Video: Nanuk Hard Case Review

Hey folks,

Here is my long overdue review of one of my best pieces of gear I own.  That is my Nanuk hard case.  It has taken a beating and still looks great, works great and most of all has protected my gear.  I trust this case with my equipment and in this video I go over all the features why I prefer using a Nanuk instead of the other cases on the market.

Hope you enjoy this video and I hope it helps you if you are looking what case to get.

Video: SB-900

Hey folks,

Just posted my review of the SB-900 and soon I will post up my quick comparison of the SB-600 and the SB-900.

Hope this helps!

Video: SB-600 Review

Hey folks,

Here is the link to my video for my review of the SB-600!  Hope you enjoy it.

http://youtu.be/8exOoIyITE4

Video: Page, Arizona

Hey,

Here is my latest video on the Page area of Arizona.  I will be making a Antelope Canyon one shortly since that was my favourite place from the Page area.

This is the link to the video - http://youtu.be/vC9S6B9KrWQ

Hope that helps!

Video: Travel and Photography Tips For: The North Rim (Grand Canyon)

Hey,

So here is my video for the north rim of the Grand Canyon!  Hope this helps and if you have any questions be don't hesitate to ask!

Video: Tips for Sedona, AZ

Hey,

Here is my video on the tips for photography and traveling in the Sedona area of AZ.  Hope it helps!

http://youtu.be/0Sw-cxG2mP0

Video: My Southwest Trip's Route

Hey,

Just made a quick video of the route I took in the Southwest so that you know where I went.  Now I will make a video for each of the places I went to go over the details of what I did and what I recommend and some tips and advice for photography in the area.

http://youtu.be/EIbZazczZSM

Hope that helps!

Video: Gear for Southwest Roadtrip

Hey,

So here is my first video about my trip to the southwest and I covered what gear I used and brought with me.  I hope this help and please do not hesitate to ask me any questions you have from my trip!

http://youtu.be/fhSo1ZvVIRI

Hope this helps,

Tom

Video: Lens Review: 85mm f/1.4 D

Video: Lens Review: 85mm f/1.4 D

Hey,

So here is the link to my review of the 85mm f/1.4 D lens on my Youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQHJTsaDo0M

And here are the photos that I used in the video just incase you wanted to see them larger than in the review:

Portrait - 85mm f/1.4 D

Portrait - 85mm f/1.4 D

Flower - 85mm f/1.4 D

Hope you liked my first review on Youtube and don't forget to subscribe!

Update: Youtube

Hey,


I posted my first Youtube video to my new Youtube channel!  I will still use my blog to keep people notified for my photography however I will be doing more videos for larger posts like reviews and such.


So I did my first video just as an intro and my next one will be about what is in my bag/case.  I have a new addition so you should definitely stay posted (or even subscribe to my channel).  I will probably redo all my reviews for my Youtube channel as well as doing all my future ones in video.


Furthermore I hope putting my face and voice to my blog works out.  Personally when I look up photography things for myself I usually go to videos first so I thought I might as well make videos.  I hope you guys follow my channel and here is the link to my first video that is just an introductory video.  Shortly I will have my "what's in your bag/case" video just so everyone knows what gear I use.  I feel this video will sort of act as my introduction to gear reviews.


http://youtu.be/VyBFwzz53AQ


Again please subscribe and I hope so see all of you following my channel like you have done my blog!


Tom

THP Tip #6: Gear Tip #1

THP Tip #6: Gear Advice #1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

So to recap:          

THP Tip #1: Portrait Photography and the topic was Bokeh.

THP Tip #2: Portrait Photography and the topic was on making your model/subject/client comfortable.

THP Tip #3: Portrait Photography and the topic was on communication.  

THP Tip #4: Portrait Photography and the topic was on being professional.

THP Tip #5: Getting Known (Web)    

Hey, 

I just thought I would share some advice on gear since there are many thoughts, opinions, and questions out there on this topic and I hope I answer some of them.  I decided to break this topic up a little and therefore make each tip shorter, and easier to understand.

First off I guess I should say that having "the best" gear isn't always the key for getting the best shots.  There are some specialty lenses that help you best capture the scene/subject etc, but won't guarantee good photos.  You can't give a beginner or amateur a pro body and pro lens and expect their photos to exponentially increase in any area other than maybe resolution due to more MP, maybe. However, I think there is one disclaimer here.  If you are a good photographer, and know what you are doing, gear upgrades can help sometimes.  I will give an example from my personal experience before people start disagreeing with me haha.  My first lens was a 18-105mm Nikkor lens.  I could zoom to 105mm and try to do "macro" work however it would never be true macro.  Here is an example shot with my 18-105mm: 

18-105mm - Pasque Flower

So it is a lovely shot of a Pasque flower.  I really liked shooting flowers in my mom's garden and other places however they weren't quite up the the standard I wanted.  Then one day I borrowed my godfather's Tamron 90mm Macro and took this:

Tamron 90mm - Pasque Flower

As I am sure you can see, one has definitely a little more punch to it.  So I think that yes, my 18-105mm kit lens can do the job and take a nice shot of a flower however, a macro lens can just do it better.  If you don't know how to take good shots of flowers and were given a macro lens, that might not actually help.  So this is a semi-rare case where gear can take a better shot if you already know what you are doing.  Now what I mean by better here is what I was judging the photo on.  I am sure with the 18-105mm, you can take an even cooler shot of a flower however a macro lens just takes a better photo of a flower for what I personally wanted in my photos.  For instance it got a tighter shot, had better colour rendition, better detail, and better bokeh.  So if you want your photos to have other qualities other than those, then I am sure my "better" won't match yours. 


