You get what you pay for
Posted: April 21, 2009
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I was talking to a photographer friend of mine yesterday I met at the mall. She was telling me how she got a new lens, 70-200 f2.8 Sigma. She love to shoot wide open most of the time, and finds that this lens tobe very soft on the edges and sometimes right thought to the middle of the frame.
I know of some other photographers that have some success with 3rd party lenses such as Sigma and Tamron. However, it really does seem that for the extra money (sometimes A LOT of extra money) you drop on say a pro-Nikkor or a Canon L series lens, you really do get that extra step up in quality over their 3rd party competition.
I’ve always purchased fast Nikkors. We came real close to getting a Lens Baby at one point but after holding the product in our hands, for $400+ dollars you really feel like you’re holding onto a piece of plastic. We ended up going with the new 60mm Nikkor macro and we never looked back.
The quality and build of 1st party lenses can’t be beat. There are some cases where Sigma and Tamron will get things right, and you’ll have a close 2nd to a Nikkor or Canon L, but for the most part you’re better off saving up and putting the smart money on the good stuff.
You won’t take better pictures with a better lens, but it sure makes the job that much easier!
~Jamie
The Mind’s Eye
Posted: April 19, 2009
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I find myself looking at the world very differently. When I’m in the outside world, be it the mall, the park or by the lake, I’m constantly looking at the things in my environment and mentally visualizing a frame. Ansel Adams describes this as the internal event or visualization. Lately I’m finding myself looking at people and imagining how they would look in a portrait. I take one good look at a person that passes me by and I visualize them with specific lighting elements and props, different post processing effects and moods. I already see the final image.
I’ve discovered that everyone I’ve encountered has a quality about them which would, given proper context, tell their story through photography. All you need to do as a photographer is add context to create something special. Being able to find the context a person requires in order to really make a great photograph is something cultivated through experience. I’m finding myself needing to express what I’m seeing when I’m in the outside world. There are so many wonder opportunities to create, if only those would be subjects could see what is in my mind’s eye.
Spring is here and people are enjoying the outdoors again. I’m excited to go out and see the world through my viewfinder. The world as I see it has changed ever since becoming a photographer. Everywhere I look I see wonderful imagery just waiting to be taken. I want to share with you what I see, and maybe through my photographs you’ll see the world through my eyes.
~Jamie
Assault on photographers
Posted: April 16, 2009
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In this day and age it seems that everyone is looking over their shoulder to see if someone is planning something devious. I’ve been reading a lot about how photographers are being targeted directly by the authorities in the US and UK, as well as other countries.
There is a recent story going around where one man and his son were visiting the UK, taking photographs to have some memory of their trip together. In this case the police demanded that they erase any photo taken that included public transport.
There are so many examples where photographers are the targets of harassment. Carlos Miller has started a website which brings many of these incidences to light. He talks about his own experience and welcomes stories from other photographers around the world to discuss their story.
Even myself here in Ontario, I feel like I’m committing a crime every time I go outside to take some photographs. Even a Saturday stroll at the local shopping center has resulted in being told to put my camera away, even though I was taking photographs of my children having fun on the small dollar rides or buying candy.
It makes me sad to think that I can’t just be free to go out and shoot anymore. I have to keep looking around, making sure that I’m not accidentally plotting an act of terrorism.
I mean, I understand we have to be careful and that the authorities have to remain vigilant. However, where do we draw the line between security and freedom of expression?
I’m still going to take my camera where ever I go, and I’m still going to take pictures. Hopefully if enough of these stories bubble up to the surface people will finally see we’ve gone too far, and in truth we in part have let terrorism win.
~Jamie
Weather
Posted: April 16, 2009
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Finally getting warmer outside! You know what this means right? Time to take out my mountain bike, clean her off and get ready for the season! This time around I will be bringing our trusty little D60 to take snaps out in the wilderness. Hopefully I don’t break any bones this year…
~Jamie
Post-Nuptual Shoot
Posted: April 2, 2009
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Kyla and Steve are long time friends of ours who had gotten married last year. They hadn’t gotten the chance to get certain shots done at their wedding, which is natural given that your wedding day is usually mired in chaos. We brought up the idea that we could do a shoot to fill in the gaps. It was pretty cool to see her get so excited about our shoot. After hearing what she had to say about the photographs I think the anticipation was well worth the wait.
Kyla had her Maid of Honor come by to play the part of makeup artist. Those two looked like they were having so much fun. They were giddy just as though she was getting married in only a few hours. We took quite a few shots of her getting ready as well some photos of the trinkets. The detail shots are almost if not as important as the rest of the set and we feel they should be present in the final albums.
We moved on to taking some really nice and evocative poses. The north window is always a must. We did the stair walk as well as some photo-journalistic style shots. A couple of candids peppered here and there for good measure. All in all we filled up a couple of 16GB CF cards full of shots.
As much as I love taking photographs, I enjoy post-processing almost as much. Needless to say I had a blast processing Kyla and Steve’s photographs. It was very hard to choose which shots would make the final set. We actually kept more then we intended. I think that’s a good thing.
As much as it was a re-enactment of their moment it was a stroll down memory lane for Rosie and I. At the end of the day it’s all about happiness and remember the joy and love you felt on your wedding day.
Here are some shots of the beautiful couple.
~Jamie
