Tag Archives: nikon

For The Love Of Photography

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I love photography. But I’m not sure I can tell you why.

The act of organizing the camera gear before heading out. The trip to the location. Arriving and getting started. Looking for photographs. Finding photographs. Shooting. Shooting more. Looking for more. The occasional peek at the LCD screen. Love it. Love it all.

I love shooting scenics. I love shooting wildlife. I love shooting life in the city. I love shooting portraits, studio and environmental. I love shooting events, Pride parades, weddings, bat mitzvahs. I love shooting skateboarders, kayakers… adventurers. I love the challenge of trying a new style. I love the never ending search for the perfect composition… or look… or moment.

I love the solitude of walking the banks of a river in the pre-dawn light… others love the crazed camaraderie of a press scrum.

The sound of the shutter, the sharp “click” as the lens locks into place, the flash of light I catch out of the corner of my eye when the on-board strobe fires. Love it.

I love the the look on peoples faces when I show them the image on the back of the camera. I love when I find a “Wow!” photograph I’d inexplicably passed over in my archives.

When I’m looking through the viewfinder and I’m not thinking, just doing. When everything is happening and I’m just trying to keep up. When I’m deep in the zone dancing that dance, staying with it, trying not to get in the way, but move closer, now step back, bob and weave, check the edges of the frame, shoot, shoot, shoot… it’s hard to describe the feeling in that moment, but I’ll never tire of it.

Garry Winogrand was once asked about his philosophy of photography. He said, “I photograph to find out what something will look like photographed.”

That’s perfect. If there is a more honest, unpretentious approach to photography I haven’t heard it. Who doesn’t want to see what their favorite person, place or thing looks like photographed? That’s what it is, isn’t it?

Photography is its own reward.

 

Don’t listen to the snobs, the pop-up flash is not an amateur’s tool.

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I think it’s unfortunate that you can still find people out there bad mouthing the built-in or pop-up flash as a feature only “amateurs” use. They think a true “pro” would never waste their time with it. I think that’s snobbish and self defeating. Don’t listen to them.

The pop-up flash is an important and useful tool.

Fill Flash: Portrait in a non-formal portrait setting. Main light coming from window, camera right. One side of face lit, other side shadow. Dial down the pop-up flash to -1.3 EV. I find this puts just the right amount of light in there. Catch light in the eyes. It just fills in, doesn’t overwhelm. ( -1.3 EV worked for me in this case. Do some experimenting and see what works best for you.)

Portrait of John. Fuji X100S. 1/125 sec f 5.6. Built in flash fired at -1.3 (I believe!) Fills in shadow side of face just a touch. Small catch light in eyes.

Portrait of John. Fuji X100S. 1/125 sec f 5.6. Built in flash fired at -1.3 (I believe!)
Fills in shadow side of face just a touch. Small catch light in eyes.

 

Main Flash: Flowers in the shade. Sure, lovely colors. But flip the flash up, dial it down to about -0.3 EV and shoot. All those colors will now pop. More vibrant than without.

Flowers without flash.

Flowers without flash. Fine image. Nice colors.

Flowers with flash.

Flowers with flash. A little more vibrant.

Modified: This is useful for all kinds of flash/strobe photography, so I thought I’d toss it in here for a little extra tip. Using gaffer tape or, as I do, small strips of velcro, affix a 1/4 CTO gel to the flash and you get a more natural color temperature. Not that cold bluish/white color. It’s a slightly warmer tone and is usually very pleasing. I like this for almost everything, but definitely when shooting people.

Amber gel affixed to the pop-up flash of a Nikon D700 using custom cut velcro strips.

Amber gel affixed to the pop-up flash of a Nikon D700 using custom cut velcro strips.

Getting creative: Follow this link to a previous post on how to get an off camera soft-box look using your pop-up flash, a spoon and a white piece of paper (or–in this case–the back of an 8X10 print)!

Skateboard photography with the Nikon D750

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Is the D750 the best all around Nikon ever? Maybe. Just maybe. It is for sure a damn good camera that can do pretty much all I need it to.

I shoot a wide variety of subjects. Landscapes, portraits, action, and much more. And for the last few months I’ve put this fine camera seriously through its paces.

Do I have quibbles? Sure. Nothing’s perfect, and I’ll probably tackle some of that on another day. But for now I want to focus (heh-heh!) on the positives.

It is lightweight, has a deep, comfortable grip, and produces amazing files. But what has stood out the most for me is the remarkably fast and accurate focusing system. I have spent most of my digital life with a D200 and D700, both more than serviceable cameras. But the difference with focusing between them and D750 is stunning.

I’ve been doing a lot of skate photography lately. Much of it at dusk and in the evening under less than ideal lighting conditions. But I’m happy to report the hit and miss ratio has been heavy on the hit side. The focus tracking in continuous mode impresses for sure. I tend to use group area focusing most of the time with action, but I’ve used single focus points before and still usually get the shot.

I’ve been using mostly Nikkor lenses: 35mm f2, 17-35mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8. I will note that these are all older models. There are newer, more advanced version of these lenses that no doubt have better focusing mechanisms. But I regularly nail the shots with these old guys.

A few examples:

Wes Bell at the Kennedy Center Open House. Finding a Line skate park.

Nikkor 17-35mm f2.8. Shot at f4 and 1/40th sec. Shoe-mounted SB800. No gel. Dusk.

finding a line. daryl grier, skater designer for Tout Noir, flying!

Nikkor 35mm f2. Shot at f5.6 and 1/8th sec. Shoe mounted SB800 with 1/2 CTO gel attached. Night.

finding a line. grinding. close up of skateboarder grinding.

Nikkor 17-35mm f2.8. Shot at f8 and 1/25th sec. Shoe-mounted SB800 with 1/2 CTO gel attached. Dusk.

The focusing system on the D750 isn’t as advanced as the D500 or the D5, but man it’s hard to see where it’s lacking! It more than takes care of my needs.

(Rumor has it an upgrade to this 2 ½ year old camera is in the offing — maybe as soon as July!? — so things can only get even better, right?)

*Fingers crossed*

Civil War at the C&O Canal

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This past weekend I met a group of Civil War re-enactors at the Canal. After talking to the men honoring the 7th Pennsylvania Reserves from 1861 I learned a good deal about what drives some to go into Living History representations. Very thoughtful fellows. Hope you enjoy:

Taking on the Billy Goat Trail

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Although hiking the Billy Goat Trail was more of an effort at 52 than I remember it being at 22, I did make it to the end! I’d forgotten what a spectacular hike it is. Definitely going back again soon.

Hope you enjoy this video.