Leaked details of a possible inexpensive Fujifilm X-series cameras have hit the web today. The camera pictured in the leaked images is apparently named the X-A1, and appears to be built around a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor instead of X-Trans, but otherwise it looks pretty similar to the recently released X-M1. Other leaked details mention a 3-inch tilting LCD, Wi-Fi, and 5.6 fps burst mode. Click through to see what it (might) look like.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
In a previous article I explored ways of taking photos in soft light. Today, I’d like to look at the opposite of that, and discuss the idea of taking photos in hard light.
In the earlier piece I wrote about matching the light to the subject. That’s an important concept to understand – especially when it comes to hard light, a type of lighting considered by many photographers to be unsuitable for most types of photography.
I’m not saying those photographers are incorrect. Hard light doesn’t suit every type of subject, and if you’re trying to take a photo in hard light that you really shouldn’t be taking, then nothing you can do is going to work. Here’s an example from the earlier article:
The flower had to be lit by soft light for the image to work. In hard light, there was too much contrast. The light didn’t suit the subject.
Hard light comes from a light source that is relatively small compared to the subject. It creates strong, clearly defined shadows.
For example, hard light is cast by the sun when it is high in the sky on a cloudless day. The light gets softer as the sun dips towards the horizon at the end of the day. If clouds appear, or the air is hazy or polluted, that may also soften the light.
If you use portable flash you will also know that the light from an unmodified flash unit is very hard. That’s because the light comes from a relatively small light source – the flash head isn’t very big. That’s why photographers use lighting modifiers with flash units, to effectively make the source of the light larger, which makes the light softer. You can read more about using portable flash here and here.
Now, let’s look at how you can make hard light work for you, with some practical examples:
I took this photo in Burano, an island near Venice, at around 2.30pm in summer. The light was very hard. But look at the long shadows on the wall of the building. The sun was nearly overhead, and a little to the right. From that position, the light rakes over the surface of the building, picking out the texture (I also used a polarising filter to deepen the colours). Noticing scenes like this, and recognising the photo opportunity, is just a matter of training your eye to see where the light is falling.
Architecture is an ideal subject when the light is hard. If you are in a city or urban area during the middle of a sunny day, you can often take good photos of the buildings.
Photos taken in hard light are often more interesting in black and white than colour. Colour photos may look bland when illuminated by hard light from the overhead sun.
Here’s an example of long exposure photography that I took around 2pm in the afternoon. I used a nine stop neutral density filter to obtain a shutter speed of 30 seconds. It looked a little boring, so I converted it to black and white.
Finally, here’s a photo taken at around 2.30pm in the middle of summer:
We were on the beach and the light was very hard. There was no way that I could take a portrait using natural light alone. I used an on-camera portable flash unit (itself a hard light source) and used that to overpower the light from the sun. It acted like a powerful fill light, filling in the shadows cast by the sun. Compare that to this portrait (from my article about soft light):
Two different types of light, two completely different effects. Bear in mind that hard light plus flash won’t be flattering to everybody, and will generally work better with men than women. Again, it comes back to the idea of matching the light to the subject.
My latest ebook, Mastering Photography: A Beginner’s Guide to Using Digital Cameras introduces you to digital photography and helps you make the most out of your digital cameras. It covers concepts such as lighting and composition as well as the camera settings you need to master to take photos like the ones in this article.
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
Natural Light: Making the Most of Hard Light
Over the past 2 years I have been super active on Google+. Google+ has emerged as the best community on the web for photographers. Photos look great there, but photos look great a lot of places on the web today. More significantly, Google+ is a positive, visually oriented community where photographers can meet, talk, get to know each other and develop and maintain friendships.
I’ve met more photography friends on Google+, than any other social network.
As Iv’e gotten involved with Google+ I’ve shared my circles of photographers. When Google+ first started out and I built my photographers circle up to 500, I shared it, then 1,000, then 1,500, then 2,000. Last week my photographers circle on Google+ hit 2,500 and I shared it again.
If you want to see some of the best photography being published on the web today, check out some of these photographers.
