Archive for August, 2009
DTOWN TV is over at 24 Episodes – Grab Them now
The DTOWN TV show aired its last episode this week and wraps up the show with the latest Nikon releases.
If you are a Nikon shooter I suggest you go grab the episodes before they are gone and they are full of good information.
Here is the link: http://www.dtowntv.com
No commentsHoly smokes you have a big lens….
Here is a video from Outdoorphotogear.com for your viewing of the biggest piece of glass Canon Makes.
Well done over there on getting this segment for all of us big lens lovers…..
Sadly they will not allow embedding of their video so just check it out at their site
No commentsA Crash Course in Glamour Photography
2009 AUGUST 13
tags: glamour
A Crash Course in Glamour Photograph
Guest Post & Photo by Brent Burzycki Follow Brent on Twitter
What do I need? How much will it cost? Why are models so expensive? Do girls hate me?
Those are just a few of the questions I have been asked as I have made my way through my short glamour career so far and as far as answers, well, some are easier than others and that last one is a tricky one.
So if you read my last post here it dealt with rapport and the model interface. The bad part about this is I failed to mention who I learned that concept from and I need to clear that up. About four years ago I met a photographer (well two actually) that have become my mentors and my friends. Mark Daughn and Wild Bill Melton are both great photographers in their own right. Yet I think both excel in the most important skill many photographers are missing and that is people skills and the ability to teach and learn. To be able to teach and yet still learn from your students is something that is a rare commodity and those are the teachers one should look to learn from as that willingness will make you a better photographer in the end. Please take a second to check out both the sites, sadly Bill was lost to us in 2006 in a tragic car accident but many of us try to keep his spirit alive in our photo style and customer relationships.
So this is where four questions can turn into multiple posts so let’s concentrate on one at a time and look for the answers or at least my views to the others in upcoming posts.
#1 – What do I need?
To answer this you need to ask yourself many questions that you hopefully already know the answers too. (hey life is full of questions – get used to it). What style of glamour photography am I shooting? What mood or tone do I want to have in my photos? What will my specific subject matter be?
Since I really only know about what I do, let’s start with how I look at what I need. I shoot primarily Glamour. My style of glamour work uses the subject matter of women and a tone of sexuality, power and beauty. Basically my plan is to make that subject the sexiest she has ever been in a very comfortable environment. Sometimes this is easier said than done but I can expand on that later. I need a few simple things to get this done. A camera, an off camera flash setup and a location. I rarely use more than one flash, a large umbrella modifier and a camera. My setups are extremely simple because I tend to be lazier than I should and also I am on a strict budget per shoot. But simple setups also allow me to move quickly from space to space and keep the model interested in what we are doing and hopefully allow the shoot to flow a bit better.
Budget is one of my largest concerns and one of the questions I get all the time. The deal is simple; you do not need a lot of money to get beautiful light. Your light will cost less than you model in most cases so it’s the first thing you should spend your money on. Over on Mark’s site you can grab a copy of his lighting DVD and get an in depth tutorial on setups but in a nutshell one light and one light modifier and you are good to at least start on your way to beautiful lighting.
So you have your light, you hopefully have a camera. A very important note here thou, your camera must be able to function in fully manual mode and must be able to properly sync with an off camera flash. Remember we are not using a TTL style flash here this is a fully manual strobe head and camera method. Can you shoot glamour with a TTL flash? You bet you can, just for me it does not give me the control or desired effect I want in my portfolio.
Last you will need a light meter and well your model. Start your shoot setup as far ahead as you need before your model gets there. If you are uncomfortable with setup use the prep time to your advantage and be ready for when the model arrives. A model that feels you are unprepared will only feel her attentiveness and professionalism is as important as yours seems to be, be ready, be professional and shoot.
