Carlos Ferragamo Video Shoot

Just before the holidays, I was contacted by New York's own Carlos Ferragamo. He pitched a concept to me about a track called "Killing Myself," from his upcoming Shades of Blue EP. He wanted to show the downfall and struggles that commonly follow the indulgence normally seen today. This marks our second official collaboration.

The video is now in the stages of color correction, and will be released at 6:00pm EST on Tuesday!!

Fall Festival 2010 - First Baptist Church

I'm a little late posting this. Have three new music videos, and also for the past six weeks I have been editing for First Baptist Church. This is a multi-cultural congregation, and they have an impressive Media Ministry. I currently play the role of Assistant Editor and have worked on group DVDs as well as their National Broadcast, The Winning Edge. One thing that is very important to me is to use my gift to uplift others, and I think this fits perfectly.

Last month, they [First Baptist Church] held their annual Fall Festival. Since I knew this would be a joyous event, I headed out with my T2i. They had a great turnout, as I'm sure they always do. There was all sorts of food and games, and plenty of sweet (literally) prizes. I got a bag full myself! Other activities included a magic show, face painting, dunk tank and hay ride. Go to the gallery.

FBC's neighbor is Antioch MBC, and this year their events were on different days, so I was able to attend both.

Feature Film - A Fighting Chance

I had the pleasure of working with Dockyard Productions, for ESPN Films on the feature A Fighting Chance. This is a documentary style film about the MMA fighter Kyle Maynard. Kyle was born without arms and legs, but he did not let this stop him from living his life. Beyond being an award winning fighter, Kyle is also a motivational speaker and best selling author. The film gives a glimpse into Kyle's day to day life and travels with him as he prepares for his first official MMA match. The premiere is tonight on ESPN2 at 7:00pm EST.

Gospel Fest 2010 - Antioch MBC

On October 30 this year, I went out to celebrate the Annual Fall Festival at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Oviedo. I am also a member there. Usually when shooting for a church, there is no money involved. This means I get to have some fun too!! This was my second year going out, and I was surprised to see my friend Bobby from First Baptist of Oviedo. I met Bobby when visiting FBC and have since been doing some Editing for their services. They have a Fall Festival on the 31st every year. Go to the gallery.

American Bully Kennel Club Dog Show

This weekend, I went out to the ABKC Dog Show in Orlando, FL. They had a great turnout, and some beautiful dogs. Had a few aggressive pits that had to go as well. The categories were broken down by age, and male or female. From there they chose the best from each category, and then the best overall. Nationals are on November 13. Go to the gallery.

Limelyte - Large On The Streets

Another fire track from Limelyte!! I frequently shoot music videos for local Recording Artist Limelyte, this is another track off his mixtape. No big production here, just something quick, guerilla style to visualize the song. The entire production was shot in 1.5 hours, including travel time. All natural lighting, shot with a Canon T2i, mostly from 18mm - 40mm.

New GAP Logo

I haven't stepped foot into "the GAP" in the past 10 years. The same goes for Old Navy. Back then, I had no idea of the term "branding" and had no interest in any type of marketing. But, since I took up Graphic Design in my studies, I got to dabble in the field and even got a few clients. This all before I went full speed into Video Production. I still get the occational logo design inquiry, so I do keep my eyes open.

Now I want to shut them! This week, the 1969 born company rolled out their new logo. Sometimes you don't appreciate good, simple clean design until it's gone. Well folks, the old GAP logo is gone! This doesn't effect me much because I can't remember the last time I walked by a GAP store; the feelings are much more intense when it comes to the new imdb.com design *frown*. The new logo removes the classic blue square foundation, adds some "classy?" Helvitica font and a cute little square in the top right corner. Oh, and don't forget the awesome gradient fade -_-.

From the looks of it, even the @GapLogo is going through some emotional distress.

C-Jak Music Video - "Destroy"

About five weeks ago, local Recording Artist C-Jak contacted me about shooting a music video. He wanted something simple, yet symbolic of his city. We decided to shoot in front of the newly constructed Amway Arena.

