Jan 14, 2020 | Field Reports
I’ve had a number of emails from folks listening to my Podcast 169 ask about the SmallRig I was talking about. When shooting with a camera like the Nikon Z6 and the Ninja V, having the monitor attached in a secure manor is important. Keeping the weight down is important too to keep the whole rig manageable. My solution is what I call the SmallRig mini.
Rather than using a full cage, SmallRig has a half cage. It not only cuts down on weight but also permits access to panels easier. At the same time, the “mini” as I call it takes advantage of the “none” cage for the Ninja V,. As you can see, I just have the one small piece on the bottom of the Ninja V, so you can attach it to the SmallRig. This whole thing saves over a pound while permitting secure usage off or on a tripod. It’s a small thing, the weight savings, the methodology, the SmallRig!
Jan 9, 2020 | Field Reports
The Three Graces
captured by Z7 / Z24-70f2.8
The worst weather can make the best photographs. Out in the rain this morning on the Oregon Coast … gorgeous!
Jan 2, 2020 | Field Reports
MB-N10 mounted on Z7 / Z24-70f2.8
I was truly intrigued when the box arrived from Bedfords containing the couple of MB-N10s. I wanted them for two specifics reasons, the extra battery (for remote video and time-lapse) and larger handgrip (check, accomplished!). It’s really simple for me, I had these two needs I wanted solved and the MB-N10 takes care of them very nicely. Yeah, I’ve heard the negatives many feel they need to illustrate and yeah, a vertical firing button does seem logical. But I don’t shoot vertical videos so it’s OK with me. The better fit in my hand is nice. While weighing only 10oz, I was really quite surprised though when I mounted the Z7 / MB-N10 onto the 180-400VR, it made a big difference to the rigs balance! Over the years, I’ve come to learn to stay positive and that with all I shoot with there is always a side benefit to a tool I didn’t see coming. In this case, a major improvement of shooting the Z on the 180-400VR. The MB-N10, nice addition to the kit!
Dec 16, 2019 | Field Reports
Acratech Long Lens Head
Long Lens support is essential in making a sharp image of a moving subject. When it comes to my Nikkor 180-400VR and 800f5.6, I have turned to the long out of manufacture B2 head. This is a beast of a head but steady as a rock. When my good friend Chuck told me about the Acratech products and its Long Lens Head that weighs LESS THAN A POUND, I was sooo skeptical! It’s rated for 600mm or shorter so the 180-400VR, it holds like a rock. But I need to stress a head before I use it fulltime, taking it to the limits for the severe conditions I can find myself. This past week in Bosque, that’s exactly what I did using it with the 800mm!
Snow Geese
D5 / 800f5.6
supported by Acratech Long Lens Head
This is NOT a ballhead! It’s a specific head doing a very specific job and doing it really darn well. Its stability, flexibility, and lightweight makes it so perfect for the long lens, still and video work. The Long Lens Head worked just fine with the 800mm but it’s not made for that and the D5 but the 180-400VR & D5, not even an issue so this will be my go too head saving me nearly TWO pounds! My old, heavy B2 is now shelved, replaced with this gorgeous head I can’t recommend to you enough!
Dec 11, 2019 | Field Reports
You’ve probably seen posts especially on Instagram that have some cool special effects bringing motion to a still image. This is created by this really very creative app called Plotaverse. It’s been around for a while and when I was at Brent’s over Thanksgiving, I asked him to give me a lesson. Kuna posted a great KelbyOne class on it but Brent, well he knows dad’s learning shortcomings and quickly had me up to speed on it, but I’m still really new to it all.
What you see here is my first attempt. I did it on the iPad which for me was much easier cause of the Apple Pen. But you can do it on your phone as well. And it’s not really meant to be a blog post kinda image because it doesn’t loop as it does on IG. I just wanted to pass it along to you because I’ve seen some incredibly creative things done with Plotaverse, it’s just another way to tell your story visually.
Dec 2, 2019 | Field Reports
Yellowstone Wolf & Big Game Photographic Workshop
09-14 Nov, 2020
Our Yellowstone Wolves was an amazing trip this fall, so I’m going to offer the same adventure fall of 2020. The critters know that and come out to play, the wolf especially. While there are zero guarantees you’ll photograph them, exploring the vast Lamar Valley and more is our best bet to getting glass on this amazing creature. Wolves, grizzlies, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, coyote, badger and just a few of the targeted critters during our week! Oh yeah, a landscape or two :-)
If you’d like to get an idea of the photos our wildlife photography workshop produces, check out my critters. I work very hard to not only share and inspire you with my decades of biological knowledge but use it to get you the photograph. Come join me and six other shooters for a great week in the beauty of Yellowstone! We’ll be based out of Livingston, MT (flying into Bozeman, MT) and for $1900, you’ll be picked up at the airport and taken back, preworkshop packet, instruction, entertainment, and guiding is all included in the price (food & lodging are not). If you’re up for the challenge and want to hear for yourself the most amazing sound in nature, give Sharon a call 406.240.3503 (9-5PST). She’ll be happy to answer your questions and get your signed up. (1/2 deposit due upon registration). I look forward to shooting with you!
We are very excited to be ablt to offer All our Workshop / Adventure participants a full, one-year KelbyOne Pro Subscription (with paid registration starting July, 2018). This is being made possible by our dear friends at KelbyOne, which we are incredibly grateful for. This provides you to ALL of the KelbyOne Classes (and their discounts on other products) including Moose’s Classes.
