Photo Gear & More

I was taken by the technical side of photography and how the process created imagery.  When beginning in business I needed to clarify to myself the interest was bigger than a love affair with the gadgetry.  It definitely was but the early self examination has kept my eye on the art and creativity of photography, first ahead of the gear.  The shotgun vision keeps the reminder clear …….it’s only a tool to arrive at the goal of quality photography, 

Cameras

I recommend Nikon.  Since just after high school it was always the camera that folks looked up to.  So it started as the admirable go-to for pros.  For years I would see it at every turn.  Labs that I worked used Nikon.  Friends I met as professional photographers…….used Nikon.  At a time when more was done with medium and large format cameras, folks kept the Nikon for the occasional slide shooting. Canon gained some users … 

Nikon

…when small digital cameras came on the scene.  My research at the time came up with the strong skin tone that the Canon possessed.  Nikon was being reported as having the strongest sensor, as it pertains to accurate, true color.  My catalog photography was a daily quest for color people in the printing businesses to better the quality of color accuracy.  Imagine how important color is for a mail-order producer of a red sweater.  If his catalog has the color that does not exactly reproduce the color of his sweaters, customers will up the returns of products and add to the list of unhappy folks.  Nikon kept the most accurate color available.  I’ve stayed with Nikon at a number of junctions when people were looking elsewhere.

Next Nikon

They, Nikon, seem to put my work situation into their decision making and creation process of building the next camera. I need to work and change quickly and that is part of the hardware that I use. There are buttons and dials positioned where I need them. I do not need to go looking in a menu for the things I need quickly. My present camera of choice is the Nikon D750. It’s small and light and produces a 24-megapixel image.

The D5 is created for some. The D850 for others. The df was an early attempt that missed in some critical areas. I’m excited what could be coming as the set-up and the retro design moves to the next model…..better. The D5000 line of cameras is a great camera with swing out monitor that allows for video selfies and it now maintains the 24 megapixels with the D5600…… The D7000 line is the more heavy duty but does not offer the flip out screen. Moving screens have been a concern because the jointed connector is a weak point and could break easily. These starter models are where the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity has been perfected and continues to be tweaked for the better.

I keep an eye on both the Sony and Fuji camera models and they have some awesome features but personally, my Nikon has a level of quick dependency that allows for my comfort on shoots. People starting in photography can advance better by locking in on a camera brand and sticking with it as the advancing models will be very similar to the existing models.

Some of the features of my D750 are awesome for me. The My menu allows me to select options that I want readily available. I use the Auto ISO with parameters but I need to be able to switch back to manual. I can. Architecture requires a perfectly level camera (before now with a hot-shoe mounted level) and the D750 has more than one way of checking for that…..in-camera. I need it available. No Prob…..

It’s more to it than this. I have used compressed raw files 15 years or more. I recently found out that some of the other cameras only offer un-compressed raw files…. what a bummer for them. Hahaha

Lighting

For me, lighting begins after the sun with flash gear.  At an early stage of my career, I shot products for a large grocery chain. Folks came out of the woodwork to help me as I grew my business. I recommend Paul C. Buff flash gear.  The units are solid and sometimes more than that, their people are beyond the ordinary.  I got shaky one day. Something about one of my Buff lights wasn’t working correctly (I only had 2) and I … 

Paul C Buff Lighting

…explained my situation to a gentleman, Graham, at Paul C. Buff.

I don’t even remember his last name but I remember what he did to pull me out of a fire. The light was sporadic and I could use it but it may only fire every other press of the shutter button. Sometimes even less. I was shooting 5-7 days a week. I could not stop my work to ship it to Nashville for repair.

Graham hardly took an extra breath before suggesting that he would ship me a new unit and I could place my faulty unit in the new unit box for shipping it back to his attention. Wow!! Would they or any company do that now? Maybe…..probably not. But it communicated a level of interest they had in my success and I’ve never forgotten it.

Numerous times they have done that “take care of Gary” attitude in their actions. Why do I use Paul C. Buff lighting? It’s that attitude I see in their products and their customer service.  

Buff Technical

The tech specs are great also.  In shooting on location many times balancing to existing ambient light, low power settings are more necessary than super-power hi-end settings.  Architecture is different.  It requires the high end of the power scale.  Buff has as much as 8 or 9 f-stops range from hi to low for covering those needs……. easily.

