Sony Rebates

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Sony RebatesBig sales for Sony today with new rebates and freebies you NEED to check out! Get Toby's great Sony a7R II, the camera that takes a lot of those travel shots, for cheap. Even if you are just starting out they've even got deals on the Sony a5100 and a6300. It's worth your time to look if you want to upgrade or have thought about making that switch to Sony.

And More! 

  

Sony Rebate

Tamron 18-400 Review: Hands-on

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The Tamron 18-400 is an incredibly versatile lens crop sensor lens. In this video, I take it whale watching with San Juan Safaris in Friday Harbor and compare it against the Sigma 24-105 and the Sigma 100-400 telephoto lens.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNZEVT0edkQ 

Tamron 18-400 Lens Specs

  • APS-C Format
  • 28.8-640mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture Range: f/3.5 to f/40
  • Three LD and Three Aspherical Elements
  • HLD Autofocus Motor
  • VC Image Stabilization
  • Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • Electromagnetic Diaphragm
  • Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm
  • Compatible with TAP-in Console
Sample RAW files (For Personal Use Only)

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge - Warm

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Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_warm

A start to fall color with #PRTV_warm! In northern Michigan fall is in full blast and it should be starting around the other northern states at the moment. It’s nice to see people experimenting with out of the box ideas like split toning for a warmer hue and finding warmer colors or ideas for their shots. Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_doublexposureFind out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtv.You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:

Team FeatureTeam FeatureTeam Feature
Roy’s Features:

While I wish we met up for the shoot it’s a neat shot for this week. Remember our challenges are open ended so out of the box ideas are encouraged!

#speedcult #speedculttim #dropzone #detroitphotographer #ratrig #flamethrower #prtv_warm #prtv

A post shared by bob grzembski (@bobbiog_) on

Rose’s Features:

I love the flow of trees into fog in this composition with the hint of warm color in the trees.

When the fog meet the forest during this incredible clouds inversion phenomen we had.

A post shared by Adrien Catel (@adriencatel) on

This image is such a classic fall shot. The composition is simple but strong. I love the contrasting colors.

Fall Watercolors

A post shared by Jeff Kuhn (@jkuhn36) on

Another classic fall shot. I love that the little girl is facing away from the camera. I think the action element adds to the story here. She’s perfectly composed in this image.

Running through the pumpkin patch on a crisp autumn day. Could it get any better? #pumpkinpatch #fall #autumn #pumpkins #prtv_warm #prtv

A post shared by Heather - Fat Happy Photog (@fathappyphotog) on

A New Lightroom and a Faster One

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Lightroom ClassicLightroom Cloud

A Tale of Two Lightrooms. So what did we get?

The program we know as Lightroom has been rebranded/split by Adobe into two products. A fully cloud-based service and the standard desktop version (the one you're used to), now called Lightroom Classic. While Lightroom is now in the cloud, changes to either can be synced between programs. Watch the video below to learn more.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNBpWGJE5VMQuick Tip: If you are having trouble seeing the updates open the Adobe cloud program in your taskbar. Sign out of the program, then sign in to see the new updates.

A New Lightroom

A big update to the existing Lightroom web platform, we've got a cloud version of Lightroom for desktops, tablets, and phones. Image editing you want but in a simplified package that Adobe made for you to use on all your devices. This new Lightroom is a streamlined version that's simpler to use and ready for on the go work.

  • Cloud Storage with Lightroom CC storing all your full-resolution photos, including RAW files, safely in the cloud (1TB of space comes with the plan, more is available).
  • Adobe Sensei - No more keywording, or at least less, with a smart search using machine learning to find your photos. Want a bridge photo you took? Type in a bridge and all your bridge photos pop up, no work required.
  • Sharing tools to push photos out to social media like Facebook or build a web gallery in a snap.
  • Instead of a library photos will be stored in albums, think of this as collections in Lightroom Classic.

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Classic

The "New" Lightroom Classic is the same Lightroom you're used to, but with massive speed boost! After taking suggestions from users Adobe has overhauled Lightroom into a much speedier program, especially in the Develop module. (my early testing shows a significant increase in speed for some tasks while others remain fairly slow)

  • Lightroom Embedded PreviewBetter, Faster, Stronger
    • Faster loading time
    • Faster import with "Embedded & Sidecar" option
    • Faster Smart Previews
    • Faster Switch to Develop
    • Faster Rending Images
    • Faster Scrolling images
    • Faster brush rendering
    • JUST FASTER... FINALLY

ONE NEW FEATURE

  • New Edge Refinement - New quick selection masks for local adjustments using color and luminance range masking. Color masking lets you select a range of color, luminance lets you select by a certain brightness.  Watch the video above to see a demonstration of the new  masking.

