What makes YOU a "Pro photographer"
I've been into photography for a few years now and can take an "OK" shot... I'm right into dark portraits now and that's not everyones cup of tea, but hey... Anyway, what I'm trying to say is I've seen some "photographers" that make me cringe, displaying work thet "only a mother could love" and calling themselves "professional photographers"... I answered this question a little while back on DPS and I think I've changed my opinion now...
"Back then" I thought that it was fair to say that anyone that was using a camera and producing photos was a photographer, but now I think I'd change my opinion to "Anyone that produces photos of a quality relevant to the job they're doing"... What the hell do I mean? Well, If you're shooting a wedding, you're shooting one of the more important days of the couples life, so, it needs to be "as good as they can get"... They've hired you to capture that day - to "immortalise it in image" if you will... So, if you can't do that, don't say you can - don't charge a grand and deliver shots that my unborn child could take... (that kid will have a camera as soon as it can hold one) That's just dissapointing for the couple, demeaning for you and just horrible.
"How do you know when you're ready?" Well, what?...Rerady to go out and take photos as a "professional" ...Only you can know, you have to be totally comfortable with your camera, you have to know how to use your lights / flash units and you have to have a good level of "understanding what the client wants" ... Some wedding photographer websites that I have visited in thinking about this blog have been tragic... Seven partial sets of photos from different weddings, different people and the same photos all the way through... Nothing taking into account the different personalities of the couples, just "yes, would you stand here and do this" please... "Reading from a script wedding photography"... Sure, it's right for some people, but ugh...
"So, what makes you a professional?" Charging? Do you charge for your work? Have you done a set of portraits for someone and been paid for it? How much did you charge? Do you have business cards? A website?... See, I don't think it's down to much of this... If you're A photographer with a certain level of proficiency and that you're employed in some form or other to produce pleasing results for someone, or for yourself as an artist, using the photographic format then I'd almost certainly say you could call yourself a professional.
But really, does it matter?... What's your opinion? Are you a PRO?... Are you an amateur?
Sime
Canon 5D Mk II - Video, Gimmick?...
I don't think there is anything to say other than "I don't think so"
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=2086
This video was shot with a pre-production Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR. The files used to create this video were not manipulated in any way, only re-compressed for ¼ resolution display on our website. To view Vincent Laforet’s comments and behind-the-scenes video on the making of REVERIE, please visit his blog: blog.vincentlaforet.com
EF Lenses used in the making of REVERIE:
FD 7.5mm f/5.6 (converted to EF mount)
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
EF 135mm f/2L USM
EF 200mm f/1.8L USM
EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM
EF 500mm f/4L IS USM
TS-E 24mm f/3.5L
TS-E 45mm f/2.8
http://www.vincentlaforet.com/
Samsung Omnia SGH-i900 *Review*
Real World review...
Yep, the new Samsung Omnia, It has all the bells and whistles one could want! Quad Band, Auto Focus, FIVE MEGAPIXELS!... All of that and HSDPA (Fast Internet where available)
It is a "trying hard to look like an iPhone" shaped / looking device, a bit thinner and a lot cheaper looking... I don't have an iPhone and I'll more than likely not get one, but this ain't even close.
Windows mobile 6.WHATEVER.O ... Office mobile, Push email, Web browsing with tabs, An alarm clock (that failed to wake me up twice!)
Samsung tout it as the "Truly all in one" device... "A truly all in one phone" That's what it says on the box. It has a touch screen, Wi-Fi, FM Radio...
With 8gb internal memory out of the box, you can load some songs on, some videos even - And it plays them well. It sounds good through headphones...
It works fine as a phone, despite the fact that when I transferred all of my contacts across it wouldn't dial anything with a "+" in front of the number for some reason...
Well, all of these "draw cards" you would think that it'd be a no brainer! - Go out and get one kind of review... not so!
I HATE IT... Windows devices just don't get it... You can have ALL the bells and whistles you like, but if the interface of the phone is such that anyone with fingers even slightly thicker than the provided "pointer wand" can't press any of the on screen buttons, then what's the point.
Seriously, despite its shiny case and glimmering screen, I nearly chucked it out of the car window... And, add to that battery performance... My blackberry will last a full day (7am to 7pm) using the GPS / Google maps / GPRS all day... The Omnia lasted about 5 hours until it turned itself off and refused to come back on (saw me lost in the middle of country england!)
Get an iPhone, Get a Blackberry Bold (oh yes! - review coming soon) ....Just don't get a Samsung Omnia... "A truly useless phone"
Sime
Henry Rollins
I never realised that Henry was in "Forgets name of movie"
"Never get involved with something that you can't walk away from in thirty seconds flat"
Henry Rollins at Indigo @ o2
Got a couple of quesions this morning...
Today I want to run three simple questions by you, I'd like three answers - simple answers.
- Where do you see your photography a year from now?
- What would you mostly like to improve?
- If you had to choose one style of photography and not do anything other than that, for the remains of your professional life, what style would it be?
Three simple questions... Give me your answers - in depth, short, whatever... post them in your comments.