Anywho, there are rare cases where have a better lens/gear actually helps.  So don't think if you upgrade you will therefore get better shots all the time.  This also includes people just buying the best gear thinking that will make them a good photographer.  The camera/gear doesn't make the photographer, however it does help, but it the gear are only tools and you have to know how to use them.  Sometimes better tools help, but you can still do some photos with the "best" lens or another lens.  


So to sum this tip up, I think that no, gear does not instantly make you a better photographer.  However if you have used a lens/gear to it fullest ability and you still don't capture shots the way you want, like my macro example, then upgrading might work.  This doesn't mean, "ahh dang, I took a shot and it didn't look good... I need a better lens."  When I got new lenses, one example is the Tokina 11-16mm because 18mm was not wide enough for my landscapes that I wanted.  18mm was just a snapshot of what I saw.  Therefore it was a limitation so I got a specialty lens almost for landscapes.  The landscapes with my 18-105mm were not that much different in quality to my tokina however my tokina just captured the perspective I wanted.  Picture quality didn't drastically change enough that when I got the Tokina I just took better shots.  So to be a cost effective photographer, really think hard about what you buy and why.  This way you won't sell as many lenses down the road, and save money in the long run too.  We all know how expensive this hobby/passion/job/etc is, so if you can save money by not buying a bad lenses and having to upgrade them within a year, it is a good idea.  I would love to have bunch of lenses but I know I don't need them.


So be careful when you are deciding if you are going to get more gear/upgrade.  Think about why you actually need it.  Of course you want it, but why do you need it.  I knew a photographer, if I can call him that, who wanted to buy a 17-55mm and a 15-85mm along with a Canon 7D.  Hopefully you see that the 17-55mm, though better glass with the constant f/2.8, is completely overlapping with the 15-85mm.  You really don't want that overlap nor did this person "need" both those lenses.  Yes, I am being judgemental but it was also outrageously silly.  So my tip is to use your gear until it no longer can do what you want with your photography, then try to decide the best next step.


Hope that helps.

THP Tip #4: Portrait Photography

THP Tip #4: Portrait Photography                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
So to bring you up to speed thus far:                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
THP Tip #1: Portrait Photography and the topic was Bokeh.
THP Tip #2: Portrait Photography and the topic was on making your model/subject/client comfortable.
THP Tip #3: Portrait Photography and the topic was on communication.                                                                                                             
My fourth tip is another tip for portrait photography which will be on being professional.  I am not saying only be professional if you are doing portrait photography but that is what I do so that is what I will discuss.  I also do macro, landscape and other kinds of photography but I decided to just group it under portraiture since I deal with people more one on one with my portraits.                                                                                                               
Being Professional:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Personally I think being professional is definitely something you should focus on if you don't think you have it mastered already.  If you are not professional, you can lose clients and business which can only have a cascading effect and get worse.  If you are known as someone who is unprofessional, that is bad news.  I guess parts of this section is also very important to models too.  So if you are reading this and you are a model as well... then get your pen and paper out.                                                                                                                                                            
If you are doing photography as more than a hobby, and want to make money off of it, you have to look and act like a professional.  What I mean by this is, is people won't feel as inclined to pay you if this is just something you do for fun.  So if you make a meeting with a potential model and show up looking too casual, you won't inspire confidence.  This is very important for clients who are hiring you for a job.  If someone meets with you to see your portfolio and you show up with a couple unbound 4x6 prints and you are wearing sweatpants... you might end up not getting a lot of work.  Also this is the same with the actual shoots.  You want to show up looking like you didn't just roll out of bed.  It is also how you act and the things you say.  I don't think I could actually go through and tell you what to say or how to act but I think that is common sense.  Be polite, respectful and kind.  Don't ever act like you are in a rush or not give your client 100% of your attention.  People are sometimes very observant and will definitely know if you are only giving them 50% of your attention or time.  Just all and all act the part or don't wonder why no one wants to pay you/hire you for your photography.                                                                                                                                                                                           
Personally I think being professional elicits comfort in your subjects.  I have started doing nude shoots and you need to act very professional and this, I find, allows the model to be comfortable.  How you go about the shoot, how you act and even how you contacted the model about the shoot matters a lot.  During the shoot they can act like they are comfortable but you don't want to find out after the shoot they didn't like the experience.  So far I have done two of these shoots, the first, the model said she would come back and do more if I needed more shots.  The second said she would refer me to her other friends.  So before the shoot matters with how professional you are, during the shoot definitely matters, and if you do that right, you will get positive outcomes after your shoots hopefully.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
There are many many many points I could go over here.  I picked these ones and if you want me to post more on this subject just send me an e-mail at tomhoustonphotography@gmail.com.                                                                                                                                                                      
Hope you enjoyed it and I will be discussing all the different ways to get you and your photos seen in my next THP Tip.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Thanks for reading!

