Sigma first unveiled their new series of lenses series at Photokina in Cologne, Germany last September. This new collection includes five new lenses to their three Global Vision product lines: Art, Sports and Contemporary. As a sports photographer, I was really intrigued by the announcement of their highly anticipated 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens. I made sure to stop by their booth at PhotoPlus Expo to get more information about this new high-performance telephoto lens. 10 exclusive low-dispersion glass elements What in the world is a … [Read more...] about Could this lens possibly become the best 70-200mm f/2.8 on the market?
sport
Quick Tip: Crop for impact
It’s OK to crop, especially when you crop for impact. An example I use is a shot I took during a high school cross country meet, where the running path was filled with many athletes from different schools. I was only focused on my son’s team. I took a great shot of his teammate mixed with other athletes. Looking at the original image, you could tell they weren't in first place. A simple crop changed the story. The new image now shows them in first place leading the pack! Remember, these weren't shot for editorial use. If I shot for a … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Crop for impact
Evolving as a visual artist takes time, work and practice
This week was a stepping stone for me. It was the third time I was covering the same annual CrossFit competition. Three years of hard work. Three years of experience. I thought it would be cool to do a recap of my three years of evolving as a visual artist in the sports field. I realize that lots of things have changed - and I'm not only talking about my cameras. 2016: Where it all began I remember when I got into photography. I started by taking pictures of everything. A walk in the park was an excuse to bring my camera and experiment … [Read more...] about Evolving as a visual artist takes time, work and practice
How to Step Up Your Boxing Photography Game
Boxing combines two challenging components for a photographer: bad lighting and high speed. Challenging task, indeed. Impossible? Not! Here are a few tips I wish I knew before shooting my first fight. The basics Who hasn't seen an amazing shot where someone gets a punch straight in the face - with sweat and blood all over the place? Yeah, this is the ultimate action shot everybody is looking for at a boxing event. It's those kinds of when-preparation-meets-opportunity, you know, "lucky" shots. This instant lasts for such a brief moment, a … [Read more...] about How to Step Up Your Boxing Photography Game
How to Step Up Your CrossFit Photography Game
Sports is an exciting yet intricate field of photography. CrossFit is perhaps one of the most exciting of all. I've been specializing in this amazing sport for over two years. I finally decided to gather my thoughts on the subject. Here is some of my top advice to get incredible athlete portraits on your next WOD-Workout Of the Day. Three essential components To me, a great action shot combines three essential elements: light, movement, and expression. A good action shot gets two of them. But a real jaw-dropping great picture hits all three. … [Read more...] about How to Step Up Your CrossFit Photography Game
More to a Silhouette than Exposure
There are a few key elements that create a successful silhouette. I'll say it loud and proud. It is MORE than exposure. Yes, you meter for the sky, yes, that brings the blacks black, but there is so much more to it than that. I used to say, angle, separation, and exposure. But it is even more than that. You can nail the angle, shooting from down low, you can nail the exposure, and you can even get the separation, but if you aren't telling a story, or conveying an emotion, you're not getting it. There needs to be a story. There needs to … [Read more...] about More to a Silhouette than Exposure
Photographer of the Day: Gazrad
Category: Sports Photograph: "Hawthorn supporter at MCG on Grand Final Day 2013" by Gazrad Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr community right here. Sometimes it isn't always about the action. Great sports photos tell the entire story of the game...the action, the emotion, and the fans. This is a great capture showing the passion of a sports fan! To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Gazrad
Photographer of the Day: Scott Westhoven
Category: Sports Photograph: Mike 1 by Scott Westhoven Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr community right here. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Scott Westhoven
Photographer of the Day: Flaimo
