I’m back from teaching a workshop in Bryce and Zion, and a question came up that happens a lot…clipping a specific channel. Many folks use a cumulative histogram when checking exposure, meaning the histogram uses red, blue and green channels to come up with an average result. This works…most of the time. But when a Read More
Tech Tips
Macbook Air
I’m on the road a lot, and packing for a trip turns into an exercise in keeping my weight to a minimum. I think of it as packing for a backpacking trip, every ounce counts even though I won’t be carrying it all on my back. I’ll run down my camera gear in another post, Read More
Topaz Adjust 5
I try a ton of new software as it comes out, either for reviews in articles I write or because something looks really good. Topaz Adjust 5 is better than just good, it is fantastic! This plugin offers a variety of actions and effects, but what I really like is the effect it has on Read More
Yellowstone and a little snow…
Winter in Yellowstone is one of my favorite places. The crowds are gone, the landscape is serene, and snow hangs in the trees. Some years we have average snow levels on this workshop, …and then there was this year. We arrived with scattered snow showers and some sun, and left 6 days later with 3 Read More
Island Time
Sometimes it is good just to turn off the phone and disconnect from WiFi. Mission accomplished. I just returned from St. John in the Virgin Islands, this trip was part vacation and part work. I shot a few stories while I was here, including a really fun surfer portrait that will be in an upcoming Read More
Dealing with the wind.
I’m still cleaning out the dust from my shoot in the desert near Las Vegas. I was shooting with strobes in 30+ mph winds, and using an octabank. I shoot in a lot of windy places, and have developed a few tricks that help dealing with the wind. Give these a try on your next Read More
Updated Pocket Wizard Hypersync Utility
A number of readers have been asking about my experience with the updated Hypersync utility and performance. In earlier posts I recommended setting the tab bar to -1900. This is no longer necessary with the new utility, although you still have this option if you choose Manual Hypersync in the utility. Based on some brief Read More
Elinchrom Rotalux Indirect softbox
I recently was able to try out a new lighting tool, a 59″ deep rotalux octabank. The smaller version, the 39″ deep octabank is one of my favorite softboxes ever. This box has a deep profile and adds just a little more edgy look to the light, somewhere between a softbox and beauty dish. While Read More
outside the box
We all have things we do good as photographers, and things we don’t do so well. I’m on the road for two weeks right now teaching workshops around the fall color. In Ouray right now, the Tetons last week. I was teaching a composition class last week talking about exploring new ideas and techniques, and Read More
High Speed Sync with Ranger…
I have been continuing to use Hypersync and my Rangers to get creative results shooting high speed sync. Sometimes it is about freezing action with fill flash, other times it is using F4 with flash during the day. Since I can use shutter speeds over 1/1000 depending on the camera I’m using, I never have Read More