Going Lighter, Faster, Further

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Can the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II replace my Sony a7Rii and the panasonic GH4? I talk about the potential and possibilities of leaving behind my GH4 and A7RII - It might be grass is greener on the other side or the sheep are lighter or something but it is very appealing to me to go lighter and simpler with my gear.Watch - Ditching Sony Full Frame for Micro 4/3rdshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgOT5C99v48

Gear List  -

Current Gear:Sony a7Rii - https://bhpho.to/2fyeCr6Canon 24-70 f/2.8 - https://bhpho.to/2fybxqUCanon 70-200 f/2.8 - https://bhpho.to/2gCcC0PSigma 50mm f/1.4 - https://bhpho.to/2gt0DzqPanasonic GH4 -https://bhpho.to/2gS742HPanasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 -https://bhpho.to/2fMXfBtTripod MeFoto Roadtrip Carbon Fiber - https://bhpho.to/2g1VCxeNew Gear ? Micro 4/3rds GearOlympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II - https://bhpho.to/2gS26TtOlympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 - https://bhpho.to/2gFqiFGOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 - https://bhpho.to/2g1NbC7Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 Lens - https://bhpho.to/2gS6d26Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO Lens - https://bhpho.to/2gfDtiEVenus Optics Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D - https://bhpho.to/2gtCyc2Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 Lens - https://bhpho.to/2gSsJYF Follow me on Instagram

Cyber Monday Camera Deals 2016

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Black Friday 2017 Deal List Live - Photorec.tv/BF2017

Cyber Monday 2016 (updated hourly) we will post all current Cyber Monday Camera, lens, photography and accessories like tripods, SD cards and more below. Follow me on Instagram for posts on the best deals!For the Month of November, I am offering my Lightroom for Beginners video series at 25% Off . Over 6+ hours of Video, 30+ presets and much more.  Learn More.completeseries01-09photo travel with McKay Photography Academy

The BEST Gift for YOU or the photographer in your life - An Amazing Travel Experience DISCOUNTED!

Check out Amazon and B&H for the best photo deals you can find!

Amazon Cyber MondayBH Cyber Monday

Deals

screenshot-2016-11-27-22-14-44NOW!! 3DR Robotics with Gimbal and spare battery $349.95

Camera Rebates

Canon Sale Nikon Sale Sony Sale

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BH Pro Audio BH Lens Rebates

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Instagram Winner – Thankful

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 Being that in the US it's Thanksgiving this week it was fitting for a Thankful Instagram Challenge. With the holiday I know everyone is tied up so thank you to those who entered, you did great as always. Glad to see some new faces enter this week and I hope you continue the weekly challenges.As it’s getting a bit colder out for us in the Northern United States (35F in Michigan atm) it’s a good chance to shoot indoors. Something a lot of people discount is the chance to shoot in their own home. Whether that means family portraits, pets, tabletop photography, interior photography, or something out of the box it's up to you for next week's Instagram challenge #PRTV_indoors.To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_indoors. Find all the past challenges, winners, and a schedule on the PRTV Instagram Challenges page.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby and Roy's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNC8S5dgMW7/Being a holiday, Toby and I have picked one winner this week for the thankful challenge. Trelina has a great shot of her daughters and a caption to fit the holiday spirit. Not to mention It’s good lighting with a fitting pose that works well for the photo. 

Instagram Winners – Golden Hour

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The Golden Hour Instagram Challenge was a chance to shoot during the best time of the day. A callback from Toby’s Time of Day & Quality of Light video. Great landscapes and amazing portraits were something special this week and came out great with that golden light.You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Instagram challenge #PRTV_thankful. Here in the US it’s Turkey Time; family, food, friends, and the fall weather makes it a good time to reflect on what you're thankful for in your life. So with the holidays in spirit we want you to think a bit out of the box and post what you're thankful for this year. To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_thankful.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKy3xO0glMZ/Fantastic shot - love that you choose to capture these horses backlit - the warm sun perfectly outlines their bodies, catching all that hair.

