Tag: Photographers

The Heyday Of 35mm Photography
by David Burgess on 0

The Heyday Of 35mm Photography

35mm photography was once the standard format for film cameras. It was popular for many years because it offered a good balance between picture quality and portability. Many professional photographers still prefer to use 35mm cameras, even though digital cameras have become more popular in recent years.

35mm film is a strips of negatives that are 35mm wide. Each frame is 24mm x 36mm. Most 35mm cameras use 135 film, which is wound around a spool inside the camera. 135 film is also known as 35mm film.

When 35mm photography was first introduced, it was a big improvement over the larger format films that were being used at the time. The smaller size made it much easier to carry a camera around and to take pictures in tight spaces. The picture quality was also very good.

35mm photography remained popular for many years, but it has slowly been replaced by digital photography in recent years. Digital cameras offer many advantages over film cameras, such as the ability to take an infinite number of pictures, instant feedback, and easy editing and sharing of photos.

Despite the popularity of digital photography, many professional photographers still prefer to use 35mm cameras. This is because 35mm cameras often produce better quality pictures than digital cameras. The larger size of the negative also allows for more detail to be captured.

If you are interested in learning more about 35mm photography, there are many great resources available. There are also many websites that sell used 35mm cameras and film.

35mm photography was once the standard for taking high-quality photos. But as digital cameras have become more advanced, 35mm cameras have become less popular. Nevertheless, there are still many photographers who prefer to use 35mm cameras, and there are some good reasons for this.

One reason 35mm cameras are still popular is that they produce very high-quality images. Digital cameras have come a long way, but they still can’t match the image quality of 35mm film. If you want the absolute best image quality, 35mm is still the way to go.

Another reason to use a 35mm camera is that they’re very versatile. You can find 35mm cameras that are designed for all sorts of photography, from landscapes to portraits to action shots. No matter what kind of photos you want to take, there’s a 35mm camera that can do it.

Finally, 35mm cameras are just plain fun to use. They’re a lot more analog than digital cameras, and there’s something satisfying about loading a roll of film and taking photos the old-fashioned way. If you’re looking for a more hands-on photography experience, 35mm cameras are the way to go.

So if you’re a photographer who’s looking for the best image quality, versatility, or just a more fun photography experience, consider using a 35mm camera.

Share on Read Full Story
5 Reasons To Shoot On Film
by David Burgess on 0

5 Reasons To Shoot On Film

1. There’s something special about holding a film photograph in your hand.

2. Film photographs have a certain look that digital can’t replicate.

3. Film forces you to slow down and think about your composition.

4. Film is more forgiving than digital, making it a great choice for beginners.

5. Shooting on film is a great way to stand out from the crowd.

As a professional photographer, I often get asked why I still shoot on film. After all, digital has come a long way in recent years and many photographers have made the switch to shooting digital exclusively.

Here are 5 reasons why I think shooting on film is still a great choice for photographers:

1. There’s something special about holding a film photograph in your hand.

There’s just something about holding a physical photograph in your hand that is special. With digital photographs, it’s easy to forget that there is a real photograph behind all the 1s and 0s. But with film, you can hold the physical photograph in your hand and really appreciate the artistry that went into creating it.

2. Film photographs have a certain look that digital can’t replicate.

No matter how hard digital photographers try, they can’t quite replicate the look of a film photograph. Film has a certain graininess and depth of color that digital just can’t match. For many photographers, this is part of the appeal of shooting on film.

3. Film forces you to slow down and think about your composition.

With digital, it’s easy to take a million photographs and just delete the ones you don’t like. But with film, you have to be more thoughtful about your composition because each frame costs money. This forces you to slow down and think about your composition, which can only result in better photographs.

4. Film is more forgiving than digital, making it a great choice for beginners.

One of the great things about film is that it is more forgiving than digital. With digital, if you make a mistake, it can be very difficult to fix. But with film, you can often salvage a photograph even if it isn’t perfect. This makes film a great choice for beginners who are still learning the ropes.

5. Shooting on film is a great way to stand out from the crowd.

In the age of digital, it can be easy to blend in with the crowd. But if you shoot on film, you’ll instantly stand out. Film photography is still relatively rare, so shooting on film is a great way to make your work stand out from the rest.

Do you shoot on film? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments below!

