Okay, so here's the deal. You know that little lock switch on the side of the SD card? The one that you move to lock the card from being written on? Well, it works. It works really well. Almost too well on some occasions — like when that little lock switch becomes loose or even worse, missing! My wonderful Lexar Professional 64GB UHS-II 2000x Gold card ended up having one that was loose. Every time I plugged it into my Fujifilm X-T2, no matter how carefully I placed it in there with the card unlocked, the switch would slide to lock! It … [Read more...] about I just saved this $100 SD card from being unusable
Mykii Liu
Mykii is an energetic and kind soul that loves sharing his passion for technology and photography! Outfitted with 15 years of IT experience and 10 years in the portrait photography industry, he adds a different perspective on trending technology and reviews. A couple fun things of the many things he's done include being a Guest Blogger on Scott Kelby's Blog, being featured on Framed Network and being a participant in Adobe's Creative Jam.
Latest posts by Mykii Liu (see all)
- I just saved this $100 SD card from being unusable - August 30, 2018
- How to import folder hierarchies into Apple Photos - March 9, 2018
- Dock & Cool Your MacBook for Max Performance! - February 1, 2018
How to import folder hierarchies into Apple Photos
If you're new and fresh into the Apple ecosystem and want to use Apple Photos to hold all your images, you'll want to save a bit of time on re-organizing your folders of images that you may already have made. In an update to Apple Photos in High Sierra, Apple realized that users that a folder containing other folders with images in them would have to spend a ridiculous amount of time recreating that same organization within the Photos App. Thankfully, Apple has added this simple and not very known fix along with a couple of other hidden … [Read more...] about How to import folder hierarchies into Apple Photos
Dock & Cool Your MacBook for Max Performance!
Docking your MacBook to a screen at your home or office gives the best compromise between portability and performance! I've been docking my MacBooks to monitors at my home office since my first MacBook Pro from 2010! So, why wouldn't you? The MacBooks are fantastic little machines that can pack a punch while being so portable-- but the 13" or 15" screen can leave one desiring more real estate to play with. So why not get the benefit of having a desktop setup with a laptop and bump up the performance while you're at it with a SVALT Dock? Things … [Read more...] about Dock & Cool Your MacBook for Max Performance!
ViewSonic’s VP 2785-4K is such a beast!
The worst thing you can do in your workflow as a visual artist is to blow a whole lot of money on expensive camera gear, and skimp out on the equipment that is needed to view what you capture. Having a poor monitor is just as bad as having a super poor lens-- I mean, it's great if you're being spontaneously artistic and aren't expecting realistic colors. I've been given the opportunity to take a look at the ViewSonic VP2785-4K display, and I think that this screen is super awesome! Here's a few reasons why... Thought-out Features Like the … [Read more...] about ViewSonic’s VP 2785-4K is such a beast!
Apple updates the Photos App in macOS High Sierra!
The only constant thing in Apple is change, and thankfully-- one of the biggest changes to macOS includes an update to the Photos app! There's a lot more for us to play with now, but the biggest changes include a more logical organization, more tools to use while editing, and the ability to jump back forth to Photoshop. Organization The sidebar gets a great little makeover that makes a huge difference in terms of what you're seeing at first glance! The first thing that drew my attention is the little folder, called Media Types, that now … [Read more...] about Apple updates the Photos App in macOS High Sierra!
The term “Crushed Blacks” has got people confused!
What seems to be a misused phrase in the photography community is being made increasingly more confusing by those who don't understand what they're saying. In a conversation I had with an aspiring photographer about his editing process on a particular image, he shared some usual color correction tips and then said that he "crushed the blacks." Shortly afterward at work, I had a conversation with another photographer who ranted and raved about another local photographer because of how he "crushed the blacks" in all his images. He then … [Read more...] about The term “Crushed Blacks” has got people confused!
Gear Review: Ruggard Padded Equipment Wraps!
Padded and protective wraps have been on the market for more than 10 years now and they're a fantastic and affordable way to add some protection to your gear, especially when you don't have a dedicated, protective camera bag. I definitely welcome Ruggard's padded equipment wraps as a slightly more affordable option to Tenba and Domke's offerings of protective wraps. If you're like me, a person on the road a lot that keeps gear light and carries a camera handy 80% of the time but without the rest of the kit, then you'll enjoy the added peace … [Read more...] about Gear Review: Ruggard Padded Equipment Wraps!