Sime
BlogWorld Expo, Planes and Terminal Five
Blogworld Expo, I'm not sure what they do there, those special folk that take blogging so very very seriously! But Seriously ...as Phil once said... The statistics on the webpage for the event are quite hard to argue with...
* Over 12 million American adults currently maintain a blog. * More than 147 million Americans use the Internet. * Over 57 million Americns read blogs. * 1.7 million American adults list making money as one of the reasons they blog. * 89% of companies surveyed say they think blogs will be more important in the next five years. * 9% of internet users say they have created blogs . * 6% of the entire US adult population has created a blog . * Technorati is currently tracking over 70 million blogs . * over 120 thousand blogs are created every day . * There are over 1.4 million new blog posts every day . * 22 of the 100 most popular websites in the world are blogs . * 37% of blog readers began reading blogs in 2005 or 2006 . * 51% of blog readers shop online . * Blog readers average 23 hours online each week .
http://www.b5media.com/ Are a sponsor of this years event, of which my bro inlaw is a part - you can find more about him here http://www.problogger.net/ his name's Darren Rowse.. He's one of those folks that takes blogging seriously, and well he should - it's his job!..
Scotland, Glasgow to be precise... or, to be more precise, here....
Canon EOS 5D Mark II: 21MP and 1080p Video
Pre-Photokina 2008: After a week of teaser ads Canon has finally revealed the successor to the lovely EOS 5D, the world's first 'compact' full frame digital SLR. The EOS 5D Mark II boasts a new 21MP CMOS sensor, an expanded ISO range of 50-25,600 and a shed load of improvements and new features including full 1080p HD movie recording, live view, 3.0" 920k dot LCD, DIGIC IV processor, increased battery capacity and sensor dust reduction.
OK, SO, you can record 1080p video, and take stills at the same time!?... That really is wild...
Anyone up for a trip to the states?... (see prices below!)
UPDATE: Body-only prices: US: $ 2,699, EU: € 2,499, UK: £ 2,299
Other improvements to the Mark II include a sharp jump from 12.8 to 22 megapixels, plus the inclusion of a Digic 4 processor that allows captures of 3.9 images per second at the highest resolution. To complement its video capture, the camera will have a built in microphone for mono audio recording but will have an audio input to attach microphones. The DSLR will have an HDMI out as simple digital connection for playing back pictures and video on HDTV
So, It's finally happened... Canon have only gone and done it!...
Sample Images from Canon Japan
Sample Movies from Canon Japan
Press Release
Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 17 September 2008: Canon announces the full frame, 21.1 Megapixel EOS 5D Mark II: the first EOS with full High Definition video capability.
Compact, lightweight with environmental protection, EOS 5D successor boasts a newly designed Canon CMOS sensor, with ISO sensitivity up to 25,600 for shooting in near dark conditions. The new DIGIC 4 processor combines with the improved CMOS sensor to deliver medium format territory image quality at 3.9 frames per second, for up to 310 frames.
Triggered from Live View Mode, HD video capture allows users to shoot uninterrupted at full 1080 resolution at 30fps – for amazing quality footage with outstanding levels of detail and realism.
The integration of HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1 Megapixel camera opens a multitude of new possibilities for photojournalists and news photographers. With its full frame CMOS sensor and outstanding ISO performance, the EOS 5D Mark II will appeal to any photographer in search of the finest camera equipment available – from studio and wedding to nature and travel photographers.
Other improvements to the EOS 5D include
- Addition of Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, with a new Fluorine coating on the low-pass filter
- Larger 3.0” Clear View LCD with VGA resolution, a 170° angle of view and anti-reflective coatings
- Improved menu system including Quick Control Screen for more direct access to common settings
- Automatic peripheral illumination correction, utilising detailed EF lens information to optimise JPEG images straight out of the camera
- Magnesium alloy construction with additional environmental protection
- UDMA memory card compatibility.
“Professional photojournalists and wedding photographers already choose the EOS 5D for its discrete size and outstanding image quality,” said Mogens Jensen, head of Canon Consumer Imaging. “The addition of HD movie recording opens a new chapter for EOS. It creates new possibilities for EOS photographers to capture and share their stories and to stay relevant in a rapidly changing digital landscape.”
Key Specifications:
- New 21.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor with improved EOS Integrated Cleaning System (E.I.C.S.)
- New Full HD 1080 resolution movie recording
- 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting
- High performance DIGIC 4 providing superb image quality
- Maximum 310 large JPEG images in a single burst with a UDMA card
- 3.0” VGA (920k dots) Clear View LCD
- ISO 100-6400 (expansion from 50 up to 25,600)
- 9 AF points + 6 Assist AF points
Additional information
New CMOS sensor
The EOS 5D Mark II’s newly designed full frame 21.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor features ISO sensitivity from 100-6400, expandable to 50, 12,800 and 25,600. Large 6.4µm2 pixels have been redesigned to capture more light and yield a better signal to noise ratio to ensure lower noise images throughout the ISO range. The full frame sensor has the same dimensions as a frame of 35mm film. This means that wide-angle lenses stay wide, without the change in angle of view associated with smaller sensor cameras. As well as benefiting from finer control over depth of field, photographers moving up to the EOS 5D Mark II’s full frame format will find the newly designed wide, bright 98% coverage viewfinder on a joy to work with.
