If you haven’t heard, Nik software (owned by Google) is now free! I have used Nik for years, and I especially like Nik Silver Efex. It is stunning that the software is free, and this includes the whole package with programs like Color Efex, HDR Efex Pro, Viveza and Dfine among others. This software will Read More
Blog
Why use a Nikon 35mm 1.4?
I’m getting ready to head to Patagonia soon, and on this trip I am doing something a little different. Instead of taking a few zooms, I’m taking a lot of prime fixed focal length lenses. Why you ask? My biggest reason is it forces me to ‘zoom my feet’, not zoom my lens. Don’t get Read More
Northern Lights post processing
I just returned from helping lead an incredible trip with AlaskaPhotoGraphics in the arctic of Alaska. Patrick and I met over 20 years ago guiding photo workshops in Alaska, and it was great to finally get to teach together again. Patrick has lived in Fairbanks for 30 years, and has shot aurora longer than most. Read More
Elinchrom Quadra HS heads
Elinchrom has been very busy developing some amazing new flash equipment lately. First came the announcement of the ELB 400, an updated version to the popular Quadra. This pack improved overall performance and offered a user-friendly OLED display to change settings. Then came the new EL-Skyport Plus HS. This transmitter was revolutionary to my work. Read More
Elinchrom ELB400 cliffside wedding video
Happy Friday to everyone, hope you have great photography plans for this weekend! If you are looking for a step up from a speedlight, then you should watch this video and check out the amazing Elinchrom ELB400s. Last fall I did a shoot for Elinchrom, something way outside the norm for me…photographing a wedding. But Read More
PortraitPro version 15
I’ve talked about Portrait Pro in the past. If you want a quick retouch to a portrait, this software did a nice job. Some photographers thought the default was a little too much. But you still got good results in minutes. With version 15, you get even better results in a few seconds. This version Read More
AE-L/AF-L button; assigning commander mode
I just returned from Miami teaching a lighting class with Dave Tejada for the Mentor Series. We had a blast; South Beach is always a fun place to photograph people. This class focused on using speedlights, and using flash off-camera. One way to shoot flash off-camera is using a SU800 transmitter. Another way is turning Read More
Sensor Gel Stick
I just shot a 300 frame time-lapse and could hardly wait to create a movie out the stills. Imagine my disappointment when I watched the rendered video for the first time, and saw multiple dust spots in the final video. Ugg! Dust just seems to creep into my camera no matter how hard I try Read More
My Ebooks are here!
Between workshops, assignments and speaking engagements, I’ve been busy working on ebooks the last year. And I’m happy to announce they are here! My first two ebooks are on topics I teach regularly on workshops, composition and lighting. These books are PDF format with terrific layout thanks to my friend Amber Jai Nowell. As anyone Read More
Stabilizing GoPro shots; Lanparte HHG-01 gimbal
One of the most rewarding, and frustrating, video clips to shoot is the moving shot. If you shoot 35mm or larger cameras like the Red, stabilizing a moving shot will require a large gimbal or steadycam rig. These are expensive, heavy, and take awhile to master. But the reward is getting incredible footage using 35mm Read More