Camera Dojo

Lightroom 1.2 – Noise Reduction

September 15, 2007 – 3:02 pm |

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Adobe has released the update to Lightroom 1.2 with a number of improvements and support for more cameras like the Canon EOS 40D. One thing that caught our eye was better noise reduction for Bayer sensor cameras. What this may sound like an oddball technical phrase, this applies to a lot of cameras such as Canon’s and Nikons. We wanted to take a look at this feature and see what kind of a difference it would make.

Canon EOS 40D – A Hands-On Review

September 8, 2007 – 4:24 pm |

There are plenty of technical articles out there covering all of the details and specs and differences with the EOS 40D. I think this camera is going to be one of the most significant cameras of the coming year, so I am going to go over a few of my experiences with it, now that I have had one for a week.

Think Tank Photo Modulus Speed Set Review

September 6, 2007 – 12:00 pm | One Comment

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While a good camera bag, like the Change Up bag we recently reviewed, can make all the difference in the world when it comes to getting to your gear quickly as well as keeping it safe when traveling, even the best bag can still be a little cumbersome when you really need to get to your gear when the action is in full swing. When you have a few lenses and accessories you need to carry, sometimes a bag just doesn’t cut it. The Think Tank Photo Module Speed Set is designed for the photographer on the go that has to be as mobile as possible and still have access to as much equipment as possible.

Anatomy of a Photo Shoot – Product Shot with Strobes

September 3, 2007 – 6:00 am | 3 Comments

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I do a lot of product work and getting the lighting right is always a challenge because different types of objects will reflect light differently. A very dark object may need a lot more light on it to pull out the detail where a shiny object may cause you all kinds of grief with reflections. Often, getting things just right is just a matter of trial and error, but starting with a decent setup can save you tons of work later. Today we will dissect a recent product shoot and see why I decided to use flash heads.

Using a photography umbrella

September 3, 2007 – 5:43 am | 3 Comments

A photographic umbrella (known as a brolly in some places) is exactly what it sounds like, just like the umbrella you would use in the rain except these are designed to bounce, reflect, or soften a light source. There are two basic types of umbrellas, bounce and shoot thru. A bounce umbrella is one that you aim the light into and bounce back towards the subject and a shoot thru umbrella is where the light is aimed at the subject through the umbrella making the umbrella act like a large softbox.

Think Tank Photo Change Up Bag Review

September 1, 2007 – 7:38 am | 4 Comments

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It seems like every day there is another company popping up making camera bags and accessories. For the most part, these other bags are cheap imports that you wouldn’t dare trust to secure your precious equipment nor are they designed with how you work in mind. The folks are Think Tank Photo separate themselves from the pack with extremely high quality bags designed by professional photographers.

Episode 1 Show Notes

August 25, 2007 – 7:25 pm |

Well the polls told us you wanted a regular podcast so here we are kicking it off. This week I host it myself and bring everyone up to speed on current articles as well as some news items of interested. Please check it out and leave us some feedback so we know exactly what you would like to “hear” from us. Each show will have show notes (continue reading) to help you link over to any articles or other sites that we mention. Check it out, let us know what you think.

Think Tank Photo Announces new Change Up Bag

August 17, 2007 – 1:08 pm |

For photographers who require a sturdy field bag they can use in a variety of settings, Think Tank Photo announces the release of the Change Up. This one bag changes form as a belt pack, a shoulder bag, and even can be carried on the chest when supported by the enclosed harness system.

Photo Basics 3-Light Kit Review

August 9, 2007 – 6:00 pm | 6 Comments

One of the main problems that many people have when starting off is getting their lighting to look right. Westcott is one of the biggest and oldest lighting companies around and recently they came up with the idea of a lighting kit for beginners.

Mennon Camera Grips and Straps

August 7, 2007 – 2:00 pm | 2 Comments

As we have been impressed in the past with the price and quality Mennon’s products, we decided to take a look at some more items from their product line. Today we looked at the Mennon Camera Grip for SLR cameras and a couple of straps for SLRs and Digital Video Cameras.

Carbonite Off-Site Storage Review

July 27, 2007 – 6:00 am | 3 Comments

Carbonite (http://www.carbonite.com) is an off-site storage solution whose mission statement is “Our mission is to provide an inexpensive, reliable and truly easy-to-use solution for the mainstream PC user; one that is simple, safe and always onâ„¢.” As photographers, backup should be a SERIOUS consideration and anything that is simple, automatic, and affordable sounds like something we should all look at.

Capturing Moving Objects

July 21, 2007 – 9:33 pm | 3 Comments

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Taking pictures of moving vehicles can be challenging and quite frustrating to get good results. While getting your panning technique down is the major part of it, there is often much more to it than simply pressing the shutter at the right time. Today we head over to a local car show to snag some action shots and give you some pointers on how to get the best results possible.

Interview with Wedding Photographer David Esquire

July 11, 2007 – 6:00 pm | 2 Comments

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We recently got the time to sit down with our good friend David Esquire of Esquire Photography in Huntington Beach California. David has been in the photography business for over 20 years shooting events such as the X-Games and doing shoots for companies such as Slim Jim, Sports Illustrated, and The Warped Tour.

Amvona DP-LH-3497O enSuite Light Head Kit Review

July 7, 2007 – 8:00 am |

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Lighting is a difficult concept to master but to put it simply, the larger the light source, the softer the shadows are going to be. A large softbox will really do wonders for portrait and product photography. The Amvona DP-LH-3497O enSuiteâ„¢ Light Head kit is a great example of this giving you a large diffuse light source at an incredibly affordable price.

Mashable – 90+ Online Photography Tools and Resources

June 26, 2007 – 9:37 am |

Over at Mashable, they have posted an article with links to over 90 online photography tools and resources. From online photo editors, photo sharing sites, free photo hosting, photo blogs, and much more. Be sure and check it out and bookmark the page.

Cactus Wireless Remote Shutter Release

June 26, 2007 – 4:00 am | 2 Comments

When doing long exposure shots or when working closely with your subject, a remote shutter release for you camera can prove invaluable. It used to be that wired remotes ruled the market. These days, wireless remotes are becoming very affordable. But how good is a wireless switch when compared to a wired one?

Your Rights as a Photographer

June 21, 2007 – 12:00 pm | 6 Comments

There is a huge amount of misinformation on what you can and cannot take photos of and you need to be aware of what your rights are should you ever be in a situation where somebody is questioning your right to take a photograph of something or someone. We have been in this situation several times in the past and even have had people threaten to sue us over the use of certain images, knowing your rights is the best defense when this happens.

Gadget Infinity Wide Angle Lens Review

June 17, 2007 – 6:14 pm | 2 Comments

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We have done a number of tutorials lately so we thought it was time for another inexpensive product review. This time we go back to our friends at Gadget Infinity to review an unbelievably affordable wide angle lens. We ordered the one to fit the Olympus E-500 to see how it would fair in some real world tests.