has the exact same gearing as the Anthem 29er - given that the Trance has 26" wheels and the Anthem has 29" wheels that means the Trance is essentially geared much lower than the Anthem. Incidentally the gearing on the Anthem seems just right to me.
One thing that will take some getting used to is the handlebars - my old bike (a 2004 {?} Kona King Kikapu) had much narrower handlebars. I've been riding (I think) 23 inch handlebars for the past twenty-five years. The wide handlebars will take a little getting used to - sometimes I feel like I'm riding Pee Wee Herman's bike, and I sometimes find myself moving my hands in a little bit. There is a gate I have to ride through to get from the paved part of the park to the trail section and, previously, I could make it through; but with the wide handlebars I have to stop and lift the bike through. I'm going to keep the handlebars wide for now because I think it may improve handling. I'll just need to get used to them.
I'm old school and prefer bar ends - which evidently are out of style - and might add some. They allow a little more arm power while climbing and allow a wider variety of hand positions for longer rides.
The saddle that came with the Anthem was a small and very lightweight Fi'zi:k Tundra2. It was too small for me. I don't have a big butt, per se, but I am 6' 4" 205 pounds, and I felt I was sliding all over on it - not enough friction - so I quickly switched it for my old Brooks saddle. Being a heavier rider to begin with I don't fret as much about a few extra ounces here and there - especially with respect to something as important to the quality of the ride as the saddle.
Overall I'd give the Giant Anthem 29er X3 my highest recommendation - it suits my size and riding style perfectly. I feel that there are almost certainly better rides available - but for the money this model can not be beat.
Giant Anthem 29er X3
Image by ex_magician
2011 Giant Anthem 29er X3 Review:
My new ride is a Giant Anthem 29er. It is the X3 so it has the most econo components of the three versions and it was last years model so it was even more econo. This full suspension cross country bike has 29 inch wheels (in lieu of the standard 26 inch wheels) and it is the smoothest ride I have ever experienced.
I am a 52 year old Clydesdale trail rider, with twenty-five years of off road experience, whose days of catching "hospital air" are far behind me. With the XL frame size and the 29 inch wheels this bike simply has the proportions of a gigantic 26er. Finally a bike that fits me perfectly. I am still figuring this out but the rear suspension has two settings - full suspension and a partial lock-out (which I think is supposed to be used while riding the pavement to the actual trail). This bike is designed for and triumphs on technical singletrack; but on smooth trails, like the OC&E Trail pictured above, the ride feels almost like riding on pavement. I normally ride a cross bike (with no suspension) on this trail so the difference is remarkably obvious. On pavement the bike doesn't seem to bob up and down much until I stand up while climbing a hill - then it is sort of annoying. I generally remain seated while climbing off-road, for obvious reasons, so the off road climbing is perfect. And let's face it - on a trail ride in Oregon most of my actual *time* is spent climbing!
The bottom bracket seems a little lower than what I am used to so I find myself clomping my pedals into rocks I have never hit before on long familiar trails - so I will need to get used to that; but a smooth, stable ride is a fast ride. I love it!
I also test rode a Giant Trance 26 X3 - which was also a great ride, and featured a little more range of motion with respect to the suspension. I was all ready to buy the Trance until I tried the Anthem. It is interesting that the Trance has the exact same gearing as the Anthem 29er - given that the Trance has 26" wheels and the Anthem has 29" wheels that means the Trance is essentially geared much lower than the Anthem. Incidentally the gearing on the Anthem seems just right to me.
One thing that will take some getting used to is the handlebars - my old bike (a 2004 {?} Kona King Kikapu) had much narrower handlebars. I've been riding (I think) 23 inch handlebars for the past twenty-five years. The wide handlebars will take a little getting used to - sometimes I feel like I'm riding Pee Wee Herman's bike, and I sometimes find myself moving my hands in a little bit. There is a gate I have to ride through to get from the paved part of the park to the trail section and, previously, I could make it through; but with the wide handlebars I have to stop and lift the bike through. I'm going to keep the handlebars wide for now because I think it may improve handling. I'll just need to get used to them.
I'm old school and prefer bar ends - which evidently are out of style - and might add some. They allow a little more arm power while climbing and allow a wider variety of hand positions for longer rides.
The saddle that came with the Anthem was a small and very lightweight Fi'zi:k Tundra2. It was too small for me. I don't have a big butt, per se, but I am 6' 4" 205 pounds, and I felt I was sliding all over on it - not enough friction - so I quickly switched it for my old Brooks saddle. Being a heavier rider to begin with I don't fret as much about a few extra ounces here and there - especially with respect to something as important to the quality of the ride as the saddle.
Overall I'd give the Giant Anthem 29er X3 my highest recommendation - it suits my size and riding style perfectly. I feel that there are almost certainly better rides available - but for the money this model can not be beat.
Wild Bald Eagle in the Canyon
Image by Coralie Mrsroadrunner
Central Oregon Wild Bald Eagle Framed in this sharp looking walnut wood frame and glass!
All my work is processed on Kodak Paper that I have professionally done . The walnut frames are professionally made by quality wood workers in the industry.
This would brighten up any home or office!
This is the same photo that is on the cover of Eagle Quest by Marva Dasef
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