Make Facebook Display Your Photos in the Highest Quality!
If you've uploaded to Facebook, you may have noticed that Facebook does something funky with the pictures that you post. With 350+ million pictures being uploaded every day, it is no surprise that Facebook wants to save on bandwidth and costs. The Problem. Photographers know that the images uploaded to Facebook tend to look like junk, especially after they've gone through hours of editing (or have spent money for someone to retouch their images). Even clients get a little crazy when the images they upload-- those wonderful family pictures … [Read more...] about Make Facebook Display Your Photos in the Highest Quality!
Finally! A Monitor that Displays Colors Correctly!
My colleagues at Photofocus have heard me and seen me say some very choice words during a time, not so long ago, when I had a monitor that wouldn't or couldn't calibrate! At first, I couldn't tell if it was the calibration tool I was using, or the monitor itself! Monitor Calibration Now color calibration is super important-- it makes it simple for you to edit your images on your machine and basically have it be seen on other color calibrated devices they way that you intended it to. There's a standard called sRGB that was developed to help a … [Read more...] about Finally! A Monitor that Displays Colors Correctly!
A Simple Way to Add Some Organization to Your Desktop
A lack of organization can really kick you in a sensitive area if you're on a time crunch or are called to produce a photo or document of some sort. So here's a tip: don't be a digital slob! You might be a digital slob if your desktop is littered with a bunch of folders and files to the point where you can't see the beautiful wallpaper that is supposed to be displayed underneath. You might not be a complete slob if it takes you more than 5 seconds to find a file or folder on your desktop, that just means that you're one of those organized … [Read more...] about A Simple Way to Add Some Organization to Your Desktop
The Drobo 5C’s performance, from a budget conscious perspective.
There's a new box on the block! It is a whole lot more affordable and all of what we'd expect in terms of quality from Drobo. Bottom Line: The 5C is an affordable, super simple and easy to use, expandable, directly-attached storage device that can hold up to five 3.5" drives of various brands and capacities for computers that may or may not use USB-C. This magic black box is purposefully featuring a USB-C port for all those who are early adopters, but also features backward compatibility with USB 3.0 over USB-A as well as many other … [Read more...] about The Drobo 5C’s performance, from a budget conscious perspective.
Do it! Put a Seagate FireCuda in your 27″ iMac!
I just wrapped up installing a Seagate 2TB FireCuda gaming hard drive into a 2012 27" iMac, and boy is it worth it! The reason I chose this specific hard drive is due to the technology that this drive uses. Seagate, back in 2010, launched one of my favorite affordable upgrades for laptops-- a hard drive line called Momentus XT. This hard drive differs from the usual hard drives by combining the then new technology of solid state storage with the larger, more spacious, traditional platter hard drives. This combination drastically improved … [Read more...] about Do it! Put a Seagate FireCuda in your 27″ iMac!
Adobe Lightroom 2015.7 may not fully support macOS Sierra.
While the list of supported OS's for Macs extend from 10.10 to 10.12 for the latest version of Adobe's Lightroom, there have been various issues with Lightroom 2015.7-- panels disappearing, brush size glitches and of course, the one I personally have, erratic curve adjustment. I like to adjust the curves for basically all of my images. If I need to add a point in the middle of the curve, I can do so without any problem. Once I try to grab the points at in the corners, crazy things start happening. Sometimes, I'll drag straight up and … [Read more...] about Adobe Lightroom 2015.7 may not fully support macOS Sierra.
Photographer’s Review – iPad Pro
Holy crap. I caved. I really bought an iPad. Not just any iPad, the newest 9.7" iPad Pro! I'm not new to the iPad world. I deal with them every day I work! I just no longer owned one after my original iPad Mini got a little outdated for me. Many of you know, fellow author here on Photofocus, Vanelli. Ever since I met him, he's been hounding me for not having an iPad at the trade shows that I've seen him at-- WPPI and Photoshop World. I never really thought about the benefits of having one (besides being able to write on one, or watch movies, or … [Read more...] about Photographer’s Review – iPad Pro
Moving from Apple Photos to Lightroom – The WHY and the HOW!
