Sony introduced the a6400 model of digital cameras in early 2019. The a6400 rapidly became a best-seller among both professional and amateur photographers. The camera is smaller than standard digital single reflex cameras but still uses Sony’s extensive line of lenses. Sony has achieved all this using an APS-C sensor system in a mirrorless body. What is Sony a6400 crop Continue Reading
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Photographer Brendan Barry has published a new video instructing viewers on how to make their own caffenol developer and salt-based fixer using common household items and ingredients. The process is very simple with the most expensive item being the photo paper. The new tutorial follows a video Barry published last week showing how to turn an entire bedroom into a massive camera obscura.
The new video is around 15 minutes long and it guides viewers through the entire process, starting from the ingredients and items needed all the way through the development of a photo captured using Barry’s giant room camera. The recipe is the result of experimentation, according to Barry, who points out that these ingredients may be easier to acquire at the moment compared to more traditional products.
The developer requires washing soda, granulated coffee and vitamin C powder — Barry notes that vitamin C with zinc didn’t appear to have a negative impact compared to vitamin C alone. Ordinary inexpensive table salt is used for the fixer. Mixing the two products requires only a mortar and pestle for grinding the vitamin C tablets, a small container and a measuring cup for mixing the developer and a separate container for mixing the salt fixer. A digital scale is used to weigh some of the ingredients.
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Once the developer and fixer are mixed and poured in the trays, the exposed photographic paper is put in the developer for ‘about three minutes,’ according to Barry, who explains that it needs to be left in a bit longer than would be typical with a normal developer. The coffee stain on the paper produces a slight sepia tone in the resulting image, he notes, also explaining that the vitamin C is what produces the contrast in the photo. Leaving out the vitamin C will reduce the contrast.
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After the developed paper is rinsed in the tray that contains plain water, it is transferred to the tray with fix, which highlights the one big disadvantage to this process. Barry explains that the photo paper must be left in the fix for ‘quite a long time,’ which equates to around 12 to 24 hours, though the lights can be turned back on after an hour.
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Barry demonstrates how to quickly create a positive print from the resulting negative, though he notes that more detailed information on this process is provided in the camera obscura tutorial video from last week.
‘This is obviously just a basic, simple introduction to caffenol and making your own developer and fixer,’ Barry explains. ‘I like to make things as accessible as possible and encourage other people to have a go at these things. Sometimes they can seem a bit intimidating and complicated […] but it’s really, really simple.’
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
The post 10 Things You Can Photograph in Your Home appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.
There’s nothing I love more than grabbing a camera and setting off on the weekend to find a new place to photograph. But what happens if you’re confined to the house for an extended period and can’t get out? Fear not, there are still hundreds of things you can photograph in your home.
I have listed ten ideas for things to photograph below. I spent no more than 15 minutes photographing each item or idea. In some cases, it was closer to five minutes. For most images, I used either my Fujifilm XF 35mm f1.4 R lens or my Fujifilm XF 60mm f2.4 R Macro lens.
The good news is that if you live with family or friends, you will always have subjects for your photography. The only trick is being a bit selective. Don’t take photos of them all the time and wear out your welcome!
For the image below, I sat my son on the trampoline with the afternoon sun lighting up the netting behind him. I took a series of shots with him looking into the camera. However, this one I like the best, with him looking away. I must admit, I did have to bribe him to pose for me, but it was worth a bowl of ice cream.
Another ready-made subject for you at home is your family pet. There can be both pros and cons for photographing animals. An advantage is that they can’t complain about being photographed like family or friends. A disadvantage is that they don’t want to sit still very often!
I tend to take images of our dalmatian Marshall when he’s doing something funny, yet rarely do I take a portrait. I love this photo of him; I took it as he was having a rest on the sofa.
If you have a macro lens, or a lens capable of getting close to small objects, why not photograph your jewelry? This could include items given to you by your loved ones or family heirlooms passed down from your relatives.
I chose to photograph my Nixon Star Wars watch. There are lots of cool details on the watch that I forgot about, including the second hand is a light saber!
If you have a lot more patience than me, you could take a series of images and focus stack them in an image editing program to create an image sharp across the frame.
When my Grandma visited London in 1983, she brought me back lots of little gifts, including these three metal soldiers. They’ve sat on my bookshelf next to my travel guide books for years. When I was looking for things you can photograph in your home, they commanded my attention immediately.