Toby's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BH3uMYcgNuH/The warm tones, the sharp glass - it is all a lovely contrast and capture.https://www.instagram.com/p/BBIDZi0NgKQ/Love the leading line of the waves, the misty/haze of the distance and everything is bathed in warm light.

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BH3uMYcgNuH/Aidan’s shot focuses on quality of light with a nice golden bokeh from the light hitting the leaves in the background. The soft lighting makes the glass exposed well and focuses on the sand grains falling. Nice shot!

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BM9aB5ahs1L/Golden hour is the best chance to shoot portraits in soft warm light without faking the shot or using a lightsource. Shooting under a overhang made for a nice touch as you can control the light and it give the background a nice repeating pattern.https://www.instagram.com/p/BBIDZi0NgKQ/Joe’s landscape nails golden hour on it’s head freezing the action with a nice warm glow to the shot. Cutting off the sun partially and catching the wave coming in made for nice touches to a great photo.

Sony a6500 Sample Images / Early Review

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BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: Sony a6300 - $998 with a $100 B&H Photo Gift Card | More Black Friday DealsI spent the last few days shoot with the Sony a6500 -  Also the Sony RX 100 Mark V and the a99 Mark II - more on those cameras soon.  The a6500 is what I want to share more about.   And a quick reminder that I think the a6000/a6300 are awesome cameras - the a6300 low light performance is fantastic and it was the only camera I took to Moab, Utah last April - leaving my heavier full frame camera at home - I had no regrets.   See my original review of the Sony a6300 and my a6300 shooting tips video.https://youtu.be/l-227X1gA_kA few of my favorite Sony a6300 shots from the last yearhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BKtTD4IjvVn/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BKRsUsJj73O/https://www.instagram.com/p/BIXaKc4Degq/ 

A6500 Review -

Remember the a6500 is NOT being positioned as a replacement for the a6300- rather a higher model that offers several advantages over the earlier model.

Advantages of the a6500 over the a6300

  • Stabilization! The sensor in the a6500 is now stabilized like the a7Sii, A7Rii and the new a99ii - this means every lens you attach, even old legacy lenses via adapters, are stabilized. Good for slower shutter speed shooting when using a handheld video or not using a tripod. In my testing, the difference is noticeable and the stabilization is useful.
  • Faster and more responsive. Deeper buffer with internal changes means the a6500 can capture 107 RAW images at 11FPS. The a6300 was limited to just 21 RAWS. And, you can now start to preview images as they are writing to the card. The a6500 also provides an indication of where it is in the writing process with a little meter in the top left corner of the screen. The a6300 does not provide this and, at times, it feels very slow to clear and be ready for any action again. In two days of shooting fast action with the a6500, I found very few frustrating slowdowns. It is a much more responsive camera.
  • The a6500 offers a touchscreen. Unfortunately, it takes some getting used to and is still not at the level of the excellent touchscreen you find on a Canon or the Panasonic GH4 . However, you can use it to touch to focus and, somewhat similar to the Nikon D5500, you can put your eye to the viewfinder and slide your finger around on the touchscreen to change the focus point - this feels a little loose and it wasn't until I found several menu settings that let you adjust this control that I started to understand exactly how it worked. It still isn't great but, better than nothing. Touchscreen does not work for menu navigation or image playback.
  • Slightly deeper grip and an additional customizable button. It does feel a little nicer in hand, especially with longer lenses and I appreciate the VERY large amount of customizability these small cameras offer.
  • A redesigned menu - it is now better organized and colorful :)

Advantages of the a6300 over the a6500

  • Cheaper - a6300 Body Only at B&H Photo $998.00 | a6500 Body Only at B&H Photo $1398.00
    • $400 difference for a more responsive camera, stabilization and a fiddly touchscreen- Worth it to you?
  • Battery life - The touchscreen and the image stabilization do drawn additional power and you get a little less time out of each battery with the a6500.

