Cinemagraphs are a loop of video saved as a GIF (Graphics Interchange Format.) Properly made, movement in a cinemagraph is seamless. The viewer is unable to tell where the action begins or where it ends. That is the trick to make a successful cinemagraph. Adobe Stock The first component of a successful cinemagraph is a piece of video with a strong foreground subject. While you can certainly shoot your own video for cinemagraphs, for this project I'll hop over to stock.adobe.com to find a suitable clip. At the landing page for video, select … [Read more...] about How to Create a Cinemagraph with Photoshop & Adobe Stock
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Lighting Green Screen Video/Photography
This is our first post in a multipart series on greenscreen video and photography. Check out Adobe Stock if you need backgrounds or other greenscreen elements. The popularity of green screen (or chromakey) technology has grown immensely, bringing the technology and tools within reach of most content creators. By color keying (or removing) a colored background, an alpha channel can be created for the foreground footage layer. (Editor's note: More on alpha channels can be found in Rich's "The History of the Alpha Channel.") This allows … [Read more...] about Lighting Green Screen Video/Photography
Becoming A Better Drone Pilot, Part 2
(Editor's Note: This is a guest post by Chris Anson. See more of his work here) In Part 2 you're going to take the next step in refining your control of the drone. If you haven’t read and practiced Part 1 of this article, I recommend you do that before proceeding. You can find Part 1 here. **Warning** You could crash your drone when practicing these maneuvers. That being said, don’t go into this practice thinking you’ll crash. Go slowly. Take your time. Don’t push faster than you’re able. And don’t let others push you beyond what you … [Read more...] about Becoming A Better Drone Pilot, Part 2
Becoming A Better Drone Pilot – Part 1
I’m always looking for ways to improve my piloting skills. The approach I am going to share with you is what I use and also share with my friends and clients. Remember, an out of control drone can be a danger to you, other people and property. Learning to fly with precision and confidence is essential. You can find Part 2 here, Part 3 here, and Part 4 here. **Warning!** You could crash your drone when practicing these maneuvers. That being said, don’t go into this practice thinking you’ll crash. Go slowly. Take your time. Don’t push … [Read more...] about Becoming A Better Drone Pilot – Part 1
Knowing How To Fly In ATTI Mode Might Save Your Drone
Editor's Note: This is a guest post by Chris Anson. Check out his work right here. Here’s the challenge: Your drone can be flying along and all of a sudden you lose GPS signal or some other reason and your drone app tells you that it has changed to ATTI mode or it tells you that GPS mode is no longer working and tells you to switch to ATTI mode. What do you do? When this happens in an emergency situation and the pilot doesn’t have any experience in flying in ATTI mode, it often leads to crashes. What is ATTI Mode & Why is it … [Read more...] about Knowing How To Fly In ATTI Mode Might Save Your Drone
Photowalk Tonight @8pm In NYC
Tens of thousands of photographers are descending on New York City from around the world to attend Photo Plus Expo, the largest photography conference, and trade show in the Western Hemisphere. Several of our authors and editors will be there and we’d love to see you for a photowalk Friday evening and maybe a little refreshment afterward. (Register Now! The photo walk is Limited to 50 walkers) This year we’ve got a special opportunity to learn new skills. We’ll learn how to maximize any shooting opportunity by recording video footage along … [Read more...] about Photowalk Tonight @8pm In NYC
NYC Photowalk With Photofocus, Macphun, & Adobe Stock This Friday @8pm
Tens of thousands of photographers are descending on New York City from around the world to attend Photo Plus Expo, the largest photography conference, and trade show in the Western Hemisphere. Several of our authors and editors will be there and we’d love to see you for a photowalk Friday evening and maybe a little refreshment afterward. (Register Now! The photo walk is Limited to 50 walkers) This year we’ve got a special opportunity to learn new skills. We’ll learn how to maximize any shooting opportunity by recording video footage along … [Read more...] about NYC Photowalk With Photofocus, Macphun, & Adobe Stock This Friday @8pm
Mirrorless Camera Maniac: Focus Peaking
