Nikonians News & Blogs: Interviews, Talkshows, News and More

« March 2012 | Main | May 2012 »

April 29, 2012

Last Call for this week's Urban Photography Workshop in Canada

Nikonians Academy Director Mike Hagen has received more accolades from members attending the new Urban Photography workshop led by Rick Hulbert. The Seattle session was the first time this workshop got a full test in the field and from the enthusiastic response sent to Mike, it looks like there’s another new “must attend” workshop on the Academy curriculum.

Here is Mike’s Report:
I’ll start with a reminder that is your last chance to sign up for Rick Hulbert's Urban Photography Workshop in Toronto, Ontario (starting May 3). Feedback from Rick's last Urban Photography workshop in Seattle was off the charts. Customers wrote me with comments like:

"It was the best workshop I've ever attended (and I've been to a lot). On our last day of the class, no one wanted to leave. We were all hanging on Rick's every word." -E.A.

"I really liked the way Rick was the authority but was open to hearing our ideas. I really liked the combination of lectures, field shoots, critiques, and having him post process while discussing with us what was being done and why, and the exposure to software and hardware. I'm delighted that the one email from Nikonians in years happened to be about your workshop! It was a great experience. I certainly got my money's worth! Overall grade: A+" - D.C.

"Rick's workshop in Seattle was terrific. He's a skilled instructor and a wonderfully warm person who imparted much information and fun to all of us. Everyone was very upbeat about the experience, and, unlike me, most or all of the others had taken previous Nikonians Academy workshops. Rick had insightful lectures, was a good guide on the street, and gave stimulating critiques. He moved my photography up a level, and I had lots of fun." - M.G.

Looking ahead to May
Our Master series of workshops continues during May with workshops in Fairfield, NJ. Don't hesitate to sign up because these classes are already selling out.
In fact, we've already sold out our Master iTTL Wireless Flash workshop and have a few seats remaining in our Lightroom 3 and 4, D700/D3/D3s, and Master Studio Lighting with Profoto workshops.
June brings our Master series (including Nikon Capture NX2) to San Francisco, Indianapolis, and Nashville. Check out the rest of the schedule for workshops all around the USA.

June and July set for outdoor adventures
The Nikonians Academy is known all around the world for our exceptional nature, travel and wildlife workshops.

This June and July, we have outdoor workshops catering to iconic destinations such as:

-- Yellowstone Wildlife Adventure, June 2 - 5.

-- Grand Teton Wildlife Adventure, June 6 - 9.

-- Giant Redwoods of Northern California, June 21 - 23

-- Alaska - Whales, Bears, and Ice Fields Wildlife Photography Adventure, July 22 - 27

Digging into your DSLR’s special features
We have two workshops for photographers who are looking at using more specialized features of their modern cameras such as timelapse photography and DSLR video.
Learn timelapse photography in scenic San Francisco from July 6 - 8.

Learn Video and Cinematography with your DSLR in Santa Barbara from July 12 - 16. Michael Mariant is running both of these workshops and would love to see you there.

Posted by flashdeadline at 10:37 PM

April 27, 2012

40% discount at Topaz Labs - Springdeal

Today I´m happy to announce that Topaz Labs is offering a 40%off deal on all Topaz Labs products.

SPRINGDEAL MAY 1ST TO MAY 3RD

Topaz Labs is providing high programs and end plugins for Photoshop. With Topaz Labs Fusion you also can easily integrate the plugins into Lightroom, Apature, iPhoto.

For more information on the plugins please visit the Topaz Labs product overview.

For direct purchase you can visit the store here.

Your discount code to get the 40% off you can get in the software forum or in the rewards section (registered members only).

The 40% discount is valid for any individual program, bundle or bundle upgrade

Posted by hendric at 9:39 AM

April 26, 2012

Nikonian Northern Exposure #2

Welcome to Nikonian- Northern Exposure. Nikon photographers Peter Spence will talks about the TIPA Awards 2012 for the D5100 and D800 digital SLR cameras and the SB-910 Speedlight. Peter Spence talks about how to open up doors to many different cultures and events.
Download Nikonians Northern Exposure #1 (NPC-NE-2012-04-26.mp3; 28:21; MP3 format)

Peter was invited over Easter to photograph the sacred ceremony among the Mi'kmaq natives in Indian Brook, Nova Scotia Canada. The Mi'kmaq are very religious and spiritual people; they have for over the last 400 Years, cerebrate Good Friday by going to this sacred underground spring which they say that the water is so pure that it does have spiritual healing power. Peter learned that by showing respect for different culture and traditions, he have open up many opportunities to some incredible experience in photography. Peter included the link to these spiritual photos.

Posted by obrueck at 4:09 PM

April 24, 2012

Street photography

If we want to talk about "street photography" we must talk about Henri Cartier-Bresson (left) and the old photograph taken in 1932 somewhere in France, with a man about to get his shoes quite wet on it first. Why? Because it is a mother of all streets photographs same as Henry Cartier-Bresson is basically a founder of this ever so popular photography style.

All definitions of street photography, which could be possibly worded, are in that picture. Nothing and no one can describe what the street photography is about better, as this photo and two words: "decisive moment".

