Beyond the Studio
Travel photography is the antithesis of a commercial studio. You have no control over the available light and your models are not the kind of people who sign consent forms. Shooting in the field presents challenges that you may not find in a studio, and hence requires a way of thinking that goes beyond the studio.
Keeping The Lights On
One of the great advantages of shooting with flash is you can dial-up the lighting you require any time of day, or night. It’s a seriously big advantage over natural light, consistency and quality. For the last few months we have set aside our usual flash rig for something a little bit different. Continuous LED lighting is here, and it might just be useful.
Take it Slow at the Night Market
Last week I shared a series of stills from the Queen Victoria Market, from the reopening of the Night Market. This time I've gone back with my very modest video rig to capture a slow-motion series using the high-speed ability of the Lumix G9 and a single lens.
Dark and Moody Food Photography
Mastering the art of Dark and Moody food photography, and going beyond the basics of 'black box' styling. Dip into the velvet shadows and embrace your darker moods. Warning - this article may contain traces of very delicious dark chocolate.
Priorities
In the space of a fortnight I've had the same story told to me by two different people, both of whom are very talented with a camera. They went to a workshop to learn new skills and came away with less control over their camera and creativity. They were forced to shoot fully manual and ended up moving away from their best creativity instead of towards it.
Why Is More Important Than How
Sometimes we focus too much on the style and not enough on substance. What motivates us to capture images is far important than the camera itself.
Make The Custom Dial Work For You
One of the most powerful features on any Lumix G or S series camera is the custom dial. C1 and beyond. This is a short primer to put you in control of the custom settings, and start working your own baseline towards better captures.
4K for Minimalists
How much gear do you really need to get started with quality 4K video production? We tend to think that better video is about adding more gear, but smaller rigs and zero accessories is fast becoming the ultimate setup for engaging cinematography.
Pentax 645Z and Capture One
You may have heard that Capture One will open DNG files from the Pentax 645Z, which is entirely true. Just don’t expect to be able to do anything especially useful beyond that.
Leica SL2-S
The SL2-S is a very modern yet practical 24MP camera that enjoys a touch of Leica flare. As my first chance to shoot with a Leica body in over a decade, this one left a very positive impression.
Testing ND Filters
My inner geek went a little crazy one day and I decided to evaluate just how much colour shift is happening when working with ND and Variable ND filters. Here's how I did it.
My Favie Magnetic Filter
From the studio to the harsh sunlight of Australia's North-West, I dragged my little pouch of magnetic ND filters around the country to find out which system works best. And found myself a new best friend in OKKO.
