Dale Hogan Photography Blog
Recently we had a blast working our magic on an old-school hollywood style shoot. It was really nice to focus on some black & white images for a change. It’s such a beautiful medium and I often miss working with it. This young lady is was the star of our shoot and did a fantastic job. Enjoy!
On Saturday, July 24, 2010, the whole world will be walking again with Scott Kelby, president of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and #1 bestselling computer and technology book author, in the Third Annual Worldwide Photo Walk™.
Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photo Walk is the world’s largest global social photography event in the history of photography itself. It takes place on the same day around the world where photographers of all walks of life and skill levels gather together, usually in downtown areas to socialize, learn new tips from each other, and explore their corner of the world through photography.
“In 2008, we had 241 walks,” said Scott Kelby, founder of NAPP, editor-in-chief of Photoshop User magazine, and president of Kelby Media Group. “Last year, we had over 900 walks with over 32,000 photographers participating. We did the math… your average photographer will take upwards of 300 photos during a photo walk. That means that nearly 10 million pictures were taken in that one single day that may never had happened otherwise. I think that’s pretty cool and we all can’t wait to see what happens this year.”
There is no fee to participate but pre-registration is required. Just go to the Worldwide Photo Walk site, find a walk near you, and join in on the fun. If there is no Photo Walk in your area feel free to register to lead a walk of your own.
Anyone can participate too. All you need is a camera. It doesn’t even matter what kind of camera either. People have showed up with disposables in the past, had a blast, and left with a new appreciation for photography.
What a blast! This is one of my all time favourite clients. It’s true! What you don’t know, is that Debbie is my big sister. Yup, I’m the baby of the family and she’s been looking out for me for years. Although, I think she still harbours a little bitterness toward me from when I was a baby. As it turns out, the very first time she held me I peed on her. OK, OK, in her face. My bad.
More than a few years have passed since my early peeing days. I don’t get nearly enough opportunity to spend with my big sis, as a good portion of Canada separates us. Thankfully she did get back recently and we had a blast doing a shoot together. I think she looks awesome! Especially for her age. :~)
Love you Deb. Please don’t kill me in my sleep. :~)
Ever hand your camera to someone and have them make mention of the weight? Grab a DSLR and place a 70 – 200mm f2.8 lens on the body. It’s a combination with some substance. Do you take pause or perhaps get a little picky about who’s hands your digital baby gets placed in? I’m certainly selective about who handles my camera. I’d never think of placing it in the hands of someone to weak to hold it. How about you?
What would you say if I told you, you might be doing that almost daily? Imagine placing your camera and lens combination, in the hands of someone who can barely hold it. Now walk away. See yourself standing there, waiting for the point of fatigue, when it all comes tumbling down. See it hitting the floor and the lens mounts on both the camera body and lens, being ripped off. I know, it’s a horrible thought. This week that happened a friend of mine. Both the camera and the lens were seriously damaged. However, it was not at the hands of a child, elderly woman or any other mammal that this calamity occurred.
Who did it? Her tripod head. One of the joints in the head let go. The head flopped over. The footplate popped out of the head and the camera body and lens hit the floor. The mounts on both the body and the lens were seriously damaged.
Placing your camera on a tripod is a little akin to leaving your child with a babysitter. You want to make sure that they are equipped for the task. When it comes time to buy a tripod and tripod head you need to do the same. Make sure your tripod system is equipped for the task. Each camera and lens combination is different and you need to know your gear. So what do you look for. Well, there are lots of considerations when buying a tripod system. We’re only going to deal with keeping your gear safe.
First things first. A tripod system consists of two parts. The tripod and the head. Both need to be appropriately sized for your needs. Other factors (which I am purposefully avoiding) like head type and construction materials also play an important role in your choice.
What I want to focus on is the area circled in red below. Capacity, or weight rating. What will this combination of tripod and head support? This is key information. You need to pay close attention and buy the one for your needs.
All too often the price tag is the main criteria for a search. We do this to “save” money. When you are sending your out of warranty camera off to have the mount repaired, we’ll see how you feel about your savings. Ouch!
So, along with your other criteria, price, head type, weight, etc. make sure you pay attention to the capacity rating for both the head and the tripod. Think through your lens and body combinations and figure out your heaviest setup. What about that big telephoto on your wish list? Will that work with the system you’re putting together? Show up prepared to shop with your homework done. Know the actual weights of your heaviest gear combination and buy with a little buffer.
For those of you who are saying, “Who cares. I’ve been using this setup for years with no problems.” Things wear out. Metal fatigue, wear and tear and Murphy’s law are at work against you. Take a moment, and look over the specs for your tripod system and camera/lens combinations. It’s a very little effort and small price to pay to ensure the safety and long service life of your digital baby. Choose the right babysitter.
Last night, I listened as my daughter spoke to her Great-Grandpa on the phone. She called to share with him the mark she received on a school project. The assignment included information about her Great-Grandfather’s time as a soldier during WWII. At one point she paused and said, “Tomorrow is Remembrance Day Grandpa; I want you to know that I remember”.
Our freedom was not free. Today, I remember. Thank you Grandpa.
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