T2i Sharpness

100% crop of raw T2i footage

When DSLRs entered into the world of video, many criticized the sharpness of the image. Being that I am not as experienced as most, I simply rolled with the punches. After all, I am completely satisfied with the imagery I am producing with my camcorder, although I know I can still learn a lot more. What concerned me is how so many could be on opposite ends of the war. Either people loved the DSLR, and praised it as "film-like" or people complained about sharpness and rolling shutter. No matter what equipment you have, if you are paying sub $10k it is because you are lacking features that are otherwise available.

So I decided to leave all of the talk behind, and do my own research. Breathtaking videos started surfacing all over the net, most noticeably that of Vincent Laforet and Philip Bloom. Even considering the limitations of the small cameras, the capabilities far outweigh the sacrifices. And as far as being sharp, well, they look pretty dang sharp to me! The above image is a 100% crop of a music video I am currently editing. Focusing was done using the LCD screen in almost direct sunlight (due the rear reflection which was used as fill!).

Now would I say you can get sharper imagery from a camcorder? Yes you can, but expect to pay at least 3x the cost of a DSLR. As it has been proven, they can produce stunning footage when used by the right people. Just as with every other tool in the industry, you must know the limitations and how to use what you are presented with. As of now I still prefer the image of my XH-A1, but considering all things, the T2i is a sweet camera, provides stunning footage and will always be optional as an A or B camera.

Google Instant

Google has released it's new product Google Instant, which has informally taking the title Google Live Search. This tool performs the search function as you type. Google estimates that the typical user spends nine seconds entering a query and 15 seconds looking for answers1. Claims have been made that say this new feature will take between 2 and 5 seconds off of this time. Check it out! www.google.com

1. source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11239037

My Eeeeyyyyes On You

If anyone knows me, they know my only fear is spiders. The reason this is my only fear is because no matter how many times I try to conquer it, it still haunts me every single time I encounter one. This time, I try to conquer the fear by trying to get some interesting shots of this guy, nestled by my fireplace.

A Fighting Chance - Documentary

I just got some great news from one of the Directors, our film is now the second most popular on Hulu.com!! I would like to thank everyone for their support. The film will be available for preview for only one more week online. If you miss it, the television premiere will be on ESPN in November.

Get in touch with Kyle: http://twitter.com/kylemaynard

Directors: Takashi Doscher & Alex Shofner
Producers: Ted Leonsis & Rick Allen
Music by: Mike Dorsey
Camera Operators:
Ross Sebek
Curtis Harper
Ryan Moulton
Asher Emmanuel
David Torcivia
John Merizalde

Dumb and Dumber Trailer - Inception Style

I've seen plenty of trailer remakes, even done a few myself (would never post them online). When doing a remake, you really have to consider everything that goes into making a trailer. It is not just a few scenes slapped together. You must consider ambience, sound fx, transitions and storyline. Also you will find most good trailers have a voice overlay. One thing I really like is when someone remakes a trailer well, and also reconveys the genre. The Dumb and Dumber remake is one of the best I've scene (hehe).

Click here for the official trailer and info page for Inception (2010).

Carlos Ferragamo - Writing Rhymes Remix

I was contacted by Bronx native Carlos Ferragamo to shoot his latest music video, "Writing Rhymes Remix."

Credits:
Artist - Carlos Ferragamo
Director - Curtis Harper
Editor - Curtis Harper

Penny to return to the Heat?

Tim Hardaway Jr. - Curtis Harper/PPEG

Well, this isn't Photography related, and that's not Penny featured above; but it has been brought to the public that Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway would like to re-join the Miami Heat. He last played for the Heat in 2007, and was released the same year. I recently covered the All-Star game, which Tim Hardaway's son (above), "Hardaway Jr.," was in the starting line-up for Team Florida [to go to University of Michigan]. It was a great experience. Initially I got the two Hardaway's mixed up, but seeing as Penny Hardaway's son is 10 years old, I don't think he will be going off to college just yet.

Number 1 from the Orlando Magic of 1999 knows what his strengths and weaknesses are, it will be interesting to see how the Heat respond. It would be good to have a veteran on the team, but with a history with new head coach Erik Spoelstra, the offer may be tainted. Wishing you the best Penny.

