Through the Lens

New Ad for Craigslist

2011-03-30T19:07:00.001-07:00

Advertisment, a photo by Third-i-Photo on Flickr.

It's been awhile to post something, because the site produces so much spam, but...all ads are good

San Francisco trip

2011-02-26T14:17:00.001-08:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Margaret Bourke-White

2011-02-02T18:54:00.000-08:00

The camera is a remarkable instrument. Saturate yourself with your subject, and the camera will all but take you by the hand and point the way. - Margaret Bourke-White

New Phone, new fun...old tricks of the trade

2011-01-16T14:53:00.000-08:00

So unfortunately my cell phone died on Friday, which meant I had to get a new one, the good news...I was able to upgrade to a Droid, got the HTC EVO shift, great phone does everything I want and more. I can blog, check emails, get recipes, read the news, it's basically a palm-sized computer. I can even view my website, which has flash, which is outstanding. BUT...the best feature, especially for photographers, is the fun you can have with these cameras and apps.

It comes with your basic camera, but you can browse apps and download anything your heart desires. I downloaded all the free camera apps because I wanted to see which I preferred. I've only purchased one app, the Vintage camera app.

What used to be call "bad" quality, is now retro. It's now in. The cool and fun thing to with a photo take by your phone. I used my pets as subjects to test the camera.

You can have photos that look like they were taken in the 60's, 70's etc, you can select a tilt-shift option, B&W, sepia, Velvia, vignette, toy camera, Polaroids, and all sorts of lens effects. The ease of these tools in the Apps is amazing, what used to take hours to create in photoshop takes your phone seconds.The app I downloaded comes with 79 effects and 50 some-odd frame choices.

Sooo....the tricks and fun I used to have in the dark room, now have moved to my computer, to in-camera editing tool and now to a cell phone....

Urban Art

2010-11-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

New Nikkor 85mm f1.4G...

2010-10-31T00:57:00.000-07:00

LOVE LOVE LOVE, how this lens shoots, this is just a quick shot, 85mm shot at f1.4, D700

My Passion

2010-10-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

There are a few things I have discovered about myself as I go through life. I love photography and I really do love teaching someone photography.

Last weekend, I took my friends daughter and two of her friends to Santa Barbara for a photo outing. It gave myself and her a chance to get out of LA and photograph what we saw. It was a rainy and gray day in La and Santa Barbara was gorgeous and a perfect fall day.

I had been to Santa Barbara once and had vowed at that point to go back when I could drive around and capture what I saw. This is one of the images below, I still have some editing to do but worked on one image thus far.

I took them to one of the SB's local landmarks and we traveled down to the pier and walked around. The Courthouse, Designed by William Mooser III, the Spanish-Moorish style building was completed in 1929, after the 1925 earthquake ruined much of the city. It occupies a square block in downtown Santa Barbara. The benefit, it's a free tour, you can walk around the grounds and capture much of the building through images.

It was a short trip, all in all we spent around 5 hours traveling and walking around. The girls had a good time and it was great to get out of LA. Taking them home, I did discover that every Tuesday there is a farmers market at the mall, up the street from where we all live, so I'm going to be taking her again, just to get her out there to shoot.

Have been abducted by that thing called work... play will resume shortly!

2010-09-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

So, I head back to work tomorrow, bit stressed about the whole thing, after having 6 weeks off to recover from surgery (which i'm really not done), I get to go back to the 8 hour days....sigh : (.
It's really too bad you can't just sit at home or do other things and earn a living...lol

I do love my job, where else in the world can I play with camera equipment all day, and not just what I own, but with equipment I want. Give me a Nikon, I can shoot, and tell you how to set it up.

The good thing is I do have a few new toys to play with when I get back....The bad thing is I have alot to learn once I get back, the photography world will pass you by if you do not pay attention. New cameras lenses, software. It can be a bit overwhelming.

Lately I've gone back to putting the camera in much of a manual mode as I can and tweeking it the way I want. There is a lot that you can miss, the trick is knowing how to adjust quickly.

Growing up; Mercedes

2010-09-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

This is one of the photos I've recently shot of Mercedes. I have had the pleasure of watching her grow up through my lens. Since she was 8 we have been taking photos together. Now a teenager, starting highschool.

Beautiful girl, but definitely a teenager which is perfectly normal, we were all there at one point in our lives.

The funny thing is, and I always have to ask my mom how I was because in my mind, I was the perfect daughter and never did anything wrong, BUT I now know that is not true.

High school was a blur, filled with art class, choir and friends. I was not one of the cool kids. I was average. Everyone knew me because of the camera I carried for yearbook. (it was my moms camera). I didn't buy "a pro camera" until college. I shot with an old Minolta, fully manual camera until my junior year in college. I knew and loved that camera. Unfortunately, I didn't keep it. I now wish I had.

If someone asked if I would want to do high school over again, it would be a big "NO". I had fun, but to go back to the angst, the decisions of which college I wanted to go to, of being a teenager...I'll pass.

Rembering 9/11

2010-09-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

World Trade Center one year after 9/11

Nine years ago, was the longest day of my life. My family one one of the lucky ones. The memory of that day will always be in my mind. I had just had knee surgery and was sleeping on the couch downstairs when my phone rang @ 9am.

Below are two of the stories I wrote while working at the Repository in Canton, Ohio as a staff photographer.

Part 1

A smoke break saved my brothers life.

Tuesday, at around 8:40 a.m., my brother Joel and a few ofhis coworkers were taking a break during their second day of a three weektraining program at the Morgan Stanley financial firm in the World TradeCenter, when the first building shook. Above them an explosion. Papers began torain down on them, taking cover in one of the buildings, they decided to maketheir way back to the hotel.

Back here in Ohio, I was awakened by a message from myfriend Kathy Sutton, who didn't know my brother was in New York. Half asleep, Iheard the answering machine. All I remember hearing was World Trade and planes.Frantically, I replayed the message and redialed her number. All I could saywas, What? Which Channel, "All of them," she said.

Turning on the TV, the first thing I saw was the secondplane slamming into the building. I still cannot explain what I felt when I sawit. My heart stopped. I began shaking and screaming into the phone, Oh my God!Joel is there, Joel is there. I couldn't breathe. My hands were shaking. I hungup with Kathy and shouted, Oh dear God, please, please let him be OK! I calledJoel's wife, Missi, in Pittsburgh. Both of us were in tears and were not surewhere he was.

In 1996 and 1997 I lived in New Jersey, spending everyweekend I could in New York. I had been to the top of the World Trade Center,watching the city crawl below. Its amazing how quiet the world was up there.All you heard was the wind. I was planning to visit during one of the weekendsJoel was there. Unfortunately, I had to have knee surgery and wasn't able to go.

After talking with Missi, I called Joel's boss in Pittsburgh.Still shaking, I said my brother, Joel Newcomb, was in New York, and that Ineeded to talk with his boss, Autumn, and I had no idea what her last name is.They put me through. After reaching her, I told her who I was. She said she hadnot heard from any of them.

My worst fears began to engulf me. Autumn asked me to staycalm, and told me that as soon as she heard anything, she would call me. Shegave me the name of Joel's hotel and room number, then gave me every singlephone number of hers, telling me to call her if I needed anything, day ornight.

Shortly afterward, I tried to locate my parents. I calledthe house. No answer. I called their cell phones. No answer. I couldn't thinkstraight, or focus on what I needed to do. I didn't want to leave a message onthe machine at their home, but I knew I had to. I don't remember what I saidexactly, but my dad said later that he had to sit down as he listened to themachine. Finally, I remembered my mom was at the Alliance Country Club. Callingthe pro shop in the clearest voice I could, I gave them my name and her name,and said they needed to find her no matter what it took because it was a familyemergency.

Hours seemed to pass in those few minutes I waited. Thephone rang.

Mom, theres been an accident, were the first few words Icould say. The World Trade Centers been hit by planes. I began crying and toldher Joel's training was in one of those buildings. She said she was on her wayover.

I'm really not sure how much time passed. I still did notknow where Joel was. The phone rang again. It was Autumn, Joel's boss. All Iheard was, "Joel is OK".

Relief. My legs gave out. It was Autumn, she told me thatJoel was outside having a smoke when it all began. Thank God he smokes, Ireplied. I hung up and tried to call my mom again on her cell phone, no answer.I called Missi, his wife and and told her. I called my dad. No luck. Pacing atthe front door, I waited for my mom to show up to tell her the good news.

As she walked in the front door, I told her. We hugged andcried for a long time. I tried to call my dad again. Still no answer. I leftanother message. Better news this time.

Meantime, my friend Kathy showed up. We hugged as I told herJoel was OK.

Finally, my dad arrived home and heard the messages, andcalled my moms cell phone. As they were talking, Dad got another call: heclicked over, It was Joel.

God, its good to hear your voice, Dad said. Dad clicked backover on the telephone to let us know Joel had called. Hearing from someone thathes OK is a relief. Having him actually talk to someone in the family isunexplainable.

During the next few hours, we watched in horror as bothbuildings collapsed. All those lives. All those families who weren't as lucky aswe were. We still didn't know where he was supposed to be in those buildings. Icontinually called his hotel in New York and left messages, each time, wishingI could just talk to him. I called Missi, his wife, again, to tell her he wassafe, because Joel had no way to call her. They had just settled in anapartment outside Pittsburgh, so he didn't know the number. The only number hehad was mine and my parents. Finally, they connected.

After making his was though the city and the chaos he gotback to the hotel. He told me they had been in the second building that washit, that it took them nearly three hours to reach their hotel. As we talked tohim, Mom and I cried even more.

Joel said it was the fastest he had ever run in his life. Hesaid that by the time the second plane hit, he and another trainee were nearthe church, which sits to the northeast of the trade center. Too close forcomfort.

My brother is alive, and for that, I thank God every day. Wefound out later the training was on the 61st floor of Tower 2.

I still cry not for my brother, but for all those who werentas lucky. For those who still dont know. This has changed me in a way I'm noteven sure of, as it has many people in our country. Maybe it has given megreater respect for life, not taking things for granted, realizing that pettythings dont really matter.

My parents and I are driving to Pittsburgh on Saturday. Weknow Joel is safe, but all we want is to see him and hug him. For a very longtime.

Bryant Park, the chars represented the number of people lost on 9/11

Part II

A year later...

One year ago, smoking a cigarette saved my brothers life.One year ago, I experienced the longest and worst day of my life.

We all remember where we were and what we were doing when weheard that the World Trade Center towers were hit by two hijacked commercialairplanes. Next, a plane struck the Pentagon. Then, a fourth plane crashedsoutheast of Pittsburgh.

It seemed as if the entire world were coming to an end.

I was in my living room, using the couch as a crutch, afraidthat if I let go, my heart, mind and life would fall apart.

Last September, my brother, Joel, had stepped outside TwoWorld Trade Center, the south tower, for a cigarette break. He began threeweeks of training for his new job at Morgan Stanley that Monday.

Sept. 11 was his second day at work.

When my brother decided to return to New York a year later,he knew without question that I would be going with him. Its been five yearssince I've been in New York City. In 1996 I spent a year working in New Jerseyand spent every weekend I could in New York, soaking up the culture, thepeople, the places. I had been at the top of the World Trade Center towers,where the only sound you could hear was the wind.

Today, my brother, his wife, Melissa, her sister, TinaProudfoot, and I exit a subway station onto Canal Street, and head toward thesite. Flowers, flags and photos of friends or loved ones cover a fencesurrounding a church that sits next to Ground Zero. My eyes keep searching forsomething that is no longer there.

Were standing at Ground Zero.

Vendors line the street selling American flags, patrioticT-shirts, buttons, banners and photos.

Surrounding the 16-acre site is a 13-foot fence covered in amossy green mesh. At one corner and side is a viewing area. We enter the site,and my brother tries to describe where he was, but he cant finish. We walk toan opening. Part of the way through, my brother looks out over the hole, agaping space of what used to be the World Trade Center. He puts his arm aroundhis wife. In the distance, bagpipes play "Oh Danny Boy".

Tears slide down his cheek as he looks back at me. I canthelp but cry myself. I walk over to him and kiss his cheek.

Today, we realize how close he really was to the horror.

We search around the site, looking for the statue of thebusinessman eating lunch, only to discover its been removed due to the devastation, and the small park it was in, torn down. We wander around the cityfor the rest of the afternoon, visiting such sites as Times Square and theEmpire State Building. We watch the city in motion. The scenery has changed abit, but its the same great city it has always been. Later, we stop for dinnerat Annie Moores, a small Irish pub near Grand Central Station, before we catchthe train back to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where were staying. When we were standingnext to Ground Zero, it was very hard for my brother to try to describe whathad happened to him on that day a year ago. But the more hours that passed, themore he talked about Sept. 11, 2001.

At dinner, Joel talked about the people standing, mesmerizedby the unbelievable horror and hearing windows break from falling debris as heran.

The noises were incredible and peoples reactions wereincredible, he said. Its something you cant explain.

Joel said he saw both buildings get hit by the planes, andhe felt the earth shake beneath him when they crashed to the ground. He talkedabout the surreal nature of an empty city.

Our return to New York City helped us put an end to a daythat will be forever a part of our lives, a part of everyone's lives.

It was good for me, Joel said. It was good for all of us.

Wall St, covered in the Red White and Blue

Back in LA

2010-09-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

Made it back to LA, still having some slight pain, I finally get to head back to work in just over a week. One side of my incision, has yet to close, so I put in a call to the doc today to see what I should do about that.

Physically I feel ok, I am still tired, but I have to assume that after someone cuts you open it will take awhile to feel like yourself again. I'm trying not to lift anything to heavy. (just in case).

I spent the day today helping my dad build his business website. Trying to KISS it. (Keep it Simple) so once he learns the back end, he can update it when he needs to. I am a self-taught web designer. I was given dreamweaver by a friend but not taught how to use it. So I taught myself and have since built more than 10 sites, and redesigned. Lots of nights pulling out my hair and chain smoking to get it all to work right when I first started, then one day it kinda all clicked.

It's taken some time, but I've got most of it down, now I just have to learn flash, php script etc etc....it's neverending. Although the benefit, I know I can earn money doing this for other people (if and that's a BIG if, I ever stop taking photographs) which is highly unlikely.

Since I was in recovery, I didnt get to do as much as I would of liked to while I was in Ohio, but I did get the camera out a couple of days and shot around my parents home. They love to garden and have fresh veggies which great for color and texture.

This photo was processed through photoshop and a few filters were added to give it the boarder and grainier appearance.

I used the same process, but change some of the hue in the filter. The wheel barrel, may have been sitting there 10 years and the vines have claimed it.

It's amazing what you can find to shoot in your own (or parents) backyard.

In Ohio

2010-08-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

The surgery was scheduled almost three weeks before I needed to be in Ohio for my friends shower and bachlorette party. Thankfully the doc gave me the ok to fly. Told me I would not be comfortable but I could do it. Had to have a wheelchair through each airport. I had my backpack but it had to be light, still no lifting. Not even allowed to put the bag in the overhead bin.

Thankfully I had my iPad for the trip. Two movies later and a couple of chapters in the book on it I'm reading, I landed in Ohio.

My mom and one of my best friends met me at the airport. Ohio thankfully was not humid. Not yet.

After shopping Friday, we get to the familiar back yard and I dont have the camera I want but had to snap a shot of the back of the house; lots of texture and vow to get the other camera out and reshoot.

The next couple of days it would be busy, shopping for the shower gift, bachlorette party and then bridal shower, all done by sunday at 6. Busy weekend. I overdid it slightly and pretty sure I have and will pay for moving so much. Woke up Monday at 11:30am. Definitly caught up on my sleep. The parties were a HUGE success and the bride and groom to be enjoyed themselves, which is all anyone can ask for.

New direction...

2010-08-30T12:19:00.000-07:00

I've decided to change things up a bit and rather just talk about photography, follow my world through a lens.

I've recently had the unpleasant experience of having uterine myomectomy surgery. This is very similar to getting a c-section and your recovery time is roughly 6 weeks. It's not a pleasant experience and the pain, well thank god for the epidural. Although your legs are dead weight and they use these massage things for your calves to keep from getting blood clots (odd machine fyi). You can feel the machines but you cant move the legs.

The first two weeks are the hardest. Really can't do anything, I was trapped in my apartment. Not only did the netflix stop working correctly and my cable box went out. Figures. I could do nothing. Thankfully I had a friend fly out and stay with me for the first ten days.She was able to get my box replaced and Netflix began working two days later.

There is no lifting, no stairs, you can't sleep worth crap...I spent one week sleeping in the chair I have in the living room, the good thing it has ottoman and it is really big and comfortable. The bad thing, I'm pretty much sleeping sitting up. Sleeping in a hospital is hard enough, every two hours nurses are coming in to check your blood pressure, and overall poke and prod. (it is a good thing, considering the alternative) but once you get home, all you want to do is sleep, and you can't. your body aches, you can't get comfortable. It's all around hell. I do not see how mothers that have c-sections do it.

My bed sits higher than most beds. So getting into it is not the easiest. Before the surgery no problem. Now I need a step stool...lol. I actually have a trunk on the end, just so my dog can get up there.

Unfortunately I could not have my dog for those recovery weeks, not even possible to walk him (being in LA, most ppl do not have a yard, I am one of them), so I have to walk my dog when he needs to go out. Which is a good thing for both of us. He spent the first 2 1/2 weeks with his second family and visited when he could. He just gets so excited to see me I have to protect myself and keep a pillow on my stomach. Yea he's really not trained completely; loves to jump, pulls on the leash when walking all of that.

The two days before I left for Ohio, I was able to have him, I could walk him and was able to spend time with him. Due to the extremely hot weather in the valley, he needed a haircut extremely bad, he begins to look like Sprocket from Fraggle rock if I let it grow too long.

It's the before and after haircut above.

Megan

2010-04-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

Dan

2010-04-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

Shooting Video with the D300s

2010-04-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Over the last two weeks, I have been shooting my first music video with the D300s. I have become a "Director, an Editor, a producer and a DP". I use these terms lightly because I DO NOT (and I stress this), do not feel I am.

I have friends that are editors and actors and I have a greater respect for what they do. Not having done this before, it is a lot of trial and error. Lots of error. Writing a treatment, a script and knowing your angles. It is exhausting and can be frustrating.

I'm not sure how those in the industry will receive the video once it is released but I am proud of it. Not having the school, the teaching of what I should do, I think it has turned out pretty good.

Through out the video, I used multiple lenses and tried as many angles I could, but going through the clips, I knew there was a few things I missed. SO we are working with what we have. Trying to find the best.

Here is a still shot, from the day.

Shooting Sports

2010-04-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

“Buying a Nikon doesn't make you a photographer. It makes you a Nikon owner”. ~Author Unknown

Since high school I have been shooting sports for the yearbook, from football games and soccer to covering the Football Hall of Fame games, the Cleveland Indians and the Browns for news. The key to a great sports photograph: Capturing that moment; freezing that action, so you capture that spilt second in which the game changes.

Understanding the sport is very important.

Shooting sports was probably my favorite assignment. Each season, each sport would bring a new challenge. I don’t think there is a sport I have not shot. I have covered everything from volleyball, Swimming, Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Soccer, Football, Golf, Track, Cross-Country, Field-Hockey, Hockey, Boxing, Wrestling, Tennis, to Rodeos. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing some of the most well-known names in the sporting world; LeBron James, Omar Vizquel, Jim Thome, Tiger Woods, Hall-of-Famers, Jim Kelly, Marcus Allen and John Elway.

When shooting sports, not only is it an understanding of the sport and how the action occurs. Equipment is crucial. Having the right equipment is essential; also understanding how to use your camera for the action/sport will help get the images needed to capture the event.

Depth of field plays an important part of separating your action from the background. Shooting wide open will help keep the crowd, other players out of focus so that your eye naturally goes to the player in your frame. Typically f2.8 to f4 was great from the distance I was shooting at the sidelines.
I had three lenses with me when shooting sports when I worked for the paper; The 300mm f2.8, the AF-S 80-200 f2.8 and the 28-70mm lens f2.8. These were the types of lenses I used regardless of camera from the F4 to the D1. I would carry two bodies, the 300mm would be mounted to a monopod and the second body would be around my shoulder with the 80-200mm lens attached. If I only felt like carrying one body; the 80-200mm would be in a front Domke waist pack, ready to grab and change lenses.

Stopping the action

When shooting sports, the shutter speed was my main priority. When I used Shutter Priority “S”, the aperture would open automatically as much as it needed. I then controlled how fast I was stopping the action.

Typically with outdoor, day games, I would have a shutter speed of 1/500th or higher, depending on the ISO-ASA I used and the sport I was shooting. I would use ISO/ASA 400 on both the F5 and D1 during day games.

In the evening when covering sports, I would have to use at least 800 ISO-ASA. Shutter speed was @ 1/250th of a second, if lighting was really low it was @ 1/125th of a second. Motion blur did occur in some of the images, but I also would have a flash available when they were close to the camera. Because of the low-lighting, an f2.8 lens was necessary.

Focusing for Sports

After you understand the set-up on shutter speed, aperture and ISO, next is to recognize how the camera will focus, based on the settings.

AF-S, or single servo is designed to be used when shooting relatively still subjects, In the Nikon cameras, setting the priority on focus, means the camera will not allow you to release the shutter unless the subject is in focus.

AF-C is continuous; it is designed for shooting actions or moving subjects. The lens will continue to focus and if the options are set-up correctly in the camera, it can also track your subject as it moves through the frame. In Nikon DSLR’s; Dynamic mode is recommended. You then have a choice of 9, 21, or 51 point. You also have the option of 3D tracking. I have tried the 3D tracking while shooting pee-wee football and it performed flawlessly. It maintained focus and stayed with the action in the viewfinder.

Basic Set-up for Night Sports / Indoor Sports
ISO 800 (at least if night game up to 3200) 200-400 ISO if day game

Shutter Speed 1/250th
F 2.8/F4
Dynamic, 21 pt
AF-C
Release + focus priority
Standard Color
High ISO NR: OFF
Active D-Lighting: OFF
Keep in mind, things happen, not all of your images may be sharp, you may have motion blur depending on your subject and how fast they are moving. But having an understanding of how to set-up the camera is the first step.

Shooting sports, takes practice, just like playing the sport itself. The more you practice the better you become. Timing and knowing the game is everything. If you don’t know when to release the shutter to capture that moment; no matter how many frames per-second your camera can shoot, you will still miss the moment.

I don’t consider the “rapid-action” shooters pros. They are shooters that should have video cameras not DSLR’s, that don’t understand the game, their camera or how to choose that decisive moment to freeze the action. This may offend many, but let me ask you this…Film cameras allowed you to shoot 36 frames; that is it.

How many of you would have been able to capture the action at the right time, the right second the right speed? How many photos would you have in those 36 frames that are usable and of quality? Could you walk away from a game shooting only one photo, knowing you “got” the shot?

Little Things...

2010-04-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

I love traveling, I don't get to do it as much as I would like or enjoy to. I had set a goal for myself that I would go one place each year that was new and different. Last year, it was Joshua Tree. This year I haven't decided.

Most of my vacation time will be spent heading back to my roots and to my friends in Ohio. I have the pleasure of being in my best friends wedding.

I would love to head to San Fransisco, but I think the walking is out until I get my new knee. The bad thing about having a knee that has to be replaced, you are limited on what and where you can do or go. So until I get a new knee and lease on life here is one of my favorite travel photos from the Grand Canyon.

New Nikon Lenses

2010-03-23T20:47:00.000-07:00

AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED and the AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR (yes old info but better late than never)

I had the opportunity to shoot with both lenses and the 24mm lens is a fantastic prime lens, and the 16-35mm f4 lens, gives the FX format the wide angle zoom in a smaller format than the 14-24mm. The benefit, for those that live by filters, you can attach a 77mm filter to the lens.

Some Specs:

Nikkor 24mm F1.4

Prime Wide-angle Perspective—Ultra-fast f/1.4 ApertureNaturalwide angle of view, with extreme light gathering capability, deliversextraordinary performance, meeting a broad range of challengingassignments.
Nano Crystal Coat Further reduces ghosting and internal flare across a wide range of wavelengths for even greater image clarity.
2 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elementsOfferssuperior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizingchromatic aberration, even at the widest aperture settings.
2 Aspherical Lens ElementsAsphericallens elements virtually eliminate coma and other types of aberration,even when shooting at the widest available aperture.
Rear Focus (RF)Provides smooth and fast autofocus while eliminating front barrel rotation and lens length changes.
Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM) Enables fast, accurate and quiet autofocus.
M/A Focus Mode Switch Enables quick changes between manual and autofocus operation.
Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm Renders more natural appearance of out-of-focus image elements.

Nikkor 16-35mm F4

Definitive Wide-angle Zoom LensVersatile wide-angle lens, perfect for travel, land and cityscapes, and general photography.
Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization VibrationReduction, engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens, enableshandheld shooting at up to 4 shutter speeds slower than would otherwisebe possible, assuring dramatically sharper still images and videocapture.
Nano Crystal Coat Further reduces ghosting and interior flare across a wide range of wavelengths for even greater image clarity.
2 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) ElementsOfferssuperior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizingchromatic aberration, even at the widest aperture settings.
3 Aspherical Lens ElementsAsphericallens elements virtually eliminate coma and other types of aberration,even when shooting at the widest available aperture.
Internal Focus (IF)Providesfast and quiet autofocus without changing the length of the lens,retaining working distance throughout the focus range.
Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM) Enables fast, accurate and quiet autofocus.
M/A Focus Mode Switch Enables quick changes between manual and autofocus operation.
Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
Renders more natural appearance of out-of-focus image elements.

All information from www.nikonusa.com

All about the focus...

2010-01-01T11:26:00.000-08:00

It happens to everyone. You take a great photo of an event. You preview the image on your computer and disappointment sets in. The entire photo looks blurry. What went wrong?

What is causing these blurry digital photographs?

There are a few reasons, and it's not related to how the camera is working, but unfortunately the photographer behind the camera and the set up chosen on the camera.

When you use a lens with a long focal length, camera shake becomes more pronounced.

When you have your lens set to wide angle (20mm) the lens is stable. When you look through the camera viewfinder, you should not see a lot of shake or movement.

When you zoom in on a subject and extend the lens. At a long focal length (200 to 300mm) you should see a slight jiggling when you look through the camera viewfinder. Currently there are lenses that help stabilize this, VR or IS depending on the system you own.

You can use a long focal length, so long as you set your shutter speed fast enough so that the camera shake is canceled out. The general rule of thumb is that you should not use a shutter speed slower than 1 over the focal length of the lens when you are holding the camera in your hands.

At 20mm, you should be able to get a clear photo with a shutter speed of 1/25th of a second. At 200mm, you have to increase the shutter speed to 1/250 of a second to get a clear photo. At 600mm, you had better be using a shutter speed of 1/700 of a second.

If there is not enough light to support these shutter speeds, then you have a few options.

1: purchase a camera that has vibration reduction (VR). VR is a mechanism within the lens that helps minimize shake even at long focal lengths so you can hand hold a slower shutter speeds.

2: place the camera on a tripod, which also helps eliminates camera shake.

3: Increase the ISO the camera to increase the sensitivity of the sensor

4: Open the aperture to allow in more light (if possible)

Slow Shutter Speeds

Slow shutter speeds will cause blurry photos every time. You might wind up with a slow shutter speed and be unaware of it if you have your camera set to aperture priority mode. In the "A" (aperture priority mode), you select the aperture and the camera determines the appropriate shutter speed to get a good exposure.

Say you have your camera set with a focal length of 100mm, an aperture of f8.0 and a shutter speed of 1/125. You are taking photos in bright daylight, and with these settings the photos should appear clear.

Now the sun dips behind a cloud. Your focal length is still 100mm, your aperture is f8.0, but the camera has adjusted the shutter speed to 1/60 for the correct exposure. Now your photo might appear blurry.

If all of these numbers seem overly complicated, here's the general rule to use: try to avoid shutter speeds slower than 1/125 of a second when holding the camera by hand. This covers all the focal lengths from 20 to 125, which is a pretty good range (a 3x zoom typically goes from 35 to 105mm).

Wide Apertures

When you use a wide aperture setting on your camera (f2.8 for example), you significantly reduce your depth of field. Sometimes, you can reduce the depth of field so much that the object you focus on appears clear, but another object less than an inch behind it is fuzzy.

Think of it this way: you take a photo of a flower with an aperture of f2.8. You have the focal point selected for the bottom of the flower. Due to the shallow depth of field, the center of the flower will be out of focus.

This problem is especially significant when you use a long focal length lens. As you increase your focal length, you further reduce the depth of field. So a long focal length and wide aperture will give you a shallow depth of field and compress you image more. The closer the subject the shallower the depth of field will be.

Think of it this way.

You are photographing a statue 50 feet away, the focal length is at 70mm, your aperture is set to f2.8 and you shutter speed is 1/250th of a second. More of the image will be in focus, due to the distance you are from the subject.

You then zoom in to 200mm, at f2.8, the shutter is reduced to 1/125th, VR is on, but you have compressed the overall image and have a much tighter shot of the statue, the background behind the statue is now out of focus.

Below are two images that show what changing your perspective, depth of field can do.

Top Image:

16mm, f9, ISO 200, 1/800th of a second

Bottom Image: Same settings
16mm, f9, ISO 200, 1/800th of a second

Summary

Here is a quick summary of the issues and solutions for getting sharper photographs.

Issue:

Blurry Photos

------------------

Increase your shutter speed so that it is greater than or equal to 1 over the focal length

or Increase your shutter speed to a minimum of 1/60 to 1/125 when holding the camera in your hands
Get a lens with vibration reduction (VR) technology

Increase the ISO

Turn on the flash (if needed)

Use a tripod

If shooting with a simple point an shoot camera, keep in mind you are limited. The point and shoot cameras can only do so much and are limited in their adjustments

Settings I recommend:

ISO 200-400

Flash "On"

AF-S mode

Leave the camera in "Auto"

Most of the time the P&S type cameras are used for snap shots of friends and family. So the settings above will help ensure sharper and clearer images.

How to stay Passionate

2009-12-27T15:42:00.000-08:00

We all go through it those times when life throws you curveballs, so how can you stay passionate about your Photography?

How do you keep those creative tricks up your sleeves?

It can be a challenge. I found looking at other photographers work, shooting and thinking outside the box help me. When all else fails...grab the camera and shoot. Get in the car and drive and get lost on the road. You never know where it may take you. These photos were on my way to Joshua Tree in between LA and Palm Springs, all shot with D300, 70-200mm f2.8, 24-85mm f2.8-4 and the 16mm f2.8 fisheye.

This is a very surreal field, miles of generators and fans, almost feels like a different planet.

It isn't much to look at, very dry, odd looking trees, many hiking paths and warnings about snakes. But the landscape is beautiful. Untouched, minus a road that weaves around the thousands of acres.

I would love to come up here around sunset and see what I can create, there are camping sites and trails throughout. Water is necessary, and sunscreeen is needed.

So if you have the time, I highly recommend, getting in your car and seeing what road you find yourself on. Just make sure to take the camera. : )

New Nikon Toys Announced!!!

2009-12-27T15:33:00.001-08:00

So late last night, Nikon announced two new products and two upgrades on lenses.

A D300s and a D3000

A new 70-200 f2.8 pro lens and the popular consumer 18-200mm lens.

As I have the D300, and no real need for video, I’m not that interested in the D300s, however, I have been waiting for the new 70-200mm lens, knowing that it was soon to be replaced, just due to the age of the older version.

I used to shoot and loved the older AF-S 80-200 f2.8, this lens was beefier and felt great in my hands. While the older 70-200mm lens was great and performed wonderfully, it felt off to me. The new 70-200mm lens looks like it might just be perfect. I will have to test the vignetting. But as we all know and should understand, ALL lenses will have this to some degree.

The newest D700, D3 and D3x, have a vignetting control feature which is great and really works.

A fun website to check out (and while this is a rumor site and can not be considered truth) it is fun to see how creative people can get with products.

http://www.nikonrumors.com

Enjoy!!

D3x...yummy

2009-12-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

Simply amazing. Simply Beautiful. I had the chance to shoot with the D3x for one day. The results were amazing. I pushed the ISO limits and shot with the Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8 lens.

Downside: downloading 700 plus images took a couple of hours. Having one of the latest macs, I figured this would be quicker, but alas no. (more than likely due to my card reader)

While I have no real need for a 25 megapixel camera. I found the results to be fantastic and wishing I had the need.

Detail, Detail Detail. The details and the what you could see at 100% blew my mind away. I've included a few samples, but hard to really see unless at full size.

While he seems a lot larger, this was shot with the Nikkor 24-85mm f2.8-4, and he stand roughly 5-6 inches tall.

D3x
Raw + Jpeg Fine
14-24mm lens @14mm
ISO 1250
Shutter Priority
F 2.8
1/320th
AF-S, Dynamic, 9 point

To see more of my images from my Day with the D3x, please go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thirdiphoto/sets/72157619715739972/

Website Presence and Design

2009-12-27T15:18:00.001-08:00

The freelance industry, for those semi-pros and beginners the industry has taken a nose dive. The economy has hurt so many photographers. I have heard of many photographers closing shop and packing their cameras away.

Typically the first of the year is slower; people have spent money at Christmas and are not looking to have photography done. This year however, work is literally non-existent. I have a few small side jobs, but not what I normally produce by the middle of May. It is frustrating and depressing all at the same time.

What to do? Spending money on advertising can’t happen; relying on Craigslist, word of mouth, random people browsing your website is all you have. Making sure your website is updated with all the latest info and photos is a must. Having a well designed website is also EXTREMELY important.

When I first started my business, I could not afford to pay someone to design a website. So using my basic skills with Photoshop, trying to understand what HTML was difficult to say the least. In 2000 this was not as well known by the masses that now have a myspace page etc. I spent an entire weekend and following week trying to learn HTML, playing with codes, words and images.

I developed by business name (with the help of a friend) purchased my website address, and sat at my computer for hours, stressing, chain smoking. Literally pulling my hair out to try and understand what specific codes did, how to make an image clickable. Mind you again this was 2000, very little info could be found and understanding the jargon was difficult.

Since that time, I have re-vamped, continued learning, continued to change my website look and feel numerous times. Moving to California, I knew I needed to step up my site and my game. I needed to try and stand out as much as possible from the others. In 2004, I received my first version of Dreamweaver. Opening this program was overwhelming. I had no clue. I spent weeks using the tutorials, with trial and error, and researching how to use this complex program, that I felt was written in Chinese.

For the next two years, Developing not only my website, but a friends, I had learned enough to get in trouble (as my mom would say). I had an understanding of how to create a site from scratch and make it a workable website.

Nothing fancy, but clean, eye-catching and usable. Once I had Dreamweaver understood, then it was on to Flash. I’m still learning.

Up until recently, I used a flash slide show that a friend had developed for me. It works but it was time consuming and no matter what I tried, I could not get the images that big. I wanted my art big, something that filled the screen and stood out.

About 8 months ago, I began researching the internet and looking at various photography sites. I had found many that I had like. I thought they were clean, simple yet effective. I began to notice a pattern, while each site essentially looked different, they worked the same. I had discovered LiveBooks; a company that developed websites for photographers. Gorgeous. I love this site; it had everything I was looking for in a website. It was clean, had large images that filled the screen, had music, flash, and was easy for someone to understand that was visiting the site.

Then I looked at the price. OUCH!

My dad has always told me I had a Cadillac ass and VW budget (when VW’s were inexpensive). I wanted this service but I could not afford it. So what do I do? The top price package, which gives you everything you would want, unlimited room, space and images, was over $3000.

I didn’t have that, let alone the time to save the money. I wanted to change my site but have more control of design and change of design. (I tend to change around my site once or twice a year.) I needed the flexibility and control of how my world was run. I needed something in my price range.

Having a better knowledge and understanding of HTML, CSS and some flash, I researched online and found a couple of programs/software that would work. The program I found only cost me $80. A one time charge. I self installed and have now a program that is very close to LiveBooks, but will allow me to build the page around their programming. If you are interested, please visit the site below.

http://slideshowpro.net/

Since beginning to learn basic webdesign, I now have designed online shops, informative websites and expanded my knowledge in what I believe the world is becoming an online based business driven industry.

What’s the first thing you do, when looking for information? Google it? Search for it online? Or do you go to the library? Last time I stepped into a library to use for research was at least 7 years ago and even then I believe it was for an assignment I was covering at the newspaper.

If you do not have a website yet, get one. It is vital to any photographer today looking to display work, drive business.

If you need hosting, I recommend 1&1, I have used their service for the last 3 years and found them to be the most affordable and offer the most space and capabilities. Click the image link below for more information.

Fun "Mini" Image

2009-12-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

Amazing Assignments...

2009-12-27T14:37:00.000-08:00

As a photojournalist for a newspaper, some very rare times you get the opportunity to have amazing experiences. I was one of the few not afraid of heights or being a little daring. So I was able to enjoy many of the assignments where others preferred to keep their feet on the ground.

The photo to the left was taken over Lake Erie, high above downtown Cleveland. Three WWII planes were in town for a local air show. One of the reporters (an ex) was given this assignment. I was then assigned to also go. My heart pumping as I drove to the Airport Marina in Cleveland excited to perform maneuvers over Lake Erie.

We meet the pilots, talked about their experiences. They travel all over the US to attend these events. The planes were original, used during the war and re-built. After a brief discussion of what we will do. Both the reporter and I climbed into our own planes. He with his notebook; and I with my D1 and 28-70mm f2.8 lens in my hands and around my neck. I had my camera bag wrapped around my feet and zipped.

I climb in, and am instructed to put on the head phones so we can talk while in flight. Take-off is smooth and my heart beings to pump, a smile growing wider across my face. We are off and all three in perfect formation flying over Cleveland. He then asks me, “So what would you like to do?”

Smiling I said “everything you got” The first move was a loop. All I could do was yell “Whoohoo!” The first move showed me how hard it was to hold a D1 with a g-force pushing everything in your body your hands downward. My D1, which was a normal weight, tripled. All I could do was laugh. Looking through the camera was impossible, not unless I wanted a black eye or bloody nose.

So I shot from the hip, in a sense (more like shot from the shoulders); it took all my strength, energy and control to keep the camera up. My arms hurt for three days after the assignment. Thank god I didn’t have to change rolls of film. That would have been impossible.

We did barrel rolls, more loops, and created a smoke trail. The world became a confusing, upside down place, not sure how they maintain any sense of directions about them. It was one of the best experiences, assignments, I have ever had. We finally land; I am smiling from ear to ear, ready for more. My adrenaline is raging. As the reporter and I are walking back to the car, I ask him what he thought. He said “I don’t know I had my eyes closed.”

All Io could think was “WHAT!!!” are you kidding me???

The assignment should have been given to a reporter that would have enjoyed the day. I was floored, and then realized why it was a good thing we were no longer together.

SUPER lenses

2009-12-27T14:29:00.001-08:00

Seen on B&H Photo:

A $120,000 lens!!! It’s a Canon lens that costs more than I think most people would spend on equipment in their lifetime. While it may be fun to shoot with once; just once. I have no need at all for this. Amazingly it is a fixed f5.6 and understandable the price for a lens at that length with that aperture.

The lens itself weighs in at 36lbs, with a close focusing distance of 49 feet. And more than 2 feet long (33 inches). This 1200mm lens is a beast but it was autofocus (circa 1993). I think though at that range, I would more than likely manual focus as it seems getting accurate focus would be difficult. The largest zoom lens made by Canon that I could find was an 85-300mm lens.

Nikon also made a lens with an extended range of 1200-1700mm special order lens (circa 1990), with an aperture of f5.6-8, it weighed @ 35lbs and 35 inches long; a manual lens and the largest Nikon has ever produced in a zoom. Nikon also produced a 1200mm lens with an f8 capability, similar to that of the Canon but their first version of this lens was produced in 1964 and continued to advance with the growing lens technology until 1985.

Use of this equipment would only seem to be for the high end government agencies (ultimate spy lens) that require a distance to shoot, view, observe a subject that otherwise is almost unattainable. I don’t see many sports shooters needing this range, even if they are at the Superbowl and can only stand in one spot. Most events allow photojournalists to move around so needing a super-telephoto or super-zoom lens is unnecessary.

The heaviest lens I have ever shot with was the Nikkor 400mm f2.8 AIS lens, it was too much, I had used it for a couple of games but decided to stick with the 300mm f2.8, which was much easier to carry around.

But if you had $120,000 to spend on this lens…Would you? That is the question. I think I would rather buy a couple of D3X’s, new computer system, maybe a house (or at least a down payment on a house here in LA)!

Random Images

2009-12-27T14:27:00.000-08:00

I've decided to start posting a few of my images, just because…. Well I’m bored. Want to try something new, to show samples, show off work, etc. These a few more images, that when I captured it, I knew it was the image I was looking for.

Through the Looking Glass

2009-12-27T14:17:00.000-08:00

Choosing the Right Camera

2009-12-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

Making that decision can be nerve racking. If you are a beginner or seasoned Pro the decision on what you purchase is very important. While having the latest is what everyone desires. It may not be the best choice for you.

First things first: (all this based on my knowledge of Nikon) Canon provides the same comparable models; I just don’t know their latest equipment.

Determine your need

Do you want a camera that you can carry around, that is perfect for those quick moments where you need to take a photo?

-Then a point and shoot compact Digital camera will be your best choice. I have one that I carry with me at all times, a small Coolpix S series camera. It’s perfect. Fits in my purse, great for nights out with friends or attending events where I don’t feel like carrying my DSLR.

Determine Skill

I recommend to anyone that may be looking at a DSLR, consider your skill level; this is very important because it will help you decide what is going to work best for you. If you are looking to get into photography and you want something more than a point and shoot, look at beginner DSLR cameras like the D60, D40, this will give you the basic features but allow you to shoot in Auto if all else fails. Understand the amount of photos you will be able to take in a single second is minimal, especially when using the pop-up flash.

The step up from that is the D90, while it has auto, it has more manual controls needed for greater image control. There are some added benefits to shooting with the D90 over the D60, older lenses can be used. The D60 is limited to the latest AF-S lenses. Auto focus and metering will not work correctly if you use an older AF lens on this model. If you have older lenses then the D90, is a better choice over the D60.

If you are a beginner or have some understanding; before you spend the 2k, on a D300 or more on the D700, D3 or D3x. TAKE A CLASS!!!!

Do not make this purchase unless you can be confident you will understand the equipment. If you do not know what aperture, shutter, depth of field or ISO is… TAKE A CLASS!!!

If you do not, you will not only regret your purchase, you will loose money and time trying to learn all that you can with out the understanding of how the camera actually functions, which is VERY important as each photograph has varying lighting conditions, unique shooting conditions, that with understanding comes the confidence.

Anytime anyone has ever asked me about their camera choice, that they want to learn about photography, I recommend they spend @$200 on a used film camera that allows you to shoot manually, and take a beginner photography class at a local community college. While this may seem archaic, you as a photographer will learn so much more which will carry over to when you are ready to make that “BIG” digital purchase

Determine Use

What are you going to use the camera for? Occasional shooting, possibly the kids playing sports etc.; as you increase in the model, the more you can do, but the more complicated the camera can get. I do not recommend anyone purchasing a D3, unless that has an understanding of Nikon digital equipment and what shutter, aperture and depth of field mean.

If you are a pro, then you know what you want. Your choice is FX or DX.

The skill level from beginner to expert is as follows: (current cameras)

D3000 > D40 > D5000 > D60 > D90 > D300 > D300s> D700 > D3 > D3s > D3X

Many pros use the D300, because of the 1.5 factor, which is important if you are a sports shooter. Having that increase in focal length is a huge benefit. Or they have stayed with the D2x.

Do not buy a D40/D60 model expecting to make money as a “Successful” photographer, while some images will probably work, understand that as a “Professional” photographer, you are being paid to capture those moments, you are being paid by the client to provide them with quality images. Don’t blame the equipment when you are getting under exposed, over exposed, blurry images. 9 out of 10 times, it’s not the camera, it’s the user that is making the mistakes.

FX vs DX:

FX = Full Frame (D700, D3 and D3x)

DX= Digital Frame (D40, D40x, D50, D60, D70, D70s, D80, D90, D100, D200, D300, D1, D1x, D1h, D2h, D2x)

For film shooters, this is easier to understand, FX frame has the same size sensor as the 35mm film plane, DX frame is a smaller sensor, with a 1.5 increase on lens focal length.

For example:

FX; shooting with a 20mm lens, like the film cameras, it is a 20mm lens

DX; shooting with a 20mm lens, is like shooting with a 30mm lens (a 1.5x increase in focal length)

Determine Cost

What can you spend vs. what do you want to spend.

Digital camera a lot like cars, decrease in value each year. Technology advances so quick with digital that models that are 2-4 years old, are not really worth 1/4th of what you originally paid. My first digital, which only had 6 megapixels, was $2500, without the lens. I sold it for $400 (very sad). My D300, without the lens was nearly $700 cheaper, had better image quality but will probably turn into a paperweight or backup once I replace this a couple of years down the road.

New models for top end DSLR’s are produced on average every 18-24months.

If you don’t have the money but really want a certain model, don’t settle, SAVE! It is important to pick the camera that is best for you, if you chose to step down because you don’t have enough money but you need a camera now. Rent one, save for what you want. Most large camera companies do not offer an upgrade program. So realize what you purchase will be it, no chance to trade-up, and you probably will not get what you paid for if you decide to sell later.

Research, research, research!

This is very, very important and why I said it three times. Research online, look at specifications, what will the camera come with (accessories etc), some dealers offer packages. Go to local dealers, play with the camera, hold it, and shoot with it. Does it feel good in your hands?

Once you choose the model, you can then price online, but be aware of import/gray market vs. authorized. Key; if it’s too good to be true more than likely it is not an authorized product, which will not have the manufacture warranty, nor will it ever be able to be service by the Manufacture. (Please see my previous blog on Gray Market: http://thirdiblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/buyer-beware/)

Feel free to comment, send a message if you have any questions on this or if you are unsure and want advice on which camera is best for you.

Things to shoot on a LOW to NO budget..

2009-12-27T14:08:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately we are all feeling it, lack of funds, lack of corporate responsibility (AIG shame on You!). So what can we do as creative, passionate individuals?

For the last month, I have been researching places and things to do in LA for free or at little cost. Generally mostly cost gas and some time. My ultimate goal is to try and go one place each month over the year. While it may seem like a little, it won’t burn you out from driving and creates the sense of a mini-vacation.

A few things I came across: Queen Mary (was free for two weeks for soCal residents). I went on the last day; while an interesting history about the ship (larger than the titanic) I was not that impressed. It appears that during the 70’s many of the characteristics of the ship were remodeled; leaving it with this very odd style that does not fit the era of the ship. Photographically the only thing that caught my eye, was the radio room (which was re-done for a local station) and the engine room, dark, mysterious, lots of old dials and controls. Parts of the ship were closed off and you had no access to which left me bored after two hours. Other than that, I am happy it was free, because it would not have been worth the $30, plus parking to see it.

Places I plan to see this year:
Gorman Hills. I have heard this is supposed to be beautiful, and plan on taking a road trip up there this spring. http://www.socalcamping.com/wildflowers/gorman.html

Catalina Island:
Although not a small cost, a package which includes the boat ride over (@$70), plus two hours on shore, will lead to possible whale sightings and some amazing images. It would probably be @ $100 with parking and lunch on the island.

Hollywood:
A mecca of places to see at night; Worth just going with one or two lenses, maybe a tripod if I plan on doing any long exposures.

The PCH:
Just a drive along it is worth anytime spent or gas used.

Getty Center:
Still have to check this out, I have heard this is a very nice place, and it is free.

Downtown LA:
I would like to shoot downtown at night, but really refuse to go alone. I have a shot in my head I would like to capture, but requires being on the SE side of downtown.

Santa Barbara:
Last time I went I didn’t really get to enjoy it the way I would have liked but it was gorgeous. Lots of unique little shops and places to see.

I just wish I had more time to do all this, more free-time, but yet again, I’m glad I have a job. I guess the idea, make the most out of what you are shooting while you are doing it.

Additional Places, someone reminded me of Mulholland Dr, great views and there is an amazing trail that leads to the top of one of the hills. Great View of Downtown and Hollywood. Also Griffith Observatory, I had forgotten they reopened last year.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall... PRACTICE!

2009-12-27T13:59:00.001-08:00

I have spent many years trying to perfect my craft, hone my skills and creatively produce images that stand out. Shooting since I was 15. (Skip ahead 22 years) As of lately and highly due to the digital era, you hear of many people “wanting to become photographers”.

Just because you may own a camera does not make you a professional or a photographer. It takes years of learning, critiquing, and understanding a camera completely. Now I’m not saying that someone that picks up a camera can't take amazing photos, I am simply stating, it does take more than that.

I have heard stories of a few people buying a D40 or a Rebel and believing they can begin to make money and “become famous”.

To book jobs it requires many things, contracts, professionalism, understanding lighting, understanding if something goes wrong with your images, it more than likely because of you not having a full knowledge to what to do in certain shooting conditions. Not the equipment. Realize that if you screw up, your client, the one that hired you, can sue you for not providing them with the service and the photos they paid you for.

Practice, take a class, and get out of the AUTO mode. Buy a flash and use it. Buy a film camera that is completely manual and USE it.

Know what ISO - ASA is, Shutter, Aperture, Exposure compensation, why using a lens like an 18-200mm is not the best choice as a “professional”, learn to use a flash properly and learn what happens when you bounce the light. Learn why you have to spend the money on a F2.8 lens. Make mistakes; learn from them; just don’t make them while on a job.

Learn about the ones that came before you. Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorothea Lange, Eddie Adams, Ansel Adams, Margaret Bourke-White, Weegee, Joe Rosenthal, Helen Levitt and controversial photographer Mapplethorpe; these are just a few. But they are considered the Masters of Photography; they are our teachers and our counselors.

I have an older friend that used to shoot with Ansel Adams, used to discuss photography and where it was going. (I love hearing his stories). He was told that if photography started with the 35mm cameras, Ansel Adams would not be the photographer he is today. He would not have picked up his first camera. What would of the world been like, no Zone System? No knowledge of the perfect prints or negatives?

Ansel Adams is more than just a poster you can hang on your wall. He developed what was widely used by many photographers that shot black and white then and today. The Zone System which is a photographic technique for determining optimal film exposure and development, formulated by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer in 1941. The Zone System provides photographers with a systematic method of precisely defining the relationship between the way they visualize the photographic subject and the final results. Although it originated with black & white sheet film the Zone System is also applicable to roll film, both black and white and color,negative and reversal, and to digital photography.

There is so much to learn, I learn everyday; through research and practice. I keep up with the latest equipment, software and techniques.I recommend you do the same, even if for a hobby or professionally.

Lifes' Curveballs

2009-12-27T13:58:00.001-08:00

As a photojournalist for 15 years, I had covered many aspects of life, from the good to the bad. The good, thankfully outweighed the bad, but there were those stories, that had a permanent effect that stayed with you forever.

While working for my first paper, out in Idaho; a small town roughly 25,000 people with one light that stopped traffic in the 3-4 downtown blocks; I had the opportunity to meet one of the strongest, amazing families in my life. Two years prior to our meeting, they had discovered a very rare disease had affected their family of five. While it was cancer related, this disease, quickly destroyed the functions of their 5 year-old daughter.

Doctors had discovered the disease was genetic, which meant someone else in the family was affected. While they had the knowledge that their little girl, would someday no longer be able to fight this battle, crushing news came when dad developed the same issues but at a much faster rate. He was expected to survive 6 months. He out did the doctors and had survived so far a year.

The first day I met them, was for her 5 year-old birthday party as a small tea house. All of her friends were there, dressed to the nines. Her two brothers dressed in suits and ties. After the party mom and I began talking; we bonded quickly and found we had many thing in common, shared interests and we both loved to laugh.

The following week she called and invited me to dinner. I spent the next year developing a very close friendship with them. They were the brightest, most uplifting family I had ever met. Nothing could keep them down; they loved, laughed and played often. Cancer was not going to stop or limit this family from getting the most out of life. Six months before I was to leave to begin at another newspaper, they asked if I would photograph their 50 year wedding anniversary, the following month. They had been married only 10 years.

Their dad and husband, knowing he would not be around, planned a 50-year renewing of vows during the Relay for Life. A tent on the field had been converted to a Tiki Hut, those walking the track stopped to watch and cheer them on. Everyone in attendance knew this would be his last Relay.

As time goes, people loose touch, things change and everyone grows in different directions. I tried emailing them a couple of months after I moved to Ohio, but the email came back undeliverable. Last I heard his wife was now speaking about Cancer and about her story. I do not know the outcome, as I could not find them anywhere. I would like to believe that everyone had survived the cancer.

Shooting Style...

2009-12-27T13:56:00.000-08:00

Everyone thinks they need one...most people tend to find theirs, but the nice things as a photographer just capturing those moments.

Mine tends to be random...whatever floats my boat at the time I'm looking through the lens, I love irony, white space, sometimes simple but complicated images. I like to see what most people tend to ignore. Below is an image I took while walking around an old farm house in Canton. The house I don't think had been painted in decades and paint was peeling off the walls. I saw this and just laughed. An unplanned optical illusion. This was the first print I ever sold.

The Fleeting Moment...

2009-12-27T13:49:00.001-08:00

Focusing:

The key, don’t rely strictly on the autofocus drive of the lens and the camera. While in most situations you will find it is perfect, many times you need to trust your eyes.

Turn Autofocus OFF!!!

Shoot like that for 1 month, not only will it give you the understanding of what you can do, you may find the results are far better than you expected. If you have bad eyesight, adjust the diopter to work for you. Or shoot with your glasses.

Put the camera in Single shot/Single Servo; let it focus without the need to rapid fire. It’s takes a split second to capture that perfect image, if all you are doing is holding down the shutter. You are not a photographer, but someone that should be shooting video.

Henri Cartier-Bresson said it best…

“Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn’t go too fast. The subject must forget about you. Then, however, you must be very quick.” ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

One of his most recognized images.

Derrière la Gare de Saint-Lazare, 1932

Creatively as a photographer, you will tend to think out what may happen as you approach subject matters to shoot, you get the idea in your head what you are looking for.

I would be on assignment, watching the world open up before me through my camera, through my lens. I would know the instant I caught the photo I wanted. In my head I would think “That was it” and all the images that may have followed after that felt wasted.

I would go back to the paper to edit my images from the day and knew the exact photo; the moment I had captured was exactly what I wanted. I told the story with one image.

The following Bresson image is that same idea. The fleeting moment. That split second. When you know it is perfect and exactly what you wanted.

“…photography, for me is a supreme moment captured with a single shot.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri Cartier-Bresson, FRANCE. The Var department. Hyères. 1932.

Try it, shoot manually, even if you don’t know what you are doing. You may learn something.

Building my Arsenal...

2009-12-27T13:45:00.000-08:00

So since the digital age has begun, I had been very (very) slowly building up my arsenal of equipment. Things have vastly improved over the last year and I have been able to purchase more equipment for needs and future use.

As of now I own:

Nikon D300

AF Nikkor 50 f1.8

AF Nikkor 24-85mm f2.8-4

AF-S Nikkor 105mm F2.8 VR

AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5-5.6

What I personally use to own until the D300:

Canon A2e

Canon 10D

AF Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4

AF Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS

AF Canon 100mm f/2.0

What I have used and shot with during my years as a photojournalist

Nikon FM2

Nikon F3HP

Nikon F4

Nikon F5

Nikon D1

Nikon D200

Nikon D3

Manual 50mm f1.2

AF Sigma 14mm f2.8

AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm f2.8

AF Nikkor 20mm f2.8

AF-S Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8

AF-S Nikkor 300mm f2.8

Manual 300mm f2.8

And the beast among all of them, the Nikkor 400mm f2.8, manual lens (circa 1985)

Manual 500mm f8 Reflex Mirror

I guess you could say I have experienced many different aspects and equipment uses. After all this, I can honestly say, camera choice depends on your preference, your comfort, what you are used to. While I was shooting many of the film Nikon bodies during my years as a photojournalist, I was personally shooting Canon. Essentially the cameras are the same, same capabilities but the buttons and options are simply in different places.

I prefer Nikon, due to the quality of glass. I do honestly believe Nikon produces top of the line large glass and even in the variable lenses, I get outstanding results. The Nikon D300 and D3 produce simply fantastic image results and believe my next big purchase beside the Nikkor 17-55mm DX lens and the Nikkor 10.5mm DX is:

: Nikon D700

Unless something else comes out before I purchase this... : )

Aperture / F-Stop

2009-12-27T13:43:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have talked about Depth of Field...one of the many settings in a camera that affects depth of field is aperture. Or F-Stop (focal ratio) as it can be called; which in the simplest terms is the hole/opening in which light goes through. Just like our eyes dilate to adjust to lighting conditions, the aperture blades of a lens can do the same thing. Only we have to make those adjustments in the lens within the camera.

Aperture effects depth of field and shutter speed. The more light that can come through the lens the higher your shutter speed will be and the shorter your depth of field will be. The less light that comes through the lens the greater depth of field you will have and the slower your shutter speed will be.

Some typical shooting conditions and how I would set up the camera:

High school gyms actually have really bad lighting and can get tricky. I would shoot in Shutter Priority to maintain the shutter speed as the aperture will stay as wide open as it needs to be especially for night games.

Sporting events:

Basketball/Volleyball/Wrestling

ISO: 400-800 I would push to 3200 when I couldn’t use flash

Shutter: 1/250th, no less than 1/125th

F-Stop: 2.8

Lens: 80-200mm f2.8, 17-55mm f2.8

Flash: TTL (could only be used in basketball and wrestling)

Night Games: Football/Soccer

ISO: 400-800 I would push to 3200 when I couldn’t use flash

Shutter: 1/250^th

F-Stop: 2.8

Lenses: 300mm f2.8, 80-200mm f2.8

Flash: None

Day Games: Soccer/Football/Track/Baseball

ISO: 200

Shutter: 1/500^th

F-stop: f 2.8-4

Lenses: 80-200mm f2.8, 17-55mm f2.8

Flash: None

These are typical results when using Pro Glass (any lens that has an F-stop of f2.8 or lower). Obviously, things can change and having the flexibility as a photographer is needed. When I first began shooting, everything was manual. There was no “Auto” anything. That experience taught me what I could do with a camera and lens and how to push the envelope.

Given that most people can not afford the pro glass, and have lenses that have variable aperture, you will be limited. By increasing the ISO though, you may get the results you desire, within the limits of the lens you are using.

Landscapes/Artistic Photography

This is and would be considered user preference; based on what you as a photographer likes. What you subject is. Having shallow DOF or a large DOF. The lighting or lack there of. My general rule of thumb, largest file, lowest ISO possible, Adobe RGB, and RAW + jpeg

Everything else is up for change, to affect the final image. This weekend, I went to Hollywood to shoot night shots using CLS and shutter speeds at 1/20^th to 1/8^th of a second for an album cover. I used the lights in Hollywood to help light my subject as much as possible and had an SB-800 as a wireless light to light the face.

The results came out pretty amazing and can’t wait to begin working on the Album Cover Design. (fyi, I have not only 15+ years as a photographer, but have also worked as a graphic designer/illustrator for many years professionally)

I have always thought and have been taught; it’s not the camera but the glass that is more important.

Growing up Creative

2009-12-27T13:42:00.000-08:00

Reading some of my earlier post today, I realized how boring this blog has become….I get so wrapped up in going over some of the basics; I forget to tell some of the stories. Shooting for more than 15 years now, I have had so many different experiences. Some not so great, some I will never forget.

In the beginning…

I was 12 years old, my aunt was my idol. She traveled, saw the world, and captured many photos while doing it. As kids (cousins) in our family we had a tradition of gathering around the kitchen table as my grandfather set up the old movie reels, and played silent movies that showed our parents and grandparents seeing the sights and the world. Hours upon hours of noiseless history.

On my mom’s side I have two uncles and one aunt. Each had 2 kids. (There were 6 of us that grew up around the same time, all within a 10 year age period, I was the oldest). Every holiday after dinner, we would all gather in a 6x12 kitchen, with an oversized table that took up the entire room. Grandpa would set up the movie projector on one end of the table, the lights would go out and the fun began for us. We saw our parents as kids, our grandparents much younger than we ever knew them. We laughed as my uncle would pick on my mom. We saw them visit landmarks like “Old Faithful”, family in Montana, Wyoming, riding horses, running around in places that we would eventually see ourselves. My grandfather was an avid movie maker and picture taker. Not only did he have boxes of reels, some miles long, they had drawers and drawers’ full of old black and white photos, my grandpa had taken. I would and could spend hours going through all the photos.

My grandfather, not only was a photographer, he was a geologist and collected rocks, a film maker (you actually have to wind this camera to get it to work), a graphic designer (creating Christmas cards every year from photos he had taken), and he was an archeologist, (using his metal detector to find hidden treasures buried in the ground or at beaches.) He was a musician, (harmonica, wooden flutes and drumming on anything he hands ended up on), he was an Military man, spending a few years in California on duty (met my grandmother there). It wasn’t until years later during his funeral that I realized my creativity, didn’t actually come from my aunt, but from her dad and my grandfather. His influence on our family was astounding. Of us (the oldest cousins) we have a photographer, stock broker, archeologist, musician, military man, and business manager. We are all part of who this man was.

Since I was the oldest, I grew up with my mom’s sister, who when I was two was still in high school. So I spent much of my younger years, hanging out with my aunt. When she finished college, she traveled the world and took photos as she went. I remember sitting at my grandparent’s house going through all her photos and thought “I could do this”.

That was the turning point at 12 years old; I knew I wanted to become a Photographer. I then spent the rest of my childhood, usually with camera in hand. The Kodak 125 camera, was the first one (still have it to this day), I eventually graduated to the lost art of 110 cameras and film and then on to 35mm. My first real SLR camera was a Minolta SRT201. Sometime during college, I upgraded my camera and bought my first Canon. I wanted Nikon but I could only afford so much.

: My first 35mm camera

I miss the Minolta. It was a simpler camera, no bells, no whistles. It shot the way I wanted it to.

To be sharp or not sharp...that is the question

2009-12-27T13:39:00.001-08:00

I get a lot of questions about focusing; generally, the first thing people do is blame the equipment. Step back; look at your lens, and body. Make sure it is the equipment. Many times it is “user” error. Now there are all types of focus tests that state they are accurate, but again user error can prevent this from being the truth.

Things to note and observe:

What is your ISO? (Set around 200), make sure you have plenty of natural light

What is your shutter? (Needs to be high to eliminate the possibility of camera shake)

Are you on a tripod?

If you have Vibration Reduction, is it off?

Make sure you are on AF-S (Single Servo), with a single point of focus selected

Now, just because focus may be off, does not mean a malfunction of the equipment. Many companies allow equipment to be backwards compatible; this allows those that have been shooting for years to use older lenses. And although these lenses will connect and work, technology has advanced and auto focus has improved. An older AF lens, while it may work in most situations, might not have perfect focusing every time. Due to improvements in auto-focus technology, you may find shooting situations where an older lens, any lens previous to AF-S technology, does not appear consistently sharp. This is the result of technology growth with the auto-focus system.

Lenses can be tested by the company and checked to make sure they are within specs. If they do not find an issue or something wrong; realized that you are probably exceeding the capabilities of the lens or that it may be the contacts on the camera body that need to be looked at or that it may be user error.

Searching online for “lens focus tests” you will find many that offer advice and how to do this properly. Below are a few that may work for you.

http://photo.net/learn/focustest/

http://www.dphotojournal.com/download-free-focus-test-chart/

The Test (from photo.net)

To use the chart you set it up at 45 degrees to the axis of the lens as shown below.

Once you have everything setup you select your focus point (use the center point) and make sure the focus area/zone includes only the single focus point. Then you take your shots. Take several and refocus each time. Try several manual focus shots also. Use the maximum aperture of your lens so as to get minimum DOF.

The picture above gives you the basic knowledge to attempt a focus test. Again, make sure you follow the instructions.

Ethics and Photography

2009-12-27T13:38:00.001-08:00

Below is the standard in which every documentary photographer, photojournalist should live by. While this is was major part of my life, following rules and personal ethics; due to changing the type of work I now do and the advancement in art, digital photography and computers, ( fine art, headshots ) I have learned to bend my rules. I call it "Photo Illustration"

It took some serious self-reflection. The idea of not-manipulating work has been such a part of my daily life, I couldn’t do. The first headshot took me twice as long to edit because I couldn’t grasp the idea that it was “ok” to clean up the image (within reason and while I still prefer it as natural as possible), if an actor is having a bad skin day, making them perfect/clean (not plastic) is ok.

If for any reason the image you shoot resembles, is, a documentary image, this manipulation is NOT OK!!!!

The NPPA ( www.nppa.org ), is a great place for resources, information and basic guidelines on photography.

The National Press Photographers Association, a professional society that promotes the highest standards in photojournalism, acknowledges concern for every person's need both to be fully informed about public events and to be recognized as part of the world in which we live.

Photojournalists operate as trustees of the public. Our primary role is to report visually on the significant events and on the varied viewpoints in our common world. Our primary goal is the faithful and comprehensive depiction of the subject at hand. As photojournalists, we have the responsibility to document society and to preserve its history through images.

Photographic and video images can reveal great truths, expose wrongdoing and neglect, inspire hope and understanding and connect people around the globe through the language of visual understanding. Photographs can also cause great harm if they are callously intrusive or are manipulated.

This code is intended to promote the highest quality in all forms of photojournalism and to strengthen public confidence in the profession. It is also meant to serve as an educational tool both for those who practice and for those who appreciate photojournalism. To that end, The National Press Photographers Association sets forth the following Code of Ethics:

Code of Ethics

Photojournalists and those who manage visual news productions are accountable for upholding the following standards in their daily work:

-Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects.

-Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities.

-Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Recognize and work to avoid presenting one's own biases in the work.

-Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see.

-While photographing subjects do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or influence events.

-Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.

-Do not pay sources or subjects or reward them materially for information or participation.

-Do not accept gifts, favors, or compensation from those who might seek to influence coverage.

-Do not intentionally sabotage the efforts of other journalists.

Ideally, photojournalists should:

-Strive to ensure that the public's business is conducted in public. Defend the rights of access for all journalists.

-Think proactively, as a student of psychology, sociology, politics and art to develop a unique vision and presentation. Work with a voracious appetite for current events and contemporary visual media.

-Strive for total and unrestricted access to subjects, recommend alternatives to shallow or rushed opportunities, seek a diversity of viewpoints, and work to show unpopular or unnoticed points of view.

-Avoid political, civic and business involvements or other employment that compromise or give the appearance of compromising one's own journalistic independence.

-Strive to be unobtrusive and humble in dealing with subjects.

-Respect the integrity of the photographic moment.

-Strive by example and influence to maintain the spirit and high standards expressed in this code. -When confronted with situations in which the proper action is not clear, seek the counsel of those who exhibit the highest standards of the profession. Photojournalists should continuously study their craft and the ethics that guide it.

Examples of Manipulated work: (from NPPA)

Our credibility is damaged every time a reputable news organization is caught lying to the public and one of the most blatant and widely recognized cases was the computer enhancement of the TIME Magazine cover photo of O. J. Simpson. TIME took the mug shot of Simpson when he was arrested and changed it before using it on their cover. They would not have been caught if NEWSWEEK had not used the same photo on their cover photo just as it had come from the police. The two covers showed up on the news stands next to each other and the public could see something was wrong.

TIME darkened the handout photo creating a five o'clock shadow and a more sinister look. They darkened the top of the photo and made the police lineup numbers smaller. They decided Simpson was guilty so they made him look guilty. (There are two issues here: one is a question of photographic ethics and the other is a question of racial insensitivity by TIME in deciding that blacker means guiltier. The black community raised this issue when the story broke and needs to be the subject of another article. My concern is with the issue of photographic ethics).

In an editorial the next week, TIME's managing editor wrote, "The harshness of the mug shot - the merciless bright light, the stubble on Simpson's face, the cold specificity of the picture - had been subtly smoothed and shaped into an icon of tragedy." In other words, they changed the photo from what it was (a document) into what they wanted it to be. TIME was making an editorial statement, not reporting the news. They presented what looked like a real photograph and it turned out not to be real; the public felt deceived, and rightly so. By doing this, TIME damaged their credibility and the credibility of all journalists.

-John Long
NPPA Ethics Co-Chair and Past President
September 1999

Understand Depth of Field or DOF

2009-12-27T13:34:00.001-08:00

There are many things to know and understand when it comes to photography. Depth of field, Aperture, Shutter, ISO/ASA, basic lens knowledge, camera choice, computers, software, memory cards, and most important composition, rules of thirds and shooting for certain situations.

Definitions (both by Wikipedia and in layman’s’ terms)

Depth of Field:

WIKIPEDIA:

In optics particularly as it relates to film and photographythe depth of field (DOF) is the portion of a scene that appears sharp in the image. Although a lens can precisely focus at only one distance, the decrease in sharpness is gradual on either side of the focused distance, so that within the DOF, the unsharpness is imperceptible under normal viewing conditions.

LAYMAN’S:

This is affected by the aperture, lens and focus point. For example to have overall sharpness, having a large depth of field is needed. Setting the camera at an F-stop (aperture) of F11 or F16 is going to produce the greatest sharpness from front to back of the image. Setting a camera at an F-stop (aperture) of F2.8 or F4 will produce a very shallow depth of field. This great for portraits, or other object where you want the background to be blurry; I shot football at F2.8/F4 for every game, this made the players pop, separating them from the background.

Football example:

Understanding and controlling depth of field allows for creativity and flexibility in your images. Most SLR/DSLR cameras have a DOF preview button or will allow you to assign a button to control this option.

Shallow Depth of Field Example:

Large Depth of Field Example:

Both of these examples give you an idea of creative ways to capture images using depth of field as a main influence in your image. This is a very basic understanding of depth of field. I suggest trying it out. If you have not already done so, take your camera out of the Auto mode (usually indicated by the Green Icon) and put it in aperture priority on your camera (mode or dial options; indicated as an “A” on Nikon and a “Av” on Canon. Shoot in aperture priority, shoot from the largest aperture which is at least F1.2 to the smallest aperture which is at least F32 (this will be explained in the next blog)

…more to come

Buyer Beware...

2009-12-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

Gray market, understand this term. Understand if you buy an imported camera, you might have issues. FCC regulates electronics that come into the US. Imported cameras are not meant to be sold in the States but in other countries. They come without cords and cables because they are not rated for the US, so everything, including the battery is removed from the box, you get just the camera. You will be given a third party warranty, which can not be honored or serviced by the manufacture. Save your self time and headaches, make sure you buy an authorized product.

Unless you don't care, I just don't recomend it.

Protecting your Investments

2009-12-27T13:31:00.001-08:00

I am a Nikon shooter but have used both Canon and Nikon throughout the years. I like Nikon glass and prefer the functions in the Nikon cameras. Regardless of make and model each camera is essentially the same. They both have the same overall functions, just in different places and different icons. Choose a model you like and stick with it. Switching between the two main manufactures will not only cause you headaches but unnecessary cost in the long run. If a camera needs service expect delays, do not expect the world to be handed to you on a plate. If you threaten to switch be prepared, because at some point you will probably want to switch back. Both companies sell many, many cameras and have not only your camera or product to look at but everyone else who sent in something for repairs.

If you drop the camera, expect a cost, you dropped it. The camera didn’t jump from your hands. If the LCD screen is cracked more than likely you sat on it or placed something heavy on top. You did this, not the camera. There are of course issues that can happen, if it is legitimate, explain it, don’t yell. Why be mean, first it’s rude and second as my mom always say, you catch more flies with sugar…or something of that nature.

Digital cameras of today are not the steel encased cameras of the 60’s and 70’s. They are now computers, containing CPUs, electronic parts and chips. Treat the camera like you would you laptop, a Plasma TV or even a cell phone. If you drop it, spilled something on it, got it wet, pushed on the lens, broke the battery door, claim the responsibility and either pay to get it repaired or buy a new one.

Or you can handle your camera with greater care. We all know things can happen. Many of the newspapers I worked for didn’t pay for your equipment to get repaired. So even when I finally landed a much better gig and all the equipment was supplied and they covered any incidentals. I still to this day fall with my arms up and my camera above the ground. I will hurt myself first before I hurt my investment.

I have the bad knees and ankles to prove this.

Entering the Photography World

2009-12-27T10:38:00.000-08:00

Shooting for now more than 15 years as a professional photographer there are many questions I am asked.

How to set up a camera?

How to get the best images?

When should I use flash etc.

Hopefully this blog, might help a few people, provide answers, maybe not, who knows, but it gives me an opportunity and you an opportunity to ask questions, research and talk about my one true love and passion. Photography.

I’ve been shooting since I was 10 years old and had my first Kodak Instamatic Camera. It took 125 film. When I was around 15, I upgraded to a very cheap 35mm camera. (I think a free one, my parents somehow won). At some point I advanced to a Minolta 35mm camera, fully manual, it had no bells and whistles. I shot with this throughout college, it was my gem. I knew the camera, how to expose, how to time the shutter and capture the images I wanted. It was perfect.

Upon graduation, I purchased my first “Auto” camera. But I still shot manually. Technology advanced, jobs changed, newspapers came and went. I went from a couple of small town papers, and using my own equipment, to a paper that supplied two bodies multiple lens and flashes.

I was the newest employee with the oldest Nikon equipment they had. An Nikon F3HP and F4. Thank god for my old Minolta. The lenses they gave were the beasts, all fixed focal lengths; all f2.8; from the line Nikon created in the 70’s and 80’s. I had a 300mm f2.8, that out weighed my camera bag and a 400mm f2.8, I couldn’t use until I bought a proper monopod. These were strictly manual lenses, nothing auto about them. I got very good shooting football and other sporting events in manual focus.

Then one day, we were handed two D1’s the first DSLR camera made by Nikon, the 80-200, the 14mm and the 28-70mm we had 10 mins to learn how to use them. I went to my roots and shot in manual mode. It was a photojournalist dream. No more guessing, no more processing of film. You shot. You uploaded. You edited. You were done. A whole new world of deadlines, time constraints developed in mere seconds, instead of mins while you waited for your film to process.

Times quickly changed and the digital Era had begun. Many photographers fought it, but for the photojournalist it was the direction you had to go.