Clearly the a6500 has advantages over the a6300 - but I do think those advantages apply to fairly narrow audience and most photographers would be better saving money on the a6300 or putting those savings toward a nice prime lens that will get you some awesome results.Support this site - Buy the Sony a6500 from B&H PhotoOr Buy the Sony a6300 and the Sigma 30mm f/1.4  (see my list of recommended Wide angle lenses including sony options)

Sample Images from the Sony a6500

all JPEGS straight out of camera except where noted.

Instagram Winners – Freeze Motion

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Having a technical challenge with Freeze Motion got you going for higher shutter speeds to really lock that motion in place. It's a handy skill to have so you can switch when needed to catch subjects moving a lot faster than your average or just freezing a moment. Like always we had a great assortment from wildlife to portraits and planes.You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Instagram challenge #PRTV_goldenhr. Get out early or later in the day for that perfect soft and warm golden hour light. Watch Toby’s Time of Day & Quality of Light video for the best tips to get your golden hour photos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXEaFkgIqYo To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_goldenhr.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFiElF_tDbt/I love this shot, it's pin sharp tip to tip. You captured the motion really nicely and I love this shot. Compared to Roy the green is very green but it's still a natural looking shot.

Toby's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJteip8DyY5/It's a bit messy, grainy, and oversaturated for my taste but holey moley you caught the action. It's a bit crazy, where's the rider? You froze the spray in place and you can see the individual drops.https://www.instagram.com/p/BMpFnAXBztQ/I picked angry_runner for the action sequence of post processing nightmare for this great shot. It's pretty cool!

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMjjFVFhJlI/Doortje has a tabletop drop shot for a splash which is a really nice way to practice your freeze motion photography. Using a faster aperture is a nice touch as it adds to the scene and really throws some of the drops out of focus. Just remember when using a reflective cup to clone out some of the reflections for a cleaner photo.

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCntxJ2HMRr/Jberendtphotography has a nice frozen shot of an apple “falling”, it’s a nice posed composition and makes for a great fall scenic shot. https://www.instagram.com/p/BFiElF_tDbt/One of the great things freeze motion can work on is birds and wildlife in general. Using that faster shutter speed insures you get that crisp shot to freeze the bird in the moment. It could do with slightly less saturation though as it's a bit strong at the moment.

Hunting with the Hadzabe of Tanzania

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https://youtu.be/PtXxhdQSxIkWe go hunting with the The Hadza, or Hadzabe, a nomadic tribe that lives around the Lake Eyasi region of Tanzania in Africa. Hours spent in the bushes (going in circles sometimes) looking for this small group of  nomadic hunter/gatherersthat suddenly appeared with bloodied dikdik in their hand. Watching them start a fire without matches, smoke weed, roast Dikdik and then we all head out on a hunt - a squirrel hunt!Learn more about Mckay Photography Academy Learn more about Thomson Safaris My Big 5 Safari PhotosStabilized Shots from the Crane | Buy from AmazonSafari and Wildlife Photo Gear recommendationsThose cool wooden sunglasses 

Lightroom Mobile Android RAW Editing

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Lightroom Mobile 2.2 RAW EditingUPDATE: Today only - $30 OFF year subscription to Lightroom and Photoshop CC including LR mobileAdobe has just released a technology preview that allows Android mobile users to directly import RAW files into your mobile device for editing - The list of supported cameras is impressive - most current models- Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony and more. See the complete list of supported cameras  iOS users got this update in July.You will need a USB On-The-Go adapter also called an OTG cable that will allow you to directly connect your camera to your android mobile device. Shop OTG cables at B&H or on Amazon OTG cable. -Those are standard micro USB cables. If you have a USB-C device you will need to purchase a USB-C OTG.   iOS users need the SD card adapter. Why do you need a cable/adapter, don't modern cameras offer WiFi transfer?  Yes! But none of those cameras will transfer RAW files via WiFi.Various OTG CablesPlug the OTG cable into your device and use your standard camera cable to connect to your camera and change to the PTP transfer mode in the Android Notification Center. Then, tap on the notification that indicates “Connected to USB PTP Camera. Tap to view files.” (note - When I connected to my Android LGv10 I did not have to click the notification) You will be presented with an import box. Select the photos you want to import, the collection you want to import the photos into, and tap transfer. Lightroom will transfer the photos and notify you once all of the photos have been imported.
You get all of the benefits of raw, such as the ability to change the white balance, being able to recover blown out highlights, access to the full range of color information, as well as editing an uncompressed file, all using the exact same technology that powers Lightroom on your desktop. An added benefit is that the raw file that you’ve imported into Lightroom for Android will be synced with Lightroom on your other devices, such as Lightroom for desktop or Lightroom on the web, along with any of the edits, star ratings, or flags that you’ve added.Lightroom for Android 2.2 is available now from the Google Play Store.  Will you be editing RAW files on the Go?Do you want to learn Lightroom - I am offering my 6+ hour video course on Lightroom Training for just $18.74 in November!!  More about Lightroom Mobile Editing  