Wedding Photographer Checklist

When doing shoots where every shot counts, you want to be sure you have all areas covered. This Photographer had his covered by purchasing nice, weather-sealed gear. On a serious note, here is a quick checklist every Wedding Photographer should consider:

1) DSLR body (two in most cases)
- at least 3fps
- at least 8 megapixela
- ability to shoot high ISO with low noise
- weather-sealing is a plus

2) Lenses
- quality glass comparable to Canon's "L" series
- short focal length (prime or zoom from 16-135 range)
- long focal length (usually zoom at least through 200mm)

3) Memory
- at least three 8gb cards
- method of transferring files to hard drive before end of day

4) Lighting
- At least one off camera flash
- stand and umbrella
- gels
- model light for tough focusing situations

5) Batteries
- At least 2 camera batteries
- plenty of AA batteries (rechargeables are great)
- bring all of your chargers

6) Accessories
- light stands and tripods
- mounting accessories for any situation
- extension cord

Of course this is not a complete list, but a great starting point. Watch out for obsticles!

What flash to buy?

image by Mark (POTN)

Many first time DSLR users that end up taking the professional path soon realize that their second purchase will be an external flash. Though the on-camera units are becoming more and more powerful, they limit creativity and should only be used when it's the only option. The small but powerful flash can not be adjusted, excerpts a harsh, generally unfocused light and is mounted to a single location. But it's a flash, right? Why do you need an external flash? Here are a few of the common benefits:

- the ability to adjust the power output
- enables you to focus the light
- you can point the light at the optimal angle, which is not always directly at the subject
- more power when you need it
- the option to operate wirelessly
- increased battery life of your camera
- gives a strong fill light outdoors

Of course an external flash also has it's drawbacks:

- slow recycle time (grows smaller and smaller upon new releases; can be remedied by external battery pack)
- extra equipment to carry
- must buy extra batteries to power the flash (cheap)
- must shell out the cash (from $100 - $500)

As you can see the benefits make the drawbacks seem insignificant. Perhaps the most important aspect of making this type of purchase is simply that it allows you to shoot in situations that you originally could not. So which flash do you buy? The latest and greatest? Is old tech just as good as new? Do I need to get the manufacturer's flash unit or can I use a third party?

When considering your purchase, think about what your needs are. What are your plans in the future? Look for specifications like TTL, master/slave, tilt/swivel, recycle time, w/s (power output). These are all important when making your decision. As far as the brand, I like to stick with manufacturer's. Who knows their products better than them? However certain 3rd party flashes do offer good reviews, such as the Yongnuo YN-600. You will also find that 3rd party flashes are as much as 90% cheaper than the manufacturer's units. The thing that you do not want to do is purchase a flash from ancient times, as there may be voltage variances or other differences in the circuitry that may not match up with modern gear.

Manufacturer's units are expensive, but they are usually worth it. Take the 580exii for example. It is almost twice as powerful as the previous model, offers wireless control of other flashes, smaller increments of adjustment, faster recycle time and the list goes on. The price tag is hefty at $399, but many Photographers will greatly benefit from these features. Many 3rd party flashes offer slow recycle times and short battery life. This is ok for the at home Family Photographer, but not for the professional. These are simply tools for the job.

I always say if you are going to purchase, make an investment. Spend the money upfront rather than purchasing just to make an upgrade in the future. If you are serious about your craft, then it will pay off. With the rapid advancement of technology, and constant releases due to steady competition, it becomes easier to get the "previous model." The 430exii is an amazing flash, but we only said that until the 580 was released. Find out what you need and what you can afford, and always carry more batteries than you need.

For more information on individual flash models, check out http://speedlights.net/

"City of Scars"

Awesome Batman fan film directed by Aaron Schoenke.

License Your Photos via Getty Images

In the past, Flickr was known as a low quality, amateur outlet for uploading and viewing photographs. Think of it as the "YouTube of Stills." However, just as YouTube has evolved, so has Flickr. Not only does it offer great features such as multiple resolution images, and tag search, but you now have the ability to license your image through Getty Images! They call it the “Request to License” program, and the option will automatically become available if you have an account. You will notice it under the "Additional Information" heading.

