The Wednesday Rundown 8.3.11

Howdy and welcome to the Wednesday Rundown. This week check out a great rain shoot that has some great instructional teachings. The photographer takes us though each light setup and the effect it gives the final image. We also have our first BTS contest submission. Check it out! If you have a video that you think we might like to post, please click on "submit content" above.
Creating in Spite of Fear, The Photographer's Struggle

If you ever feel like you're stuck in a creative rut, or having a hard time progressing in your field, know that you're not alone. Any professional photographer will tell you about all of the failures and challenges they had to overcome in order to reach new heights. This video shares a brief look at some of the struggles faced by seven leading photographers, as a trailer for a new season of podcasts from PRO EDU.

Holiday Deals:  Great Deal on Apollo Orb Speedlight Kit

Take a look at this latest deal from B&H that ends at midnight on December 3rd. Westcott Apollo's 43" Orb Speedlight Kit is now on sale for only $99.95! If you want a quick and easy kit for off camera flash, this is definitely a deal you should take advantage of.

This Is One Way To Book More Jobs

Every photographer I know is wanting to book more jobs. No matter if your niche is wedding, food, commercial, advertising, or sports, chances are you would love for your business to make a lasting impression on someone looking to hire you for your services. Casey Templeton wanted to beef up his commercial and adverting work so he decided to produce a promo package that would not get lost on an agency's desk. The video below shows the promo package he made in 2010 and mailed out to 300 of his favorite agencies and art buyers. You might be thinking that this package is pretty extravagant and expensive to send to that many agencies, but being memorable among a crowd of creative professionals can easily pay off if you land only a few jobs from such a campaign. Hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I did.
If Cartier-Bresson Were Shooting Today, Would He Use 6K Burst Mode?

Henri Cartier-Bresson is hailed in the pantheon of photographers as one of the leading lights of his time. He is also inextricably linked with Leica. If he were shooting today, what brand would he choose and how would he shoot? It would of course be Panasonic and 6K Burst Mode.

The Wednesday Rundown 4.6.2011

Howdy, and welcome to the Wednesday Rundown. The past couple of weeks I have been surrounded by photos of urban decay. I love seeing photos of the past fading away but still being able to see the beauty shinning through. New York contains tons of these places. How hard is it to get in the places and really how much trouble can you get into? The videos this week are not photo shoots, however they are videos of the beauty people have found in places they should not be. I would have to believe some of the crowd here at fstoppers would have some good stories on this topic. Please share stories and the photos you snag while being in places you should have not been. Fstoppers does not legally condone tresspassing, I might have done it once or twice, but please share some good unique photos. If you have a video that you think we might like to post, please click on "submit content" above.
Noir Stories: Photographing a Timeline of Insomnia

Creating stories is what many photographers are striving to do, whether in video or stills. Pulling on emotional ties with your viewer with something they can relate with gives the storyline a bigger impact. One photographer created a dramatic series on something most of us have been through at some point in our lives: insomnia.

The Impact of AI on Wedding Photography: A Contemporary Perspective

Photography has long been an evolving art form, and the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced a new wave of innovation. As in many fields, AI has begun to shape the landscape of wedding photography, changing how photographers capture, edit, and deliver photos.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (April 2016): Mark Zawila

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2016, we'll be featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

5 Affordable Tools That Will Make Your Filmmaking Lives Easier

If you're starting out in photography or videography, it feels as if there are unlimited items you need, which is not the case. However, there are some less expensive tools that can aid in your production and make a bigger difference than their cost implies.

Stop Throwing Important Memories Away

If there is anything photographers can agree on, it’s that we are obsessed with quality. This is a good thing when dealing with business, clients, and even personal projects. How many times though has this caused a glitch in documenting your personal life? I can personally say that I’ve let this get the best of me.

Nokia's Misleading Advertising Launches Internal Ethics Investigation

Yesterday, we showed you a commercial from Nokia that was supposed to advertise and highlight the new Lumia PureView camera phone's awesome features. Except the example video and imagery was not shot on a Nokia Lumia PureView. The massive public backlash has resulted in an internal ethics investigation as well as a dent in their public image and Nokia's stock price.

Why Would You Enter a Photo Contest?

Photo contests are often very divisive. You're happy when you win and furious when your work is snubbed. They can be so subjective yet they draw people in like moths to a flame. Why?

Does a Love of Photography Help or Hinder a Career in It?

Photography is a passion and a hobby for many and a career for a few. But to truly succeed in this competitive industry, does love for photography stand you in good stead, does it make little difference, or does it work against you?

New Firmware for Fujifilm X-T1, X-E1, X-E2, and X-Pro1 Cameras Now Available

Fujifilm has just rolled out the firmware updates they announced last month for various members of the X-Series camera family, including the X-T1, X-E1, X-E2, and X-Pro1. While all of the updates include new features, the X-T1 enjoys the most, with a generous 21 additions. These include a new maximum shutter speed of 1/32000s, better control over the electronic viewfinder (EVF) and LCD screen, a Natural Live View function, better customization over the AE-L/AE-F button, PC tethering support, as well as new video frame rates including 24fps, 25fps, and 50fps.