Category: Sports Photograph: Till Death do us Kart by Flaimo Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr community right here. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Flaimo
Sony a6000 with Neewer Underwater Case
I use Sony a6000 as my primary underwater camera. It is 24.3MP so I can easily compose in editing. The kit lens is sharp and shoots wide. The Sony shoots in RAW, necessary for white balance and editing after the fact. It has very fast autofocus which can keep up with my subjects as well as three continuous shooting speeds. But, the primary reason I went with the a6000 over any other model was because I was able to purchase an underwater hard case for the camera for around $200. I selected the Neewer 40m/130ft Underwater Housing. Amazon also … [Read more...] about Sony a6000 with Neewer Underwater Case
No Sippy Cups here, just Baby Plates
Some of the most used tools on a Hollywood set are C-Stands and Apple Boxes. Then there are these little babies, Baby Plates. What is a Baby Plate you ask? It's a 5/8 stud, about 3" tall, welded onto a 3.5" x 6" metal plate. It has many uses. Allow me to share a few of those that I've used on the set. One of the most common uses for a Baby Plate is a very low light stand:It has a very solid feel and is very stable for most strobe heads. As you can see in the picture, this Baby Plate has 8 holes in its base. Some will have 4. The purpose for … [Read more...] about No Sippy Cups here, just Baby Plates
Nikon Challenges GoPro With 360/VR Capture
GoPro created the action camera segment. Many others followed but, with the exception of Sony, all have met with limited success. With today's announcement at CES, Nikon enters the fray and brings something entirely new to the table … 360 degree video. Named the "Key Mission" (KM), Nikon's first action cam is scheduled to deliver 360 degree, 4K video, the backbone of Virtual Reality (VR) capture. Technical details of the new camera remain vague, including battery life, price, recording codecs/formats and a delivery date. Slightly … [Read more...] about Nikon Challenges GoPro With 360/VR Capture
Offbeat with Joel Grimes
Joel Grimes' work is instantly recognizable. From powerful, dynamic posing, to a rich, yet desaturated, HDR look, to masterful compositing which is both surreal and firmly grounded in reality, his photography is iconic. His work has such intensity that, when I met Joel a few years back, expected him to be equally intense and, perhaps, aloof. Instead, Joel is easy-going, approachable and generous with his time and knowledge. With that in mind, let's hear from Joel. Aside from the mechanics of photography (e.g. the exposure triangle, … [Read more...] about Offbeat with Joel Grimes
Shooting Personal Projects
A great way to challenge yourself and enhance your skills is to shoot some personal projects. Here is an opportunity to stretch your imagination. Building sets, buying props, coordinating wardrobe, scouting locations and casting talent are all part of the process of shooting your personal projects. When you apply all these things, your ideas will come to life. I'll get an idea visually, and then I need to make it happen. Like this 30's Hollywood glamour shot:Once I cast the beautiful actress, Sarah Deakins, I needed to get hair and make-up. … [Read more...] about Shooting Personal Projects
C-47: The most useful tool you have in your laundry room.
Most people refer to it as a clothes pin; in Hollywood it's referred to as a C-47. They were named that way because back in the day there were 47 pins in a pack. The C stands for clamp, hence C-47. We'll take them and reverse the way they clamp so that they have more of a pinch tip to grab stuff better: I like using these economical tools for clamping gels to lights and softboxes. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft stores sells them in different sizes and colors. I like using the medium clamps to secure gels inside small to medium softboxes: The … [Read more...] about C-47: The most useful tool you have in your laundry room.
“What’s in Your Bag?” Stuff!
What's in your bag? Do you really think that the cameras and lenses that are in my bag are going to get you my job? Stop! I'm not being arrogant, however, how you shoot and I shoot are so radically different it doesn't matter if you use the same gear as I do. We are creative knuckleheads and do what we do as individuals. Wanna know about some of the "stuff" that's in my bag? Allow me to share with you my camera brethren:Altoids, gum, Mentos, or anything that will freshen your breath. I hate working around bad breath. Whether it is from food, … [Read more...] about “What’s in Your Bag?” Stuff!
