Archive for the ‘Photography Products’ Category

Photoshop Sneak Peek: Content Aware Fill feature

Saturday, April 10th, 2010

http://vinsanity.com/2010/04/10/photoshops-content-aware-fill-magic-for-retouchers-and-photographer-with-no-skills/

 I want this new feature….talk about time saver!    It is magic to replace unwanted items with fill that would have taken hours to do otherwise…

Launched new “vinsanity” blog; vinsanity.com

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

The name Vinsanity is my nickname, but apparently the young basketball player Vince Carter is using it too…that’s ok, he can do insane b-ball, I’ll do insane photography!    At any rate, the new site will feature the weirder side of my photography, avant-garde and stuff that tickles my bohemian alter-ego.

 http://www.vinsanity.com

Creating HDR Images (tutorial)

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Want to know how to create images that show details in the shadows, and does not burn out your highlights? Try HDR, a technique for merging different exposures of the same image into a well toned image.

This article by Canon can be applied to any camera really, using the software Photomatrix and Photoshop CS3 or above.

http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=1646

ISO paper sizes in fractional Inches

Monday, September 14th, 2009

You know, sometimes you just need a little help with your metrics; we were told that the US would be converted back when I was in the third grade but it never seemed to happen. I’m too old to convert in my head, so here’s a table to help out.


A Series FormatsB Series FormatsC Series Formats
4A066 1/4 × 93 5/8
2A046 3/4 × 66 1/4
A0 33 × 46 3/4 B0 39 3/8 × 55 3/4C036 × 51
A1 23 3/8 × 33 B1 27 3/4 × 39 3/8 C125 1/2 × 36
A2 16 1/2 × 23 3/8 B2 19 3/4 × 27 3/4 C218 × 25 1/2
A3 11 3/4 × 16 1/2 B3 13 7/8 × 19 3/4 C312 3/4 × 18
A48 1/4 × 11 3/4 B4 9 7/8 × 13 7/8 C4 9 × 12 3/4
A5 5 7/8 × 8 1/4 B5 7 × 9 7/8 C5 6 3/8 × 9
A6 4 1/8 × 5 7/8 B6 4 7/8 × 7 C6 4 1/2 × 6 3/8
A7 2 7/8 × 4 1/8 B7 3 1/2 × 4 7/8 C7 3 3/16 × 4 1/2
A8 2 × 2 7/8 B8 2 1/2 × 3 1/2 C8 2 1/4 × 3 3/16
A9 1 1/2 × 2 B9 1 3/4 × 2 1/2 C9 1 5/8 × 2 1/4
A10 1 × 1 1/2B10 1 1/4 × 1 3/4C10 1 1/8 × 1 5/8

Gina at Corona Del Mar

Monday, August 31st, 2009

gigcoronawpancake.jpg

Gina and Pancake as the sun sets. Taken Saturday 8/29 at Corona Del Mar. There were tons of beach goers, barbeques, and what not.

Shows you can do with a G9 and on camera flash!

[PluralEyes - singularsoftware.com] Time sync software for DSLR HD footage editing

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

This solves a big problem for DSLR HD video shooters since the cameras don’t have built in time codes to sync audio from field recorders or multi camera shooting when editing in Final Cut. Plural Eyes analyzes clips and automatically syncs them for you. Pretty darn cool! I finally appreciate mathematicians…

http://www.singularsoftware.com

Similarly related, their easy setup to handle the FCP bug for speed change is free for the download.

http://brucesharpe.blogspot.com/2009/06/dslr-dual-system-audio-999-solution.html

HD Movie Making with Canon 5D Mark II: DSLR Gunstock Shooter by Zacuto

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Multiple points of contact
Viewfinder
shoulder mount
follow focus control

7 lbs with camera and typical lens

$3582.00 for the “sniper” bundle

http://store.zacuto.com/DSLR-Sniper.html

Photographer suggests going Mobile to increase clientele

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

In any economy, photographers seek those clients who are willing and able to make orders large enough to allow a photographer to spending significant time applying her talent to each picture and still make a profit large enough to live on. In a down economy, many photographers are looking for additional clients regardless of whether their clients are in the optimal market segment.

To accomplish these objectives, photographers should be ready and able to take portraits in their client’s home, or anywhere else their client’s desire.

>>more

Got Photoshop but need web pages from the file?

Friday, June 5th, 2009

http://www.psd2html.com

This service takes your webpage design in a photoshop file and turns it into a fully functional and standards compliant CSS, xhtml or other.   I am pretty good with photoshop and basic html, but when it comes to CSS I’m out of my league.   This looks like a great solution.

5d Mark II Firmware update to allow manual controls during Video

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Fantastically, the 5d Mark II does not allow you to control iso, aperture, speed during HD video shooting.  Now this firmware update gives you this!

Gregory Crewdson- Ultimate Control, ultimate imagery

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

http://photoslaves.com/?p=513

From the book

These images are pretty small, but in the coffee table book quite large and detailed plates look just amazing. Each shot is totally theatrical in nature, complex lighting and treatments, just amazing and thought provoking…and a little dark…

Fantastic photography and a well written article. I’ve had a chance to see the book with these plates, and the body of work is so large you could probably go through the book in a month if you put great effort into it, there’s so much to see and think about. Just beautiful, and a bit dark.

I notice that nearly all shots appear to be about the same “time” of day which adds to the spookiness; kind of like being in all places in that town at once.

There is a sadness to most shots that you want to get to the root of, to dig into and understand. Very powerful stuff!

5D Mark II slow to ship; the world waits on backorder

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

Well, that fantastic new camera I preordered from Ritz in October is still showing “on backorder”.  Ritz tells me there’s been none of their allocation received by them yet, and I’ll certainly get mine when they get theirs.

Here’s what some people are saying:

http://www.unwir3d.com/887243/canon-5d-mark-ii-pre-order-and-shipping-release-date-update

http://www.canonrumors.com/2008/11/26/5d-mark-ii-shipments/#comment-3012

http://www.1001noisycameras.com/2008/12/as-the-canon-5d-mark-ii-world-turns.html

I am getting antsy as I’ve held off several projects waiting to take advantage of low noise, high ISO and the cool HD movies….

Canon 5D Mark II SHIPS TODAY!!!!!

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

I have an insider friend who says the new 5D Mark II is shipping to all stores TODAY!  This is good news because we may have in time for Thanksgiving (and wouldn’t that be a nice thing to be thankful for?)

 For those who don’t know, this camera has been pre-ordered from Ritz for the past few months.  I am excited by the possibilities of full frame, ultra high ISO/Low Noise, 1080P Hi-Def video capture, etc.  This camera will blow away the comptetition at this price, particularly if you have good Canon lenses already.

Updated:  Gearlog confirms ship date http://www.gearlog.com/2008/11/canon_5d_mark_ii_ships_merges_1.php#more

Capture Bullets on your Digital

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

banner_irvineportrait.gif

http://dvice.com/archives/2008/11/universal_photo.php

 Thanks Gary Amundson for pointing me to this outstanding little gadget, that can synchronize your flash to sound which would allow you to capture speeding bullets, etc.  VERY cool for $170!

sample_setup.jpg

Canon 5D Mark II - updated information

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Well, between DP review and other sources, I’m hearing we will see our preorders delivered the first week of December in time for Christmas.   I’m preordered as many others, anticipating getting my hands on this new camera and trying out the

a. low noise at high ISO

b. HD video recording

But I’ve had a hard time rationalizing cost; my perfectly good 1DS Mark II could not even fetch $2900 reserve on Ebay when I tried to sell it to cover the cost of the new 5D on preorder.  So, I decided to keep the 1DS rather than give it away for $2600.

Why all the buzz?  Here’s some great information from blogger TWWilliams
http://twwilliams.com/5d-mkii-faq/

 Contents

Needed Custom Hotshoe > Sync cable made: Paramountcords.com

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

I HATE those little hotshoe adapters for cameras that don’t have a PC socket; they always seem to be sliding out of the shoe, and unreliable with missed flashes.  So for the new Norman strobe setup I ordered, I searched for a cord that had male hotshoe on one end, and 1/4 ‘ mono plug on the other.   Guess what?  Nobody makes them!!!

Luckily I found a fantastic site called http://www.paramountcords.com where they have all kinds of custom cables you can order with their “cable builder” website.  You simply choose the connector on the left end, the connector on the right end, and the size/type of cable (coiled or straight, how many feet long) and presto, you can order your cable right on line.  This means I have a good sturdy solid connection between my hotshoe and my strobe so no misfires!  It cost me $56 and for a heavy duty item like this it’s worth the price!

Purchasing a Norman 400b on camera strobe

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

Well, I bit the bullet and bought the Norman “manual” strobe system because I have never been happy with the ETTL Canon flashes, the output and the inconsistency I couldn’t ever seem to get sorted out.

http://normanlights.com/battery_systems_compkits.asp

The weird thing was I could not find hardly any good definitive technical information (like, what kind of sync cord does this thing need?  Do I need an adapter for my Canon hotshoe?)

Turns out the website is unbelievably bad, dead links all over the place.  They make some of the finest workhorse portrait/wedding lighting around, but they don’t have much in the way of a marketing department I guess since they got purchased by Promark International.

But it has 400WS, Guide 168 at ISO 100 and should blast some serious light when I do my upcoming Beckman Coulter event.  I prefer manual shooting anyway, so this is right up my alley; a portable studio strobe!

This model doesn’t include the built-in Pocket Wizard, but I have 4 of them I can just plug in if I want to use as an off-camera light, bounce, etc.  I can’t wait to play with it!!

Geo Tagging for $80

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/543425-REG/ATP_Electronics_AF_GPSMBG_GPS_PhotoFinder_Standalone.html

  • In use, the PhotoFinder is extremely simple to operate. When the unit powers on, it will seek out the signals from GPS satellites above. Once the channels are “locked,” the device can and should be left on and operating as long as the user is out shooting. The time to lock will vary depending on the ready state of the GPS and the clarity of the satellite link. “Cold-start” times can be as quick as 45 seconds; “hot-start” is 1 second. A set of two AAA batteries will provide 7.5-8 hours of constant use.

    When ready, all a user has to do following a day of photography is insert a card into the PhotoFinder or copy the tracklog into their favorite photo editor that can accept such data. Actually, the Geotagging operation using either method can be done at anytime as the PhotoFinder is simply matching the times it has recorded, with the time stamp the camera records onto each photo. Couldn’t be easier!


 

ATP Electronics GPS PhotoFinder - Standalone Image Geotagger