Photoshop

Everything gets updates today. New easy access for LR photos, a new pen tool, tips and more:

  • A new Learn panel, the first big step for those new or just starting with Photoshop with step by step tutorials for tools and basic editing. They've also included new tooltips with little images and animations to help you along.Photoshop Lightroom Photos
  • Lightroom photos will pull your photos from the cloud directly into Photoshop.
  • Copy and paste multiple layers in one go, keeping their order and location.
  • Support for 360 Degree image editing and Apple HEIF
  • Curvature Pen Tool - For those that hated the pen tool, Adobe has a friendlier pen tool to get the curves you need.
  • Brush updates with new management, stroke smoothing to prevent jitters, and more brushes.
  • Photoshop also gained a slight performance boost. As well as Adobe improving all their algorithms for cleaner lines, better filters, upscaling, and more.

Adobe Plans

Lightroom comes in three flavors now. The regular Creative Cloud Photography Plan stays the same price but now gains 20GB of cloud storage. Existing Creative Cloud Photography Plans can switch to the new 1TB plan for more cloud storage and get $5 off for the first year.Despite the fact they promised they wouldn't,  Adobe Standalone products are gone with Lightroom 6 as the last version. This was the Lightroom software packaged separate, not requiring the monthly charge and did not include Photoshop. The current standalone software will get an update for the Nikon D850 at the end of the month with camera support updates for this year only.All-in-all it's an extensive update to existing programs, and new ones as well. The biggest improvement, being the speed boosts with Lightroom Classic people have been asking for since last year. The new Lightroom cloud system is an interesting update and we'll have to see what happens as Adobe continues to work on the platform.  

Lightroom CC planLightroom CC plan
  • Lightroom Cloud Only
  • Adobe Spark
  • Adobe Portfolio
  • 1TB of cloud storage
  • $9.99/mo
Photography planPhotography plan
  • Lightroom CC
  • Lightroom Classic
  • Photoshop CC
  • Adobe Spark
  • Adobe Portfolio
  • 20GB of cloud storage
  • $9.99/mo
Photography plan with 1TB cloud storagePhotography plan with 1TB cloud storage
  • Lightroom CC
  • Lightroom Classic CC
  • Photoshop CC
  • Adobe Spark
  • Adobe Portfolio
  • 1TB of cloud storage
  • $19.99/mo ($14.99 for existing accounts)

Score Fuji Deals

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fuji dealsToby loved the Fuji X-T2 and it's on sale today. You can pick it up, along with the best walk around lens with this month's deals. But you don't have to take it from me, check out Toby's review below for this hot mirrorless camera.[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKew22eOUQI[/embed]

Highlights:

  • 24.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS III Sensor
  • X-Processor Pro Engine
  • 0.77x 2.36m-Dot OLED Viewfinder
  • 3.0" 1.04m-Dot 3-Way Tilting LCD Screen
  • Internal UHD 4K Video & F-Log Gamma
  • Two UHS-II SD Slots
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity
  • 325-Point Intelligent Hybrid AF System
  • Up to 8 fps Shooting and ISO 51200
  • Weather-Sealed Body
  • XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS Lens
Fuji X-T2
Instant Savings: $100.00
Instant Savings: $100.00
Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8
Instant Savings: $150.00

Best Canon Lenses on SALE!

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Canon RebatesCanon has a new batch of rebates including their top L grade lenses you can buy. The Canon 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses are excellent and versatile pieces of glass - sharp, excellent in low light and a pair of lenses coveted by wedding, event and portrait photographers. The Canon 100mm Macro is a close-up dream lens for macro shots such as rings, product photography, and can still do portraits if you're in a pinch. Check the B&H rebates page out, Canon has deals on these lenses and more!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM LensCanon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM LensInstant Savings: $200.00

New Way to Upload to Instagram (and Not Get Shadow Banned)

