Woop here it is. If you’re looking for a 50mm lens that delivers and doesn’t cost an arm, leg, & a spleen, the Canon 50mm 1.4 is it. I decided on a whim to get this a few months after getting the nifty fifty. My excuse was this could be on my 5d mark IV and the nifty could be on my T3i. Looking back, I should have definitely bought this instead of the nifty, because the quality is noticeable for not much of a price difference. Pros – Great in low light – Compact – Nice image quality Cons – Sometimes hard to focus – Is extra if you already have the nifty fifty That extra stop really does help if you find yourself with less light. Its size isn’t much bigger than the nifty, so I usually keep this on my camera body for convenience. And as mentioned earlier, the image quality is excellent for the price (noticeably from the nifty too.) Depending on if the subject is low contrast or not, this lens occasionally has a hard time keeping focus. Because this is only 1 stop different and 3 times the price, […]
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Sometimes our favorite activity becomes less than fun and dwells in the “chore” category. This especially applies to people who do that particular activity for work on a daily basis. I’m not sure about you, but when the days are short and full of more darkness than light, I feel less motivated to actually do my craft. Photography becomes something that I do on occasion when I have to, not a daily task I enjoy. It isn’t always easy getting out of a photo rut, but here are a few tips that might helpfully inspire you if you’re going through it as well. Write about it You don’t necessarily have to blog, but journaling about different issues in your life can help you determine what really is preventing you from shooting. Each time you feel uninspired or bothered by the photographic process, stop for a moment and write down why. Try to be as detailed as possible, it could be a recent interaction or stress is really bogging you down and you’re transferring that negativity onto your photography. Look for inspiration Whether online or in photobooks, try and find something that speaks to you. Sometimes, a great […]
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I don’t know about you, but it felt like this year flew by. It seems that the older we get, our perception of time feels faster and faster. Although I won’t be able to share every detail, I will be able to look back at all those posts as a kind of journal of the year. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the process, there were ups and downs for sure. Here are some specific things I noticed: Found a flow about a third of the way in and really caught up on posts. Just over halfway I felt a bit bored with it. Didn’t feel challenged because of being so on top of my schedule. Was disappointed when subjects had to reschedule/cancel for my shoots so had to settle just to post for a challenge. (Or miss like in November because I had no back up plan.) Enjoyed focusing more on writing. Felt like I didn’t have enough images for a “photo blog.” Appreciated when people in real life told me they found my tips helpful. I’m glad I finally decided to consistently blog. Because of the planning beforehand and picking […]
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After 12 months of challenges, we’ve finally reached the end. (Unfortunately I couldn’t post one last month because the model had to reschedule and I didn’t have a backup plan because of how busy I was with work.) This month I’m going to show what I had planned for November. I wanted to really show some of the decay of all the trees around in winter, so I started researching different characters that could portray this. I found Lauma, a Latvian “atmospheric” goddess who is similar to a dryad in that she is usually near trees & nature. This challenge is “have the subject match the background.” I made the branch prop that frames her face, but also allows dimension as it fades into the background of the woods behind her. In addition I’d like to pick my favorite 3 from the year. 1) Bionic Beauty – This kicked off my Archetype series and is still one of my favorite self-portraits to date. I loved making the moodboard, scouting out my location, setting up my flash, using the wireless capabilities of my camera for the first time, & the overall mood communicated with this. 2) Itzpapalotl – I […]
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This process is also termed “long exposure photography” because a slow shutter speed is required in order to capture the light streaks. Here are a few different ways you can paint with light! Possible light sources to use: Flashlight Sparklers Phone Technical details: You must put your camera on a tripod or otherwise stable surface. Your shutter speed should be set very slowly. 5 seconds to 1 minute is usually the range. Your room needs to be completely dark. (If it isn’t, the ambient light will be caught and the painted light will be harder to see) I used this technique for my Itzpapalotl challenge and thoroughly enjoyed it. May the light be with you. Follow
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Once again, I’m sure you’ve noticed my biased title. Since it’s already clear that I love this lens, I’ll delve into why below. PROS – Affordable – Compact – Nice image quality CONS – Close to 50mm focal length – Small This was actually the first prime I picked up years ago. I think the main reason I purchased this instead of the nifty fifty was because Best Buy had it on sale/in stock. For a beginner, the price point is just right. I also love how slim this lens is, it can be left on my camera body with no worry or tension on the attachment ring. And though this is a lower price compared to other Canon lenses, the image quality is excellent. I especially like using this for closer up views of makeup or product shots. Another reason I waited to get a 50mm for so long was because I already had this one. It’s slightly different but not enough to make a noticeable difference. The size is an advantage for leaving on the camera, but could be a disadvantage to people who lose things easily. This is slim & light and […]
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As with any company or organization, it is important to have a distinct look & feel that sets you a part from the competition. A big misconception people make is assuming a nice looking logo is all it takes to improve their brand. Though it does help if it relates to your business or service, it’s much more important to have an overall vision you want to achieve with a list of components that help achieve that vision. I won’t go over how to design an identity or set up a website, but instead provide ideas for different parts of the branding process. If you are currently starting or redefining a business, try thinking about the things I’ve listed below. Questions to ask before starting a business or service: What do I want to accomplish with this brand? Who is my ideal audience? Is this going to be something I can do myself or will I need to eventually hire a team? Questions to ask while redesigning a business or service: Why are we doing a redesign? Would a new look & message better communicate our vision? Does my current team fit with the new […]
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Alright you foodies, this one’s for you. It seems that ever since cellphone cameras’ quality improved, people have enjoyed taking snapshots of their meals. Whether you’re trying out something new & want to remember the presentation or are shooting items for a recipe or for a blog, these tips are for you! Dish Figuring out what you want to shoot will be the first step. Is it a simple meal? A drink? A fancy dinner selection? Once you decide what you want to make, you (or someone else) will have to prepare the food before shooting. Technicalities The 4 main things you want to make certain are accurate: lighting, white balance, exposure, & focus. In this instance, more light is better. If you aren’t able to shoot near a window to allow natural light in, put your camera on a tripod and set a slow shutter speed. Artificial light could always be used, but unless the bulbs are set to “daylight,” white balance could be off due to the color temperature of the bulbs. White balance can be fixed in post however, & should be set to look as close to the scene as possible. Exposure […]
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So excited to share that one of my favorite companies actually reached out to me and put me on their blog! Aside from already being impressed by the quality of their portfolios & the ethical practices by which they make them straight in Canada, I was further sold by how they treat their customers. From interacting on social media to doing these customer stories, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a new book! Check out the story here. May the light be with you. Follow Save Save Save
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In this fast paced world we live in, it’s always smart to have a plan ahead of time when you’re preparing for a shoot. In part 2, I’ll talk about what I do before shooting a conceptual photoshoot. The “Vision” Much like Raven Symone seeing fragmented bits of the future, I too get “visions” of my conceptual shoots. I see something in my mind and know I have to recreate it. Research I go on a pinning storm, looking up techniques, wardrobe, makeup, location, & props for this shoot. I not only make a moodboard on Pinterest, but I also have a document with all the details laid out for reference as well. Scouting If I’m able, I check out the location I have in mind beforehand and do a few test shots. If not, I ask around to see if anyone has any tips regarding this area. Casting I’m fortunate in that I have a great deal of amazing friends who don’t mind helping me out with shoots. It could be I’m biased because I know them or am able to see the beauty within after getting to know them, but they are all […]
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