Instagram Challenge Top Picks - Golden Hour 3

Every week we put your skills to the test in the Photorec.tv Instagram challenge. This is your chance to try something a bit different, maybe learn a new skill, or just get a bit of practice in shooting.

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_goldenhour3

With spring finally making an appearance it was a great time to get out for some of that golden hour light. While that does include sunsets it's nice to see so many of you thinking out of the box. Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_blackorwhiteMay the 4th be with you! This week your challenge is a bit different in that you’ve got to capture something dark or something light. This is going to be a good challenge for flash photography!

Toby’s Features:

Gorgeous layers so warmly lit - I spent MANY summers at chincotaegue. Love it!

You balanced the flash so nicely with the warm setting sun - nicely done.

Lovely leopard lit but the last bits of light.

Roy’s Features:

A great job at balancing natural and golden light for a really nice shot

If a challenge is about light a golden sun flare I’d say fits the bill.

Wildlife gets super active at later times and catching them in a golden light like this makes for great photos.

For more info on the Instagram Challenges, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Wildlife Photography - Tips and Tricks

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7zE2Ob3l90[/embed]

A new video with some wildlife photography tips. Get better photos with longer lenses to nail those wildlife shots! 

Lenses

Tamron SP 150-600mm

• Animals are for the most part shy making a 400mm lens your best bet with 600mm getting even closer for great shots.

• Using a longer focal length brings the wildlife to you, letting them take up more of the shot for an impressive photo.

Sigma 100-400mm Contemporary

The Sigma 150-600 C is one of the best values in super telephoto, The Tamron G2 is a little sharper but more expensive. Check out photorec.tv/wildlifegear for recommended gear cameras and lenses for wildlife photography at every budget.

Shutter Speeds

When you are shooting with a longer lens you want to watch your shutter speeds. Typically when photographing it goes aperture first, but when using a longer lens and especially when photographing wildlife, it's shutter speed first.

Focal length rule: Focal Length * 2(Times the amount of coffee you've had)

A post shared by Roy McKee III (@roymckeeiii) on Oct 27, 2016 at 10:30am PDT

That means for a 400mm lens you are looking at roughly a 1/800 shutter speed. The rule doesn't account for your subject though, meaning that in cases of faster objects like birds in flight you'll need speeds up to 1/2000 of a second. Going for faster photos first can net you "safe" shots with a higher ISO, meaning more noise, then you can back the speed down a bit for cleaner images. Tripods and IS can help speeds a bit as well keeping things a bit lower as well.

• Remember - expose properly, don’t underexpose your image because when you brighten the image in post it is going to get much noisier.

• Focus mode - with static or slow-moving subjects a single point is fine - running or flying - a wider array of points really helps the camera track your subject. And switch to Continuous AF for subjects on the move.

Sony a7R III

Gear Recommendations - photorec.tv/wildlifegear

Feel free to post questions about gear here or consider joining my awesome photography community at the Photo Enthusiast Network

Instagram Challenge Top Picks - Parks

Every week we put your skills to the test in the Photorec.tv Instagram challenge. This is your chance to try something a bit different, maybe learn a new skill, or just get a bit of practice in shooting.

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_parks

Happy Earth Day and National Parks Week! Spring is going strong and you guys got out for some really great photos! Parks are a great location to go shoot a variety of subjects but still close that it's not necessarily out of the way, bar going to Yosemite. Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_goldenhour3Soft and warm light can make for great shots and that’s gonna be what you are looking for in the golden hour challenge. Remember that it's a focus on the light so your subject can be anything you'd like to try shooting. 

Toby’s Features:

Nicely captured some iconic elements of Yosemite NP

Simple composition nicely showcasing Canyonlands

Love the soft low contrast here that matches the feel of the sand and wood

Roy’s Features:

Wooded areas are great for playing with sun flares in your images due to the trees and this photo worked out nicely.

Got to love the tiny details you can find at a park, macro really does make a tiny area a giant one full of options

Parks are not just trees and this landscape shot is a great reminder. Remember when shooting big landscapes like this a foreground element can really balance an image

For more info on the Instagram Challenges, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Lightroom Webinar - 100% Free - Learn Lightroom!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbEEbzJkPvg

SIGN UP FOR FREE LIGHTROOM WEBINAR

On This 100% Free LIVE Training:

• Understand importing.

• Make Lightroom do the work for you - file rename, backup AND edit all on IMPORT!!

• Staying organized in Lightroom - Find your photos FAST!

• Simple edits to make all photos beautiful!

• Get your Lightroom questions answered!

SIGN UP!

Southwest Tour - March 2019

McKay Photography Academy Presents "The return to the Southwest"Photograph the Grand Canyon, Slot Canyons, Horseshoe Bend and Zion NP - this is going to be a special trip with amazing opportunities to capture incredible images and check items off your bucket list! It will sell out in minutes. Add your info to the pre-list now. More info can be found on the 2018 trip page.

Sigma 100-400

A quick review of the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens.Sharpness - Excellent at the price pointSpeed - Very GoodAperture Range - Slight slower than more expensive lensesBuild Quality - ExcellentStabilization - Excellent

Pros - A very budget friendly lens that gets you to 400mm with excellent sharpness/quality in a travel-friendly size.Cons - No tripod collar can limit some tripod useBUY from B&H PhotoSample RAW photos for Download

Instagram Challenge Top Picks - Architecture 3

Every week we put your skills to the test in the Photorec.tv Instagram challenge. This is your chance to try something a bit different, maybe learn a new skill, or just get a bit of practice in shooting.

