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Here is how to determine exposure by looking at the path of the light

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We all know the exposure triangle. The exposure triangle deals with the relations between shutter speed, Aperture and ISO. Those three aspects are dealing with the way that the camera sees light.

To better understand light, we can look at the complete path light goes through from the second it leaves the light source (say a strobe), through hitting the object, reflecting the light into the lens , and going through the different lens and camera elements, until it hits the sensor (or film).

This is quite a journey, and it sheds some light (sorry) on many of the aspects that contribute to exposure.

[The Science of Exposure and Metering | Filmmaker IQ]

Timelapse shooters delight! the Genie II is a 3-Axis motorised timelapse delight

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When SYRP first introduced the Genie in 2012, we did not quite know how to swallow this new animal. It was a motorized panning head, but it had a wire-wrapping function that allowed to travel great distances, creating some very interesting results. Ever since SYRP evolved the system to include a second motor, a pan-tilt head a Cable Cam and a complete eco-system in general.

Now, the company is releasing their second version of the Genie – Genie II, and I have to say it makes a lot of sense.

The two most notable things are integrating PAN and TILT into a single unit. I mean, you could always kinda pan and tilt with the Genie, but it was a cumbersome solution involving a big bracket and two Genie minis. No,w this function seems a lot more mature and integrated.

The other big thing is that SYRP is bringing their app control (bluetooth) to the main unit. I have not seen the app yet, but I assume it will be similar to the app that drives the mini which is pretty easy to use.

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All these 1966 April Fools photography jokes turned out to be real by 2018

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Along with your gentle reminder about the being extra curious in the next few days, here is a short reminder of how April Fools Day was celebrated in photography blogs over fifty years ago. Well, lacking internet and blogs, they had to pre-conceive their jokes in advance and put them to print in time for magazines to hit the shelves for Aprils 1st. (certainly, not being obvious like Trademarking Bokeh, heh).

In 1966. Tony Karp, a guy who knows his gear* put togetheran extensive Aprils Fools piece for Modern Photography. This included a tilt lens, screen guides, large format reflex, a camera that will give you an electric shock if you screw up, and a few other gadgets.

Here is the amazing thing. Many of those gadgets are now actual products. The Flexagon is very similar to a Lensbaby composer, EVFs can do composition overlays (see this crazy one from the Sony A7III if you drool over EVFs).

Go through the different pieces of gear and see how many of them turned up to be real in the last few years (hint: all). Hit us in the comments with the modern version of these shenanigans.

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This is what the A7III looks like from a photographer perspective

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Ever since the Sony A7III was announced, it drew quite a bit of attention. Some of the features like eye-tracking seem almost too good to be true. Photographer Manny Ortiz takes us for a ride in the driver’s sit photographers viewfinder on a shoot with the camera. I gotta say, it’s an impressive piece of kit.

The first thing Manny highlights is the eye-tracking autofocus. Look at the Gif below to judge if this is something you would enjoy working with.

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How much should you charge for pro photography

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The issue of how much to charge for photography have been chewed to death. If you want another point of view on the subject, have a look at this breakdown by Tony & Chelsea Northrup.

It’s quite interesting that the duo chooses to start with Location as a pricing factor. Something you have very little control over. As sad as it is, it makes sense to me. Where you are, or rather where your clients are, probably have the biggest impact on the fees you can charge. As with any market, some will be able to charge a premium, but if standards have been established it’s usually hard to re-invent the fee structure.

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The making of ‘HomePod – Welcome Home’ by Spike Jonze is as good as the clip itself

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If you have not seen Spike Jonze’s ‘Welcome Home’ ad for the Homepod, you must be living under a rock. Let me fill you in. In the ad, dancer FKA twigs realizes that her home can expand and contract to match her dance moves. It is a visual candy.

The big excitement about the clip comes from the fact that 99% of the clip is not done in a computer, it’s done in camera, by actually creating a real-life sized expanding house (or at least parts of it).

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Copy photos styles with NVIDIA’s A.I. (yea, A.I. and copy in the same title)

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Gone are the days where a photographer had to invest hours creating a look or developing a style. And when I say “gone are the days”, you know that I will discuss either A.I or Blockchain. It’s A.I. this time.

NVIDIA just released a new tool called FastPhotoStyle which takes a visual style and applies it to a photo. But how do you define a visual style? Easy, with another photo which has the style you want.

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Deal Alert: save $2,200 on Bowens Battery-Powered flash kit

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If you are looking to make your first steps in the “big strobes” world, this is a deal you don’t want to miss. B&H are now selling a Bowens XMT500 2-Light Battery-Powered Flash Kit at $1,599.00  instead of the usual $3,799.oo. This is a $2,200 savings.

The kit includes 2 500WS Flash Heads, 2 Reflectors, 2 Batteries, 2 Light Stands and a charger and a backpack. Really everything you need to start.

If you opt for AC instead of a battery, you’d pay $1,199.88 and also get an umbrella, a softbox, and a radio controller.

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