Black Friday Camera Deals 2016

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Black Friday 2017 Deal List Live - Photorec.tv/BF2017

Black Friday 2016 (updated hourly) we will post all current Black Friday and Cyber Monday Camera, lens, photography and accessories like tripods, SD cards and more below. Follow me on InstagramFor the Month of November, I am offering my Lightroom for Beginners video series at 25% Off . Over 6+ hours of Video, 30+ presets and much more.  Learn More.Lightroom for Beginners Amazon Black Friday Dealsbh-holiday-deals

TODAY ONLY

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 Did you know B&H Photo has an awesome selection of outdoor gear?B&H Pro Audio GearSee ALL current Deals and Recommended accessories

Instagram Winners – Halloween

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Being the week of Halloween we just had to make the challenge #PRTV_halloween. Pumpkins, figurines, costumed portraits, and more this week fit the mood perfectly. It gives us an excuse to be a bit more creative with shoots using a mood, or fitting someone in a costume.You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Instagram challenge #PRTV_freezemotion. It's time to practice your technique by freezing the action with fast shutter speeds. Something everyone always dismisses but it's a handy to know how when you need it. The subject is up to you whether it be sports, kids playing, or a tabletop DIY like water drops.To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_freezemotion.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Guest: Steve Scurich

Toby's Winner:

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BMPHJo5gDux/[/embed]It's a really cool shot.  The focus is great and just thin enough that the horns go in and out of focus.

Toby's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMO0kkwgCxH/Fantastic job with this macro, the framing and silhouette in this light is super cool.https://www.instagram.com/p/BMJGDKagt39/This makes me think of The Nightmare Before Christmas with a ghost and it's a cool, creative, shot.

Steve's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMO2mOKA-Ql/As a kid the creepiest part of Halloween was the Sleepy Hallow, headless horseman story. I like the desaturated look and it gives that spooky vibe. The small branch by the cape is the weak point that would make the photo stronger if cloned out.

Steve's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMPafJOjmch/I love this one, the lighting is great. The contrast between the fake face but real eyes bring the spooky vibe. Albert Einstein is haunting us!https://www.instagram.com/p/BMPHJo5gDux/I love the focus on her eye and the horns coming right at you make for a great photo.

Roy’s Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMPHJo5gDux/It's a great portrait and you nailed the focus on this shot.

Roy’s Honorable Mentions:

Join the dark side, we have cookies! It's a great example of a blackout portrait. Being a spooky Halloween shot the black dropoff works otherwise next time just put a reflector up to his left to put light back on his figure.https://www.instagram.com/p/BMXizNthIKA/As I said while sharing this on Instagram, not everything gets done in post. It's a great make up job and the sepia works for the shot.https://www.instagram.com/p/BMLurJZgGWY/