I started photography with a K1000 camera which required manual focus and had a cat's eye style focusing screen. It was very apparent when I was focused at the wrong distance because the top and bottom halves of the image were misaligned and fuzzy looking. Digital SLR's, however, don't have this kind of screen and manually focusing them is difficult. Mirrorless cameras have something better: Focus Peaking. I love using Lensbaby lenses, which are all manual focus, and I love that focus peaking lets me get super sharp images even when manually … [Read more...] about Mirrorless Camera Maniac: Focus Peaking
How to Remove Noise with a Luminosity Layer in Aurora HDR 2018
HDR (High Dynamic Range) processing of your photos by its nature can result in a lot of noise or graininess in your final image. While Macphun's new Aurora HDR 2018 for PC's does a great job overall reducing noise, there are still times when noisy areas appear in your processed HDR. This can be caused by many reasons, but most commonly it's due to your settings in camera (such as shooting at too high of an ISO) or any image processing you have done to your images before merging them in Aurora (such as exposure adjustments). Regardless of the … [Read more...] about How to Remove Noise with a Luminosity Layer in Aurora HDR 2018
NYC Photowalk with Photofocus, Macphun, & Adobe Stock October 27, 2017 8:00pm
Tens of thousands of photographers are descending on New York City from around the world to attend Photo Plus Expo, the largest photography conference, and trade show in the Western Hemisphere. Several of our authors and editors will be there and we'd love to see you for a photowalk Friday evening and maybe a little refreshment afterward. This year we've got a special opportunity to learn new skills. We'll learn how to maximize any shooting opportunity by recording video footage along with our photographs and we'll learn how to make some … [Read more...] about NYC Photowalk with Photofocus, Macphun, & Adobe Stock October 27, 2017 8:00pm
Mirrorless Camera Maniac: Three Tips For Making Videos
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
5 Excuses for Not Buying a RAID Backup
Imagine losing every image you have ever taken of your child, your wife, a family member that has passed away, that beautiful sunset in Hawaii, all of your client’s images...you get the point. Are you feeling sick to your stomach, especially knowing it could have been prevented? The good news, it’s not too late. If you have more than 6TB of data, you need to invest in a RAID backup. Here are 5 common excuse people make for not buying a RAID Backup and 5 solutions to help you make the right choice. 1. I Don't Understand Why I Need a RAID … [Read more...] about 5 Excuses for Not Buying a RAID Backup
Gear Review: Atlas Packs ‘Athlete’
Atlas Packs is a new company and they have created a good product. They've created backpacks that are extremely comfortable to wear and that carry a lot of weight without leaving you feeling fatigued. What's more, they truly don't look like technology backpacks that are full of expensive tools--they just look like a regular hiking backpack. Who's This Camera Bag For? Atlas Packs would be perfect for anyone who needs to carry their camera equipment as well as other stuff because they are well designed and have plenty of room for coats and … [Read more...] about Gear Review: Atlas Packs ‘Athlete’
Mirrorless Camera Maniac: You Should Shoot More Time-Lapse
From what I can tell by looking at specifications online and from my own experience, it looks like all the mirrorless camera manufacturers have made shooting time-lapse videos pretty simple. I know that all of my Lumix cameras can shoot time-lapse sequences. Time-lapse means that the camera automatically takes a picture at a set interval, like every two seconds, and then you can compile them together into a video using Lightroom or Photoshop or QuickTime or many other applications. The video shows the passage of time much faster than reality … [Read more...] about Mirrorless Camera Maniac: You Should Shoot More Time-Lapse
Creating a Timelapse in Lightroom: Part One
I've long been interested in capturing stop-motion, through timelapses on my camera. With my recent move to mirrorless, I thought there was no better time to try out some new techniques. Last week, I went to the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, to see if I could capture a timelapse of some of the carnival rides at night. Getting Started with Timelapses You don't need much to get started with a timelapse, especially if your camera has a timelapse mode or interval shooting mode. If your camera doesn't have this, you will need an … [Read more...] about Creating a Timelapse in Lightroom: Part One
