How & When a Monopod Can be Used to Take Sharper Photos |  |
- How & When a Monopod Can be Used to Take Sharper Photos
- Photographer Documents His Beloved Wife’s Heartbreaking Battle with Cancer
- The Basics of On-Camera Strobes for Photography Lighting
| How & When a Monopod Can be Used to Take Sharper Photos Posted: 26 Oct 2013 08:32 PM PDT Here’s a photo tip you aren’t likely to find anywhere else… how to use a monopod to get better photographs. A monopod (like the tripod) is an essential piece of camera gear.  “Manfrotto 561BHDV Monopod” captured by Dave Dugdale We all know that using a tripod will give us cleaner, sharper photos. That’s a given. But lugging around a tripod can often be a major challenge–not to mention there will be a lot of times when it is impossible to use one. There just isn’t room. So, most photographers (at least the ones who are serious enough to want good photos) end up getting a monopod and are greatly disappointed. Generally, it ends up in a closet somewhere never to be seen again. If you didn’t know, a monopod has the same head and so on as a tripod, but it only has one leg. This design makes it lighter and easier to carry around. It can even be used as a walking stick if you’re trekking through the wild.  “Agapanthus Buds Macro” captured by Donald Windley using a Vivitar monopod But, after one or two uses, most of us come to the realization that it isn’t any steadier than shooting handheld. In fact, with only one leg, it wobbles around so much that it is usually WORSE than shooting handheld. So we toss it in our unused camera gear graveyard and never touch it again. Big mistake! The monopod is every bit as stable as a tripod; it’s just that few of us know how to properly use it. We use it as a stick with a camera on top. Instead, we should use it like a tripod.  “Tiger at Smithsonian National Zoo” captured by Jason Pier using a monopod How to Use a Monopod
This photo tip can help you rescue your monopod from the closet and turn it into one of your most useful accessories. Since it is easier and lighter to carry than a tripod, you’ll actually use it and create far better photography. For more information, check out the resource box! About the Author: Go to full article: How & When a Monopod Can be Used to Take Sharper Photos |
| Photographer Documents His Beloved Wife’s Heartbreaking Battle with Cancer Posted: 26 Oct 2013 01:55 PM PDT I guess this is one of those posts where I’m supposed to tout the power of photography, to congratulate myself and all of you for taking part in an art form whose immediacy can sometimes transcend the times and places it records. But, honestly, I don’t want you to think about photography, or art, or tech specs, or anything else that inconsequential, when you look at these photos. Just look at the photos; let them speak for themselves (for those of you reading this by email, the photo album can be seen here): I doubt that there’s even one person reading this right now who hasn’t been affected by cancer, either through their own diagnosis or a loved one’s. We’ve all seen images of the ravaged bodies left in the disease’s wake, but it’s tough to capture the full human scope—from patient to family—of cancer. This, to me, is what makes Angelo Merendino’s photos so remarkable. It puts a human face in the final stages of his wife Jennifer’s life—not just her face, but Angelo’s, and their family, and of friends, and of love so palpable it practically jumps off the screen and kisses you on the lips before breaking your heart into tiny pieces. Check out Angelo’s website for for more information on the project, and to see where the photos are currently on exhibition. A portion of the sales of these photos will be donated to The Love You Share, a non-profit Angelo started to honor Jennifer’s memory and provide financial assistance to cancer patients in need while they are receiving treatment. Photography’s fun and all, but this is important. Go to full article: Photographer Documents His Beloved Wife’s Heartbreaking Battle with Cancer |
| The Basics of On-Camera Strobes for Photography Lighting Posted: 26 Oct 2013 11:24 AM PDT I’m using the term “on-camera” to make a distinction between portable strobes and the type of lights used primarily indoors that require a wall plug for electricity and have built-in modeling lights. I hesitate to call them “portable”, because I can guarantee that if you get a set of studio flashes or monolights, the second thing you’ll want to do with them is start using them outside. Good photographers wait for the light, great photographers command it. To keep this focused, I’m going to stick with on-camera strobes. A single strobe on the hot shoe of your camera can be surprisingly useful. Some photographers prefer to mount their portable strobe on a bracket, but that practice is being utilized less often these days. In the old days, there was no direct communication between the camera and the strobe. Today the camera and strobe are constantly communicating to cut down on glare and reflections and to deliver soft, even lighting.  “Lighting Control” captured by Ricardo Galvão (Click image to see more from Galvão) The great thing about a good on-camera strobe is you can still put it in a softbox or umbrella and use it indoors. You’ll have to work with the lighting closer to your subject. With few exceptions, a battery-powered strobe simply isn’t going to be able to match plug-in power.  “Abyss” captured by Anthony C. and lit with a Nikon SB-910 (Click image to see more from Anthony) Brand Name ProductsAt the top of the line are name brand products like the Canon 680EX-RT ($499), the replacement for the 580 EX II, and the Nikon SB-910 ($559). These units are eye-poppingly expensive, but they cost a lot for a good reason, and that reason is they deliver reliable light and help to produce excellent shots. There’s no fear that when you push the button, the strobe won’t fire. The communication between the camera, lens, and strobe makes for amazing images. There’s another level above the name brand strobes, with models like the Quantum Qflash, which are basically battery-powered studio flashes. They are wonderful lights but overpriced, in my opinion. Second Tier StrobesBoth of the big name brands in camera equipment also offer slightly less powerful models, such as the Canon 430EX II ($259) and the Nikon SB-700 ($326). You are sacrificing some power but still getting a light that communicates with the camera and lens to create near-perfect lighting.  “Droplet Tryouts III” captured by Endemoniada and lit with a Canon 430EX II (Click image to see more from Endemoniada) Third Party StrobesYongnuo is quickly becoming the biggest name in third party on-camera strobes that have some compatibility with Canon’s and Nikon’s electronic metering. Yongnuo had some problems related to capacitors in 2011 and 2012 that they seem to have cleared up. All the same, it’s wise to order them from a retailer with a generous return policy in case you get a clunker. The Yongnuo YN-565EX ($159) claims to support Canon’s and Nikon’s electronic metering systems, but I can tell you from experience that it is not always a steady relationship. All the same, I’ve shot paid jobs with Yongnuo products and have had excellent results. I also have several backup flashes I can bring along in case something goes wrong.  “Smoking” captured by Alan / Image Munky and lit with a Yongnuo YN-565EX (Click image to see more from Alan) Third party strobes are fine for those just starting out or pros who have enough backup equipment around to make a substitution if a piece of equipment goes off the rails. About the Author: Go to full article: The Basics of On-Camera Strobes for Photography Lighting |
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