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We get asked a lot how to upload to Instagram, I even covered it a couple years back. The problem is that most of the older methods have fallen to the dreaded "Shadow Ban". If banned Instagram hides your hashtags so you don't gain followers, but stealthily so you don't notice. With that in mind, Felix Sun used a recent mobile trick to make a mini Instagram program that lets you upload via Mac or PC for free.Recently Instagram allowed mobile uploads, using the browser on your phone you can upload to Instagram without having the app installed. Using this trick you can tell your desktop's browser to pretend it's a mobile device and upload away. But it's a bit of a clumsy trick that is more advanced. Felix's program is a mini version of chrome already set to mobile, just log in the first time and upload. A dialog box will pop up to add a file then the rest is like normal.Head over to windowed.io and check it out. Upload an easy way, or at least until they ban this as well. Our official and Instagram friendly uploader of choice is Later.com. You can check it out in Toby's video here and it lets you schedule posts.If you were wondering how to do it in a browser anyway:In Safari

  • Enable the Develop Menu. Click Safari, Preferences, then Advanced. Check 'Show Develop menu in menu bar'.
  • Now while on Instagram.com. Click the new Develop button in your menu, user agent, then iPad. You may have to refresh the page.

In Chrome

  • You can install User-Agent Switcher, the new button in the top right when clicked lets you tell Instagram you are a mobile device. Just remember to turn it off when you leave Instagram.
  • Without using an extension, press F12 for Developer Tools. Click the phone icon at the top left of the new panel or press Ctrl+Shift+M. The top left option to the left of dimensions lets you choose iPad, then reload the page.

Beyond the Settings - Manual Mode & Auto ISO

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR5JCfqLb-IGet beyond the settings and focus on the image, the key point to a recent article we had on the weekly live show. As photographers when we go to shoot we're balancing the camera settings, composition, timing, not tripping on something, and possibly handling a model. When you're starting out you usually cram learning the camera settings, but what's the next step?

As you move beyond the basic settings and focus more on composition your photography is going to improve immensely.

How we approach a scene usually goes aperture, shutter speed, then ISO. A shallow setting like f/2.8 is perfect for a portrait but a landscape needs something a bit slower at f/8 (btw, video on aperture coming soon!). Next shutter speed comes into play, you need to make sure the shutter speed is 2x the focal length to be safe, the reciprocal rule. You can find out more about shutter speed settings here and here. Once we get that down as a start, then we need to move past it to improve.

 What about AV mode? We've all been at the mercy of a wrong camera setting at some point. The thing is the camera is smart, but it's not you, it just sees pixels and can't interpret a scene. Especially if my subject is moving, dancing, running and even walking - the camera doesn’t know this on AV mode and you'll end up with a blurry subject. Manual puts you in control letting you tell the camera what you need.But AUTO ISO can be good - Compared to aperture or shutter speed, ISO means the least to a shot technically. That it affects exposure and noise only, compared to aperture and shutter speed that drastically alter the look of a shot. With modern cameras, a high ISO setting can mean a bit of noise and has to be extremely high before it is a detriment to a photo. Having AUTO ISO on takes away part of the exposure triangle I have to focus on and lets me concentrate more on composition and timing.If you are starting out get those camera settings down. That way it's secondhand, so you don't need to be chimping (checking the screen) when it counts. Once you understand that then you can let the camera take over, a little bit, giving you room to be creative and focus on more important issues.

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge - Faceless

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Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_faceless

A focus on people this week without the face. We typically go for headshots so this is a nice focus on the other angles for some creative shots. Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_warmFind out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtv.You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:

Team FeatureTeam FeatureTeam Feature
Toby’s Features:

The classic mud puddles kids shot that works great for this challenge, having the face away lets us fill in for the emotion.

Little boy heaven. #mudpuddles #dinosaur #freerangekids #prtv_faceless #autumninny

A post shared by Jen Andrews Photo (@jenandrewsphoto) on

Great symmetry and the tunnel really pulls the focus center to you and the horse.

Roy’s Features:

A nice minimal shot with the focus on the person. This reminds me of a shot from the Star Wars trailer.

1. Awwww. 2. I like the shallow DOF that separates them from the background and pulls focus to them to get framed in these trees.

