Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Another scam store: ktpshop
Do not believe the prices shown in http://ktpshop.com. This shop is another one in the list of scam stores!
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Lee filters
I am pretty happy with the Lee filters and gels. I use two types of them.
2. Flash gels. I use them to modify/match the color temperature of the flashes. This is the basic list of gels one should have:
It is possible to order a very nice set from Flash Gels (UK).
1. The Lee filter holder system, together with neutral density filters. I do have a foundation kit with a 77m adapter ring and the 0.3 and 0.6 GND (graduated neutral density) filters. They work pretty nice!
2. Flash gels. I use them to modify/match the color temperature of the flashes. This is the basic list of gels one should have:
| CTO - Full Colour Temperature Orange | Lee 204 |
| ½ CTO - Half Colour Temperature Orange | Lee 205 |
| ¼ CTO - Quarter Colour Temperature Orange | Lee 206 |
| CTB - Full Colour Temperature Blue | Lee 201 |
| ½ CTB - Half Colour Temperature Blue | Lee 202 |
| ¼ CTB - Quarter Colour Temperature Blue | Lee 203 |
| Plus Green (aka Window Green) | Lee 244 |
| ½ Plus Green | Lee 245 |
| ¼ Plus Green | Lee 246 |
| .3 ND - 1 stop neutral density | Lee 209 |
It is possible to order a very nice set from Flash Gels (UK).
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Portable flashes
Sometimes it is very convenient to carry our flashes out of the studio and shoot outdoors. The problem is that such devices are not very very cheap. Here is a list of portable flashes devices that I have been able to find around and that are sold at affordable prices.
- Lencarta Safari 600. A review can be found here.
- Godox EX series. You can find it on ebay in other stores. Linkdelight, Adplo, eBay search for "ex400", eBay search for "ex600".
- Jinbei RD-400, RD-600 and RD-1200. Can be purchased here.
- Quantum R+ Dual Power 600. Can be bought here.
An interesting comparison can be found here. If the original spreadsheet is no longer available, I will keep my personal copy here. There is also valuable info provided by the flickr strobist community. You can follow the discussion on flickr about these and some other devices.
Last, but not least, you can read an exhaustive article at Photo.net (thanks to my friend Gabriel for showing me the link).
Last, but not least, you can read an exhaustive article at Photo.net (thanks to my friend Gabriel for showing me the link).
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
www.gotoozoo.com, just another scam store
Another scam shop that you should try to avoid
http://www.gotoozoo.com
Don't buy there or you will loose your money!
In Spanish:
Ni se os ocurra comprar en http://www.gotoozoo.com. ¡Es una estafa anunciada en google!
http://www.gotoozoo.com
Don't buy there or you will loose your money!
In Spanish:
Ni se os ocurra comprar en http://www.gotoozoo.com. ¡Es una estafa anunciada en google!
Monday, 18 January 2010
Photography, architecture and computer graphics.
Watch this video first...
The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.
And then this other one...
Compositing Breakdown (T&S) from Alex Roman on Vimeo.
Friday, 11 December 2009
Kelby training especial offer
Scott Kelby is one of the Photoshop Gurus (if not THE Photoshop Guru) and does also offer an excellent on-line training service. Well, he has anounced in his blog that a whole year of access to Kelby Training costs 149$ instead of 199$. Taking into account the high value of the euro, I am thinking seriously to pay the fee and subscribe.
Just to let you know...
Sunday, 6 December 2009
How to hang prints
Scott Kelby credited a great idea about how to hang unframed and unmounted photos. Ikea has a rail system + clips that do the job.
This is a photo of the rail.
This is a photo of the clip set...
This is a photo of the rail.
This is a photo of the clip set...
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Friday, 4 December 2009
Vision mongers
My freshly printed copy of Vision Mongers, by David duChemin just arrived. I started to read it and must say that it is a pure joy to travel through its pages...
David has a very special way of saying things with sense and sensibility. I recommend his book fully!
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Friday, 27 November 2009
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
TTL flash trigger/receiver for Nikon
It is not a Pocket Wizard but an ebay flash trigger/receiver. Let's see what are the comments about it, but the thing looks pretty interesting.
Here is the link to the ebay store and here the link to the company's web.
