Gear
Professional Photo Gear
Trust our in-depth articles and reviews to help you flush out the digital photo equipment that best suits you.
Thursday, August 16, 2007Red On The SetWhen Epson wanted to photograph one of the world's rarest automobiles to test a new printer, they went to Stage 3 Productions in Detroit, where the staff knows how to generate maximum resolution The next best thing to driving a $1.3-million Enzo Ferrari is photographing one. Epson America challenged us to photograph the legendary car in our studio at Stage 3 Productions and create the most detailed digital files possible. Dan Steinhardt at Epson specifically asked for a final file that was unflattened, 16-bit, Pro Photo RGB-captured to the highest resolution possible. Using a Sinarback 54HR, P2, the final size after retouching would be in the gigabytes. Read More... |
Wednesday, August 15, 2007The Upgrade GameKeeping your gear up to date is part of the business of being a professional in the digital age. The decision on when and how to upgrade comes down to determining how to make the most of what you have. You've probably found yourself thinking at times about how much easier life would be if you had an unlimited supply of money (and if you already do have an unlimited supply of money, drop me a line). For professional photographers, it seems that life before digital was simpler and less expensive. You bought a camera and a collection of lenses, and they served you well for many years. |
Wednesday, August 15, 2007Misinformation: Camera ObjectivityMyth: A camera sees the world objectively The phrase “the camera never lies” has been around a very long time; but the idea that a camera lies also has been around a long time. Back in the '60s, Pete Turner did an essay about how color lies, and even before that, the Life photographer Andreas Feininger wrote on how the camera lied. |
Wednesday, June 27, 2007The Future Of MemorySDHC and CompactFlash are the dominant formats for today's D-SLRs, but whether or not that will continue indefinitely is an open question for professionals Memory cards keep getting smaller in size, higher in capacity, faster in sustained read/write speed and lower in price. What other directions will they take? Which format is most likely to predominate the professional photography market, and what will we see at Photokina 2008? |
Tuesday, June 26, 2007Comeback - Medium-Format ResurgenceMedium-format is experiencing a resurgence. The dire predictions of a few years ago are being replaced by guarded optimism amidst higher-resolution products that are more portable and more affordable. Thanks to the steady rise in quality and popularity of 35mm-format digital SLRs, medium-format manufacturers have spent much of this decade fighting for their proverbial lives. Add to that the early limitations of high price and low portability in its digital systems, and medium-format seemed poised to disappear. |
Tuesday, June 19, 2007The Paper Chase - Selecting The Best PaperOne of the least considered, yet most used materials in the photographer's arsenal, a paper's fundamental construction can have a profound impact on how images print For most photographers, the ultimate goal is a print. When inkjet printing hit photo quality, the choices were very limited. Every manufacturer went to great pains to supply papers that mimicked traditional darkroom papers in an effort to lend a more legitimate feel to digital printing. Photographers didn't take long to try alternative media, though, looking for that perfect surface and finish that would bring out the best in their images. |
Tuesday, June 19, 2007Securable Memory CardsLockTight technology has some interesting possibilities and ramifications for professional photographers Because photography is used as evidence in courtrooms and relied upon for strict documentation in fields like insurance and medicine, there has always been a need to apply a measure of security to the images in these fields. With the rise of digital photography and the early suspicions about rampant image manipulation, keeping these images secure has taken on a renewed urgency. |
Tuesday, June 19, 2007Mysteries Of (Color) SpaceWe've covered it before and we'll cover it again because the ins and outs of color management begin with a firm grasp of how devices handle color space Technical terms are frequently tossed around like a Frisbee in a park on Sunday. In digital imaging, three such terms are color space, color gamut and profiles. “Use this color space—you'll get better results.” “Is this color within the color gamut?” “What profile are you using?” All are valid questions, but what do they actually mean? |
Tuesday, June 19, 2007SecurityFor security and convenience, take a copy of your photo library with you Think “insurance policy.” Your digital files are your most important asset as a working photographer. No matter how secure your studio or how frequent your backups, if you lose your images, you lose income. |
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Contender: Nicholas Mele
It can happen in an instant -
Contender: Cindy McDaniel
Going underwater for an unpredictable look -
Contender: Martin Christopher
“Angel Face” was photographed for a local hair salon’s ad campaign -
Contender: Bruce Roscoe
Meticulous attention to the lighting creates strong chiaroscuro and a dramatic effect -
Contender: Kevin Ziechmann
Reality and photography collide in this self-portrait -
Contender: David Miller
Rendering a split look in a “Frankenstein” photo -
Contender: Jeff Nadler
Black and white film and natural light gave this image its distinctive look -
Contender: Jessica Christie
Capturing emotions and creating a retro look -
Contender: Laura Bello
A little bling and vibrant color demand a viewer’s attention -
Contender: Dhrumil S. Desai
Style and substance came into play in making this warm-toned black and white portrait