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_architecture3

Some really neat photos this week! Focusing on repeating patterns and light really worked out for this week’s challenge. There are only three top picks this week with Toby on tour but check the rest out at #PRTV_architecture3. Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_parksWith spring starting, hit up a park! This week will be Earth Day and National Park Week with the National Park Foundation so it’s a great time to go shoot outside.

Roy’s Features:

An interesting take on an architecture black and white that really shows the shapes in the building.

It might be Trinity College but this shot from Marita almost seems Harry Potterish with this old architecture for a great photo.

A different take on a recognizable monument to most, giving the building a bit of breathing room worked well!

For more info on the Instagram Challenges, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Nixplay Iris Review - Show YOUR photos in my living room!?!?

I have spent a few weeks with the Nixplay Iris wifi cloud frame and discovered a cool feature that I need your help to use! watch till the end - I have thoughts on this $175-$200 digital frame with 10GB of cloud storage. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Buy the Nixplay IRIS

Amazon

B&H

Mish Mash Highlights: 4/11/2018

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Apr 10, 2018 at 5:00am PDT

This week's photography news and more with the Mish Mash Highlights. Want to mount an iPhone to a 70-200? It might sound crazy but that's an option this week with a new adapter.Toby's back this week with the live show as well. It's the same material you get here, but straight from the man himself while you can talk to the PEN community in a group chat. If that sounds good sign up to PEN today at photoenthusiastnetwork.com. The live show is just a bonus to a ton of great content.

This Week at Photorec.tv

Want to travel with Toby?We've got some great new trips to sign up for:

• Return to New ZealandApril & May 2019
• Oregon Waterfalls and CoastAugust 24th-26th 2018

New for PEN, join today at Photorec.tv/PEN

• Tuesday Tips -The F Stops Here! - Getting started with controlling aperture

WPPI Panasonic Booth - Quick look at GX9 and G9 from PanasonicToby spends a few moments with the Panasonic Gx9 and G9. Talking briefly about the Canon M50 and the Panasonic Gx9

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.This Adapter Lets You Mount Any Giant Lens On Your Tiny SmartphoneWhile manual only, including aperture, check out this neat adapter that lets you shoot with a smartphone. Essentially digiscoping, shooting through a scope, you can use a large variety of lenses (Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sony E). It's a neat idea if a niche item, hit the link for a video for more!Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is a different beastA smaller micro four-thirds design almost in line with the GH5 with 4K at 60 fps. At $1200 it's an interesting choice and a bit of competition for Panasonic.Other Stories You Might Like:

• Photos of a Starry Lightsaber Duel in the World’s Largest Salt Flat
• How to Rescue an Underexposed Photo and Maintain Natural Color
• How to Stay Creative and Constantly Improve Your Work
• PolarPro Moves Into Still Camera Lens Filters with QuartzLine
• Lutify.me Cross-Platform LUTs Are Now Even Better in Lightroom and Camera Raw
• Elinchrom will skip Photokina this year, other brands may follow suit
• A Photographer got arrested for using his drone- And Says it was worth it
• ProGrade Digital Unveils World’s First 1TB CFexpress Card
• Photographer Forced to Watch His Stolen Custom-Modified Lens Sell on eBay for $65,100
• Fujifilm will discontinue ACROS 100 black & white film in October
• Patent: Canon Application for a New Tilt Screen for the Eos-M
• Photographer Turns Bullied Kids Into Avengers Superheroes
• The Crazy Shots You Can Do with a Camera Robot

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_pets3

It’s been a furry week with some nice photos! Glad to see some silly shots this week with the cold weather up here in Michigan. Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_architecture3A focus on buildings this week, try to focus on shapes and lines as a lot of it will be drawing the eye to your subject.

Toby’s Features:

Love the crop!

I agree and the taller dog’s gaze at the camera is perfect!

Just a simple tight portrait! lovely!

Roy’s Features:

I love that yawn! It's a cute shot and a really unique angle.

The pet for this challenge doesn't have to be yours, using a fast aperture works great to seperate your subject.

A bit of aww, going for that morning light

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

Sunrise crashes an aurora party

"Sunrise crashes an aurora party over the southern hemisphere," said astronaut Ricky Arnold (@astro_ricky) of the image he snapped from the International Space Station. Auroras are one of the many Earthly phenomena the crew of the space station observe from their perch high above the planet. The dancing lights of auroras provide spectacular views, but also capture the imagination of scientists who study incoming energy and particles from our Sun. Auroras are one effect of such energetic particles, which can speed out from the Sun both in a steady stream called the solar wind or from giant eruptions known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs. After a trip toward Earth that can last three days, the solar particles and magnetic fields cause the release of particles already trapped near Earth, which in turn trigger reactions in the upper atmosphere in which oxygen and nitrogen molecules release photons of light. The result: the Northern and Southern lights. #earth #aurora #night #day #nasa #international #space #station

A post shared by International Space Station (@iss) on Apr 11, 2018 at 10:50am PDT

Pick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going!