Cinetics Lynx Motion Control System Review
Those who know me, know i've been a Timelapse fanatic since the first time I got to hang out with Michael Shainblum in San Diego about 4 years ago. I've been even more addicted to the gear and gadgets that have come out since then to help artists create visually stunning and dynamic time-lapse films. There are a LOT of options out there from the higher end and expensive motion controllers and rails, to the super low budget and simple egg timer with small camera mounted to the top. So how do you know what's right for you and at what price point? … [Read more...] about Cinetics Lynx Motion Control System Review
Gear Review: Impact Compact Fluorescent Kit 2
When it comes to shooting video or still images with constant lights, compact fluorescent lights, (CFLs), give you one of the best lighting options when your project is on a budget! Why Compact Fluorescent Lights? No matter the project, when shooting video, you always have to light your set and usually we use "hot-lights" that have been tungsten based and generate, (as their name suggests), a LOT of heat. While you can always count on those lights, the problem was how to keep your set cool and your talent from sweating under the glare … [Read more...] about Gear Review: Impact Compact Fluorescent Kit 2
Studio Tip: Use A Shoulder Support Rig For Video
I had a chance to sit down with director and producer Ty Hunt as he reviews the inexpensive Revo SR-1000 Shoulder Support Rig. Ty is used to working on high-budget sets that supply expensive steady cams. The self-produced video project I'm working on doesn't have a budget for such a costly piece of gear so Ty used the Revo. After working with it, I asked Ty his professional opinion. Overall, he feels it's great for: Wedding Photographers that want to add quick video clips. DSLR users, especially those just starting out. Those that … [Read more...] about Studio Tip: Use A Shoulder Support Rig For Video
Creating a Scene with Photoshop, Adobe Fuse and Project Felix
It used to be that, if you wanted to use Photoshop for 3D images you'd need to invest in Photoshop Extended. Now however, 3D capabilities comes as standard but that doesn't mean it's any easier to understand or use straight out the box. To help us 2D people Adobe have made available two great applications, Fuse and Project Felix. https://youtu.be/hprjuA_WuUM In This Video Tutorial In this tutorial I take an image from Adobe Stock and 2 Fuse characters into Project Felix where I add a 3D suitcase. Then its back to … [Read more...] about Creating a Scene with Photoshop, Adobe Fuse and Project Felix
Mirrorless Camera Maniac: Switching from Full-Frame to Micro Four-Thirds
For years, I trusted my Nikon D800 kit to produce images for my clients. I knew the system inside and out, and was comfortable with it. But as time wore on, there were some pain points (literally). I regularly shoot corporate events. Oftentimes, these events require a hefty 70-200mm lens — even with my Peak Design Slide strap, this combo gets tiresome. What's more, lugging all my camera gear around was tedious and often unrealistic for what I needed. I was also beginning to realize that my D800 was technologically behind, compared to other … [Read more...] about Mirrorless Camera Maniac: Switching from Full-Frame to Micro Four-Thirds
Quickly Delete Apple Live Photos in Lightroom
I shoot a lot of images on my iPhone. It’s the camera that’s always with me when I stumble upon something interesting. In 2015 Apple introduced Live Photos at the iPhone 6s release, which creates a video showing the moments right before and right after you take a picture. These “sidecar” video files are 2 seconds in length and are embedded into the photo on your phone. While it was a cool idea, and I was excited for them when they were first released, but they’re become a bother every time I import photos from my iPhone into my Lightroom … [Read more...] about Quickly Delete Apple Live Photos in Lightroom
Easy 3D Text With This Basic Tip
In this video, I take you through how to add a ground plane to a 3D image in Photoshop. This is helpful if you want to add a 3D element into an existing image. Give it a try and share your results on the Photofocus Facebook group. https://youtu.be/iNutyWf6yNc You can find the text version of this tutorial here at TipSquirrel.com. … [Read more...] about Easy 3D Text With This Basic Tip
Lightroom Live: Adobe Spark with Julieanne Kost