A Quick Fix With Sugru

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SugruHopefully, your weekend went better than mine the other day, I accidentally broke my intervalometer's cable... Always fun. So in cases like this, it's where I break out the Sugru, a mouldable glue that hardens into a rubberized silicone. You might remember a few years back in an article, I used this on my tripod plate adapted for Black Rapid making a tighter fit and keeping everything snug. Since I'm cheap and an intervalometer costs about $20 I'll go with the $4 fix.Sugru is basically like Play-Dou for adults so using it is pretty simple. Once opening the package all I had to do was stick it to the cable, shape it, and let it sit for a day. Compared to electrical tape it makes a thorough seal that works great. As it's made from silicone it's waterproof, handles heat/cold, durable, and shockproof... so perfect for fixing a cable. It's great for DIY repairs as Sugru sticks permanently to lots of stuff like ceramics, glass, metal, wood, rubber, most plastics, and fabrics.      Some Tips For Using Sugru:

  • There's a new family-friendly formula that's less messy and the original formula. Personally, I stick with original but it's up to you, I use gloves with the original as its a bit sticky.
  • Store in the fridge to get it to keep longer, 3X! I throw it in the butter drawer honestly and get it to last about a year or more.
  • Make sure everything is clean, including you. Sugru bonds better to clean surfaces and it tends to pick up dust so keeping clean is best. I use a paper plate for a clean area, sugru can stain when fresh and a plate is disposable.
  • Pressing against it with a flat object helps get smooth edges. It's like Play-Dou, just using something smooth rolled against it adds a nice clean finish. If it's sticking apply some soapy water to your object to smooth it out without sticking.

Repairing cords is just the start though really. Add magnets to hold gear, repair a hole in your camera bag, make stands for product photos, make a clip, bond two pieces of gear together for a mount, make a grip, and more.Sugru SaleJust FYI, use the code PARTYHAT at Sugru's site for 40% from now until Sunday, October 8th, midnight PST. Otherwise, if you missed out check out Amazon to get a great deal and get your DIY on today. As a little goes far I suggest the 3 packs (black | white | mixed), just remember to store them somewhere cold to last longer.  

GH5 - 6 Month Review & GH5 Firmware 2.0 & GH5 Tips and Tricks

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GH5 - 6 Month Review -

No other camera produces beautiful and stabilized footage at this price point and this easily. The perfect camera for capturing your video needs from vlog style travel to serious documentaries and indie films.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZI1WugGqw[gallery ids="16107,16108,16109,16110,16111,16112,16113,16114,16115,16116,16117,16118,16119,16120,16121,16122"]

Travel Videos Captured with the GH5

Gear Used & Recommended

GH5 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera Lens Options

Affordable Zoom Lumix G Vario 45-200mm f/4-5.6 II POWER O.I.S. Lens Rode VideoMicroAvoid 3rd party Batteries and buy PanasonicFor stable walking footage, Zhiyun-Tech Crane v2 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge - Highkey 2

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Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_highkey2

With the start to fall it’s senior portrait time here in Michigan so we had you shooting high key photos! You were not stuck with portraits this week and it’s nice to see some out of the box entries. Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_facelessFind out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtv.You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:

Team FeatureTeam FeatureTeam Feature
Toby’s Features:

Clean, sharp with a smart depth of field.

Bright and beautiful look at this baby with perfect depth of field and the requisite amount of baby drool.

"That feeling you get when..." . #prtv #prtv_highkey2

A post shared by 🐼🌈 (@winstonpix) on

Roy’s Features:

The brown and green is a nice bit of color contrast against that white background!

The orchids make for a great subject and the little bits of yellow really stand out.

White on white can be tricky, you did good!

Free $10 for Amazon

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Amazon Music10 minutes of time for $10 to use on Amazon. Sign up to Amazon Music's free 30 day trial for a free $10 promotional code (expires 10/31, can cancel right after). Easy peasy. As for some ideas you can get a Sandisk SD card, Reflector, or Eneloop batteries (for flash).

SanDisk Extreme 32GB SD Card
Neewer 43-inch Reflector
Eneloop AA Rechargeable Batteries
  1. Go to http://amzn.to/2xFWoK0
  2. Enter Code MUSIC1
  3. Click the link to sign up to Amazon Music
  4. You can cancel the trial at https://www.amazon.com/music/settings (so you don't get charged)

Once you sign up with the code you'll get a free 30 day trial of Amazon Music and the $10 promo code will be good in your account until 10/31. The $10 is good for anything sold by Amazon.com but it won't work on 3rd party sellers.