Here is the link to the ebay store and here the link to the company's web.
It's main characteristics are:
1. TR-331 is using FSK 2.4GHz frequency channel, 15 specific channels .
2. Operating distance range is 65M or above.
3. The display is protected by coating; it’s not easy to get scratch.
4. LCD is showing “Channel”, “Battery life” and “Function mode”.
5. Multi-control is available.
6. Through the camera to send the data
7. Compatible with all Nikon DSLR cameras.
8. Compatible with Nikon SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400 flash gun.
9. Support all of the shutter speed, up to 1/8000 sec.
10. Available to use on the studio light through PC socket.
11. Transmitter stand-by time: 1000 hours above (CR2 lithium battery)
12. Receiver stand-by time: 400 hours above (CR2 lithium battery)
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Valuable thoughts
These words made me think for a while... Hope you enjoy them in the same way I did!
What Every Aspiring Photographer Should Know (by Cheryl Jacobs from Photodino)
These are my thoughts, nothing more and nothing less.
I get asked all the time, during workshops, in e-mails, in private messages, what words of wisdom I would give to a new and aspiring photographer. Here’s my answer.
- Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don’t look outward for your style; look inward.
- Know your stuff. Luck is a nice thing, but a terrifying thing to rely on. It’s like money; you only have it when you don’t need it.
- Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a concensus.
- Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don’t fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you’re stressed and anxious.
- Learn to say “I’m a photographer” out loud with a straight face. If you can’t say it and believe it, you can’t expect anyone else to, either.
- You cannot specialize in everything.
- You don’t have to go into business just because people tell you you should! And you don’t have to be full time and making an executive income to be successful. If you decide you want to be in business, set your limits before you begin.
- Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don’t, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that’s tough.
- Accept critique, but don’t apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn’t not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent.
- Leave room for yourself to grow and evolve. It may seem like a good idea to call your business “Precious Chubby Tootsies”….but what happens when you decide you love to photograph seniors? Or boudoir?
- Remember that if your work looks like everyone else’s, there’s no reason for a client to book you instead of someone else. Unless you’re cheaper. And nobody wants to be known as “the cheaper photographer”.
- Gimmicks and merchandise will come and go, but honest photography is never outdated.
- It’s easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you’ve got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don’t spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you’ve outgrown your current equipment and you’re being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.
- Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.
- Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.
- Never compare your journey with someone else’s. It’s a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never “arrive”. No one ever does.
- Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacency.
- CJ
What Every Aspiring Photographer Should Know (by Cheryl Jacobs from Photodino)
These are my thoughts, nothing more and nothing less.
I get asked all the time, during workshops, in e-mails, in private messages, what words of wisdom I would give to a new and aspiring photographer. Here’s my answer.
- Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don’t look outward for your style; look inward.
- Know your stuff. Luck is a nice thing, but a terrifying thing to rely on. It’s like money; you only have it when you don’t need it.
- Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a concensus.
- Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don’t fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you’re stressed and anxious.
- Learn to say “I’m a photographer” out loud with a straight face. If you can’t say it and believe it, you can’t expect anyone else to, either.
- You cannot specialize in everything.
- You don’t have to go into business just because people tell you you should! And you don’t have to be full time and making an executive income to be successful. If you decide you want to be in business, set your limits before you begin.
- Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don’t, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that’s tough.
- Accept critique, but don’t apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn’t not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent.
- Leave room for yourself to grow and evolve. It may seem like a good idea to call your business “Precious Chubby Tootsies”….but what happens when you decide you love to photograph seniors? Or boudoir?
- Remember that if your work looks like everyone else’s, there’s no reason for a client to book you instead of someone else. Unless you’re cheaper. And nobody wants to be known as “the cheaper photographer”.
- Gimmicks and merchandise will come and go, but honest photography is never outdated.
- It’s easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you’ve got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don’t spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you’ve outgrown your current equipment and you’re being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.
- Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.
- Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.
- Never compare your journey with someone else’s. It’s a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never “arrive”. No one ever does.
- Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacency.
- CJ
Monday, 26 October 2009
Digital boo? Bah!
Well, another incredible shop. A D700 for just 1599$? Bank transfer to a Chinese account as the unique payment method? Do you believe it? Dont even try. Digital boo is just another scam photo shop that make easy money with dreamers!
Ni se os ocurra comprar en digital boo. Es una tienda fraudulenta en la que perderéis hasta el último céntimo.
Ni se os ocurra comprar en digital boo. Es una tienda fraudulenta en la que perderéis hasta el último céntimo.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Lightroom 3 beta
La nueva versión beta del Lightroom 3 ya está disponible para su descarga. Parece que los de Adobe han hecho caso de los múltiples comentarios de usuarios y han incorporado nuevas e interesantes prestaciones al software:
- Nueva arquitectura de procesos con rendimiento mejorado, pensada para las, cada vez más grandes, colecciones de imágenes.
- Nuevo sistema de reducción de ruido que mejora el proceso de fotos con ISOs altas.
- Herramienta de marca de agua para personalizar y proteger fácilmente tus imágenes
- Creación de pases de diapositivas ligeros con audio — diseñados para dar mas flexibilidad e impacto a la manera de enseñar tus imágenes, ahora se pueden guardar y exportar estas presentaciones como vídeo incluyendo audio.
- Personalización máxima a la hora de crear pack de impresión personalizados Así las plantillas de impresión podrán ser todas tuyas
- Herramienta de simulación de grano en las fotografías para mejorar las imágenes y hacerlas todo “ruidosas” (de grano bonito :P ) que uno quiera
- Nueva herramienta de importación diseñada para que el proceso sea más ágil y fácil
- Mayor cantidad de opciones a la hora de exportar las fotografías así podrás publicar tus fotos online en diferentes sitios directamente desde lightroom 3 (puede requerir de plugins de terceros)
Si todo es cierto, el nuevo Lightroom va a ser claramente superior al actual.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Canon EOS 1D MkIV
Vincent Laforet had the chance to test a prototype of the new EOS 1D MkIV and the results are truly impressive. According to him, there is NO VISIBLE noise on the LCD at ISO 6400. The new Canon body with 24 MP, a 1.3 crop factor sensor, 10 fps for stills, a new AF system and 1080p video can explore the darkness much better than the human eye! If half of what Vincent says is true (and I have no doubt, he's a great professional), we might be witnessing the re-invention of photography!
It seems that Nikon will have to beat a quite strong competitor. Releasing re-furbished bodys like the D300s, D3s (and maybe D700s) with 720p video doesn't seem to be a big thing!Come on, have a look at Canon and do something spectacular!
It seems that Nikon will have to beat a quite strong competitor. Releasing re-furbished bodys like the D300s, D3s (and maybe D700s) with 720p video doesn't seem to be a big thing!Come on, have a look at Canon and do something spectacular!
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Do you need a new camera? Just tell her!
I do follow What the Duck cartoons since some months. Aaron Johnson knows about us, the photography freaks, and expresses it in a fantastically funny way!
This one will show you how to convince her about your needs of a new camera...
¿Qué podemos esperar de Nikon la semana que viene?
Según Nikon Rumors, la semana que viene serán anunciados los siguientes productos:
- Nikon D3s
* ISO 200-12800
* Nuevo modo ISO HI-3 a 102400 ISO
* Sensor FX de 12.1 mp
* Modo D-movie con 24 fps/1080p
* Nuevos modos crop 1.2x o 1.3x
* Velocidad de 14fps
- Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.4.
- Un nuevo Nikon AF-S 85mm.
- Nikon AF-S 100-500mm f/4-5.6 IF-ED VR lens. Puede que solo asistamos a su anuncio.
- Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR. Baja probabilidad
Lo que cada vez parece más claro es que no habrá ni una D700x ni una D700s.
A ver qué sucede...
- Nikon D3s
* ISO 200-12800
* Nuevo modo ISO HI-3 a 102400 ISO
* Sensor FX de 12.1 mp
* Modo D-movie con 24 fps/1080p
* Nuevos modos crop 1.2x o 1.3x
* Velocidad de 14fps
- Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.4.
- Un nuevo Nikon AF-S 85mm.
- Nikon AF-S 100-500mm f/4-5.6 IF-ED VR lens. Puede que solo asistamos a su anuncio.
- Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR. Baja probabilidad
Lo que cada vez parece más claro es que no habrá ni una D700x ni una D700s.
A ver qué sucede...
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