Take & Talk Pics

Whats In My Bag part 5

First of all I need to apologize (I think) for the almost annoying excitement in my voice. I was just kicking but that day and getting way more work than usual done and I sound goofy from all the energy pumping through my veins. Part 5 of the What's In My Bag sequence was supposed to wrap up my zoom lenses until I just recently made a new purchase. We'll get there next week though. For now I wanted to go over my AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II, try saying that 3 times fast... Even once is hard enough. I break down the focal length range on this bad boy and address that f3.5-5.6 deal. I know many of you are seeing that same kind of f-stop listed for lenses you own or may want to own, but you must hear this episode before you make any new lens purchase. Lastly, I touch upon the DX or crop factor proprietary feature of this lens. If you want to know more about sensor size and how that works you can always listen to episode 146 Sensor Size.

nikonusa.com

Happy Shooting!

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Correct Aperture

 Is there really such a thing as Correct Aperture? It all depends. When I first got the inspiration to make this an episode I was browsing through my news feed on facebook and I saw a post from a wedding photographer asking why her image still seems to be out of focus even though she made sure have a faster shutter speed and as low of an ISO as she could allow. Listen as I dissect the exposure and things to think about when it comes to Aperture. I wanted to take it a few steps further and touch upon Depth of Field and well as finding the Aperture Sweet Spot. Yes, every lens has an Aperture Sweet Spot. It is the f-stop in each lens that gives the most clear sharpness within the focal plane. One lens will differ from another and I can tell you it isn't the most closed down you can go. It seems like the large f number, and therefore greater depth of field, closed down Aperture would be the most sharp but that just isn't the case. Tune in and find out why.

Happy Shooting!

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The Customer is Always Wrong

Photo World how many times have you heard "The Customer is Always Right"? As a customer of many goods and services, I can tell you I have not always been right or at least I wasn't treated like I was right. My guess is half the time I was probably wrong. Often we get stuck on the thought that we are right because we are stubborn or we just don't want to admit to being wrong. With that said, think about the other side. If you are right then the business or other person you're interacting with is wrong. So as photographers and small business owners we will deal with this transaction many times throughout our careers. I know I have felt like, and said in private, that a Customer is Wrong, but that doesn't solve anything for them or me. It took me years to let go over my own personal problems and start saying:

Photo World if you get so stuck on communication being the problem and it turns into a "I said" and "they said" match then you will not only have a difficult time resolving an issue then and there but you will also struggle to grow as a person and as a business. Sticking to our word when we promise is a must; fighting the customers word when they misunderstood is something to outgrow. It is hard to do but if you can stop the bickering and cool off, so you can collect your thoughts and come up with a solution or compromise then you will see growth in all areas of your life.

Thank you for tuning in to this edition of Take & Talk Relationships. (kidding)

The truth is we could all improve and always improve.

Happy Shooting!

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#HeyPhotoWorld

Photo World what’s a great quote or mantra you live by for your photography and business?

Quotes:

"It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste." Henry Ford

"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." Henry Ford

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." Steve Jobs

"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" Audrey Hepburn

What sparked your interest in photography enough to pursue it as a career?

Photo World think of a time where you had learned the hard way? (a learning or failure moment)

What would you consider the most important practice to your photography? (What piece from your workflow is most important?)

Photo World, admit, even if it’s embarrassing, one bad habit you would like to break.

Photo World research one thing that will lead to growth and success in your business.

Have you had an ah-ha moment during your career? What ah-ha moment are you looking out for?

Photo World during you’re your photography career so far, what is the best advice you have ever received?

Name a couple photographers you have been inspired by at some point? If you don’t have a list of a few photographers start looking. Take & Talk Pics is a great starting point with amazing photographers.

Do you have 1 parting piece of guidance?

The best way for photo world to reach you (website, twitter, instagram, facebook) be visible Photo World.

Photo World I can’t thank you enough for your time today and every day sharing in the value here on Take & Talk Pics.

I thank you and happy shooting!

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Lightroom or Photoshop

The 2 most popular photo editing software's and so many choices to make. First of all should you choose to use Lightroom, Photoshop, or both? I know photographers who only use Photoshop Elements or they are purest"s and do minor touch-ups with Picasa or none at all. Some days I feel like photo editing had ruined photography and other days I couldn't be happier that I had that there to assist my vision. Both Lightroom and Photoshop have more features than most of us photographers will ever use. I am in my 7th year in business and I know I have about 10% of Photoshop covered. Giver or take 5%. This isn't because I am not good with the software it's just that enormous of a program. Lightroom takes a few try's to get used to. On the one hand it feels like the RAW editor from Photoshop on steroids. On the other hand it has workflow that feels foreign at first. For example the need to import rather than just open, the fact that you can close the program and open later as if you never left, or the need to export the images and deal with the time consuming process that goes along with that. In short I feel that Lightroom is for batch or large volume editing (a wedding or sporting event) and Photoshop is for those individual images that require one on one attention from start to finish. As a Thank you to you Photo World I would like to give you a few of my FREE Lightroom Presets. Download, unzip, and install in your Lightroom presets.

Happy Shooting!

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Keep On Keeping On

I had the honor of attending the 6th Annual March Forth awards dinner. This was my first year in attendance and it was an amazing night. Photo World I go through life day by day and I try to do my best in business, in my relationships with family and friends, and make the right decisions in Every situation I am in. Am I a model citizen for all of you? Most likely no... I'm just a normal guy. However I find myself taking so much for granted. There are so many others out there who have it worse than I do and I still find it so easy to complain about the areas of my life that make me unhappy. My guess is you could easily say the same thing or close to it. This post nor this episode are about how we should feel bad for passing by the rest of the world while we deal with all that goes on in our own lives... No this episode is a reminder that we can do something about it. The keynote speaker for this years March Forth awards dinner was, twin brother of Ashton Kutcher, Michael Kutcher. His story was inspiring to say the least and got me thinking about how I could impact the world around me for the better.

Please take a few minutes to listen to this episode. It is brief but I think it is helpful and I still find a way to tie this all back into running a small business. Happy Shooting!

teamkoko.org

handicapthis.com

dannydid.org

Book: How We Roll; 2 friends, 1 wheelchair and a lifetime of lessons in perseverance

Happy Shooting!

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Whats In My Bag part 4 - episode 147

Photo World I would like to continue this week's "what's in my bag" segment with the wide end of the Nikon Holly Trinity of lenses. The AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm F2.8G ED lens is the finishing touch to the three part 14-24mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm f2.8 zoom lenses. There are no rules stating that every photographer must have these three lenses or even a zoom lens at all. In fact I know several photographers who are strictly prime lens (set focal length) photographers. I love Primes but for the majority of my photography it is important to have a range of focal lengths to work with and this Ultra-Wide 14-24mm is no exception to that desired range. Now the bulb of enormous glass projecting from the front of this lens is somewhat intimidating and looks as though you only get crazy fish-eye images from it. However that is not the case. This lens is a solid 114 degree angel of view at 14mm on an Full Frame (FX-Nikon) camera. I have a lot to say about this tack sharp beautiful lens but be prepared to know that it comes at a cost other than the financial.

nikonusa.com

Happy Shooting!

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Sensor Size

There  are so many question that come up when it comes to sensor size and I could write on the subject for 10,000 words or more. It would be informative, overwhelming, and boring for the most part. Take a listen to this 20 minute episode on Sensor Sizes from FX and EF to DX and EF-S. Nikon and Canon DSLRs are the main subjects of my talk but at the very least you will be acquainted with the difference between larger and/or smaller sensors.

Larger Sensor

Smaller Sensor

Higher Resolution

Lower Resolution

Better Low Light Performance

Poorer Low Light Performance

Better Dynamic Range

Poorer Dynamic Range

Shallower Depth of Field

Longer Depth of Field

Less Diffraction

More Diffraction

Reduction in Crop Factor

Increased Crop Factor

Diffraction: When you use a small aperture, light reaching the edges of the image sensor can only get there after passing through the small aperture and then spreading out. That spreading of light causes the light rays to hit adjacent photo sites. Essentially, this spreading causes the light to sometimes hit the wrong photo site and leads to blur.

35mm film: It is the width of the film including the sprocket holes.

Happy Shooting!

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Kitchen Remodeling

Why in the world would I ever need to mention Kitchen Remodeling on a photography and business podcast? Photo World if you have been listening for a while you know I find inspiration in the strangest of places; if you are new to Take & Talk Pics then you will soon see my mind doesn't operate on the same wavelengths as most people. I don't always look for a silver lining but I almost always look out for something to learn. This time around I learned by snapping a pic on my phone of a simple Kitchen Remodeling project that was needed. It was time to update the old kitchen from 1970 and bring it up to 2016. I don't have a picture of it as finished because like our businesses these things take time and hard work. The time is being spent and the work is getting done. I sound like a broken recordwhen I say do the work but the truth is that's all anyone really needs to know when it comes to wanting something more in their own business or even in life. Get out there Photo World and remodel your business and while you do it give this episode a listen to have some information and inspiration ringing in your ears while you get the work done.

Happy Shooting!

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Whats In My Bag part 3

When I ask other photographers what is their go to lens and they bring up the divine 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens my heart sings in compliance. I LOVE this lens. Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Sony, Pentax, Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina (f4) all* make a 70-200mm f/2.8. Tokina makes an f4 version but still there are many options out there for the photographer looking for an amazing focal length to add to their arsenal. The Nikon AF-S Nikkor70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II is my photo gear pride and joy and I almost never go to a job without it. In fact you can often find me at a job with only this lens. Sadly I do not use this lens the most, that credit goes to my trusty Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens. 

One aesthetic detail about the 70-200mm that I love is the IF or Internal Focusing system. When you zoom the lens or focus the lens groups of glass within the barrel move forward and aft while the front element stays fixed and therefore you have no risk of dust building up on the, would-be, extended portion of the lens. Great functionality, solid build, gorgeous results from this tack sharp lens.

For an in-depth review of the specs and tech of this lens check out: kenrockwell.com/nikon/70-200mm

nikonusa.com

Happy Shooting!

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