Fuji Vs the Competition (Sony, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic)

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Scroll down for recommended lenses and comparisons against the competitors

https://youtu.be/OKew22eOUQIDownload Fuji X-T2 Raw files - Sign up for my occasional and non-spammy newsletter

[mc4wp_form id="10733"]

 [gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="16055,16056,16057,16058,16059,16060,16061"] The Fuji X-T2 is one of the most well-rounded, mirrorless, camera on the market today. You can even drop the mirrorless qualifier and I feel the statement still holds true. But, this camera isn't for everyone and there are a host of fantastic cameras to choose from. In this post, I share some thoughts on worthy Fuji Competitors and how they match up.I mentioned in the video

The Canon 6D Mark II (Full Frame DSLR) vs Fuji X-T2 (APS-C Mirrorless)

Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR Camera (Body Only) $1,999.00Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens $1,899.00Canon wins with low light performance and a huge lens selectionCanon loses on size, weight, video features and lack of dedicated AF joystick and single card slotThe Canon is larger, heavier and uses larger and heavier full frame lenses - making the entire package a good bit more serious to carry around BUT the 6D Mark II does better in low light and offers a HUGE selection of Canon and 3rd party lenses, many of which are quite affordable and some help with the portability (pancake primes like the 40mm f/2.8). The Canon also has a fully articulating touch screen which makes recording yourself easy though you are limited to 1080p at just 60fps and the quality while decent isn't exciting.  The Fuji provides 4K at 30fps, better AF coverage, much faster burst rate and a dedicated joystick for AF control along with dual card slots. Travel photographers and landscape photographers that are hiking to destinations, I think you will find the smaller size and weight of the Fuji and associated lenses to be a serious advantage along with the ability to charge on the go. 

The Sony a6300/a6500 (APS-C Mirrorless) vs Fuji X-T2 (APS-C Mirrorless)

Sony wins on price, weight and video performance (especially a6500 stabilized)Sony loses when you compare ergonomics, aps-c lens(selection and quality) and lack of dual card slots.Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm Lens & Free Kit $998.00Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens $1,899.00While the Sony a6xxx series is more traditional in the sense of a mode dial and layout, the Fuji is a far more physical camera with well-marked buttons and dials for just about everything a photographer could need.  The Sony weighs less - offers similar image and video quality and offers nicely portable lenses like the Fuji but- there are only a handful of APS-C lenses for sony that are really exciting and very little is weather sealed. For the sharpest glass, you will likely buy full frame Sony- expensive and heavy. Also in a battle of the kit lenses - Fuji kills Sony's little 16-50 lens which is exceptionally travel-friendly but not the highest quality. Note - the a6500 offers a stabilized sensor.

The Panasonic G85/GH5 (Micro 4/3rds Mirrorless) vs Fuji X-T2 (APS-C Mirrorless)

The Panasonic wins on video features, battery life and massive selection of micro 4/3rd lenses along with a FULLY articulating touchscreenThe Panasonic loses on AF and AF tracking.The Panasonic G85 and GH5 are amazing video focused cameras. While the GH5 is a serious video tool, offering dual stabilized 4k footage up to 60fps it also takes great photos but this is one of the easiest matchups on the page - if you are serious about video the Gh5 or the smaller, cheaper lighter G85 offers lots to love. If you are serious about photos and videos is secondary - the Fuji X-T2 does very well.Note- the G85 is a much cheaper version of the Gh5 and while it lacks some of the pro level video features it offers a great value. My Full Review of the G85Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera (Body Only) $1997.00 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with 12-60mm Lens $997.99Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens $1,899.00

Sony a7ii (Full Frame Mirrorless) vs Fuji X-T2 (APS-C Mirrorless)

Sony wins in low light performance, stabilized sensor and priceSony loses in ergonomics, dual card slots and lack of 4k videoSony Alpha a7 II Mirrorless Digital Camera with 28-70mm Lens and Accessory Kit $1698.00Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens $1,899.00The Sony weighs about the same as the Fuji X-T2 but requires full frame lenses and quickly gets heavier. However, the Sony does do better in low light, offers a stabilized sensor and decent ergonomics but not as nice as the very physical feeling Fuji. What else would you like to see matched up against the Fuji X-T2?

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge - Food2

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Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_food2

Pre top picks warning! You will probably have the munchies after this! Great photos this week guys, and we might do this again soon with the schedule I’m working on atm. Toby even pitched in this week with a dinner shot https://www.instagram.com/p/BZg0v3RntdR/. Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_highkey2Find out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtv.You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:

Team FeatureTeam FeatureTeam Feature
Toby’s Features:

It’s busy but it’s real and the shot is composed tight and thoughtfully!

#prtv_food2 #prtv

A post shared by Tony Lawrence (@tony_lawrence.sa) on

Roy’s Features:

Drinks counted too this week! It’s a nicely done photo, connecting elements in a process like these beans & coffee can work great.

We like to keep this challenge a bit open and what's better than a portrait with food! On the plus side it looks like a fridge works as a decent light source.

