Tag: Photographers

New Year’s Resolutions for Creative Photographers

The post New Year’s Resolutions for Creative Photographers appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Charlie Moss.

It’s that time of year when your friends and family begin to bug you for your New Year’s resolutions. So, in this article, I’ll share with you some possible New Year’s resolutions for creative photographers.

Apparently, humans started making New Year’s resolutions four thousand years ago. So you’re in good company if you want to make some this year!

You might be considering pledging to go to the gym more or stop biting your nails (but we know you’ll never last past January). So instead, why not think about how you might use the new year to make some changes to your photography? You never know, they might even stick for longer than a month!

Reflect on the past year

Take some time to review the photos that you’ve taken during the past year. Pick out the ones that you like the most and try to think about why they make you feel that way. Are they perhaps full of happy memories? Or did they mark a moment when you understood a new technique?

Consider turning your favorite photos from the year into a photo book to permanently make a record of what you achieved. Think of it as being like a journal of your hobby that you can look back on in the future to see how much your approach to taking photographs has changed.

It could be that many of the things you enjoyed most about photography over the past year were the experiences. Maybe you enjoyed spending time with certain other friends who are into photography or going to different places. Make a note of those experiences you enjoyed the most, and we’ll come back to it later!

Don’t be afraid to take risks

Taking risks with your photography can be a useful tool to help you improve. Cameras are tools that are meant to be used and they can always be replaced.

But taking risks doesn’t have to be about putting yourself and your equipment at risk. Sometimes it can be about pushing your boundaries and taking creative risks.

The worst that can happen when you take a creative risk is that you get a photograph that isn’t as good as you hoped it would be. And if that happens, you don’t have to show anybody! But when a creative risk takes off… that’s when risk-taking really becomes worth it.

Take your camera everywhere

The famous hockey player Wayne Gretzky said that you’ll miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take. He’s not wrong – if you don’t have a camera with you, then you won’t be taking any photos!

Two years ago, I realized that I wasn’t taking my camera out and about with me because it was too big and heavy. Shortly after, I ‘side-graded’ to a more compact camera that was easier to take with me everywhere that I went.

My photography improved almost immediately. I was simply taking more photographs and getting more practice. Over time I also found that I was finding more excuses to take photographs because I was enjoying photography more than I ever did previously!

Say ‘yes’ more often

It’s too easy to say no to opportunities that crop up. You might think about the other things that you ‘should’ be doing. You might think about the money that you could be using for something else. But how much would it really hurt if you said ‘yes’ a few more times during the upcoming year?

Say yes to a photographic adventure with a friend. Say yes to a new kind of photography. Also, say yes to new styles and techniques that someone offers to show you. And, say yes to things that are outside of your comfort zone.

You might not enjoy everything that you photograph as a result of saying yes, but then you’ll certainly know for the future when to say no!

Plan your year in advance

Each year I buy an almanac, and I first use it as a convenient list of key dates and celebrations that I might want to explore photographically. But a good almanac book will have so much more than just a calendar.

Divided into monthly chapters, almanac’s have tide tables, information about the night sky, and what flowers are in bloom that month. It’s a guide to what you should see in nature, and some almanacs even have seasonal recipes.

Imagine if you let the almanac be your guide for photography over the coming year? You’d shoot everything from seascapes, wildlife, and cultural celebrations to food photography.

Start a passion project

The first thing to know about passion projects is that they don’t have to change the world. They don’t have to be big, dramatic, and meaningful; they just have to satisfy you and your desire to take photographs.

I like to use passion projects as a way to help me be more attentive to the world around me or to work on skills.

This year I have been setting aside the time to shoot a self-portrait every month to improve my portrait photography. While working in London as a photographer, I documented my changing walk to work for several months, as industrial development happened around me.

Use it as an excuse to get out and about and photograph things that you might not normally photograph. A friend of mine, this year, has been visiting every UK Cathedral and photographing them all. He sees parts of the world that he’s never seen before – despite them being virtually in his backyard!

Set some goals

Setting goals for your photography can be a good way to figure out how you’re going to spend the next year. Goals can help inform the trips you take, the accessories you buy, and ultimately the pictures you make.

Take a few minutes to consider what you really want out of your photography hobby. Is it perhaps more time for yourself with a camera? Or do you want to win a local photography club competition? Think about what you wrote down when you considered what you’d enjoyed most over the past year photographically.

Once you’ve come up with a few goals, start thinking about how you can achieve them. Do you need to take a specific trip to photograph some wildlife? Or do you need to book a workshop with a photographer who’s style you love?

Whatever you write down, make sure you tuck these ideas away in a safe place so that you can keep looking at them throughout the year. That way, you’ll find it easier to stay on track and achieve your goals.

Take more photos!

Everything I’ve talked about in New Year’s Resolutions for Creative Photographers is just a way to try and help you shoot more photographs that you love over the coming year.

By working out what you enjoy photographically, and where you want your journey to go over the coming year, you can start to make a plan to help you achieve your photographic goals.

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions for creative photographers you’d like to share? What are your goals for the upcoming year? What are you doing to try and do differently? Don’t forget to tell us in the comments!

The post New Year’s Resolutions for Creative Photographers appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Charlie Moss.

Digital Photography School

January 2, 2020
Video: Billie Eilish parody music video ‘Gear Guy’ is made for filmmakers and photographers

Dave Maze, the host of YouTube channel Kinotika, is the star of a newly published parody of Billie Eilish’s ‘Bad Guy’ music video. Called ‘Gear Guy,’ this song is made for the photographers and filmmakers who are obsessed with collecting new gear.

Maze is also behind the ‘Old Towne Road’ parody video published back in September. In addition to the music video above, the parody is also available to listen to on Soundcloud. The video also stars Jake Bernal, Zach Mayfield, and Laura Altizer.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

January 1, 2020
Gift ideas for photographers with too much photo junk

The tripod standing desk, just one way to repurpose an old clunky three-legged friend.

By now you’ve pored over photo holiday gift guides that include everything from that $ 1500 lens no one will buy you to the ubiquitous camera lens mug you already have. Those lists are helpful when you’re searching for gifts for a photographer. But what about the unfortunate people around you, the ones who don’t understand this photo obsession and yet still call you first when they need ‘some pictures taken with a good camera, like the one you have?’ Isn’t it your duty to help them share your love of photography?

Not entirely unrelated, since you did end up buying that $ 1500 lens for yourself after all, perhaps you need gift ideas that don’t cost a lot of money. Well, friend, you’re in luck! Because if you’re like us, you already own scads of photo equipment, most of which is probably in a closet or on a shelf or piled haphazardly in a corner next to five camera bags you’ve used once.

We’re here to help you repurpose those gear gems into gifts that every non-photographer on your holiday list is sure to accept politely (and then ask someone out of earshot if maybe you’ve taken this photography thing a little too far).

That’s no light stand, It’s a coat tree!

Send your rickety old light stands to the hallway, because those coats have to go somewhere.

Everyone can use a good coat tree, but few people want to buy one. Coat trees are some of the most useful and ignored furniture pieces around. All that anyone will see is the bottom two feet. That’s pretty much how we think of light stands, right? So why not turn your discarded stands into coat trees?

Grab a handful of S hooks from the hardware store, pop them into the top of that neglected light stand and viola! You’ve got a useful coat tree that will do more than keep clothes off the floor. To ensure that the gift is ready to serve its new purpose for years, be sure to tighten up all of the knobs and joints and peel off those dingy strips of gaffer tape. At the top of the stand, unscrew the post so the open tube will accept the S hooks. If you’re crafty, you can whip up some alternative hooks using any old Manfrotto posts, clamps or pins.

Chef’s helper

They can always use an extra hand in the kitchen, and with some grip gear they’ll have one!

For the chefs on your list, dig deep into that box of old lighting equipment for some creative helping hands. Join a clamp to a gooseneck or Magic Arm then finish with another clamp or clip and you have a cool kitchen tool that’s as unique as it is useful. When cook books and iPads need holding, it will be there to remind your loved one that you care. For the outdoor grillers on your list, a clamp and arm setup that holds a battery-powered light will keep them cooking late into the night. For the bakers in your life, a small clamp that can keep a beloved recipe card in sight and out of the fray will bring a smile to their flour-dappled face.

Lens-friendly fashions

Turn a few dozen of your tired microfiber lens cloths into useful fashion accessories.

Everyone has lenses that could use some cleaning. As photographers we hoard lens cloths and it’s likely you have more than you need. Repurpose some of those little microfiber squares into useful items with a little needlework, and the bespectacled on your list will thank you every time they clean their specs. Sew several into a soft and colorful scarf or get really clever and stitch one into the inside of a jacket or shirt’s hem for a more discreet approach. If you are up to your neck in lens cloths, go crazy and sew a quilt! No matter how you put them together, anyone who has had to clean their glasses on the bottom of their t-shirt will appreciate your thoughtful gift.

Camera Straps as Fashion

That strap you wouldn’t be caught dead using can become a killer fashion accessory.

Your kids, nieces, nephews, and possibly even grandkids love to repurpose old things into fashionable accessories. If a tangled mess of old camera straps is hiding in your closet, it’s time to turn something you will never use into Instagram gold. Your younger VSCO Girl relatives will absolutely love their CANON EOS 40D camera strap belt with body cap/lens cap buckle! Why not turn those garish Nikon D700 straps into suspenders? And don’t forget the wrist straps: that old Fuji wrist strap will look dope dangling a HydroFlask.

Whatever they come up with as they transform your cast-off camera box clutter, you will surely end up being GOAT – the Greatest Of All Time. But you knew that, right? Yes, you are lit.

Hip Beverage Porter

If it will safely cradle thousands of dollars worth of lenses, it’ll do dandy keeping some beer cold.

Never mind that a soft-goods designer spent days obsessing over the dividers in that old camera pack sitting in your closet. Your hip friend or relative will be overjoyed to see how well your retired camera bag holds a six pack of cold brews and some nosh in style. Those carefully crafted padded pockets will keep the chillest of beverages pleasingly cool as your bud rides their electric scooter or one-wheeled contraption to the beach. Larger camera packs can handle growlers, while those dedicated tripod pockets snugly pack gluten-free baguettes for the trip. Why spring for a $ 200 Yeti cooler when your old Think Tank bag will do the trick?

SAD no more therapy lamp

Any daylight-balanced light table or continuous light can make a SAD person very happy.

For those of us in Northern latitudes, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is no laughing matter. The winter months bring less sunlight and moods suffer. Fortunately, daylight-balanced light sources, especially really bright ones, can serve as therapy for those stricken with SAD. Locate that long-forgotten light table from your film days and dust it off. Peel off any labels that give away its former life and replace them with fun stickers of cartoon suns. Prop it in a corner, turn it on, stare into its captivating glow, and feel the dreariness of winter melt away. You can do the same with any continuous light sources that reach daylight color temperatures (5,000 degrees Kelvin or higher).

If the light table as therapy lamp no longer does the trick for your beloved gift recipient, they can repurpose it as a trendy place to display their craft liquor bottle collection. The uplighting will lend an air of sophistication and style to the expensive craft whiskey that many turn to when winter’s dark chill becomes too harsh.

Read anywhere with a GorilLED-Pod

Print books aren’t dead, and neither is that adjustable-legged piece of sculpture in your camera bag.

We remember when the coolest-looking piece of electronics was the book-mounted reading lamp. (Yeah, we were nerds.) You could read a book late into the night without disturbing others, and the light illuminated just the pages.

Except… the size of the book heavily influenced whether the lamp was too heavy or not. And the light bulbs heated up and burned out quickly. And you had to either string a cord to a power outlet or deal with replaceable batteries. Although we still spy reading lamps sold in discerning mail-order catalogs, we rarely see them in use anywhere.

Clearly, the solution is to uncouple the light from the book. And you no doubt have just the pieces to do it: attach a small LED panel to a flexible GorillaPod tripod and your favorite bookworm can place that light anywhere. Wrap it around a bedpost. Perch it on the edge of a side table. Heck, clamp it to your skull and you’ll be the coolest, most literary miner in history.

Le Tripod Lampe

Nothing says hip more than a tripod working as a lamp.

We know the sad, all-too-familiar sequence of events: You need a tripod, but the initial sticker shock of most models pushes you into the cloying arms of the Best Buy camera section, where tripods can be had for roughly the price of the latest discounted Adam Sandler movie. But hey, it holds a camera, right? Who needs it to be all bougie and carbon fiber?

And then one of the tripod’s legs slowly and consistently loses its fight with gravity. Or it gets dented because you laid it gently on a soft surface. So you buy another, slightly more expensive tripod, that doesn’t quite do the job either. And then you gradually move up to one you’re mostly happy with, having spent far more than you could have spent in the first place.

Call them “shame-pods” or whatever helps you sleep better, but we all have a few old tripods we shouldn’t have bought but we did. Instead of leaning them against a dark corner of your basement, upcycle them into trendy lamps.

Attach a fixture to the top (we’re sure you have some clamps lying around) and a stylish lampshade (lighting umbrella perhaps?), and you’ve got yourself a lamp with photographic character. The warm light it will bring to a friend will help you feel better about buying that piece of junk in the first place.

iMonoPod walking stick

Pair an old monopod with an iPhone mount and you’ve got a walking stick with a kick.

We photographers tend to accumulate monopods as well as tripods. Turns out, those not-so-handy one-footed unstable camera stabilizers make great walking sticks. Throw a smartphone mount on the top and anyone with a decent wireless plan can stream their favorite shows while they rack up some steps. Now the trekking aunt or uncle on your list can keep up with Downton Abbey while strolling their favorite scenic valley. If you really want to up the wow factor, add a Lume Cube or GoPro rig for live streaming fun.

A Three-Legged Table that Stands on Its Own

Did we say “lamp” earlier? Go with a less-complicated option that can hold a beverage.

When you bought that old tripod, you scrutinized the load limit to make sure it would hold a DSLR and a 100-400mm lens. But did you properly factor the weight of a beer, phone charger, and assortment of TV remotes? Attach a plank of wood to an Arca Swiss plate and snap the whole thing to the half-stuck ballhead on the tripod to create a simple side table. As a bonus, you can pop that tabletop off when you need to press the tripod into service. And if your house or apartment’s floor is uneven, no problem: with three legs, a ballhead, and the little level bubble built into many tripods, you can ensure that your drinks stay slosh-proof.

Adventurous Standing Desk

Mount a small table on a tripod for the ultimate adventure desk.

For those who must use computers for work, it can begin to feel like a ball and chain dragging them into lives of sedentary stupor. Standing desks can help, but standing in a cubicle or a basement office is only going to elevate one so far. Why not take the standing desk outside? Way outside! By screwing a base plate onto a simple plywood platform, you can turn any old sturdy tripod into a miracle of modern technology. Be sure the platform or table you create is large enough for the user’s laptop and the tripod reaches the proper height for comfortable use. When you give someone a portable standing desk you give them freedom, and that’s a gift they will never forget. If it turns out they don’t like it, they can always use it as a tripod. Or a tripod lamp!

Repurpose for a good purpose

Being a photographer usually comes with a serious case of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). One of the complications the syndrome brings is a feeling of guilt as you accumulate shiny things and deflate your bank account. The holidays are a wonderful time to rid yourself of some of that guilt and a lot of the stuff you shouldn’t have bought. Think of this time as a kind of GAS therapy, because everyone knows it is better to give than to receive (unless you’re talking about that sweet little prime lens no one will ever know you snuck into your cart).

In this world of digital gift cards and two-day shipping of the newest photographic gear, people increasingly value homemade, analog gifts. And by ‘people’ we mean ‘the folks still on your list for whom you have no idea what to give.’ They’ll surely appreciate the time, effort, and sacrifice (‘if only they knew how much I paid for this originally’) that goes into your upcycled creations.

And if they balk at your offerings, remind them that the holidays are times for selflessness, for bestowing upon them the richness of photographic history and the ongoing lineage of Chinese injection molded design. As the old adage goes, ‘One photographer’s old garbage is… someone else’s new, slightly adapted garbage.’

Happy holidays.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

December 21, 2019
Why Other Photographers are your Greatest Photography Resource
The post Why Other Photographers are your Greatest Photography Resource appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.

There are lots of ways you can progress as a photographer. There are plenty of resources out there, equipment you can use, books you can read that will help you as a photographer. In this article, you’ll discover why your fellow photographer is your greatest photography resource. This is true throughout your photography journey, from a beginner to a more experienced photographer.

Let’s support each other and grow as photographers together!

This location was reached by joining up with another group of photographers.

When you’re a beginner

As a beginner, everything about photography with a manual camera will be a steep learning curve. Even if you’re using a smartphone, there is plenty to learn that can transform your photography.

These are the following ways you can use another photographer as a photography resource.

1. Feedback

How do you know whether your work is good? One great way is to get feedback from other photographers. The chances are they’ll know the pitfalls a new photographer can fall into, and through their help, they can help you avoid these mistakes.

This form of feedback is best when there are positive comments mixed in with any critique made. This can be done person to person, or through joining online groups of other photographers.

The role of social media in giving you feedback on your work, allows you to interact with photographers from around the world. The feedback can be direct or indirect, and so given in the following ways.
- Indirect – This kind of feedback comes in the form of ‘likes’ you get for your work. While it’s tempting to ignore this aspect of social media, it gives you a good way to gauge how your work is progressing in a fairly scientific way. Of course, if you massively increase the number of followers you have, your likes will likely go up because you have a bigger audience, not necessarily because you’re taking better photos.
- Direct – This comes in the form of comments left on your photos. Of course, comments that are short or one word will likely be positive, and this is really for encouragement. However, you’re really looking for longer comments that cover why things work in your photo, and what could be improved. This type of comment is often something you need to request people to give you. You should be asking for constructive feedback on your work.
Choose a mentor for your photography, one who suits your style.

2. Mentoring

A mentor is someone who will give you feedback on your work but will also give other things beyond that. This type of relationship will be one-to-one and much closer than when you ask a community of photographers for feedback.

You need to look for someone who takes photos in the area of photography you’re interested in, and often you’ll need to pay for this kind of service. It might be as a photography student you have a lecturer assigned to mentor you, in which case that’s their job.

A mentor will look to give feedback and direction to your photography. It should be clear about the start and finish point that you both want to achieve together. In that instance, they’ll not only give input on photos you’ve taken in the past but also tell you the sort of photos you should be aiming for in the future.

The location this photo was taken from was given by another photographer.

3. Advice

It’s always good to ask for advice. This goes for beginners and more experienced photographers. Everyone needs specific advice on things, and with photography always evolving, you’ll quickly find your not an expert on everything.

One of the most common areas of photography to seek advice is camera gear. This can often be expensive, so you don’t want to spend lots of money on equipment that won’t add real value to your photography. In fact, Digital Photography School has an entire section devoted just to gear for this reason.

So look to ask other photographers for advice on the best lens to buy, the best location to photograph in, or how to improve your post-processing.

In this photo, a group of photographers take part in a wire wool workshop.

Photographers as a photography resource for the experienced

As you get more experienced as a photographer, there are good reasons you should lean more (not less) on your fellow photographers. These are the best ways to grow friendships by working together and getting amazing photos.

1. Collaborations

There are lots of times when pooling your resources with another photographer will get you a better photo. The following are just some of the ways you might work with others.
- Photo shoot – Photographing a model on your own can be done, but it’s much better to have other people with you. If the model costs money to hire, you can share the cost. You can also help with equipment brought to the session. Having people to hold light stands while you photograph helps a lot. Of course, you will need to return the favor!
- Exhibition – A solo exhibition can be expensive. You’ll need to frame and print every frame, advertise the show, and find a location to host it. All the jobs and costs can be shared when you collaborate with a joint exhibition.
- Workshop – Getting tuition from a photographer one-on-one is expensive, so, once again, joining a workshop with other photographers is a great idea to reduce costs.
- Trip – Going on a trip with the intention of building your photography portfolio can be a better way to invest your money than buying another lens. That said, if you form a group, you can share accommodation, car rentals, and the time it takes to organize such trips.
In this photo, the man is preparing a reflection puddle.

2. Local knowledge

Nothing beats local knowledge, and most photographers will really know their area. Now not every photographer will share their photography spots with you. The best way is to reach out to a photography group that has an online forum ahead of your visit. Then invest the time in building a friendship with a photographer from the location you plan to visit ahead of time. If you do get taken around to some amazing locations, be prepared to reciprocate if they visit you.

3. Fixer

Of course, providing local knowledge is one way that a photographer can act as your fixer. There are other ways they can help you as well.

A lot of the time, gaining access to a vantage point can give you a great photo. Another photographer might have an apartment with a great view or work in an office that gives you a vantage over an amazing cityscape. Equally, there are times you might want to photograph with a model. Ask a portrait photographer if they know someone, and they might be able to put you in contact with a model.

This photo was a result of a collaboration with some other photographers. The puddle was created using seawater.

4. Safety

There are times when joining forces with another photographer is about safety. When you’re on your own, you’re vulnerable. You can fall while out trekking in the wilderness, or be mugged when exploring an abandoned building. If you have another photographer with you, if the worst happens, they’ll be able to help you.

Conclusion

Gaining knowledge from other photographers is a great way to improve your work. How much you collaborate with others is a personal choice; some like to be alone.

Think about how you can get extra creativity by hanging out with other photographers, but always remember they’re your friend.

How much do you like to work with other photographers? Do you get better or worse photos when you photograph in a group? Here at Digital Photography School, we’d love to hear your experiences!

The post Why Other Photographers are your Greatest Photography Resource appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.

Digital Photography School
December 16, 2019
10 Great Gifts for Food Photographers Under $50

The post 10 Great Gifts for Food Photographers Under $ 50 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.

The festive season is fast upon us. Do you have a food blogger or photographer in your life but are stuck on a gift that won’t break the bank? Luckily, food photography is one genre where prop lust is never-ending. You can buy helpful and attractive gifts for food photographers that they will love – many under $ 50 bucks.

Here are 10 ideas for gifts for food photographers that are sure to please.

Linen napkins

Every food photographer has an arsenal of napkins in their collection, so they can be ready to create any mood in their images. Napkins and other textiles go a long way in creating a visual story, and the wrong choice can make an image feel a bit off.

This is where linen saves the day. Not only does its natural and fine texture go with virtually any setting, but it also drapes well, which can’t be said about a lot of other fabrics.

If you’ve ever tried to make a napkin look effortlessly placed, you’ll know why propping napkins is the bane of every food photographer’s existence. Linen makes this job a lot easier.

It also photographs well, because you don’t get the significant color shifts you can have when taking pictures with other fabrics.

There are a lot of great sources to buy linen online, but you can also head to a popular home retailer and pick up a few for a reasonable price. Places like Crate & Barrel sell them individually, so you don’t have to buy a pack of four, which will likely be three more than are really needed. Choose neutral colors like grey, cream, or light and navy blue.

French cutting boards

Whether vintage or new, there is something about a French cutting board that adds a bit of pizzaz to an image.

Food photography is all about using layers to create interest. Placing a dish on a cutting board is a great way to style an image or add a bit of context to a scene.

French cutting boards make great gifts for food photographers but they can be expensive. However, many stores like Homesense carry them at very reasonable prices.

French Cutting Board

Cake stands

Every food photographer needs a couple of cake stands. A neutral color and on the smaller side is best.

Cake stands are useful for showing off a beautiful cake, of course, but they can also be used to prop other sweets, like stacks of cookies or even an arrangement of fruit.

A cake stand adds height and can be a prop that improves a composition without competing with the food.

To make the cake stand extra useful look for one with a detachable base.

Glass Cake Stand

Vinyl backdrops

Vinyl backdrops created specifically for food and still life photographers have become more and more popular with photographers in recent years, as an alternative to heavy and expensive custom-made backdrops.

The selection of manufacturers selling vinyl backdrops used to be fairly poor, but now there are some new companies selling high-quality backdrops in beautiful designs.

The backdrops offered by Captured by Lucy are under $ 50 USD in 2×3 feet, and come in a variety of colors and designs that work great for food photography. They lie flat as soon as you unroll them.

Vinyl backdrops are great for containing spills or working with ice and drips.

If you want to get a bit more bang for your buck, you can try the backdrops and Ink & Elm. The quality is decent and the price more affordable, which means you can purchase a few for your budget.

Vinyl Backdrops

Vardagen IKEA glasses

One of the biggest challenges in propping food photography is the size of glassware these days. It’s way too big.

Scale is a very important aspect of food photography composition. In addition, objects can appear a lot larger to the camera than they actually are. You can really notice this when you shoot a scene from overhead because it flattens the depth.

As a food photographer, you don’t want your props dwarfing the star of the show – the food.

Vardegen glasses from IKEA are the perfect size for food photography. The ridges make the glass less reflective, which makes them easier to photograph, but they are translucent enough to look attractive in photos.

Vinyl Backdrops

Pallares Solsona carbon steel knife

Look at the foodie posts on Instagram, and you will invariably come across a carbon steel knife with a rounded wooden handle. This style of knife has become ubiquitous in the food photography world. It adds such a nice touch to a food scene without distracting from the major elements. It looks great with other modern or vintage props.

Several manufacturers make this kind of carbon steel knife. Pallares Solsona is one brand that can be bought through many sources online for a reasonable price.

Tether Tools tethering cable

A key to capturing great food photos is to work tethered in Lightroom. This is where you hook up your camera to your computer via a USB cable so you can see a larger and more accurate rendition of your photo on the screen than you can get on your camera’s LCD screen.

This cable is called a USB 2.0 to Mini B. Tether Tools is the brand most trusted and used by pro photographers everywhere.

When searching for this type of cable, it’s important to purchase one that has gold tips, so they don’t get corroded easily.

Acacia Wood salad servers

We said that scale is an important factor in food photography. Salad servers that are small enough can be difficult to find. You don’t want them hogging up your frame and detracting from your beautiful salad.

Amazon offers some lovely acacia wood servers with your choice of gold or white handle that is small enough for food photography and looks attractive with a variety of foods and props.

Also, the wood is not too orange, which is a color that tends not to translate very nicely in photos when it comes to props.

Pinch bowls

Can a food photographer ever have enough pinch bowls? The short answer is no. Most of us tend to have a large inventory of these in a variety of materials and colors.

Because they’re so small and perfect for displaying ingredients and seasonings, they add context to a food story and help create balanced compositions without overpowering the main subject.

Look for pinch bowls in ceramic, glass, wood or marble. Neutral colors work best, but sometimes patterned pinch bowls can look great if they are used with care. You can find pinch bowls everywhere, but the white rustic pinch bowls form Nom Living in the UK are crazy popular with food photographers and Instagrammers everywhere. They will make the perfect gift for a food photographer.

The Food Stylist’s Handbook

Every food photographer needs at least one resource on food styling at their fingertips. Even food photographers who work with a food stylist need to know how food behaves in front of the camera and be familiar with the tips and tricks that make food look its best.

Photographers who take on commissioned projects often have to do their own food styling, as do those who submit to stock sites.

The Food Stylist’s Handbook by Denise Vivaldo and Cindie Flannigan is an indispensable resource and a great gift for a food photographer. It not only shows you how to style specific food for the camera, but it also gives you the information on the tools you need and how to build a styling kit – something every food photographer or blogger needs.

Conclusion

Hopefully, these gifts for food photographers will solve the problem of what to buy for a special someone in your life. And, just remember, you can’t go wrong with classic props in neutral colors, and textures like linen, marble, and natural wood.

Do you have other gift ideas for food photographers that you’d like to share? Please do so in the comments section!

The post 10 Great Gifts for Food Photographers Under $ 50 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.

Digital Photography School

December 11, 2019
2019 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers
The post 2019 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

We know how difficult it can be to find the perfect gift for anyone at Christmas, let alone a photographer! So, we have done the research and hard work for you, and put together this gift guide for photographers. It has a range of gifts to suit all budgets and all photographers!

We’ve included some pros and cons of each, along with some info on the products, and where applicable, a link to dPS reviews so you can get further insight.

So, take a look, and happy shopping!
Fujifilm X-T3 Mirrorless Camera

A great camera for street photography and portraits

Cool retro design and great jpegs straight out-of-camera

Fujifilm’s famous film simulations, including the newest Eterna

Wireless and Bluetooth connection

Timelapse recording

Not full-frame, so may not suit printing really large images.

The old-school aperture, ISO and shutter speed dials may be hard to get used to.

This popular mirrorless camera in the Fujifilm X-Series line of cameras is perfect for those photographers who like to shoot great photos straight-out-of-camera, as well as shoot video.

The Fujifilm X-T3 is the newest Fuji camera to date, using a brand new sensor and processor and longer battery life than it’s predecessor, the X-T2. It also has a tilting screen and 20fps continuous shooting.

Fujifilm also added a slew of video features such as 4K60p, a higher bit rate (400mbps), and a headphone port. All in all, the X-T3 is made to entice today’s hybrid photo and video shooters.

For more information on this great camera, read Suzi Pratt’s review here.

WHERE TO BUY

dPS Rating
MIOPS Capsule 360

World’s most versatile and compact motion box ever created!

Single box, multiple functions. Motion Time-lapse Modes, Video, 360° Product Photography, Panorama and more.

Smartphone controllable for easy operation

One touch face tracking for taking self videos

Award-winning design

Gives you a freedom for creating pan and tilt moves easily

Centered load capacity up to 15lb (7kg) in pan mode & up to 4,5lb (2kg) load in tilt mode

Needs multiple products for multi-axis movement at the same time

MIOPS Capsule 360 is a miracle motion box that combines multiple operating modes in a single unit. Your imagination and Capsule 360 together can do anything. There are no limits what you can do with this amazing product.

• Thanks to the unique design of Capsule 360 taking Motion Time-Lapse has never been
so easy.
• You can enjoy 360° Product Photography by using Capsule 360’s special features.
• Capsule360 has the ability to take 360-degree Panorama just in a few minutes
• With One Touch Tracking feature Capsule 360 can track your face or an object with
a single touch on your smartphone
• Capsule 360 offers Cable-Free Automatic Setup and saves you from the cable clutter

You can get high-tech MIOPS products and new features from www.miops.com

WHERE TO BUY
Pixelstick Lightpainting LED Tool

Great for light painting tips and tricks

Programable to create any light pattern you want

Can import BMP files onto an SD card, which can then be slotted into the pixelstick’s operating system

Endless creative opportunities

It’s long length is not ideal for traveling

Only works well at night or in dark areas

The Pixelstick can change the way you do photography if you let it! Perfect for the photographer who wants to experiment with creative ideas. Great for long exposure photography and for light painting.

The Pixelstick can be used to frame a model, and/or create leading lines towards the subject making it a powerful tool for portrait photographers.

The customization available with the Pixelstick makes it a fantastic choice for product photography. One of the main niche genres is car photography, where the ribbon lines or checkered flag designs can be used.

Read this full review by Simon Bond.

WHERE TO BUY

dPS Rating
Lensball

Great for alternative creative photography

Offers a unique creative perspective

Allows the photographer to take refraction photos

Endless creative opportunities

They can be heavy to carry

You need a macro lens to shoot these

Lens ball photography, or also known as crystal ball photography or refraction photography, is a fun and creative way for any photographer to take photos.

Use a lens ball in your landscape photography for a unique perspective on a scene.

See a lens ball in action in this article by Simon Bond.

WHERE TO BUY

dPS Rating
Tamron 100-400mm Di VC USD

A great camera for street photography and portraits

Lightest weight, 39.3 oz lens in the ultra-telephoto zoom lens class

On crop-sensor camera, get super telephoto reach to approx. 620mm

High-speed Dual MPU control system delivers quick AF and 4-stops image stabilization

Superb image quality in an ultra-telephoto zoom lens

Moisture -resistant construction and front-element fluorine coating

On full-frame camera may not have the reach for small distant birds

Experience heavyweight performance in a compact lens with the Tamron 100-400mm Di VC USD, the ultra-tele that boasts the lightest weight in its class. Dual MPU system provides precision AF for shooting instantaneous movement with the utmost clarity and 4-stop image stabilization. Both combine to provide vivid images with amazing clarity. Close-focusing, moisture resistant construction and fluorine coating round out this impressive telephoto zoom.

Optional accessories include Tap-in Console, 1.4X and 2X, and Arca-Swiss compatible tripod mount. For Canon and Nikon mount for DSLR cameras and mirrorless cameras with the manufacturer’s adapter. $ 699 after $ 100 Holiday Instant Savings thru 1/5/20.

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Lensbaby OMNI Creative Filter System

Large, for 62-82mm Filter Thread

Produces flare and creative reflections including ethereal light streaks

Easily attaches to any lens in the 62-82mm filter range

Easy to use, ready right out of the box

Great for interesting portraits and band photos

There is also an expansion pack available for more effects

You need to disassemble and reassemble for most camera cases and packing situations

The Lensbaby OMNI Creative Filter System is a fantastic set of wands that attach to the front of your lens. When the light shines through the various-shaped wands, it refracts the light to create light streaks, rainbows and colors onto the lens wherever the wands have been positioned.

The great thing about this set is that it attaches to your lens via a its filter system, and each wand is moveable, and can be swapped around.

There are also extra wand that can be added to this via the expansion pack.

See these in action in this review by Anabel DFlux.

WHERE TO BUY

dPS Rating
Annie Leibovitz: At Work

A book for any budding portrait photographer

Fantastic photographs to be inspired by

Includes details of gear Liebovitz uses

Discusses portrait techniques

An opportunity to be inspired by one of the great portrait photographers

Being a hardcover book, it can be heavy

Annie Leibovitz is one of the classic portrait photographers of our time.

This in-depth book includes many of her famous celebrity photo shoots of just about everyone from the Queen of England to Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Rolling Stones.

She also discusses many of the photos themselves and explains what gear she uses to achieve her work.

An inspiring book for photographers of all genres and levels.

Read a review on the book here.

WHERE TO BUY

dPS Rating
Neewer Flash Accessory Kit

with Barndoor, Conical Snoot, Mini Reflector, Sphere Diffuser, Beaty Disc, 8x12inches Softbox, Honeycomb, Color Filters, Universal Mount Adpater

A great set to give your flash photography more diversity

Perfect for portrait photography outside a studio because of its portability.

Allows the photographer to have more control over lighting their subject.

May not get much use if you don’t do much flash photography

This great Universal Strobist set has many accessories so any photographer can experiment with light!

It comes with a universal adapter that you can use with any camera flash that has a max width of 85mm and height of 34-58mm.

The set comes with seven strobist accessories including a softbox, diffuse sphere and mini reflector, honeycomb, conical snoot and barndoors.

The Softbox, Diffuse sphere and Mini Reflector offer a more diffuse light, while the Honeycomb, Conical Snoot and Barndoors make you able to aim the light more directly.

WHERE TO BUY
Lens Cleaning Kit

Something every photographer shouldn’t be without!

Removes dirt, dust and fingerprints from lenses

Ensures clearer pictures

Easily fits into any photographer’s camera bag

A lens cleaning kit is a must for every photographer.

It is impossible to keep lenses and sensors completely clean all of the time. Dust and dirt can easily make their way onto the front of the lens and sometimes onto the sensor when changing lenses (especially when out in the elements).

Includes things like a lens brush for sweeping away dust from a camera or lens; air blower for removing dirt from a camera body, lens, mirror, or DSLR sensor and 50 sheets of lens-cleaning tissue paper—safe for all multicoated lenses (no scratches or residue).

So, a lens cleaning kit like this can be a photographer’s savior when out on a shoot!

WHERE TO BUY
KUVRD Universal Lens Cap

Fits most camera lenses!

Protects your camera lenses

Covers more of your lens than a conventional lens cap

Easy to use and weatherproof

May make it more difficult to immediately see what lens you are using

The KUVRD Original Universal Lens Cap prevents water, mud, and the finest dust and sand from entering your lens.

The cap stretches from 60mm to 120mm and can be used as both a front and rear lens cap, for extra lens protection.

The caps are also shock absorbent, meaning bumps to your lens are less of an issue!

They also compress down to fit in your pocket, or wallet when you are using the lens.

WHERE TO BUY
Sony Alpha A6400 Mirrorless Camera

APS-C sensor with 16-50mm lens

Compact and lightweight

Great for travel photography

The rear flip screen makes it great for street photography

A wide range of E-mount lenses available

The flip screen stands directly in the way of the hot-shoe mount

Offers only 2-axis stabilization if you use a stabilized lens

This Sony Alpha a6400 mirrorless camera, is a great compact system perfect for travel photography and street photography.

It is a 24.2mp APS-C camera with AI assisted autofocus.

It allows for high dynamic range capture, plus interval recording for time-lapse video.

It also has rear LCD screen that can flip up 180-degrees. This is ideal for vloggers or those who want to monitor footage while in front of the camera. However, when in this position, it does cover the hotshoe area, making it difficult to attach a light or microphone.

Access to Sony E-mount range of lenses.

WHERE TO BUY

dPS Rating
Thinktank Vision 15 Camera Bag

A stylish and function camera bag for on the go.

Fits a DSLR mounted on a long lens

Great organization for extras with expandable bottle holder

It can handle a portable office

Can’t easily attach a full-size tripod

Can’t fit a drone inside

ThinkTank’s Vision 15 camera bag is one in a line of stylish camera and computer shoulder bags built for photographers who want a functional bag that looks good walking down the street. It’s designed for someone who wants easy access to their gear and isn’t looking for a backpack.

Inside the spacious main compartment is space enough for a few lenses and speedlights.

While the generous top flap of the bag keeps the elements at bay, a secondary zippered flap will help keep prying hands away.

It has a generously-padded strap and easily fits under the seat of a plane for those photography travel trips.

Read Peter West Carey’s full review here.

WHERE TO BUY

dPS Rating
Capture One Pro 12

Imaging editing software, Single-User 3 Seats

Superior tethering capabilities

Ability to edit using layers

Fantastic color management capabilities

May be a steep learning curve if switching from another image-editing program

Fewer third-party presets and plugins available

Capture One Pro is Phase One’s photo editing software. Designed for professional photographers, it offers top quality color management, file management and editing capabilities (including multi-layer editing).

For the professional photographer who needs superior tethering capabilities, Capture One Pro is the best in its class.

For more information on the true capabilities of this fantastic software, see this article Capture One Pro – Should You Make the Switch by Darina Kopcok.

WHERE TO BUY

dPS Rating
Joby GorillaPod 5K Flexible Mini-Tripod with Ball Head

Grip it. Wrap it. Stand it.
Handy travel-size, flexible tripod

The wrappable legs allow you to secure professional camera equipment to virtually any surface

The ball head allows you to control the angle of your camera

Super strong: Holds devices weighing up to 5 kg (11 lbs)

Rubberized ring and foot grips stabile in difficult terrain

Precision-engineered ball head with Arca-Swiss® compatible quick release plate

May not be suitable where there is nowhere to grip it to

Fewer third-party presets and plugins available

This flexible mini-tripod with ball head is an ideal photographer’s companion.

Perfect for traveler’s who need a tripod but don’t want to use too much space in their camera bag or pack.

The Gorillapod’s flexible legs allow you to wrap it around objects such as a tree branch, so that you can give your camera stability, when taking photos or video.

See a video review of the Joby Gorillapod 5k tripod here.

WHERE TO BUY
Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter

Great for portrait photographers

Allows you to quickly get your exposure light readings correct

Perfect for use with flash photography

It’s great when using multiple light sources

Perfect companion for the studio photographer

Landscape photographers may not find as much need for one

Using a light meter like the Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate, can save any photographer loads of time in getting the correct exposure. Sure, you can do this with lots of trial and error, and looking at the back of your camera screen each time you take a shot. But light meters really save you loads of time and that is time better spent taking the actual photos.

It is a perfect studio photographer’s companion or can be taken on location when shooting portraits.

See the advantages of using a light meter in this article by John McIntire.

WHERE TO BUY
Olympus TOUGH TG-6 Camera

The rugged, take-everywhere camera that even the kids can use!

A perfect adventure companion for photographers of all ages

Microscope and Underwater Modes

Waterproof, dust-proof, shockproof and freeze-proof.

In-camera focus-stacking

4K video capabilities

A lot of noise at high ISOs

No control over shutterspeed

The Olympus Tough TG-6 camera is built so tough that even the kids can use it! But this camera isn’t just for kids – this camera is built for all adventurous photographer-types. It’s also a perfect size for just throwing in your pack or putting in your pocket.

You can use this camera in the water, with it’s dedicated underwater mode. Alternatively, you can use Microscope mode to capture macro shots of bugs in the grass!

Check out this full review by Mat Coker.

WHERE TO BUY

dPS Rating
NISI Filters

Great for the avid Landscape Photographer!

Great all-in-one system including holder, adapters and filters

Great for doing long exposures when the sun is bright

The graduated ND filters allow you to tone down bright skies

Fits lens sizes from 49mm-82mm

Very little color cast

May be out of some people’s budget

Neutral Density (ND) and Graduated Neutral Density (GND) filters are an ideal companion for the avid landscape photographer who wants to use longer shutter speeds to get those soft, dreamy seascapes and waterfall images.

They are also great when shooting in the harsh daylight so that you can tone down highlights. The GND filters are great for balancing the exposure between your landscape and harshly lit skies, allowing you to tone down the skies.

Want to learn more about these filters? See this article by Christian Hoiberg.

WHERE TO BUY
Sandisk 256GB Extreme SD

A high-speed, high-capacity extreme SD card

Great for writing large RAW files quickly

Large 256GB storage for lots of photos or video

Better write capapbilities for video with the high transfer speed of 150mb per second

Lock feature so that you don’t overwrite your images

May not need such a high-performance card

The SanDisk 256GB Extreme SD card has a high-speed transfer rate of 150 mbs per second, making it ideal for photographers who shoot RAW and in continuous shooting mode. It transfers the files quickly, and the big 256GB size means you can fit loads of photos.

The high-speed transfer rate also makes this card great for those shooting video with their cameras, meaning you don’t get lag when shooting and the camera won’t cut out.

WHERE TO BUY
The post 2019 Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

Digital Photography School
December 5, 2019
The Sony a7R IV is the best camera for landscape photographers

We’ve updated our guide to the best cameras for landscape photographers with a new overall winner: the Sony a7R IV. Take a look at the full shortlist for all of our picks.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 16, 2019
Best gifts for photographers 2019: $60 and under

Gifts for photographers for $ 60 and less

Artisanal scented candles. At-home spa treatments. Really nice socks. They’re the kinds of things we could buy for ourselves, and they’d probably be really nice to have. But they’re just barely on the wrong side of the practical/frivolous divide, so we keep making do with mediocre socks. This, my friends, is the Gift Zone: items that have practical use, but are luxurious enough that the recipient probably wouldn’t buy them for themselves.

If you’re shopping for a photographer and are looking for something a little special, something in the Gift Zone, you’re in the right place.

Peak Design Cuff

peakdesign.com | $ 30

Wrist straps are great. Should you dangle a whole DSLR from your wrist? Definitely not. Instead, we like them for those in-between times – when you’re not actively shooting, but want your camera in hand and at the ready. A quality wrist strap provides a little more security and support in those moments.

The Peak Design Cuff does all of these things, and is definitely nicer than the wrist strap that came with the compact camera you bought in 2007. It uses the company’s Anchor Links to attach easily and securely to a camera, and a metal loop can be used to cinch the strap tighter to the wearer’s wrist.

Cecilia memory card wallet

shopcecilia.com | $ 40

If the Digital Storage Police ever busted DPReview headquarters they’d find plenty of criminal offenses, like loose memory cards tucked into dusty desk drawers and backpack pockets. There’s a better way. An SD card wallet is a small step toward better storage organization, or a nice companion to an already functional digital storage workflow. Plus, it looks fancy. Cecilia is one of our favorite camera strap makers, and its leather SD card wallet looks snazzy in black, brown or charcoal.

Anyway, please don’t call the Digital Storage Police on us. We’re serious.

Topo camera cube

topodesigns.com | $ 60

A camera cube will turn just about any larger bag into a camera bag, which is handy; sometimes you need your camera but don’t want to carry an actual camera bag. Topo’s camera cube is just right for the job – it’s durable, big enough to hold a full-frame mirrorless camera and lens, and fits like a dream inside a full-size Herschel Little America backpack. It even ships with a shoulder strap if you want to use the cube itself as a bag.

Herschel travel pouches

herschel.com | $ 25

Photographers are often also travelers, which means there’s a high probability that they stuff a lot of cords and small personal items into Ziplock bags four hours before they fly anywhere. A set of travel pouches won’t make them a more organized person, but it will conceal a mess of chargers and power adapters in an attractively-designed vessel.

Flight 001 5-in-1 Universal Travel Adapter

flight001.com | $ 35

See previous note about photographers also being travelers. The 5-in-1 adapter stacks into a neat package and includes a color-coded guide indicating which plug is used in which country. Plus, the ‘fifth’ functionality is a couple of handy USB ports, which is useful no matter where you are on the globe.

Enamel camera pin

etsy.com | $ 10-12

Enamel pins are enjoying a real resurgence in popularity these days. Pretty much any pop culture object or character has been enamel-pin-ized, so it should come as no surprise that you can find a pin that pays homage to your favorite vintage camera or film stock. We knew we could count on you, Etsy.

Photo book

$ 20-40

Books? Books! Help bolster a New Year’s Resolution to reduce screen time by providing an alternative: a coffee-table-worthy photo book. If you’re unsure of where to start, head for the classics like Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange and Vivian Maier. National Geographic is another safe bet – its curated collections rely on decades of world-class photography.

Filson 1970’s Logger Thermal Socks

filson.com | $ 32

We weren’t kidding about the really fancy socks. Would any of us spend $ 30 on a single pair of socks? Heck no. That’s why they make an ideal gift. For a photographer, getting the shot can sometimes mean getting yourself into environments that are cold, or wet, or an unpleasant combination of the two. A good wool sock is essential, and Filson’s thermal socks fit the bill.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 15, 2019
The Sony a6600 is (almost) a great camera for event photographers

Introduction

Out-of-camera JPEG.
Sony 16-55mm F2.8 G | ISO 400 | 1/250 sec | F2.8

In Eden, there is greasy pizza, hoppy beer, a DJ and a ton of hipsters (myself included). I am of course describing Eden Seattle, an event space in the city’s industrial neighborhood that was recently home to an Art Battle.

Before you ask, an Art Battle is a competitive, live-action art contest. There are a series of twenty minute rounds, with the audience voting at the end of each to decide which artists progress to the finals. At the end of it all, the paintings are auctioned off and everyone goes home happy – often a little tipsy, and possibly with a piece of rapid art under their arm.

As it turns out, the a6600 is just too darn slow

As a photographer, the challenge is to capture the fast-moving, well-lit painters as well as the atmosphere of the attentive audience in the surrounding shadows. This means constantly changing settings to properly compensate for lighting and subject movement. I needed a camera that could keep up with me, that would react instantly to my inputs, and get out of my way so I could get on with taking pictures.

Out-of-camera JPEG.
Sony 16-55mm F2.8 G | ISO 320 | 1/250 sec | F2.8

Along with a new 16-55mm F2.8 G lens, we just got the Sony a6600 into the DPReview office. We already know a lot about the image quality of the camera, and have been impressed with its autofocus system, but I wanted to see how Sony’s APS-C flagship and a high-end zoom lens (plus a couple fast primes for good measure) would cope with the fast-paced environment.

As it turns out, the a6600 is just too darn slow.

Taking the good (photos) with the bad (lag)

Processed in Adobe Camera Raw.
Sony 16-55mm F2.8 G | ISO 3200 | 1/100 sec | F2.8

Now, it’s true that the a6600 shoots ridiculously fast bursts, high-speed video, and all that. By ‘slow,’ I mean that I experienced such distinct operational lag when changing settings – lag that is noticeably worse than the company’s a7 or a9 series of full-frame cameras – that it was an incredibly frustrating tool for this type of use.

I was constantly double-checking my settings instead of focusing on my photographs

To start, here’s how I set up the camera: full manual control, with auto ISO. I did this because I wanted to make sure that the aperture stayed wide-open regardless whether I had the zoom or a prime on the camera, and I wanted to be able to quickly change the minimum shutter speed with direct dial control. I could drop to 1/60 sec for static subjects in the dark, and 1/320 sec for the properly-lit painters. But here’s where the lag comes in.

Processed and cropped slightly in Adobe Camera Raw.
Sigma 56mm F1.4 | ISO 1600 | 1/320 sec | F1.4

First, lag in the dials. If I quickly turn a dial, say, three clicks, the camera will almost always adjust my setting by three steps – but only after a small pause. That’s frustrating, but not a deal breaker.

Then, there’s a pretty pronounced lag when swapping between the electronic viewfinder and the rear screen. Again, not a deal breaker, but if I’m changing settings just before, after, or as I’m raising the camera to my eye, sometimes the camera seems to get bogged down and doesn’t catch up to the number of clicks I’ve felt the dial go through. That meant I was constantly double-checking my settings instead of focusing on my photographs.

Out-of-camera JPEG.
Sony 16-55mm F2.8 G | ISO 125 | 1/100 sec | F2.8

Then, there is a lag with the buttons. When I hit the exposure compensation button, I have to wait a beat before I can turn a dial to adjust it (and again, if the camera is swapping from EVF to LCD or vice versa, it would occasionally ignore this input altogether). And I tried assigning the rear AF/MF button to AF-ON, since I prefer back-button autofocus, but then there was a lag before autofocus initiated. It initiated much faster if I left autofocus on the shutter button.

And lastly, there’s lag if you want to use the touchscreen to move your AF point around with your eye to the finder. Sony’s Real-time tracking means I could theoretically keep my AF point in the center, alter my framing to get it over my subject, initiate tracking and recompose at will. However, I don’t want to always have to drastically alter my composition to get my focus point over my subject. But that’s what I ended up doing, because the screen lag meant I couldn’t quickly and precisely move the AF point where I wanted to.

Not a big deal, or a deal breaker?

Out-of-camera JPEG.
Sigma 56mm F1.4 | ISO 640 | 1/200 sec | F1.4

Now, it’s true that the Sony a6600 is an enthusiast camera, not a professional camera, and this sort of use-case is really pushing both what it’s capable of and could reasonably be expected to do.

But here’s the rub – there are other cameras, including the Nikon D7500, Fujifilm X-T3 and the Panasonic G9 – that I can expect to perform well in these situations. It’s not unreasonable to say that a larger sensor in an even more pro-oriented body would be even better, but at least those aforementioned cameras don’t leave me feeling as though I’m waiting for them to keep up with me.

To be fair, I can’t say that another camera would necessarily have gotten me appreciably more technical ‘keepers’: images that are in-focus, properly exposed, and so on. But what I can say is that I would have had a lot more fun, and felt a lot less frustration, and been able to focus far more on my surroundings and compositions if I didn’t have to worry about whether my shutter speed is where I wanted it to be.

Gallery

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 5, 2019
Top 8 Affordable Quality Printers for Photographers And Do You Need One?

In this digital age, a large number of photographers submit digital copies of their work to their clients via digital storage devices, email or web based file sharing services. However, there are still some photography niches where clients usually expect physical prints to be delivered to them. For instance, if you’re into wedding, event or portrait photography, you may often Continue Reading

The post Top 8 Affordable Quality Printers for Photographers And Do You Need One? appeared first on Photodoto.

Photodoto

October 31, 2019