2015 Photography Project - 12 Pre-visualized Photographs

The Oxford dictionary indicates the term Pre-visualization as a Noun and Pre-visualize as a Verb as follows:Pre-visualization: The visualization of how something will look when created or finished.Pre-visualize: To visualize (how) a thing will look when created or finished; to imagine or predict (the result of a process or act).Ansel Adams was a pioneer of this technique. He pre-visualized the final print and based on this he determined what would be needed to achieve that result. This would become his game plan for what he captured and how he processed it in the darkroom.Ansel Adams definition of visualization was:The camera makes an image-record of the object before it. It records the subject in terms of the optical properties of the lens, and the chemical and physical properties of the negative and print. The control of that record lies in the selection by the photographer and in his understanding of the photographic processes at his command. The photographer visualizes his conception of the subject as presented in the final print. He achieves the expression of his visualization through his technique—aesthetic, intellectual, and mechanical.Pre-visualization should become a mandatory requirement to consistently make great photographs.When you do not pre-visualize, you are photographing without a plan for the end result. Authors have a story board or an outline of the book they wish to write, architects create blueprints before buildings are constructed, fashion designers sketch their designs before cloth is cut, so should you pre-visualize before you shoot. I do also believe this does not apply to all types of photography, in particular, sports, certain events, photojournalism and street photography to mention a few.Many photographers have challenged themselves to do 365 or 52 projects where they capture one image a day for a year or one image a week for 52 weeks. So here is a twist based on two of my mantras “pre-visualization” and “deliberate photography™”.The project is based on your pre-visualizing 12 images and then striving to capture them as you pre-visualized them.The way you go about doing this is through a process of journalling before the fact.  It is more like creating a story board sketch.  Each sketch is created to record your pre-visualized image and may also contain lens perspective and focal lengths, mood, lighting and some post processing notes.The 12 pre-visualized sketches can be individual images that have no connection to each other, they could be a part of a story or they could be based on a theme you choose.Keep these twelve sketches with you in your camera bag. More importantly flip through these pages every once in a while.  When you come across a scene that is representative of what you have pre-visualized, be deliberate, take your time, wait for the moment and capture the image.Once you have post processed the image, compare it to your sketch - see how well you achieved what you had set out to capture.This is something different but a project that will teach you to be on the look out for the images you desire, think and plan your photographs and help you create photographic art.Leave me a comment if you would like me to set up a page to display your project.

Firmware Updates

What is "firmware"?  Firmware is the program code that resides in an electronic or computer device's read-only memory (ROM). ROM can be written into using special software.  Firmware is also referred to as "microcode". Typically, firmware is written into ROM when products are assembled in the production facility and is used to facilitate the running of the product defined by user programs.In most cases, when a product is first introduced the firmware is given a numeric designation, typically 1.0.  As features are added and bugs or problems are resolved, new firmware is developed and the numeric designation is updated.  This could be 1.1 or 1.01, etc.  These are minor revisions or updates.  A significant enhancement or update is usually designated with a whole number increment, 2.0, 3.0, etc.  All firmware updates are designed to be incorporated into existing products via an update.  Such updates can be downloaded from the manufacturer to your computer and subsequently into the ROM of your product.With many manufacturers, you will get an email notification when a new firmware update is released.  However, this notice will only come if you have registered your product. You need to periodically check for these updates on the manufacturer's website (usually in the support section).It is unfortunate that many DSLR's and Mirrorless camera owners rarely update the firmware.  Only when they encounter issues and ask for support they will be requested to do an update. The update will in most cases resolve the issue.It is good to periodically check the firmware version of your camera and verify that you have the latest.  If you are not up-to-date, then download and install the latest version.  Be very careful and follow installation instructions explicitly.  There are no shortcuts and a mistake during a firmware update can render your camera useless.  You will have to send the camera to the manufacturer for a complete reset and update.DSLR and Mirrorless cameras are not the only products that require firmware updates. Newer lenses, flashes, lens adaptors, hand held light meters, studio strobes, etc. contain ROM and firmware.  If your photography product has a USB port (connection) then it probably has ROM and firmware so it is worth checking for updates.Why not start the new year ensuring all your gear is up-to-date.  It is also good to check for updates once every three months.  Why miss out on a new feature or bug fix.

