Posts by Author: John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
This is how they shoot those epic air-to-air photos of a 787 Dreamliner
Jun 23, 2017
John Aldred
About every 10 years or so, large airliners need a repaint. Many airlines take the opportunity to come up with new livery for their fleet….
MagicLantern brings new life to the tiny Canon EOS100D with 10Bit RAW video
Jun 22, 2017
John Aldred
Also known as the Canon SL1, the EOS100D is Canon’s smallest ever DSLR. It’s even smaller and lighter than the EOS 1300D (Rebel T6). It’s…
A guide to prime lenses and why you should use them
Jun 22, 2017
John Aldred
After getting one’s first camera and kit lens, the first question that inevitably follows is “What lens should I buy next?”. For any given manufacturer,…
Canon 6D Mark II Photos leaked and updated specs
Jun 22, 2017
John Aldred
Every time a new camera is coming out, everybody wants to know what it looks like. They usually look pretty much like their predecessors, though….
Behind the scenes of a timelapse shoot in the Alps at 13,000ft in subzero temperatures
Jun 21, 2017
John Aldred
While usually quite exciting to watch, shooting timelapse is often rather boring. You turn up at a location that doesn’t yet look its best and…
This is what it’s like to be a press photographer in the White House
Jun 21, 2017
John Aldred
Straight out of college, Andrew Harnik’s goal was as many of us with a passion for the camera. To make a living as a photographer….
“We got that B-Roll!” is a hilarious 80s commercial style take on buying stock footage
Jun 20, 2017
John Aldred
B-roll is a fact of life for anybody shooting or editing video. It’s essential. Whether an interview, talking head piece, or something a little more…
Grenfell residents beg people not to take selfies at the scene of tower block fire
Jun 20, 2017
John Aldred
The selfie seems to be an unstoppable force now. Wherever we go, either we need to take one, or we see others taking them. Over…
How to build your own DIY car photography rig for under $50
Jun 19, 2017
John Aldred
Photographing moving vehicles is both fun and challenging. You want to get the car perfectly sharp, while the environment becomes a blur of motion. Often…
How to make your own DIY air-powered blood squibs
Jun 19, 2017
John Aldred
Movie special effects usually come with a big price tag. They can be complicated, requiring specialised (and licensed) skill sets. Some are also very dangerous…