If you're just like me, you don't walk around your photoshoots with a tripod and don't (or can't) take multiple images to create a bracketed HDR. Well, good news my friends, we don't have to do it anymore either! Today, I'm showing how to create kick-ass HDR with single images (while having a little fun on the way). Ready? To your spoons everyone! HDR editing was originally created by merging multiple images to obtain maximum details from the expanded dynamic range. You know the technique: An underexposed, correctly exposed and overexposed … [Read more...] about Single image HDR: The sundae technique
sports photography
How I boost shadows and recover details in my images
When I shoot events, I rarely have great (let alone perfect) lighting. That's why I had to find an efficient way to edit my photos that could get the most out of my RAW files. Here's one of my favorite technique to boost shadows, recover details in highlights and bring my very own style to my images. My secret weapon: Aurora HDR 2019 When I am in very difficult lighting conditions — be it bright sunlight or harsh indoors light — I have to get over it and do my job anyway. I know I'll have to deal with it later in post-production but that … [Read more...] about How I boost shadows and recover details in my images
I got my new Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM lens … and it’s incredible!
I preordered the much-anticipated lens a month and a half ago and finally got it last week. I was pretty excited since I had two very big sports events to cover, it was the perfect timing to put this baby to work! Here's my review on Sony's latest prime telephoto lens: The 135mm f/1.8 GMaster. Why did I buy this lens in the first place? Some of you might ask themselves why would someone buy a rather expensive prime telephoto lens when you can have a 70-200mm f/2.8 for a $700 difference. Well, first of all, if you don't know it yet: I'm a … [Read more...] about I got my new Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM lens … and it’s incredible!
Editing hundreds of images in minutes with Luminar’s batch processing
Batch processing is a huge time saver in my editing workflow. It allows me to be more efficient and deliver images faster to my clients with the exact look, format and size I want. No doubt after reading this, you'll fall in love with this process too! What is batch processing? Batch processing is an automated action that allows us to apply a Look to multiple images in a single click. It's a tremendous and easy way to edit hundreds — thousands! — of images with the same unique and seamless look at once. Why do I use it? When I have hundreds … [Read more...] about Editing hundreds of images in minutes with Luminar’s batch processing
Combo superpower: Using Luminar 3 and Aurora HDR 2019 together
Whether it be for outdoor images or oppositely poorly lit indoor ones, combining the power of both Aurora and Luminar in my editing workflow helps me achieve looks that would otherwise be impossible to get. Here are two recent pictures example I did with two different lighting conditions. Example 1: The breezy sunrise Picture yourself: It's 6:30 in the morning and you are in the middle of a vast area surrounded, wind and snow and below zero temperature. The sun isn't up yet but a bunch of courageous athletes is already warming up to take on … [Read more...] about Combo superpower: Using Luminar 3 and Aurora HDR 2019 together
How to create realistic snow in Photoshop
The problem with snow added in post-production is that it looks fake more often than not. That's a shame because creating realistic snow is much easier than people would think. Listen to the Canadian girl and keep on reading to know once and for all the secret to create realistic snow in Photoshop. What's wrong with fake snow? We've all seen pictures with snow. Some with real snow and some with dubious-white-copy-pasted-dots snow. Being a girl living in winter for half of the year, believe me, I know what snow should look like. If you want to … [Read more...] about How to create realistic snow in Photoshop
Flipping my photography challenges into opportunities
Have you ever had frustrating situations where you wondered how you'll ever overcome them? I have. Many times. And I got tired of it. I got tired of getting "No" as an answer and missing great opportunities. I decided to take control of my circumstances - instead of being a victim of it. As most of you may know by now, I do sports photography. I do commercial and advertising stuff and I also loooooove to cover events and competitions. As I offered my services to event organizers those past years, I realized that I often faced the same … [Read more...] about Flipping my photography challenges into opportunities
Timing the power — how to photograph Olympic Weightlifting