THP Tip #3: Portrait Photography

Hey,                                                                                                                                
So my first tip, THP Tip #1, was on Bokeh and my second tip, THP Tip #2, was on making your model/subject/client comfortable.                                                                                             
Here is my third THP Tip on portrait photography which will be on communication.                              
Communication:                                                                                                                                                   
So my last two tips have been simple however there are so many different ways communication plays a vital role into a shoot.  For this reason I will make more of a novel than a post.  I will break it into sections of a shoot since I don't usually communicate with my landscapes or flowers often.  Also I know most, in my opinion, on portraiture than my other types of photography of people(events etc).  I hope this helps!                                                                                                                 
First, I would say the most important communication when you are contacting a subject/model or replying to someone's request for you to photograph them.  You don't want to sound unprofessional since you probably won't get anyones attention that way.  You want to be friendly and easy going however still give off the impression you are serious.  You want to be confident however not cocky.  Your confidence can rub off on your client and if you are doing a shoot together.  This might boost their confidence in the shoot which is never bad.  Also, I personally explain everything about the shoot to the client when contacting them.  I do this maybe too much however I want to be as transparent as possible asking someone to model for me.  I will usually tell them what photography I do, why I like it, what I want to do, and then I ask them if they would be interested in doing what it was I was planning.  This might be intricate for some things however I will use the extreme example, in my mind.  If you want to ask someone to do fine-art nudes, you definitely want to cross your t's and dot your i's.  I am actually getting into that genre of photography now that I have the confidence in my own abilities not to mess a fine-art nude shoot up.  So I used this train of thought when asking people if they were interested and I found people were very receptive.  If you just say "Hey, I want to photograph you." Then you can get things like "why?" or people just saying no because it is too blunt.  Also be very clear and upfront about what you want to do in the shoot so there are no surprises for you or the model/subject.  If in your mind you want to do nudes, don't let the model know that once you/they arrive to the shoot.  Also you want to be clear on the theme(s)/idea(s) of the shoot so they don't show up wearing or thinking of doing something that you don't want to photograph.  So to sum that up and include everything else that might need to be said here is be transparent as possible and communicate everything... and then some.  Additionally you want to respond professionally if the client contacts you since it is your first impression on the client as a person instead of your personality in your photos (assuming they have seen your work before).  You make take the most stunning photos, however if you can't interact with people professionally, it will definitely slow your photography opportunities down.  Another thing is be prompt with your responses.  Shows interest and that you devoted to your photography.  The last main point of this section, that I saved for last so hopefully it sinks in the most, is the model release.  Say that you will ask them to sign one so that everything is kosher (legal and protects you (and sometimes them)).  That isn't something you want to surprise someone with at the start of a shoot.  This can let you outline how many photos you plan to give them, what they can and cannot do with your photos.  This is very important since I have see people want to edit your photos after which is a huge no.  I did a shoot where a model wanted the unedited photos for educational reasons (so they know what looks good/bad).  This was a justified reason however I stipulated in the model release that they cannot edit or post them just incase.  All these agreements are best to get done and in the contract/agreement before you take the photos so everyone knows what to expect after the shoot and that it's in writing.  Also a disagreement right before a shoot might spoil the shoot.
After the initial communication before the shoot is vital.  This includes if you have to cancel a shoot, or if there is a change in timing or anything like that.  You want to be prompt and professional with this.  I once had a cancelation because a model was ill.  Unfortunately I found out later that the subject cancelled because they were too hungover that morning.  Being professional might be THP Tip #4 haha.  You want to double check the ideas/times/location so that everyone is on the same page.                                                                                                                 
Next section I would say is at the start of the shoot.  Get the client to sign the model release or contract.  But before you do that, go over it.  This is very important, I think, since if you just hand them a legal paper and pen (or iPad with a app) it will most likely be a little scary.  I know my release is all fancy dancy law lingo which can be confusing however is needed to cover all the bases.  So explain it all since each paragraph of my release I made can be explained in a sentence usually.  Also make the model comfortable which kind of overlaps with my second tip.  Ask them if they need anything, don't bother them if they are getting ready.  I usually go over the shoot ideas before the shoot myself so I can easily communicate what I want since it is fresh in my mind.  I have made small talk pre-shoot before which was nice.  This is sometimes a good idea but depends on time and if you/client are on the clock.  Getting to know your subject or model is a get idea if you have the time.  Also that will set them more at ease hopefully if you don't know each other.  However I guess that depends on how good of a conversationalist you are.  If you create a "bond" with the person, or in other words, build a rapport or break the ice, the shoot will go smoother in my experience.                                                                                                                 