So you've decided to step up your photography game and get Adobe's Lightroom to manage and edit your photos, eh?! This guide will help you get your photos from Apple's Photos into Adobe Lightroom. As of the date of this publication, there isn't an everyday tool or utility that transfers an Apple Photos Library to Adobe Lightroom, like there is an Apple Aperture Library to Adobe Lightroom tool. While this gets your images into Lightroom, this, however, does not go over editing within Lightroom. There are a load of resources here on … [Read more...] about Moving from Apple Photos to Lightroom – The WHY and the HOW!
PEOPLE! Stop Fearing the New iPhone!
I'm going to try to tone this down a little bit, as I've willingly participated in absolutely ridiculous and brainless conversations regarding the iPhone 7 with people. Everything from conspiracy theories like, planned obsolescence, to thoughts like "my life as a professional photographer is now doomed" have been made known to me. C'mon people. Really? I don't think anything has been as dramatic in politics, recent news, The Bachelor and other random TV shows lately... except for … [Read more...] about PEOPLE! Stop Fearing the New iPhone!
Apple’s Photos: The Hidden Power Tools
Apple's Photos for Mac was a combination between the previous generation's iPhoto and Apple's discontinued professional software, Aperture. Good thing is that everyone with a new-age Mac can get Photos for free! While free may not get you all the crazy powerful tools that you'd find in Photoshop, thanks to some hidden tools that were donated from Aperture, at least you can make some decent global edits to the photos you have. Get Started Obviously, you'll need to get some images into the Photos app in order to start-- either import straight … [Read more...] about Apple’s Photos: The Hidden Power Tools
Lexar’s 633x 200GB microSDXC Card
I've had this card for over 6 months, and I get so baffled every time I think about it. 200GB in a microSDXC card! That's just ludicrous! Every time I think about what I could do with this card, I kind of freak out. It shouldn't really surprise me in this day and age, but I can't help it. A little tiny chip, the size of your pinky fingernail that weighs as much as a paperclip, can hold more than a base model MacBook Air or Pro and the top of the line iPhone at 128GB right now! Really, that's ridiculous. With this kind of storage, many people … [Read more...] about Lexar’s 633x 200GB microSDXC Card
A Year and Some Change with the Fujifilm X-T1
I can't believe how fast time has flown by. I remember when I started to slowly sell my special Canon gear after the purchase of my Fujifilm X-T1. Do I miss the Canon? How did my X-T1 hold up? Well the experience has been kind of different, but still positive. If you missed out on why I switched, take a read here. Do I Miss the Canon? Honestly, I miss having all my lenses and interchangeability of the lenses with my Canon film bodies. I would say that I miss having security stop me for having a Canon body. I find myself being stopped and … [Read more...] about A Year and Some Change with the Fujifilm X-T1
Instagram Grids– Hot or Not?
Grids. Banners. Cubes. Whatever you call them. More and more companies and individuals have been jumping onto this trend since the Summer of 2015. The owners of these instagram accounts segment one photo into typically 3, 6, 9, 12+, square blocks and post them in a progressive order, typically by using some apps that make it pretty simple-- like Giant Square or Banner Pic. The result is a pretty interesting Instagram profile that can break down the feed into sections or just displays the photo in a unique way. Instagram has been changing a … [Read more...] about Instagram Grids– Hot or Not?
