When NOT to use the Nikon SB-900

The Nikon SB-900 is an excellent flash, which I reviewed here a couple of months back.  However, I ran into an issue with the flash during a critical moment at a recent Bat Mitzvah shoot.

Here’s the scenario:  There I am, happily snapping away at the family of the day as they dance around, interlocked, in circles on the dance floor.  Next thing you know, the circle of people becomes ever-increasing as more family and friends join in the revelry, culminating with the hoisting up of the mitzvah-ed young lady above the crowd on her chair for the hora.  So, I get up on my step stool to get a better shooting angle, she is hoisted up…

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Tips & Technique – How to Get Sharp Images

Many people outside of workshop settings often ask me  how I get such sharp, crisp images.  Seriously, they do – and I usually tell them that I just have a really smart camera.  Although that might be true, there is certainly more to it than that.  In a not-so-formal essay, today I will outline some basic tips and techniques that I employ in order to achieve crisp photographs.  You can try them too, if you like.

While in workshop sessions, and people ask me how I get sharp photographs [particularly landscape & architecture shots] this is what I tell them:

• I tripod mount my camera
• Attach my cable release
• I set my camera to the lowest native ISO
• I close down my aperture approximately 2-3 stops from the widest opening (usually f/5.6-f/8).
• Compose, meter, and focus the scene
• Enable mirror lock-up
• Depress my cable release

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Panasonic G1 – Worth Consideration?

In short – yes.  But, there are of course details to follow…

The Panasonic G1 in Bold Red

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Canon Powershot G10 – If only it had…

The Intimidating Canon G10

The Powershot “G-series” is a highly regarded family of cameras and for good reason too.  The Canon ‘G’ is consistently one of the best made, highest performing, and most comfortable of all the point and shoot-sized digital cameras.  The Canon G10 is no exception.  In fact, it makes significant improvements of the lens disappointment of the G9, the non-existent G8, the RAW-less G7, and the funny-colored G6 with its horrendous chromatic aberration.  The G10 is the best Canon G-series since the G5, and in general, it holds its own too. 

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Panasonic Releases LX-3 Firmware Update

This morning Panasonic released firmware v1.2 for the LX-3.
Issues addressed are:

1. Improved white balance flash mode setting when DMW-FL220 is connected.
2. Proper setting of shutter speed on iA mode and Scene mode when OIS is turned ON.
3. Proper Exif information in the JPEG picture file.

You can download the firmware directly from Panasonic here.

You can also read my hands-on review of the LX-3 here.

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Kaz Arts Lighting Workshop Recap

This past Sunday we ran a lighting workshop in Madison, NJ.  The goal of the day was for people to better understand the power of light and how to better control it.  The morning was dedicated to coming to grips with the flash unit you attach to the top of your camera.  The best thing that one can do when using one these is to get the camera out of AUTO! This workshop discussed the many different ways in which one can configure camera and flash to get technically accurate and more pleasing flash images.  Techniques discussed included bounce flash, directional flash, omni-directional flash, shoot-thru flash, and wireless flash setups.  We then enjoyed lunch

The afternoon portion of the workshop allowed participants to put the morning’s lecture to practice with a hands-on photo shoot with a model we hired.  Before the model shoot, we went over how to use studio strobe units, discussed their similarities and differences to electronic flash units, and discussed how to use a flash meter.  Once all the techno-jumble stuff was out of the way, the next three hours were spent photographing a very sweet, very relaxed, and very experienced model named Bergelink.

A shot of the studio setup

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Lighting Workshop

We will be running our Lighting workshop tomorrow from 10am – 5pm.

The topics we will be covering include:

• Getting more out of your electronic flash
• Using flash modifiers to extend the range of your flash
• Using wireless flash setups
• Working with studio strobes in 1 & 2-light setups with a live model

This workshop will make you more comfortable with using your flash and expand the possibilities of creative flash use.  There is still one spot available if you are interested in attending, e-mail me

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Workshop Announcement – Lighting & Flash

The next Kaz Arts workshop has been announced:

Lighting:  Adding Drama to your Images     November 16, 2008      10am – 5pm

See below for all of the details.

Click Image to Enlarge Poster

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Product Review: Nikon SB-900 Flash

Nikon SB-900 Flash Unit

Purchase yours here, and help support our photography forum.

With Nikon’s announcement of their new D700 last month (which is now available in stores) they also released an updated flash model which looks like it will eventually replace the SB-800.  I say eventually because Nikon always follows a similar pattern.  They announce that a new product with slightly different specifications will run along in the product line-up side-by-side a similar product – not replace it.  However, what they really mean to say is “the other item is out of production, but we still have a bunch, so until we run out of them in the warehouse, it is yet to be replaced.”

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