Category: Topaz Sharpen AI

Birds, Nikon Z9, & Flashpoint XPlor 600 HSS TTL

by Stanley LearyFlambient / Flash / Lightroom / Nikon Z9 / studio strobes / Topaz Sharpen AI / wildlife photography

I have preached over and over on my blog about how Flash can improve the colors in your photos.

Flambient is even a new term you will see in photography that was being done long before. This is where the photographer blends available light with Flash.

No Flash [NIKON Z 9, VR 120-300mm f/2.8G, Mode = Manual, ISO 4000, 1/160, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 460)]

This is without a flash shot of birds on the bird feeder. I am shooting from one window of my house, and I put the Flashpoint XPlor 600 HSS TTL in another window about 15+ feet away, creating a triangle between camera, subject, and light.

Birds at Bird feeder using the Flashpoint XPlor 600 HSS TTL [NIKON Z 9, VR 120-300mm f/2.8G, Mode = Manual, ISO 4000, 1/160, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 460)]

The hard part of doing this is balancing available light and the flash.

Birds at Birdfeeder Using the Flashpoint XPlor 600 HSS TTL [NIKON Z 9, VR 120-300mm f/2.8G, Mode = Manual, ISO 16000, 1/500, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 380)]

This, to me, is a little too much flash. What you choose to do will be part of your style and approach.

Birds at Birdfeeder Using the Flashpoint XPlor 600 HSS TTL [NIKON Z 9, VR 120-300mm f/2.8G, Mode = Manual, ISO 16000, 1/500, ƒ/8, (35mm = 600)]

Tip Don’t Use TTL

TTL Flash works by the flash doing a pre-flash, and then the camera takes a picture with the second flash. I think you could risk startling the subject and affecting the one with the actual moment.

Another problem is you will drain your battery for a flash much quicker, with it taking two seconds every time you take a photo.

Processed in Lightroom and Topaz AI Sharpen Birds at Birdfeeder Using the Flashpoint XPlor 600 HSS TTL [NIKON Z 9, VR 120-300mm f/2.8G, Mode = Manual, ISO 8000, 1/250, ƒ/8, (35mm = 600)] Flash set to 1/16 power.

I think you dial in the best settings to take the photo without the flash and then add the sparkle. I suggest having the flash -1 EV of the location you have before.

Birds at Birdfeeder Using the Flashpoint XPlor 600 HSS TTL [NIKON Z 9, VR 120-300mm f/2.8G, Mode = Manual, ISO 5000, 1/250, ƒ/8, (35mm = 600)] Flash set to 1/16 power

Nikon Z6 helped with Topaz Sharpen AI

by Stanley LearyPhotography / Topaz Sharpen AI

I have found the Nikon Z6, when attached with a flash, sometimes struggles to focus on the subject.

Nikon Z6, Sigma 24-105mm ƒ/4 Art, ISO 10000, ƒ/5.6, 1/40, Flash Slow Sync.

Using Nikon’s NX software I can see where my camera was focusing when I took the shot. As you can see in the full-frame image below, it was sharp.

Then I took a second photo and zoomed in on the couple.

Same settings as before, but focus point was off.

After taking that second photo, I noticed later it was soft.

I wasn’t pleased with all. I had seen this ad pop up on my social media for a while called Topaz Sharpening AI. You can download it and try it. It just puts a watermark on the photo. I tried it with this photo and ended up buying the software.

A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds

Here is a closeup of the difference.

Topaz Sharpening AI used

While the software improved the focus compared to getting a camera, that is still the best.

As it came out of camera with minor Lightroom editing