Using eBay to find deals on lenses
I found my copy of Canon's EF 20-35mm F/2.8 on eBay of all places, and while I don't typically sell on eBay, I'll buy like no other. People are worried about scams and not receiving items as described, but in my experience of buying upward towards 500 expensive items, I've only had issues with only about 5 items, all of which eBay's buyer protection had back. I've bought lenses, computers, cameras and all sorts of random things for photography (often finding that some stores like Adorama, Newegg and Best Buy, exist), as well as other household … [Read more...] about Using eBay to find deals on lenses
Synchronizing folders in Lightroom
As much as I try to keep my workflow minimal and simplistic, sometimes there are other pieces of software that I'd like to use that don't seamlessly integrate with Lightroom. When you use a third party program to edit a picture outside of Lightroom's knowledge (i.e. when Lightroom is closed), Lightroom doesn't have a chance to update the changes to the photo. Maybe you created an edit, maybe you created a couple different versions, maybe you even deleted them or moved them. Synchronizing folders helps you use Lightroom to track all those … [Read more...] about Synchronizing folders in Lightroom
Write Speeds – Memory Cards Are Not Created Equal
Most consumers don't know that there are differences between memory cards besides the obvious capacities and different formats that are available. There are several identifiers to know to help you choose the right memory card for the type of shooting that you do and that can be crucial since not all cards are created equally. Before going out and buying new cards on sale... 1. Consider this What type of photography do you do? If you're an action and sports photographer or even a videographer, having a memory card with a fast minimum write speed … [Read more...] about Write Speeds – Memory Cards Are Not Created Equal
Increase Mouse Accuracy in OSX
If you've ever switched from a PC to a Mac, there's no doubt that you've realized that moving the mouse just isn't the same-- like something doesn't feel right. I really noticed it when I was younger and played video games that needed precision, and maybe you have experienced it too. That sensation is called mouse acceleration-- basically the faster you move the mouse the less distance your hand has to travel to get from point A on the screen to point B and the slower you move, the more distance you have to move the mouse to get from point A … [Read more...] about Increase Mouse Accuracy in OSX
Fujifilm X-T1 Firmware Update v4.20
Fujifilm announced a new firmware update, v4.20, for the X-T1! Fujifilm has been known to listen to us, their users, to update features. I, for one, am super excited for the ability to shoot with the a flash in continuous low and continuous high, as previously, one could only fire the flash on a single image capture mode. Other things that make life easier, like focus and exposure locking while in manual focus mode, will help those macro shooters and those who crave a way to make sure they've got tack sharp focus. Details are below: Using a … [Read more...] about Fujifilm X-T1 Firmware Update v4.20
X-Rated – The Solution to Understanding X-Speed Memory Card Speeds.
Dang it, why isn't there a universal tech language out there?! I mean seriously, as photographers and videographers, we already have to deal with all sorts of random vocabulary to understand our craft, why must there be even more to decipher? Now that my rant is slightly over, let me share the super secret code that may help you understand the write performance of the card you have, and the cards you'll perhaps end up buying in the future. First and foremost, we're going have to understand what "x-speed" is -- Companies note the maximum … [Read more...] about X-Rated – The Solution to Understanding X-Speed Memory Card Speeds.
FujiFilm X-T1 Wireless Camera Control
While it isn't very often for my family to ask me to make our family pictures, I typically have fun with it. This go around, which is the first time in my family's history, I decided to play with a feature on my camera that allows my phone, the iPhone 6S, to work with FujiFilm X-T1 as a wireless remote. I was able to effortlessly get myself into the shot and still have the control I wanted over the camera settings-- and see what those changes did in real time! This specific app works with the X-T1, X-T10, X-E2, X100T, X30, FinePix S9900W, … [Read more...] about FujiFilm X-T1 Wireless Camera Control
iPhone Photography/Videography Giftlist!
Hopefully you've started on your holiday shopping and aren't waiting till the last minute to get things out for people. If you're short on ideas, here's a list of main gifts that an Apple iPhone photographer or videographer techie would enjoy. I say that these are main gifts, because well... they're not cheap :D Polaroid ZIP printer This little printer is a nice portable printer that allows you to print out 2x3 prints instantly without any smudging! It connects through Bluetooth 4.0 to an app for iOS and Android and utilizes Polaroid's ZINK … [Read more...] about iPhone Photography/Videography Giftlist!
Dealing with that Creative Rut
I don't know if there's a term for the photographer's equivalent for writer's block, but l had it for the majority of last year. I remember that I couldn't feel the vibe, I couldn't find the energy to shoot and I couldn't find the motivation. I took a double dose of it all when I started feeling self conscious about my work. Now, if you were to pile on some of the issues that could exist in life-- relationship issues (or perhaps a lack thereof), financial burdens, moving, school and a slew of other things-- it can be more than enough for many … [Read more...] about Dealing with that Creative Rut
Renee Robyn – A dose of creative inspiration
Renee Robyn is a pretty freakin awesome and inspiring person that is out to show how beautiful the world can be-- I'm pretty sure that's what you just learned in the video, that is if you weren't distracted by SmugMug's gorgeous cinematic display of her and her work. But besides being awesome at what she does, which is compositing multiple images to make an awesome image, she's a really cool person. First off, she's got a blue streak of hair. Secondly, she rides a motorcycle. Thirdly, she's pretty freakin deep and down to earth. But seriously, … [Read more...] about Renee Robyn – A dose of creative inspiration
