Pixel peeping
Pixel peeping
Pixel peeping is that derogatory phrase used to describe photographers who scrutinize photos at 100% resolution to see any flaws there might be. The idea is that if you do that, you lose sight of the artistic nature of photography. You might become stuck on what is in many ways, an irrelevant part of photography - technical perfection. I do love sharp images. Being capable of consistently delivering crisp images, are important to me as a photographer. The skills matter. At some point these skills should become second nature. Yet, the impact a photograph has, Read more inside...Pentax hyper-manual and hyper-program exposure modes
Pentax hyper-manual and hyper-program exposure modes
Pentax’s ingenuity with these exposure modes, set their cameras apart from other cameras. It is a super-easy and intuitive way to work with Manual and Program exposure modes. So it is good news that Pentax has continued doing this with their latest camera, the flagship Pentax K-1 (B&H / Amazon), in addition to all the other features of this camera. When Pentax brought out the Pentax Z-1 / PZ-1 in the early 90’s, they re-thought the way a camera’s exposure modes should to be implemented. What they came up Read more inside...review: Aurora HDR software
review: Aurora HDR software
If you have a love for bold images with punch to the colors and details, then you might be drawn to High-Dynamic Range (HDR) software. The HDR effect is often overdone and can look garish, but done with a certain deft artistic eye, can look wonderful. I'm drawn to the look of HDR, but found the software options that I've tried, to either be clunky or limited. Now combine this with my preference for things that work, and is easy to use, or at least, easy enough to delve into right from the start ... and it will help explain why I immediately liked Trey Read more inside...Fitness photo session in the studio
Fitness photo session in the studio
There are always many other ways to light your subject, whether on location or in the studio. With Fitness photography though, you do want to show off the physique of your subject - and this does mean strongly directional light. The main light can be a harder / smaller light source, or even a larger light source such as a softbox, but generally you do need to go for directional light that skims across the physique of your subject. Flat lighting is going to be a difficult approach here. This previous article - Chiaroscuro lighting - shows another Read more inside...Headshot photography – Clam-shell lighting setup
Headshot photography - Clam-shell lighting setup
There isn't only one correct way of lighting portraits or headshots. There are numerous ways to attractively light your subject. My favorite go-to lighting setup involved the large Profoto 5' Octa Softbox, which allowed me fine control over the contrast, by having my subject move slightly forward or back, or rotating slightly. (The linked article explains more.) Using the 5' Octabox though, meant that I had to shoot around the massive light modifier. A simpler way of shooting, which allows me slightly more freedom in how I moved, Read more inside...recap: Las Vegas – Photography workshops
Las Vegas photography workshops: On-location lighting
Every year when I attend WPPI in Las Vegas, I simultaneously present my own mini-workshops and photo shoot-out with a small group of photographers. This year the workshop was a photo shoot-out at the picturesque Nelson Ghost Town. These events are limited to just small group of photographers. Definitely un-crowded! The format is similar to the Photo Walks in NYC - I bring a Profoto B1 flash, and enough Nikon and Canon TTL controllers for everyone. So the attendees just had to bring your camera and lenses. I changed the format Read more inside...Off-camera flash & projection effects
Off-camera flash & projection effects
The photo that I posted of my friend Christy, lit by the lights lights surrounding the mirrored dressing table, was a co-incidental part of the photo shoot in the studio. It was a spontaneous thing. But when we got together for this photo session, I had other ideas that I actually wanted to try - something more dramatic, and using a new image projection kit that uses a gobo and a fresnel lens to focus the effect. With a previous photo session with Jessica Joy, we had used the Light-Blaster to give an unexpected pattern to the background, Read more inside...Tips on posing hands
Tips on posing hands
This portrait of my friend Christy, was shot in my studio - the lighting entirely from the globes circling the make-up table. In fact, if you look closely, you can see the ring of lights circling the iris of her eyes. Now, as drop-dead gorgeous as Christy is, it is also a running joke between us that she is tough to pose. She isn't a model, so hasn't built up the experience or repertoire of poses yet to naturally glide into a pose in front of the camera. So it needs me to pose her or adjust her pose along the way. In the case of her hands, it needed Read more inside...review: Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E VR lens
review: Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E VR lens
The Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E VR (B&H / Amazon) is an immediately appealing lens. It is only $1,400 for a telephoto zoom with a superb range of 200mm to 500mm. $1,400 is a very attractive price, especially when other lenses such as the Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR II (B&H / Amazon), comes in at 5x that price! I had the first version of the Nikon 200-4oomm and it was stellar! I loved it, but didn't use it enough to warrant such an expensive lens mostly languishing on the shelf. But at $1,400 even occasional Read more inside...- « Previous Page
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