Video clips are one of the best ways to both record memories and bring a little extra cash. Mirrorless cameras are ideal for making videos, but shooting video is very different from shooting still photographs. If you haven't read Richard Harrington's articles about making videos, then it's time you started doing that (here're a bunch to get you started). But there are three simple things you can do to start making better quality video clips, and good quality video clips can be monetized with Adobe Stock, which is pretty cool. Shutter Speed is … [Read more...] about Mirrorless Camera Maniac: Three Tips For Making Videos
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Mirrorless Camera Maniac: Instantly Magnify Your Tripod
Here I go again, touting the advantages of mirrorless cameras. The thing is if you're into landscape and nature photography then you've always been encouraged to carry the biggest tripod you can carry. This is because big heavy cameras sitting atop spindly tripod legs are prone to wobbling and vibration making blurring pictures at long shutter speeds. Bigger diameter tripod legs offer more rigidity and stability, making not only sharper photographs without wiggle, but also a safer platform to keep your camera from tipping over. But here are two … [Read more...] about Mirrorless Camera Maniac: Instantly Magnify Your Tripod
Apple’s New iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Cameras
Apple have just announced the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Of course, we're most interested in the camera(s) specs. iOS 10 Shoots RAW That's right, now you can shoot RAW photos on your iPhone, and it doesn't even require buying a new phone. Some other phones already shoot RAW, but this is new to iOS. Adobe Lightroom Mobile is already optimized for working on RAW photos, and Apple said these new phones are perfect for it. iOS 10 should be available September 13th. 12-Megapixel Sensors and Performance The iPhone 6s also had a … [Read more...] about Apple’s New iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Cameras
How to Compensate for a Lightweight Tripod
Maybe you're on a trip and you only brought a lightweight tripod, or maybe you were seduced into buying that cheap tripod that came in a package with your camera. Either way, you'll find that using a lightweight tripod often ruins the pictures you're trying to make. A tripod is supposed to be a steady platform for shooting, but if it's too light then a breeze can make the whole thing shake during an exposure and ruin the picture with movement blur. The following techniques will help you get the most from your lightweight tripod even in less … [Read more...] about How to Compensate for a Lightweight Tripod
Quick Tip: Turn Off Stabilization When Using a Tripod
Many lenses these days, especially zoom lenses, have some type of stabilization on them. It is usually labeled as IS, OS, OIS, or VR, and it can be turned on or off with a switch on the side of the lens. This feature is beneficial for hand-held photography, and will oftentimes give you an extra stop or two of light (for example, with stabilization turned on, you might be able to get away with hand-holding a 200mm lens at only 1/60th of a second). However, when using a tripod, the stabilization feature works against you. In order to get sharp, … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Turn Off Stabilization When Using a Tripod
Super-Telephoto Killer: Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro Hands-on Review
The Olympus M.Zuiko ED 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro lens with its 1.4x teleconverter has helped me make a bunch of good pictures and allowed me to do a good job for my clients. Over the last few months, I've used it to shoot a variety of subjects from wild horses to aerial photos to portraits to college graduation. I'd like to show you how it performed for me, and make an argument for why you will never need to buy a $12,000 lens. Let's start with the horses. This Lens Will Tame Wild Horses The thing about these horses is they are fairly tame (people … [Read more...] about Super-Telephoto Killer: Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro Hands-on Review
Happy Birthday Image Stabilization
2015 marks the 20th anniversary of photographic IS (Image Stabilization). SLR camera shake correction began with Canon. The worlds first optical image stabilizer for 35mm SLR cameras was introduced in the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens in 1995. Since then, Canon and other manufactures have made continual advancements in stabilization systems to enhance panning capability and improve compensation for camera shake. The First Image Stabilization I was in Hawaii the week the Canon 75-300 f/4-5.6 IS lens started shipping. I had been shooting almost … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday Image Stabilization
Getting Started with Real Estate Photography – Upgrading the Client with Video
Today we'll continue our look at real estate photography by exploring another service we can provide our customers. These days its essential to deepen the relationship with the client and expand what we can offer, and video can be an ideal solution for certain upscale and commercial projects. Video Services Some agents or owners might be interested in more than still imagery to properly display a property and it's setting within the community. Upscale properties may require additional attention via smooth-motion video capture. For instance, … [Read more...] about Getting Started with Real Estate Photography – Upgrading the Client with Video
Which iPhone 6 Should a Photographer Buy?
If you're like us... you're staying up at night and worried. It's time to make some hard decisions... ones that will have long lasting consequences. It's time to decide which iPhone to buy (we know... first world problems). The Dilemma On Friday morning (at approximately 12:01 am PST) Apple will start taking online orders for the phone. If you'd like to be the first to have the phone, you'll either order online or fight the crowds. You'd think by now they'd learn to have enough in stock (perhaps they manipulate the frenzy a bit). … [Read more...] about Which iPhone 6 Should a Photographer Buy?
Steady As You GoPro
If you'd like to get your camera off the tripod and add smooth-motion capture to your video work, take a look at this modified setup of the Flycam Nano DSLR system adapted for use with the GoPro Hero. If you're not currently shooting with a GoPro system, no worries, the information in this post can be equally applied to any small or mid-size camera on the market today. I do however recommend the Hero for its frame rate capabilities, specifically the ability to capture 60fps (frames-per-second) at 1080p resolution, not to mention its usefully … [Read more...] about Steady As You GoPro
Photofocus Podcast January 25
NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE: The Photofocus Podcast Feed HAS CHANGED! Here is the new feed: feed://feeds.feedburner.com/photofocuspodcast Download episode here... or get it on iTunes PLEASE BE PATIENT - OUR SERVERS SEE LARGE LOADS ON PUBLISHING DAYS. THE DOWNLOADS MAY GO SLOWLY BUT THEY WILL FINISH. Rich and Scott catch up on a bunch of topics to help photographers of all levels. The importance of image stabilization Which settings to use in different shooting situations When to turn image stabilization off Tips for landscape … [Read more...] about Photofocus Podcast January 25
Image Stabilization
If your photographs are out of focus, camera shake is always a likely culprit. Image stabilization technology can help solve that problem and it's starting to work its way into even the consumer-level cameras. On the professional and pro-summer side, several manufacturers, including Canon and Nikon, make lenses that incorporate image stabilization technology. Canon labels its technology IS (Image Stabilization), and Nikon labels its as VR (Vibration Reduction). Mechanisms inside the lenses compensate for any movement by the photographer (or … [Read more...] about Image Stabilization