Don't use a Tripod or Tripod Tips and Tricks

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https://youtu.be/0wIlHixjTr8 Tripod Recommendations:Budget Tripod: Dolica ProlineMy Recommendation: MeFoto Road Trip CFTop of the line: Feisol Legs with Acratech GP Ballhead Mini Tripod: Pedco UltralightFlexible Mini Tripod: Joby GorillapodI want to take just a few minutes and talk about when you should and should NOT use a tripod - far too often I see beginners carrying around and using a tripod when they don’t need too. In my opinion the only time you must use a tripod is when you are shooting at shutter speeds slow enough that you might get blur from handshake and that typically happens when your shutter speed is less than your focal length. If shooting at 50mm your shutter speed should be at least 1/50 of a second. There are more variables in figuring out the best shutter speed to avoid shake and I talk about those in my shutter speed video.Shooting at those slower shutter speeds is when you DO want the camera on a sturdy tripod DOES it really hurt to use it at those other times? It can because I see beginners doing two things when they use a tripod - setting up at eye level and rooting. We are humans we like to be comfortable and so we often setup cameras at a comfortable eye level, for some compositions this is OK but being free of a tripod means you are free to quickly try a variety of heights - what does your composition look like from ground level, just above? How about as high as you can reach? Using a tripod encourages us to set up at ONE height and stick there - this brings up ROOTING. We plunk the tripod down, put the camera on it and don’t move, continually shooting from the same location - maybe you try a different depth of field, maybe you try moving the focus point but generally you are going to end up taking way too many photos from that point of view and being free from a tripod encourages movement. Small shifts left or right, up or down can make a large difference in your composition not to mention frees you to look in all directions. When we work with new photographers on our trips we like to remind them about the 360 rule - always take a moment to do a slow spin looking for other possible subjects or compositions that are sometimes behind you. Shooting with a tripod is friction against moving and that’s potentially holding you back from a better shot.When are tripods useful?

  1. Using a tripod to shoot a bracketed exposure can help reduce ghosting and increase image quality but if you have a camera with a decent burst rate, with some practice you can certainly shoot a fast burst of bracketed shots without serious alignment issues.
  2. When you are setting up a careful composition, I find a tripod makes it easier to really study your composition, leveling your horizon, scanning the frame for distractions. It's harder as a beginner to study a shot and bring it up to your eye making the adjustments you want though it is possible, just don’t get rooted in the same spot
  3. Working with really heavy lenses, it is nice to have some support there even if you remain above the shutter speed rule.

So there are certainly valid reasons for using a tripod but as beginners I want you to aware of the drawbacks and hope you will keep those in mind as you photograph.

Quick Tripod Tips -

  • Always turn of image stabilization when your camera is on a tripod - some stabilizations systems at some shutter speeds will actually cause blur and give you soft images as a result.
  • I like to position one of the tripod legs under my lens for increased stability.
  • Never ever walk away from my camera on a tripod unless you are 110% sure it is stable.
  • Position the tripod plate release under the lens, making it harder to accidentally grab. There are times in the dark I thought I was adjusting the ball head when really I was loosening the plate. Not fun!!

Do you have additional scenarios where tripods are useful - leave them in the comments below.These days because of all the travel I am doing I am happy carrying the MeFoto Carbon Fiber Road Trip - it offers a nice blend of portability and stability- You can see several other recommendations at different price points below. If you would like to plunk your tripod down next to me in some awesome locations- Click here to see where I am headed next year. Tripod Recommendations:Tripod Recommendations:Budget Tripod: Dolica ProlineMy Recommendation: MeFoto Road Trip CFTop of the line: Feisol Legs with Acratech GP Ballhead Mini Tripod: Pedco UltralightFlexible Mini Tripod: Joby Gorillapod

 

Yongnuo 100mm Lens Coming Soon

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It looks like the next big item to come out from Yongnuo is a 100mm lens after the decent 50mm F/1.8 and 35mm F/2 lenses that have came out recently. Photo Rumors doing a bit of hunting managed to find a gallery of new 100mm lens product images from Yongnuo and a new sales listing so consider this an unofficial leak with an official announcement expected soon. As of now we know that it's a 100mm Prime similar to Canon's lens priced at $170 for Canon EF mount and Nikon mount expected to follow later. It's a speedy F/2 lens with auto focus and similarly sized to Canon's model. With the release of their two prior lenses it's an interesting option for sure considering the estimated low price.Specifications:

