One Day Workshop Schedule

ALL ONE DAY WORKSHOPS ARE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED

Workshop details are available from the Registration Page.

Macro and Close-up Photography

Flash Photography, High Speed flash, creative lighting

Portrait and Lighting Techniques

Digital Photography A-Z.  This is a one day three part course that will teach you camera basics, post processing and printing.

The Digital Darkroom - a course that covers image capture, asset management, processing and enhancement, output to print and web media. A one day program for digital image making workflow

Timelapse Photography, post processing and video assembly

If you have any questions or would like more information please call 617-759-0010 or email sv@shivverma.com

Please use this REGISTRATION link to register for these workshops.

TWiP Episode 453 – Hot New DSLRs!

If you’ve been listening to TWIP over the years you probably know how we feel about the relatively slow pace of innovation in the “mirrored” camera space… also known as the dSLR.

To reiterate, I personally LOVE Canon and Nikon, and I still own a bunch of Nikon gear, including many lenses and strobes. But now I primarily shoot Panasonic Lumix gear. Part of the reasoning is that the innovations and tools mirrorless technology gives me, “fits” better with the kind of media creation (stills, video, etc) that I enjoy.Enter Pentax — a company that Ricoh acquired back in 2011 for $124 million dollars, has announced a brand new dSLR, with many features not found on any “mainstream” camera (mirrored, or mirrorless!).Also Canon has refreshed its dSLR line-up with the 80D, as well as new glass and some accessories squarely aimed at video creation.

Click here for the Youtube ChannelHere is the link to the TWiP page

Iceland - Sept 17 - 25, 2016

Plans for the 2016 September Iceland photo tour and workshop have been finalized.  Exceptional fall colors and if luck prevails, the Aurora Borealis will make this trip exceptional.From the western peninsulas of Snæfellsnes and Reykjanes to the exquisite south coast including the exquisite black sand beaches and icebergs in Jökulsárlón and surrounding areas this trip is designed for all levels of photographers.  This trip is limited to a maximum 10 participants.All Iceland photo tours and workshops for the past 4 years were fully subscribed within a few days so please register as soon as possible.CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Wild Flowers, Smoky Mountains and Cades Cove - Spring Workshop

April 17 to 22, 2016 - Six Day 5 Night Photo WorkshopGreat Smoky Mountains National Park is a world-renowned preserve of wildflower diversity over 1,660 kinds of flowering plants are found in the park, more than in any other North American national park. In fact, the park is sometimes referred to as the “Wildflower National Park.” From the earliest hepaticas and spring-beauties in the late winter to the last asters in the late fall, blooming flowers can be found year-round in the park. Wildlife is fairly abundant in Cades Cove and we will have opportunities if lucky, to photograph bears. Landscapes, rivers, waterfalls and much more - a photographer's paradise.CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100 - 400mm F/4 - 6.3 lens

Last week at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife festival I had the opportunity to briefly try out a pre-production unit.  The lens was one of the first pre-production units and a lot has changed since it's manufacture.  The final units will be way better in image quality, performance and handling.  With that said, I will say I was truly impressed with the way the lens performed.The Leica 100-400mm is an f/4-6.3 telephoto zoom lens that gives the equivalent of 200-800mm in 35mm equivalence.The lens has a lockable zoom pull feature, so you can pull the end of the zoom to set the zoom position, or when it is locked, you need to rotate the zoom ring to vary the focal length. The lens has Power Optical Image Stabilization, and high-speed 240fps AF drive, which makes it incredibly fast in focusing performance. It is also, splash and dust proof.A feature I found most useful was the lens collar and foot that also rotates all the lens function switches. This allows you to easily access these in any orientation, landscape or portrait.In thumbnail view, hover over the thumbnail to see the focal length and exposure details.  To see a larger rendition of this slide show please click here

Panasonic announces LEICA DG VARIO-ELMAR 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH Power O.I.S. Lens

Press Release:Panasonic announced today at CES 2016 a new telephoto lens for its LUMIX G range of Micro Four Thirds System cameras – the LEICA DG VARIO-ELMAR 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH. Telephoto-Zoom (H-RS100400) with Power Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.).Small, light and highly durable, the latest addition to Panasonic's range of interchangeable lenses is perfectly suited for photographing birds and other wildlife in all types of environments.The lens is constructed of 20 elements in 13 groups and incorporates a number of aspherical and extra low dispersion elements to assure best quality and avoid flaring. The advanced construction of the new Telephoto-Zoom leads to highest quality standard earning the LEICA Logo for a LUMIX Lens once again.Outstanding image quality and Telephoto-Zoom performanceElegantly designed with a metallic black finish, the new 100mm-400mm LEICA DG VARIO-ELMAR lens from Panasonic provides superb image rendering across the entire zoom range. The lens' 200-800mm focal length (35mm equivalent) and 0.5x Magnification capability provide highly detailed shots from distance, as well as stunning close up capability– ideal for subject matter regardless of shape and size.In order to capture steady, vibration free images across the entire zoom range, the lens also incorporates Power O.I.S. to keep unwanted shaking under control and ensure pictures look crisp and clear.The 100mm-400mm lens is also suited to a variety of photographic styles – with nine diaphragm blades providing a circular aperture to produce a smooth and beautiful bokeh.Smaller and lighter than other Telephoto-Zoom lensesWhen compared with conventional super telephoto DSLR lenses, the latest addition the LUMIX G line up offers outstanding mobility – perfect if you're travelling and don't want to pack too much. Similarly, the lens also boasts a durable, gapless construction so you no longer have to worry about unwanted dust or light rain damaging your equipment.In addition to the lens' practical size and weight, a compact, two-part tripod mount has also been incorporated to enable faster conversion between landscape and portrait orientation.  While conveniently and speedily turning to the 90 degree angle, the levers for Focus Limiting, Power O.I.S. and the manual focus switch remain right at your fingertips as they do not move when you turn the lens.The lens also incorporates an integrated, hideaway hood to help you capture that perfect shot, without having to worry about sun glare.Stunning 4K video capabilityPanasonic's new LEICA Telephoto-Zoom lens is perfectly suited for 4K video recording with its construction assuring the best contrast and colors. Furthermore the Telephoto-Zoom incorporates Panasonic's high speed and precise 240 fps AF-motor. Due to the modern design, filming can also be conducted silently, so you can get up close to the subject without drawing attention.As well as high resolution video, the lens' 4K capability also enables you to take photos like never before. Panasonic's 4K Photo function – found on LUMIX G cameras including the LUMIX DMC-G7 – lets you extract an 8-megapixel still from 4K video (30fps) easily right on the camera's screen with a simple fingertip touch.Key features:

• Longest focal length for Micro Four Thirds
• Compatible with Dual Image Stabilization
• 240fps AF Drive
• Zoom ring lock
• Weather Sealing
• Integrated Quick Shifting Tripod Mount
• Integrated shift-away lens-hood

The LEICA DG VARIO-ELMAR 100-400mm lens will be available at www.shop.panasonic.com and valued channel partners for $1799.99 in early April.SPECS:Focal Length: 100 - 400mm Comparable 35mm Focal Length: 200 - 800 mmAperture: Maximum: f/4 - 6.3 Minimum: f/22Angle of View: 12° - 3.1°Minimum Focus Distance: 4.27' (1.3 m)Magnification: 0.25xElements/Groups: 20/13Diaphragm Blades: 9, RoundedImage Stabilization YesTripod Collar: Yes Fixed - rotatingFilter Thread Front: 72 mmDimensions: (DxL) Approx. 3.27 x 6.75" (83 x 171.5 mm)Weight: 2.17 lb (985 g) 

Battle of the Barges - Boston Sept 5, 2015

After a very long time the Battle of the Barges returned to Boston.  Piers Park would have been the ideal location but the crowds were overwhelming. Alternate East Boston location provided good views of the North End Barge.Please click on the image for a larger version. 