Once you sign up for the program, an additional link will be made viewable to visitors. When someone wants to license the image, they simply click the link, and Getty Images takes care of the rest! When the process is complete, you receive an email, or "FlickrMail," in which you decide if you agree to the terms and want to go through with the license. Yes, it IS that simple!

To leave feedback on this new program, or to get more information, head over to the Flickr forums.

Walking Around

A couple weeks ago I got a chance to go up to Gainesville. With it being a growing city with one of Florida's largest Universities, I decided to go for a stroll. I passed by a developing neighborhood that only had 3 or 4 town house styled homes completed, and all on the same row. This left much open field to explore. As I got to the far end of the neighborhood, I approached a finished community park. On the ground was this pair of spray-painted Airwalks. I snapped a quick series, this is one of my favorites from the bunch.

JPEG vs. RAW

A question often asked when first introduced to professional Photography is, "What is the difference between shooting JPEG and shooting RAW?" First, lets consider how a photograph is made: you press a release, which opens the shutter, which allows light to reach a plane, which "exposes" a digital sensor. From here, the image is saved to your supported format.

A JPEG image is a compressed file. The objective is to process the image in a way that causes no quality loss visible to the human eye. In other words, the camera is saying "I don't need this data in order to show you an accurate image." This is great because it allows for small file sizes, and beautiful images. A standard 15mp image will be about a 4MB file. So did you catch that? The image is processed before it leaves your camera.

Every thing has a positive and a negative. No matter how you take it, JPEG is a lossy compression format. And each time you process the image, it loses considerable quality. What most are not conscious to is that the original image has already been processed once, in-camera. So when you edit that image, you are already re-compressing the file. This is where the term "post" processing originated (digitally at least). Another problem is that editing introduces artifacts which can soften or otherwise distort the image. It's like a one way valve, once the data is gone, it's not coming back.

Then we have the RAW format. A RAW file is uncompressed. No camera processing is done to the image after it is captured. That means you are starting with the original (like a negative), and have complete control over how the image is processed. There are obvious benefits to this such as the ability to make adjustments, especially white balance, without any loss in quality. On the other hand, a RAW file will take up about 5 times the space of a JPEG.

If you need the highest quality image, shoot RAW. At the very least, it provides one less round of processing (assuming you will be editing the images). If you are going to deliver pictures straight out of the camera, there is no need to shoot RAW. JPEG is a great format, but it wasn't born to edit; it was born to specify a codec in which images can gracefully be compressed.

MOFILM video contest

MOFILM.com is an organization that brings filmmakers to large coorporations. Every year they hold several contests that allow people to compete from all across the globe. The objective is basically to create an ad for a brand by using the supplied information about the company. You must consider the companie's objective, goals and creative strategy. The winners of the contest recieve cash prizes, and are usually invited to an awards ceremony. Recent competitions have involved the likes of John Landau and Spike Lee, so you can see how beneficial this could be to anyone involved on the project.

I really like the idea of the MOFILM. I also love that it is not an annual event, but rather several throughout the year and channeled through many different organizations, such as Cannes, BFI and Shanghai International. This is a big deal! Some of the prizes, such as the $2000 awarded to Matt O'Dowd's team for his Walmart commercial, seem a bit sub par compared to the industry standard, but they did get an all expenses paid trip out to LA Film school. Part of me sais this is just another way for coorporations to get commercial work for cheap, but the level of exposure you get in return may make it well worth it. The UK originated MOFILM is already among the top visited sites in Great Britain, and is rising fast in the US. The top three entries are awarded.

How to view TIFF images on Windows XP

When nitpicking and culling images from my shoots, I tend to immediately categorize all the groups to stay organized and make it easy to reference each client. One convenient way to view images on a Windows system is using the "Filmstrip" feature when in Windows Explorer (Finder on a Mac). The problem is that sometimes XP will not recognize a folder as a file that contains images. If XP does not think that images are present, it will not give you the option to view as a filmstrip [View>Filmstrip].
If this is the case, you can simply right-click on the folder and select Properties. Then navigate to the Customize tab and select the "pictures" template from the dropdown box. Hit ENTER and proceed to the folder. Now when you select [View] you will notice that the Filmstrip option is now available.