I photographed the metal soldiers in my front doorway on a table, with a booklet about London in the background. You can make out the double-decker bus in the background, which gives the image an added British feel.
Try experimenting with any small figures you have at home: lego people, dolls, small toys. Imagine what it’s like to be that tiny.
Many photographers have vintage cameras in their house, either because they still shoot film with them or because they make fantastic decorations. When it comes to things you can photograph in your home, vintage cameras are my favorite!
I have so many cameras dotted around my home office it was difficult to choose just one to photograph. However, in the end, I went with my classic 1960s Japanese half-frame film camera, the Olympus Pen FT.
The Pen FT is a beautifully designed camera, even down to the lens cap, which I lay on the table next to the camera.
If you don’t have any vintage cameras in your home, you could always photograph your favorite lens or another vintage item in your house.
I wandered outside to my much-neglected garden and found some flowers we hadn’t managed to kill off yet. Gardening is not my superpower, that’s for sure!
I shot this image handheld, with the stamen in focus, and most of the background is a wonderful blur. As with the jewelry shots, you could set up a tripod and take a series of images to focus stack.
If you don’t have a garden, any kind of plant or flower – real or artificial – will do. If you have some cacti or succulents, you could even combine this idea with the figurines idea. Try posing some lego figures in your cactus garden!
One advantage of being cooped up in the house is that I can make a coffee anytime I like. However, this can be a danger – I need to keep track of how many I’m having!
I took a series of images of coffee and milk frothing. This one of espresso coming out of my home coffee machine into a metal jug is my favorite.
Hopefully during your stay at home, you have access to some nice food, or maybe you are still able to order some amazing takeaway from nearby restaurants.
Set up an area where you can shoot a flat lay of your meal. Try to make it as colorful and cool-looking as possible, with lots of different colors and props.
Unless you’ve gone full minimalist, you’ll probably find things in your house and wonder where they came from. I have no idea why we had these brightly-colored candy canes in a vase in our kitchen, but I decided to photograph them nonetheless.
I put a white sheet over the table and photographed them with natural light streaming in the front doorway. Look for any brightly-colored candy or sweets in your house. I also took some shots of colorful easter eggs in a basket.
Another idea for something you can photograph in your home is a styled photoshoot. Christmas in July, teddy bears’ picnic, fashion shoots: the only limit is your imagination.
Pick a theme and run with it. Turn a corner of your house into your studio and go wild!
Being confined to the house can be challenging for many people. Rest assured, though, there are literally hundreds of things you can photograph in your home.
The first port of call for many will be family and pets, but there are also lots of other opportunities. You can also photograph personal items with sentimental value, such as jewelry, to vintage items that usually sit on the shelf, like toy soldiers, or vintage cameras. Bright colored items such as pencils and sweets make good subjects, as do flowers and plants.
Getting more creative with photographic opportunities at home is one way to fill time, work on your photography, and discover a new perspective. Are you up for the challenge?
What items do you like to photograph in your home? Tell us in the comments below.
The post 10 Things You Can Photograph in Your Home appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.
You’re working on some text in Photoshop for your photo. Things are going along great…until you realize that your text is horribly pixelated! Why? You may have even created this exact type of file before and not had this problem. Why is the text pixelated now? There are a few things that can cause pixelated text in Photoshop. The good Continue Reading
The post 6 Causes of Pixelated Text in Photoshop and Their Fixes appeared first on Photodoto.
The post How to Create a Budget Tabletop Photography Setup for Shooting Food and Products appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jackie Lamas.
It can feel like photography is a money vortex and unless you have an unlimited amount, many types and styles of photography may seem out of reach. We’re here to tell you that you can create your own tabletop photography setup on a budget and still create some amazing food and product photography.
All you need is a trip to your local dollar store and craft store, and you’ll have a set up ready to go that won’t break the bank. It will also let you create the images your clients will love.
A tabletop photography setup is generally used to photograph products and food for commercial or marketing services.
In recent years, tabletop photography setups have moved away from the Lightbox and toward more authentic setups thanks to social media.
The basic tabletop photography setup is a table, backgrounds, tabletop backgrounds, and nice light source that you can use to light your products and food.
A tabletop photography setup doesn’t have to be complex or involve a lot of materials. You can have a simple setup that offers you a variety of backgrounds, looks, and setups all in the same spot, at the same table.
