More intuitive composition with eye-focus of mirrorless cameras
Continuing on a topic we have discussed here before: a strong advantage that mirrorless cameras have over DSLRs – how Eye-focus makes Composition more intuitive. When I reviewed the sequence of images while photographing a wedding recently, where the bridesmaids were helping to lace up the bride's corset, the composition immediately stood out for me -- all the elements just came together. A bit of luck ... and being ready.
The composition really hangs together, because the bridesmaid in the center is framed by all the Read more inside...
The video tutorials that I created for the Craftsy platform was very popular and received really good feedback. Then sometime during the past year, Craftsy changed hands, then rebranded, and then folded ... and has now been resurrected again! The video classes are available again. Check them out if you're not familiar with them.
Portraits with on-camera speedlight
Off-camera flash photography
Wedding photography – The romantic portrait session
Wedding photography – Posing family groups Read more inside...
Clamshell lighting is one of the simplest lighting setups for headshots and portraits. Two lights are set up to light your subject from above and from below. Both are at approximately a 45 degree angle. This gives an even light on your subject, that somehow has a glowing effect. Easy to set up, and gives consistently good results. Here I used studio lighting, but obviously it is just as easy with speedlights.
You must have seen similar clamshell style lighting setups, but with a reflector below instead. This 2nd light source from Read more inside...
Sony recently released the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM (B&H) lens, as a wider aperture companion to the highly regarded Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G (B&H) which has been available for a while now. While ultra-wide zooms in the 16-35mm range is common-place now, lens makers have been pushing the boundaries with even wider focal lengths. Ultra-wide lenses, and specifically ultra-wide zooms are of particular interest to landscape photographers and architectural photographers.
The rectilinear look creates optical distortion to Read more inside...
One of the few portraits of myself that I immediately liked — more than the background and the starkness of the B&W processing, what draws me to this image is the pose — it’s as if I am hovering in decision. There’s an implied narrative here, even if shrouded in mystery. Not quite a self-portrait but I was involved in the setting it up of this, and the other photos in the sequence.
Photo by my friend, Clayton. He used an 85mm lens.
Posing by me. I kept changing my Read more inside...
With wedding photography you so often have to work with a time crunch. The timeline doesn't go strictly according to the original plans for the day -- and you as the photographer still have to make sure you get a variety of photos for your clients. You still have to deliver. With this in mind, you use interstitial fragments of opportunity to get photos. You try to use that "dead time" where you can.
This portrait of the lovely bride is from an Indian wedding I helped photograph. At some point before the ceremony started, the bride Read more inside...
When I first started moving beyond just using a speedlight, towards off-camera flash and studio level lighting gear, I had a few detours via other brands like Quantum flashes and Lumadyne, but decided at some point to buy into the renowned Profoto brand. My first serious flash unit was the Profoto AcuteB 600R which I eventually upgraded to the Profoto B1 when that was released. From there on I stayed with Profoto via the Profoto B10 and Profoto A1 flash.
If I had to make the decision all over again, having the money to spend again, I Read more inside...
Advantages of mirrorless cameras - Eye-focus & Composition
The more I work with mirrorless cameras, and get familiar with the difference between using a DLSR and using a mirrorless camera, the more I appreciate the advantages of a mirrorless camera. And I feel like I'm struggling less with the quirks of the system. In a previous article I listed the main advantages of Mirrrorless cameras over DSLRs, but there is another advantage that I have found really valuable - how intuitive eye-focus can be in fluidly changing your image Composition.
Before the magic of eye-focus, when Read more inside...
The Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 lens (B&H) is an interesting new option open to Sony photographers. What makes it particularly enticing -- it is half the price of the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM (B&H) and it is nearly half the weight of the Sony lens. It is a much more compact lens, yet still retains that sweet f/2.8 aperture. This all sounds wonderful, but we'll have to balance this against lens sharpness and overall performance first. For those then who need a quick summary for a review -- this lens is really sharp!
The Read more inside...
"Son of a Bitch."
Scammers are so touchy. Geeze. I am trying to do him a favor, and then he curses me out.
Now, if you are unsure what just happened in that conversation, hang in there ... Read more inside...