Working with TIFF images?
Another plus about the Filmstrip view is that it allows you to view your TIFF images without the need for opening Bridge.

VEVO is the FLU shot

This is the VEVO logo ==> VEVO

Many have noticed that "VEVO" seems to be taking over the music video scene on YouTube. Many users are upset at this as it is a distracting change in normal browsing experience, forces you to view advertisements and many have been banned for copyright cases.

But this is actually good for 3 reasons,
1) It takes away from the tendency of labels to nag about their videos on users channels
2) It gets the power-ego-trippers at Viacom off their back
3) Normal users don't care about the change, advanced users care enough to research the reasoning, and hackers that only upload a bunch of other people's videos are removed! Oh and labels make money. Everyone wins.

How?
If you remember in 2008, Viacom filed a lawsuit against YouTube for copyright infringement of some 100,000 videos. It became so unconscionable that during the case, Viacom requested the viewing habits of the users as well as YouTube's source code. What? The movements were denied. I am sure that VEVO was a result of an agreement made to the case, and honestly, it's quite brilliant. I am also sure that the banning of copyright infringing users was a result.

VEVO is actually a partnership between YouTube and three of the "Big Four" record companies (perhaps the ones that chimed in on the case in favor of Viacom?). Now, anytime an artist's video is released, it is on the respective VEVO channel. It also added some functionality recently added to Myspace, the ability to purchase songs through Amazon and iTunes.

So you see, VEVO is kind of like the FLU shot; it sucks to get it, it hurts, but once it's over you reap the benefit (though the pain has already came and gone). VEVO = good.

Interesting fact: In 2009, VEVO officially launched it's own site of industry-related performances, hosted on YouTube. It currently ranks among the top 1000 most visited websites in the US.

A Jordyn Photoshoot

This morning I had the pleasure of working with A Jordyn of Brooklyn, NY. She loves to model and has an undeniable passion for art. For the past two years she has been a tattoo artist, and is currently attending school seeking her Masters. One great thing about working with Jordyn is that she enjoys the beauty of nature, and interacts with the environment [just keep the squirrels away]! She is the type of person that when she is out, she gets noticed. She has her own look, and if you are in the same room with her, you are probably going to have some type of conversation and you are guaranteed to share a smile. She was featured in the Duroseau Couture Fashion Show in 2008.

Youtube Beta-Testing Charging for Videos

I was cruising the web today and ended up on the site I end up on at least once a week, YouTube. I always go here to watch others music videos, also to watch my previous videos and note any progression. I think of it as studying. Recently, I started browsing the "Top Videos" section on the homepage, and today that landed me on hotforwords' channel. In the description, [and after realizing how hot this girl is] I noticed in bold letters "USD $0.99.

At first, I thought "huh, is she charging you to participate in the contest?" I clicked on the description and that revealed a link in which to download an .mp4 of the video. Then it clicked, YouTube is now charging people to download their videos. And wait, they probably give the partners a cut and it allows everyone to generate more revenue. Brilliant! Well, not really, it's just basic marketing. Their are obvious benefits to doing this, the main probably being to help control illegal downloads by offering a legal solution *cough* to make more $$$ *cough*

Apparently the option is only available to a limited group of publishers, just as they have run their beta tests in the past. The publisher may choose the cost and license type upon initiating the service. Google Checkout is used for making payments.

I suspect the system will officially roll out this Summer (I do not have any information to support this).

This is the video I originally saw with the option:

Apollo 11 Saturn V Launch

I was updating my twitter and ran across this awesome tweet by @petapixel. Absolutely stunning footage from the 1969 launch of Apollo 11. The footage was originally shot on 16mm film. 500 frames of history captured every in every second! More at spacecraftfilms.com

Apples Next iPhone

image courtesy Gizmodo

The internet is once again in a [technology] worldwind. The latest a tech-story: being the "discovery" of Apples new iPhone. Chatters began about the mystical device with it's front-mounted, video chat enabled camera not long after the release of the popular 3Gs. According to Gizmodo, the device was found recently, initially appearing to be an iPhone 3Gs, but upon further inspection, it was determined this is something far different. Some possible changes to the device include front/rear mounted cameras, higher resolution screen and larger battery pack. Head over to Gizmodo.com to read the full article.