Part 1-5 (A-Da)
Part 2-5 (Da-Ho)
Part 3-5 (Ho-Mi)
Part 4-5 (Mi-Sh)
Part 5-5 (Sh-Z)
Thomas Hawk Digital Connection
The Fujinon XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS is the first telephoto zoom for Fujifilm’s X system cameras, and offers an 83-300mm equivalent angle of view. It has built-in optical image stabilization with 4.5 stops claimed benefit, and uses linear stepper motors for silent autofocus. The lens features an (unmarked) aperture control ring, and offers high quality all-metal barrel construction. Click through for a link to our gallery of real-world samples taken in a range of different environments.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
[ By Steph in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]
Seen from the eyes of a German officer, these dramatic photos depict the St. Quentin Cathedral in northern France, which was almost completely destroyed during World War I. They’re part of a collection of over a thousand photos, stereographs and negatives saved by Lt. Walter Koessler’s family and shared by his grandson on Tumblr and in a forthcoming Kickstarter-funded book.
“Walter’s training as an architect drew him to photograph and sketch many buildings throughout the war,” writes Dean Putney, who has taken on the task of preserving and printing the photos. “Churches were a particular favorite, and with their roofs blown off by battle these were probably rare opportunities to capture their insides on the insensitive film of the time.”
The church was constructed over a period of nearly two hundred years, starting in the 12th century, and survived damage from both fire and invaders’ artillery several times prior to World War I. In 1916, a bomb dropped nearby blew out many of its stained glass windows, and in 1917, a fire destroyed everything within its walls, causing the vaulting of the central nave to collapse, and destroying parts of the flying buttresses.
In 1918, the Germans almost succeeded in blowing the whole thing to dust. Having chased out the occupiers, French soldiers entered the cathedral to find that ninety-three holes had been drilled in the walls and pillars and filled with explosives. A German engineer captain was left behind to finish off the task, and stopped just in time. The church has since been restored.
Koessler’s photos offer a unique glimpse not only into the German side of the war (as Putney points out, most surviving photos were taken by the Allies) but the personal viewpoint of a photographer who had been trained as an architect. See the whole series at the Walter Koessler Project.
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Cokin has announced a complete overhaul of the branding and packaging of its square filters. The existing different-sized ranges ( ‘A’, ‘P’, ‘Z-Pro’ and ‘X-Pro’) have been rebranded into a single ‘Creative Filter System’, with the four sizes relabelled ‘S’, ‘M’, ‘L’ and ‘XL’. Gone are the old bulky plastic storage boxes too, replaced by a slimmer ‘SlidePack’ design which takes up half the space, and uses a microfibre-lined sleeve to help keep your filters clean. Photographers nostalgic for the good old days can breathe a sigh of relief though – old classics such as Tobacco Grads and Sunset filters are still in the catalogue.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Fall is indeed a magical time for everyone. With the air becoming clean and crisp, you get to dust off your overcoats and walking boots. You’ll hear the chopping of the wood that will see everyone though the winter months. But there is nothing more recognizable with the season of autumn than the colors associated with the falling of the Continue Reading
The post Splendid Fall Photography Tips and Tricks to Make The Most Of This Gorgeous Season appeared first on Photodoto.
All in all, this was a pretty good summer– except, of course, for the trip that didn’t happen. I was supposed to hit the road with some friends last month, but events beyond our control pulled the rug out from under us at the last minute. My bags were packed. I was ready to go. The taxi was waiting outside my door. OK– not really, but my Think Tank City Walker 30 really was packed and I am all out of cheesy musical metaphors. I took a few shots of this pretty amazing bag before I unpacked it and thought I’d share a few impressions. I see so many articles about packing gear for travel and it’s always some big rolling case that fits an entire studio’s worth of equipment and a sherpa to roll it. But what about a simple bag full of basics?
