Donald Scarinci

Camera & Lenses Nikon Unveils Three New Product Lines In September

October 22, 2012 Donald Scarinci

Nikon Corporation recently added an advanced camera and lens to its expanding product base and also introduced the Communication Unit UT-1, which offers users more efficient image transfer capabilities via both Ethernet and wireless networks. Nikon first unveiled its Digital SLR camera D600, which is currently the smallest and lightest basic camera in the Nikon FX-format class. Despite its small size, the camera features an image sensor with a pixel count of 24.3 million as well as an EXPEED 3 image-processing system that is present in various higher-end Nikon D-SLRs. The company noted that the small size – whose dimensions…

Exhibitions Bryan F. Peterson Nears Completion Of His Sold-Out Photography Workshop Global Tour

October 8, 2012 Donald Scarinci

Bryan F. Peterson Photography When it comes to finding a talented photographer who has his hands in nearly every aspect of the photography industry, you can’t go wrong with following famed commercial photographer Bryan F. Peterson. As a professional photographer, professor, blogger and best-selling author, Peterson has shared his expertise with the world and come up with a variety of activities to help photographers of all levels improve their skills. One of his more popular activities that I have become interested in are his year-round photography workshops, which take place on-site in several locations around the world. The opportunity to…

Lenses Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR II Lens

August 27, 2012 Donald Scarinci

I love my Nikkor 70-200 f./2.8 VR2 but let’s face it, the lens takes up a lot of weight and space in the carry-on luggage when you are traveling. On trips when photography is not the main objective or when traveling with a carry-on only, there is room for the camera with one lens attached and maybe a flash. In those situations, the Nikkor 18-300 f./3.5-5.6 VR2 is the lens. I tested this lens under extreme conditions on a sailboat. I could only take one lens because of packing considerations and because changing lenses at sea always involves risk to…

Tripods & Ball Heads Choosing a Tripod–The Manfrotto190 CXPRO4, 4 Section Carbon Fiber Pro

May 30, 2012 Donald Scarinci

Sometimes I think that choosing a tripod and ballhead is more difficult and more confusing than choosing a camera. Tripods and ballheads can be as expensive as your camera and they come in all varieties, makes and price points. Until you get some experience using different ones it’s hard to decide what to buy. Let’s leave ballheads for another video and talk about tripods. A tripod is a tool. Like any tool, you need to use the right one for the job you are doing. If you choose a screwdriver that’s too small for the screw, you can still use…

Books Peterson, Bryan; Understanding Shutter Speed, Amphoto Books, 2008

April 30, 2012 Donald Scarinci

This is another beautifully illustrated book by Bryan Peterson that explains basic photographic concepts, this time about shutter speed, in an easily understandable way. It is the perfect companion to Understanding Exposure and makes a nice complement to that book. Understanding Shutter Speed is divided into five sections. The first section discusses the six correct shutter speeds and the concept that “you will always attain the fastest possible shutter speed at any given ISO when you use the largest possible lens opening, and you will be able to attain the slowest possible shutter speed at any given ISO by using…

Tripods & Ball Heads Really Right Stuff BH-40 Ballhead Review

March 19, 2012 Donald Scarinci

The search for the right tripod and ballhead is a rite of passage for photographers. Eventually you meet someone who puts his arm on your shoulder with compassion and looks at you with the experienced eyes of someone who shares your pain. With that consoling sound in their voice as if saying, “I know what you are going through,” they tell you about Really Right Stuff. Really Right Stuff is probably one of the best kept secrets in photography. It is the pro photographer’s secret ingredient that isn’t shared until you’ve reached a certain level of proficiency with your camera….

Books Peterson, Bryan, Understanding Exposure, Amphoto Books, Kindle Edition, 2010

March 19, 2012 Donald Scarinci

Peterson, Bryan, Understanding Exposure, Amphoto Books, Kindle Edition, 2010 REVIEW: Understanding Exposure, third edition, Amphoto Books, 2010, by Bryan Peterson The third edition of this 1990 classic by Bryan Peterson was the most important and influential photography book I’ve ever read and it is the first book that every new photographer should read. The 2010 edition of this book is actually a re-write of the original 1990 classic that adapts to the changes that have take place in technology. However, the concepts of the original 1990 classic and the clarity and simplicity in the way they are communicated remain…