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The Hollywood Distagon at f/2: A Single Daffodil and the Contax Zeiss 28mm on the Sony A7RV
April 28, 2026
Darkroom Techniques In Photoshop
Back in the days of old, those archaic days before Photoshop was invented, people like Konrad Eek worked up a print using only darkroom techniques. The only computer involved was a simple timer, able to count down the time a lightbulb stayed illuminated. That one simple light, and many of the techniques Konrad Eek demonstrates here, have created most all of the worlds memorable historical film based photographs. Darkroom masters all used these same techniques to create their masterpieces, the finished print. To these photographers, the capture of the original negative was only the first physical step. There were no digital steps
Read moreWPPI 2015 – The Road To Vegas
WPPI – Get ready for Las Vegas! from Triple Scoop Music on Vimeo. The new film is an exciting, inside look at what makes WPPI 2015 the photo industry’s must-attend event. Acclaimed Director /Cinematographer Sion Michel and Producer Roy Ashen from Triple Scoop Music (http://triplescoopmusic.com ) explore the incredible mix of acclaimed photographers, top educators and visionary companies that come together each year in Las Vegas. What happens when more than 13,000 photographers from around the world meet up to share ideas and inspire success at WPPI 2015? They invite you to see for yourself! The film WPPI 2015 features many
Read moreThe Danger In A Single Story
Stories fire up our imaginations. Stories let us jump the often wide divide of a country border. Stories also let us reach deep into our collective past, crossing vast barriers of time. Stories describe us as individuals. Stories allow us to experience the similarities between diverse cultures. Stories provide a dangerous experience from non-dangerous surroundings, without fear of actual physical attack or harm. From stores we experience the many similarities between us and our brethren the world over. We are all Bozos on this same bus called Earth. Getting to know each other should involve many stories, as many stories as there are brothers all.
Read moreYour Rights As A Photographer In The USA
For us to maintain our ancestors hard fought and hard-won rights, we need to constantly exercise them to protect us as average citizens or visitors to the USA from wide spread abuse from those in positions of power and authority. But it certainly helps to actually know what your rights as a photographer are first. To help fill that need, above you will find a cute 4:19 minute video outlining the rights of a photographer in public places. With a short intro by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and a “guest appearance” by the cartoon characterization of Ben Franklin, go figure! Please note, these rights we are talking about here is for public places
Read moreThis is Shanghai
This is Shanghai from Rob Whitworth on Vimeo. In 1980 Shanghai had no skyscrapers. It now has at least 4,000 — more than twice as many as New York. ‘This is Shanghai’ explores the diversities and eccentricities of the metropolis that is Shanghai going beyond the famous skyline. Photographer Rob Whitworth and urban identity expert JT Singh joined forces combining deep city exploration and pioneering filmmaking. ‘This is Shanghai’ is a roller coaster ride seamlessly weaving between the iconic, sparkling and mismatched buildings of the financial district travelling by boat and taxi touring Shanghai’s impressive infrastructure whilst glimpsing some of
Read moreFORGET 4K and 8K. Video’s Here At 10K!
10328×7760 – A 10K Timelapse Demo from SCIENTIFANTASTIC on Vimeo. “10328 X 7760 – A 10K Timelapse Demo” is a video put together by showcasing the extreme resolution of the PhaseOne IQ180 digital back with which it was shot. Play this video full screen with HD ON! The PhaseOne IQ180 is a whopping 80MP image making monster strutting its stuff. This is probably the most impressive time-lapse I have seen since I saw my first. This footage comes from shots created by Joe Capra while shooting 4K and 8K timelapses in Rio De Janeiro for a major electronics manufacturer. Each shot is comprised of hundreds
Read moreSigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Announced
Yesterday, just in time for tomorrow’s start of the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show 2015 in Yokohama, Japan, Sigma Corporation of America announced the new Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens, the ninth Global Vision lens to join the company’s excellent Art lens line-up. The much anticipated 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art wide angle lens is designed for full-frame DSLRs, and when used on digital cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, it effectively becomes a 38mm. The 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens is the ideal wide angle focal length for capturing a variety of photography subjects, including cityscapes, mountain ranges, live events and weddings. It should also be
Read moreNikon D750 Filmmaker’s Kit
In days of old when men were bold, and DSLR video was not yet invented, to record video you would turn to a dedicated video camera. If you wanted to be a hybrid storyteller you wanted both photos and videos. So you’d need to bring two cameras with you, a “still” camera, and a “video” camera. And of course, all the related and necessary kit to go with them both. Lenses, tripods, lights, etc. etc. etc. Doest this sound bulky and troublesome? It certainly was! And required additional crew, both to cart the load and to setup/operate the very specific and difficult to master equipment. The good
Read moreOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Curiosity from John Brawley on Vimeo. Shot entirely with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II. Many of the motion tracking shots for this were also shot using the new DEFY G2 Gimbal with the E-M5 Mark II mounted up. For full details on the hows and whys and for camera original files go to http://johnbrawley.wordpress.com Olympus Imaging Corporation (President: Haruo Ogawa) have announced the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, scheduled to be released and on dealers shelves by the end of February, 2015. This Compact System Camera conforms to the Micro Four Thirds System standard, and is equipped with a 5-axis image
Read moreCarl Zeiss 100mm f/4 Macro S-Planar
Life At A Snail’s Pace – Final from TheCameraForum on Vimeo. It is amazing what inspirational stories you can find to tell right from your own backyard. This short film actually started life as a macro still lens test, not a video. I wanted a macro still of the tiny bright red flowers Springtime always brings to the ice plant outside my office window, and instead ended up making a documentary short video about snails. A subject I probably would have considered of little interest had I not shot first and seen what interesting movements and life they have. I had never seen a
Read moreSony FS7 Test
Sony FS7 Test from Jon Cole on Vimeo. Shot on Sony FS7 Shot in Slog2 Edited in Premiere Pro Graded in DaVinci Resolve Big thanks to the talent Michaela Petro. I’m too stunned for words. This video speaks for itself! Great job Jon Cole. PLEASE RATE THIS STORY! [ratings]
Read moreMotion Nine Cube Cage Alpha (for a7s) Review
A comic review of the Motion Nine Cube cage for the A7s, with guest appearances from a team of real life experts: Ren & Stimpy, Philip Bloom, Mr. Horse and a special cameo appearance by Michael Knight. Produced and recorded by Filmkit. Filmkit is created by Gerben Schmidt, a Dutch freelance cameraman and web-designer. In all seriousness, The Motion Nine Cube cage for the A7S is a great looking product at a reasonable price. Got to love a real wood grip, and that cable tension relief certainly looks to be industrial strength! It looks to be a well thought out design
Read moreMirrorless Madness: Sony A7S & Cinemagraph Pro
I have a confession to make. I have been working with animated gifs for several years. I believe it to be an art form unto its own. The movie above was done August 8th, 2011. At that time, the technology to create Cinemagraphs was difficult, crude, not at all intuitive, expensive to work with since it took more than one high cost software package to create and animate them, and they were very avant guard cutting edge. They still are! This time four years ago, the tools were so crude I decided to take a run with a partner at developing some new
Read moreThe DEFY G2x Gimbal Ready To Ship!
The long wait is over. The first DEFY G2x gimbal is due to ship on February 15th, 2015! The DEFY G2x gimbal promises to be the lightest, most powerful gimbal in its class. Designed to give filmmakers from all genres the ability to have precisely accurate stability all squeezed into a compact, extremely light and powerful gimbal that DEFY are introducing as the DEFY G2X. This little puppy really packs a punch too, with professional grade features like pre-selected auto tuned modes for different camera weights allowing users to bypass the need for software and calibration. DEFY brilliance also removed the need to use a stand by balancing
Read moreSamsung Portable SSD T1
The Samsung Portable SSD T1 has all of the usual nice things about flash storage. It has no moving parts, it is blinding fast compared to rotating platter hard disk drives (portable or otherwise), it is extremely reliable, it is practically indestructible, and did I mention it is as fast as a proverbial shot of weasel piss? Up to 450MB/sec. fast over the built in USB 3.0 interface! Portable storage fast enough to real-time edit your stills or video while on the road using only this drive and your MacBook Pro! Small, light, and finally in a package suitable to be seen
Read moreCES 2015: New Sony 4K ActionCam FDR-X1000V
Not to be outdone by the GoPro4, Sony unleashed their latest entry into the personal action camera space at CES 2015. The FDR-X1000V is a serious competitor as well, besting the GoPro4 in several ways from the specifications at least. It also is a stunning upgrade to the excellent Sony HDR-MV1 I have been reporting on for the past few months. To begin with, it shoots Ultra HD 4k video (3840 x 2160 @30p 100Mbps/60mbps), sports a Carl Zeiss Tessar lens with a wide 170 degree field of view, and is censored up with the great Exmor R Back Illuminated CMOS
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