Share on Read Full Story
Canon EOS M10 Review
by Leland Richardson on 0

Canon EOS M10 Review

The Bottom Line

Canon has not chosen to make significant investments in the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (ILC) market, sticking with focusing on its very popular DSLR camera models. But Canon isn’t completely abandoning the mirrorless market either, as shown by its recent release of the Canon M10. It’s very much a beginner-level mirrorless camera, as shown in this Canon EOS M10 review, and, as such, it has some drawbacks.

But the M10 fits in pretty well against other cameras that have a similar price point, as well as against other entry-level mirrorless ILCs. It’s one of the least expensive mirrorless cameras on the market, even after you purchase a lens or two. (Keep in mind that you cannot use the same lenses for Canon DSLR cameras as you can for Canon mirrorless models.)

With some of this camera’s drawbacks, I’d almost be tempted to go with an entry-level Canon Rebel DSLR model over this one, as the basic DSLRs are only slightly more expensive than the M10.

Rebel DSLRs have been around for decades, and provide strong performance levels and image quality. The M10’s biggest benefit versus those entry-level Rebels is its thin size of just 1.38 inches without the lens attached. Otherwise, Canon’s Rebels will provide a better experience for most photographers over the M10.

Specifications

  • Resolution: 18 megapixels
  • Optical zoom: NA, uses interchangeable lenses
  • LCD: 3.0-inch, 1,040,000 pixels (touch and tilt enabled)
  • Maximum image size: 5184 x 3456 pixels
  • Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion
  • Dimensions: 4.25 x 2.62 x 1.38 inches
  • Weight: 10.6 ounces (including battery and memory card)
  • Image sensor: APS-C (22.3×14.9 mm)
  • Movie mode: HD 1080p

Pros

  • Low price for a mirrorless camera
  • Image quality is a bit above average versus other cameras in this price range
  • LCD screen is sharp and offers tilt and touch capabilities
  • Camera is easier to use than most interchangeable lens models
  • Movie recording is easy and full HD movies look great

Cons

  • Viewfinder is not included
  • No hot shoe for adding components
  • Camera’s image quality at high ISO settings is poor
  • Battery life isn’t as good as it should be, especially if you choose to use camera’s Wi-Fi
  • Shutter lag is a problem in some shooting situations

Image Quality

The Canon EOS M10 does a nice job with image quality versus other entry-level mirrorless cameras and versus other models in its price range. The M10’s images aren’t significantly better than its competitors, but they are above average. Personally, I like the image quality of Rebel DSLRs a little better than what’s found with the M10, but there isn’t a huge difference.

The Canon M10 does a nice job with indoor photography, nearly equal to its performance with outdoor photography in sunlight. This isn’t always the case with mirrorless cameras. The M10’s 18 megapixels of resolution and its APS-C sized image sensor allow for the good performance indoors.

However, the good indoor performance doesn’t continue if you’re shooting at a high ISO setting. Once you hit the midpoint of the M10’s ISO range — say around ISO 1600 — you’ll start to notice significant noise in the images, High ISO settings are not really usable with this camera. I’d suggest using the built-in flash unit wherever possible, rather than increasing the ISO past 800.

Performance

The Canon M10’s performance levels are impressive, as Canon gave this camera its DIGIC 6 image processor, which leads to some fast operational aspects. You can shoot between four and five frames per second in burst mode, which is a solid performance for a mirrorless camera. 

But I was a bit disappointed in the M10’s shutter lag, which can approach half a second in some shooting conditions where you’re unable to prefocus by holding down the shutter button halfway. At some point, you will miss some spontaneous photos because of this shutter lag issue. It certainly isn’t the type of shutter lag problem you’d experience with a basic point and shoot camera, but it is more noticeable than what you’d find with a Rebel DSLR.

Battery performance with this model is a bit below average, which is a disappointment. However, this is a common problem with thin mirrorless ILCs, as they must have a thin battery to fit the overall design of the camera. Just understand that if you choose to use the M10’s built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, the poor battery lifespan problem will be magnified.

Design

The thin camera body found with the Canon M10 gives it an advantage over the Rebel DSLRs. No DSLR can match the EOS M10’s 1.38-inch thickness measurement. 