Thank You and Happy Holidays

Thank you for an incredible 2014! You have been an integral to the success of our photography workshops, educational programs, photo tours and publications.  We are ever so grateful and proud to have you as part of our community.  We look forward to your continued support in 2015 and beyond.This was photographed at the Black Sand Beach of Jökulsárlón in South Iceland 

Nissin i40 - an exceptional pocketable flash

I had been anxiously waiting for the two evaluation units to arrive and finally they arrived two days ago, December 15, 2014. The small Nissin i40 is made for Canon, Nikon, Micro Four Thirds, Sony and Fuji cameras. With a current street price of $269 this is a very affordable unit.In the box is the flash head, a stand with a metal 1/4 20 thread for mounting on a light stand or other device, a diffuser, and a quick start instruction manual.  A nice belt mountable pouch for carrying the unit is provided and they include a carabiner so you can attach the pouch to any belt, strap or camera bag loops and rings. A spare set of AA batteries fits nicely in the diffuser so you can carry enough reserve power in one convenient pouch.The i40 weighs 7 oz and fully extended is under 3 1/2 inches. The unit is powered by 4 AA batteries and unlike the larger Nissin flashes this does not have a cartridge system for the batteries. With a guide number of 40 or at ISO 100 of 131' at 105 mm and 89' at 35 mm position, the unit is suitable for most photographers who like to carry a handy flash for fill as well as indoor photography needs.The power zoom range is from 24 mm to 105 mm without the diffuser and 16 mm with the built-in diffuser in position. The flash is mounted on the camera hot shoe using a spring-loaded locking mechanism that is very convenient. The flash-head tilts up 90˚ in four stepped positions and rotates 360˚ in 30˚ steps.In addition to the flash light source, the i40 includes an LED based video light with variable power output.Triggering the i40 requires you to either mount it to a hot shoe or remotely trigger it wirelessly using the cameras built-in trigger.There is no LCD panel and all controls are via dials on the back panel. Unfortunately these are not illuminated and pose a slight problem in a dark environment. Clearly the dials are designed for ease of use and they do just that.For purposes of this review I am using the i40 designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras and all my testing was done with the Panasonic GH4 and some additional testing with the Olympus OM-D E-M1.Size and Weight: This is a very small unit comparing it to a Nissin 8000, and the Nissin 466 (also designed for MFT cameras), the i40 is totally dwarfed. Without batteries the unit weighs 7.17 oz and with four AA batteries the unit weighs 11.0 oz.  The pouch, diffuser and stand add another 3 oz.Battery Compartment: Unlike its larger brothers the i40 does not have a removable battery cartridge. You slide open the door and insert the batteries as marked. The makings are well identified and you are not likely to insert the batteries wrong. To close the battery door you need to push the door down over the batteries and simultaneously slide it into the locked position.Mounting to a hot-shoe or stand: All you need to do is to slide the Nissin i40 into the hot-shoe slot. A spring-loaded mechanism secures the unit in place. To remove the flash head, you need to push a small unlock button and then slide the unit off the hot-shoe.

Operation:

To turn on the i40, lightly depress the power button. The power indicator light will turn red and once the unit is charged the light will turn green. Concurrently the zoom feature will initialize.

Controls & Modes

As mentioned earlier, the i40 controls are two dials and indicator LEDs. The dial on the left side of the back panel is used to select operating modes while the one on the right is used to adjust power or exposure compensation (depending on what mode you use).

Modes:

I will address each mode as the mode dial is rotated clockwise.Video (Indicated with a video camera image) — in this position the Video LED is powered on. The LED intensity can be adjusted in 9 steps using the TTL exposure compensation dial on the right.SF - the i40 will trigger on the first flash it sees — this is ideal for use with other flash units set in manual mode or for use with studio strobes.SD - the i40 will ignore any pre-flash from a master unit and trigger on the main flashTTL - TTL is supported and indicated by the two LEDs, the Mode LED and the TTL exposure compensation LED. In TTL you can adjust the flash exposure compensation from + 2.0 to - 2.0 in 0.5 step increments. I found this to be a very easy to use and convenient feature. It is so much easier than having to push +/- buttons and review readings on an LCD window. The performance of the exposure compensation dial and flash out was very accurate as measured with a Sekonic L-758DR Digital Master Light Meter. Tests were done using both a Panasonic Lumix GH4 and an Olympus OM-D E-M1.  A (The green A) - This is the Automatic Mode and is identical to the TTL mode without any exposure compensation. In this setting only the mode dial LED is illuminated.M - Manual Mode - here the mode dial indicator LED and the middle LED are illuminated. The power output dial shows the output in 1 stop increments from 1/1 to 1/256.A, B, C (white lettering) — this is the slave TTL / Manual mode and the unit can be set to any one of three slave groups A, B or C. Testing this feature with the Panasonic GH4 and Olympus E-M1 allows the camera to control the flash from 1/1 to 1/128 power.  This feature is not available on the Fuji version.High Speed Sync (HSS) - This is not an intuitive or marked setting. To set HSS you need to hold the pilot lamp button for 3 seconds till the LED starts blinking. Similarly, to turn it off hold the button down for anther 3 seconds till the lamp stops blinking. Powering the unit on and off does not reset HSS it will say engaged till you turn it off. The i40 will let you use shutter speeds of up to 1/8000 Using this mode I was able to shoot up to 1/8000 shutter speed with no problems. High Speed Sync is only supported in A, M, TTL or wireless mode. To enter HSS mode hold the pilot button (the LED next to the power button) for 3 seconds, or until the left LED starts blinking.  To exit HSS mode hold the pilot button for 3 seconds or until the left LED stops blinking.  This is true only for the MFT and Sony versions.  For canon and Nikon, you activate this function in the menu of the camera and it will pass through to the flash.  Fuji does not currently support HSS so it is not a feature on that version of the i40 flash.Zooming - the i40 will automatically zoom to the closest focal length of the lens mounted on the camera as long as the lens has electronic communication with the camera body. As many mirror-less camera users are using adaptors with non OEM lenses, there may be no electronic communication with the body and hence the flash will not zoom even when mounted on the camera. To set the zoom manually in such situations or when using it remotely you will need to hold the power button down for three seconds and wait for the pilot lamp to change color. Colors will cycle a deep blue(24mm) to pink(50mm) to blue(80mm) to orange (105 mm). These zoom ranges and colors are conveniently printed on the body of the flash head and exposed by sliding the bounce flap upwards. 

Other features:

• Flash Color temperature 5600 K
• Flash duration 1/800 sec full power to 1/20,000 sec on the lowest power
• Focus Assist lamp is positioned immediately above the hot-shoe mount and assists during low light focusing.
• White Bounce Flap is built into the unit and enabled by sliding it upward from the rear of the flash head. Of significance is that the bounce can be used in conjunction with the diffuser in place. This provides for some really nice lighting.
• Wide Angle Diffuser is also built-in and you need to pull it out using a small notch from the front of the flash head. It is spring-loaded and flips flat to the flash head’s lens.
• An optional diffuser is include with the i40 and is easily mounted on the head when needed. It is conveniently stowed in the provided pouch.
• As with most speed-lights excessive firing of the flash at high-powered can result in overheating. The i40 has a built-in thermal protection system. When the thermal protection is triggered, the pilot lamp will blink red.
• Auto focus assist beam with a range of 2.3 to 16.4 feet.  Please note that this feature is not available on most Micro Four Third Cameras - Panasonic and Olympus cameras tested do support this feature.
• Good battery life — approximately 220 (full power) to 1,700 (minimum power) flashes on a single set of fully charged batteries
• Video light run time is approximately 3.5 hours
• A well designed stand with metallic 1/4 20 mounting threads.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Very light and easy to carry
• Good mechanical mating with the hot shoe
• Easy to use control dials
• Appropriate power for its size
• Good wireless capability
• HSS is a great feature for a flash this size

Cons:

• No audible beeps for flash ready after recycle indication
• Dials can be inadvertently rotated. A push down to adjust feature would be better
• Hard to see dial settings in the dark. Backlit dials would be preferable

Conclusions

Given the Nissin i40’s size and weight it will find a permanent place in my camera bags, particularly for the Panasonic GH4 and Olympus OM-D E-M1 configurations. It has enough power for most indoor situations and is ideal for fill light outdoors. The few points mentioned in the Cons section could be easily implemented in the next generation.  On a scale of 1 to 5, I give the i40 a rating of 4.5

Additional Images:

Flash Sync Speed Limitation - a question from a subscriber

Question: "One thing I am curious about is the shutter with regards to off camera flash. Is there still a physical shutter that limits me to a max synch speed of around 1/200 of a second? Or have they moved to an electronic shutter that would allow much faster synch times?"