A new DIGIC 4 processor combined with 14-bit analogue to digital conversion provides smooth gradations in mono-tonal areas such as skies, and highly accurate colour rendition. As well as HD movie shooting, DIGIC 4’s high speed provides for long uninterrupted continuous bursts of large JPEGs, near-instant start-up times and immediate and fast review after shooting. DIGIC 4 also provides for improved noise reduction algorithms, complementing the already low noise images from the EOS 5D Mark II’s CMOS sensor.
HD video capture
The EOS 5D Mark II is Canon’s first D-SLR to incorporate full HD 1920x1080 video capture. Once filming is started from Live View mode, photographers can fire off either single of continuous stills, with video capture continuing after the final frame is captured.
See everything
A new 3.0” VGA resolution LCD provides a wide 170º angle-of-view, providing plenty of clarity for accurate focus checks in playback. The screen brightness can automatically adjust to suit viewing conditions, extending battery life in low light and improving viewing in bright conditions. A new dedicated Live View button switches modes to display a real-time image on the LCD. This allows EOS 5D Mark II photographers to enjoy simplified shooting from awkward angles. Simple connection to a PC provides easy remote shooting.
Precision focus and metering
A 9-point auto focus system is supported by 6 additional invisible Assist AF points, located inside the spot-metering circle to optimise subject tracking performance in AI SERVO AF mode. For accurate exposure readings in tricky lighting conditions, the spot metering circle covers just 3.5% of the frame.
Control
The EOS 5D Mark II’s redesigned menu system includes a new Quick Control screen, for instant access to the most commonly changed settings. A new Creative Auto mode allows photographers to cede control of key settings to the camera, while retaining control over creative variables such background blur, drive mode and image brightness. Custom user settings allow photographers to switch between two completely different camera setups. This is ideal for changing quickly between two different environments, such as switching from working inside a church without flash to outdoors with fill-flash at a wedding.
Accessories
Shooting flexibility is enhanced with a range of new accessories. Shooting capacity can be extended with either the high capacity 1800mAh lithium-ion Battery Pack LP-E6, or Battery Grip BG-E6.
A new optional Wireless File Transmitter –
the WFT-E4 – offers external HDD and GPS compatibility along with ability to transmit images direct to computer or FTP server, or operate the camera wirelessly. Both the BG-E6 and WFT-E4 feature a vertical orientation shutter release and other key controls for comfortable portraiture work, with a substantial grip to help balance the camera when used with long lenses.
Lexar release updated Platinum II range...
16gb of pure goodness from Lexar...
The press release is below, I like the bit about capturing 6hrs of HD video, what are you saying Lexar? That all the new release DSLR's will have HD Video functions!?.. hmmm...
Increased Capacity of Lexar Platinum II Memory Cards Enhances Experience for Value-Conscious Video and Photo Enthusiasts
New 16GB Secure Digital High Capacity and CompactFlash Memory Cards Enhance Video- and Photo-Capturing Capabilities of Flash-Based Digital Cameras, Camcorders and Digital SLRs
Fremont, CA, September 16, 2008 -- Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, announced today that the company has further increased the capacity of its widely popular Platinum II flash memory card line by introducing a Platinum II 60x 16GB Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) card and Platinum II 80x 16GB CompactFlash® (CF) card. The new, high-capacity cards give value-conscious video and photo enthusiasts the ability to shoot longer and faster, while taking advantage of new higher-resolution and high-definition digital camcorders, digital SLRs and point-and-shoot cameras. When used with many of today's popular flash-based digital camcorders, the Platinum II 16GB memory cards allow up to six hours of 1080 high-definition video recording. The Platinum II SDHC memory card is speed-rated at 60x, capable of a minimum sustained write speed of 9MB per second, while the Platinum II CF memory card is speed-rated at 80x, which represents a minimum sustained write speed of 12MB per second. The high-speed cards provide faster transfers of high-resolution video and photos, as well as large audio and digital multimedia files.
"With the rapid increase in camera resolutions now exceeding 10 megapixels resulting in larger image file sizes from newer digital cameras, flash-enabled digital camcorders, and digital SLRs, consumers need a higher-speed, higher-capacity memory card to ensure optimal performance while shooting," said Manisha Sharma, director of product marketing, Lexar. "The new Lexar Platinum II 16GB cards provide the quality and dependability that customers expect from Lexar, with the increased capacity required to record and shoot longer."
The new Lexar Platinum II SDHC and CF cards include a limited lifetime warranty and valuable image-related software—the full version of Lexar Image Rescue™ 3, Lexar's award-winning image recovery software, and a six-month trial of Corel® Painter™ Essentials 4. The Lexar Platinum II 16GB SDHC and CF memory cards will be available in September.
Lexar will be displaying the Platinum II SDHC and CF cards at Photokina 2008 at stand F022 E023 in hall 04.1
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