You’ll need:
This basic setup will help you to create your tabletop photography setup without the need to be in a big space or rent a studio. It will also keep costs down.
While a table, solid plain wall and a good light source are the basic set up, it can often get boring. As you get more clients, you’ll want to have different setups to help you get more interesting photos.
A quick trip to the dollar store can help keep costs down. You can get items that can give your tabletop the right look and style for the product that you’re photographing.
Choose different patterns for backgrounds, like this shower curtain I used to give the tabletop photography setup more of a marble texture and style. The watch stands out against the colors and pattern and creates a more interesting effect.
Different placemats work really well as backgrounds and tabletops for food photography as well as product photography. Letting you change the tabletop photography setup without having to directly paint or change your table.
Posterboard can be really useful in creating a faux cyclorama wall for products giving the illusion of a seamless background. Taping fabric to the wall also works to help keep the backgrounds in place and creates seamless backgrounds.
Placemats of various textures and prints can also be perfect for food photography and work in many different settings for products as well.
Kitchen towels can also serve as props for your food styling as well as backgrounds.
The biggest concern is getting enough light and that is what a big window is for.
If you don’t get lots of light in your home, go outside! Take your tabletop setup out onto your patio or yard. Find some good indirect shaded light to work in.
The idea is to create an evenly-lit tabletop setup so that you’re able to set your camera to the correct settings and get the look you want.
Having enough light to work with, lets you take away light with flags or create shadows with different items. You’re also able to get different exposures to your products or food.
Different times of day can give different types of lighting for your tabletop photography setup too. Take advantage of the lighting changes and experiment to see what light is best for the items you’re photographing.
Using available ambient light can really help keep costs down while doing tabletop photography and can offer lots of different types of lighting.
With a lifestyle component, you can take your tabletop photography setup on the go. Take your backgrounds, fabrics, and styling items to different locations to get different types of photographs.
You can photograph in a park, trail, cafe, or in front of an interesting wall in your neighborhood.
Using your creative eye, you can photograph food and product photography just about anywhere that will save you money, while also giving you amazing results.
As you can see, creating a tabletop photography setup doesn’t have to mean spending loads on lighting, space, styling equipment or backgrounds. With a trip to your local dollar store and craft store, you can create stunning product and food photography for a fraction of the price.
Your clients will love their photos and you will have a setup that you can use anywhere!
Do you have any other tips for creating a tabletop photography setup? Share with us in the comments section.
The post How to Create a Budget Tabletop Photography Setup for Shooting Food and Products appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jackie Lamas.
A mirrorless camera’s sensor is always exposed to the image you’re trying to capture, which has its advantages and disadvantages. A major disadvantage is the risk of sensor damage when changing lenses, or when capturing extremely bright environments. Which begs the question, can you point a mirrorless camera at the sun? The quick and simple answer to the question—No, you Continue Reading
The post Can you Point a Mirrorless Camera at the Sun? appeared first on Photodoto.
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Canon has announced it will be hosting a Virtual Press Conference at 1pm on April 20, 2020 ‘to unveil the company’s new professional imaging products and technologies.’
The press release, embedded below, doesn’t specifically say what products Canon has in store, but does say they will be ‘broadcast and cinema products’ that ‘[align] with the current and growing needs of the respective industries such as 4K UHD and HDR, as well as evolving technologies.’
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In the meantime, you can spend your days in quarantine staring at the countdown timer on Canon’s website.
MELVILLE, N.Y., March 30, 2020 –– Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today that they will be hosting a Virtual Press Conference to unveil the company’s new professional imaging products and technologies. The Virtual Press Conference, which will be streamed on the Canon U.S.A. website at usa.canon.com/VPC2020, is scheduled to air on Monday, April 20, 2020, at 1:00 PM EDT/10:00 AM PT.
“As Canon continues to monitor the global response surrounding the spread of COVID-19, the effects of which have impacted every aspect of our lives, we would like to thank everyone for their understanding and ongoing support during this challenging time,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president, and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc “The road ahead is long and filled with uncertainty, but when the broadcast and cinema industries are ready to resume ‘normal’ activities, Canon wants them to know we will be there to continue to support professionals with new products and technologies that meet their needs.”
The new Canon broadcast and cinema products featured during the Virtual Press Conference are aligned with the current and growing needs of the respective industries such as 4K UHD and HDR, as well as evolving technologies.
