Some Truths About Tripods

That a tripod is an asset is a given. Great tripods take away the challenge of camera shake. They provide a firm compositional platform so you can spend more time thinking about the story your image is going to tell and setting up the image just right. They remove a lot of concerns about shutter speed, aperture and ISO, affording you the flexibility to make the decisions in the exposure triangle and in lens choice by reducing the constraints created by dim light, long focal length, the need for massive depth of field and the need to allow for motion blur.

Powerful performance in a compact package Does size really matter? That’s a pretty loaded question, so let’s get a little more specific: Does size matter when you’re buying into a new camera system? The answer, as it all too often does, lands somewhere around “it depends.” When it comes to cameras, it depends on what you intend to use your camera for. If you need something compact and light to take with you on the go, whether that’s just because you always like to have a camera with you or […]

Have you ever felt that your landscape shot didn’t really capture the scope and breadth of the story you wanted to tell, but when you tried an ultra wide angle lens, everything looked really far away and seemed diminished? You aren’t alone. In the olden days (self jab there), we had dedicated cameras like the amazing Widelux that only shot panoramas. With our digital cameras, things got a whole lot easier. You may have already made some panoramas using your smartphone. Despite the micro sensors and the fact that they […]

Soteeoh – real name Adeyemi Adegbesan – captures vibrant, restless, dramatic images of his city. This esthetic has earned him a following on Instagram (@soteeoh has more than 60,000 followers), and major brands like Adidas, Lululemon and Chevrolet tap him to shoot their ad campaigns. For Soteeoh, Instagram is more than a social platform – it’s the reason he committed to photography as a career. “I’d dabbled in it before, but in 2012 I started shooting consistently, because of the ease and convenience of [the platform],” says the selftaught photographer. […]

Lady holding camera

It’s easy to become attached to the quality lens that came with your digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, and if you are like most photography buffs you have put it to good use. Most of these kit lenses provide a good focal range along with some versatility, but is it wise to depend on only one lens? As you strive to develop and hone your camera skills, reliance on a single lens might slow down the learning process. 

Canadian-photographer-Chris-Gordaneer-aiming-for-the-sky

Chris Gordaneer has captured hundreds, if not thousands, of unique images of the sky, taken from places all over the world. He’s pointed his lenses towards the heavens while on commercial work in the Canadian Rockies, Scotland and Colorado; during personal photography treks to several countries in Africa, including Namibia and South Africa; and even from the roof of Westside Studio in Toronto, where he’s one of the partners. “Anytime [the sky] looks cool, even ominous – so, not blue – and the clouds look painterly, I’ll shoot it. I’ll […]

If you’re like me and have a passion for lighting, events like TIFF tend to bring out thoughts of trying something different or new. This week I decided to dig out an old theatrical optical spot that I have had for many years. I hadn’t actually used this piece of gear for a while, and it was time to shake the dust off of it and put it to use. Lighting is a fun and challenging component of studio work (and outdoor work, too). There are so many ways to […]