Shopping for a photographer? We’ve got some gift ideas for all budget sizes, but here you’ll find our budget-friendliest suggestions – just right for stockings.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Posts Tagged ‘Under’
Meyer Optik Görlitz brand lives on under a new owner
14
Dec
 |
A few months ago NetSE, the German company behind the Meyer Optik Görlitz, Emil Busch A.G. Rathenau, Oprema Jena, C.P. Goerz, Ihagee Elbaflex and A. Schacht brands filed for bankruptcy, leaving many consumers who had backed the company’s brands on Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms out of pocket and without a product.
It looked like NetSE’s iconic brands would vanish for eternity but now it appears at least the Meyer Optik Görlitz brand will survive. Another German company, OPC Optics (Precision Components Europe GmbH), announced it has acquired the trademark rights to Meyer Optik Görlitz at the insolvency procedure of NetSE in Koblenz.
OPC Optics, a manufacturer of prototypes and small series of spherical and aspherical lenses, is planning to use the brand as a vehicle to enter consumer markets. The company says it will streamline the current Meyer Optik Görlitz lens portfolio and market lenses through traditional sales channels, so no more crowdfunding or pre-ordering.
In a press release the company also says that unfortunately it can’t take on any of NetSE’s obligations which means if NetSE hasn’t delivered your crowdfunded lens, OPC won’t do so either. It’s good to see a traditional live on but given all the negative news around Meyer Optik Görlitz in recent months, OPC’s move could be a risky one.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Report: Reuters to merge photography, video teams under unified ‘visual journalist’ team
24
Nov
 |
A report from The Baron, an independent website dedicated to sharing news and information about Reuters, says Reuters is speeding up the process of merging its picture and video news departments into a single team of ‘visual journalists’ while at the same time making cuts to the number of jobs within the organization.
According to The Baron report, in an internal message to Reuters staff, John Pullman, global head of visuals at Reuters, said ‘In Visuals we will accelerate the moves already underway to create a single unified team of visual journalists […] Many of our photographers already shoot video – and videographers produce pictures. This mode of working is becoming normal throughout the industry as video and photo technologies grow closer. We will be taking a structured approach to merge our pictures and video teams. We will look at technology, training and workflow – and introduce single leadership where appropriate.’
The Baron reports the internal memo goes on to say ‘We aim to align our teams with the needs of our customers by extending our footprint, improving our efficiency and increasing our flexibility.’
According to the referenced memo, Pullman said the changes, which come as part of the reorganization as a separate business under the Thomson Reuters umbrella, will take place over the coming months. Unsurprisingly, the homogenization isn’t going over to well with Reuters staff.
A Reuters employee, who spoke under the condition of anonymity to The Baron, said ‘This is essentially the end of Reuters Pictures, going down the tubes in a very sad way. Pix has won a score of Pulitzers and other prestigious awards under Reuters but it seems that is not enough to save it from what appears to be the terrible end of what was a great run over more than 30 years which brought the world some of the best photojournalism it has ever seen.’
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Features You Need To Know Before Buying Camcorders under $500
04
Oct
When choosing the right camcorder for your needs, you need to have a general understanding of all the important camcorder features. Knowing about these features as well as how to control them will make your video making process easier and quicker.You can also be confident that you’ll be able to handle any situation you’ll face that might prevent you from Continue Reading
The post Features You Need To Know Before Buying Camcorders under $ 500 appeared first on Photodoto.
Desert Oddity: Shooting Under Rare Conditions in Namibia
04
Aug
 |
Earlier this year I guided a group of photographers in Namibia. It had been some time since my last visit and I was very keen to return, but little did I know that this beautiful African country would see some very rare weather conditions during my visit. In this article I’ll describe what happened.
It was a peculiar time in Namibia, with some very weird weather. A massive thunderstorm hit about 1500 km north of where that kind of thing normally happens, and bizarrely enough, it happened exactly when we were there. We were rained on during our entire visit to the ghost town of Kolmanskop, which my participants weren’t too happy about, since it meant they were missing the famous light coming out of the windows of the buildings.
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Kolmanskop on a normal sunny day. The light plays a significant role in the images usually produced here. |
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The same room on a rainy day. The pockmarked dune was unique and visually quite interesting, but there was no light. |
Locals said the last time it had rained that hard was 12 years ago, and small children were panicking, having never experienced such a storm in their lifetimes! Several 100-year-old roofs collapsed, further restricting access.
I, for one, enjoyed the rainy conditions. The dunes inside the rooms were all pocked with raindrops, which contributed a great deal to the uniqueness factor.
But Kolmanskop was just the forerunner. After wrapping things up there, we headed to what was planned to be the highlight of the trip: Sossusvlei Desert. A local friend told me to watch the dunes upon arrival: if there were lines on the dunes, it meant that there was heavy rain in the desert. I have to admit I didn’t really understand what he was talking about – lines on the dunes? But upon seeing the dunes, I immediately got it.
