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, May 31, 2007Calibrate Your CameraTo get complete predictability, consistency and control, it's important to calibrate your entire system. We used to do it with film, now we do it a little differently with digital gear. As professional photographers, we've always tested our equipment to determine the specific characteristics of gear combinations so we'd know the precise capabilities of camera, lens and film in the conditions in which we most often shoot. Product shooters would load different emulsions and shoot tabletop scenes, fashion photographers would bring in models, etc. With film, this was an arduous process that required multiple exposures and different chemical recipes. |
Wednesday, May 30, 2007All About Image SensorsAt the heart of every digital camera is an electronic marvel Millions of photographers are purchasing digital cameras every year, and all of them seem to understand the direct correlation between a camera's sensor and the resulting quality of their photographs. That knowledge is common, but too often cursory. |
Wednesday, May 30, 2007The Bit-Depth Decision8-bit versus 16-bit workflow is among the least understood aspects of photography for most professionals. This primer will get you up to speed quickly. Within the field of photography and digital imaging, a number of debates are argued by users and experts: Nikon versus Canon, Mac versus Windows, zoom versus prime lens, RAW versus JPEG—the list goes on and on. Add to that 8-bit versus 16-bit. What's the difference? Is the controversy useful or viable? After reading our primer, you'll have a better idea about where to stand on the issue. |
Wednesday, May 30, 2007Printer ShotWhen Epson approached Jeff Schewe to photograph their latest professional printer, they wanted something different This story started last spring when I received a phone call from Dan (aka Dano, as in “Book 'em, Dano”) Steinhardt from Epson, asking me if I might be interested in doing a shot for Epson. At the time, he was his usual circumspect self, hinting that the “thing” I might be shooting was bigger than a breadbox and would sit on a desk—yeah, like I didn't assume it was a printer—but he steadfastly refused to allow the discussion to progress to further speculation on my part. I said yes. |
Wednesday, May 30, 2007Hi-Tech Studio: Digital Photo GalleryGo beyond the conventional and display your work with a flat screen or a projector Landing an exhibition at a prominent gallery remains among the most coveted achievements for any photographer, but between booking work and keeping up with the day-to-day tasks of running a business, there's not always a lot of time left to shop your work around to gallery owners. Many photographers treat their studios as a de facto gallery space over which they have complete control. These “exhibitions” serve as a way of giving everyone who comes to the studio a look at what you can do. |
Tuesday, May 29, 2007The Road AheadWith the staggering number of recent changes in the camera industry, professionals are suddenly looking at a shifting group of manufacturers who will be producing the tools of the trade Shakeouts, sell-offs, curious partnerships and bankruptcies—what in hell has been going on in the photo industry? Over the last five years, beginning in 2002 with the forced liquidation of Polaroid's assets, we've seen some strange realignments, consolidations and collaborations. For example, in January 2003, Konica acquired Minolta Corporation. Three years later, the newly formed company completely withdrew from the camera industry (although it's thriving as a business equipment manufacturer). So what's really going on? |
Tuesday, May 29, 2007Use Custom Functions To Personalize Your D-SLRDiscover how custom functions can improve the way you produce images The ability to customize a professional digital SLR is likely both the best and most underused feature you'll find in today's cameras. With dozens of user-adjustable controls for focus, metering and more, these cameras offer great adaptability. But learning how and when to use these settings, particularly in combination with each other, is often a challenge for photographers who are busy creating images to make a living. |
Tuesday, May 29, 2007Safe KeepingDealing with the long-term storage challenges that every pro will face Storage means everything in digital photography. Without a place to keep photos, and without the speed and reliability of a storage medium, there's no business. All that's left is an expensive camera and fancy lighting equipment! Storage is also an integral part of the photographic workflow, and it can even be the central repository for an e-commerce site where clients can purchase photographs or browse watermarked images. |
Tuesday, May 29, 2007Hi-Tech Studio: MonolightsHaving tools that let you take your studio on the road can open the door to more and better-paying jobs Most studio photographers choose either a power pack and flash head system or continuous lights (hot lights) for the vast majority of their work. Monolights have been largely relegated to the sidelines due to their reputation as being limited in usefulness. In a marketplace where studio space is being abandoned as too expensive and more photographers are being asked to do location shoots in a limited time and with limited notice, monolights are tools that might prove to be your best options. |
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