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on Jul 22, 2019 in WRP Ed Zone

The Mysterious CS #a13

Our cameras are so smart, they can make us feel stupid! Case in point, the mysterious Custom Setting a13. When you have no lens on the body, it does not appear in the menu. You put a lens on the Z6 / Z7 like the Z14-30 and it still does no appear. Put a Z Lens on with a focusing ring like the Z24-70f2.8 and it appears. Magic! Actually, it’s not, it’s just smart programming and brings up a point I’ve mentioned a few times before. It’s always a smart idea to go through your camera’s instruction manuals months after you’ve put it down. I always do that and it reminds me of something I learn and forgotten or, simply didn’t know. Nikon makes it an easy airplane flight read with their Nikon Manual Viewer so you can read them on your smart device. The moral to this story, know your gear so works its hardest for you and your...

on Jul 17, 2019 in WRP Ed Zone, B&W Photography

Just Take ONE Step Forward

There are times that you just gotta shoot! Time is everything and waiting and takin time to make everything perfect, you lose the shot. But those times when you do have time, one thing that can often improve your photograph is simply takin one step forward. Literally, place one foot in front of the other and move forward. How can something so simple work? It comes back to what I call the dance. That’s excluding elements that take the eye away from the subject while including those elements that support the subject. Taking one step forward is just one method of doing the dance that works. Here is a simple, gorgeous, sweeping vista that was literally right alongside the highway. I stepped out with the Z7 / Z14-30 that was in B&W (Monochrome) mode as it was that kinda light and drama. I took the first shot (bottom image) as things were moving quickly. I didn’t like the bush on the left and felt I wasn’t inviting the viewer...

on Jun 20, 2019 in WRP Ed Zone

1/2 Stop Makes a Huge Difference!

It was a gorgeous night! While I was there to take Ryan’s portrait, I couldn’t ignore “Wendy Mae”. The Z7 / Z24-70f2.8 was already pointed her direction, I just had to move Ryan out of the way, focus and shoot. Except, she had no light on her. She needed that extra 1/2 stop! “Wendy Mae” needed the 1/2 stop, not the whole photograph. As you can see comparing the two photos how she pops with that extra 1/2 stop of light. How do you give her that light and not the whole scene? Actually, it’s really darn simple and takes just a heartbeat to do. I’ve already quickly selected the aircraft and run my High Pass Action (it’s all here on my KelbyOne class). I then hold down Cmd / Ctrl and click on the layer I just created which selects the aircraft again, go to Adjustments and brighten the aircraft by 1/2 stop. So, I moved Ryan out, went click, moved Ryan back in and kept on with...

on Jun 4, 2019 in WRP Ed Zone

Stop Them In Their Tracks!

There are thousands planning on witnessing the great Dak flyover the UK and Normandy the 6th. You’re privileged to witness history and have a responsibility to share that with us all through your photography. Stopping those flying Gooney requires panning to bring back the sharp images. Panning can only get better with practice, lots of practice! Unlike most other things in photography, if you need great panning tomorrow and you don’t have it today, you are screwed! Start practicing now so you are reay for the 6th. Here’s how. It starts by making proper hand-holding second nature so you start by practicing this technique, every day! I literally have a camera in my hand every day set to Manual, 1/20 (I practice with the D5 / 180-400VR at 400mm) focusing on and shooting items in the office getting a sharp photo. It just takes five minutes but it makes a difference. Then as often as I can during the week, I practice my panning photographing our dog Sadie as...

on May 22, 2019 in WRP Ed Zone

The #1 Technique You Must Master

Basic Handholding is an essential tool EVERY photography must master, period! Just worked with a photographer who used LiveView and held their camera like it was an iPhone when they asked, “why are my images not sharp?” Seriously, we can do better! This is something you need to practice EVERY DAY for five minutes so when you are out shooting, you don’t even think about it. It’s just is. It starts by cup the lens in your left hand so gravity forces the rig DOWN into your palm. Next, bringing your elbows into your sides, grasp the camera firmly with the right hand and learn to roll the finger to first activate the camera and then to fire the camera. Use an eyecup and pull the camera into your face. My buddy Adam captured in this photo of me during an air to air so even with feet off the ground, proper handholding is a must if you want the tack sharp image. The photo above, the shutter speed...

on May 14, 2019 in WRP Ed Zone

Old School Long Lens

Proper Long Lens technique is an essential technique (video). It’s not something I invented but was passed to me at the beginning of my career. This age old technique assures the sharpest possible image when using any lens that attaches to a tripod via its tripod collar. Used with proper Handholding Technique, you will capture the sharpest possible images! First and foremost -you must rest your hand on the lens barrel above the tripod head! (you can also put your hand on the bottom of the lens barrel if you’re pointing the lens down) You rest your hand on the lens just like you’d rest it in your lap. Vibrations are what causes images to be out of focus, vibrations that normally start at the camera. These vibrations travel as a wave to the front element and if they are not stopped, they travel back through the lens to the film plane, causing images to be out of focus. The simple resting of a hand on the lens barrel...

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