A while ago @ggwynnef asked me the following: your switch from Canon to Nikon. I'm sure there are numerous reasons, but I've been curious about why you made this move in a world where people tend to stick with what they know. I am the armature of all armatures and use a canon but have considered a Nikon when I upgrade, but only based on the fact that so many pictures I really like are taken with a Nikon 😁 In response to your inquiry about my switch from Canon to Nikon. In retrospect if I knew what I know now I would never had made the move. That isn’t due to loyalty to either brand, I now carry around both a Nikon and Canon DSLR, and there are things I absolutely love about both. The reason I wouldn’t make that change now is that I understand that the world of photography is so transitory. New camera bodies are released annually. Cameras that push the envelope on what is possible and at “affordable” prices. Chasing the endless lineup of new cameras will aid in image quality but in all reality it’s 95% about getting out there, getting images when the quality of light and experience is its best. Here are the reasons I made the change back in 2012: I was photographing quite a few weddings and the Canon 1Ds Mark 3 was my main camera, which was a tank of a camera and shot 21 megapixels. Shooting with this large camera body would really kill my wrists (I have the tiniest wrists of any grown man I’ve ever met). The Nikon D800 had just been released (it was physically much smaller) and shot 36 megapixels. The trade in value I got for the Canon camera body was equal to the price of the brand new Nikon. I’m an impulse buyer galore. I jumped ship and never looked back. The very first day I had the Nikon camera I photographed the breaching Orca images you see on my Instagram @fullframefotos. Those images were shot with the Nikon D800 with a 24-85 kit lens. I mention this because that lens isn’t the best but the power of the moment overpowered the gear and experience with the brand. Here’s some pro’s and con’s on both: Canon Build quality, Canon equipment is built to last. The cameras and lenses will take an eternal beating and still function like brand new. They have an assortment of inexpensive high quality and fun images. Their lineup of Pancake lenses is inspiring. They offer a 24mm and 40mm pancake lens that blow my mind and are super inexpensive. I currently shoot the 40mm pancake on a old beaten up Canon 5D Mark II (with a battery pack) it’s the equivalent of driving a tank with the front end of a mini cooper! But so much fun. Nikon I truly believe Nikon cameras offer a slight image quality advantage, especially with the release of the 45 megapixel Nikon D850 (I have one on pre-order, I feel like a kid at his first Christmas waiting for the present to arrive). Nikon build quality is not as good as Canon. Plain and simple I’ve had Nikon grips peel right off. This has taught me to take extreme care with my equipment but is still frustrating. The same thing has happened with one of the newer release Nikkor lenses I use. Nikon lenses in my experience have a slightly higher quality but are also more expensive. They do not offer a valuable pancake lens. In the end I believe you can make great images with both brands. If I’m going to shoot outside I usually carry the Nikon D810 with a kit of 6 lenses and the Canon 5D Mark II with the 40mm Pancake lens as backup. If I’m going to shoot for a client or for business the Canon stays at home and the Nikon and accompanying gear is present. If I was starting all over and knew what I know now I would buy a Nikon setup. I do tend to favor the image style and quality of Nikon over Canon for professional work. However, the reason I would make this decision is due to the fact that I’m a professional photographer shooting for clients. If I was an amateur and taking images strictly for myself I would be shooting a Canon setup. In the end I’m a self taught photographer and I’m really thankful that I know the in’s and out’s of both the Canon and Nikon system’s. I feel confident that I can pick up either brand and produce high quality images. This history and experience with both brands is what has helped shape me into the photographer I am right now. When you’re making a decision for yourself, I truly believe the absolute most important factor is shooting experience. How does the camera feel in your hands? Do you feel empowered by your equipment? When you pick up your camera are you excited to use it. Right now nothing excites me more than next months arrival of my Nikon D850 but you better believe when the weather is crappy and I’m out bushwhacking up a hill side the Nikon will be in the car and the Canon will be strapped to my back. In the end Canon is tougher and a little bit more fun, Nikon is a bit daintier but a little bit higher quality, a little more refined. I hope this information helps. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions. What do you all think? Send me a message, tell me your opinion, tell me I'm full of crap, all of the above. I'm always interested in others perspective. Best, Silas
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Last week my cashier at Trader Joe's asked me, "why do you love the desert." She was prompted by my @letskeepitwild "the Desert is Calling & I Must Go" t-shirt. I rambled off the first few things that came to mind, quickly mentioned Edward Abbey, half finished my sentence mumbling, paid and left unconvincing even myself that I remotely like or know anything about the desert.
Yet, after reflecting on this prompt I've come to some conclusions. First and foremost I like the desert because it's simple. Second, cashiers should be more mindful of ambiguous open ended conversation starters. Getting back to the desert. Imagine a place, any place really, someplace other than the desert. Picture it in your mind, close your eyes if you need. Now start taking pieces away one at a time. If there are trees, remove those. Water? Take that out also. Continue eliminating whatever is most prevalent in your mind until what you're imagining is cut down, harsh and most of all simple. For me this cut down place is the desert. It's a naked landscape, it's devoid, it's unwelcoming on the surface. Yet there is an eternal beauty in the starkness, the vastness, the expansive depth. The desert is eternal. It's the ocean without water, a forest without trees, it's a great mountain range with no elevation. Yes there is trees and mountains in the desert and if you're lucky even some water. But this is a landscape accessorized by these things not defined by them. It's eternally defined by its simplicity. Within the simple nature of the desert lies a complexity few if any can fully fathom. The desert is timeless, spread out and full of space. If you need a more thoughtful and played out description of the desert read Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire, it's one of the best non-fiction reads on the outdoors I've ever enjoyed. I hope you enjoy and please post why you love the desert in the comments. I'm off to Utah/Arizona for the next 12 days and will update this post periodically from the road. In the defense of all cashiers everywhere I will take 51% of the blame, I shouldn't wear clothing that entices inquiries if I don't want inquiries to be enticed. Based on the travel questions and general comments it sounds like people are really starting to move and shake and get out there and explore our parks. There is no better time.
Question from @mempasis. "I have a 24-70, 70-200 on a 5D Mark III body. Just wondering if the 24-70 is adequate for landscape shots.. Also what parts of the park (Joshua Tree) have the best topography? I will only be there 1 day and have never been? Thanks First off thank you for the question @mempasis. Joshua Tree is incredible place, it's kind of like Dr. Seuss and the Sahara had a love child, regardless of your kit or what part the park you visit it's going to be an incredible experience. Lets talk about your kit. I believe the 24-70 and 70-200 will be an amazing kit for your first and single day trip to Joshua Tree. You will be surprised how much you can do with this combination. For me the most important thing about shooting landscapes in Joshua Tree is letting your feet do the work. You may not find the perfect shot at every pull out or car stop but if you give your feet space to roam, I promise you will find some inviting perspectives (I'll mention later where to go) Go off trail, if you see an interesting rock formation, hike to it. Don't be content with the beaten path or where the crowds are flocking. My best and favorite memories in Joshua Tree were when I scrambled up and over different formations and found unique spaces. In terms of shooting with the 24-70, if you find yourself in a situation where you don't have a wide enough angle, change your perspective. Lay on the ground and see how a Joshua Tree arches above you, move back or forward, don't rely on the telephoto component of your lens, let your body and your vertical perspective dictate your compositions. If you see bigger rocks don't be afraid to put on the 70-200 and go exploring, I've seen big born sheep in the park several times and have always been close enough with the 70-200. Also, don't be afraid to get the 70-200 on and shoot some telephoto landscapes, you will be surprised. More important than anything else, get a feeling for the space and relate what you feel back to us through your photography. The northern half of the park has much better topography and can be more visually stimulating. All of the Joshua Trees are on the northern half of the park as well as the majority of interesting rock formations. The Mojave Desert ecozone on the northern side is higher elevation and more populated with plant and animals. The southern ecozone, Colorado Desert is defined by more expansive deserts. Here is an NPS link with some good information https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm. I would begin by visiting the visitor center and the park entrance. Get a map and whatever else is necessary to plan your time. Before you get into the park pack all of the food and water you will need for the entire day, the last thing you will want to do is waste time on returning for supplies. Jumbo Rocks and and Hidden Valley really stand out to me every time I visit. They are really great jumping off points to get away from the car and really get a feeling for what the park is like. Do a little research, find 1 or 2 off trail areas you really want to explore and then share that time with road side stops such as skull rock and cholla garden. With your limited amount of time, the furthest south I would recommend going would be the cholla garden. I hope this helps, if you have any followup questions. Don't hesitate to ask, Have an amazing time and let me know how it goes. If anyone else has travel enquiries of their own please ask away :) In the last 12 hours I've had 2 friends ask for advice on what kit to take on travels. Ironically both individuals were named Will. So I will (pun intended) do my best to advise them. I'd love if you'd offer up your thoughts in the comments!
Will #1 Is going to Nepal and potentially some neighboring countries soon. He is deciding between an iPhone 5s, upgrading to an iPhone 7 or the Sony a6000. My response: It's all about what you're most comfortable with. If you have the funds for sure upgrade to the iPhone 7, based on what I've seen it out puts some really quality images and the new portrait mode performs really well. To be 100% honest I owned an a6000 a while back and I never really enjoyed it. I didn't like the shooting experience, it always seem a little rigid to me. That's just me though, I know a lot of people that absolutely love the a6000, my girlfriend has an a5000 which is close to the same thing and she loves it. One option that you didn't mention that I can offer up is the DXO One camera, you can see a review I wrote on Backcountry.com here: https://www.backcountry.com/dxo-one-ultra-compact-camera?s=a. It's $499, but it's tiny and connects to your iPhone, the one issue with traveling with it is the battery life isn't that great. Based on all this information, I would upgrade to the iPhone 7 (splurge on more GB) and purchase a portable external battery charger. Use the time from now until your trip getting used to the iPhone 7 and all its features. I'd love to see some of your images. Let me know if yo have any other questions. Please offer up your insight to Will #1 in the comments. Will #2 is traveling to the Azores (link: http://bit.ly/2gawSEz) islands off the coast of Portugal. He's taking a Canon DSLR and 50mm, he wants to know what additional lens he should take with him. He has an full Canon kit. His second and third favorite lenses are the 85mm and 70-200mm. My response: I haven't been to the Azores but after looking at a lot of images the scenery is incredible. I personally would want to be able to capture the scale of beauty. I think the 24-70 is an ideal "walking" around travel lens. The range of things you can achieve with it is super broad. There are advantages and disadvantages to every lens, but I truly think this is the best compliment to the 50mm. I think the most important thing is taking the lenses you will be most excited about using. More and more I'm feeling like when I enjoy the shooting experience the most I like my own images more. I recently converted to using more prime lenses and I enjoy the shooting experience so much more. Transitioning to this type of shooting took some time. You know yourself better than I know you, for me I would take the 24-70, but I'm not Will #2 :), you know yourself better so take the lens you will be most excited about shooting. More than anything share some of the amazing images you get and have the best time! Please offer up your insight to Will #2 in the comments. If someone has a similar question of their own, don't hesitate to ask in the comments as well! There is probably no other topic that makes me as uncomfortable, that perfect moment or unrepeatable image that you're so excited about but when you open the image on your computer, failure, the focus is off. Sometimes it's off by millimeters, other times it's off by yards. Being self taught and just being a photographer in general if any image misses focus I blame myself.
Jenna (my girlfriend, she's regularly appearing on my insta) and I are departing on a 2 week trip to Bend tomorrow. I really wanted to hone in my gear and make sure everything is performing optimally. After doing a little research I came across some really helpful youtube videos and information on manually fine tuning auto focus in camera. This isn't a feature in all cameras but all full frame DSLR's and several others offer a variation of AF fine tuning. I shoot a Nikon D810 and also carry around an old Canon 5D Mark II, both Nikon and Canon offer some variation of AF Fine Tuning. For full instructions on how to fine tune each of your lenses check out this article: https://www.slrlounge.com/calibrate-focus-on-your-dslr-af-fine-tune/ It IS NOT recommended that you fine tine telephoto lenses but here are the lenses that I calibrated: Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED I previously had this calibrated by a professional and it was set to -20, I tested it and it was tack sharp. Sigma EX Lens for Nikon F ‑ 30mm ‑ F/1.4 I manually adjusted this today to -5, the focus was close but now it's tack sharp. NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G I manually adjusted this today to -10, the focus was just a little behind but is now tack sharp. Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 I manually adjusted this today to -20, the focus was 2 feet behind but is now much sharper. I would be very careful about manually adjusting your telephoto lenses. I'm doing this as an on going experimental process. I'm happy to share my results with you all but please be careful about doing so. Here are some links to youtube videos I found useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2tKs1zQ58E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JPTnz_mimo I'm really excited to share these types of tips and tricks with whomever is interested. If you have any questions about this or any other topic don't hesitate to contact me :) I will post some sharp images from my trip soon! Happy Shooting! It's that time of year, yes it's the holidays but it's also that time of year when almost everyone seems to get sick. Yesterday the cashier at Trader Joe's admitted to me that she had been sick for 3 weeks with the same cough. When I get even the slightest cold the very first thing I reach for is my dads tea recipe, I'm not claiming my dad invented this recipe or even came up with this version on his own, I just know it really gives my immune system a boost and I really enjoy the way it tastes. If cough medicine and the regular tea selection aren't cutting it check out my dad's Jesus Juice Ginger Tea Recipe!