Now communication during the shoot is paramount and can make or break your shoot regardless of every other factor involved.  A lot of this comes back to the comfort level of the subject.  So first, I talk as much as I can (unless I sense the model wants silence) since usually it is the best bet.  Silences can be awkward and this can be for many reasons.  The main one, in my opinion, is communicating how they are doing and posing.  If you just take 300 photos and tell the model nothing about them or show the photos, they won't have a clue if they are doing is what you want/what they want.  This only hurts both of you.  If you don't tell them they are doing well, they won't know.  This might make them feel more self-conscious which could lead to them being awkward without you feedback.  If they are not doing well, not telling them only fills up your camera with images that could be better.  Lose lose.  However, don't be harsh or bark too many orders at the subject.  Also use you discretion on what to comment on.  Obviously don't comment on things they can't change.  And if you see they have a bad habit or bad tendencies, it can sometimes be hard to say something.  Personally I have shot a subject once who did something highly awkward with a facial thing.  I won't go into specifics however it was something that was in at least 60% of the photos and because of this I kept my mouth shut since it was obvious that was something they were trying to do.  Personally I thought it looked not as good as the other 40% but it is something this subjects still does.  So that means they wanted that look and a good thing I kept my mouth shut.  If you are going to comment, be positive and explain why you are saying what you are saying.  For example, if they raise their arm that is on the same side as your flash up by their face/head and it blocks the light hitting their face, then just politely say "hey, I am just going to ask you to raise your ___ arm instead of your ___ arm because it is blocking the flash's light."  I do this as I show them the photo because you as the photographer can see the photos, the model cannot.  Then I sometimes show the photo with their other arm up just to show the difference so they understand why you asked them to switch arms.  This increases the chance that they remember your guidance since they remember why the did what they did instead of just what they did.  During the shoot communication, as I said, is very important which is why this tip is getting quite lengthy.  So to continue, during shoots I also explain all my actions.  I don't want my model wondering what I am doing or why I am doing it.  So if I am changing my flash powers, I say so.  If I  stand on a stool for a higher angle, I say so.  If I am cranking my aperture wide open I say why so that they know what I am doing and what the photos will look like.  If I switch lenses I let them know why.  Why do I do this?  Well first, if I stand there tinkering with my flash powers, the model usually is just waiting silently and patiently.  So I talk while I do all these things so the awkward silence doesn't make it seem like it taking longer than it is.  Also if I swap my 35mm for my 105mm, I let them know since I am then usually doing head shots or have to move much further back.  If I just switched lenses and then started walking away from them, they might not know whats going on.  And personally I always want my model/subject on the same page as me for a shoot.  Also if I am doing head shots I tell the model so that they know they don't have to focus on what the rest of their body is doing.  This takes some pressure off since some people really focus on hand position and posing.  If they don't have to anymore, let them know since there's no point for them to pose their body if it isn't in the photo.  I am sure there are other tips I could give here however there are other sections so I will move on.  Just remember to always fill silences unless if you feel they are awkward, and to keep the model on the same page as you with what you are doing and why.  I just find things go better that way.                                                                                                                 
After the shoot, go over any agreements you made pre-shoot.  For example, reiterate how many photos they are getting and how.  Things like this are good to state again because people forget.  I find that it is better to have your client thinking "yup, I remembered that" instead of "oh, I thought you were sending me more photos" after you sent them their photos.  Good communication avoids some situations you don't want to get in.                                                                                                                 
I keep my models/subjects posted on my editing process and when they should expect the photos.  I read a sneaky trick somewhere, where the photographer(s) purposely stated a longer amount of time than they needed to edit the photos.  This was so that they could always deliver sooner than expected to make clients happy.   This is almost what I do, however I usually just work harder than I planned and get the photos out sooner.  Both work however my way I know is not as perfected.                                                                                                                 
After you deliver the photos try to keep in contact someway or another with your client.  I like to show that it was more than just a simple business transaction.  Once you hand over the photos or whatever, that shouldn't be the end of your communication.  This, I think, will give you a better chance that the client will want to work with you again.  I know wedding photographers always recommend sending cards on christmas and such.  It's a personal touch that for some photography businesses is the difference between a photography business just getting by and one that has to turn people away due to having too many bookings.  Personally I usually keep the model posted for a while on the response of their photos with my usual suspects who follow my work.  This includes saying if a photo has a lot of views on my Flickr, or if my friends and other clients really like the photo and why.  I also usually share the links where they can find their photos on my various sites incase they want to see the number of views increase on their photos on Flickr or share the link with their friends and family.  It is probably cool to show friends and family photos of yourself on a nice looking site.  Personally I don't know cause I don't model however I love to see my photos credited on other sites or my links on peoples blogs etc.                                                                                                                 
So with that, I think, that is a good addition/start/different perspective for you on communication for your photography.  It might have turned into a novel but oh well.  I hope you enjoyed reading and I hope it helps!  If there isn't something in there for you then I hope my first two tips helped if not there is more coming so stay posted.  Also if you want me to share my thoughts on anything or if you have any questions for me, please don't hesitate to ask me at tomhoustonphotography@gmail.com.  Lastly I know you all want to see my lovely new website for my photography at www.tomhoustonphotography.ca.                                                                                                                 
Also I would like to thank all of you who read my blog.  Recently the number of views has increased as well as the number of different countries from which you have viewed my blog.  Very happy to see this since it means you might actually care about what I have to say so for that I would like to thank you.