In order to appropriately respond to the question lets first understand how mirrorless camera sensors operate. Most mirorless cameras use CMOS sensors that contain light sensitive pixels arranged in rows. These sensors are always live as long as the camera is powered on and booted up.In the mirrorless world, the sensor information is being constantly fed to the LCD and/or the electronic viewfinder. When you press the shutter the following sequence takes place: a) the sensor is wiped clean electronically; b) next the sensor is turned on and receives light while the pixels record the information; c) now the computer in the camera reads the data collected by the sensor pixels to generate the image. This data is finally recorded to the memory card.We know that the sensor is sensitive to light and always receiving information. In order to capture a good image, the sensor should be restricted from receiving light while it is being wiped clean and then again when it is reading the data captured during exposure. As the sensor data is being read you do not want the pixel information changing with any new light that may fall on the pixels. So, for both these events, mirrorless cameras use electronic or mechanical shutters or a combination of the two.The electronic shutter works by first erasing all the pixel data on a row-by-row basis. Then new image information is gathered and the data is read by the computer on a row-by-row basis very similar to how a television picture is generated. All of this takes time, albeit just a fraction. The greater the number of pixels the more the rows of information and the slower the process. This limits the cameras from achieving high shutter speeds. For proper exposure these rows of pixels gather the same amount of light but do so a row at a time. The data is read at the same rate. The collective time determines the fastest achievable electronic shutter speed.We are aware that to expose properly for flash photography all the pixels must be “alive” and ready to receive data while the flash is on. If the row by row read process starts too early then you will get areas of dark under exposure. In order to properly expose for flash, the computer in the camera has to wait before it can start reading the data collected by the sensor. This wait time determines the highest sync speed for flash photography.As an adjunct to this, in order to achieve higher shutter speeds mirrorless cameras use mechanical second curtains. The curtain can rapidly close all light from entering the sensor while the computer reads the information. On the Sony A7 that has a 24 MP sensor, there are 4000 rows of pixels. The only way to attain shutter speeds of 1/8000 sec. is possible using a mechanical rear-curtain. On the 36 MP A7r however, there are 4912 rows of pixels. To attain speeds of 1/8000 sec. this camera needs both a front-curtain and a rear-curtain shutter. The MFT cameras like the Panasonic GH4 and the Olympus OM-D series have 16 MP sensors that have only 3456 rows and can achieve 1/8000 sec. electronic shutter speeds without the need for mechanical shutters..The Sony A7 has an optional mechanical front-curtain that must be deployed when using lenses of longer focal lengths at high shutter speeds.Unlike DSLR’s, the mechanical shutter on mirrorless cameras remains in an open state in both the powered off and powered on modes, allowing for live view data to be collected and displayed continuously.The highest flash sync speed is currently 1/320 sec on the Olympus OM-D E-M1 , 1/250 sec on the Panasonic GH4 and under 1/200 sec for most of the Sony cameras.Hope this explains why the current mirrorless technology is limited and high flash sync speeds are not feasible.  If you have other photography related questions, please do not hesitate to ask and I will do my best to get you answers.

Topaz Labs Promotion - Topaz Glow

Introducing Topaz Glow - for all your quirky needs

Glow can be used as a stand-alone or a plugin to transform your photos from dull to dazzling. Containing more than 70 unconventional and quirky filters, you can infuse your images with neon, graphic, liquid and other electrifying effects.Here is a before and after image using the 'Bliss" effect. The technology behind Glow seeks out the unexplored lines and patterns in your images and illuminates them. To find out more about how it works, check out the PDFUse the coupon code 'INTROGLOW’ to take advantage of the introductory price of $49.99 (regularly $69.99).CLICK HERE or on the Box Image below to order - Introductory prices are good from December 9 through December 31.

Shopping for a Mirrorless Camera?

Here is a question that I have been asked many times.  Why did you switch to the  “mirror-less” camera system?   My answer is quite simple, its all about not compromising the image quality and reducing camera size and weight. As these cameras do not have flip-up mirrors the distance from the lens to the sensor is greatly reduced resulting in lenses that have a smaller form factor and are also lighter. As a result, I can carry all my gear in a much smaller bag or carry-on and not have to worry about checked luggage during my travels.The next set of questions typically revolve around the quality of images; the focusing speed; noise because of the smaller sensor; battery performance; etc.Let’s address some of these concerns.Before the advent of mirrorless cameras, DSLR’s were based on the same design as film cameras.  The film was replaced with an electronic light capturing device called the sensor.  Computers, memory cards and batteries were added to complete the image capture process.  All else however, remained the same.  A mechanical mirror that is used to reflect light up and through a pentaprism into an optical viewfinder remained as the standard.  Each time you press the shutter the mirror flips up and the sensor is exposed to light and captures the image.  With the advancement of technology and innovation this flip-up mirror and mirror box is no longer required.  The sensor has a clear view of the image as projected through the lens and the electronics used to capture the image are used to display the image onto the LCD screen. Optionally the image is displayed in the electronic view finder (EVF) that is like a miniature LCD screen. No more flip-up mirrors.  Now DSLR's have incorporated some of this technology in what is termed as “Live View Mode”  but unfortunately, some manufacturers have not taken this concept to the next level.Mirrorless cameras can be categorized the same way as DSLR’s where you have APS-C sized sensors, Full Frame sensors, etc.  The mirrorless world for comparison purposes, has three sensor sizes that have gained acceptance as replacements for DSLR’s.  The smallest are the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras made by Panasonic and Olympus, APS-C sensor cameras made by Fuji, Samsung, Sony and others and the Full Frame cameras made by Sony.  The sensor size of these cameras have the same crop factor considerations as do DSLR’s.  The APS-C crop factor remains at 1.5 and the MFT sensor has a crop factor of 2.  Based on the crop factor, higher depth of field is achieved with the smaller crop factor and results in less bokeh. Based on your style of photography and the subject matter, the range of full frame to a MFT sensor size body gives you all the choices you had with DSLR’s.As to focusing performance, DSLRs have some advantages. The dedicated phase-detect AF systems are very good at tracking subjects that are moving toward or away from the camera. In addition they also have an advantage focusing in low light situations.  Conversely mirrorless cameras are excellent at lateral tracking. As the sensor in the mirrorless camera is always live it is capable of analyzing the subject and and tracking it as it moves across the frame. With the introduction of Panasonic's "Depth From Defocus" technology depth tracking has been greatly improved.What about quality?  On the high end the Sony A7R has a 36.4 MP full frame sensor.  The Nikon D810 utilizes a 36.4 MP sensor made by Sony.  Image quality is exceptional.  The elimination of the Anti-aliasing filter allows the camera to capture exceptional detail and clarity.  The APS-C form factor has been popular with a majority of the prosumer range of DSLR’s on the market and has been the choice of many pro photographers too.  The MFT cameras and that sensor size is new in comparison but the images from the MFT cameras are at par with the APS-C format cameras.ISO Sensitivity.  If there is any doubt, all one needs to look at is the sensitivity of the Sony A7S with a max ISO of 409600.  The camera can practically see in the dark.  It is important to remember that ISO sensitivity has no bearing on the type of camera, DSLR or Mirrorless.  The size of the sensor and the size of the pixels make the difference in light gathering capability and noise generation during image capture.Let’s look at some of the pros and cons for mirrorless cameras.PROs

• The ability to view the image in the viewfinder and the LCD screen in realtime.
• The ability to view all or select any of the camera settings live.
• The ability to view any changes to camera settings without having to take your eye away from the viewfinder.
• Focus peaking and zebra stripes.  Focus peaking allows you to see the areas within your image that are in focus. This can be displayed using selectable colors.  Zebra stripes show you in realtime areas that are going to be exposed with loss of detail in the highlights.
• The ability to use most DSLR and Film camera lenses with adaptors.  You do not have to get rid of all your great glass.  You may not have the ability to maintain electronic communication with the lens but they will work perfectly well in manual mode.  With focus peaking, the process of obtaining good focus is simplified.
• The ability to shoot high resolution video and harvest the ideal frame.  (Currently this is available on the Panasonic GH4)
• Electronic shutter - low to no sound when capturing images.  A feature so important for nature, wildlife and street photography.
• No mirror, hence no mirror slap and vibration during image capture.

CON’s

• Battery life -  with the exception of the Panasonic GH4 most other cameras have a very low battery life. These cameras are constantly drawing power feeding the LCD, electronic viewfinder or both.  Due to the size of the mirrorless bodies, the batteries have been downsized too and hence have lower capacity.
• Long focal length lenses.  With the exception of Olympus and Panasonic we have yet to see lenses with focal lengths greater than 200mm
• Electronic viewfinder and LCD refresh performance is limiting particularly in low light scenarios.
• Focusing speed of mirrorless cameras had been an issue but most manufacturers have addressed this with firmware and focusing system enhancements.

So which camera do you get?  It all depends on your style and budget.  I can say that having used mirrorless systems for about a year now my choices are:

• For general purpose, nature/wildlife and people photography - the Panasonic Lumix GH4 is superb with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 a close second.
• For detail and landscape photography - the Sony A7R is my choice.  The A7 II, though I have not tested it appears to be a more forgiving camera and adds in camera image stabilization.
• For low-light photography - the Sony A7S is hard to beat.
• For video - the Panasonic Lumix GH4 is a hands down winner.  The Sony A7S is very good but does not shoot 4K video to the camera.

I own or have used the following: Panasonic GH4, Olympus OM-D E-M1, Fuji XT1, Sony A7R and Sony A7.  My comments on the Sony A7S and the A7 II are based or reviews and video samples captured by photographers’ whose opinion I value.  The greatest lens selection is available from Panasonic and Olympus while Sony is still limited to 7 full frame E mount lenses.  Panasonic and Leica have jointly produced some exceptional lenses as have Sony and Zeiss with their collaboration.By no means is this post meant to be a full review but a quick personal impression.  Please do look at various reviews available on the internet for a more thorough analysis. However, I hope this helps you make your holiday shopping a little less confusing.  Camera Labs is one of my preferred sites for honest in-depth reviews.CLICK on the chart to enlarge  CLICK HERE FOR THE SAME CHART AS A PDF DOCUMENT

TWiP - Your Itinerary - my chat with Host Rob Knight

It was a pleasure to meet Rob Knight at Photo Plus Expo the end of October.  Rob is the host for "Your Itinerary" on the ever expanding TWiP network.  Frederick van Johnson is sure building and building fast.  Thank you Rob for a wonderful discussion and thanks to the TWiP team for adding Your Itinerary to the mix.Here is the text from the podcast page:"Your Itinerary this week features my interview with published photographer, educator and workshop leader Shiv Verma. Shiv and I were chatting at the Photo Plus Expo in New York last month, and I thought you would be interested to hear where our conversation took us.Shiv and I both lead photography workshops, and we both strive to offer something to our clients beyond locations and instruction. Anyone can take people to beautiful places and show them around. Providing a unique experience is what makes the difference between the average photo tour and something wonderful that clients will remember for the rest of their lives.Shiv and I begin by discussing travel, photography and scouting locations, but we ended up trading tips for creating unique trips and providing great experiences for clients. Whether you’re planning a trip, looking for a photo workshop or planning a workshop yourself, I think you’ll find this week’s episode very interesting."Hope you enjoy and appreciate what TWiP is doing for the photographic community.Click Here to go to the TWiP podcast

Think Tank - Perception backpacks for Mirrorless Systems

Think Tank Photo just announced that its new Perception backpacks for Mirrorless systems are now available.  The Perception series comes in two colors, black and taupe, and three sizes.  The smallest size, The Perception Tablet™, accommodates a Mirrorless system and an iPad Mini. The Perception 15, one mirrorless body plus 1-2 additional lenses, and a 15" laptop + 10" tablet. The largest largest size, the Perception Pro™, holds a 15" laptop and a 10" tablet, plus one Mirrorless body or small DSLR with a small to medium zoom attached (lens hood reversed), four to five additional lenses, (one smaller Mirrorless body in lieu of a lens), or a large GoPro® kit instead of the lenses.  CLICK HERE TO ORDERIn addition, Think Tank is offering holiday specials on two of its most innovative products.  You will save 30% on its My 2^nd Brain “mobile office” bags for Apple laptops and iPads and 20% on its Suburban Disguise full-featured shoulder bag specifically designed to accommodate standard-size DSLR systems.Click Here to order the My 2^nd Brain “mobile office”Click Here to order the Suburban DisguiseRemember that when you order using our link, you will receive free gear with these and all orders of $50 or more.  And, as always, you reeive free FedEx Ground shipping.

onOne Software - 50% off Black Friday through Cyber Monday

Don't miss this opportunity - click on the banner to get your discount and support this site.

Happy Thanksgiving

Perfectly Clear Plug-ins 45% off, Olympus OM-D E-M1 update and more Goodies

PERFECTLY CLEAR - Starting today, Save 45% with Early Access to the Black Friday SaleBUY NOW by clicking on the banner above.Enjoy early access to this limited-time offer. Why wait for Friday? Starting now my friends at Perfectly Clear are giving away 45% off on their newly enhanced v2 Plug-Ins. So if you want to see Perfectly Clear in action and start correcting photos faster than ever, today is your day! Learn moreHurry - sale ends soon! and there is a 30-Day Money Back GuaranteeIf you're not fully satisfied, simply let Perfectly Clear - http://www.athentech.com know anytime with 30 days of your purchase, They will refund your money with no questions asked. Another great Black Friday deal with FLIXEL - you get a whopping 40% off on Cinemagraph Pro or Plus when you use the discount code SHIV - click on the banner above to go to the Flixel site to order.In addition you can save $60 when you order the LED Light Cube - $659, now $599 - once again use the coupon code SHIV on the LED Light Cube site

LAUNCH of  The Lume Cube, a powerful and ultra-portable LED lighting tool that will open new creative possibilities for photographers of any skill level whether they are looking to cast some light on late night selfies or experiment with new techniques for professional-caliber portraits. Lume Cube has launched a Kickstarter campaign just in time for the holidays.

The Lume Cube is a compact and versatile, app-controlled LED light for capturing both stills and videos, and is compatible with smart phone cameras, action cams as well as more traditional digital cameras. Measuring only one-and-a-half inches, the water resistant Lume Cube produces 1,500 lumens of light in both video mode, for a continuous light source, or in strobe mode. Encased in a colorful rubber shell the Lume Cube can magnetically attach or suction to just about any surface making this light-weight LED ready to deliver on just about any creative impulse.

Click her for the Kickstarter pageOLYMPUS has released a firmware update to the OM-D E-M1 morror-less camera - the latest version is 2.2. Download the Olympus Digital Camera Updater to update your firmware.

Topaz Photography Collection - Black Friday Sale

From November 28th through December 1st, Topaz Labs is  offering their Topaz Photography Collection (all 15 products) for only $249.99. That is a huge discount. Whether you want to achieve stunning photo enhancements or apply artistic effects, this unique collection has you covered.  Please use the banner link above and them make sure you use the Coupon Code BLACKFRIDAY2014

Black Friday Offerings from Think Tank Photo

For the very special yet crazy Black Friday Think Tank Photo have announced a couple of fun special offers that are good through the end of the year.  [Don’t forget, Think Tank offers free FedEx Ground shipping on all orders.]They have lowered the prices on their popular CityWalker messenger bags.  Extremely lightweight, the bags feature a high quality silver-toned nylon liner, RC Fuse External/YKK zippers, and antique nickel plated metal hardware.  They have a sound silencer on the main flap (a great feature for wedding photography), extra flaps for smaller lenses with a fully lined velex insert for maximum customization, internal pockets that fit a pro-size flash, and a removable padded insert.Click here for this CityWalker special offer.And, when you buy a Think Tank Photo rolling camera bag you are eligible to receive their new “Road Warrior Kit,” a $44.98 value, for free!  The kit consists of ten Red Whips cable ties, a Cable Management 10 pouch, an AA Battery Holder (holds up to eight AA batteries), and a Small Travel Pouch.  Click here for these exceptional roller bags.

As Canon and Nikon continue to sleep - Medium Format enters the mirror-less era.

Phase One in collaboration with ALPA are readying the A- Series medium format camera.  The camera can use an iPhone as a wireless viewfinder in a mounted (as shown) or as a infinitely articulating remote device. The system comprises Phase One Digital Backs, Rodenstock optics, and ALPA bodies.  When formally announced there will be three configurations - details can be found on the Digital Transitions web site.

PICO - A New Smartphone Programable Time-Lapse Intervalometer

PICO is the latest Kick-Starter project by Mindarin — the company behind the Astro time-lapse and motion control — Pico is a small simple device capable of executing  robust time-lapse capabilities.Planned for availability in July 2015 it will be inexpensive and easy to used time-lapse trigger, capable of working with or without your smartphone and makes capturing time-lapses as easy as it can be.You use the free smartphone app to create a program and send it to Pico. After transferring your settings, you can unplug it from your smartphone and Pico will save the program in its memory. Then, connect Pico to your camera using the included adaptor cable, and Pico will take control to create the time-lapse sequence. (Most popular DSLR and Mirror-Less cameras are supported)With the smartphone app, you have the ability to create professional time-lapse sequences:

HDR (High Dynamic Range): Take time-lapse sequences by bracketing at varying exposure levels based on the dynamic range of the scene.

Bulb Ramping: A technique used to compensate for natural changes in light. It is ideal for seamless day to night sequences.

Speed Ramping: You can adjust the speed of time within the time-lapse to add a cool slowing or accelerating effect.

If you do not have a smart phone on hand Pico offers a manual mode. Simply plug Pico into your camera’s remote cable, hold the button down, and listen for beeps — each beep represents a one second delay between shots, let go and pico will start triggering the camera at the set interval, and continue to do so until you unplug it.Pico is small and light. weighing in at under .5 ounce (.4 to be exact or 11 grams for my friends across the pond) it takes no room in your camera bag. With improved battery technology, Pico can operate your camera for a whooping 8 years of continuous operation.The kick starter projects is in full swing and you can support the development at Pico: Time-lapse made simple

Photo Plus Expo 2014 and Lumix Lounge

Spent three fantastic days in NY City at the Photo Plus Expo.  Saw some great stuff that I will be blogging about soon.  The mirror-less world continues to pick up steam and there is a lot happening with this lighter better world of photography.  Trending - HYBRID - animated stills and more.Was honored to be invited and to be interviewed in the Panasonic Lumix Lounge by none other than Frederick Van Johnson.  Click here for the interview.Panasonic had an awesome booth with lost of gear for visitors to test out, demos, 4K TVs and the fantastic new LX100 - I want one.  Use the link to check it out.

Processing with Capture One

For the past few weeks I have been processing my raw files using Capture One Pro rather than Adobe Camera Raw.  I am finding the RAW processing engine in Capture One to be exceptional.  Mark you, I have not upgraded to Version 8 and am still using Version 7.2.3In brief I love the way the the software handles skin-tones.  The amount of detail it can draw out of dull highlights and shadows is great.  The HDR sliders make it possible to bring out natural looking HDR tonal ranges from a single RAW file - exceptional.Now I just need to get more familiar with all the features and then upgrade to Version 8.Here is an example of an image processed using Capture One Pro.  The image was captured in Iceland during my workshop this past September.  Please do click on the image to see a larger version. 

2014 Fall Wanderings - 4

With most of the foliage gone in the northeast and what is left will be gone after this semi nor'easter or tropical storm here are two more images from Ithaca region.This image is of Taughannock Falls taken from the deck by the parking lot above the gorge.  This vantage point give the falls a totally different perspective.I am planning on doing a winter trip to capture these falls when the sides and rock faces are covered with ice. This next image is from the gorge that leads to Lucifer falls.  Another area that could be interesting in the winter.  If any of my blog followers have experienced these falls in the winter, please share your thoughts.

2014 Fall Wanderings - 3

Walking through the gorges of New York's Finger Lakes region yield some incredible photo opportunities.  There is no dearth of intimate and grand landscapes and occasionally even the saturated fall colors, when simplified, yield memorable images.This is from the entrance to the Taughannock Gorge in Ulysses.Please click on the image for detail.