Although you can use the M10 one-handed, it’s a little difficult to hold this camera with one hand because it has no right-hand grip area. The front of the camera body is smooth, so you have to try to hold it more like a point and shoot camera with a pinching grip, which can be difficult because of the way the lens protrudes from the camera body. It’s just easier to hold the camera with two hands.

Canon gave the EOS M10 tiltable and touch screen capabilities, which is great to find on a camera that’s aimed at inexperienced photographers. The camera also has very few buttons and dials, meaning you’ll be using the screen the majority of time to make changes to the settings, so having touch capabilities makes this model easy to use.

The build quality for the EOS M10 is very solid. There’s no loose parts or flimsy aspects to this Canon model.

Share on Read Full Story
The best Camera shoulder strap reviewed
by David Burgess on 0

The best Camera shoulder strap reviewed

Carry your camera in comfort and style with a camera shoulder strap

Camera shoulder strap reviewed and compared. The camera shoulder strap is by far the best way to carry your digital SLR camera. SLR cameras are big, bulky and heavy and carrying one around all day is going to take its toll. If you want to carry your camera around with you all day, totally pain free the camera shoulder strap is the best option.

There are many different brands and models of camera shoulder strap available, but not all of them are worth buying. There are many cheap camera shoulder straps that are made out of inferior materials. A cheap camera shoulder strap will have no padding hence they are uncomfortable and will cut in to your skin, and will last about five minutes. A digital SLR camera is expensive and scrimping on a cheap camera shoulder strap that could break and let your camera hit the deck at any time, is not worth the risk and could end up costing you a lot of money. It is far better to pay a little more on a good quality camera shoulder strap in the first place.

So, what are the best camera shoulder straps? Carry on reading and you will soon find out since this article reviews and compares the top three camera shoulder straps currently available.

Best camera shoulder strap – Cotton Carrier

Cotton Carrier Vest System For 1 or 2 Cameras

The Cotton Carrier is a chest carrier that goes over your shoulders, but it isn’t a camera shoulder strap per se. Out of all the camera straps I have owned and used, and I have tried many different types, the Cotton Carrier is the best camera strap ever. The Cotton Carrier camera vest allows you to carry your camera safely on your chest, out of harms way, leaving your hands totally free. The Cotton Carrier can securely hold a fully gripped digital slr camera and large telephoto lens, such as my battery gripped 7d and Canon 100 – 400 lens. With the Cotton Carrier I can carry this heavy set up around with me all day, and totally pain free which is brilliant.

Releasing the camera from the Cotton Carrier is quick and easy, and simply involves twisting the camera and pulling upwards. It is possible to get the camera off the vest and up to your eye in a matter of seconds, which means you will never miss a shot.

The Cotton Carrier isn’t cheap, but it is worth each and every cent. Before I bought my Cotton Carrier I did lots of reading and research and was in two minds, partly because of the cost and partly because I couldn’t find many non-professional reviews about the product. However, I finally bit the bullet and purchased one, and I have never looked back. I only wish I bought one sooner, but then hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it.

In my opinion, the Cotton Carrier is the best camera holding system currently available and it is well worth buying, especially if you regularly use heavy camera and lens combinations.

Best Camera shoulder strap – Sun Sniper

Sunbounce Sun Sniper Strap Pro, Black

The Sun Sniper is the original camera shoulder strap and, even today, it is one of the most popular amongst all types of photographers, and when you get to see and try the Sun Sniper camera shoulder strap you will soon see why.

The Sun Sniper has a wide strap, which means it doesn’t cut in to your torso. I can confirm the Sun Sniper is exceptionally comfortable to wear and use, even with heavy camera/lens combinations. The strap is made out of good quality materials and is tough and durable, which means it is a camera shoulder strap that is built to last.

The camera is attached to the strap using a small ring that is screwed in to the tripod plate screw of the camera. Once the ring is screwed in to the camera it is totally secure and won’t go anywhere. When using the Sun Sniper you can be sure your camera will remain safely attached to your body at all times. The ring on the strap is a loose fit, which means it easily slides along the strap with little effort. When using the Sun Sniper you can get your camera from your waist to your eye in a matter of seconds, so you will never miss a shot.

Compared to other camera shoulder straps the Sun Sniper is priced at the top end, but it is well worth buying. If you want a camera shoulder strap that will provide years of trouble free service the Sun Sniper is the camera strap for you. It really is an excellent product.