No commentsD300s Finally Announced… More than likely my next purchase…
The rugged D300S’ hallmarks include versatility, speed, agility and exceptional image quality. Versatility is its 12.3-megapixel, DX-format CMOS image sensor, with Nikon EXPEED image processing that captures stunning low-noise stills and extraordinary 24 fps, 720p HD video with sound. Speed is split-second startup and continuous shooting at up to 7 fps-8 fps with the optional MB-D10 grip, which also extends shooting capacity and makes shooting more comfortable.
Accurate image review, Live View shooting and Menus come alive on a 3-inch tempered glass-protected, 920k-dot LCD monitor, while image quality is bolstered by a 51-area AF system and Nikon’s 1,005-pixel RGB exposure sensor, in concert with the newly accelerated Scene Recognition System technology that increases exposure and AF accuracy, improves white balance detection, and more. Photographers have preferences, and the D300S offers choices–including Picture Control, Center-Weighted and Spot Metering, user-assignable CompactFlash and SD card slots and an external stereo microphone input. Included is Nikon ViewNX software–ready to process rich 14-bit NEF (RAW) or JPEG files. For more editing power, optional Capture NX 2, with U-Point technology, safeguards image quality and speeds workflow. The D300S’ pro-level performance, paired with world-famous Nikkor lenses, was engineered to exceed the expectations of demanding photographers.
Nikon D300s Highlights
12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS Image Sensor
Delivers stunning high resolution, low-noise images with striking detail and tonal gradation.
Continuous Shooting up to 7 fps
High speed shooting and fast response is essential to versatile performance in a wide variety of shooting disciplines.
Nikon EXPEED Image Processing
Drives breathtakingly rich image fidelity, low noise and fast image processing.
D-Movie HD Video
Capture cinematic 24 fps, 720p HD movie clips, enhanced by Nikkor interchangeable lens quality and versatility—featuring stereo Mic input and AF
One-button Live View
Handheld and Tripod Live View modes, activated with one button, for challenging studio and remote shooting conditions.
3-inch Super-density 920,000-dot VGA LCD Monitor
Every monitor is factory-calibrated to assure accurate color for critical still image review and Live View or D-Movie shooting.
Low Noise ISO Sensitivity from 200 to 3200
Additional expanded ISO settings of Lo-1 (ISO 100 equivalent) and Hi-1 (ISO 6400 equivalent) extend versatility to match shooting requirements.
Fast, Accurate 51-point Autofocus
Features 4 Dynamic AF modes including 3D Focus Tracking for precise autofocus and razor sharp images.
1,005-Pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II
Nikon’s unique RGB metering is the only sensor that also evaluates color information when determining exposures with remarkable accuracy.
Scene Recognition System
Referencing an onboard image database and teamed with RGB metering, SRS enables even more sophisticated determination of exposures and auto white balance, along with faster, more accurate autofocus.
Dual memory card slots (CF and SD)
Assign card functions from a variety of storage options, optimizing available memory and file handling.
Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System
Ultrasonic process combats the accumulation of dust in front of the image sensor, safeguarding image quality.
Picture Control
Select from 4 preset image capture preferences (Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome, plus 9 user-customizable settings) controlling Sharpening, Contrast, Brightness, Saturation and Hue.
Nikon’s Active D-Lighting
Optimizes shadow and highlight detail in real time–selectable values and 5-frame ADL bracketing offer complete control.
In-Camera Image Editing
Exclusive in-camera image editing, featuring Edit move, D-Lighting, Image Overlay, Monochrome, NEF (RAW) processing and more.
Rugged and Durable
The strength and precision of magnesium-alloy construction with advanced dust and moisture countermeasures is teamed with a shutter mechanism test to beyond 150,000 cycles for real-world reliability.
100% Viewfinder Accuracy
Virtual Horizon Graphic Level Indicator
Up to 950 shots per EN-EL3e battery charge
Shoot as many 2,950 shots with the body’s EN-EL3e battery installed and the optional MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Pack with an EN-EL4a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery.
*Based on CIPA standards/guidelines
