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Choosing great Locations for your portrait photography can be a daunting task. For years I have been the type of person to drive by an old decrepit barn or house and think to myself “I need to do a shoot there”. More often than not, I never return to the place that would’ve been so great. My advice to you though, is to go ahead and mark the location on paper or a map, and note the direction the “desirable” part faces – that way when you decide to return you have an idea of what time of day should work best.

There are several other things that you should think about…

• Contrast – I’m not talking about dark and light either. You should envision what you are looking for out of your shoot. Are you trying to highlight the soft sweetness of an innocent child, or the glamor of a fashion model? Are you planning to shoot with a low or high aperture? All of these things make a difference. Like the photos below, a sweet innocent child can be highlighted by contrasting with a rustic background. In this case, I mainly shot at a large aperature, with the subject about 50% closer to the background than to me,  so the background would be visible. Many times in a park or green area I will reverse this – and position myself about 50% closer to the subject than the background is to them. This allows a more blurred background, and highlights the colors of trees and grass rather than the busy nature of leaves. For Fashion, sometimes a simple background or the right lines are more important. It all depends on what you dream up.
• Lighting – Possibly the most important deciding factor for on-location shoots. If you don’t have portable lighting gear or at least a couple of speedlights, then you will be best served by choosing a shaded area or even better, shooting on a very overcast day (when light still has direction). If you choose to shoot in sunlight, fill light or reflectors are necessary to make sure shadows don’t get the best of your subjects’ faces.
• Weather – Choosing to shoot outdoors can be extremely rewarding, but challenges you with the possibility of foul weather. Unless you are shooting for hobby, I suggest you ALWAYS have a back-up plan. I’m lucky enough to live in a city with clubs, studios, and nice buildings everywhere so the hard part is having a plan for where to head to when and if the rain starts.

Some of the other things you might need when shooting outdoors:

• Map, Compass, or GPS if you are going off the beaten path.
• Extra batteries for your lights, meters, and gadgets.
• Tripod! No sense in missing low-light or long exposure opportunities because you were too lazy to carry one.
• Micro Fiber Dust Cloth. No sense in shooting with dirty gear!
• Filters and Hood. If you find yourself outside on an overcast day, warming filters are going to be helpful to reduce the blue tint of your photography but a good white card and custom white balance work pretty well. Polarizing filters and a lens hood are truly needed to reduce the glare of the sun and to enhance the colors of your pictures. Color temp can always be corrected in post, remember.

So good luck in your hunt for perfect locations for you photography!

Review of the Zeikos ZE-HC36 Medium Hard Case

I am a professional photographer and perhaps among my biggest concern is finding a case that would not only accommodate all my things but also keep it safe and protected. There are tons of products out in the market that promises to address this concern. However, mind you they are not cheap. They come with a rather expensive price tag. I am not after sporting the trendiest or the most lucrative case. I am content in the thought that I wouldn’t have to worry about breaking my camera or carrying a lot of baggage to hold everything that I need for a photo shoot.

Features

• Heavy duty case
• Customizable, diced foam for easy customization
• 2 removeable dividers
• Locking clasps
• Adjustable, removeable shoulder strap

My Thoughts

The Zeikos ZE-HC36 Medium Hard Case was just the product that I needed. The case actually measures 18 x 13.5 x 6.5 inches and weighs 5.4 lbs without all my things in it. The exterior of the product doesn’t say that it costs less than a nice branded camera case. It comes in chrome, dark grey and light grey which makes it look sleek and classy. Its interior is made up of soft, diced foam that secures all the equipment in place. The interior is also made for easy customization. The sides of the case is made of strong panels that make it durable enough to withstand the bumps and bruises that cannot be overlooked when travelling for a photo shoot. The clasp is very strong and it does not easily get open even if it gets bumped. On the other hand the handle is made of a highly durable plastic that is structured and designed to fit perfectly to the hand. Another thing worth mentioning and something that makes this product seemingly unique is that the lid actually stays upright when opened. This makes things much easier, especially if you are working on a very limited space.

A photographer’s gadgets are quite expensive and frankly you can’t afford to have it broken or damaged because repair would costs as much as buying a new one. This is why we photographers invest in buying a durable and reliable case that will protect our valuable investments. At under $30 on Amazon you have just the right hard case that will not only hold all your things but protect them as well.

Where to get it:

Best Price = Amazon.com

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Finding the right kind of zoom lens for your Nikon SLR is a bewildering chore, what with every enthusiast having different preconceptions about what kind of lens to use to take crystal clear photographs and portraits. It is in this regard that I find the Nikon 24-70mm wide angle zoom lens perfect for any application and shooting environment. It’s a fast, wide-angle to medium Telephoto AF-S zoom lens and is optimized for edge to edge sharpness on both the Nikon DX and LX image sensors. It gives unparalleled high-speed auto-focusing ability with outstanding accuracy and is enabled by Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for a powerful and ultra-quiet operation.

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens Features:

• Lens (elements) 15
• Lens (groups)  11
• Nano Crystal Coat
• Focal Length 28 to 70mm
• Filter size 70mm
• Zoom ratio 2.9x
• Auto/Manual Focus Mode
• Nikon SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for ultra-quiet operation
• Rugged Construction, Dust and Moisture resistant
• Compatible with FX, DX, FX in crop mode and 35mm film

The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 features Nikon’s ED glass and nano crystal coat to further reduce ghost imaging and flare for crystal clear images every time.  Even experts would agree that despite the weight penalty (which is perfectly understandable, but more on that later) the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens gives outstanding speed of focus for sharp, clear images with every photograph taken. It’s the perfect companion for your Nikon SLR and gives absolute clarity on your portraits as it keeps facial features in perspective without any visible sign of distortion. The extra focal range is a plus, too as the added distance between you and the subject would give a more natural and relaxed expression. No need to be inches away from your subjects, with the camera pointing very near the face, which is bothersome and quite irritating at the same time.

As mentioned earlier, because of the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8’s weight, it could be a little cumbersome and tiring to use for long and extended photo sessions. With its 900gram (2 pounds) weight, dropping it on your foot would be a bad idea, but at least it could double as a weapon when the need arises (being chased by a lion? Keep this is mind before you run.) Also, using the 24-70mm f/2.8 on a lightweight camera like the D40 would give it the balance of a leg amputee without prosthetics, so its better to use it on other heavier models instead. This, however, is negated by the fact that this wide angle lens is built to last, with a durable heavy-duty metal construction hence making it reliable. Sure, it costs an arm and a leg and it could take the place of all your primes and promises not to disappoint.

Opteka RC4 Wireless Remote for Canon EOS Review

Overview

The Opteka RC4 is a direct replacement for the Canon RC-1 Remote for Digital SLR cameras.

I can’t seem to remember using a TV without a remote. It’s such a hassle to get up from your comfy couch or bed just to change channels and settings on your TV right? But we’re not talking about TV’s here. Instead, I want to introduce to you a nifty little gadget for your Canon EOS SLR that would enable you to control your camera from a distance. It’s called the Opteka RC-4 and it promises to deliver the same range of controls efficiently at a much lower price than other comparable RF remotes for your Canon EOS.

The great thing about the Opteka RC-4 is the size. As I said earlier, it’s a nifty little gadget and is small enough to get lost in your deep pockets or on your camera bag. And since it operates using radio frequency (hence, wireless) you could operate your Canon EOS at a maximum range of 16 feet, so holiday pictures would always include you for those most precious moments with the mother-in-law and the drunk brother-in-law. The best part is you could be drunk yourself and still be able to take quality pictures with the group, or take photos of picturesque landscapes and rolling hills with the Opteka  RC-4 on your left hand while holding a beer on the other! Can’t you picture the convenience of owning one of these things? It’s brilliant! And like all gadgets we admire the Opteka RC-4 looks cool and sophisticated enough to be paired with your equally cool and sophisticated Canon EOS SLR at almost half the price of other available wireless remotes available on the market.

The range is however limited from 15 to 16 feet maximum, but I can’t think of a photo op where you have to stand more than the indicated range to take pictures with your camera. The remote that features a “through-the-wall” function is just a novelty that would probably wear-off in due time, unless you want to take snapshots or videos of scandals which, ironically, involves you (you didn’t hear it from me, though.) But the Opteka RC-4 does have two shutter functions, one where in you could set the shutter delay for 2 seconds, enough time to put horns on the head of the guy beside you. Overall the Opteka RC-4 does the job that it’s supposed to do and for the price, it’s an extremely logical proposition.

Opteka RS-4 features:

• Wireless camera operation for Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR’s and most film SLR’s
• Allows shutter release function of up to 16 feet
• Instant or 2-second shutter release delay
• Battery Included, battery life up to 2 years or 10,000 exposures (approx.)
• Makes group photos easy

Where to buy Opteka RS-4 Remote

Best Price = Amazon.com

Best Service = B&H Photo

Panasonic Lumix DMC- FH20

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 features:

• 28mm wide angle 8x optical zoom, effective 14.1 megapixels LUMIX DC Vario lens
• Sonic Speed AF
• Fast Start-Up time
• Venus Engine IV, Higher Image Quality with Advanced Signal Processing
• Extended Battery life (approx. 300 shots on a single charge)
• iA Mode(Intelligent AUTO)
• MEGA OIS (optical image stabilizer) Shake Detection
• HD Movie Recording
• Touch Screen feature
• Built-in memory 40MB (expandable to 2GB)

Overview

Everyone seems to be going gaga with Facebook these days, what with the ability to display and share pictures in your fan page. The next time you go on a vacation in that wonderful island paradise that exists only in your dreams, you might want to consider the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 as the ideal travel companion to shoot your various escapades with ease. I have to say that once you upload your bar-fight-in-a- drunken-rage pictures on Facebook your friends would be amazed at the depth and clarity of your swollen, bruised mug. But the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 is not just ideal for the island paradise that you’ve always lusted for, in fact it’s equally adept to be used anytime, anywhere.

Design

It’s relatively slim design makes it easy to store in your pocket, but with its powerful features you’d be a fool to let it linger in your pocket, what with 14.1 megapixels and a 28mm wide-angle lens with 8x optical zoom you’d be taking pictures like a pro in no time. The iA mode (intelligent AUTO) will make sure of this, as the DMC-FH20 automatically adjusts light mode, aperture and ISO settings to every subject or landscape you want to capture. You will actually see the difference in the clarity and quality of your photos, taking time to appreciate the moment that you spent your money on the right product. The 2.7 inch high-resolution LCD with a touch screen feature make viewing potential subjects easier and will automatically adjust brightness levels in 11 steps according to shooting conditions. The screen is also coated with an anti reflective film to minimize glare, so clarity is evident whether shooting under the intense brightness of the outdoors or the dimness of night. It can even record motion images in HD (high-definition) with the pixel mixed readout method enabling bright motion picture recording even in low light settings.

Final Thoughts

All of this comes in a stylish, slim package that gives up nothing in terms of aesthetics. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20’s glossy paint job is an eye-catcher and is available in a variety of colors (candy apple red, black, silver and violet) that would suit any lifestyle or gender issues for that matter. The DMC-FH20 is Windows 7 ready right out of the box, and comes with PHOTOfunSTUDIO version 5.0 software to make uploading and editing photos (as well as videos) easy breezy. Mac users could take comfort in the fact that the DMC-FH20 works with iPhoto as well.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 is intended for sophisticated digital camera users who want all the best features in a digital camera in a light, slim package that looks techno-cool as well. Now, time to ponder on my next island getaway..

Where to Buy:

Best Price – Amazon

Best Service – B&H Photo

OTHER AVAILABLE LUMIX FH20 COLORS

Related Videos:

From the Development panel, adjust to the folowing values on any properly exposed photo:

Clarity to 100

Vibrance to 100

Fill Light to 100

Contrast to 100

Noise reduction (both color and luminance to 100)

Then adjust Saturation down to acceptable color levels

Adjust exposure with Brightness slider

Pull Blacks slider up to correct level

Set as a preset that will give you a perfect starting point

NOTE: THIS WILL NOT WORK WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN A FULL-RES RAW FILE