Aperture: F/2-F/22Blades: 9 BladesFocus mode: Af, MfMaximum Magnification: 0.140 timesFocal length: 100mmLens size: 76.6 * 122mmType: Fixed focal length lensFull frame: YesFocus Type: PrimeModel Number: YN100mm F2.0 CLens Type: AutomaticFilter Size: 58mmWeight: 401g-500g
 

Instagram Winners – Seasons

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With the leaves changing it was up to you to shoot the season with #PRTV_seasons. You shot the entire forest, a single set of leaves, and even birds this week for a nice set of photos. It seems relatively simple to shoot color but when you get out there the composition can be tough and you have to think on your feet. Just like Toby's post on Facebook a bit ago in New England finding a few leaves to shoot as a detail shot.You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Instagram challenge #PRTV_halloween. It's time again for Halloween so send us your spooky shots, or your daughter dressed up as Elsa for the billionth time. it's up to you so think out of the box!To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #PRTV and #PRTV_halloween.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMCyoENBx5A/

Toby's Honorable Mentions:

 

 

Roy's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BL7LvOEBWV6/It’s a nice range in color through the forest and you let the sun shine through.

Roy's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BL7lRPZAe9G/I wish it was a bit more centered but I like the thought and color muting the yellow stripe.https://www.instagram.com/p/BL4hxnGge8h/People always miss the tree through the forest, it’s a nice fall detail shot.  

Canon 5D Mark IV Articulating LCD Hack

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In my 5D Mark IV Review I complained about the lack of articulating LCD screen - several of you commented with the suggestion that you can use your phone with the Canon Camera Connect app as an articulating screen.  Here I demonstrate what that might look like and ask if you think it is viable alternative to actually having an articulating screen on the Canon 5D Mark IV.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPEl_RUQaMUscreenshot-2016-10-28-10-14-31Gear NeededPhone Holder Mefoto: http://amzn.to/2dTCn7kHotshoe Mount: http://amzn.to/2fno2W0 Want to travel with me and McKay Photography Academy? Learn more: http://bit.ly/MPA_toby

Made for Creators, Microsoft's New Line of Surface Products

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jurc3SxztGwThe Microsoft Surface line just got a bit of an upgrade with a new Surface Studio desktop and an update to the Surface Pro series laptop. Oddly we've noticed the demo shows Lightroom mobile but we're bound to find out more as they are shipping relatively soon in November. If you've been looking for an upgrade to your aging system on paper both are expected to be great choices.

Surface Studio Surface Dial surface book

The big show stopper for this announcement is the Microsoft Surface Studio all-in-one desktop. First off, yes they basically copied an iMac, the design works why re-invent the wheel. What's different is this desktop shifts down to a 20 degree angle for better access to use it's touch screen, draw, or edit photos. A 28" 4.5K touchscreen makes for a heck of an editor but looking under the hood you can't dismiss the i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 2GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M graphics card, and 1TB SSHD. Then with more expensive models hosting an i7 with twice as much ram, 2TB SSHD, and even better graphics.As a companion peripheral to the Surface Studio we get the Surface Dial. Working with Windows 10 as a new way to scroll, zoom, and navigate. Setting it on the screen opens up an immersive environment with tools and options for the dial specific to the app your using. Using Photoshop? Set the dial on screen for tool and color options without having to get your mouse.Big brother is back with an update to the Surface Book. A powerful option last year, due to it's small size and strong processing power ratio it became the go to laptop for a ton of photographers. While the outside hasn't changed much since last year the biggest improvement is a 30% boost in battery life for up to 16 hours of use on one charge. With a new i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M you get even more speed in a small package outpacing the popular 13" MacBook Pro.Playing devils advocate overall the one thing that kills these is the price. If you can afford three grand for the studio or the surface book at $2,400 these are great options to up your editing game. In terms of processing specs a gaming laptop or 5K iMac ($1,799 vs $2,999... ouch) would beat these on paper for a fraction of the price. Being made for us the ergonomics of a tilting screen, surface pen, and immersive dial in a small format are the key selling points. For quality hardware in a seamless setup without having to pickup something like the Wacom Cintiq for touch input it's a good option... if you can afford them. As they just have released this new product it's expected future generations will benefit from a price drop as production advances.Microsoft SurfaceFor photographers, artists, and the like it's another step forward after the Surface Pro made a giant leap into the market. Turn your desk into a studio, with a dial to boost your workflow, or on the go with a laptop that lasts forever on one charge and can do anything you need. When it comes to this new line of surface products they may be a bit pricey but you get your fair share of power, speed, and function to make your editing workflow seamless.Surface Studio - MicrosoftStore.com. Starts at $2,999 and available for pre-order today.Surface Dial - MicrosoftStore.com.  $99 on pre-order or available bundled with the Studio.Surface Book - MicrosoftStore.com. Pre-order today starting at $2,399. 