Iceland August 2015 - Day 4 and a Resolution Test

 Today was a travel day to the highlands with a few stops en route.Here are a few images and an experiment seeking detail.This image above was taken as an 8 image pano and stitched in Photoshop.  The resulting image is 23,881 pixels by 7680 pixels.  This equates to an image 100 by 32 inches (approx) at 240 dpi.  There is a farm in the distance that I have applied a red stroke to in the image below (this has been reduced to 500 by 1600 pixels.  Please do click on the image below for a larger rendition. Equipment: Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 at f8, Sony A7R ISO 200, 1.6 sec using a 6 stop HiTech ND filter.I cut and pasted this stroked area onto a new image layer in Photo shop. The crop is about 1936 by 479 pixels. The crop section is below - please click on this for the full scale view.The new mirrorless sensors are amazing.

Iceland August 2015 - Day 3

 This the last full day in the peninsula (rain and wind aside) was spent exploring the far west and the northern coastline.       

Iceland - August 2015 Day 1

It was unfortunate that we had very poor internet service this trip to Iceland hence no posts.  This was a small group photo tour to the Snaefelsness Peninsula and the Highlands.  The trip  was 11 days with 10 of them rainy and very windy - this is Iceland after all.  We arrived at a decent hour in Keflavik and on to the car rental.  The morning was spent organizing cell phone SIM cards, drinks and snacks.  We had breakfast at a quaint little breakfast pleace in Reykjavik. Walked about town and then drove on to a fishing village Hellnar and checked in to the hotel.A brief trip along the Southern coast before dinner and bed.  Note that this and most if the images in subsequent posts lack great skies. 

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000

Received an evaluation unit of this bridge camera this afternoon. The camera has an incredible 24 to 400 mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8 lens that will blow you away.  BTW the lens has the Leica designation.  More on this camera in a future post but this was the first image shot out my back door.  A juvenile male Downy Woodpecker.  Not the best lighting conditions but the camera and lens performed really well.  The crop represents less than 15% of the original image before being resized for this blog.  Click on the image for a larger rendition.

Peony

"Dusk on the FlowerOf the white peonyThat embraces the moon."Gyodai - Haiku from the Edo period (1603 - 1868)

This image was inspired by Chinese/Japanese art where paintings of peonies proliferate. In this culture, it is not only the symbol of wealth and status but can also be a metaphor for female beauty. In Western culture the flower was named after the Greek God Paeon. The root of the white peony like many other plants is used for medicinal purposes.

As a photographer the beauty of this flower captivates and inspires me.

Since there is no direct translation of my name into Chinese, I had to create my own "chop" - an an S and a V.

Rendezvous with the Sensuous

"Every direction offers a lesson in form and aesthetic options; one element after another attracts the eye with texture, color and tension that provokes a spectrum of emotion."an excerpt from Rendezvous with the Sensuous: Readings on Aesthetics - Linda Ardito, John Murungi

Hummingbird Moth Hemaris thysbe

The Hummingbird Moth Hemaris thysbe, unlike most moths that are nocturnal or shade loving, is seen on bright sunny days. It is a fantastic hovering species  that flies like a hummingbird and hence its name.They feed on nectar using a very long proboscis.  Their wings flap at incredible speeds.  This image was captured at 1/1600 sec and I was unable to freeze the wings. 

Peak Design - CLUTCH - an excellent hand strap

This is the second in my three-part review of the Peak Design camera strap product line.  Here I review the Clutch.  This is a comfortable and beautifully constructed support strap.  This is no ordinary hand strap, it is not only easy to attach but has a wonderful feel around the back of your hand.

The top end is attached to the strap loop of your camera via a looped band that is then attached to the strap using a spring-loaded trap-door style locking mechanism.  The other end is connected via an Anchor Link attached to the supplied camera base plate or your Really Right Stuff compatible plate.I attached this to all three of my mirrorless cameras and my wife’s Canon 6D.  I found it to be most comfortable when attached using the supplied plate or the RRS plate on my Panasonic GH4 and with the Canon 6D.  On the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and the Sony A7R the RRS plate extends too far to the right that provides too much slack.  This slack has the Anchor Link clasp interfering with your hand and is not comfortable at all.  However if you use the supplied base plate this is no longer an issue.Once the Clutch is properly attached it is a breeze to tighten it for a perfect grip by pulling on the tab of the tightening band.  To loosen, you simply lift on the end of the friction loop to release the tension.As with any hand strap there is a concern of the camera possibly slipping out of your hand and falling to its doom. If this is a concern, you can easily solve this by attaching a second Anchor Link to the base plate and use a to secure the camera to your wrist, using the “Cuff”.

Specifications (from the Peak Design product page)

• Weight: 45 g (123 g as packed)
• Strap length: adjustable from 18 cm (7 in) to 29 cm (11.4 in)
• Strap width: at the widest point, 51 mm (2 in)
• Strength rating: Vectran®-corded Anchors can withstand over 200 lbs (90 kg), making Clutch safe for use with the largest of professional cameras

Build quality

Of all the straps that I have used in the past and currently, I find the Peak Design Clutch  to have been made exceptionally well as I have found with the other Peak Design straps. As with the Slide, every component is beautifully constructed, all the stitching is truly well executed. The adjusters, the loops and the tripod plate are all of the highest standards.I have been using the Clutch to my Panasonic Lumix GH4 for two weeks and am very pleased with the performance. .  With the cuff as added security this is an excellent combination.

My final assessment

This is undoubtedly the most comfortable hand strap I have used.  It is ideal for the lighter DSLR’s and any mirrorless bodies on the market. Of significance is the easy of tightening and loosening the strap.I would not hesitate to recommend the Clutch and give it 4 1/2 star rating out of a possible 5. The street price is about $40.To get any Peak Design product click on the logo below for a 10% discount.

Peak Design - SLIDE - an awesome camera strap

This is part one of a three-part review of three camera straps made by the kick starter company called Peak Design. I had heard about these from a number of sources including my friends at TWiP (This Week in Photography).  Peak Design were kind enough to send me the Slide and the Clutch and I ended up getting the Cuff. After this bit of testing I should consider getting the leash too as you will see from my review.Let's start with the Slide which is the most versatile strap in this family of straps. The strap is made of materials similar to those found in automobile seat belts. The two ends of the strap terminate with a unique attachment system made off a spring loaded slide-in connector that connects to a Kevlar loop clip system. The strap is actually two belts fused together in the central area that would typically wrap around your neck or across your shoulder. The fused area has a slight padding with one side same as the belt while the other side has silicone striping to provide enough friction to prevent it from slipping off the shoulder. I find this double-sided arrangement very convenient.  It is so easy to switch between the surfaces for those times you want to use the strap as a slide or have it in it's nonslip mode across your shoulder. To maintain uniformity there are two adjustment loops at either end. An anodized aluminum metal handle mechanism allows you to extend or retract the length of the strap but you must do on both ends to keep the padded area in the middle.The Slide strap kit comes with the strap, four Anchor Link connectors, one square Arca Swiss compatible camera plate, an allen wrench on a ring, a carrying pouch and a user manual. These are all nicely packaged in a well-designed box.I attached two Anchor Links to either end of my camera where you would typically attach your OEM camera strap. I attached a third Anchor Link to the loop connector of my existing Really Right Stuff extendable camera plate. With three connectors I am able to use the strap in various configurations. The most convenient is across the shoulder where I can easily bring the camera into shooting position with my hand on the grip and index finger on the shutter release with no obstruction. If I need to Carry the camera around my neck, I can easily detach the connector from the base plate and attach it to the free connector at the top. For the various ways you can sling slide I found carrying the camera on one shoulder to be the least secure and also not very comfortable.

For hand holding the camera the I attach the Clutch (more on this in Part 2) by attaching it to the two Anchor Links attached to the side of the camera body top and bottom (RRS Plate).

Specifications (from the Peak Design product page)

• Weight: 171 g (281 g as packed)
• Strap length: adjustable from 99 cm (39 in) to 137 cm (54 in)
• Strap width: 45 mm (1.8 in)
• Strength rating: Vectran®-corded Anchors can withstand over 200 lbs (90 kg), making Slide safe for use with the largest of professional cameras

Build quality

Of all the straps that I have used in the past and currently, I find the Peak Design Slide to have been made exceptionally well. Every component is beautifully constructed, all the stitching is truly well executed. The adjusters, the loops and the tripod plate are all of the highest standards.I use the slide mounted to a Canon 6D and on my Sony A7R for about 10 days now and am very happy with the performance. I always like to remove my camera strap when I mount the camera on my tripod so as to prevent any shake as straps tend to act like mini sails in windy conditions. This requires constant disconnecting and connecting Anchor Links. So far, they have all performed extremely well and it appears these will not give or come loose for a long time..