Best camera shoulder strap – Black Rapid RS

Black Rapid RS-7 Camera Strap, black

The Black Rapid is another popular camera shoulder strap amongst photographers. The Black Rapid, just like the Sun Sniper, has a wide strap meaning it won’t cut in to your shoulders, which in turn makes it very comfortable to wear. Even with the heaviest camera/lens combinations, the Black Rapid receives a lot of praise from its users. The Black Rapid is also made from top quality materials, that don’t fray, which means it is going to stand the test of time.

The camera is attached to the Black Rapid via the tripod screw, but unlike the Sun Sniper there is a quick release clip. Some photographers rave about the quick release system, however I am not so sure. I always have my doubts over quick release systems and always think they are going to fail. My camera and lenses are worth a lot of money and I would hate to see them hit the deck and break. As such, I steer clear of quick release systems regardless of how good and secure other users claim they are.

Would I recommend the Black Rapid over the Sun Sniper? Since I ended up buying the Sun Sniper I would have to say no, but I did try the Black Rapid camera shoulder strap. As I previously mentioned, I don’t trust quick release clips. In addition to this, I just found the Sun Sniper camera shoulder strap more comfortable with my set up. That said, there are many people that find the Black Rapid more comfortable than the Sun Sniper.

Other shoulder straps for your digital slr camera

In my opinion the Black Rapid, Sun Sniper and Cotton Carrier are the best camera shoulder straps currently available and having owned and use all three I can guarantee you would be happy with either of them. In order to cover ALL situations I recommend having a Cotton Carrier and the Sun sniper or the Black Rapid.

Share on Read Full Story
Travel Tripod Guide | Ultralight Camera Tripods
by David Burgess on 0

Travel Tripod Guide | Ultralight Camera Tripods

Better Travel Photo Tip: Get a Small and Lightweight Tripod

Ever wonder why some travel photographers manage to take better travel photos than others? The easy answer is skill, and a lightweight travel tripod. Many experienced photographers would even suggest that a tripod is more important than what camera you have or your level of photographic skill.

Relying on steady hands, built-in stabilization, or cranking up (the grain-producing) iso simply won’t cut it when it comes to for example low light landscape photography. In many situations you want maximum depth of field and if you want the best image quality, you do not want to play with the ISO. The only solution is using a sturdy camera support. .

Until recently though, the problem with tripods was that they were bulky and heavy. Luckily, carbon-fiber and ultralight metals have come down in price and should be within reach of any enthusiast photographer.

of their images. Not being able to maximize depth of field is another big reason. Not taking time to compose and think the image through is another big reason for sloppy tourist snaps. All of these problems are helped by taking a tripod along as you travel.

You don’t have to use a full-size model, any camera support is better than nothing – just make sure that you get something that is built to hold your camera weight in a steady manner.

Tiny supports for compacts and smartphones

Some people think that the smaller the camera the easier it is to keep stable when taking a picture. The fact is that the lighter the camera – the more difficult it is to hold still and shake blur is very common with compacts and smartphones. The simple solution is a small camera tripod or support that fits in your bag – or even pocket!

The Best full Size Carbon Tripod for Travel

I use a Benro Travel Angel, the model that came out before this one and it has seen massive rugged use in the field. It still works like new. The compact Benro shown here is their latest carbon travel tripod which is similar to mine, but also has the feature of being a tripod and a monopod in one. The design is pure genius and you simply detach one of the legs and fasten the ball-head to it. This is also one of the few tripods that become flat when folded down for easier travel packing.

The Benro carbon Travel Flat II Tripod Kit is a extremely compact full-size model and folds down to a mere 16 inches. It takes 17 pound loads, offers almost any angle including ground level, and weighs just 3.4 pounds, which is very low weight for a full sized pro-quality tripod.

Flexible Joby Gorilla Tripods for Different Camera Types

The Gorilla tripods by Joby are extremely popular and the best travel tripod if you look at number of sales. Personally though, I prefer a full-size tripod but that is a matter of taste.

What makes the Gorilla pods so popular are the flexible legs that allow you to wrap around and seek support on almost any surface.

Having owned 2 of these ultra light weight tripods in different sizes, my tip is to not buy too small since the legs do sag a little bit with age. The weight difference is minimal so go for one size bigger than recommended.

See complete line of Joby Gorilla Tripods

Joby has recently also launched a new series of very compact camera micro tripods. Available in three different sizes, the biggest one show here supports cameras up to just under 2 pounds and is perfect for small hybrid superzooms and mirrorless system cameras such as Sony NEX, Olympus PEN and Pansonic G series.

This latest micro tripod from Joby is designed to stay on the camera at all times, when you fold it down it fits under the camera base.
Weighing just 2.3 ounces, this may be the ultimate emergency tripod for all forms of adventure travel where weight and small size is important.

Share on Read Full Story
My Summer Fashion Photo Shoot
by David Burgess on 0

My Summer Fashion Photo Shoot

Capturing the Beauty of Summer Through Photography

“An Ode to Summer” is my latest photo shoot I did in May 2013. The idea of this photo shoot was to show the warmth of the summer. I wanted to juxtapose the warm sunlight, the beauty of nature, and a pretty girl. There is no complicated or philosophical theme as it can be found in my previous photo shoots. I just wanted to present the beauty through the pictures, and let the viewers enjoy the picture as they are, without having to think hard about the meanings behind them. I have to admit that doing this type of photography work is refreshing, as I found that this type of photo shoot was more like to be an activity to have fun. Thus, I would like to share some of the photos through this lens, and hopefully you like them.

The Preparation

I didn’t prepare too much for the concept of the photo shoot, as I just want to create beautiful photos without any complicated story or themes. I just went online and browsed some references from professional photographers. I also met the model, Sunny, two days before the shoot. She is a very nice and smart Chinese girl. Sunny studies B.Com in my undergraduate college and I know her through my Bhutanese friends, whom I worked in previous photo shoots.

The idea of the photo shoot and the name of the model (Sunny) suited very well. Somehow, working with Sunny was very fun. I told her about my plan and she gave a lot of idea for the photo shoot. She acted not only as a model, but also as a director, style designer, and she tried to see the concept from the photographer’s point of view. If you find a model who is able to do this kind of things, then you are very lucky as working with the model would be more fun.

An early morning summer day

I departed from my apartment at 4 o’clock in the morning and we started the photo shoot exactly at 5 AM. The location of the photo shoot is at Hussain Sagar Lake, the biggest and most beautiful artificial lake in Hyderabad. We decided to do it in the southern park of the lake, where there is a beautiful park with pretty trees and flower.

Unfortunately, we missed the sunrise. However, the sun rays was perfect for photography. It was very soft and made everything looked shiny. I took some photos near the beautiful tree, with the beautiful lake in the background. The model seemed to enjoy the photo shoot very much, and it made me feel comfortable to work with her. We took about one hundred photos in two hours, then decided to take a break. We worked for another one more hour, then decided to call it a day because the temperature started to raise and made us sweating.

After the photo shoot, we had breakfast at McDonald (we had to wait for about an hour because it was still closed) and decided to watch Iron Man 3. I reached home right in the afternoon, and had some three hours sleep before editing the photos. This work was indeed one of the most enjoyable photo shoot I have ever done.

Photo Shoot Tips from Me

Some more tips I learned after doing this project

If you live in tropical country early morning is the best time for photo shoot
I realized this fact just after I did this photo shoot. In the morning, the weather is very cool and relaxing. The natural light from the sun is also very beautiful and soft, and it is not too harsh so you may not even need a reflector. Moreover, the fresh air will increase the mood of you and your model, so both of you can perform better. Just be sure to have a nice sleep if you want to do photo shoot in early morning.

Be friendly with the model
Of course, without crossing the boundary of professionalism. Plan a meeting two or three days before you work together, just to understand better about her. If you think that you are good at making friends, try to be friendly with her. Believe me, it won’t hurt, and even will make you perform better in the photo shoot.

Explain the model about your concept and idea
And don’t forget to ask for her feedback. She might have some brilliant idea that you didn’t even think. If it is possible, discuss also about the wardrobe that she is going to wear, the accessories, and how you want her to pose for the photos.

Enjoy your work
The most important thing in photography (and any other arts) is to enjoy what you are doing. By enjoying the process of the photo shoot, you will realize that your photos will appear to be more “lively” and there is “soul” inside the photos. Thus, people will love your photos more.

Share on Read Full Story