We have an K&M AirAdventure coming up 11-13 Sept, Minot ND with an opening with your name on it! The video pretty much tells the story but if you’d like more info or want to register, give Sharon a call at 760.924.8632. Cya in the skies!
photos courtesy Nikon
When I got back online after Africa, I was slammed with questions about the three new Nikon lenses announced while I was offline. I had NO clue these lenses were coming out so when I received the emails, I wondered what I had missed. In case you missed it, Nikon announced the FX 200-500f5.6 and 24-70f2.8 AFS VR and 24f1.8AFS. At this point, I’ve not seen any of these lenses but plan on having two in my hands shortly. The two that peak my interest are the 200-500 and 24-70. The reasons? I think the 200-500 with that staggering low price point will make wildlife and aviation photography available to a whole bunch of folks. That’s bloody exciting. And the 24-70, well, I wanna see if the 24-70AFS in my bag now can be improved since it’s an amazing lens. I’ve been told it is sharper, a bunch with its brand new optical formula. But to be honest with you, its bigger size and 82mm front element make me scratch my head. These are tools and I will shoot with them with that in mind and as always, if they solve problems current gear doesn’t, then in the bag they go. Time will tell. But I’m excited, I love new gear! For more info, you can find it here.
My love affair with the IoSafe 1515+ and Synology just keeps growing the more I work with it! I was in Africa and we had a 3G and MiFi for connecting to the outside world. That’s it! I choose to spend the ten days totally offline (why nothing was posted here on the blog). Then one day a thought crossed my mind. From 7600 miles away with this really slow connection out in the African bush, could I hook up and talk with my IoSafe 1515+ back in the office using Synology’s DS File? As you can see, I was able to not only to see the IoSafe 1515+ but able to see the Jpeg thumbnails. Now I think the cell tower started to melt and bend over and the network went down for an hour with this connection, but after a while I was able to see what you see above. I made a real quick screen capture then logged off. Ya, it was an expensive experiment when I saw the data bill, but it just amazes me that I could talk to my images with an iPhone from that distance in that remote situation. The best part is, I needed no other software to see and work with ALL my files remotely! I can work with Photo Mechanic, Photoshop or Bridge through Synology remotely with all my images just like I can back in the office. The weak link as always is the connection. But it’s just cool that ability is there and twice now, it’s made the difference in making a sale and that’s what’s really important to me.
Here’s how I got it all up and working for our business
IoSafe 1515+ – Journey Begins
1515+ – What’s Inside That’s Special
IoSafe 1515+ – Connecting
IoSafe 1515+ 01 June Update
30 June IoSafe Update
IoSafe 1515+ is Done!
Snyology, DS File & IoSafe
Another Photoshop World is a wrap, Sharon and I are home after our nearly month long road trip. Photoshop World as always, flew by. It seemed we no sooner stepped on the bus to head for our PreCon then we were loading up the car to head home. Four days pass in the blink of an eye but the memories, well, they last us a lifetime because Photoshop World is all about family!
Ya, there is lots to learn and that is part of the Photoshop World experience. Sitting in those classes (yes, I go to them too when I can), we pick up those little nuggets of wisdom that keep the creative juices going. And while that might happen, I think it’s the family that is the Photoshop World experience where the greatest amount of learning and creative spark comes from. For me, not only talking with my fellow instructors does this occur, but it is from YOU folks who are so kind and generous with thoughts and information that the wisdom grows. And that I think is the much great value of Photoshop World.
Sharon & I are particularly fortunate that we this extended family but we also very fortunate our family is at Photoshop World. Jake became a member of the Dreamteam this time and had a great presentation. And while Brent didn’t formally present, he seemed to be always in creative meetings working on projects with others. The last night after the closing ceremonies, a great thunderstorm came into Vegas closing the airport and providing quite a show. The “Peterson Clan” sat in our suite watching the show and talking over all that had transpired at Photoshop World. The creative spirit which gets a kick start every time at Photoshop World is very important to me. But what’s become the most important is the family that is Photoshop World, my fellow instructors and YOU! Thanks for making it such a great week!!!
The last demo shoot of our Photo Safari from Photoshop World to Chloride was with these desperadoes. Emily and Sam were great sports to participate in the heat in this simple setup. The top photo is the original shot. Take with no flash and 0 exp comp in the camera, as I explained to the group, to understand using flash, you have to see the available light. So this original shot shows many of the deficiencies in the ambient light. There are highlights and shadows but the biggest issue as I see it is the quality in the light. It simply has no character and since character is the storyline, we needed to bring in flash. It was done quickly and easily!
I was shooting with the Df / 24-70AFS and the light source was the sun and the Profoto B2. The B2 had the OCF Softbox (2×3′) attached to it. It was placed just outside the field of view on the left side of the photo. The key was to point the main beam of the B2 to Sam on the right and letting the soft, feathered edge of the light strike Emily on the left. I got is as close physically as I could to get the soft, wrap around glow of the B2 to kiss the girl’s face. The other key was to make the flash the main light and the ambient the fill light. This was accomplished by dialing in minus comp in the camera and a little plus comp in the flash. You can see above the before photo and the bottom the after. The whole thing took only minutes and was a simple lesson in light that Chloride easily gave up in the heat!
I am very honored to be in the 50th anniv issue of Nikon Owner Magazine! The extensive 18pg interview which we did while in London in April reveals a whole lot more than I thought, talking about wildlife photography and its role in our lives as we protect the lives on our subjects for future generations. I hope you give it a read and it inspires you!