Up to Solving Adobe's Photoshop Mystery 2016?

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The third annual Adobe Photoshop Mystery has started and it's up to you to take the challenge! Adobe teamed up with artist Matteo Bassini as Photoshop turns into an interactive game and shows the power Photoshop. Embrace the spirit of Halloween and give it a shot to see if you can save the kingdom.It won't be easy, find the secrets in 21 PSD files and over 1,000 layers to survive until Halloween. Using 330,000 lines of Action Script code Photoshop creates everything from clickable stories to magic at your command. Follow the harrowing story over the course of five chapters spread out till Monday.Photoshop MysteryIn 2014 we solved a murder in adobe's clue themed mystery.  Last year was a space themed challenge to save the world from a unknown illness.  This year you'll enter a medieval fantasy world, finding yourself the victim of an evil plot to destroy the king and the only hope to restore order to the kingdom.Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/Photoshop/ and download the PSD file at http://www.psmystery.com. Daily updates on Facebook will provide clues and more info until the final revel on Halloween. Fair warning between audio files and the massive amount of layers the download is a 279MB zip file.

Photographing Cities - Tips & Tricks for Better Photos

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I have some tips and recommendations for getting better photos in historic cities like Edinburgh Scotland- What to look for, how to frame, what is the best focal length for city photography and the best time of day for photographing in the old historic streets. Filmed on location in Edinburgh Scotland and London England.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAv0gxRVbQg  

Instagram Winners – Backlit

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The backlit Instagram challenge #PRTV_backlit is a way to get people to think before they shoot. A lot of people starting out take a photo based on composition but tend to forget about the quality of light on their subject. Some very high quality photos this week, really, and you guys managed to submit a bit of everything thinking outside the box for ideas.You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Instagram challenge #PRTV_seasons. Fall color was the plan but as some have mentioned it's not really fall color in Australia, or even Texas really for that matter. So instead we want you to show us your season weather you go pumpkin spice for lack of color, shoot a fall landscape, or even a spring one for the Aussies.To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #prtv and #PRTV_seasons.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Scott – photoscott88 Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Scott's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJx8Oafhl-5/Great timing, light, and composition for a great shot with a lot of character.

Scott's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLZBLcRBwSh/Like you said, sometimes waiting a spot out for a photo can make for the best ones!https://www.instagram.com/p/BLtiGxYh-nk/Here at Photorec cat's are always a winner, you got a good shot with a bit of action and didn't clip the shadow.

Roy's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLw3-UbgE6b/J.Berendt Photography might be a bit of a mermaid addict but it works out this week for a backlit photo. A nice pose and expression for your model while you left enough foreground to lead up to her leaving the horizon slightly above the top rule of thirds line. Have to remember rules are meant to be broken as they are guidelines you learn from, not hard and fast laws.