Watch Sigma's Mezmerizing Concept Video for New Product Line

In January we posted an unexpectedly captivating behind the scenes video of the Sigma factory in Aizu, Japan that many of you really liked (and which was shot entirely on Sigma glass). Sigma has just released another piece of eye candy in a new concept video that mixes really stunning visuals with equally beautiful music. It too was shot 100% with Sigma optics.

Everybody Wants to be The Sartorialist

Who knew that street fashion photography was so trendy? Like many others, I really enjoy the work of The Sartorialist and have followed his blog for years now. But I never considered that his popularity would lead to this - streets filled with photographers trying to emulate his style. Of course, this video does take place in the midst of New York fashion week. So I'm not convinced that what these crowds are shooting can even be considered street photography. Aren't they more like paparazzi?

Phantom Camera Slo-Mo For $1000?

Well not exactly but we can still get kinda close. The Phantom camera costs a staggering $118,000 for the body alone which puts it out of the average Joe's reach. The Canon T2i costs just $699 and it currently has a $400 rebate when you buy it with a Pro9000 printer (I love these "free printer" rebates they are doing). The T2i shoots 60fps but has great manual control. Once you shoot your super sharp 60fps you can use software called Twixtor to bring that framerate to Phantom levels. Twixtor costs about $300 and we have used it in a few of our FS originals. Very cool!

More Super Slow Motion [Water] - 550D from Rickard bengtsson on Vimeo.

Phase One Releases New Latitude Style Pack for Capture One

Phase One has announced a new series of Capture One Style Packs titled "Latitude." The series contains two stunning packages: Latitude | Deep Forest and Latitude | Sunbound. These inspired timesavers adjust images quickly and easily while preserving exposure and adding creative flair.

The Most Compact Video Crane/Jib On The Market

A few months back we posted about the cheapest crane on the market and it was a huge hit with our readers. If you happen to have a little extra money (about $300) you may want to invest in the newest and smallest crane on the market. Check out the video review below. If this looks like something you can't live without, head over to eBay to buy one of these new jibs.
Fake Fairies Sell for an Unfake $27,000

The Cottingley Fairies are famous (or infamous) in the history of photography as one of the earlier cases of photo fakery. Perhaps then, it's not surprising that there has been considerable interest in the auction of original prints and a high sale value.

What Are the Worst Red Flags When Hiring a Photographer?

Whether you're hiring a photographer for your wedding, getting a headshot, or even hiring a second shooter as a photographer yourself, it can be daunting. So, what are the worst red flags you ought to be wary of when hiring a photographer?

Mike Kelley's 'Where Art Meets Architecture 3' Is Now Available

Mike Kelley and Fstoppers have teamed up once again to produce the third installment of Where Art Meets Architecture. Over the past few years, creating images for realtors, architects, interior designers, and property management companies has become a booming industry for professional photographers. In this tutorial, Mike focuses on how to photograph the hospitality market including how to shoot hotels, resorts, and rental properties. For the first time in his career, Mike also shares everything he knows about the business of commercial architectural photography including pricing your work, creating bids and contracts, marketing your business effectively, and building licensing fees for residual income. We are excited to finally release the most thorough tutorial we have ever produced on architectural photography and have a special offer inside.

This Surreal Aerial Photo Series Features Tulip Fields in Holland

It wasn’t until English photographer Tommy Clarke wound up living in Australia, shooting fashion photography that he didn’t feel complacent with, that he decided to venture into landscape work. Since then, he’s found his niche in aerial photography, and recently unveiled his surreal abstract shots of Holland’s Tulip fields.

[Video] Quechua Brings The Animal Kingdom Together For A Commercial

These days it's not surprising to find out that most of what you see in a movie or commercial is completely green screened or created with CGI. So I was pleasantly shocked when I saw the behind the scenes video for the outdoor clothing company Quechua's latest advertisement. The slow motion footage of wild animals interacting with hikers and campers is nothing sort of amazing. Hopefully you guys enjoyed this video as much as I did. Click the full post to watch the final video. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Behind the Scenes of a Day of the Dead Photoshoot

Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that has seen a spike in exposure in the United States the past few years making it a perfect subject for a photoshoot. Follow Jay P. from The Slanted Lens as he takes you behind the scenes of his latest shoot featuring a model dressed up as a Calavera (sugar skull) posing in an eerie cemetery backdrop.

Behind The Scenes: Shooting JB And The Moonshine Band

Matthew Hogan, a talented photographer and videographer from Tyler, Texas, shot country band, JB and the Mooonshine band. He not only shot the band for a promotional photoshoot, but for their music video, as well. Using Alienbee lighting, a Nikon D700 and a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens he composited the individual band members together for the final image.