Push the Right Buttons
One of the keys to successful portrait photography is learning that the most important buttons you can push are not on your camera. On the eve of the 2006 NBA finals, I got a call to shoot Miami Heat All-Star guard Dwyane Wade for People Magazine. Dwyane was sick as a dog with a 103 degree fever, yet he was happy to give it his best shot. Im often asked what I say to bring out the expression I want when photographing a portrait. The truth is there is no magic phrase but there is a method. Rather than telling someone to smile or look … [Read more...] about Push the Right Buttons
Shoot One For Yourself
Never leave a shoot without at least one shot that makes you proud. One of the differences between photography as a profession -vs- photography as a passion is that as a professional photographer you must meet your client's needs. That doesn't mean you shouldn't satisfy your own in the process. Some magazine assignments can be very open-ended, others read like a shopping list. You always have to photograph what's on the list, but you shouldn't overlook a great shot just because the magazine didn't think to ask for it. My Sports Illustrated … [Read more...] about Shoot One For Yourself
Smoke and Mirrors
We have all used smoke machines on sets, they're great, they create mood and help enhance lighting. We have all seen those amazing light beams.Smoke machines are handled on set by the Special Effects crew. Over the years I have seen them apply smoke several different ways. Allow me to share a few with you if I may. In the video you will see that Scott from F/X is applying smoke to a scene I had to shoot for NCIS:LA. What you need to notice is he's bouncing the smoke from the back of the car and not directly applying it onto the … [Read more...] about Smoke and Mirrors
Shoot Less. Think More.
When you're shooting pro athletes, don't expect to get a lot of time. You can either panic or embrace it. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in the midst of a Super Bowl run when ESPN the Magazine sent me to photograph defensive end Simeon Rice. With only a half hour to do so, my job was to come away with as much variety as I could in the time I had to make my editor happy. While you can walk in with a high-speed motor drive and machine gun the hell out of the shoot, the best approach is often to do just the opposite. We kept things very simple, … [Read more...] about Shoot Less. Think More.
Behind the Scenes with Dave Black
We had a chance to catch up with Dave Black at Photoshop World last month in Las Vegas. He sat with Photofocus' Pamela Berry to go behind the scenes of 5 of his most recent commercial jobs, showing us how he set up and lit each image and got an amazing shot. https://youtu.be/-1mWqaMGkbs About Dave Black Dave is a freelance photographer for over 30 years. His work has primarily centered on the sports industry for such publications as Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek and the award-winning TV show Sports Century on ESPN. He's covered events … [Read more...] about Behind the Scenes with Dave Black
Joel Grimes – The Story Behind the Photo
Join Photofocus' Melissa Niu and commercial photographer Joel Grimes as they explore the story behind one of Joel's favorite photo composites with soccer player, Bailey. https://youtu.be/0iDhvIGaA4U Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - https://photofocus.com About Joel Grimes Joel is a commercial advertising photographer with a distinct style. His unique approach has earned him work from top advertising agencies and art buyers. View all of Joel Grimes's work … [Read more...] about Joel Grimes – The Story Behind the Photo
Pictage is Closing their Doors. What are Your Options?
If you're a photo studio or photographer who uses Pictage to host and sell your photos, you likely have quite a shock this week. On August 24th, Pictage posted the following message to their users: The Closing of Pictagehttps://discover.pictage.com/pictage-update-20150824 Please accept my sincere apologies for the Pictage web site being down since Thursday. The Pictage web site is currently recovering, but it is an extremely slow process due to the high number of images we store. We are doing everything we can to bring the web site online as … [Read more...] about Pictage is Closing their Doors. What are Your Options?
