Well no, it’s not some magical recovery job – this is just a plain RAW file, shown in Neutral. But yeah... it is very dark. So the question becomes: can you still make something out of it in RawTherapee? Absolutely! RawTherapee’s bag of tricks can handle way worse than this. And honestly, with just a... Continue Reading →
Bicycle Bridge with Olympus TG Tracker
Today, we embark on a cycling journey across the iconic 'Parkbrug Spoor Noord' in Antwerp, capturing every moment with the Olympus TG-Tracker—a compact action camera that has quickly become my trusted companion. Our adventure begins beneath the 'Dokmarkt' shed at 'Napoleonkaai', In that section, the street is still paved with cobblestones, so the video begins... Continue Reading →
Testing the Zhiyun Weebill S Gimbal: A Lesson in Frustration ?
12 minutes to read + 4 1/2 minute video I finally got around to testing the Zhiyun Weebill S gimbal—a little at request, partly out of curiosity, but mostly because it was long overdue. I bought it in the period while switching from Fuji to Olympus, but never actually used it. So, after sitting on... Continue Reading →
Behind the scenes of ‘Old Artillerie Ammunition Bunker’
If you haven’t seen the photo series in La Gallerie yet, it might be best to check it out first and then come back here for the technical details. 5 minutes reading time. "Ok, here we go!" – The Only Line I Spoke in the Video At 2:19 in the video, you’ll hear my only... Continue Reading →
Retro Meets Innovation: The New OM-3 and Updated Lenses
Header picture courtesy of https://explore.omsystem.com/us/en/om-3 OM System has launched some exciting new gear today! You can catch the official presentation on the OM System website. However, since everything is released on a timed schedule via YouTube, you might have to wait a bit for all the details. In the meantime, OM System ambassador Jimmy Cheng... Continue Reading →
A Hidden Relic from the Past – Video
Only 3 minutes reading time. First Test Video – Lessons Learned This is my very first test video, meant to showcase how I discover interesting spots on my e-mountain bike, how the surroundings look, and how I capture them. Things didn’t go exactly as planned—maybe nerves, forgetfulness, or a mix of both—but that’s all part... Continue Reading →
Camera Cable Remote for Olympus & OM System – Replacement & DIY Scheme
Less than 3 minute read time. This is an update for article: Olympus E-M1 Mark II, Mark III and E-M5 Mark III Remote Cable Release Alternative - Olympus E-M5 MK III - E-M1 MK II & MK III - E-M1X This update is valid for the above cameras and also the newer ones like the... Continue Reading →
Birds & Wildlife Special 2024 – 2025
Bird and Wildlife Photography: The Full Picture Capturing the beauty of birds and wildlife goes beyond having the right camera and lens; it's about the entire setup—gear, techniques, and knowledge working together for an immersive experience. In my bird and wildlife photography series, I cover key aspects for success. The Ultimate Micro Four Thirds Wildlife... Continue Reading →
Crop – Teleconverter or Bigger Lens
Crop, Teleconverter, or Longer Lens: What’s the Best Option? When your lens doesn’t give you the magnification you need, what’s the best solution? Should you crop your image, use a teleconverter, or invest in a longer lens? This is a question I’ve tackled myself using several Olympus lenses, along with extensive research through reviews and... Continue Reading →
Updating your Olympus/OM System Camera Firmware without Olympus Workspace – Updated 2024 !
