One of the greatest things about GoPro cameras is being able to grab it and go, especially if you’re on vacation. However, carrying it around without a camera bag is a pain to hold the hard plastic case. Even if you have the new GoPro Hero 5 Black, which is waterproof without a case, then you want to give it at least a little bit of protection.
Minimalist GoPro Case
This is where the Lowepro Ridge 30 case comes in handy. It can hold a GoPro camera along with a few accessories. This is useful if you want to bring a mount or two, a few extra batteries and some extra SD cards and hold them in a nice, compact package. It can be put into your pocket, slung over your shoulder or thrown in a large purse, making it easily accessible when you need it. Even better, it comes in 4 colors – blue, red, black and green!
Overall, it’s a cheap no frills solution for storage and transportation of your GoPro camera with a few accessories.
Nikon will be having a new set of lens rebates starting this Sunday, February 9th, 2014 at 12:00am EST. (Note this is technically Saturday 2/8/14 at midnight). The rebates run through March 1st, 2014.
In addition to the rebates, Adorama is offering free shipping and a free filter set with each lens.
The Canon EOS M has been spotted for the sizzling low price of $299 for the body paired with the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens.
Also available for the low price of $349.99 is the EOS M with the 18-55mm IS STM lens.
**Please note that the initial concerns with slow autofocus speed for the EOS M were resolved with a firmware update directly from Canon. This software update successfully increased the autofucs speed to a level similar to other mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. For more information, check out my review of the EOS M.
Click on these links to check out this amazing deal:
The price drop is most likely due to the imminent release of a successor to the Canon EOS M. Little has been heard about the new EF-M mount camera body, however these price drops indicate we are likely to have more information very soon.
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Bonus deal: In anticipation of the release of Google’s newest Nexus 7 inch tablet rumored for the end of July, the prices of the current Nexus 7 tablet have dropped for the 16GB ($197.99) and the 32GB ($199.99) versions. If you’re interested in a great 7 inch tablet, don’t miss out!
For this week’s Share Sunday, I don’t have the usual video suggestion. Instead I have a great article by Erika Nash on skiing videography with the GoPro HD Hero2.
At the time, Erika was interning at West Mountain ski area in Queensbury, New York for the winter. She had recently gotten the all new GoPro HD Hero 2. Her excellent article outlines the history of filming (and taking pictures) of skiing and then discusses the creative ways she had been using her GoPro. She goes on to include four great tips for using the GoPro not only for skiing but any type of action activity.
GoPro HD Hero2 Pictures
At the end of the article she shows a few still images pulled directly from video footage taken by the GoPro. One example is shown below. When I first saw the “pictures” grabbed from the video, I was shocked at the quality. While not at the level of a high end camera, they are pretty fantastic quality. Considering the places this thing can go, these images could be shots that you couldn’t easily get any other way.
In case you live in the Albany, NY area, I’ll throw in a little plug for West Mountain (even though I’m not in any way affiliated with them and I am not getting anything for this plug). West Mountain is a great family ski area located just under an hour north of downtown Albany. Featuring 40 trails and 124 acres of ski-able terrain, West is the perfect resort for nightly skiing during the week as well as a family trip on the weekend. For more information head on over to www.skiwestmountain.com.
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Erika Nash will be completing her MBA at Union Graduate College in just under a month. She is interested in marketing, social media and data analysis in the technology, travel and outdoor recreation industries.
For this week’s Share Sunday, we have a YouTube video from Chris Corradino. The video provides a few landscape photography tips for advanced shooters. Chris created this video while he was out shooting the landscape in Hickory Run State Park in Pennsylvania (USA).
One of Many Landscape Photography Tips
As Chris explains, he has planned out in advance the picture(s) he is hoping to take. When doing this, he was using a technique called pre-visualization. This is an important skill to learn to accomplish, especially for landscape photographers. Have you ever driven by a place and thought, “man that would be a great picture”? Have you ever taken a picture and when reviewing it thought, “I wish I could have taken that picture at sunset”? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you are already pre-visualizing.
Pre-visualizing is simply planning out pictures ahead of time. It’s doing your research. There are numerous tools available to assist landscape photographers such as Google Maps and Google Earth. In addition to planning out pictures, pre-visualizing helps you train your eyes to frame scenes without the help of your camera. This is an excellent skill for photographers to practice. The more you practice this, the easier it will be to frame a scene when you are using your camera and you only have one chance to get that perfect picture.
Graduated Neutral Density Filter
Chris talks about using his neutral density filter (with the Cokin P holder system) for taking this specific shot. What he fails to mention is that he is actually using a graduated neutral density filter. (A regular neutral density filter is simply the top half of the graduated filter. It blocks out light throughout the whole scene.) Take a look at a comparison of the two below. The left filter is a neutral density filter, while the right filter is a graduated neutral density filter.
The use of graduated neutral density filters is much debated among photographers. In the film days, graduated neutral density filters were essential when shooting scenes such as Chris’s wide angle sunset shot. This allows the camera to handle the wide dynamic range in a shot with a dark foreground and a bright sky. If you aren’t a fan of post processing or you’re still shooting film, then Chris’s method of taking this photograph is the most effective. Because of the amazing post processing tools available to photographers today, it is almost unnecessary to carry around an extra, large filter (or three) in your already too heavy camera bag.
The same effect achieved with Chris’s graduated neutral density filter can be obtained in at least two different ways:
First, if the dynamic range of the image isn’t TOO large (or even if it is sometimes), you can use a program such as Adobe Lightroom (or Apple’s Aperture) to darken the sky down to the same exposure as the foreground. Lightroom has a build in graduated neutral density filter than can be adjusted for any exposure, angle and place in the photo. This can be a great tool.