Food, glorious food! Canon 5d3 + Samyang 14mm 2.8 This lens is a fully manual lens and as someone who has less than perfect vision, it is hard for me to get my subject perfectly focused as I have to rely on my aging eyes rather than the camera. If anyone has any tips on how to manually focus with poor vision I'd love to hear them! - - - Went a little outside of the box for this week's "food" photo challenge and thought I'd give it a go with this refrigerator shot of my little boy sneaking something yummy. #prtv I know I've been away for a while! - - - - #cameramama #clickinmoms #momswithcameras #our_everyday_moments #momtogs #letthembelittle #candidchildhood #childhoodunplugged #letthekids #littleandbrave #dearphotographer #livethelittlethings #snapmaven #enchantedchildhood #prtv #thesincerestoryteller #celebrate_childhood #adventuresofchildren #pocket_sweetness #mom_hub #honestlyparents #ourcandidlife #kidsforreal #prtv_food2

A post shared by Jane Glover (@angry_runner) on

Food doesn’t just sit on a plate, we interact with it. This is a nice shot putting focus on an element vs trying to shoot an entire plate of food.

The Best Lenses for Photographing the Stars & Milkyway

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Star Photography

Full Frame Prime Lens Options

★ Sigma 14mm f/1.8 Watch my video review - $1599.00 (autofocus)

Good
  • Widest aperture lens at this focal length (allows for shorter exposures and or exposures with low ISO shooting the stars, Milky Way and Aurora Borealis
  • Sharp, minimal distortion
  • Autofocus (versatile during the daytime)

Bad

  • Expensive
  • Some Coma on brighter stars, wide open
  • Heavy with bulbous front end

Despite some Coma wide open, this is the BEST lens you can buy for shooting the stars - nothing else is this sharp, this fast. Watch my video review for more information and sample images. 

★ Irix Firefly 15mm f/2.4Watch my video review - $400 (manual focus)

  • Sharp, minimal distortion
  • Locking focus ring
  • Glowing Lens markings for night time shooting
  • Focus click at infinity
  • Customizable focus

Bad

  • Uses 95mm filters

I struggle to come up with anything bad to say about this lens. Sure it uses 95mm Filters and all but the thinnest filters will add some vignetting but it is one of the only lenses on this list that even takes screw on filters. It is very easy to work with in the dark, the locking focus ring and the click stop at infinity focus are helpful when shooting the stars. It is as sharp as the Sigma too! All of this for just $400!

★ Rokinon 24mm f/1.4$429 (Manual Focus) 

Good
  • Faster Aperture
  • Full Frame compatible
  • Takes Filters
  • Lovely walk around focal length for general photography

Bad

  • On crop 24 = 36mm, less exciting for wide starry skies
  • Manual focus only

On a full frame, 24mm is often plenty wide enough for a nice starry sky or milky way shot. At f/1.4 this is a fast lens, is useful for daytime landscape shots with a normal filter size of 77mm but manual focus only does limit the versatility of this lens and it isn't the sharpest option here.

★ Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS Lens$429 (Best Option for Crop DSLRs)

Good
  • 16mm on Crop - nice and wide

Bad

  • Crop Only
  • No filter threads - Costly filter system for daytime use

The widest & best option for crop users on the list (I don't love the fisheye look for stars or milky way photos) This small, light and affordable lens is hard to beat but the slightly faster IRIX firefly is sharper and offer some nice features that make it worth the sacrifice of a few mm.

★ Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye Lens with Removable Hood$232 - $299

Good
  • This lens is VERY wide with the typical fisheye look
  • Very affordable.

Bad

  • Crop Only
  • No filters
  • f/3.5
  • Fisheye even more limited in use.

I don't love the look from a fisheye lens for the stars or milky way shots but if you do this would be the lens to grab.  The good news, it is super affordable!

★ Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS$299 - $399 (Best for Mirrorless APS-C or smaller)

Good
  • Very portable
  • Takes filters
  • Fast f/2.0

Bad

  • …

This tiny lens is great for mirrorless crop sensor photographers shooting Sony, Fuji, Panasonic or Olympus. It takes filters, is very affordable and lightweight, not quite as sharp and offers a little more distortion than the IRIX or Sigma but excellent still.

Ultra Wide Angle Zooms

(see linked video below)

★ Tokina 11-16 f/2.8$430 Best value ultra wide angle zoom for crop sensors

Good
  • Versatile lens
  • Excellent Value
  • Accepts 77mm Filters

Bad

  • Some distortion and Chromatic abberation
  • Not as sharp as the primes listed

The Tokina 11-16 for Canon and Nikon is one of the best value lenses on this list. It's not the sharpest and certainly has more distortion than the primes but it is a versatile lens with a good range and offer autofocus along with filter use making it possible to tackle a variety of situations.

Additional Lenses to Consider - 

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Lens - Sharp, fast and relatively little distortion for an ultra-wide zoom lens and accepts regular filters AND is travel-friendly. - B&H Photo for $1,999.00Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD - One of the few ultra wide full frame lenses that offer stabilization. If you are careful you can handhold this at almost a second exposure. Not really helpful for stars/Milkyway but still useful. More distortion and not as sharp as the Canon listed above or the Nikon listed below but still a versatile lens . though be aware it's HEAVY - B&H Photo for $1,099.00Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED Lens - The gold standard for ultra wide angle zooms.Incredibly sharp and useful though it is big and heavy - B&H Photo for $1,896.95

 

Related Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8An3dzcgCWE

Affordable Ultra Wide Angle Zooms for Crop Cameras

Canon 10-18 vs Canon 10-22 vs Tokina 11-16Learn more about the Tokina 11-16 vs the Canon 10-18 and Canon 10-22

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge - Retro

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Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_retro

We went old school this week with Retro. Whether it was an old item, one with a nod to the past, a throwback portrait, or just a creative edit it was up to you.Next Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_food2(Check out Rose's Food Photography Tips)Find out more about upcoming challenges and past winners at photorec.tv/prtv.You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram at @Photorec.tv and the team:

Team FeatureTeam FeatureTeam Feature
Toby’s Features:

Huge props for the camera! The nice tight crop is great with the focus on the camera.

My first SLR camera 📸 #praktica #mtl3 #35mmfilm #oldskool #prtv #prtv_retro #seventies #stiffupperlens

A post shared by Erwin Hollmann (@erwin_hollmann) on

It’s a nice black and white with a simple scene. Look at this cute couple.

Roy’s Features:

Look at this little guy! The nice low angle works well getting the face of the moped and the edit matches the paint job.

Haven’t seen one of these in awhile, I like that your editing went a bit on the cool side to match the water.

Photo challenge: #prtv_retro #sonya7ii

A post shared by Eileen K (@ektull21) on

Wide Angle Prime Lenses for Canon & Nikon

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https://youtu.be/8An3dzcgCWE Download Full Raw Images from All three lenses. Sigma 14mm ART Samples, Irix 15mm Blackstone Samples and Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8 Sample RAW Images. (images for personal comparison only)Buy the IRIX 15mm LensBuy the SIgma 14mm LensBuy the Rokinon/Samyang 14mm LensEdited Sample Images[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="Sigma 14mm Sample Images" ids="15953,15954,15955,15956"]Additional Sigma 14mm Samples Shot by Steve Scurich Photography[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="15959,15960,15961,15962,15963,15964,15965,15966"]IRIX Blackstone 15mm Sample Shots[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="15967,15968,15969,15970"]

 

10 Steps to Improve Your Food Photography

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 10 Steps to Improve Your Food Photography | http://photorec.tvFood photography is all the rage these days, with thousands of Instagram users posting their drool-worthy kitchen creations and restaurant meals everyday. It's easy to assume these photographers are using high-end equipment or are blessed with amazing natural light in their kitchens. While a DSLR camera and gorgeous lighting will help you take better photos, there is a lot more that goes into making stellar food images. The following steps will get you on your way to improving your food photography.

Baked Potato Soup with Colby-Jack Cheese and Bacon | http://photorec.tvFind the best natural light in your house 

The best lighting in the house often isn't in the kitchen. When you do have beautiful light in the kitchen, you may need to move your food away from the stove or counters and over to the window to create crisp, bright images. When you don't have beautiful light in the kitchen, set up your food shoots in a different area of your home that lends itself better to photography.

Buttery Crescent Dinner Rolls | http://photorec.tvAlternatively, use artificial lighting 

When you're struggling to shoot in the available natural light in your house or don't want the daylight hours to restrict your shooting, consider an artificial lighting setup. When executed properly, artificial lighting produces consistent, bright shots. Typically, I use two desk lamps with daylight bulbs and two DIY Lowel EGO lights for my artificial lighting setup.

Coffee Nut M&Ms | http://photorec.tvMinimize clutter in your shooting space 

Getting rid of unnecessary items and other distractions in your food photography is critical for creating clean, focused images that allow the food to shine. When you begin a food photography session, clear your shooting surface of miscellaneous cooking gear and other household items. If you aren't shooting against a neutral background, such as a white wall, create your own backdrop with a wood board, patterned paper, or even poster board.

Cannellini Bean Hummus | http://photorec.tvAdd a garnish or other finishing touch to your dish 

A garnish or other finishing touch will take any food photography shoot up a notch, boosting your results from casual, amateur shots to polished, professional images. For example, if you're photographing hummus, add a drizzle of olive oil and maybe a few sprigs of parsley. If you're photographing a bowl of soup, top it with a sprinkling of cheese.

Buttery Crescent Dinner Rolls | http://photorec.tvStyle your food with nice dishes and a couple of props 

Choosing dishes and other props specifically for your recipe makes your images more intentional, creating a more powerful visual story. Start with items you already own. Taking the time to style a sandwich on a plate with a napkin and glass of water makes the whole meal together. If you want to expand your prop collection, scout thrift stores and rummage or estate sales for interesting pieces on the cheap. Etsy and eBay are also great options for affordable, unique, vintage items.

Roasted Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts | http://photorec.tvClean up any drops and splatters 

You'll complete the polished, professional aesthetic for your images by taking an extra few seconds to wipe up any drips on the plate or pan. If the pot is really dirty or the bowl has more splatters than you can easily wipe up with a single paper towel, plate your food with clean dishes.

Convey interaction with the food 

Set up a tripod or enlist a family member or friend to help you with your food photography shoot, so you can create a few interactive shots. Pouring the dressing over the salad or getting ready to lift the soup spoon up to your mouth further adds to the narrative. It will take some trial and error to perfect these shots, but it's well worth the effort.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps | http://photorec.tvExperiment with different angles 

When you're preparing for a food photography shoot, allow time to take ample shots, photographing the dish from at least three or four different angles. You may be really happy with your initial idea for the shoot, but it may take a little while to nail the best angle for a particular dish. To get the classic overhead shot you see so frequently on Instagram these days, grab a chair or stepstool, so you can get above your food (safely!).

No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies | http://photorec.tvConsider “in progress” shots for recipes and other food-related blog posts 

In progress shots, such as the cookie dough mixed in the bowl or the meat cooking on the stove, further add to the story you're telling. As you're preparing for your food photography shoot, jot down a short list of ideas, so you won't forget to take a few in progress shots as you make your dish. Sneak peek or behind the scene shots also make great teaser content on social media. If you’re planning to publish a new recipe later in the week, publish a shot of your ingredient spread in the kitchen or the empty cookie mixing bowl a few days before the recipe goes live.

Cannellini Bean Hummus | http://photorec.tvShoot with a prime lens 

Many food photographers shoot extensively, or even exclusively, with prime lenses. While you may want a zoom lens to capture a few wide angle shots of your spread, most likely you'll want to shoot the majority of your images with a 50mm, 85mm, or even 100mm lens. Getting up close with your food brings people right into your kitchen, which is key for making food enticing when someone can't actually be there smelling and tasting it. Personally, I shoot most of my food photography with a 50mm lens, using a 100mm lens selectively for a few really tight images, such as the hummus image above.

No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies | http://photorec.tvPick up a diffuser or reflector to minimize shadows

Harsh shadows often leave sections of an image underexposed. For certain types of photography, you may want to create this sort of aesthetic. However, for most food photography, harsh shadows are less than desirable. A diffuser or reflector is a simple, affordable way to minimize the shadows in your food shoot. The easiest, cheapest way to create an effective reflector is to fold a piece of white foam board in half. 

Adjust your aperture manually to ensure proper depth of field and focus

Ideally, you want to shoot in manual mode, so you have full control over the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed for your food images. If manual mode is too overwhelming right now (and that's okay!) or you prefer to work with your camera's priority mode, choose aperture priority mode. Take care to shoot with an aperture wide enough to keep the image in proper focus. A few images with a narrow focus to highlight certain aspects of the dish will add to your story. But you don't want all of your shots to have a narrow focus. It's rare I shoot wider than 3.2 for food photography. The 9/21 Photorec.tv Instagram challenge is food. Submit your best food photography images by tagging them #PRTV_food2 and #PRTV. The challenge closes at noon EDT on 9/27. Limit two entries. Recent photos only. Check out the full list of PRTV challenges to participate in future challenges. 

Do you have any tips to improve your food photography? 

Leave your best advice in the comments! 

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