Donald Scarinci

Camera & Lenses The Nikon D800 is an Evolutionary Advance

April 1, 2013 Donald Scarinci

The Nikon D800 has received glowing reviews and with good reason. The D800 is not just another model Nikon camera. It is the next step in the evolution of digital photography. The 32 megapixel full frame Nikon D800 has a resolution that compares favorably to medium format cameras. A quality high resolution print size of 30 X 20 is achievable without resizing. In addition to amazing resolution, the D800 performs well with a high ISO and has an auto focus speed that blows away anything Nikon makes other than the D4. High ISO of up to 800 is achievable without…

Exhibitions Andre Kertesz’s Photography Remains Iconic

March 11, 2013 Donald Scarinci

Along with Henri Cartier-Bresson, Andre Kertesz was a pioneer of what has become known as “street photography.” They captured people doing every day things in Paris between the wars using angles, line and form to compose their image. The Hungarian-born photographer died in 1985, but his art lives on. Kertesz was born on July 2, 1894 in Hungary and purchased his first camera when he was 18 years old. His earliest pictures included photographs of people, ranging from his family to his fellow soldiers when he enlisted in the military at the onslaught of World War I. His photographs were…

Camera & Lenses Leica D-Lux 6: A Point-and-shoot “Professional” Camera

February 21, 2013 Donald Scarinci

If point-and-shoot cameras were classified as “entry,” “advanced amateur” and “professional” the way DSLR’s are classified, the Leica D-Lux 6 is the top of the line “pro” model point-and-shoot. Of course point-and-shoot cameras are all easy to use mass market cameras designed for people who just want to take a picture with better quality then their IPhone. However, the D-Lux model, Leica’s only consumer camera model, is the carry around camera of choice for many professionals. Brian Peterson, for example, keeps a Leica D-Lux with him at all times. Peterson says it is more than just the Leica red dot…

Camera & Lenses Making the Choice Between a Nikon DX Versus FX

February 4, 2013 Donald Scarinci

Making the Choice Between a Nikon DX Versus FX When you are aiming to improve the quality of your images, you may run into a common question asked by photographers at one point or another: Should I shoot with a Nikon DX or FX? If you’re in the process of learning more about your Nikon, you may not yet know the difference between these two format sensors or what makes one preferable to the other. Before you can make decisions about DX and FX cameras, it’s first important to understand how camera sensor formats work. Similar to the human eye,…

Exhibitions MacLean’s ‘Up on the Roof’ Inspires Rare Glimpse of New York City

January 14, 2013 Donald Scarinci

MacLean’s ‘Up on the Roof’ Inspires Rare Glimpse of New York City Did you ever wonder what was on the rooftops of New York City buildings? Alex MacLean’s book of photographs, “Up on the Roof: New York’s Hidden Skyline Spaces,” provides a wonderful glimpse of what the country’s largest metropolitan area looks like from the air. MacLean is not only an accomplished photographer, but also a pilot who has created a name for himself by taking aerial images from across the country, ranging from urban areas and city grids to the shapes and textures of fields in the Midwest. “Up…

Camera & Lenses Point and Shoot versus Nikon D3200: Which is the Better Option?

January 7, 2013 Donald Scarinci

When you think about buying a camera, the most important decision you need to make is whether to buy a simple “point and shoot” camera or whether to go for the real thing—a DSLR. The perception is that the “point and shoot” is inexpensive, as easy to use as your iPhone and about as small while the DSLR with its interchangeable lenses is too expensive, too complicated and too big. While this may have been the case in the past, today there are incredible DSLR’s available for almost the same price as a high end “point and shoot and an…

Software Perfect Photo Suite 7 Reinvents Digital Photography Photoshop Capabilities

December 18, 2012 Donald Scarinci

Perfect Photo Suite 7 is more than just an upgrade to the earlier version of the program. The new black and white conversion program and the smart masking brush are two totally new features that make this upgrade a must. Suite 7 adds a black-and-white conversion program that in my opinion is better than Nik’s “Silver Effects Pro.” The Perfect Photo black and white creates an image with more variance of blacks and whites than “Silver Effects Pro.” The presets are more varied and the sliders give more control over customizing your image. All of the programs in the suite…

Books There are ‘No Words’ to Describe the 2012 Yearbook by 1X

December 6, 2012 Donald Scarinci

The editors of the only curated fine art photography web site on the internet, www.1X.com, has released their 2012 compendium of the best photos appearing on the site for 2011. The yearbook is appropriately titled, “No Words.” As the title suggests, there are no accompanying headlines, descriptions or telling information about each image captured in the 224-page book. There is also no theme or trend in the photographs included in the book. Instead, the book is an interesting and vivid compilation of stunning and very concise, clear images of landscapes, people and objects – scenic photos that provide a kind…

Software Canon Offers EOS – 1D Firmware Update To Boost Autofocus Capabilities

November 26, 2012 Donald Scarinci

Trying to capture key moments on film – such as a wedding, graduation, sports event or scenic location – when the lighting is not in your favor can greatly diminish the quality of a photograph. Canon U.S.A. has responded to several requests from its users for greater autofocus features by offering a new firmware update. The update – which can be downloaded through the company – is designed to optimize the current offerings of Canon’s flagship EOS-1D X Digital SLR camera. The update will feature two enhancements to its current offerings. The first is AF Point Illumination During AI Servo…

Exhibitions Steve Simon’s Nikon Seminar is a Must Attend Event

November 12, 2012 Donald Scarinci

I learned the subtleties of using my Nikon D7000 from Steve Simon not long after the camera was introduced. The small class size and personal attention was exactly what I needed. This year the two-day mastery workshop for Nikon users will be held in November in New York City. Anyone who owns a Nikon D700, D7000, D800, D300/D300s, D3, D3s, D3x, or D4 should take this intensive two-day course, which will focus on the more technical aspects of shooting with a Nikon camera. This includes autofocus settings to white balance, histograms, image review and other shortcuts that enable you to…