Why I Will Always Use an External Hard Drive for Editing [Stills and Motion]

The days have seen plenty of options for storage medium, such as the release of floppy disks, to compact discs, to digital video discs to flash drives.  You get the picture.  Currently dominating the scene are massive storage flash drives on the compact side, and external hard drives on the larger scale.  And truth is, these two are becoming more and more similar every day, especially with the explosion of Solid State Media.
 
Historically, it has always been best to edit anything that will constantly require access to data internally.  This would prove beneficial for many reasons, including:
1)      Fast access to information
2)      Faster speed drive ie. 7200rpm+
3)      Convenience [location]
 
Originally, the external hard drive was limited to the 12Mbit/s of USB 1.0.  Things got much sweeter in 2000 with the release of USB 2.0, in which the data rate jumped to a massive 480Mbit/s.  This now makes it possible to edit off of an external drive with some sort of efficiency, but lets remember USB is still uni-directional at this point.
 
As always Intel got the jump on Apple, releasing the USB standard in 1996, after only 2 years of research.  According to [1394 TA] documentation, FireWire was initiated by Apple in 1986, though development wasn’t complete until 1995, still a year before USB.  Early versions of FireWire offered a 400Mbit/s transfer rate, which was actually slower than USB, but you must also consider that few USB devices actually saturate the entire 480Mbit/s.  As of 2008, the latest version of FireWire [IEEE Std. 1394-2008] can transfer up to 3200Mbit/s.  The fact is that FireWire is more efficient and requires less CPU.
/end history lesson
 
So why would you want to use an external drive vs. internal?  Well, if you are like me, it’s not always convenient to edit in the lab. With more powerful laptops being released [thanks to Apple for getting the ball rolling on this], it is becoming more common for Editors to work from their hotel rooms, on a flight, in the kitchen, etc… With your work on an external drive, you can easily unmount from home-base, and then hook up to your laptop and you’re good to go.  Workflow is one of the most important factors of a well-run business.  The faster your turn-around, the more productive you can be, the more options for work become available.  Anyhow, enough hyphenated text (moves to Shorter Oxford English Dictionary).
 
Another benefit of external drives is you can now keep your C: clean without having multiple internal drives.  All of your programs can run on your C: and not have a bunch of files to deal with, which also increases performance.  And holy cow, now we have external drives with eSata connections!  That means at home, you have a direct connection to your motherboard, which is visually a 0% loss in performance.  Some of these drives also have a FireWire and/or USB option in addition.  The latest versions of eSata operate at up to 6.0Gbit/s…that’s 6000Mbit/s folks.
 
The most important thing of all, backup, backup, backup!  One nice thing for those of us that shoot to tape, you have an immediate archive. At the very least, be sure to have your project files in more than one location at all times.  Same goes with stills, or any data of importance for that matter.

Any imagery used in this article is courtesy of LaCie. This is not an endorsement of their products.

PI Bang "I'm On It" Video Shoot

Last week, Orlando recording artist P.I. Bang shot his fourth music video. Most people recognize his sound from his single "Trap Keep Jumping." The video has received over 70,000 views on YouTube and other outlets. The song is also impacting clubs as well as the local stations. His latest single "I'm On It" has also received good response.

The video was directed by Ryan Lightbourn, who has also worked with artists such as Big A.C. and Haitian Fresh. Ryan is also a Cinematographer. In this video, he had the help of Jib Operator Sunil (NexgenFilms). The video had a great turnout, and according to P.I. should be released within the next week.

Canon pulls 5DMkii v2.0.3 firmware

img courtesy of wikimedia

UPDATE 3/19/2010: v2.0.4 now available here.