The second way a scene with a wide dynamic range can be captured is by taking multiple photographs. If you are able to capture a photograph with each section of the photo correctly exposed, then in post processing you will be able to merge these two (or more) photos into one. This processes can also be done using an HDR technique (however it doesn’t need to end up with the over processed look characteristic of HDR photos).
Using Flash for Landscape Photography
Most people don’t even consider using flash for landscape photography, however it can be useful in some situations. For some of Chris’s photos, he opted to use a flash to fill in “the details in the rocks.” This is an interesting choice in the situation as he was already using a graduated neutral density filter. Another option would have been to use a brighter filter and a shorter exposure. By using the four stop grad. ND filter, he increased the dynamic range of the image. Personally, I think the flash in this photo creates a strange effect. The first 5 feet of rocks in front of the camera are bright, but then the middle of the photo all the way till the light from the sunset is fairly dark. This looks unnatural and I think it creates a very low contrast picture. Perhaps without the fill flash the small holes between the rocks would have been darker, boosting the contrast of the image.
All that being said, this is a great video and Chris creates a great photograph. The video allows you to observe him and he plans, composes, adjusts and takes the picture. It is always helpful for every level of photographer to observe other photographer’s methods of capturing their images.
The Video
So without further ado, enjoy Chris’s video entitled “Advanced Landscape Photography Tips”:
Weddings are undoubtedly one of the most anticipated events in any calendar, not just for the bride and groom but all attendants. As such, all details are thoroughly emphasized to guarantee the resultant event is exclusively blissful, stylish and unforgettable. Expert wedding planners are called in to ensure that everything from the flowers, to the reception theme, attires, accessories, table plans and cuisine is exceptional. With the preparations underway, one crucial item is usually not given the attention it deserves; wedding coverage. Without the ideal photographers to capture the wow factor of the wedding, all the excitement, unique authenticity and deluxe elegance may be left out.
Elite Wedding Photography Ideas
What is your preferred wedding style? Avant-garde wedding photographers usually provide excellent advice on how and where to capture enchanting moments depending on your preferences. Among the most renowned types of wedding photography is the traditional or classic style, and the wedding photo-journalistic alternative.
Classic Wedding Photography
You have probably noticed this style in countless wedding albums. Being an easy and safe alternative, the vintage shots offer a timeless panache to any wedding. Every snapshot involves posing for the camera. For the ideal photographs, the photographer must ensure optimal lighting, perfect background effects, and proper body-and-dress alignment regardless of individual or group shots before, during, and after the wedding.
The principle aim of a traditional wedding photography is to produce worthy portraits of friends and family for their wedding albums. A typical classic wedding collection encloses everything from photos of the I-Do moment to the couple posing with the bridal convoy, cake cutting, and bouquet toss. Every pose requires the photographer’s full attention and the finest of his portraiture skills.
Photo-journalistic Style
This technique is mostly preferred by the more adventurous couples who seek to capture the ‘feel’ of their big day. Its popularity is derived from the well-timed, un-styled and unplanned images caught on camera. Connoisseur photographers consider themselves to be storytellers keen on seizing the natural moments that capture the true essence of the event. Non-scenic manipulation lets the attendees enjoy the wedding and assume
Posted in Guest Blogger | Tagged Wedding Photography|Comments Off on Wedding Photography Styles That Capture Picture Perfect Moments
**UPDATE As of July 26th, 2012, Amazon has the Canon EOS Rebel T4i / 650D in stock!Check it out here **
Canon’s newest entry level DSLR Camera, the EOS Rebel T4i was recently found to have a slight manufacturing defect.
On Sunday afternoon, the T4i was removed from Amazon.com completely. Prior to being removed, there had been a warning listed under the product about the recall. Apparently Amazon decided it was a better idea to simply remove the product entirely. This is a bit of a surprising move from Amazon as it may create confusion. Additionally, it will likely lose them business. Potential buyers are likely to search out other stores to purchase or at least “pre-order” one.
Additionally, many have reported that their pre-order of the device has been cancelled by Amazon.com. In an email to customers who had pre-ordered the T4i, Amazon.com said:
“Greetings from Amazon.com.
We have recently learned that Canon USA is voluntarily recalling the EOS REBEL T4i Digital SLR camera.
The front rubber grips of some EOS REBEL T4i units may turn white after a short period of time due to the deposit of zinc bis (N,N’-dimethyldithiocarbamate) on the product during manufacturing as a result of a chemical reaction.
While Canon has not received any reports of injury or allergic reactions, allergic skin reactions may develop. In addition, if eyes are rubbed after contact with the substance, symptoms, such as red eyes, may develop.
Our records indicate that you have an open order which includes the Canon EOS REBEL T4i Digital SLR camera that is affected by this recall. Please know we have canceled the item from your order.
You may also find additional details about the recall in the Canon USA bulletin at:http://www.usa.canon.com/…geKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e024805ba6ce
We took this step as soon as we learned of the safety concern surrounding this product and regret the inconvenience this cancellation has caused. We trust that you will understand that the safety of our customers is our highest priority.
While this is an interesting move on Amazon’s part, it certainly makes some sense. They are trying to protect their customers by not offering a product with a known potentially hazardous defect. I’m sure it will re-appear as soon as they have returned all the T4i’s with affected serial numbers to Canon and have new ones in stock!
What do you think about this?
**UPDATE As of July 26th, 2012, Amazon has the Canon EOS Rebel T4i / 650D in stock!Check it out here **
One of the greatest things about GoPro cameras is being able to grab it and go, especially if you’re on vacation. However, carrying it around without a camera bag is a pain to hold the hard plastic case. Even if you have the new GoPro Hero 5 Black, which is waterproof without a case, then you want to give it at least a little bit of protection.