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The rain had painted the dunes with wonderful dark brush strokes. Note how high the dunes are in comparison with the full size camel thorn trees! |
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The dark lines completely transformed the red dunes. |
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Flame-like patterns accentuated by the dark lines. Note that the blurred tree is due to heat-haze, not misfocusing. |
I could barely contain my excitement for the next morning shoot. We were scheduled to shoot in Deadvlei, and heavy rain over the Sossusvlei dunes meant a chance for water in the pan. Unfortunately the Namibian sun is hot, and most of the water had evaporated before our arrival. A very small number of tiny puddles remained, and my group and I took advantage and produced some unique shots.
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| The dead camel thorn trees of Deadvlei reflecting in rainwater. The puddle was actually tiny, and to get the image to look like this I had to shoot at water level, getting mud all over the bottom of my camera. |
I returned to the lodge quite happy with my results, but I knew that by the next day there would be no water left. In the morning I woke up expecting a standard Deadvlei shoot. But when we reached the end of the short hike, something marvelous appeared before us. The pan was absolutely full of mist!
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I quickly pulled myself together and informed my participants that we needed to make very good use of the mist. It could dissipate before sunrise or even in a few minutes, and so deep focus and efficiency was needed to capture as many good images as possible.
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We kept shooting, and the mist was moving back and forth in the pan, but it was still there. In fact, at times it seemed to be getting thicker! When the sun started hitting the dunes, I knew it was money time.
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| This isn’t a unique composition by any means, but the heavy mist made it exceptional. Note the figures being lit by early sunlight on top of the dune to the left. |
As the sunrise progressed, I tried to utilize the mist to my advantage, and used it to create depth in my images but including trees in different distances. The further trees were deeper in the mist.
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Many more compositions presented themselves, some more unusual, some less so. But all were beautifully enhanced by the mist.
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| A misty twist on a well known composition. Note the dark lines on the background dune. |
As the sunlight began moving across the pan, I could incorporate the lines it created in the images, to create even more interest.
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When the mist finally dissipated, we could all take a breath and digest what had happened. That once-per-decade storm that left enough water to allow reflections had also left a large amount of moisture in the air, creating the mist. We couldn’t help feeling incredibly fortunate to have witnessed this special combination of circumstances.
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Luck is a major factor in nature photography. While a good photographer can create good imagery in sub-optimal conditions, there are times when it all comes together, and the photographer who is ready – and focused – will reap the rewards.
Erez Marom is a professional nature photographer, photography guide and traveler based in Israel. You can follow Erez’s work on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to his mailing list for updates.
If you’d like to experience and shoot some of the most fascinating landscapes on earth with Erez as your guide, take a look at his unique photography workshops in Southern Iceland, Northern Iceland, The Lofoten Islands, Patagonia, Greenland, Namibia the Faroe Islands and Ethiopia.
Erez offers video tutorials discussing his images and explaining how he achieved them.
More Namibia:
- Behind the Shot: Dali’s Dream
Selected Articles by Erez Marom:
- Parallelism in Landscape Photography
- Winds of Change: Shooting changing landscapes
- Behind the Shot: Dark Matter
- On the Importance of Naming Images
- On Causality in Landscape Photography
- Behind the Shot: Lost in Space
- The Art of the Unforeground
- Whatever it Doesn’t Take
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Buying guide update: The Sony a7 III is the best camera you can buy for under $2000
09
May
 |
The Sony a7 III impressed us in our recent in-depth review, and now that it has a final score we’ve revisited our collection of buying guides to reflect our final conclusions about the camera. The a7 III’s combination of solid image quality, versatile autofocus and impressive 4K video quality make it extremely competitive, and for those reasons we’ve selected it both as our top choice for shooting people and events, and our overall top pick under $ 2000.
Read our updated buying guide: Best Cameras for People and Events
Read our updated buying guide: Best Cameras Under $ 2000
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Photo story of the week: Flowing under a solar storm
17
Mar
 |
| A night of stunning Northern Lights dancing above Haukland Beach, the Lofoten Islands, Arctic Norway, on a moonless evening. |
The serene stream that flows from the surrounding mountains and pours into the Norwegian Sea curved into a beautiful shape, paralleling the curves of the Auroral display. Haukland is a very good location for shooting Aurora, since it has numerous interesting features (such as the mountain and the stream), and since any water left stationary frequently freezes over and supplies more variety and interest. It’s also relatively shielded from artificial lights.
This image was taken in the winter of 2016 during my Lofoten workshop. I used a Sony A7R and a Samyang 14mm F2.8 with a Metabones adapter. The photograph was taken at F2.8, ISO 3200, and 8 sec exposure. The high ISO, wide aperture and long exposure were used to counter the darkness and produce a balanced exposure.
Erez Marom is a professional nature photographer, photography guide and traveler based in Israel. You can follow Erez’s work on Instagram, Facebook and 500px, and subscribe to his mailing list for updates. Erez offers photo workshops worldwide.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
How to do Wedding Day Portraits of the Bride and Groom in Under 20 Minutes
01
Mar
Wedding days are super hectic, there’s no doubt about it. My couples and I agree on a wedding day photography timeline so we know exactly what is expected at every hour of the wedding day. Yes, we are flexible but having the order of the day written down is a must for things to go smoothly. This timeline is discussed well before the day and all the key people in the bridal party and key suppliers are made aware of the plan so we are all on the same page.
Plan it out
When I sit down with the couple to plan the day, I paint a picture of what a “normal” wedding day looks like and the expected timings allocated to each portion of the day. But I always explain to the couple that it is their wedding day and ultimately, they can do what they want and decide on the duration of each part.
This includes the portrait session of just the bride and groom, nobody else, which usually happens after all the other formals are done. Ideally, the portraits are done somewhere away from the guests so the couple doesn’t get distracted or pulled in different directions which only delays or extends the portrait session. Some couples opt for a “first look” which happens before the ceremony.
How much time will the couple allow for portraits?
From experience, depending on their priorities, the time couples allow for their own portraits vary widely, some allow for an hour and a half, but many slot in only 15-20 minutes. A reason for the latter is usually because they wish to spend time saying hello to friends and family especially those who have come a long way to be at their wedding. This is completely understandable and even expected.
I do, however, encourage my couples to always spare some time for bride and groom portraits no matter how little. That is the only time during the day they can be alone and have photos done of just the two of them without anyone else in the vicinity, or worse, in the background.
This doesn’t have to be done at a grand venue or separate location. This could be anywhere that is private, semi-private, quiet, or at the very least away from the guests. It can even be done at the very same location as everyone else, you just need to separate them from the crowd for a few minutes.
Work efficiently by having a plan
On average, my couples allow 15-20 minutes for this portrait session so over the years, I have learned how to get things done very quickly. In this article, I will share with you my secret – have a formula.
Having a formula is not a bad thing. If you worry that all your weddings might end up looking exactly the same, don’t! Each couple is unique and their wedding is unique to them. Besides, if they have booked you after having looked at your portfolio, that probably means they like your style and your work and they expect their photos to have the same look and feel as your other weddings.
Here is my 5 step formula for wedding day portraits
#1 – The couple together
I usually start the portrait session by taking photos of the couple together either holding hands, embracing, posed together for a natural look, or posed for a formal portrait. Being photographed with someone else is less daunting than solo and they have each other to hold on to or lean against in case they feel awkward especially at the start.
This part doesn’t have to be all posed either. It’s better if you can do some laughing and fun shots; just give them clear instructions or make them laugh if you are able.
#2 Just the bride
I then separate them and do portraits of just the bride. Usually, I ask the groom to help throw the veil or stand next to me so he can help make the bride laugh, have a natural smile, or look in his direction instead of straight at the camera.
Make sure you get close-ups of the bride as well as wide-angle shots showing the context or location (and her whole dress!) and a variety of angles if possible.
#3 Artistic shots
Use the opportunity of having the bride in front of you to take artistic shots like close-ups of the bouquet or veil, shoes, details, or some creative compositions. I try to minimize moving the couple from place to place too much. Instead, I do the moving myself and walk around them, finding various angles from which to shoot and adjusting to the light that is available.
# Just the groom
Now it’s the groom’s turn and this is simply a case of replicating what you have just done with the bride. Grooms are usually so much quicker to photograph and do not require a lot of posing. Just get them to stand naturally, lean on something, look at the bride, look at the camera, laugh, look sideways… done.
I find grooms tend to follow instructions quickly without worrying about how they look as they generally just want to get the portraits over and done with. Don’t forget to give them some indicators of time, letting them know you are nearly finished so they don’t worry about longer than they have allowed. This is important and reduces any worries about the timing of the day.
#5 Walking or do some action shots
I end the session with some walking or action photos. Be aware of your background for this as walking photos usually require being slightly further away. Be on the lookout for some nice light in the background and a suitable path they could walk on.
Ask them to walk slowly hand in hand for these photos. Position yourself behind them so you are photographing their backs. Then ask them both to stop in their tracks and look back at you, then again with just the bride looking, and finally just the groom looking.
Ask them to turn around in the same spot so they are now looking at you and walking towards you. Always instruct them to walk slowly. Again ask them to stop in their tracks and hold hands but stand further apart. Then say to take a step closer to each other until they are holding each other close or kissing if they wish. Depending on the background, this is when I try to do a silhouette, especially if there is sky or an open expanse in the background.
Sometimes, I ask them to practice their first dance a bit or pull each other in for a quick kiss for some movement and natural laughter.
Conclusion
On a small patch of ground, you will be able to cover several poses, include a variety of angles, do some formal portraits, some casual looks, and lastly some walking and action shots. And that is it! Wedding day portraits done in 15-20 minutes!
Don’t forget, just get on with it. Don’t stop to check your LCD for long or fuss about too many imperfections. You are under time pressure so have a formula and stick to it while allowing yourself wiggle room for some creative opportunities that may arise – as long as you are within the agreed upon timeframe.
As a side note, I always find that couples who have had an engagement shoot with me beforehand end up having a much easier and breezier portrait session. They know what to expect and what to do that they just do it without the need for a warm-up. They are quick to relax and be at ease in front of the camera and the best bit, they genuinely enjoy it!
The post How to do Wedding Day Portraits of the Bride and Groom in Under 20 Minutes by Lily Sawyer appeared first on Digital Photography School.
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