photography Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Fine Art Photography Studio

Lenses Nikon Debuts Two New Lenses: NIKKOR 500mm and 600mm

September 10, 2015 Donald Scarinci

In July, Nikon announced the addition of two new full frame telephoto lenses. The AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR has a focal length of 500 mm, while the AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR has a focal length of 600 mm. Thanks to the addition of two fluorite elements, Nikon boasts that the lenses are “the world’s lightest lenses available at their respective focal lengths.” Compared to their predecessors, the AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR weighs 20 percent less, while the AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR is 25 percent lighter. Of course, the…

Software Five Great Photography Apps for Your iPhone

July 27, 2015 Donald Scarinci

No Nikon D800 in your bag? No Leica D-Lux portable in your pocket? Every cell phone has a camera and a number of great photography apps to go along with it. So use it! Once you have trained yourself to see the world around you as a stream of infinite artistic images just waiting for your camera to capture, don’t worry that you left your camera behind. It is always better to capture the image rather than lose an opportunity, and the iPhone is not a bad last resort. Apple has done a fairly remarkable job with the camera in…

Astrophotography Top Software for Taking Pictures of the Night Sky

May 18, 2015 Donald Scarinci

Taking good pictures of the night sky is not only about camera technique. It is about knowing what to shoot and how to edit the pictures you take. Here is a brief overview of good software programs to identify the shot and edit it in post. Selecting Your Subject Matter While purists may want to learn how to read the night sky, most prefer to rely on computers. There are a number of applications and other software programs that can direct you to interesting subject matter that is viewable in your area. Below are a few to check out: Star…

Lenses Is the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM the Best Art Lens on the Market?

May 4, 2015 Donald Scarinci

Sigma has stepped up its game with the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens. Arguably one of the best lof its kind on the market, the fast standard-length prime lens delivers outstanding images for every type of professional photography, including portrait photography, landscape photography, studio photography and street photography. For Sigma fans, the new lens is a completely reengineered version of the existing Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM. Below is a brief summary of the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art’s key features: Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16 Hyper Sonic AF Motor 13 elements in 8 groups…

Astrophotography Nikon Introduces First Astrophotography Camera

March 9, 2015 Donald Scarinci

Nikon has introduced the first full-frame camera designed exclusively for astrophotography. The Nikon D810A essentially includes the basic body of the popular D810 along with a number of added features specifically created for astrophotography. According to Nikon, the D810A “makes the most of the incredible rendering capabilities of the D810, while utilizing an optical filter adopted to enable beautiful reproduction of vivid reds in images of nebulae that emit H-alpha light, something very difficult with run-of-the-mill digital SLR cameras.” Most cameras have broad-ranging infrared filters that filter out some visible red light. While useful in traditional applications, they make it…

Astrophotography Shooting for the Stars: Introduction to Astrophotography

February 23, 2015 Donald Scarinci

Astrophotography can be challenging. After all, you are not simply shooting something right in front of you, but an object that may be located millions of miles away and invisible to the naked eye. But you only have to look at a beautiful picture of a star trail against the night sky or even the full moon to understand why astronomers and photographers alike are drawn to astrophotography. The History of Astrophotography People have been taking pictures of the night sky since the early days of photography. In fact, John William Draper captured the first image of the moon in 1840….

Books Bryan Peterson Says You Can Improve Your Photo Skill in Just 4 Weeks, Believe It!

February 2, 2015 Donald Scarinci

Understanding Exposure, by Bryan Peterson is a classic “must read” for every serious beginning photographer. The latest edition of the book is now available in hardcover. As on line classes became popular, Bryan Peterson started the Picture Perfect School of Photography (PPSOP). Without doubt it is one of the best online photography schools on the internet. Its founder, Peterson brings more than 30 years of professional photography and teaching experience to his classes. His instructors teach with the same clarity that Peterson uses in his books that have made him so popular. While there are a variety of YouTube videos…

Camera & Lenses Leica D-Lux Typ 109: The Best Compact Camera Available

January 5, 2015 Donald Scarinci

The latest high-end, compact camera causing a buzz in the photography world is the Leica D-LUX Typ 109. The camera features a large sensor, traditional controls, and near-SLR quality photos. Leica has chosen not to market this camera as the D-Lux 7, instead they call it Typ 109, which is more consistent with their numbering system for the V-Lux cameras. Leica added a lot to the new model to warrant the price jump from $800 for the D-Lux 6 to $1200 for the 109. Thanks to a partnership with Panasonic, the camera shares many of the same features as Panasonic…

Model Release Model Release: There’s an App for That

December 22, 2014 Donald Scarinci

Model releases are an important legal tool for anyone who plans to use their photographs for commercial purposes. The legal contracts protect photographers from a variety of legal claims, such as invasion of privacy and defamation, by memorializing in writing the rights and obligations of the subject and the photographer. For photographers who don’t want to carry around a stack of documents, “there’s an app for that.” In fact, there are several. While mobile apps may not be sufficient when photographing professional models, they will certainly do the trick for street photographers and other professionals who shoot on the fly….

Camera & Lenses Is the Nikon D750 the Best of Both Worlds?

December 8, 2014 Donald Scarinci

Nikon continues to roll out new model with the introduction of its latest full-frame SLR, the D750. In terms of cost and features, the new model falls between the entry level D610 and the professional grade D810. However, it shares many key features with the more expensive model. For photographers who may be considering an upgrade, below is a brief summary of the Nikon D750’s specs: Effective pixels: 24.3 millionImage sensor format: FXTop continuous shooting speed: 6.5 frames per second at full resolutionISO sensitivity: 100 -12,800 (expandable to 51,200)Video: Full HD, 1080p at 60/50/30/25/24pImage sensor: CMOS sensor with AA filterFastest…