Upcoming live show schedule for PEN - No show on April 18th

Mish Mash Highlights: 4/4/2018

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Mar 31, 2018 at 5:30pm PDT

This week's photography news and more with the Mish Mash Highlights. This week Lightroom got a big update, if you haven't noticed yet go check it out. We've also got a bunch of gear in for reviews so that'll be coming out soon!Toby's back this week with the live show as well. It's the same material you get here, but straight from the man himself while you can talk to the PEN community in a group chat. If that sounds good sign up to PEN today at photoenthusiastnetwork.com. The live show is just a bonus to a ton of great content.

This Week at Photorec.tv

Want to travel with Toby?We've got some great new trips to sign up for:

• Return to New ZealandApril & May 2019
• Oregon Waterfalls and CoastAugust 24th-26th  2018

New for PEN, join today at Photorec.tv/PEN

• Tuesday Tips - Need Inspiration? Steal it!
• The Making of a Black and White Series
• PEN PPA Level Photo Critique - March

Articles Out this week!

• 5 Reasons the 40mm is Better Than the 50mm
• Spring Photography Backgrounds and Props
• Safari Review – Sony 100-400
• Gnarbox Review

Lightroom Classic CC v7.3 | April 2018 UPDATESFor those that want to get a bit more advanced with their editing Lightroom Classic now has a new color profile system and creative profiles. A big boost to editing and we should be seeing some really neat presets in the future. Along with the update there's been a few UI changes and items moved for better workflow, hopefully to get you out shooting again faster.

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.

• This Camera Was Lost at Sea for 2 Years — Its Photos Just Led to Its Owner

As one of those viral stories, you can't stop this Canon G12 that managed to survive under water for two years! Al beit, thanks to an underwater housing, but with the power of social media they managed to find the owners within a couple days. This little Canon got swept 155 miles away from where it was lost in Japan to end up in Taiwan and fortunately found by school kids.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/park.lee.10/posts/1976030532434236[/embed]

 Other Stories You Might Like:

• Depth-Based Photo Editing Is Now a Thing
• CIPA Early 2018 Shows Up to 28% Fall in Camera Sales
• The Best Photography April Fools’ Jokes of 2018
• This Tour Around the Sigma Japan Factory Explains Why All Their Machinery Is Blue
• Netflix Teases With Kodachrome Movie Trailer
• VSCO Opens Up A New Studio In Oakland | Free To The Public
• This ‘Secret Code’ Shows if Your Nikon Gear is Refurbished
• Sheriff's Deputy who shot photographer won't face criminal charges
• Do YOU Look Through the Viewfinder with Your Dominant Eye?
• Services and Apps You Can Use to Work More Productively

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_dark2

Starting out I think a lot of photographers wait for that bluebird sky to take photos. So this week we flipped the script going for darker shots whether you got a bit creative or just waited for that light to fall. Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_pets3Time to let the fur fly with a pets challenge next! Go get some cute shots or your pets, or someone elses, for a nice shot this week.

Toby’s Features:

Roy’s Features:

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

Check out theis neat shot of Java, Bali, and Lombok. It almost looks like someone photoshopped a line of islands into a shot :)

From space, the sprawling Indonesian islands of Java, Bali and Lombok appear perfectly arranged. In this majestic view, captured from 250 miles above courtesy of astronaut Ricky Arnold (@Astro_Ricky) aboard the International Space Station (@iss), the impeccably aligned islands are disconnected only by tiny passages of water called straits. The Lombok Strait, which separates Bali and Lombok, is a slice of an invisible boundary called the Wallace Line. The margin, which runs between Asia and Australia, was created by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859 and was drawn to separate the wildlife of Australia from the wildlife of Southeast Asia. This study of the geographical distribution of species and ecosystems is called biogeography and was formed from the work of Wallace and other biologist and explorers. There are currently six people living on the space station. While living aboard humanity’s only permanently occupied microgravity laboratory, they will work on hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science. Credit: NASA/@Astro_Ricky #nasa #space #spacestation #crew #astronaut #spacecraft #orbit #earth #research #science #picoftheday #indonesia #bali #archipelago #java #lombok #islands

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on Mar 31, 2018 at 8:11am PDT

Pick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going!

Upcoming live show schedule for PEN - No show on April 18th

Lightroom Classic CC v7.3 | April 2018 UPDATES

Adobe has released an update for Lightroom Classic now at v7.3 that adds a few features, moves a few features and adds support for more cameras/lenses including the new Sony a7iii.

Adobe Lightroom Profiles

In Lightroom Classic CC and Adobe Camera Raw, profiles have been moved from the Camera Calibration panel(very bottom) to the Basic panel(very top).Expanded profile capabilities with six brand new Adobe Raw profiles, over 40 new Creative profiles, and an all-new Profile Browser that lets you quickly compare and select the best profile for your photo. When you hover over the profile your selected image previews the changes in real-time.