My final assessment

I am very happy with the performance and comfort of this strap the Slide. It is really designed for any camera but my preference would be to use the Slide for heavier DSLRs and mirrorless camera bodies. A slimmer version but with the same wide shoulder padding would be ideal for the smaller minimalist mirrorless bodies.  The Peak Design Leash comes close but does not have the comfort padding.I would not hesitate to recommend the Slide and give it 4 1/2 star rating out of a possible 5. The street price is about $60. Keep in mind that a small Arca Swiss camera plate will cost you a minimum of $20 - here one is included. This to me is a great bonus.To get any Peak Design product click on the logo below for a 10% discount. 

Martha's Vineyard - Workshop

A extended Memorial day weekend workshop in Martha's Vineyard was absolutely fantastic.  Friday through Tuesday of great weather even though it was cold (very cold and windy).  The Ashley Inn a B&B was large enough to accommodate all 16 of us with great rooms and a homemade breakfast each morning.  Winters and erosion have taken their toll on the Island and the Aquinnah (Gay Head) Light House is in the process of being moved further inland.  4:30 AM departures and Midnight to bed resulted in very long but fruitful days for the group. Here are some comments and feedback from the participants:[audio mp3="https://shivverma.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/05/wscomments.mp3"][/audio]In-between classes and field instruction I was able to get a few shots and this is one of my favorites. (please click on the image for a larger view)

Lumix® G VARIO 100-300mm / F4.0-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. Lens

Went out to photograph the marsh wrens at the Great Meadows NWR yesterday.  The wrens were there but the windy conditions kept them deep in the reeds.  I had taken my Lumix 100-300 lens on the Olympus OM-D E-M1 body.  I have a lens collar and at the foot manufactured by Roesch - www.r-roesch.de which really helps with this lens when mounted to a tripod.As there was not much in the vicinity I took a few shots of a Red-wing Blackbird - the bird was a little spec in the frame as you can see from the image below.  The full image may be seen by clicking on the image itself.The next image is a crop from the region where the bird was sitting. Except for RAW conversion and a slight opening of the shadows, no other post processing has been done.  Click to open the image at 100%For the price this is an exceptional lens and hope Panasonic make a G X version of this lens soon. 

Testing Affinity from Serif

Have not had a lot time to test the 2nd Beta release of Affinity but gave it a good shot yesterday.  Still a lot to learn, but on the whole, I like it a lot.  Has some great features built in, the filters are great but not sure I like the fact that it creates an intermediate file.  The following is an image processed entirely using Affinity (Sony Raw to a TIFF export).

ZEISS announces 2 Full-Frame Autofocus Lenses for Sony A7 Cameras

ZEISS Batis 2/25 and ZEISS Batis 1.8/85 – Designed for Sony A7 camera series

The ZEISS Batis 2/25 and ZEISS Batis 1.8/85 are the first full-frame autofocus lenses for Sony's E-mount cameras to be exclusively developed and distributed by ZEISS. This new family of lenses is particularly suited for the use with Sony's alpha range of mirrorless full-frame system cameras. The two new lenses will be shipping in July 2015.The new ZEISS Batis 2/25 and 1.8/85 lenses are the first full-frame autofocus lenses with an OLED display for the mirrorless Sony α series and therefore the pioneers of a new era. As professional tools, they enable outstanding image performance, impressive contrast and maximum resolution down to the very last detail.The innovative OLED display shows the distance of the focal plane from the camera system and the depth of field, ideally supporting creative image composition. Of significance is the fact that you will be able to see the readout in low light conditions.  The display is powered through the camera. The OLED display is an absolute highlight – an innovation that is currently unparalleled in camera lenses.The Batis 2/25 is a Sonnar lens while the 1.8/85 is a Distagon lens Available this summer - The ZEISS Batis 2/25 and 1.8/85 lenses will be available for purchase in April and start shipping in July 2015. The recommended retail prices are $1,299 for the ZEISS Batis 2/25 and $1,199 for the ZEISS Batis 1.8/85.Click here for more information