Attention Olympus and OM System Camera Users: The LightSnowDev firmware SD Card update tool is no longer operational, even via their new page. But don’t worry—there’s another way! Important Disclaimer The following method is entirely at your own risk. I tested it today on an older camera, and it worked perfectly. However, there’s no guarantee... Continue Reading →
Freddy’s Close-Up: Capturing Nature with the E-M5 Mark III
The Olympus E-M5 Mark III: My Most Used Camera If you browse through my gallery, you'll quickly notice that the Olympus E-M5 Mark III is my most frequently used camera. And that's despite owning two E-M1 models and even an OM-1 MKII. On paper, the E-M5 Mark III seems modest: a single SD card slot,... Continue Reading →
From 150mm to 2400mm FOV: The Ultimate Micro Four Thirds Wildlife Lens Guide
Here's a breakdown of Olympus/OM System and Panasonic micro four-thirds (MFT) lenses suitable for bird and wildlife photography. These lenses are evaluated with their key strengths and weaknesses, along with an average new price/second-hand sorted table. The pros and cons listed here are sourced from well-known review sites, but I don’t always agree with them. If I own or... Continue Reading →
From Good to Razor-Sharp: Mastering Sharpening in RawTherapee
When photographing general subjects like architecture, street scenes, and landscapes, I typically shoot in both JPEG and RAW formats. However, for the past year, when it comes to birds or wildlife, I’ve switched exclusively to RAW. All three of my OM System cameras—the OM-1 Mark II, E-M1X, and E-M1 MKIII—are set to shoot in RAW... Continue Reading →
Shape Break, Earthy Tones: The Art of Camouflage
The Art of Blending In: A Practical Guide for Wildlife Photography For a while, I was quite enthusiastic about recommending military-style clothing for photographing birds and wildlife. However, I’ve realized this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Some people dislike the colors, patterns, or even the associations with military wear, and that’s completely understandable. Even hunting... Continue Reading →
Morning Elegance: A Roe Deer’s Breakfast of Dandelions
The Year is Ending: Looking Back and Forward As the year draws to a close, we're just days away from the start of the final month. Before we know it, another year will have passed. What will the next photographic year bring? Hopefully, plenty of good weather! As the holiday season approaches, the pace of... Continue Reading →
Deer Headshot
In Today’s Photo Gallery: A Female Roe Deer Today's gallery features a small series of photos of a female roe deer. These images tie into topics from previous articles on Open Source Photography, such as which camera settings to use or what makes the ideal telephoto lens for birds and wildlife. While many YouTube professionals... Continue Reading →
Stop Searching for Best Bird and Wildlife Settings – The Secret is Auto ISO
The internet is full of resources, whether you're baking cake, fixing bikes, or diving into photography. For wildlife or bird photography, one thing stands out in search trends: the best camera settings. Beginners and pros alike often look for advice on lenses, gear, and especially settings. I've spent a lot of time before, researching optimal... Continue Reading →
Shooting Birds and Wildlife with Back Button Focus on Olympus and OM System Cameras
I've had this article on my computer for ages, but recently, I ran into someone who was photographing planes at an airshow. There were an unusually high number of aircraft, and a lot of action going on. At one point, the guy mentioned that his finger was getting sore from constantly pressing the shutter for... Continue Reading →
Wanderlust and Shutterbugs – My Camera Choice for the Road
It was about time to create a new Gear page—a complete overview of my cameras and lenses. There are quite a few of them, but each one is part of my learning journey, and they all still serve a purpose. When I first started building this "collection," I hesitated a lot—bought, sold, and then re-bought.... Continue Reading →
Stealth Mode
Another vacation story en gear talk : https://marcroovers.wordpress.com/2024/07/14/stealth-mode/
Deer in the Wild – Holiday Mode
Starting today, I’ll be on holiday mode, meaning I’ll be less active online and will write less for the next few weeks. During this time, I’ll also experiment with ways to make my Gallery site more visible and better connected with Open Source Photography. Normally, I post on “OSP” twice a week (Monday and Friday)... Continue Reading →
Optimal Bird and Wildlife Settings for OM-1 & OM-1 MKII: A Comparison of Rob Trek and Steven Ingram’s Techniques
A while ago, I reviewed Robert May's settings for bird and wildlife photography and some general tips from Rachel Bigsby. Today, we will continue with a comparison between the techniques of Rob Trek and Steven Ingram. Rob Trek is a photographer and YouTube content creator specializing in Olympus cameras. He runs a popular YouTube channel... Continue Reading →
Chassing Birds Raincoat
With the prospects of climate change and the associated long periods of rain (and hopefully some sunshine to), I thought it would be a good idea to complete my camouflage lens protection with a durable and highly rain-resistant raincoat for telephoto lenses. At Chassing Birds, I found a raincoat in the same "greenleaf" camo pattern... Continue Reading →
OM System OM-1 Settings from a Bird and Wildlife Photographer
Inspired by my popular "The Largest Collection of" lists and my article "Tips From a Bird and Wildlife Photographer" about Rachel Bigsby, I thought, why not do the same for information, tips, and settings for the OM System OM-1 (Mark II), specifically for bird and wildlife photography, offering insights from a specific nature photographer's perspective.... Continue Reading →
The Long Lens Shootout
When I decided not to purchase the OM System 150-600mm f5-6.3 lens, it was for several reasons: High price Relatively big and heavy compared to my current gear Existing lenses that would be underutilized To even more justify my decision, I tested my lenses for field of view (FOV) with and without teleconverters (1.4x and... Continue Reading →