You gotta join us live for our next Lightroom Live, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Monday, April 10th at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. 2 pm in the Virgin Islands. Check out the YouTube event here and it'll show your … [Read more...] about Lightroom Live: Adobe Spark with Julieanne Kost
Lightroom Live: Adobe Spark with Julieanne Kost
You gotta join us live for our next Lightroom Live, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Monday, April 10th at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. 2 pm in the Virgin Islands. Check out the YouTube event here and it'll show your … [Read more...] about Lightroom Live: Adobe Spark with Julieanne Kost
Live Webinar: Lumix GH5 Launch Event
Lumix's new flagship camera is the Panasonic Lumix GH5, and it begins shipping to customers this Wednesday, March 29th. The waiting list began earlier this year, and photographers and cinematographers alike are anxiously waiting. Don't Miss this Free Webinar B&H Photo is celebrating the shipping launch with this live webinar featuring pros like Jacki Huntington, Griffin Hammond, David Flores, Lok Cheung, and Lumix's own Sean Robinson who will be demonstrating features and showing off the new tools. Here's a link to all the details of the … [Read more...] about Live Webinar: Lumix GH5 Launch Event
First Impressions and Hands-On with Lumix GH5
Lumix's new GH5 is the most talked-about new camera this season, and for good reason. It's a complete redesign of the popular GH4 and it offers loads of new features. Since I'm an ambassador for Lumix, I've had some time with a pre-production unit and I'd like to share with you some first impressions. Now, I'm an ambassador but not an employee of Lumix. They are not paying for this article, and I am not representing their views in any way. I'll tell you my honest impressions. (Spoilers: it's awesome). Excellent for Photographers and … [Read more...] about First Impressions and Hands-On with Lumix GH5
Everything You Need To Know About Micro 4/3 Lenses
Mirrorless cameras are wonderful tools, and I'm going to be writing regularly about their attributes. Quick intro to Micro Four Thirds, a.k.a. MFT, M43, Micro 4/3. The key characteristics are that they have interchangeable lenses, they are almost always smaller than DSLR's, they generally cost less than DSLR's for similar features, and they have a sensor that is smaller than DSLR's. The sensor is shaped in a 4x3 ratio, not a 2x3 ratio like DSLR's, which makes a picture that is less wide. One thing that makes Micro 4/3 cameras significantly … [Read more...] about Everything You Need To Know About Micro 4/3 Lenses
How to Plan a Video Project: Production
This post also appears on DPBestflow.org This is Part 3 in our series on planning a project (don't miss Part 2) The production stage is where all your hard work comes together. Every project will have a unique configuration of gear. Special lenses to get the desired shots as well as lighting to create the right look. Multiple cameras may be needed to get proper coverage of an event and to make the editing process run more smoothly. In a large production, the roles listed below will be performed by different people. In a small production, … [Read more...] about How to Plan a Video Project: Production
How to Plan a Video Project: Preproduction
This post also appears on DPBestflow.org This is Part 2 in our series on planning a project (don't miss Part 1) Successful video projects rarely just happen; in fact, they often involve a great deal of planning. Budgets need to be created, contracts drafted, crews booked, and schedules made. A video shoot has many elements: lighting, shot design, locations, audio, directing, and videography—to name a few. All of these require planning and choices to be made before the shoot day. You must plan Many photographers are interested in just … [Read more...] about How to Plan a Video Project: Preproduction
How to Plan a Video Project: The Objectives
This post also appears on DPBestflow.org This is Part 01 in our series on planning a project. If you do not make informed decisions early on in a video project, it may result in an enormous amount of time spent “cleaning-up” or “fixing it in post.” This can compromise the quality and vision of the work or require a redo, often at your own expense. With the proper amount of planning and decision-making, many “could be issues” become non-issues. The goal of planning is to determine what questions to ask and how to proceed with the … [Read more...] about How to Plan a Video Project: The Objectives