Tripods

Tripods and lightstands are from Manfrotto.  Manfrotto 028B is the most recent addition and it would have normally been considered too heavy. It is stout to give support whether the column is at the lowest or the highest position. It’s rock solid whether in the lowest position or fully extended. I had a Manfrotto 058B for larger cameras (4×5 and 120) and it was equipped with levers that allow quick height adjustments. It is so…

Manfrotto Tripods

…important when at a moment of subject expression or needing a drastic change in camera height; your’ve gotta move quick. Beyond the movement of the column many require a slow process to change.  This Manfrotto is very quick. Enter the Neotec 458B for lighter cameras, also, with its ability to change without the normal levers and clamps to firm up. It locks and changes with smoothness like no other.

Stand Up

Manfrotto Lightstands as 1004BAC is the choice for studio and location. Monolights require sturdiness for the weight and attachments and the 1004BAC handles it well. Why a stand that tall?  It’s not required for all things but when needed just raise it up for whatever the need.

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Post-Production

Computer

At an early stage of digital photography I made the decision to minimize confusion by concentrating on only one operating system.  MacIntosh was the choice and there has been no looking back.  The future is bright with the iPad Pro quickly growing in features to equal that of the MacBook Pro. MBP has had a prominent perch in my workspace for many years.

Software

Awesome Adobe.  There are other choices but none with the level of features found in both PhotoShop and Lightroom.  All the basics of adjusting and tweaking to major compositing and contrast masking.  Of course, HDR and now focus stacking.   In communicating with art directors and creatives it’s the universal language.  Others can try but Adobe is tops.

The Website

There is an old saying that to succeed in business you must hang your shingle.  Translation:  You must tell the world what you do.  In our time the telling of others happens through the internet and social media.  WordPress, Squarespace, Siteground, GoDaddy, PhotoShelter are some of the names in this photography business to communicate with the world of photography buyers.  They are as important as cameras, lights and lenses……….Wow, can’t believe I said that.

Rental

Could not talk about gear without touching on a very important part of the business of photography.  Equipment rental has become critical to trying out new gear as needed.  Camera bodies in the transition from DSLR’s to mirrorless are being monitored for the replacement of the first…

LensRentals.com

phase of digital cameras.  Mirrorless will be the camera of the future but how soon?  I recomend the folks at LensRentals.com.  They are always friendly and helpful with answers to questions about the gear.  They’re very helpful with comments and reviews. I rent for jobs as main gear or backups.

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Bags & Cases

I’m a bag guy for some things.  On the move and shoot and go and go again. You’d find me with my ThinkTankPhoto Streetwalker Backpack.  If I have an assistant and lighting gear and using two-wheelers you’d see me with my Pelicans.  I use them both and would recommend them highly.

ThinkTankPhoto

My Streetwalker is the best.  It’s small and light and allows me to work with both hands free.  The weight is distributed between the shoulders.  I bike with the backpack and my D750 with 24-120 or my macro 60mm.  I can be off the bike and into the top of the pack to retrieve the camera to make a shot.  If I’m caught in the rain my ThinkTankPhoto Streetwalker has its own raincoat.  Most every piece they produce has raincover provided.  I’ve used the Domke Bags and Tenba’s but this seems to have a strength and rigidity I prefer.  There are times when shooting and moving that a shoulder bag would be preferred or possibly an assortment of pouches.  ThinkTankPhoto is the place I’ll go for filling that need.

Pelicans

Pelican covers many bases of location photography.  Hard cases are protection and Pelicans are waterproof.  Beyond the obvious, the cases are highly organized with dividers to shape and fit all the contents.  By having the dividers its always a breeze to break a set and get all the gear back to it’s home.  If it’s not returned, the visual of the divided cubies with something missing screams that you’ve forgotten the missing piece.  Working with assistants allows them to work and replace things they are not so familiar with.  They can learn the system quickly.  The hinges are strong and the padding keeps all things secure.  Bags and backpacks have a place but the more elaborate shoots are a Pelican stronghold.  When moving from set to set in commercial environments the cases work the best on dollies.  Soft bags don’t stack well. 

Presence

To connect with people that want what you do, you will need a website.  Build it from the foundation and allow for changes that keep you visually interesting.  It’s simple, start with the big daddy of web design.  You’ll need a basic hosting plan, WordPress installed. Move in with Astra as the Theme. Add the Page Builder – Elementor

Hosting

GoDaddy was great.  

Wordpress*

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