Flight of the Photographer

Anytime I fly, the biggest question I have is: What do I take? Well, here’s a little snippet of what’s to come tomorrow.

airportbag

Remember the Minitrekker Video? Well that up there is an Airport Security bag, by ThinkTank Photo. And surprisingly, when it’s closed, it doesn’t bulge at all. But if a picture is worth a thousand words, what’s a video worth? [Read more →]

Setting Up a Camera Remote: The Video

shawn marionRemote cameras open up a lot of possibilities for photographers. Whether you want to capture a moment from two different angles, or with two focal lengths, remotes can provide us with images that otherwise wouldn’t be possible for us. But, for the most part, remotes are thought of as a difficult task, and so we think remotes are only for magazines like Sports Illustrated or ESPN the Magazine. They’re not.

While covering a game between the Phoenix Mercury and Detroit Shock, I did a video segment on remote setup basics. It’s easier than you think, so read on, and check out the video. Before you know it, you’ll be able to set up your own remotes. [Read more →]

What Would PShizzy do? June 11 2008

From Zander, on FredMiranda.com:

Thanks for taking time to do this, I really appreciate it.
Right now I have:

  • 20D, nearing the 50k shutter count.
  • 28-105 3.5-4.5
  • 50 1.8
  • 70-200 2.8

My budget is roughly $2200. I could come up with a few extra hundred dollars if needed. I use my 70-200 by far the most, and often it is not long enough. I was thinking that I would pick up the 300 f/4 non-IS to cover the longer focal lengths. [Read more →]

Spending Smart: So What do I Buy?

Ok, so we already talked about the commitment to a budget. We talked about the differences between needs and wants. We even talked about where to get the stuff you need or want. But what do you need or want? And how can you tell the difference?

In this article, we’re going to look at some questions you can ask of yourself to really get the appropriate equipment for your needs. key word: Needs. Sure anyone can rationalize a purchase, but those rationalizations are just lies we tell ourselves so we can feel better about the buy. The sad truth is that we often have more money than we think we do. We just spend it wrong. Ever seen someone with a nice car and expensive rims, but is broke and lives with their parents? We all do it, to different degrees.

So, read on to find out more about what you can do to really assess your needs [Read more →]

Spending Smart: I Have a Budget, Now What?

So, in our last “Spending Smart” segment (I guess it’s a segment now, since so many people liked it), I discussed the art of budgeting and the very important first step: setting a budget. It’s really easy to get a lot of stuff when you don’t have a limit. This is why people go into credit card debt. They don’t see money disappearing or their pockets emptying. They just dismiss it as something to consider later. A budget is a way to consider now, and work within that construct in order to achieve a goal. Ok enough about that last segment.

Today I’ll go into the process, almost step by step, as to what I do when I want to buy gear. As much as I love photography as an art, I’m also a gadget and gear person. I accepted that I like stuff, but I do my best to be frugal about it. So this is what I do: [Read more →]

Reader E-Mail: Getting Ready for an Event

I’ve got a game tomorrow, which should make for a fun post, so today I thought I’d answer an email:

I will be shooting (for fun and some friends) at the Veterans Wheelchair games. I got a Canon 40D (with grip) from my hubby for Christmas (going from a Kodak Hybrid).I have been practicing, (not good yet too much rain everywhere we go). Anyway I end up laying on the ground, squatting, and everything you can think of because they sit instead of stand. I have the following Lens (most bought on sale). I don’t have any “L” glass since I want to be sure before I spend that much money. I have the following: [Read more →]

Be Prepared: Not Just the Boy Scout Motto

Computrekker AWIt’s obvious that part of getting ready for your shoot is to pack your gear up. For some people this may be chore, for others a ritual. For me, it’s almost a challenge. But I’ve figured out a system for my bag(s) that I really like, so much so that my bags are almost always packed the exact same way. This isn’t new, I’ve had it this way for years. (for those that know me, yes I will be linking to “the video” again). And today I’ll share it with you. [Read more →]

Spending Smart: Photography on a Budget

No one likes to budget. This is just the truth. Budgeting means you have to compromise, and accept that you won’t get what you want. It’s important to understand that what you need and what you want are very different things. A budget isn’t just a number that you have to stay under, it’s a commitment. So what do you have to commit to?

[Read more →]