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Vincent Laforet & HD DSLR Video

December 18th, 2011 No comments

Vincent Laforet’s HD DSLR film: Reverie was the first to show the amazing capabilities of HD DSLR cameras for shooting video. I believe Reverie was done for Canon to market the 5D camera. The short film really shows off the shallow depth of field and low light capabilities of the Canon 5D HD DSLR for shooting Video. Vincent combines short clips that capture a moment as though they were still pictures. If you haven’t seen Reverie, here it is:

This video on the making of Reverie shows how a small film crew can quickly make stunning HD Video imagery using a HD DSLR with it’s shallow depth of field and low light capabilities.

This video by Vincent is a prime example of how a good still photographers can apply their ascetics using video. The clips are pleasantly short and visually inspiring.

Here, Vincent speaks to a group of photographers about the use of HD DSLR cameras. I’m guessing this is an ASMP or APA Event (American society of Media Photographers or Advertising Photographers of America).

Check out Vincent’s Blog http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/workshopslearning/

Vincent has teamed up with Chase Jarvis, and CreativeLIVE to create an internet channel on HD DSLR Video production . For over two years they have streamed workshop videos about HD DSLR video & filmmaking. The initial workshops are FREE and the full workshops are available for purchase.

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Categories: Digital Video, HD DSLR, Photographers, Tutorials Tags: , , ,

RadioPopper Review-By Andrew Collings

February 8th, 2011 No comments
radiopopper_system

The RadioPopper system allows the photographer to fine-tune the interplay between the existing light and the speedlights.

How the RadioPopper system works:

The RadioPoppers don’t add any functionality to the flashes. But they are essential to using the flash on location. This is because what the RadioPoppers do is to relay, via radio signals, the existing light-based (tiny quick pulses of strobe from the flash) communication system that the Canon flashes and cameras use.

RadioPopper system consists of a device that sits on top of the hot shoe-mounted Master flash and a separate unit that is mounted via an included plastic cradle to the Slave/remote flash(es). The Master flash fires a pre-flash each time you take a photograph and this pre-flash is the control signal to the other flashes. The RadioPopper system captures this preflash light/information, turns it into a radio signal, relays that signal to the RadioPopper receivers mounted to the slave flashes and these receivers then emit out that original master pulse into those slave flashes. The Canon slave flashes are tricked into thinking they received a pulse from the master flash. And it all happens as fast as 1/8000s. It seems like it wouldn’t work consistently. But it does.

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Camera with RadioPopper sender unit. All my 580′s have the Honl speedstrap on them permanently as well as a tungsten gel. We built custom holding straps for the camera flash mounted sender.

Examples of our small strobe location lighting kit:

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Left: Honl 1/4″ grid (hard light). Right: Honl Photo traveller8 Softbox (long-throw soft spot).

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Left: Westcott 43″ Collapsible silver umbrella. We use this umbrella when we need maximum power. Right: Our setup for flare-oriented shooting during dancing.

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Contents of our small strobe location lighting kit. I like the Manfrotto Nanostands for many lighting situations and it’s great that they fit right in the case! But we also bring 2 10′ heavy duty stands in a stand sling bag.

Example photographs shot with RadioPoppers and our small strobe system;

wedding1

Being able to shoot TTL fill flash outdoors without worries of sync problems is great! So is shooting at high shutter speeds and wide apertures–here at 1.4 and 1/4000s !

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last_dance

Our experience with the RadioPopper system has been excellent. We have very rarely had any issues with the electronics. It really is like magic, especially when one uses the system with the 5DmkII and 1DmkIV and the 580exII flashes. When those items are used, you are able to control all your remote flashes with the menu system on the back of the camera. While it’s more complicated to turn the Master/Slave flash mode on and off than it is on the 580ex flash (the 580ex has a physical switch to do that right on the flash), it’s much easier to configure the settings with the 580exII. It’s great that it works so well, since one has virtually no understanding of why it isn’t working since it’s all wireless electronic hocus pocus.

http://www.andrewcollings.com

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Categories: Lighting, Photographers, Reviews, Technology Tags: , ,

Adobe Creative Suite 5 Has Shipped!

May 12th, 2010 No comments

adobe-creative-suite-5The latest incarnation of Adobe’s Creative Suite, CS5, has been shipped, and is available for purchase.  A main point of interest for us at Foto Tech is the new HDR Pro feature of Photoshop CS5.  HDR Pro is an new tool that allows the user to create HDR (High Dynamic Range) images within photoshop itself.  Having not tested it personally, it seems to have potential, though tests show that HDR Pro may not be as refined as existing HDR software.  Nevertheless, HDR Pro will make a welcome addition to the feature set of Photoshop CS5.

With the new software release comes a new batch of resources to help you learn how to use it.  These include a number of  books, as well as online resources, such as the video tutorials from Lynda.com and Adobe TV.

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Categories: HDR-High Dynamic Range Imaging, Photographers, Photoshop Tags: , ,

UPDIG 4.0 RELEASE

November 22nd, 2008 No comments

Version 4.0 of the Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines was recently released. I serve as the Tech Editor of UPDIG, and also worked on branding and design aspects of Version 4.0.

A QUOTE FROM THE SITE:
The UPDIG guidelines aim to clarify issues affecting accurate reproduction and management of digital images. These guidelines were created to establish photographic standards and practices for photographers, designers, printers, and image distributors. The guidelines cover Digital Asset Management, Color Profiling, Metadata, and Photography Workflow.

Version 4.0 of the guidelines represents the industry consensus as of Sept 22, 2008. The guidelines were prepared by the UPDIG Coalition, with the help of many digital imaging professionals, software vendors, and hardware manufacturers. The UPDIG Coalition is dedicated to promoting standards for photographic digital imaging.
END QUOTE

UPDIG 4.0 had many many contributors. I would like to thank the Coalition Member Groups who came together to support this set of best practices for photographic digital imaging. I would also like to personally thank and recognize the great people I worked with directly. Many others contributed, but I worked directly with those listed below:
Richard Anderson- He served UPDIG very well for years. Richard stepped down as managing editor, but continues to collaborate and support UPDIG coalition efforts.
Greg Smith- The Copy Editor who actually knows grammar, spelling, AND photography.
Jon Heal- The web designer who gave the website and guidelines some style.
Michael Voigt- The Flash designer who put the 21 Coalition member groups into a Flash banner that will actually fit on a web page.
Peter Dyson- ASMP’s technology “Jack of All Trades” who got this thing to the web.
Rick McCleary- and the CMYK Working Group (A.K.A. the CMYK Mafia) a group of dedicated prepress guys and printers, who will take your head off if you’re not EXACTLY correct.
Peter Krogh- This DAM guy has offered his expertise to UPDIG from the beginning.
There are way too many dedicated contributors to list who work tirelessly for UPDIG and I know I’m leaving many of you out: Eugene Mopsik, Susan Carr, Judy Herrmann, Jeff Sedlik, Betsy Reid, David Riecks,….. the list goes on and on….GOOD JOB EVERYONE! Read more…

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Categories: Photographers, Projects, Tutorials Tags: , ,

Photo Treks

December 3rd, 2007 No comments


I highly recommend taking the time for an occasional “photo trek.” My friend Sunny Reynolds was working as fine art and commercial photographer when I met her 15 years ago. She started traveling to exotic places more and more often. Soon, her photographer friends began to notice what a good time she was having and how incredible her images were. They wanted in on the action, so she started taking photographers and adventuresome souls along for these treks. She soon turned it into a full time business and now just treks and does an occasional gallery show.
My wife and I had the privilege of doing the Costa Rica Trek and we loved it. I made some really incredible images and had the time of my life. We traveled all over Costa Rica in a van with a small group of seven like minded people, out for adventure. Sunny is a special lady with a unique talent for finding great places. Check out the links to info on her treks and some of her image galleries and her book on Boats.

Chile Info / Gallery
Costa Rica Info / Gallery
Galapagos Islands Info / Gallery
Guatemala Info / Gallery
India Info / Gallery
Morocco Info / Gallery
Peru Info / Gallery
Tanzania Info / Gallery

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