Donald Scarinci

Books 1X Releases “Memento” Yearbook 2015

May 9, 2016 Donald Scarinci

The only professionally curated photography website www.1X.com has released its annual yearbook of best photos of the year. For 2015, the compilation is entitled “Memento.” There is no shortage of sites available to share photos online. In fact, 350 million photos are uploaded daily on Facebook alone. In contrast, 1x is one of the most exclusive photography portals on the Internet. A team of ten professional curators selects the photos displayed in the site’s online galleries. Only around three percent of the images submitted make the cut. Given the high standards, photographs in 1x’s online galleries are akin to what…

Gear PocketWizard FlexTT5 Transceiver for Flash Photography

April 25, 2016 Donald Scarinci

Until the most recent Nikon D5 camera, photographers could not use a radio signal to trigger a flash placed in a remote location without getting a third party product. Just about everyone uses the PocketWizard. Now there is an upgrade to the PocketWizard—the FlexTT5 Transceiver Radio Slave. Even before the new Nikon line and before the PocketWizard, it was possible to use two flash units in a master/slave relationship and place one of the flash units closer to the subject then then camera. However, it was necessary to be in the line of sight in order to trigger the flash….

Speedlights, Modifiers & Hardware Flash Drive Breaks the One Terabyte Barrier

April 11, 2016 Donald Scarinci

A One Terabyte flash drive has arrived! Flash drives have evolved rapidly over the last several years. Transfer speed and storage capacity allow large amounts of data to travel rapidly between devices. High resolution video and medium format photography with large file sizes are not a problem for today’s flash drives. For photographers who like to take their digital catalog with them, the latest and the greatest flash drive is the Kingston DataTraveler HyperX Predator 1TB USB 3.0 Flash Drive. According to Kingston Technology, it boasts the highest speed and largest capacity currently available, making it incredibly easy to access,…

Camera & Lenses Nikon Unveils Innovative D5 Pro DSLR

March 31, 2016 Donald Scarinci

Nikon unveiled its newest professional DSLR at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Touted by Nikon as a game changer, the camera has impressive low light capabilities and boasts most powerful processor ever. According to Nikon, “The low light performance of the D5 might make it a legend.” The native ISO range of 100 to 102,400 (expandable to Hi-5, ISO 3,280,000) is the largest to date in a Nikon full-frame DSLR. The AF system is also completely redesigned. It features a 153 focus points, 99 cross-type sensors and a dedicated processor. According to Nikon, the D5 works in near darkness…

Exhibitions “Photo-Poetics: An Anthology” at the Guggenheim

March 14, 2016 Donald Scarinci

The Guggenheim Museum is presenting a new exhibit “Photo-Poetics: An Anthology” that features artists and art that reflects an emerging new trend in art photography. Art evolves with technology, and artists assimilate and reflect a changing world through their art. Cell phones cameras and social media have transformed the way people disseminate information. The exhibit, entitled “Photo-Poetics: An Anthology,” contains more than 70 works of contemporary photography. As described by Curator Jennifer Blessing, the term “photo poetics” refers to “an art that self-consciously investigates the laws of photography and the nature of photographic representation, reproduction, and the photographic object.” In the…

Camera & Lenses The Leica X-U: Designed to Take Abuse

February 29, 2016 Donald Scarinci

Photographers who shoot in challenging outdoor conditions should consider the Leica X-U. It is also a good choice for those who use their Leica as a carry around camera. According to Leica, you can drop, submerge and dirty the expedition camera without a worry. Released in January, the Leica X-U is both rugged and stylish. The dust-sealed camera is completely waterproof, allowing photographers to reliably use it for underwater photography. The camera is also shockproof, although it should be difficult to drop. The aluminum body is protected with no-slip thermoplastic rubber. There is also a protective cover for the LCD…

Gear The Best Drone is the DJI Inspire 1 PRO Quadcopter

February 16, 2016 Donald Scarinci

If money is no object, the DJI Inspire 1 PRO Quadcopter with Zemuse X5 4K Camera is the best photography drone on the market, hands down. From ease of use to image quality, the Inspire 1 simply can’t be beat. DJI Inspire 1 PRO Quadcopter is aimed at professional photographers and cinematographers. When DJI announced the model last fall, Eric Cheng, DJI’s Director of Aerial Imaging, stated: The professional applications of the Zenmuse X5 are almost endless. In addition to shooting professional-quality photos and 4K video, the new camera can be used to create high-quality aerial maps and 3D models,…

Gear The iPad Pro Is Not Quite a Photographer’s Dream Device

February 1, 2016 Donald Scarinci

Since its introduction, the iPad has been an essential tool for many professional photographers. It is incredibly useful for displaying images during a shoot, showing portfolios to clients, and even light editing. For photographers hoping to leave their laptops at home, the introduction of the iPad Pro held a lot of promise. While the new model is an impressive upgrade, the tablet still lacks some key features that professional and enthusiast photographers have come to rely on. Starting with the good — the new iPad is fast and powerful. It features a high-resolution 12.9-inch Retina display, 4GB of RAM and…

Gear What Drone Should I buy?

January 18, 2016 Donald Scarinci

Selecting a drone can appear complicated at first. There are many makes and models. The first decision is to choose the company. The next decision is to choose the model that is right for you. DJI manufactures some of the most popular drones on the market. While they are more expensive than other drones, Phantom drones are among the easiest to fly and pack the most features into a small device. The drones also became a lot more affordable in the New Year with DJI announcing significant price reductions on their Phantom 3 Standard and Advanced. The Phantom Standard is…

Gear What is the Law for Drones?

January 11, 2016 Donald Scarinci

Just in time for the holiday gift giving season, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched a mandatory registration program. For drones. It applies to even entry level, first time buyer drones. Under the new rules, anyone who owns a small unmanned aircraft that weighs more than 0.55 lbs. (250 g) must register with the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) registry before they fly outdoors. People who previously operated their UAS have until February 19, 2016 to register. While many have questioned the effectiveness of the new system, the good news is that registration only costs $5, covers any number of…