I just got back from an amazing Olympic Weightlifting (O-lift) meet. Many athletes were competing to qualify for the upcoming nationals. Needless to say, it's been an intense and exciting event! O-lift is a very challenging discipline. It is challenging to photograph as well. Everything in a lift happens in literally a matter of moments. Timing is the key between making or missing a great shot. Here's exactly what I do to make mesmerizing pictures that the athletes and the event organizers are willing to pay for. Locating the camera In … [Read more...] about Timing the power — how to photograph Olympic Weightlifting
Beyond Technique Podcast with Brad Mangin | Photofocus Podcast November 21, 2018
https://soundcloud.com/photofocus/beyond-technique-podcast-with-brad-mangin-photofocus-podcast-november-21-2018 Get the show here or get it on iTunes — Please, post a review on iTunes. Welcome to Beyond Technique, a podcast empowering photographers to bring their businesses to the next level. In today's episode we chat with sports photographer Brad Mangin. We discuss: How Brad got started in sports photography Lessons learned from the great icons Paying dues and working hard The role of relationship building The … [Read more...] about Beyond Technique Podcast with Brad Mangin | Photofocus Podcast November 21, 2018
Creative lighting with Lume Cubes
Now that my Lume Cube Photographer's Pack was unboxed, it was time for me to go in the field and give it a try! I got out from my comfort zone as I wanted to force myself to work in a different way than I was used to. What did I end up photographing and how did I like working with my new lighting system? Inspiration First, I needed to get some inspiration. As I really wanted to give all the attention to the Lume Cubes, I thought it could be a really cool idea to take the pictures in the dark. Then, I had to find a place I could make those … [Read more...] about Creative lighting with Lume Cubes
Unboxing my Lume Cube Photographer’s Pack
It felt like early Christmas when I got my Lume Cube box delivery. The company guys sent multiple devices and accessories to try in order to see how I like them and for me to review. I've had one hands-on experience with these devices at the Photofocus Photowalk (at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York City) but that's it. I have yet to discover almost everything about it. To become more familiar I am actually unboxing the Lume Cube and its accessories as I am writing this article. I thought I might as well bring you with me along the way so we could … [Read more...] about Unboxing my Lume Cube Photographer’s Pack
Could this lens possibly become the best 70-200mm f/2.8 on the market?
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?
How I use the new Aurora HDR 2019 for NON-landscape photography
Create amazing HDR photographs with Skylum’s Aurora HDR 2019. Purchase today and save plus get a free bundle of training, LUTs and Looks too! I don’t shoot landscapes (like, never, ever). So when the Skylum’s team asked us to give it a try on their Aurora HDR 2019 update, I wasn’t sure what I could write about. My amazing editor, Kevin, told me the articles didn’t have to be super long - and I just had to stay true to myself. So I thought about this big CrossFit event I covered a few days earlier. We were outdoors and the lighting conditions … [Read more...] about How I use the new Aurora HDR 2019 for NON-landscape photography
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
Tamron’s 70-200mm lens — is it ready for major league sports?
Our friends at B&H Photo sent me Tamron’s SP70-200mm F/2.8 G2 (Model A025) telephoto lens to see how it performs at a major league sporting event. I kept my Nikon 70-200mm on hand, just in case. At the end of the first quarter, my trusty Nikon lens stayed in my bag! What I liked about it Focus speed The autofocus is fast. I mean really fast. I had no problem keeping up with the fastest sport on two feet, major league lacrosse. Tamron uses an Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) ring-type motor, along with two high-performance microcomputers to … [Read more...] about Tamron’s 70-200mm lens — is it ready for major league sports?
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
The Mind Your Own Business Podcast with Scott Kelby | Photofocus Podcast May 11, 2018
https://soundcloud.com/photofocus/the-mind-your-own-business-podcast-photofocus-podcast-may-11-2018 Get the show here or get it on iTunes — Please post a review on iTunes. In this episode, Skip Cohen and Chamira Young chat with photographer and educator Scott Kelby. We discuss in detail: Scott's beginnings in sports photography getting images right in camera from the very beginning the danger of haphazardly saying "I'll fix it in Photoshop" the art of "anticipation" and research in sports photography the two … [Read more...] about The Mind Your Own Business Podcast with Scott Kelby | Photofocus Podcast May 11, 2018