THP Tip #2: Portrait Photography

My first THP Tip on Bokeh for portrait photography which can be seen here.  So here is my second THP Tip for portrait photography:

Comfort!

One of my top goals of a photo shoot is just making sure the model is comfortable.  It seems intuitive however sometimes people forget some things which you can see it in photos sometimes.  

There are many ways to make a subject comfortable for example, making sure they are not too hot or too cold during a shoot.  Easy things like that.  However I have asked a lot of people who don't model to model for me and I have learned a lot from working with first time models.  Here are some things I have learned in terms of communication.  

First, if you are working with a subject that has not been in front of a camera for portraits a lot, it is a good idea to keep it simple.  I usually let them pick out their favourite outfits.  Normally I add in some ideas so they know what to think of wearing and so they don't pick anything too crazy.  But sometimes it is nice to have a model wear something different that is not the norm.  

Chances are if they are really comfortable with wearing their outfit, they will be more comfortable getting photos taken in it.  I think that if you push someone too far out of their comfort zone, it will show in the photos.  Also I give some edited photos to my friends who model for me for Facebook or what ever personal use they use it for.  If I make them wear a ridiculous outfit they don't like or feel comfortable in, and it shows in the photos... Then you are giving them photos of themselves looking awkward in an outfit they didn't like.  What a great keepsake from a shoot that they will love to showoff...

Another thing is always suggest is if they bring a friend or someone along to the shoot.  I always do that now because it makes for a much better shoot usually.  Also you just got yourself an assistant sometimes out of that deal.  I have done shoots for a friend who does makeup and we usually have a couple of friends to model there.  Having a group at a shoot is always a bonus.  They can help hold light stands, fix hair, help with clothing ideas and such.  Never hurts to have more hands, or at least someone to help keep conversations going while you get stunning photos.  Sometimes they even help guide their friends for poses and help give ideas.  So when a model, or whomever, brings a chaperone is a win-win situation usually.

I could keep writing on this subject however I will call it here.  So there are many ways of making sure the model is comfortable and this tip was just one or two things to do.  So if you just do the things I stated here you might not get a return customer.  However if you add bits of all of this to what you already do (or read if you are just starting) then you will hopefully make you subjects more comfortable.  This will help your photos because keeping the model comfortable is paramount since uncomfortable looking photos don't help you, the model or how people interpret your photos.  I personally think it looks bad for a photographer if a model looks really uncomfortable in the photos.

THP Tip #1: Portrait Photography

Hey,

So I decided since my blog has gotten enough views (+2000, thank you!) that you might actually care to hear my opinion and thoughts on some things.  So I will started doing some Tom Houston Photography Tips for things and Opinion pieces.  Just so that it is easier for me to write the tips in a timely fashion I am going to write them one at a time.  Since they are not my top ten tips since most of them would be the same with all the others you can read, I thought I would do the tips you might no see elsewhere.

There are many sources for finding tips for portraits and I encourage you to read those as well.  I don't know everything about portrait photography so this should just be one of the many resources you read to help you with your portraits.  

So here in no particular order, here is the first tip you might not see elsewhere. 

(As a quick disclaimer, most of the portraits I shoot are female so in some cases it might only apply to working with female subjects)

#1.  Bokeh, Bokeh, and more Bokeh.  

I love having bokeh in my portraits because it just makes your subject the only focus in the photo.  Personally I often, for outdoor portraits, stop my 50mm down to 1.4 or my 105mm to 2.8 and keep it there.  This makes the background into a lovely out of focus blur and makes your subject pop.  Sometimes I even do it in my studio because having such a narrow depth of field really helps focus the viewer on what you want.  

So as seen in the photo below, the background is almost indiscernible which makes the detail of the subject pop out.  It also brings the focus of the photo directly to their eyes.  This is obvious since it is really the main thing in focus, duh.  But that is also another tip mostly all photographers would say, focus on the eyes.  So write that down somewhere too.  Also another note with using wide apertures outside is be careful with blowing out your photo.  It is hard to keep your photos exposed well with using f/1.4 on the bright and lovely sunny day as seen below.  Her cheek bone might actually be blown out just a tad in this photo because of the sun.  On a quick side note I took this photo to just show what effect aperture has on the photo.  I am very glad I did since this is one of my favourite portrait shots I have.  

Portrait - 50mm

This photo below I took in my studio (however you can't really tell) and used my 50mm to get a really shallow depth of field so the eyes and rose were in focus.  I had to stand precariously on a stool to get to the right angle to do that but it was worth it.  

Portrait - 50mm 

Another reason (or amazing bonus) to shoot at a wide aperture is to get as little detail in the skin as possible.  This mostly comes into play for females however it still is a good thing to keep in mind.  Females tend to not want to see all the detail in their skin in photos.  Eye yes, skin no.

So if you have the ability to shoot wide open for portraits, give it a shot.  It is a very pleasing look I think.

I hope you try this and I will have Tip #2 coming on the weekend!

Update: Magazines (Beginners)

Hey,

So I just purchased the Digital SLR photography's magazine which is the "Getting Started in Digital Photography.  I believe I have passed the whole "getting started" phase I hope however there are always things you miss (especially when you are self taught).  Personally I just focus on genres and not photography as a whole sometimes.  So I read everything the Web has to offer on Marco photography and then cram that all in my head.  However I just learned not too too long ago about cross vs linear AF points from my last housemate.  So I know a boat load of technical stuff for Macro Photography but never knew what the two kinds of AF points do.

So if you find yourself in the same boat, I suggest this magazine.  Some of it went over the exposure triangle things that I did.  And I knew 99% of it but I either forgot some things or they said it in a way I will remember better.  Knowledge is a continual thing.  Don't forget that.

Update: 35mm Review was Updated

Update: 35mm Review was Updated                                                                                                                                                                                                                
Hey everyone,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
The review of the 35mm f/1.8 G lens is my most viewed post so I decided to update it with my current thoughts on the lens since I have started using it more because it is perfect for my studio.  So if you were one of the many that viewed and liked the 35mm review, or are just curious what more I said please go check out my update at the bottom of the review.                                                                            
You can click here to go to the 35mm review.                                                                                                                                                            
Thank you for reading my blog.  I hope it is helpful!                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Tom

Review: Photography Magazines

Review: Photography Magazines

Knowledge - Self-Portrait - 17-55mm

As I said I would, I am writing a blog about photography magazines. Personally I have asked many people's opinions on what photography magazine is best.  I usually got varying response since a lot of it is what type of photography you do and what your own interests are.  So with that said this is all my opinion about what magazines I like most or ones I don't like so much.  I have had three different subscriptions to different magazines and I have bought a lot whenever I see a magazine that looks like it has good information at stores.  Also one thing I highly recommend is going to your local library to see if they have any photography magazines.  Mine has Photo Life and Popular Photography.  It is kind of nice going to the library with my dad and reading their photography magazines while my dad reads his book.  It's free and I have only one complaint here, which is just that I can't refer back to any article in the future. But personally I have a pretty good memory for things if I enjoy the subject matter.

I currently have a little over twenty magazines now.  I have mostly Outdoor Photographer but I have five or so Digital Photos as well as five or so Photo Lifes.  I have one Shutterbug and just this year have gotten Digital SLR Photography magazines which are made in the UK.   I first got the Digital SLR photography with was their Essential Guide to Landscape Photography.  This was an amazing magazine which got me looking for others like it and found they wrote a monthly magazine as well.  This magazine made me want to write this blog because prior to these UK magazines, I never really had a magazine that was that much better than the others I bought.

So I will go through my thoughts on the different magazines I have read and let you know why I like or dislike them.  And lastly I will go over my favourite.

First I will go over Photo Life magazine.  It is a very clean and crisp magazine.  Professional setup and layout and sometimes does have some good gems of articles.  However they are a little on the smallish side.  My brother got me a subscription to the magazine and it was great however sometimes you could get it and the main article was on photoshop shortcuts.  This would be great for people with this program however not so much for people like me who have a different editing software.  So that issue itself, of the magazine, was almost a write off.  So in my experience it is a little hit and miss for this magazine.  Sometimes I love reading it and sometimes the issue I get doesn't have much for me.  So for me I still will pick one up at a store and scan it to see if I should buy it but I don't think I would get another subscription to it.  Also they have it at my library so I usually read it there.

Another magazine I had a subscription for was Digital Photo.  It was also another gift but this time from my girlfriend at the time.  I bought a copy of this magazine and loved it.  Covered some great content so I asked for that as a Xmas present.  The issues after that were not near the one I bought sadly.  They are mediocre most of the time.  So again this magazine, like Photo Life, is one I'll scan through before buying but I wont buy a subscription. It wasn't as professional looking as Photo Life and seemed to be tailored to maybe a more younger amateur level of photographer.  Not that that is bad by any means, I just think for the large majority of the articles, I knew enough of what they were saying already and I did not benefit enough from the articles.

Outdoor Photographer is a good solid magazine.  I don't mean you could hammer nails with it but it usually has good helpful articles.  Most of my magazine collection consists of these and I am usually not disappointed with them.  I would say they usually have articles that match with my type of photography and if not, they are still usually good reads.  I would recommend this magazine if you like photographing the outdoors and wildlife. These magazines are usually long so you have more articles and therefore a better chance one fits with the areas of photography that you like.

I have one Shutterbug magazine and I think from the fact I just have one speaks on my opinion of it.  It had tons of ads in it.  So many it makes it hard to read which is too bad.  I actually wrote most of this blog on my iPhone between classes however edited it when I got home and I just looked through my Shutterbug magazine.  For about 80% of the magazine or more, there was an ad on every other page.  The two main articles were last in the magazine pretty much and, didn't have any ads in them.  However right after the two main articles... the two page spreads for camera companies.  If this magazine isn't making boat loads of money from ads, I don't think anyone can.  From my photo above with me and my magazines I remembered all of the articles on the pages I opened the magazines to for the most part. The Shutterbug one, not so much.

Popular Photography is a magazine I only read when I go to my local library.  It isn't great but it's not bad.  It's about the exact same as Digital Photo.  Geared towards younger amateurs and set up in a way to try to grab your attention with ads and I guess the word for it is cluttered.  It sometimes has good articles but I can't really remember what I've read in them.  So it is a magazine that I would read but definitely not buy.  I am sure it might suit some readers out there but I am just a little too advanced for it maybe and the articles don't help me a lot.  I still read them to get as much knowledge as I can but this magazine would not be my number one pick.

Lastly the Digital SLR photography.  First I'll review their Essential Guides then I'll cover the monthly issues.  I have the Essential Guide to Landscape Photography and their Essential Guide to Outdoor Photography.  Both were some of the best sources of helpful information I have seen.  I loved to read these magazines.  The landscapes from the UK which definitely helped for I do have a soft spot for landscapes in Scotland.  The magazines almost had no ads as well as they were huge in terms of length, width and height.  The tips are extremely helpful, the guides are very good and the types of articles are very well thought out.  The advice and ideas they go over are accurate and useful.  I have read many articles discussing what it was like to go take photos in Alaska or other neat places but they never really give you a ton of information on how to do it.  These magazines go over everything with enough detail that the only information missing is what you will learn if you go out there and try the techniques or ideas yourself.  The Essential Guide to Outdoor Photography is 162 pages long and is jam packed with information front to back.  These are well worth their weight in gold.  I am going to try to get my hands on the portrait one (The Essential Guide to Portrait Photography).

As for the Digital SLR photography monthly issues, they are just as good (if not better because they are monthly).  The last issue I got (Nov, 2011 Issue 60) has 145 pages before the camera store ads come up.  So again, full of tons of very helpful topics and advice.  This issue has 101 portrait "gems" which I did like a lot.  I knew most of the advice however it is nice to have it all in the same spot if I ever need some motivation or different ideas for portraits.  I could go on and on about these magazines but they are basically the same as the Essential Guides, but just more of a spectrum of topics covered.  But these magazines and the Essential Guides (which I am 95% sure they are from the same company) are by far the best photography magazines I have read.

So in conclusion, if you want a sophisticated magazine that is of professional level, go for the Photo Life magazine however be prepared that the articles might not always be what you are looking for.  Popular Photography/Digital Photography are similar to each other and are geared below Photo Life at younger amateurs I think.  They are good and general however I found I was a little advanced for a lot of their articles, or I was doing different types of photography than what they were covering.  Shutterbug is great if you want to read more ads than articles.  Outdoor Photographer is a decent magazine and is the magazine I have bought most consistently.  They were good but I wouldn't say they were amazing and stood out a lot against the other magazines.  Since the articles are more geared to outdoor photography like the name implies, the articles have a better chance to fit with what I want to read about.  But then along came Digital SLR photography.  The Essential Guide to Landscape Photography and The Essential Guide to Outdoor Photography were amazing and definitely trumped the Outdoor Photographer magazines.  And that might be an understatement.  I do love nature photography especially landscape and macro but I do also do portraiture so I in need for a magazine that had more than just insects, flowers and mountains.  Then I found the Digital SLR photography monthly magazines and I was sold.    If you know of any other good magazines please let me know but right now I don't see anything topping these Digital SLR photography magazines.  So 10 points to you, Digital SLR photography, for making a very good magazine and essential guides.

Again just to add somewhat of a disclaimer here, these are just my opinions and a lot of what makes or breaks a magazine is the content.  And some content could put me to sleep while others could be put on the edge of their chairs.  So to each their own.

Hope that helps,

Tom

Just re-reviewed my magazine selection for my youtube channel which you can check out here: http://youtu.be/WOIO1uPnud0

Review: SB-900

Review: Nikon SB-900

Thoughts and Opinions:

The SB-900 is a tank of a flash.  It is very robust and very well designed.  So far after having it for a while now, I am very impressed with it.  Since my initial review, I have used it at around 4 shoots now.  It has worked flawlessly all but once.  However I will go into that in the Usage section.  

I think Nikon accomplished a lot with this flash.  And my opinion of this flash is very high which may be from my only comparison is the SB-600 which is not even in the same league.  So the SB-600 is really not comparable to the SB-900.  Sure they are both speedlights however the SB-900 towers over it in both size and functionality.  

I still love the diffuser and gel holder that comes with the flash, as well as the ease of use in terms of the settings and such.  The button locations are good and the flash is easy to use and navigating through the menus and settings is easier that the SB-600.  I am still getting used to it but it is just getting it to be second nature.   

This flash is good enough that I will probably sell my SB-600 and get another SB-900.  The only thing holding me back is the SB-600 is small and compact.  It fits in my Nanuk case and the SB-900 due to how much I already have in the case wouldn't fit right now.  So the SB-600 still gets a lot of points for being lightweight and compact.  The SB-600 is very good for starting out with since its does the minimum of what you need with a flash which is all you need if you are just starting out.  I upgraded and got a SB-900 as another flash because I wanted another flash. I was thinking about the SB-700 or a used SB-800 however I knew that a year after that I would want to upgrade and get a SB-900 so I just decided not to have to upgrade twice.  And I am very glad I did.

Usage:

I have, as I said, used this flash in I think four shoots now and it has performed almost perfectly.  In my last post I focused on nighttime portraits and I almost exclusively used my SB-900 during that shoot.  This was because the SB-600 started making a weird beeping sound which I assume was due to the cold temperatures.  The SB-900 was fine and held its own.  It worked just fine and produced some great photos. 

The size of it does slightly effects usage just because I do have to take extra care not to smoke it off a counter or anything while it is on my camera.  But that is what you trade for with you get the biggest flash Nikon makes.  

I did have a weird experience with it while I was shooting outside.  It was fairly cold so personally I was not worried about overheating the SB-900.  I was not taking a lot of pictures quickly or at a huge power level I thought but the temperature gauge said it was too hot and shut off on me.  Thankfully I had my SB-600 on me and switched to that for awhile which was fine.  After a couple of minutes I switched back to the SB-900 after it had a chance to chill.  It was weird because I felt the outside of the SB-900 when it claimed it was overheating and it was actually pretty cold.  I think it was shooting in TTL that caused it to shoot at a high power and I guess that did it.  Again I wasn't shooting that quickly because it was group shots so they took a while to decide how they were going to pose and such.  Oh well, I guess that is why you have backups.  I have not had this happen again since then and I have used it outside three other times since then and it has been fine.  So I guess if you don't want to risk the chance of overheating just shoot in Manual.  I believe I have also read or heard that somewhere else as well.

So it has not been perfect but perfect enough that I wouldn't want any other flash.  Everything can behave strangely here and there so I am not to worried about it heating up too much in the cold that one time.  There has been nothing to say is a major issue with this flash or any issue really.  It is hard for me to describe how great it is since a lot of it is just how well and easy it works.  So I hope I conveyed that here that it is an outstanding flash and just works amazingly for what it is and how much it costs.  

Pros:

- Ease of Use (especially when you are used to it)

- Power

- Functionality

- Build Quality

- Zoom ability

- Accessories (Diffuser, gels and gel holder) 

- Portability (Still better than a studio light setup)

- Versatility 

Cons:

- Large (But that comes with the flash and compared to a studio light it's nothing)

- Heavier than a SB-600 (However again, very light compared to any studio light)

Sample Images:

Portrait - 50mm - SB-900

Portrait - 50mm - SB-900

Portrait - 50mm - SB-900

Conclusions: 

This is a great flash hands down.  I have it overheat once for what I thought wasn't a great reason but it has not done that since so I am not too concerned.  The functionality and ease of use is great and the build quality inspires confidence.  The usage thus far has been great however to be honest, it is only as good as my skill level.  I am sure a better photographer than myself could get even more better lit photos.  So the usage does come down to who is using it.   But in terms of the flash itself, I wouldn't go to another flash.  Almost so much I will eventually get 2-3 of these depending on my wallet and how much portraiture I get into.

All and all this is a awesome flash.  If you have a SB-600 and want another flash and have the cash, get a SB-900.  Or if you are looking for a first flash and have money to burn, then why not.  But it is very obvious why this flash is #1 from Nikon.

Lastly I just thought I would touch on the fact I brought up studio lights a little in this review.  When you compare it to an SB-600 it is a little unfair since as I said it is in a different league.  Something that is more comparable is a studio light.  The SB-900 is much more versatile than a studio light and way more lightweight and compact.  So yes, against my SB-600, the SB-900 is larger and less compact however to something that is a better substitute (Since SB-600 are not often the go to lighting option for a studio), a studio light, it is still much better in my opinion.  

If you are debating a flash, and a SB-900 is on the list... get it even if you have to save up for it longer.