Donald Scarinci

Camera & Lenses What Does the Nikon D610 Have to Offer?

February 10, 2014 Donald Scarinci

The Nikon D610 is one of the lowest-priced full-frame SLRs on the market. At the price Nikon is charging for the camera, the D610 is one of the best values in photography. The D610 has a 24.3MP full frame CMOS sensor, an ISO range of 100-6400; a maximum 6fps continuous shooting mode; 39 point AF system with 9 cross type AF points; wireless flash control; dual memory card slots, and 1080p30 full HD video. These are just a few of the high end features in this camera. While the D800 has a 36.3MP full frame CMOS sensor, it will cost…

Exhibitions Take a Tour of Photography on Artspace

January 27, 2014 Donald Scarinci

If you live far from the art Galleries of Chelsea in New York City and you are interested in collecting phototographs, take a look at Artspace, http://www.artspace.com/ Artspace is a good place to find limited edition pieces and to learn about photography as art. ArtSpace provides buyers access to limited editions of artwork from museums, cultural centers, and galleries on a global scale, the likes of which cannot be purchased anywhere else. Collections range from the recently-included Marilyn Monroe suite of images to “the Grid,” which is a series of visual structures in contemporary art. Photographers interested in international landscapes…

Camera & Lenses Top Nikon Lens Releases in 2013

January 13, 2014 Donald Scarinci

Whether you want to take portraits or nature shots, Nikon is known for its superior camera lenses. The company added several new products to its repertoire in 2013, and they did not disappoint. Below are some of the top picks from the Nikkor line: Wide-angle zoom lens: For landscape or architectural photography, it is essential to have a wide-angle lens. Weighing in at only 385g (13.6 oz), the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED is a light and compact choice. The lens is also relatively affordable, selling for around $750. It is designed for use on Nikon’s FX (full-frame) SLRs….

Software Perfect Photo Suite 8: Another Essential Photo Editing Tool

December 30, 2013 Donald Scarinci

For photography enthusiasts black Friday was very bright. The Friday after Thanksgiving saw the launch of Perfect Photo Suite 8 out of Beta and ready to use. For most photographers with a basic knowledge of Photoshop, plug ins like this one, NIK or Topaz are excellent solutions that offer fast and effective editing for busy photographers For hobbyists who prefer to spend their time outside with a camera rather than inside behind a computer, these plug ins are essential. The Perfect Photo Suite is a complete photo editing solution, which is designed to make your pictures look the best, whether…

Software Three Photo Apps You Should Download Today

December 2, 2013 Donald Scarinci

There are currently more than one million applications, or “apps,” available on Apple’s online storefront. Thousands of them promise to make your photographs look like works by Ansel Adams or Annie Liebovitz. So which apps are actually worth downloading? Below are three that actually live up to the hype: Camera Plus Pro: The Camera Plus Pro application is a comprehensive update to your iPhone camera, which costs only $1.99. Some of the most useful features include a timer, anti-shake, focus lock, and gridlines. You can also touch anywhere on the phone screen to take a picture. When it comes to…

Software Google Adds New Software to Nik Photoshop Plug-in

November 18, 2013 Donald Scarinci

Most photographers spend as much time editing pictures as they spend taking them. Many will agree that learning Photoshop is more time consuming than learning how to take great pictures. That is where Photoshop plug-ins come to the rescue. Nik software is a plug-in that is accessible through the “filters” dropdown menu in Photoshop. It uses the same control point technology that Makes Nikon Capture so easy to use. The paintbrush is still available for creating more intricate masks, but the control point produces a perfectly acceptable result in much less time. Since Google bought the Nik Collection and lowered…

Photographer Five Good Habits for the Photography Hobbyist

November 6, 2013 Donald Scarinci

When your day job comes between you and the enjoyment of shooting pictures during the week it is important to form good habits when you pack your camera and take it out for another shoot. How many times have you seen something that made you reach for your camera to take a quick picture when your camera has been packed away for a few days? Maybe it is a family moment. Maybe it is a rainbow after a light rain. Maybe it is just a whim when you are in the middle of doing something else. Whatever the inspiration, you…

Gear An iPad is a Photographer’s Best Assistant

October 14, 2013 Donald Scarinci

For photographers who often need to make choices about what gear to put in their bag and even what bag to take when they are out taking pictures or traveling, there is little room left for books. However, an Apple iPad that weighs less than a pound is a photographer’s assistant and a smart choice for travel. In addition to the many useful photography apps that are available for iPads, ranging from a depth of field calculator, a paperless model release form, and a photo storage device and portfolio, the iPad is an excellent way to carry around your library…

General Accessories Gitzo 541 Tripod is a Good Travel Choice

September 30, 2013 Donald Scarinci

Photographers always say that the best tripod is the one you take with you. No matter the vacation travel, whether you are hiking or flying, every ounce counts. Unfortunately, when choices need to be made because of weight, the tripod always seems to be the tool that is left behind. Choosing a tripod that is light enough for travel can be tricky. If it’s flimsy and wobbles in the wind it is useless. If it is sturdy and rugged then that usually means it will be heavy and force you to make packing compromises that could be difficult and unpopular…

Lighting Photography Tips for Your Sailing Vacation

September 2, 2013 Donald Scarinci

Photography Tips for Your Sailing Vacation Photography on an ever-moving sailboat presents many challenges. After studying the pictures from my most recent sailing adventure in Corsica and Sardinia, there are several tips I can offer. Taking pictures like this one was risky. The picture of moving sailboats was taken at 195mm at f/8, 1/125, ISO200, from a sailboat traveling at 8 or 9 knots. It would have been much safer to go with a higher shutter speed, at the sacrifice of either ISO causing more noise or aperture reducing the depth of field, and risking…