Unfortunately after one day of it's official release, Canon has pulled the long-awaited firmware from the 5DMkii crowd. Many users are experiencing issues with the audio. This seems to particularly show up when shooting in the custom modes. Please be aware that though your levels may show that you are recieving signal, that does not mean the audio is actually being recorded. You should always monitor your audio anyway. Some have created workarounds, but this is not ideal. The only reason to use a workaround is to get around a problem that can not be fixed. Canon, however is working on the issue. There is no need for anyone else to contact Canon, their server lag should be enough punishment. When the update is available, we will all know.

Canon Lens Travel Mug

For anyone that was fortunate enough to flaunt a Press badge at the Olympics, you probably received one of Canon's new fancy Travel Mugs. The mug was designed after their popular 70-200mm f/4 IS lens. The lens was later made available to the public on the Vistek site, and of course, sold out the same day. Fret not, Canon Canada is currently holding a promotion giving away free mugs with a $200CAD purchase. So how bad do you want one?

Philip Bloom Meet Up - Los Angeles

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to fly out to LA and join a great group of people for Philip Bloom's HD-DSLR meet up. Had a blast and met many enthusiasts and professionals alike. I'd say 60% of the crowd carried a 7D or T2i. Unfortunately the only piece of gear I had was my Pro Master 32" reflector! [I had a T2i on reserve at Samys Camera, which was sold to another customer. Unfortunately this was my first experience with them.] I was honored to meet and listen to the advice and experiences of 24 DP Rodney Charters. He was out sporting the T2i. For the full read and a ton of pics jump over to Philip Bloom's blog.

"L" is for Luxury...or something.

I've had the opportunity to shoot with the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS USM for the past week, and it has made me fall in love with my [camera] body all over again. You can hear all the hype about the lens, read the reviews and do the research on "L" glass in general; but nothing compares to shooting with it. The fact about Photography, or any craft, is that you can continually get better at it, for as long as you do it. There will always be Photographers that boast about the images that can be created with minimal equipment, but to face reality, you need the tools to do the job. For an extreme example, imagine shooting a football game with only an 18-55mm kit lens. Sure it can be done, sure you can get some awesome pictures, but you will be very limited in your output.
The photo above was taken from the first series of images I captured with the 70-200. It was taken at full telephoto with auto-focus, and as you can see the image is very sharp. If I knew she was going to land there, I would have just focused on the line. But this just gives you an idea of how fast this lens is [also note minimal to 0 aberration].
As a Photographer, you should always want to do your best work. After some shoots, clients ask me if this was my best, I think to myself "no, my next shoot will be my best."
It may not show immediately from project to project, but over all you should progressively get better each time you shoot. And at some point, that will mean getting the right tools.

Canon 550D Sample Footage

Today Canon officially announced the release of the Rebel T2i aka the 550D. Later in the afternoon they released this sample footage!



Specs at DPReview

TE - The Weatherproof Canon 7D

Photo By Ole Jorgen Liodden

It's official, the Canon 7D has won me over and will be the next cam in my arsenal. And after seeing the great work of long time film maker Philip Bloom and Photographer Vincent Laforet, I had to get hands on. This cam will greatly compliment the 50D, and being that I recently started shooting weddings, a second cam is essential. Yes it would be nice to have the full frame of the 5D MKii, but at the current price points, the 7D is perfect for my workload. Plus it allows me to take full advantage of my 580exii.

Something I have been researching lately is weatherproofing. Everyone is a little touchy when it comes to their pricey equipment being exposed to the elements, but as new equipment rolls out this becomes less of an issue. Even Canon's latest flash units come weather sealed. In the case of the 7D I saw the most extreme. Actually, this seems like a vision out of a nightmare. Photographer Ole Jorgen Liodden went on an expedition to Antarctica last year and had his bare 7D with him. I've never had more than 10 drops of rain on any of my equipment, but needless to say, a rainy day is looking like no reason to cancel a gig. Ole reports no issues with the 7D after the shoot. Personally, I recommend a rain cover, umbrella, or simple plastic covering when applicable. Also as a note, when shooting in the elements be sure that all of your gear is protected, not just your camera body!