About these color profiles

Adobe Color was designed to greatly improve the look and rendering of warm tones, improving the transitions between certain color ranges, and slightly increasing the starting contrast of your photos. Since Adobe Color is the new default (but only for newly imported photos), it was designed to work on the widest range of photos and ensures that regardless of the subject, your photo will look great.Adobe Monochrome has been carefully tuned to be a great starting point for any black and white photograph, resulting in better tonal separation and contrast than photos that started off in Adobe Standard and were converted into black and white.Adobe Portrait is optimized for all skin tones, providing more control and better reproduction of skin tones. With less contrast and saturation applied to skin tones throughout the photo, you get more control and precision for critical portraiture.Adobe Landscape, as the name implies, was designed for landscape photos, with more vibrant skies and foliage tones.Adobe Neutral provides a starting point with a very low amount of contrast, useful for photos where you want the most control or that have very difficult tonal ranges.Adobe Vivid provides a punchy, saturated starting point.Often I find these profiles to offer a good starting point for your edits. They are not a one-click fix but lay a foundation for additional edits, saving you time. Learn more about my use of profiles by joining photoenthusiastnetwork.com/ and accessing over 10 hours of Lightroom Training.

More accessible Camera Matching Profiles

Camera Matching Profiles were one of the most powerful raw tools found in Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom Classic CC, but also one of the most difficult to find. Now, they’re easier to find and available for the first time in Lightroom CC. We created the Camera Matching profiles to match the different options often found in your camera, making it possible for you to match the color and tonality of your raw file with what you saw on the your camera’s LCD or the JPEG rendered by your camera, as closely as possible. The options available for any particular photograph will vary, depending on which camera the photo was captured with.

Creative Profiles include LUTs

The profiles found in the four Creative profiles groups: Artistic, Black & White, Modern, and Vintage can be applied to any photo, both raw and non-raw. The Creative profiles were designed to create a look and feel in your photos and provide even more control thanks to the inclusion of a 3D Lookup Table (LUT) that can be included within a profile. LUTs have often been used by Photoshop and video professionals to add a color grading effect to the photo, with more options and precision than were previously possible in Lightroom. Creative Profiles also provide a new Amount slider, enabling you to increase or decrease the effect, tuning it to your taste.

Additional Lightroom April 2018 Changes

Dehaze has been moved into the basic panel - something I predicted two years ago. Wait long enough and you will eventually be, right?Always be gentle with the sliders in the Presence section of the basic panel and this includes Dehaze. It is powerful but can quickly add too much contrast to your image. I often apply a small amount of dehaze to landscape photos - 5-15 and then selectively use the brush to target those areas that need a little more.  Want more Lightroom tip, tricks, and education? I offer 10 hours of Lightroom training as part of our Photo Enthusiast Network. Join Today!Tone curve panel size has expanded for more precise adjustmentsOptimized the face-tagging algorithms for more accurate detection of faces.Which change or changes are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments below.Updates are accessed through your Adobe Helper App

Spring Photography Backgrounds and Props

Spring photography backgrounds and props will take your warm weather photo sessions to the next level. From simple newborn shoots in your own backyard to large weddings in fancy venues, there are spring photography backgrounds and props to fit every budget and shooting style. Don't be afraid to mix and match ideas as they work best for your photography style and your clients' preferences.

Clean, light backgrounds

I love to use clean, bright backdrops for spring and summer shoots, saving darker backgrounds (i.e. deep red brick, faux black chalkboard) for fall and winter. My go-to floor pattern is light faux wood (I have both vinyl and paper backdrops). My go-to backdrop is light blue bokeh. More recently, I picked up a distressed teal vinyl backdrop and an assorted set of white backdrops with colored dots, both of which are perfect for spring shooting as well.

Easter props

Easter props are great for mini portrait sessions with babies, toddlers, and small children. They are also ideal backdrop elements for styled Easter and spring shoots, such as recipes and DIY projects. I love to scout for seasonal and holiday props in the Target dollar section and at Michaels, where there are always sales and coupons. There are also always a handful of seasonal items, such as plastic eggs, that are cheap everywhere and make for a simple, fun prop in virtually any type of holiday styled shoot or portrait session.

Umbrellas

Umbrellas create a whimsical element in toddler and kid portraits, family sessions, engagement shoots, maternity photos, and even spring wedding photos. Consider purchasing umbrellas specifically designed as photo or wedding props, which tend to be more lightweight and fun than traditional rain umbrellas.

Garlands and banners

A simple garland or banner adds a festive touch to a neutral backdrop. They are readily available at big box and craft stores or you can make your own. There are tons of easy free DIY tutorials for spring, Easter, and Mother's Day garlands and banners. A quick search on Google or Pinterest will get you started. Garlands and banners take up virtually no space, making them an ideal prop to store and pull out again year after year.

Bicycles

Getting a few shots on or with bicycles is a fun option for couples or families who enjoy biking together. If you know your client enjoys this hobby, simply suggest it as option when they're preparing for the shoot, so they can plan to bring their bikes along.

Picnic spread

A picnic spread is another fun way to capture action shots with couples, kids, or families without feeling too posed. Don't feel like you have to bring an entire meal along for a portrait or engagement session. A small snacks spread or cheese and wine will complete the aesthetic perfectly. If you're planning a golden hour shoot, roasting marshmallows and making s'mores is another great option.

Flowers

After months of snow and gray skies, we're all starved for the pop of color that flowers provide. Flowers make a great backdrop or prop. There are lots of printed floral backdrops available or you can create your own hanging floral backdrop. Danielle of Lou What Wear has an awesome floral backdrop tutorial.I am not a gardener and have a lot of faux flowers as decor pieces in my house that I can pull as needed for photo shoots. I like to style them in mason jars and faux glass milk and soda bottles. Michaels offers an abundance of faux flowers at low prices. I've also found some surprisingly nice faux stems at the dollar store. If you shoot professionally or are planning to take pictures of kids or family, consider purchasing a few bouquets or gathering fresh flowers from your garden.

Ice cream or lemonade stand

For more ambitious DIY enthusiasts who do professional toddler and kid portraits, an ice cream or lemonade stand backdrop or prop (in which kids can actually pose in the stand) is an adorable idea for spring shoots. Most tutorials are for lemonade stands, but you can easily customize the concept to create an ice cream stand. Check out tutorials from Accessorize and Organize, Fantabulosity, and See Vanessa Craft.

Outdoor elements

Whenever possible, get outside for spring portraits, family shoots, and couple and group wedding shots. I know that location, time of year, and the weather on any given day may not be conducive to outdoor spring shooting, especially early in spring. Embrace the opportunities that you do have, seeking out locations to include flowers in your backdrops. Keep in mind many public parks, gardens, and other favorite outdoor locations get busy on weekends, so plan accordingly.

What are your favorite spring photography backgrounds and props?

Feel free to leave links to the products you love in the comments!

Safari Review - Sony 100-400

I take the Sony FE 100-400 and Sony 1.4x Teleconverter on Safari in Tanzania, Africa with McKaylive.com and https://thomsonsafaris.com/ - I loved, LOVED the results and share with you my full review of the Sony 100-400, with sample photos and a report of how the Sony 100-400 performs paired with the Sony 1.4x Teleconverter for wildlife and portraits!

• Buy the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens with FREE Circular Polarizer Filter Kit from B&H Photo

• Buy the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter from B&H Photo

Your use of these links supports these reviews and costs you nothing extra.

Sample Photos Sony FE 100-400 f/4.5 - 5.6

[gallery ids="18038,18039,18040,18041,18042,18044,18045,18046,18047"]

Sony FE 100-400 with 1.4x Teleconverter Sample Photos

[gallery columns="4" ids="18048,18049,18050,18051,18052,18053,18054,18055"]

Sample raw files for personal use only.

Pick up the Sony G Master FE 100-400mm Today

Sony 100-400

Amazon

B&H

Sony 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 Specs

Focal Length

100 - 400mm

Aperture

Maximum: f/4.5 - 5.6Minimum: f/32 - 40

Mount

Sony FE (Full Frame or APS-C)

Angle of View

24° - 6° 10'

Minimum Focus Distance

3.22' (.98 m)

Magnification

0.12 - 0.35x

Optical Design

22 Elements in 16 Groups

Blades

9, Rounded

Image Stabilization

Yes

Auto Focus

Yes

Tripod Collar

Yes, Removable

Filter Size

Front: 77 mm

Dimensions

Approx. 3.70 x 8.07" (93.9 x 205 mm)

Weight

3.07 lbs (1395 g)

5 Reasons the 40mm is Better Than the 50mm

I picked up the Canon 40mm f/2.8 on a whim before traveling to Europe last year. My husband and I were both bringing DSLR cameras, and I wanted us to have the flexibility to shoot with versatile prime lenses at the same time. While we didn't shoot with primes much on the trip (if you've been part of a large travel group, you know how it goes), I've been shooting with it quite a bit since then. I cannot even believe how much I love the 40mm lens. With a few exceptions (such as when I'm doing macro photography), the 40mm is my standard lens now.I know that the Canon 50mm f/1.8 or "Nifty Fifty" is most people's top pick for an all-around go-to prime lens. It was my go-to prime lens for many years, too. After shooting with the 40mm extensively for almost a year now, I can't believe how much better it is than the 50mm f/1.8. For the slight price difference, it seems like a no-brainer to pick up the 40mm.There are a few key reasons I think the Canon 40mm f/2.8 is a better lens than the Canon 50mm f/1.8.

1. The build quality is better.
2. It focuses more quickly, accurately, and quietly.
3. The focal length is more versatile for indoor shooting.
4. It allows for closer focusing.
5. It's smaller.

The only time I still prefer to shoot with the 50mm f/1.8 over the 40mm f/2.8 is when I'm in a low-light situation. Personally, I most often shoot in extreme low-light in bars or jazz clubs, taking pictures of a band. Wedding venues are another popular low-light photography environment. The full extra stop of light that the 50mm offers allows you to keep your ISO much lower in these low-light settings.I elaborate on all of these points and more in the full post. I have the full 5 Reasons the 40mm is Better Than the 50mm post over on my blog.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!Do you think that the 40mm is Better than the 50mm?

Leave a comment!

We also have a great discussion about the 40mm vs. the 50mm on Instagram. Share your insight there, too!

Mish Mash Highlights: 3/28/2018

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Mar 28, 2018 at 6:43am PDT

This week's photography news and more with the Mish Mash Highlights. In the news, a leaked GoPro announcement looks like we'll be getting a $200 budget model. Then you can finally stop worrying about the dreaded Instagram shadowban hopefully with a new site that checks your posts.Toby and Steve are back with this week's live show and this is the same highlights we use so you guys get this week's rundown. If you'd rather watch then read, sign up to PEN today at photoenthusiastnetwork.com, the live show is just a bonus to a ton of great content. For everyone that are already PEN members, thank you for supporting the site!

This Week at Photorec.tv

Want to travel with Toby?We've got some great new trips to sign up for:

• Return to New ZealandApril & May 2019
• Oregon Waterfalls and CoastAugust 24th-26th  2018

• New for PEN, join today at Photorec.tv/PEN
  • Tuesday Tips - Foreground and Background Elements for Story-Telling! 
  • We tend to focus on our subject a bit too much starting out. This article from Instructor Ally McKay is a great step to think about how to layer details in your photos.
• Moment Lenses - The Filmmaker Collection
  • Toby has been a big fan of the Moment lenses and they've just announced a new collection on Kickstarter.

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Leaked: GoPro to reveal entry-level 'HERO' action cam this week, will cost $200With a few leaked photos and a sales PDF it's clear GoPro is out to release a new budget HERO action camera. The problem with a new non-4K model... is it really needed? GoPro as of late has been feeling the pressure, especially with YI technology and other companies releasing more action cameras into the market. But as it stands it's a budget camera without 4K capability but price wise the HERO5 Black is at the same point with higher specs. At the moment it's $299 with a $25 gift card back at B&H and elsewhere sales have gone down to $220. This might be another shot at stemming the tide to cheaper models but it just doesn't work.Leaked Specs:

• 1080/60P & 1440/60P video
• 10 MP Stills at 10fps
• Timelapse video
• Waterproof up to 33 Feet (10m)
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Voice Control

This New Instagram Shadowban Tester Examines Your Last 10 PostsFor those using Instagram that have a low liked post, it's time to try the new and improved Instagram shadow ban tester. From trying to abuse the system with a bot or accidentally using a banned hashtag (Toby did last week) it's easy enough to fall under the dreaded Instagram Shadowban scare. I wasn't a big fan of how Tiberr's original tester worked but if you think you may be affected, or curious, this is a quick way to go see. The new site actually lists the hashtags you use and scratches out any that are on the banned list. Like the article from PetaPixel mentions if you are showing up affected just remove the bad hashtags and try not to use Instagram for a couple days.As a warning for those that don't post too frequently this only checks the last week or so. Anything past that will show a flag simply because they can't find it online.Other Stories You Might Like:

• Real Estate Photographer Taking Legal Action After Being Shot by Homeowner
• Leaked: GoPro to reveal entry-level 'HERO' action cam this week, will cost $200
• Tamron Says They Are Ready for Canon and Nikon Mirrorless
• What Should You Charge for Your Pro Photography?
• Instagram Updates | Hashtags And Profile Links In Bio & Feed Priority Options
• This New Instagram Shadowban Tester Examines Your Last 10 Posts
• Behind the Scenes for Selling Large Wall Art Using Samples
• Give Your Images the Cinematic Look in Just Two Minutes
• The camera is now the only smartphone feature that matters

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_highorlow

Some fun shots, and duck butt, for this week's High or Low challenge! Something a bit different as it pushes you out of that static standing pose shooting for something a bit more dynamic. Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_dark2Photorec.tv gone dark! With warmer weather mostly here it's time to shoot a bit later or a bit darker for some fun shots. A good one to try would be some blue hour city shots as there's just that little bit of light left that makes the city lights pop.

Toby’s Features:

I wish there was something that offered a sense of scale but the image is still a stellar shot - love the pattern of the ice and the dark water

The angle and the dress spread on the floor work well together to really draw you right to the face

Great angle on a nice clean shot of a Joshua tree with that beautiful starry sky!

Roy’s Features:

I like how being down low in this really shows the scale with that wider lens.

A hint of texture gives a nice feel for this photo with the bridge nice and soft in the background.

This is a bit neat as it’s a much higher angle that puts the focus all on your subject.

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

The Crab Nebula, a composite image using photos from the Hubble, Chandra, and Spitzer space telescopes. Using different filters the Hubble shows the purple hues while the other two telescopes shot the white and blue for this neat image.

A crab walks through time - this new composite image of the Crab Nebula uses data from our Hubble (@NASAHubble), Chandra (@chandraxray) and Spitzer space telescopes and gives new insights to this celestial object. We've learned a lot over the years about this intriguing exploded star and its pulsating core. It was one of the first objects that our Chandra X-Ray Observatory examined with its sharp X-ray vision, and it has been a frequent target of the telescope ever since. There are many reasons that the Crab Nebula is such a well-studied object. For example, it is one of a handful of cases where there is strong historical evidence for when the star exploded. Having this definitive timeline helps astronomers understand the details of the explosion and its aftermath. In the case of the Crab, observers in several countries reported the appearance of a “new star” in 1054 A.D. in the direction of the constellation Taurus. Much has been learned about the Crab in the centuries since then. Today, astronomers know that the Crab Nebula is powered by a quickly spinning, highly magnetized neutron star called a pulsar, which was formed when a massive star ran out of its nuclear fuel and collapsed. The latest image of the Crab is a composite with X-rays from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (blue and white), Hubble Space Telescope (purple) and Spitzer Space Telescope (pink). The extent of the X-rays in this image is smaller than the others because extremely energetic electrons emitting X-rays radiate away their energy more quickly than the lower-energy electrons emitting optical and infrared light. Credits: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/STScI; Infrared: NASA-JPL-Caltech #crabnebula #chandra #hubble #spitzer #telescope #astronomy #xray #nebula #space #nasa #astronomy #science #picoftheday #pictureoftheday

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on Mar 16, 2018 at 11:23am PDT

Pick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going!

Moment Lenses- The Filmmaker Collection

Have you seen the teasers Moment has been dropping the last couple weeks? So excited to see they finally revealed their new filmmaker collection! Beautiful, cinematic video on your phone. It just launched on Kickstarter so it’s a good time to get it at 30% off.They announced four new products.Anamorphic Lens - $149A lens that makes your videos look widescreen With sweet flares and letterbox screen, this is the holy grail of video. Typically super expensive, but we made it affordable.iPhoneX Battery Photo Case - $99The first photography battery case on the market for iPhoneX. With wireless charging and an electronic shutter button, we make it easier to shoot video and recharge your phone. Universal Gimbal - $40To get butter smooth video on your phone, you need a gimbal. The first adjustable counterweight to balance your gear on a DJI Osmo, Zhiyun SmoothQ, and Evo Shift gimbals. Modular to 60g, 90g, or 120g.Lens Filter Adapter - $40The Moment Filter Mount lets you attach a standard 62mm filter to any of your Moment Lenses. Simply press fit the mount onto your lens and you’re ready to go. Available exclusively on Kickstarter. Early bird pricing starts at 30% off. Ships in June 2018

Mish Mash Highlights: 3/21/2018

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Mar 19, 2018 at 6:01pm PDT

Photography news and more with this week's Mish Mash Highlights update. Toby's just touched down in Seattle after going on safari in Africa so you should be seeing more content from him soon. As for this week in news Adobe got a price bump and Lytro is being bought out for a whopping $40 million.While Toby does the Live Show for PEN this is your quick peek at what we’re doing behind the scenes. But, you can always join Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live, find out more at Photorec.tv/pen. For everyone that are already PEN members, thank you for supporting the site!

This Week at Photorec.tv

Want to travel with Toby? We've got some great new trips to sign up for:

• Return to New Zealand – April & May 2019
• Oregon Waterfalls and Coast - August 24th-26th  2018

• New for PEN, join today at Photorec.tv/PEN
  • Tuesday Tips - Posing and Relationship Family Portraits, this week focusing on how to connect your subjects for a better photo.
• Hands-on Videos at WPPI
  • Canon M50 at WPPI – Baby Steps?
  • WPPI Spider Booth

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Adobe Breaks $2Billion This Quarter | Where’s The Revenue Going?Adobe Announces Creative Cloud Price IncreaseThe big news this week is that Adobe is raising their prices at the same time of having record profits. Those with Adobe photography, student, or Acrobat plans are safe for now. Having both announcements simultaneously have annoyed some of the Adobe userbase as the cash is mainly going to investors while updates have been slim. With software like Capture One, catching up, and faster than Lightroom in areas is it time to jump to another editing software?

• Creative Cloud for Individual Single App plans will increase to $20.99 per month from $19.99 per month or $1 per month
• Creative Cloud for Individual All Apps plans will increase to $52.99 per month from $49.99 per month or $3 per month
• Creative Cloud for Teams All App plans will increase to $79.99 per month from $69.99 per month or $10 per month

Sources: Google is buying Lytro for about $40MWhen Lytro came out both Toby and I found it interesting but more of a fad. Their lightfield technology allowed you to refocus a shot in post or change depth of field, which admittedly would be handy. Now while things might not have worked out perfectly for them Google is reportedly buying them for $40 million. While their camera tech wasn't a perfect fit for the market the technology might find a new life in immersive VR. Using the camera tech to make better results for VR and capturing images for it. As Google does make Android software and the Google Pixel series of phones hopefully we'll see some of the software trickles down.Other Stories You Might Like:

• NASA Astronaut Brings 4-Year-Old Son to Spacesuit Photo Shoot
• Man Buys a $2 Million Photo of Jesse James on Ebay. For $10
• This New Instagram Shadowban Tester Examines Your Last 10 Posts
• Instagram Rolls Out Repost Feature, Sort Of
• This Photographer Got Run Over by a 2.5-Ton Truck and Bounced Back
• Breaking: in Response to Recent Deaths, Faa Halts “doors-off” Helicopter Flights Nationwide
• If This Magazine Picks Your Photo for Its Cover, YOU Pay $430
• Photo Industry Legend Chuck Westfall Dies at 66
• Scam Competition Uses Names of Photographers as 'Judges' Without Permission
• Report: Nikon pulling KeyMission inventory out of US stores

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_colorful2

Despite some snow still here in Michigan spring is coming and you guys showed the color with this weeks challenge. Nice job thinking out of the box with some neat indoor shots like crafts!Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_highorlowA composition can be one of the biggest points separating a subject from a snapshot. For the next challenge, your goal is to shoot with a bit of elevation, or get close to the ground. Changing heights can change your view from the standard eye level view to something a lot more interesting for a photo. Go try it out and good luck this week!

Roy’s Features:

Nothing says springtime color like some early blossoms.

A bit more on the creative side and certainly a colorful one at that for sure.  

A rainbow of mixed flowers certainly works for this challenge and sets a colorful scene.