Choosing a Camera that’s Fit for Purpose | Glyn Dewis – What’s in Your Bag
Join Melissa Niu of Photofocus, Chase Reynolds from LensRentals.com and commercial photographer Glyn Dewis as they talk about Glyns search for the perfect camera system. Glyn made the switch from Nikon to Canon in search of a camera thats fit for purpose. https://youtu.be/F1TQ-g7wzng Gear Discussed Canon 70-200mm f2.8 - http://bit.ly/1ugV8n2 Canon 5D Mark III - http://bit.ly/1ugVWs8 Fuji X-T1 - http://bit.ly/1ugVYAh Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - … [Read more...] about Choosing a Camera that’s Fit for Purpose | Glyn Dewis – What’s in Your Bag
Printing is the Lost Art of Photography
Why are prints are so important? Printing is a part of many photographers business or workflow that can be improved. Most of us don't know how to print or even understand the basics of printing. Sure, the ease of going from one screen to another is often easy, while figuring out how to print at the right size and the right output can be daunting. Why Print? Printing can bring another level to your photography and client base. Prints obviously do not require hard drives, cloud storage, or a powered on device to view. A print is a tangible … [Read more...] about Printing is the Lost Art of Photography
Cameras Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All | Glyn Dewis – What’s in Your Bag
Join Melissa Niu of Photofocus, Chase Reynolds from LensRentals.com and commercial photographer Glyn Dewis as they talk about using different cameras for different reasons. Glyn also talks about how important his cell phone is to his photography. https://youtu.be/pk8ADInjYb8 Gear Discussed Canon 70-200mm f2.8 - http://bit.ly/1ugV8n2 Canon 5D Mark III - http://bit.ly/1ugVWs8 Canon 24-70mm f2.8 - http://bit.ly/1ugVRVk Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - … [Read more...] about Cameras Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All | Glyn Dewis – What’s in Your Bag
Try before you buy saved me $12,000.00
I've starting taking on more assignments for inside Lacrosse magazine and for the Florida Launch Lacrosse team. After shooting two games with a 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens, I wanted to see if a new lens would make a difference. The go to lens for sports photographers is a fixed 400mm f/2.8 lens. The cost...a commitment of $12,000.00. Pretty steep. Before I decide between the lens or a full year of college for my son, I called our good friend Chase from Lens Rentals. As luck would have it, one was available on our two day short notice. The cost, … [Read more...] about Try before you buy saved me $12,000.00
Fuji Camera’s Didn’t Work for Me | Glyn Dewis – What’s in Your Bag
Join Melissa Niu of Photofocus, Chase Reynolds from LensRentals.com and commercial photographer Glyn Dewis as they talk about Glyns tests with a Fuji camera system. https://youtu.be/Q-MFGMue1UU Gear Discussed Fuji X100s - http://bit.ly/1ugWn5P Sony A7R - http://bit.ly/15539pq Sony A7S - http://bit.ly/1wgcYqa Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - https://photofocus.com About Glyn Dewis Glyn Dewis is a Photographer and a Retoucher. He is also a Photoshop … [Read more...] about Fuji Camera’s Didn’t Work for Me | Glyn Dewis – What’s in Your Bag
Nikon D810 | Dave Black – What’s in Your Bag
Join Melissa Niu of Photofocus and sports photographer Dave Black as they discuss how the Nikon D810 earned a spot in Daves camera bag. https://youtu.be/lh9v57sYVrs Gear Discussed Nikon D810 - http://bit.ly/1ugZxGD Nikon D4s - http://bit.ly/1ugZtXx Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - https://photofocus.com About Dave Black Dave is a freelance photographer for over 30 years. His work has primarily centered on the sports industry for such publications as … [Read more...] about Nikon D810 | Dave Black – What’s in Your Bag
Gear for Personal Work and Lightpainting | Dave Black – What’s in Your Bag
Join Melissa Niu of Photofocus and sports photographer Dave Black as they talk about go-to gear for personal work and light painting. https://youtu.be/K5kl8BwIcSo Gear Discussed Nikon D810 - http://bit.ly/1ugZxGD Nikon D4s - http://bit.ly/1ugZtXx Brought to you by LensRentals - http://bit.ly/pflensrentals SongFreedom - http://bit.ly/songfreedom Photofocus - https://photofocus.com About Dave Black Dave is a freelance photographer for over 30 years. His work has primarily centered on the sports industry for such publications as … [Read more...] about Gear for Personal Work and Lightpainting | Dave Black – What’s in Your Bag