For more information and the latest updates, please visit usa.canon.com/VPC2020 and follow us on Twitter at @CanonUSAprovideo and Instagram @canonusaprovideo.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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Apple has released a version 1.0 beta of ProRes Raw for Windows that adds support for Apple’s video codec in several Adobe apps on Microsoft’s operating system.
In the support text accompanying the download, Apple says the beta release ‘enables playback of ProRes RAW and ProRes RAW HQ video files in compatible applications on Windows systems.’ This includes Adobe After Effects, Adobe Media Encoder, Adobe Premiere and Adobe Premiere Rush.
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Assuming this support makes it out of beta and expands to other applications, this could help to make ProRes Raw a more useful standard for video work. The download, which comes in at 737KB, is available to download on Apple’s support page.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
You enjoy photographing in the field, whether its landscapes or events. When it comes to viewing your captured images, polishing them up and showing to people, you need a laptop to make this possible, especially when you are far from home or office. But you are not a techie and Cores make your head spin! How do you decide on Continue Reading
The post 9 Best Laptops for Photography appeared first on Photodoto.
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| This isn’t your everyday camera setup |
Phase One Industrial has announced the release of the iXM-RS 280F, a new 280-megapixel large-format aerial photogrammetric system.
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The dual-lens metric camera system is mounted onto Phase One Industrial’s DSM400 gyro mount and uses a pair of 90mm lenses to capture incredibly detailed images for commercial purposes. In addition to capturing RGB images, Phase One is also offering an additional configuration that will simultaneously capture both RGB and near-infrared (NIR) images at the same time. This simultaneous capture requires yet another camera that will use a 50mm lens for capturing the four-band (R, G, B, NIR) imagery, which can be output distortion-free and color corrected in JPEG or TIFF formats.
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Sales are currently live, but the ‘full solution’ pricing, which includes the iXM-RS 280F large format camera, Applanix GNSS/IMU receiver (POS AV series), Somag gyro-stabilized mount (DSM 400), Phase One iX Controller and iX Flight Management software, starts at $ 455,000.
Press release:
Challenges Status Quo with Imaging Precision, Flexibility and Affordability
COPENHAGEN – Phase One Industrial, a pioneer in digital imaging excellence, today launched the 280MP Aerial Solution – a large format aerial photogrammetric system, with an image coverage width of more than 20,000 pixels – enabling unprecedented high quality aerial survey productivity. Compact and lightweight, this new aerial mapping solution can reduce operating costs and produce better returns on investment than today’s traditional large format systems.
The Phase One Industrial 280MP Aerial Solution is a large format camera system that easily integrates with DSM400 gyro-stabilized mount creating a compact and lightweight system for use in a wide range of aircraft. At its heart, the iXM-RS 280F is a dual lens metric camera, with 90mm lenses for capturing RGB information, providing precision imaging. Adding a near infrared (NIR) camera generates a 4-band configuration, most useful in agriculture & forestry and pipeline monitoring missions.
The iXM-RS280F camera generates a central projection image from two 150MP nadir images with equal ground resolution. The cameras’ backside illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor supports very high dynamic range at 83dB. Its high light sensitivity provides superb image quality in challenging low light conditions, enabling operators to take advantage of more flight hours per day and more flight days per year.
Dov Kalinski, General Manager of Phase One Industrial said, “Our 280MP Aerial Solution is a bold and innovative approach to solving customers’ demands for affordable and reliable aerial mapping performance. Previously, opportunities in the aerial mapping business were restricted due to high cost of equipment and limited aircraft options. While pioneering superior image quality, Phase One Industrial is creating more profitable possibilities in this exciting and important market.”
The Phase One Industrial 280MP Aerial Solution
The Phase One Industrial 280MP Aerial Solution consists of an iXM-RS 280F large format camera, Applanix GNSS/IMU receiver (POS AV series), Somag gyro-stabilized mount (DSM 400), Phase One iX Controller and iX Flight Management software. It is unprecedented in its image quality, operational flexibility, reliability and affordability.
Availability and Pricing
The iXM-RS 280F camera and 280MP Aerial Solution may be ordered from Phase One Industrial partners worldwide starting now.
Full Solution pricing (with Applanix POS AV 310 and Somag DSM 400) starts at USD 455,000.
For more information, please visit: https://industrial.phaseone.com/Aerial_System_280MP_System.aspx
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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