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

Breathtaking images! NASA’s Juno spacecraft releases pics of Jupiter storm

Some more neat shots from the Juno spacecraft, go check out this massive storm on Jupiter.Pick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going! For Pen members, Toby will be back on air March 28th.

Canon M50 at WPPI - Baby Steps?

Canon has released a mirrorless 4k camera and Toby spends a few minutes at WPPI sharing his thoughts on the M50. This is Canon's vlogging camera, at a low price point it's touted with 4K while keeping a small size and being budget friendly. As their first strong go into the mirrorless market does it work? Watch Toby's video to find out.Preorder/Buy the Canon M50: https://bhpho.to/2FPrsdz 

WPPI Spider Booth

Visiting the SpiderBooth at WPPI - We take a look at their new products and Toby's favorite - the SpiderLight Backpacker.

Buy the SpiderLight Backpacker at https://bhpho.to/2HDpSvV

• Holster your camera on your belt OR on your backpack strap.

• Works on backpack strap or messenger bag strap.

• Holster lock keeps camera securely in place.

• Velcro elastic strap wraps around your lens, keeping it secure.

• Great for biking with your camera!

• Allows full compatibility with GoPro accessories/cameras.

• Your GoPro camera locks securely in place.

• Arca-Swiss geometry/design – go from your backpack holster, right to your Acra-Swiss tripod head.

Also Watch: Camera Carry Systems -Straps, Slings, Belts, Bags, Packs, TANGLED!!!

Mish Mash Highlights: 3/14/2018

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Mar 12, 2018 at 7:30am PDT

Your photography news and more this week with the Mish Mash Highlights. This week Toby's off in Africa on safari, check out the little cute baby baboon! Then in the news, Toby released his a7III official review and it sounds like Canon and Nikon are close behind.While Toby does the Live Show for PEN this is your quick peek at what we’re doing behind the scenes. But, you can always join Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live, find out more at Photorec.tv/pen. For everyone that are already PEN members, thank you for supporting the site!

This Week at Photorec.tv

Want to travel with Toby? We've got some great new trips to sign up for:

• Return to New Zealand – April & May 2019
• Oregon Waterfalls and Coast - August 24th-26th  2018

• New for PEN, join today at Photorec.tv/PEN
  • Tuesday Tips - To go along with Steve's digital matting tutorial I've added a quick guide for making your own handwritten watermark.
• Vietnam Photography Adventures – Part Three! - A new vlog on Toby's recent tour of Vietnam with the last leg of the trip heading into Cambodia.
• Sony a7III Review – The Only Thing Entry Level Is the Price - The big review is out! - If you are thinking about going full frame or want to upgrade this is a strong option to choose for your next camera.

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Did Instagram Just Bring Back Chronological Feeds?Without a big announcement from Instagram, you might have noticed your Instagram feed has changed a bit. Instagram has been testing out a new feed for some that prioritize more recent posts like the original chronological feed that sorted photos by most recent. Something you all want as our Instagram poll was nearly 100% for a change. This is getting more people to see your posts and letting you see posts from people that might have been not showing up often. It's a welcome change, likely as Instagram has been feeling a bit of pressure from Vero and Ello apps so they are trying to keep their users.Sony Exec Predicts Canon and Nikon Full-Frame Mirrorless Within a YearSo the million dollar question, with a camera like the Sony a7III now out when will Canon and Nikon catch up? At least according to Sony's General Manager Kenji Tanaka they think it will be within a year. Canon's been strongly pushing for a full frame mirrorless and market share lately so it is a big possibility that we might see something soon. Would you go for a Canon/Nikon full frame mirrorless or do you want to make the switch to Sony?Other Stories You Might Like:

• Canon Wants a 50% Marketshare
• This Video Shows the Danger of Sharing Photos of Your Favorite Location on Social Media
• Should You Raise Your Photography Pricing?
• Photojournalist faces death penalty in Egypt for covering anti-government protests
• 1923 Leica Camera Sold for $2.95 Million, Setting the New World Record
• Photographer Receiving Death Threats for Using Live Ducklings and Bunnies
• Photo Shoot Helicopter Crash in NYC’s East River Kills 5
• 'I'm Back' digital back for analog SLRs successfully returns to Kickstarter

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_silhouette2

Going a bit darker for the silhouette challenge was hopefully a bit of fun for those of you that submitted. From a technical point it's a nice way to control your exposure to get a different result, and on the artsy side something different you can do for a shoot. There are some really nice shots this week so go check them out!Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_colorful2Some color to hopefully bring in spring, it's still snowy here, unfortunately. For this challenge, it's time to put up some colorful shots! As a tip watch your histogram so you don't blow out your photo, more on that in my shooting reds article.

Roy’s Features:

A clever shot with some nice color and action!

As you can really set the mood with a silhouette this really makes for a nice peaceful scene. 

A nice way to really put the focus and set the scene for those dramatic clouds.

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

A neat shot this week with geology showing Mars's watery past.

Imprints on the surface of Mars reveal a history of flowing water. In this Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter image, old stream channels, possibly more resistant to erosion because of their composition, now stand above fan-shaped deposits, each affirming the Red Planet's complex geologic past. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona #nasa #space #mars #water #martian #surface #dark #light #science #solarsystem #planet #picoftheday #pictureoftheday

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on Mar 13, 2018 at 4:30pm PDT

Pick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going! For Pen members, Toby will be back on air March 28th.