TE - Still got love for Favre

Bahh...I had to bite my tongue for an entire day!!  Yesterday I got so sick of hearing people talk about Favre and how the Vikings could have won the game.  I have never been a Vikings fan (or Packers or Jets for that matter) but I do respect Mr. Brett Favre.  Come on, the man is great.  I mean three consecutive AP MVP awards?  I'm not even going to talk about the track record.  What gets me is how predictable people are.  Going online and hearing about the rants on "Brett's giant mistake" and how the game was in his hands.  Though there is some truth to this, lets not put the fate of the game in one play.  Consider Garrett Hartley's field goal at the end of the game.  Sure we can say the game was in his hands, but lets not forget Brees' three touchdown passes, and what about Thomas' 61 rushing yards and his touchdown?  I understand the backlash, but my position is, at that moment, the game was in that individual player's hands.  In other words, the game was in the hands of the TEAM.  Lets not forget that. /rant

In all honesty, it will not change my day whether or not Brett decides to retire [again].  But this man has proved his point time and time again, he is in this game to play, and he has the heart and the ability to lead entire teams to victory.  Sunday's game was nothing different.  If you check my twitter you will see that I knew the Saints would win all along, simply because their team had the most heart.  And in most situations, that is the team that will win.  Favre had heart, perhaps more than anyone on the field, but unfortunately his team was not playing the same game.  The Saints played their game, but obviously the Vikings are a more skilled team.  Yes, Brett slipped up on the last play; they all made mistakes, and they weren't in the game the way they should have been.

Bush was right, the Saint's did deserve to win...because they played with heart and they were on one accord.

Congratulations to Brett Favre for continuing to lead amongst all interferance!  And congrats to the Saints for their first Super Bowl appearance!

Favre after the Cowboys game. Photo by Andy King, AP

Ambassador - The Amabasador

While on my trip to Detroit, I was fortunate enough take a cruise down the Detroit River. In this photo we are passing under the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit, Michigan to Windsor, Ontario. This bride was built in 1929, and at the time had the longest suspended central span in the world. It can be seen from miles away, with a clear view from I-96, as well as other surrounding highways. It's presence is unreal (although this is the only bridge I have went under) and the feeling is unbelievable. Can't wait to go back in September for the Jazz Festival!

MLK Day Parade - 2010

Today I visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade in Downtown Orlando, FL. The atmosphere was very rich and uplifting and there was a great turnout! It is wonderful to see the parade grow each year, every time bringing more and more nationalities together. Today was the 26th annual parade - motto: "Let's Take The Next Step." The parade was hosted by Myra J. of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and lasted from 10am to 12pm.

There was so much to see and one can easily get caught up in the atmosphere...it did not feel like "work" at all. Bands, step shows, food, vendors, the list goes on. Most memorable is the sea of smiling faces, and a surprising amount of adults above the age of 25 hawking for candy!!!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is next Monday (third Monday of each January). It is one of four United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person. His birthday is January 15th.

Performer from the Jones High School Band

TE - Ivan Reitman to Direct 'Ghostbusters 3'

Welcome to the Tues...uh, Wednesday? Edition.

I apologize [not really] I know I usually only talk news on Tuesdays, but this is too big to go until next week. It has been confirmed that Ivan Reitman will Direct Ghostbusters 3! Reitman was the Director of Ghostbusters 1 and 2, and forget re-inventing the wheel, he is bringing in the original cast! As many of you may know, Sigourney Weaver let a few details slip about the sequel in an interview last month. It is not confirmed if she will be in the film, but she has read the script. Rumors are also circulating that Rick Moranis will be coming out of retirement!! At the time of this article, production was on the second draft, with hopes of beginning shooting next year. The film is set to be released in 2012. Keep up to date on IMDB.

TE - Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II

Welcome to the Tuesday Edition.

Rumors have been buzzing since last summer about the revealing of the new 70-200 f/2.8L IS II. The time has come! Canon has officially released the successor to it's flagship lens. On the outside, you will notice little change other than the text, and a larger focusing ring to the trained eye. Beauty is in the lens of the beholder. The new lens feautures revised optical design, an increase in maximum magnification, new CPU, and a faster-quieter auto focus. And I hear you asking: there are 23 elements/19 groups. Canon has also released a new lens case to keep this baby warm. Available to the public in February 2010. Official Press Release: