I Like This Stuff

Doug Burr’s “Should’ve Known” from Jon Todd Collins on Vimeo.

This cool video was shot using a Nikon D90! I’ve seen a number of videos created with the D90 but this is my favorite by far. Jon Todd Collins is the talent behind the camera. While you’re enjoying it, let it push your imagination, challenge your creativity and perhaps, just perhaps take your photography one step forward.

f2 or f2.8, that is the question

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Ever since the 200f2VR video was posted, I’ve been receiving a steady stream of emails with one basic question. It has to do with money (wish it wasn’t so but that is the nature of photography). Do I (as in me, Moose) see a difference between sharpness (both lens & DOF) between the 200f2 at f2 and 70-200VR at 200mm at f2.8? I do which why I shoot the 200f2 (and hence the money). The 200f2 is a wickedly sharp lens and with an inherent contrast that just makes it one of the finest lenses in my bag. I think though the better question is, will you see the difference? Should you spend the money for that stop?

Yes, I’ve heard and read all that has been posted on the web about DOF and while the formulas might be dead on, the photographic examples proving a person point accurate, doesn’t change what I see and use in my photography. There are four factors effecting DOF; focal length, aperture in use, camera to subject distance and, subject to background distance. In the photo here, I was eight feet away and shot at f2.8 with the 200f2. If you check out this image up close, you might see what I’m trying to communicate.

The focus point was the front of the iris, the eyeball. Zoom in and look closely at the eye, then the eyelashes and then the eyebrow and bridge of the nose. Notice how quickly the DOF falls off and elements of the face are out of focus. Then go to the slider at the bottom and zoom out really fast back to full frame. What snaps off the monitor? What tack sharp element smacks you in the face? Now some are asking, “Can’t the 70-200VR deliver the samething?” In my world of photography, no, which is not to say it will or won’t in yours.

We all look for and see something different. Thank goodness! A world with all the same image would be really, really boring. These very, very, very small but real nuances that are so important to my style of communication. I’m trying to share that with you so if that’s where you want to take your photography, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. I hope this helps with this really good question.

What the hell is a "Fuzzy Moose?"

Yeah, that’s what folks have been asking for the last week now. It’s all Mikie’s fault, or in a grander sence, Nikon’s. Looking through their Premiums Catalog, something only dealers have, you will find a Moose wearing a Nikon scarf. I was totally unaware such a thing exsisted until Photoshop World when Mikie showed up with them as give aways. I actually feel kinda honored by it, I mean, there’s no Joe McNally stuffed animal (isn’t that a funny though; what would that be, a stuffed SB-900 with arms, legs and a scarf?).

Well to say they are popular is an understatement. Forget selling photographs, we could retire on fuzzy moose sales, if we had them to sell. I stopped shaving for a few days, blew dried my hair but I guess a full size fuzzy moose doesn’t cut it. We are trying to obtain some of the real fuzzy moose for a give away at DLWS but there is no guarantee. In the meantime the one and only one I have might just pop up every so often. Since he is so popular, gotta give his public what they want.

Photo captured by D3, 45PC-E, SB-900 to the right on Lexar UDMA digital film

What the hell is a “Fuzzy Moose?”

Yeah, that’s what folks have been asking for the last week now. It’s all Mikie’s fault, or in a grander sence, Nikon’s. Looking through their Premiums Catalog, something only dealers have, you will find a Moose wearing a Nikon scarf. I was totally unaware such a thing exsisted until Photoshop World when Mikie showed up with them as give aways. I actually feel kinda honored by it, I mean, there’s no Joe McNally stuffed animal (isn’t that a funny though; what would that be, a stuffed SB-900 with arms, legs and a scarf?).

Well to say they are popular is an understatement. Forget selling photographs, we could retire on fuzzy moose sales, if we had them to sell. I stopped shaving for a few days, blew dried my hair but I guess a full size fuzzy moose doesn’t cut it. We are trying to obtain some of the real fuzzy moose for a give away at DLWS but there is no guarantee. In the meantime the one and only one I have might just pop up every so often. Since he is so popular, gotta give his public what they want.

Photo captured by D3, 45PC-E, SB-900 to the right on Lexar UDMA digital film

NAPP Photo Safari, PSW 03.09

Enjoy the fun! It is a large file.

Art of Digital tip

The time in a tin can flying west, the mind starts to reflect, sort and make sense of all the sensory input of the last week. One that instantly hit home and still makes me chuckle comes from the one and only Jay Maisel. Jay’s presentation at the Art of Digital was great, comprised of the images he has taken since the last Photoshop World. There was some gorgeous images as only Jay can illustrate. Most are street life, folks going about their business on the streets of New York, Jay’s home town.

One of the photos was of a person cat napping, perhaps just closing their eyes from the bright sun. Jay, in his scratchy, presentation voice just made the comment when the image hit the screen, “If you’ve nervous about photographing people, just photograph them when they are a sleep.”

There’s words of wisdom there that go beyond the hilerious.

What a Photoshop World!

Another Photoshop World has come and gone, where did it go? Seriously, I just got off a plane and now I’m getting one it again. It was a great, great, great time!  Sharon & I just gotta thank the folks at NAPP, Scott, Dave, Kathy, Julie and all the black shirts for making it all run so smoothly, packed with so much fun. Sharon & I also want to thank especially all the folks who attended who make it all possible. Can’t wait for Vegas baby! The Napp Photo Safari is already planned, it’s going to be great!

Part of what makes PSW so great is the facalty. Being able to share with your peers techniques, troubles and experiences is priceless. Last night Sharon & I went to dinner with our longtime friend and fellow Art of Digital hero  Joe Glyda. Joe knew of a killer Italian restuarant in the North End, Dolce Vita. Wow, what great food, what great atmosphere, what great company! What a great finish to a marvelous week!

Photos captured by iPhone

Fuzzy Moose rumor

I’ve received a number of emails from folks attending Photoshop World with very kind words. I want thank all who take the time to write because that’s why we’re here, to meet and help other photographers. On the first day of Photoshop World I did a presentation at the Nikon Theater that seems to have been a big hit. At that presentation, Nikon gave me five fuzzy moose that are wearing a Nikon scarf. These were all give away at that presentation to folks who answered the right question. Well, the word got out that Moose had fuzzy mooses to give away. I’ve been assulated in the halls, stalked in the bathroom, all to get one of these now highly prized fuzzy moose (no one seems to want the real thing). Dear dearing public, I ain’t got anymore! Nikon made them and are the keepers of them. Rumor has it we’ll have a couple at DLWS but you know how Nikon rumors go. I appreciate the love, but I’d really like a moment of peace in the men’s room.

What happened to the blog?

Hi guys!

I’m using the blog to send out a mass email. My mailbox is filling up with folks asking what’s up with the blog, I’m not posting twice aday. I’m at Photoshop World and besides having lots of fun, I’m talking, teaching and learning alot and all of it in the confines of a convention center. While it is incredibly inspiring and full of energy, it’s just not photographic. And carrying around a camera along with notebooks and everything else just ain’t workin. So, the blog won’t be the same this week. I will make it up to you though

Thanks for your support and for dropping by.

PSW Kicked off with Hot News!

Photoshop World started today and the day is already over. Where in the hell did it go? Yeah, it’s that much fun and the folks, well they are simply the best. The keynote was a lot of fun, great laughs with solid information. I’m blogging from, …. where in the heck am I? No clue, I’m in the hall somewhere. You can follow the fun on the Photoshop World website better than I since I don’t even know where I am. But I am having fun!

I am excited to be released from my NDA and can now talk about the new Intious 4 from Wacom. This is so hot, Wacom has a whole room where you can sit down, drive it and see for yourself all that it can do for your photography. If you’re at Photoshop World, you gotta check it out!

Well, I’ve got to get off, head to the parties (someone’s gotta do it) and pile on the fun. Wanta thank all the folks who came to the Nikon Theater today and supported me!

Photo captured by D3x, 28f1.4 on Lexar UDMA digital film

NAPP Photo Safari

I have no idea what time it is, couldn’t sleep anyways, just too spooled up from the GREAT day! Along with my good bud Joe McNally, we led the NAPP Photo Safari today and man, it was 100% great fun! In fact, so much so that 16GB of video was produced from the afternoon shoot. I haven’t ~even~ edited it all let alone created the final cut, so this is just a teaser. There’s SO much more and once I’m back in the office and have a fast connection, I’ll get it posted (this weekend probably).

In the meantime, you can check out these stills which took just a second to get posted. Probably why I’ll stay a still photographer, more to my learning curve. All these photos were taken with just one light, either the sun or SB-900. The light was modified by diffuser or EZYbox and gelled either with a reflector or gel. But what you see is what I shot. Thanks to the NAPP Staff for taking care of all the logistics and to all the Safari participants for making it all possible! It was a cold, blustery day on the docks but the gang hung in there. Even our models so it was just simply a great day! How cold was it? The first photo says it all. Enjoy!

Photos captured by D3x, 200VR / 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA film

A couple years in the making

I’ve seen this view from our room in Boston where we stay for Photoshop World for a couple of years. Two years ago I haunted a couple of different rooms to get the angle that I liked. We lucked out, this time we have the room from the start. So then all I had to do is watch out the window for two hours this morning waiting for the right shadows and lone person. This is pretty close to what I envisioned.

The interesting thing is I always thought it would be a B&W photo but now that I’ve done it, I’m not sure. I’ll put the image away for a week or two and then look at them to see how I feel about it. Time is a good thing.

Heading out the door for our Napp Photo Safari, should have interesting if not fun stuff to blog late tonight.

Photo captured by D3x, 200VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

Santa Fe DLWS 2010

Digital Landscape Workshop Series is heading south in 2010, Santa Fe that is. We have a great event planned, been planning it for a while. You get of how special this event will be by our host lodging, Bishop’s Lodge. We have the romantic spanish architecture, incredible SW landscape and our special shoot (that we’re talking about now that is) is shooting in the historic, infamous closed prison.

If you’ve headed to the DLWS website, you’ll see most of our events are full and they fill early. You might be asking why is that. The main reason is one of the best staffs in the world who world tirelessly to help you improve your photography. Next would be the locales and how we make so much of them to teach. Lastly, because they are just so much fun! You will see why, we recommend a vacation after DLWS and it’s where Passion Fills the Pixel! To register, call 760.924.8632.

There's more to him than a flash

It’s a gorgeous Sierra July morning on the shores of Lake Tahoe. It was the first time I had taught with Joe McNally though I had been a fan of his for a long, long time. Joe was our guest shooter for that week. Not to insult a man behind his back, but he fit right in with our wacky staff right from the get go. But when it came to photographing landscapes with NO people in them, he was a hurtin! At the end of this morning shoot I saw Joe stewin about. His lovely wife Annie was with us who explained to me what I am all too familiar with now, that Joe was on the scent. Before I knew it, he’s got our son wading in Lake Tahoe bare footed, glasses off and hopping up on a rock, modeling! While everyone else was amazed by the simple flash magic, I was amazed, shocked, in awe, that he had gotten our oldest son to POSE for a bloody photograph! Then if that wasn’t enough, Joe offered me the flash and HIS shot so I could photograph our son.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to watch Joe craft, connive, coerce, conjure, and click more lighting magic than there are SB units in the Nikon warehouse. Here’s a perfect example of that speedlight burst imagination of his. We’re in Nevada City and we’re all happily shooting away in the ghost town when I see Joe across the street, you guessed it, on the scent again. I saw him staring  at this run down old rail car as he paced back and forth. I went on shooting until I heard the call, “Flash Demo!” We walked down to find Joe talking with the group, explaining how he’s lit the side of the rail car with four SB-800s to look like sunset. Sheer genius! Then he selects his model, our youngest son and as you might guess, he got him to pose. He did it again, I can never get those boys to hold still! And like before, he put me in his shoes so I could get the shot of our son.

But that’s what Joe does, the lighting hides the guys big heart and natural ability to engage with people, his subject (as long as it’s not a rock or tree or creek or valley or flower or hoodoo or barn or lighthouse or geyser, but he did flash a leaf once and he has this thing for Bison) and that’s what creates the magic in his photos. I know, I’ve been there, I’ve seen it and damn lucky for me, Joe shares that with me just like he did the other day in the pool (buoys, he wishes we floated and not sank). He did all the math, set up the lights, he just shared the numbers with me because he knew I simply enjoyed the opportunity. We have these two special photos of our sons because of Joe’s sharing, helluva present to give someone!

That’s what Joe does with his new book, put you in his shoes (but IMHO, no one can fill his shoes) as he shares that magic. Those who are really smart will go beneath the napkin diagrams and flash gadgets and really read what it is Joe McNally does when he’s behind a camera. There’s so much more to Joe McNally than a flash!

There’s more to him than a flash

It’s a gorgeous Sierra July morning on the shores of Lake Tahoe. It was the first time I had taught with Joe McNally though I had been a fan of his for a long, long time. Joe was our guest shooter for that week. Not to insult a man behind his back, but he fit right in with our wacky staff right from the get go. But when it came to photographing landscapes with NO people in them, he was a hurtin! At the end of this morning shoot I saw Joe stewin about. His lovely wife Annie was with us who explained to me what I am all too familiar with now, that Joe was on the scent. Before I knew it, he’s got our son wading in Lake Tahoe bare footed, glasses off and hopping up on a rock, modeling! While everyone else was amazed by the simple flash magic, I was amazed, shocked, in awe, that he had gotten our oldest son to POSE for a bloody photograph! Then if that wasn’t enough, Joe offered me the flash and HIS shot so I could photograph our son.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to watch Joe craft, connive, coerce, conjure, and click more lighting magic than there are SB units in the Nikon warehouse. Here’s a perfect example of that speedlight burst imagination of his. We’re in Nevada City and we’re all happily shooting away in the ghost town when I see Joe across the street, you guessed it, on the scent again. I saw him staring  at this run down old rail car as he paced back and forth. I went on shooting until I heard the call, “Flash Demo!” We walked down to find Joe talking with the group, explaining how he’s lit the side of the rail car with four SB-800s to look like sunset. Sheer genius! Then he selects his model, our youngest son and as you might guess, he got him to pose. He did it again, I can never get those boys to hold still! And like before, he put me in his shoes so I could get the shot of our son.

But that’s what Joe does, the lighting hides the guys big heart and natural ability to engage with people, his subject (as long as it’s not a rock or tree or creek or valley or flower or hoodoo or barn or lighthouse or geyser, but he did flash a leaf once and he has this thing for Bison) and that’s what creates the magic in his photos. I know, I’ve been there, I’ve seen it and damn lucky for me, Joe shares that with me just like he did the other day in the pool (buoys, he wishes we floated and not sank). He did all the math, set up the lights, he just shared the numbers with me because he knew I simply enjoyed the opportunity. We have these two special photos of our sons because of Joe’s sharing, helluva present to give someone!

That’s what Joe does with his new book, put you in his shoes (but IMHO, no one can fill his shoes) as he shares that magic. Those who are really smart will go beneath the napkin diagrams and flash gadgets and really read what it is Joe McNally does when he’s behind a camera. There’s so much more to Joe McNally than a flash!

Photoshop World bound!

“Are you ever home?” A question often posed to us. Actually, we were home long enough to get a bunch of work done, some shooting with Jake who came home for spring break and now we’re off to one of our favorite events, Photoshop World. The weather held until the moment Jake & we hit to the road and than the heavens let loose. Jake’s making his way to MT in all sorts of yuck. We left in white out conditions but by the time we hit the outskirts of Carson there was a break in the storm.

I was able to pullover for just a heartbeat, long enough to make a couple of clicks. Here’s a simple gallery of the clouds. One is a favorite, the rest are just OK. I finished them all the same way as illustrated here. Tomorrow it’s BeanTown and FUN, FUN, FUN! Hope to cya there!

Photo captured by D3x, 200VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

A morning with friends

It was a frustrating start to grouse photography season this AM. We headed out early enough but there was a fire going. At first we thought it was a control burn but after going in the light of day after shooting, we weren’t sure if it wasn’t a campfire gone wild. Whatever the case, the fire burnt a nest locale from last year and caused a gate to be locked so we had to back track putting  us out in the sage late. Being late meant we couldn’t work the lek but we lucked out that a lone male came out to us. It was cold, warmed up to 26 by the time we left but you can see the frost on the back of this male.

The grouse are on the lek for perhaps, if you’re really lucky, 90mins after sunrise before flying off. I shot out the side of Jake’s truck, a whole new set up so ended up shooting handheld all morning. Gotta slight hand cramp but at least images are sharp. Off to the garage to make a rig for shooting out the back tomorrow morning. I was able to make a quick video to give you a better sense of it all. Hope to have better opps later with better tape. You will have to turn up your volume, couldn’t talk loudly and it’s shaky, holding the video in one hand, 600 in the other, video suffered.

You go out and make it a great weekend with your camera in hand!

Photos captured by D3x, 600VR w/TC-17e on Lexar UDMA digital film

Epson 7900 – gorgeous technology

I love printing, I have since the first click as a kid. It hasn’t changed with digital and in fact, probably increased. When the FedEx Freight truck pulled up in the drive today, I couldn’t wait for the door to open and see the new Epson 7900 inside (yeah, the printer comes on its own pallet). Luckily I have Jake home this week so the two of us unpackaged and carried the beast upstairs into the office. It was when I started to read the instructions we saw that Espon recommends 4 people for carrying the 7900. Guess that’s why my back’s tired tonight.

We set it up and removed all the tape in front of the slide files and the paradox made me want to take a snap. Looks like it was taken off the Star Trek set, man the photon torpedoes! It comes with enough ink to charge the system and a few prints, then you’ve got to buy a set, that ain’t cheap. But the first print came out and wow, didn’t know my images could look so good. The HDR technology really is outstanding. So now the challenge is to get this all figured out so I can teach our printing class at DLWS in May at Outer Banks. I guess I’d better order a second set of ink!

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