Roy's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLrntDRByUL/While admittedly the photo I have is quite bad compared to this one and taken on a cell phone while hunting this is what I thought of for the challenge. You did good capturing the light rays while letting in enough ambient light to properly light up the trees.  I like you left composition a bit low to catch the color in the grass and raise the ground's level up a bit in the photo.https://www.instagram.com/p/BLnA3oEjD0D/It's a great wedding photo this week by Angie Cruz Photography. You did a nice job getting that "glow" everyone wants in their photos, even if we know its backlighting. It's a great posed shot while you left the aperture shallow enough to just start getting the bokeh balls in the trees. Being me that one brown leaf in the side needs cloned out but I'm the most picky of the three of us at Photorec.tv.

SpiderLight Holster Now Live on Kickstarter

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Spiderlight HolsterSpiderLight Backpack

Spider, known for their great camera holsters have came up with a new design just for mirrorless and small DSLRs.  The same great build as it's larger counterpart, the SpiderLight holster is a lightweight setup for a quick draw without any straps in the way. Go anywhere, from the trail - to the street - to the studio, with your hands free, and your camera ready to grab the next shot.The same professional design, just in a smaller package:

  • All-metal construction and ergonomic holster design
  • Two-position metal lock ensures security & fast draw action.
  • Securely clips to your own belt or to our SpiderLight Belt.
  • Quickly change from hip to to backpack with the SpiderLight Backpacker!
  • Connect to any tripod plate. Built-in ArcaSwiss tripod profile to boot.
  • Provides a connection for any tripod quick-release plate. Does not block Mirrorless camera battery doors!
  • Adjustable for thinner or thicker camera bodies/grip configurations.
  • Optional tether/quick connection for Sling Straps.

With today's Kickstarter you can also get the SpiderLight Backpack adapter giving you the option for a mounting point directly on your backpack strap. Designed to be universal the SpiderLight Backpack lets you use the Spider holster system on virtually any bag. As a bonus it's GoPro adapter gives you the ability to swap your mirrorless camera for the full range of GoPro Accessories and cameras.

Pledge $80 for the SpiderLight Box Set or you can get the SpiderLight Backpack Early Bird Pledge for $115. Now live on Kickstarter at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spiderholster/spiderlight-holster

Spiderlight Holsterhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeL8cGEv6qs

Amazon Launches Prime Photos Family Vault

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prime photoLast month Amazon started Amazon Prints with an affordable way to get photo printing done at far less than the competition. Coming today with more updates to their photo service now Prime members can invite up to five people to join their Family Vault and access unlimited photo storage, at no additional cost. So why should you care? It's a free unlimited offsite storage for all your photos, your families photos, friends, and even other photographers. Not to forget that you can print from it to get your photos at your door in just a click.Say your house burns down, you get robbed, or there's a hurricane on the horizon having an offsite backup will keep those photos safe no matter what happens. Part of the 3-2-1 backup strategy is having three total copies of your data with one on your computer, one saved on say an external drive, and one offsite with Amazon Photos in case the other two get destroyed. Now not only do you get this benefit, but you can share it with up to five people as well whether it be family or a few photographer friends you shoot with often.Family Vault is a streamlined update to get all your photos in one place. Sharing access allows a person to access prime photos for unlimited photo storage and an additional 5GB for videos or other files from Amazon Drive. Coming with Prime Photos there is an updated Prime Photos app for mobile access, uploads, browsing, and search. Overall search got an improvement similar to the AI smart search in Google Photos as well. Allowing you to find people, places, or things such as a wedding, a dog, or your Uncle Eddy.Family Vault with Unlimited storage, Prime Photos, and Amazon Prints make Amazon an attractive option for a Photographer. For $10.99 a month you have full backup and printing that work seamlessly right at your finger tips. Especially considering with Amazon prints you can make photo books and source the photos quickly by searching your online storage. Remember with Prime you also get free two day shipping, video streaming, music streaming, early access lightning deals, eBooks, and more.Get your 30 day free trial of Prime today to try out the updated Prime Photos with Family Vault and Amazon Prints! Try Prime Today!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEwXYDXZPsI