Today has been a day of details, one thing after another to work out for the BCS game, thankfully everything is rolling along fine!  Sneaky way to bring up the subject, but let’s talk about cameras. As I have shared before I’m working on what I hope to be the near perfect system for the next bunch of years of shooting.  I truly believe that we have entered the best age of digital technology yet.  Well of course, since things keep getting better but we are hitting the really sweet spot, and I think this is the time to build a system for the future.

 

Here are a few of my thoughts;

 

1. If you ever owned a 4X5 or 8X10 view camera and you want to get that kind of amazing detail, the D800 or D800e is the ticket in today’s DSLRs.  I think of my D800 (o.k. Nikon’s D8700!!!) as the go to camera when the ultimate in detail and resolution is the goal.  When used just like a view camera, on a solid tripod with a cable release and very careful technique the results can be utterly amazing.  The shot above was made on our Red Rock Workshops in Lower Antelope Canyon with the D800 and the 24-120 AF-S VR.  This kind of file could be made into a print of just about any size you needed!  So camera number one in my future system, the D800.

 

2.  The everyday shoot almost anything camera, should be a little more compact, have plenty of resolution and shoot great in extremely low light.  Sticking with the system I use, Nikon,  the D600 is a perfect fit!  It’s 24.3 mega pixels is a lot and still allows great low light shooting.  The feel and operation of the D600 has become one of my two favorite cameras for ergonomics.  When I ho out the door for normal shooting the D600 has become a constant companion!  So number two on my list will be a D600.    

 

3.  I believe that it is a great idea to have a DX body just to stretch your lenses and for travel when weight is really important.  For years I’ve loved the D7000 and I can’t see any reason not to go that route, assuming nothing comes along to change my mind it is number three, the D7000!

 

 4.  Finally I think everyone needs a camera for when they just don’t feel like carrying around a DSLR and some lenses, but still want to be able to make really wonderful images.  This is a tough one because so many great choices exist and more than any other kinds of cameras, how you work and what  you want in the feel and weight of a compact camera will be a great influence on your choice here.  Because I get to use a lot of different compact cameras, I’m stilling trying to decide on this one, but the leading candidates are the Nikon Coolpix P7700, Coolpix P7100 and the Fuji X10.  Each has it’s own charms, and any of them can make wonderful images!!!!

 

So there it is, what I think will be my shooting partners for years to come!  * Of Course I reserve the right to change anything as new cameras appear, but they will be hard pressed to beat these list above.

 

Tomorrow will be Media Day at the stadium and we may finally make images that relate to football!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

 

If you get out in the world you will see every possible philosophy about how to approach life!  I went down into Fort Lauderdale to try a place that was sup[posed to have a great burger, more on that later. What I did find was some interesting things in pseudo antique shop.

 

Life is not a gamble, and it’s not an exercise in you setting the rules.  Trust me on this, I’ve tried both and the end result is regret.  No, as much as I love John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, we don’t really find peace and fulfillment by pulling ourselves up by our own boot straps!  A walk with the Lord is an exercise in yielding, not leading.  The Lord wants us to do one thing, Trust Him!

 

It’s hard for us to let go of the control we “think” we have over our lives, but in the end we will learn that we never had that much control anyway!  Yes, it’s fun to pretend, but it’s best to just surrender your life to Him and know He is the one thing, you can trust!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

Photo Note:   Nikon Coolpix P7700.

Got in to Fort Lauderdale, where the press is based for BCS Championship game, had time to pick up credentials, and do some study of the schedule of events.  Before i went out for dinner I went out on the balcony to see these two images.  A outside dinner had been set up and they had just lit the candles! Couldn’t pass it up and then adding some Glamour Glow!  The shot below was of some pretty spectacular beach art!  Both images with the D600 and the 70-300 AFS-VR lens.  I love shooting aerials even when an airplane is not involved!

 

I really enjoyed all the family time during the Christmas Season but now it’s back to work.  I will hope to shoot and share some interesting things in Florida.  God bless and thanks for joining me!

 

In Him,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

One of the most valuable things we do at our His Light Workshops is the critiques sessions!  I’ve noticed that Thye have critiques days on The Grid, and the popularity is sell founded.  The best way to make better images is to know what keeps your images from being as successful as possible!  I just recently posted a series of images I shot at a couple of antique shops.  After looking at them carefully, I realized I would have had a number of suggestions on how they could have been better!  So since we hold no punches here, even it they land on my chin.  Here is a golden suggestion,do as I say not as I did!!!

 

One of the most important thing you can do to improve any image is get rid of distractions, things that draws the viewers eye away from the subject.  I am going to repost the images as they appeared the other day, and under each image will be the improved image.  Look close and see if you can see how each images was improved!!??  Every fix was done simply in Photoshop with either the burn tool, the clone stamp, or the healing brush tool.  No image took more than a minute to fix, I think you will agree that the little things matter.  See how much more focused the images are after a little cleaning up!

 

 

I know these are subtle differences, but you have to admit that getting bright areas out the frame, or darkening areas focuses the eye more in the subject.  Less is always more!  Below a front porch shot and then the image within the image!   Hope this gives you some food for thought!

 

 

 

Will be flying to Florida for BCS tomorrow, will keep you posted with my entries!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim