Sep 1, 2015 | Field Reports
At our camp in Africa, once it got dark we had a Maasai Warrior escort us from our sleeping quarters to the main social-dinning area. There was a really good reason for this. We literally had elephants, lions, hyenas and Hippos wondering through camp. As in, staring in the door of your tent, eyes glowing in the light close! So the Maasai would walk you to and from so you didn’t stumble literally into one of these critters. Well, I’m a well known flashlight addict and had with me my Blizzard 1000 Search and Rescue LED Flashlight. The Maasai had a flashlight as well, a simple solar powered unit as he didn’t need much. Well after a couple of nights I’d gotten to know him so when he turned on his flashlight, I turned on my Blizzard. When it came on he kinda reared back and his eyes got real big. I handed him the flashlight, showed him the settings and he just smiled as he lit up the opposite side of the river and said he liked it. The next night, he brought a bigger flashlight than he had been carrying and we had a “brightness” test. He lost big time. The next night, he brought a 4 D cell maglite and when we did the brightness test which he lost again, he simply said with a huge smile, “I hate you!” When I left Africa, I gifted the Maasai the flashlight. Well, when I got home, ordered from B&H a replacement Blizzard and while looking, found the new Volcano 980 you see pictured above. A tad dimmer (Blizzard 1000 & Volcano 980 lumens), it is smaller and lighter and I really love it. But then again, I am a flashlight addict!
Aug 26, 2015 | Field Reports
Rover is having a bad hair day today!
Aug 26, 2015 | Field Reports
“That’s Flare?!” Had a person exclaim this last week at Photoshop World when I answered their question, “Why does my image look flat and colorless?” I post this image taken a couple of weeks ago which I think is a classic example of flare in action. The top of the frame is normal, the bottom part of the frame has flare contamination. The lions mane around his ears has contrast and color, the lower mane is flat and colorless. I could see this in the viewfinder and took this photo just to illustrate the issue of flare. Shooting with the 800mm (D4s), I had the tiniest pinch of direction sunlight striking the bottom of JUST the front element (no other elements in the lens). That light was enough to cause the most common form of flare which for most photographers, is really hard to see in the viewfinder. In the case of the lion, to remove the flare, I asked that the vehicle be moved forward just one foot and that solved the problem.
When it comes to flare, this is what most photographers think of. I call them UFOs, Unidentified Flaring Objects. This occurs when a light source is able to strike multiple elements in a lens. These orbs can be a pain in the ass or, if you plan on them, an accent to your photograph. In both of these photos, what you see is what I wanted. In the case of the lion, I wanted backlit to make it glow as much as possible. When you go there, you have to expect flare, watch for it and work the best you can with the elements at hand to make the shot. In the case with the Super Corsairs, I wanted that visual line of the flare, the little extra drama and knew the red of #57 would grab the eye over the flare (shot with D3x / 70-200VR2). So flare is not a bad thing if you recognize and work with it. If it’s an accident, well then you risk an image not living up to its full potential.
Aug 24, 2015 | Field Reports
I use flash A LOT with birds! The typical rig is the 800mm mounted on the Zenelli and the Wimberley F-9 attached to it holding a SC-29 Cord which the SB-910 is attached. The SC-29 is a cable that I personally shortened so as to not have extra bouncing around and possibly scaring off the bird. Well that cord after a decade of use finally wore out. I just didn’t feel like going through shortening again so went looking and so happy to find the Vello TTL Flash Cord for Nikon Cameras (1.5′)! It has arrived, works perfectly and I don’t have to do the cutting and soldering, it’s already the perfect length as you can see.
I was so happy to have found this cord I went looking for another solution. I have received a number of emails from folks saying they don’t have a budget for Pocket Wizards or 2nd SB-910 to fire off a flash. I was very excited to find this option, the Vello TTL Flash Cord for Nikon Cameras (33′) which is only $47! This 33′ long TTL cable lets you place the flash where ever you need to and keep it talkin to the computers. I sure wish this stuff was around when I started, sure would have made life so much simpler!
Aug 21, 2015 | Field Reports
I’ve been doing a whole bunch of interviews of late. I take notes for important points, but count on a digital recorder to record the entire interview. My old Olympus LS-14 does a great job, but I found I needed a separate recorder for video as well. I went looking and asked advise of the experts at B&H Video and got the Tascam DR-40 and love it! This is why …
The DR-40 captures up to four tracks from built-in, high-quality condenser microphones, XLR mic or line inputs. The internal mics are adjustable from XY to AB position, helping you to tailor your recording to the sound of the room. A pair of great-sounding TASCAM microphone preamps welcome condenser microphones with phantom power, recording at up to 96kHz/24-bit resolution. It accommodates balanced XLR or 1/4″ line inputs using locking Neutrik Combo jacks. The DR-40 accepts SD or SDHC cards up to 32GB, and a 2GB card is included.
Once recorded, play back your takes with EQ and the optional Level Align feature to avoid volume jumps. A stereo reverb effect is also built-in, as well as a speaker and chromatic tuner. Transfer recordings to computer using the USB 2.0 jack. Other features include overdub mode, variable speed playback, limiting and low cut filter, and much more – all with TASCAM’s simple-to-use interface. No other recorder makes home or live recording as simple as the TASCAM DR-40.
“DR-05”, “DR-07MK2” and our brand new “DR-40” Linear PCM Recorders are part of TASCAM’s handheld recorders. Select a model based on your functional needs.
The two inline jacks on the bottom, size, light weight and sound quality just rock. Don’t know if you’re in the market for a recorder, I can highly recommend the DR-40!
Aug 20, 2015 | Field Reports
“You shoot with a 800mm lens, you use HSC?” This is what a person exclaimed at me at PSW last week in a hallway conversation. They exclaimed it when I said I do and in fact, used it quite a bit on my Africa trip the previous week. They asked the obvious question. Why? That answer is actually real simple, for the subject in the viewfinder I wanted no only the bigger image size, but I needed the faster FPS to capture the action. In the perfect world, first, I would be lying on the ground making on the shot. Second, I would move closer physically to make the shot. But I was in a Landie in Africa so neither was possible. I have the Video Record button on my D4s set so when depressed and sub-command dial is turned, the camera goes into HSC (High Speed Crop). So making this shot of a calling Wattled Plover (above straight, below with HSC) was really rather quite simple. It’s a great tool that comes with the camera and when it’s needed, I use it without hesitation. Don’t know about this tool? Turn it on and give it a spin. Won’t cost you a thing!