This is my eighth Think Tank bag (Hey– don’t judge me…I can quit any time I want!) and I’m pretty sure it’s quickly becoming my favorite. I generally don’t write “fresh-out-of-the-box” reviews. I prefer to put a product through its paces for a while before formulating an opinion or recommendation. But since the 30 is a larger version of the City Walker 20 that I’ve been using for about ten months, I think we’re in the clear. Certain things jump out at you when you pick up any Think Tank bag, and the City Walker messenger-style bags are no exception. Superior construction is at the top of the list. Even a light-weight bag like the City Walker is obviously built to last. Everything from the zippers to the straps are designed with efficiency, durability, and comfort in mind.
The Think Tank City Walker 30
So, what’s the big deal about yet another shoulder bag? Besides its soft-sided, light-weight design, the entire City Walker line boasts the one thing I love most about Think Tank bags– it doesn’t scream, “Hey, I’m a camera bag! Come steal me and my $ 8,463.75 worth of gear!” Conceived with the needs of the urban street photographer or photojournalist in mind, the CW is also perfect for any photographer looking for a way to travel light– regardless of whether it’s on assignment, vacation, or a day out with the family. As with all things Think Tank, there is an abundant supply of pockets, compartments, and dividers, and the dedicated interior laptop/iPad pocket is a huge welcome addition. But perhaps the coolest feature of this camera bag is that it doesn’t have to be a camera bag at all. The entire padded gear section can be removed, converting from camera bag to messenger bag or overnight bag (and back again) quickly and easily.
The padded gear section is held in with Velcro and is easily removable.
Fresh out of the box, the City Walker doesn’t look like it’s going to hold all that much, but it really does. Here’s a quick look at the gear I had packed for the trip, with plenty of room to spare.
Packed and ready to go.
1. Laptop
2. Memory cards (Think Tank Custom Pixel Pocket Rocket)
3. SB800 Speedlight in an internal side pocket
4. 16-35mm lens
5. Nikon D90 with 24-70m lens attached
6. 70-200mm lens
7. Two Think Tank DSLR battery holders
8. CapturePRO Camera Clip from Peak Design
9. Included Think Tank rain cover in an internal side pocket
10. NOT pictured, but stashed in the pockets: Business cards, notebook,, pens, lens cloth, AA’s, miscellaneous cords, chargers, and Peanut m&m’s.
The fact that you can completely remove the gear section adds some great diversity. It actually wasn’t until my trip got cancelled that I realized I can completely pack for a long weekend with nothing more than my two City Walkers– some basic gear in the 20 and clothes in the 30 (or the other way around). This photo shows almost a week’s worth of clothes and other essentials in the 30 with plenty of room to spare.
Whereas I use different bag and configurations for different jobs and assignments, the City Walker 30 could easily be that one go-to bag for some professionals, as well as serious hobbyists and amateurs looking for a reliable, durable, comfortable bag with quick access to all of the gear.
As a travel bag it would be tough to be beat. I’ll let you know next summer.
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
A Review of the Think Tank City Walker 30
[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]
A nearly-complete London tower is being investigated thanks to reflected daylight that is dazzling (and sizzling) the neighborhood in extreme, surprising and undesirable ways. The structure is suspected as the source of myriad problems, from cooked car parts in adjacent vehicles (parked in its bright glare) to spontaneous fires in a nearby businesses (with carpets catching fire from the focused light).
On the vehicular front, per Mirror News in the UK (images via [Duncan]): warped side panels, melting mirror casings and a burning smell in some cars all point to the proverbial finger at glare caused by the uniquely-shaped, 37-story structure known as the Walkie Talkie building still under construction. While the matter is studied, usage of parking spots that fall under the building’s reflected spots of sunlight has been suspended.
Meanwhile, local businesses report peeling and puckered paint and other forms of heat damage to their exteriors and interiors, including a carpet that spontaneously ignited, presumably due to the light rays reflected from above and focused through the facade glass storefront.
As a temporary measure, the building developers are apparently doling out cash for repairs and preventative measures to affected individuals and businesses until a lasting solution can be found.
This almost-finished work of urban architecture has a 300 million dollar price tags, yet it remains unclear how this fundamentally problematic design issues can be addressed now that the skin has been installed. Thankfully, the damage should be nearly done for this year. As the sun drops in the sky over the next few weeks of fall, the phenomena should disappear … at least until next summer, that is, but at least it buys the developers a bit more time.
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