The Platypod Ultra is a thing of beauty. It is engineered to give you options, and options are the best friends of any photographer or videographer. I took the Ultra Essentials Kit out for a backyard test drive with my smartphone. First, let’s look at what’s in the kit. The
I recently got the chance to try out the new Platyball (which is an inverted ball head). While it looks a little bit different from a normal ball head, it works amazingly well for the precise positioning of a camera. Let me walk you through this new piece of gear
Let’s get a few things out of the way before I get to the review. I’ve bought five Platypod Pros and three Platypod Max units for myself in the past. I’ve stashed a Platypod in every camera bag and even my car’s glovebox. I’ve loved the original Platypod Pro (review) and
Nature is extraordinarily complex and beautiful, it is easy to forget in our modern world just how powerful its forces are. But, being a nature photographer presents constant, humbling reminders of this fact! A large part of what drives me is wanting to experience every facet of nature, then create
There are places that can be too difficult to stay with a camera and shoot, there are events that are too dangerous to be around when they occur, and there are animals that are too shy of humans to ever get near to photograph. This is when photographers turn to
Go out into the great outdoors. Find a place that animals like to hang out when people aren’t around. Set up your camera to automatically a photo of them when they do show up. Leave it there. Come back tomorrow and see if you got any shots. Repeat it all
Are you shopping for the photographer on your gift list? The Photofocus holiday shopping guide has gifts ideas starting at under $25. I like to travel light. I have a mirrorless camera, the Fuji X-T2, and very small prime lenses. My preference is to keep the camera strap around my
The Fourth of July is this coming Tuesday. It’s America’s biggest party and we love to celebrate with fireworks. Making a good fireworks picture is satisfying and difficult. So here are two tips for making great fireworks photos. f/8, 3 Seconds, ISO 400 on a Tripod Use a tripod for
Editor’s Note: Vanelli has used a pre-production model of the Platypod Ultra that we were sent for test shooting. The units are on Kickstarter now, but only until Sunday, July 25, 2017. Consider ordering one if you want to get the product first. Tripods are a great tool to steady
Spring is a busy time for wildlife photographers, chock full of photo opportunities. I’m lucky to live in an area that is on a major migratory flyway for birds and butterflies, as well as a year-round home to loads of other feathered, furry, and scaly friends. In the few short
Wondering what to get the photographer on your list who has “everything?” Take a look at the Photofocus holiday gift guide for shopping ideas and links. Prices start at under $25. Given the opportunity to test out the new Platypod Ultra, I started with the same question I ask with