Ingredients: 1 large hand of ginger 2 large lemons honey 1 liter water Instructions: Slice the ginger into quarter size slices. In a large pot, combine water and ginger. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add lemon juice and honey to taste. Cover, and steep for 1 hour. I will add the lemon rind to the mixture, or if I have a lot of muccus I will add a tablespoon of cayenne to clense my nose. When I serve the tea I'm sure to include plenty of pieces of ginger in my cup. I will try and eat no less that 10-15 of the ginger slices. Please let me know what you think! Their versus there is such a simple grammatical lesson. These simple pieces of standard English are things that I struggle dramatically with. To give you a bit of background, I was home and private schooled through 5th grade. When I entered public school in 6th grade it was motivated by a large urge to play public school sports and small urge to learn traditional education. My english teacher in 6th grade was a family friend and was one the sweetest ladies in town, even with her as my instructor I hated grammar. I didn't understand the point and my very hands on brain had a hard time processing sentence structure and the like. Don't get me wrong, I love reading, literature and all things related to language. I'm currently reading all 850 pages of Lonesome Dove, I've read a vast majority of the american classics and many reads like the Giver have been read cover to cover dozens of times. Yet my mind reverts back to my 6th grade self and conforms to the same logic, if it sounds good what's the problem?
I say this in the hopes that all of you, whether it be few or many will get a better look into who I am and if you're so generous excuse and CORRECT my grammatical mistakes in all of my posts. Whoever reads this and can highlight a grammatical error in one of my instagram posts will be sent a fictional book of their choosing. Please tag me and outline the grammatical post, first one received wins! Happy Thursday! My recent posts will reveal a state of confusion and lack of a clear path. Through yesterdays Instagram post I received an outpouring of encouragement from a wide array of people. I'm so thankful that others would take the time to aid me when I felt lost. I still don't have a 100% idea of what I want to do with this Instagram account and page. But I know that I want this account to inspire people. Through imagery, sharing of knowledge and a general sense of communal growth we will progress. I want this account to be less about me and more about we. I hope that others will find me 100% open, honest and revealing. My lack of direction is due to an unexplained desire to conform, when nothing else seems more unnatural to me. I can't conform, hopefully you will feel the same and fall in line in a non conformist conforming :)
To begin at a place where the path isn't clear. This morning one of my favorite musical artist came on Pandora. Lord Huron, if you haven't heard, is incredible. Take the time to listen to his lyrics. If you aren't inspired at least a little bit then comment here and I will give you another song to listen to. I won't stop until you're inspired. The Night We Met Lord Huron I am not the only traveler Who has not repaid his debt I've been searching for a trail to follow again Take me back to the night we met And then I can tell myself What the hell I'm supposed to do And then I can tell myself Not to ride along with you I had all and then most of you Some and now none of you Take me back to the night we met I don't know what I'm supposed to do Haunted by the ghost of you Take me back to the night we met When the night was full of terrors And your eyes were filled with tears When you had not touched me yet Take me back to the night we met I had all and then most of you Some and now none of you Take me back to the night we met I don't know what I'm supposed to do Haunted by the ghost of you Take me back to the night we met Songwriter: Ben Schneider https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtlgYxa6BMU |
Nomada person who does not stay long in the same place; a wanderer. ArchivesCategories |