So why is street photography so popular? It is basically an essence of photography. It is a headstone of photojournalism. Street photography capture the moment and tell the story in one picture with no words required. And Henri Cartier-Bresson was a master of this. He was a master of decisive moment, moment, where scene is set up and ready for action and in split second it is going to change. And that is when you should push the button. If you capture decisive moment, you know you've got great street photo and you'll be laughing all the way to the darkroom. Just google more Herni Cartier-Bresson pictures if you still have no idea what I'm talking about. They all tell the story. You look at the picture and you feel like you've been there and you know exactly how does everybody in the frame feel.

Basic rules of street photography say, it should be in black and white. This is and this is not a true. Martin Parr is a great example how street photography could be done in colour. He uses colour as an expression, as a third dimension of his photos. If you loose it form his pictures, they wouldn't be the same. His candid pictures of UK society on holiday in vivid colours are unforgettable.

Right, now we all are fired up to grab camera bag full of equipment and go out, aren't we? Well, not that quick. You can leave your camera bag at home, you won't need it. This is beauty of street photography, which I like the most. You don't need loads of equipment. You don't need zoom lens. You don't even need a DSLR! Shocking, isn't it? Just imagine how would people feel, if you grab you brand new D4 with 70-300 lens and point it at their direction. Correct, they will run away. 35mm or 50mm prime lens is your best bet for the job. The smaller the lens and camera, the more invisible for the public you are. In fact, you can buy an instant film camera and you can walk away with great shots! Nobody will pay attention to you and that is exactly what you need. You must get really close, you must be in the scene. And if Robert Capa, the most famous war photographer of the 20th century said: "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough", there must be some true in it. Than he get too close to the mine that killed him in Indochina, but that is different story...

Street photography is actually great to explore new places, for example on holidays, or weekend city breaks. Your wife wouldn't be mad at you that you carry your tripod and massive camera all the time and you can take her to for nice latte and still get back to your hotel room with decent images. It's a win - win situation! You'd just sit there, drink your latte, watch the high street and from time to time take the picture. Of course after few minutes you'd predict what's going to happen, so you wouldn't need to have camera on your face all the time.

In street photography everybody is a journalist. You are on the mission to shoot cover picture for TIME magazine! How exciting is that? And assignment is your choice. You can be as creative as you like. To help you with understanding street photography and your street creativity, Nikonians Academy Europe has organised a London Street Photography Experience workshop. This great weekend in London (obviously) starts 9th of June 2012, so don't miss it out!

Posted by pkuzmin at 2:12 PM

Monster Nikkor extreme fish eye lens for sale

Are you looking around for some new gear you can splash your cash on? Do you like to shoot wide? I mean really, really wide? Than this lens is made for you. Let me introduce you to the mother of all wide angle lenses, the Nikkor 6mm f/2.8 fish eye lens.

Although this lens has been first shown to the public in 1970 at Photokina trade show in Cologne in Germany, it is still the widest lens ever made for 35mm format cameras. Production started in March 1972. It has got incredible shooting angle of 220 degrees, so you can really see what's behind the corner. There is a small drawback to all this, you need to own quite big camera bag, because with its dimensions it won't fit anywhere. Lens is 171 mm long, has a diameter of 236 mm and weights whopping 5.2 kg. Good news is, it comes with its own rugged metal case...

There is another small drawback to this, the lens is quite rare. It's only been made to special order, so there are not many of them out there. Grey Levett, the co-founder of Grey's of Westminster and Tony Hurst spend "six months on the trail of this lens and finally located it overseas". Luckily, lens is in mint condition. "We were fortunate in securing it and now it's on sale for £100.000"

If this is a must have piece of kit for you, run fast to the Grey's of Westminster in London to be first Nikonian there!

picture credit Tony Hurst

picture credit Tony Hurst

Posted by pkuzmin at 7:42 AM

April 22, 2012

Workshop feedback delivers thumbs up for new course

Nikonians Academy Director Mike Hagen tells us Rick Hulbert’s recent inaugural Urban Photography workshop in Seattle hit the right cord with those who attended. The good news for members near the Toronto, Ontario area is there are still a few seats available for round two.

Here is Mike’s report:
Rick Hulbert, known for his Nikonians Photo Professors podcasts with Rick Paul, led his first Urban Photography workshop in Seattle last week and we are still hearing from members who attended.

Here’s a portion of one of the latest notes I have received:

“Hi Mike,
Rick's workshop in Seattle was terrific. He's a skilled instructor and a wonderfully warm person who imparted much information and fun to all of us. Everyone was very upbeat about the experience, and, unlike me, most or all of the others had taken previous Nikonians Academy workshops. Rick had insightful lectures, was a good guide on the street, and gave stimulating critiques. He moved my photography up a level, and I had lots of fun.
- MG”

The next 4-day Urban Photography workshop comes to Toronto, Ontario starting on May 3, and as of this weekend, I’m told we still have a few seats available.

Check your city listings
Due to high demand; we've added a significant number of workshops all around the USA on topics ranging from the new Nikon D800 and D4, to Lightroom 4, to Studio Lighting, to your old favorites such as Nikon Capture NX 2, iTTL Wireless Flash, Nikon D700/D3, Nikon D300/D300s, and Nikon D7000/D90.

One of our newest workshops is a two-day Nikon D800/D4 class that takes you through classroom instruction, field shooting and after capture processing.

If you don't see your favorite city on the list, rest assured that we are continuing to add workshops throughout the USA and Canada.

New cities we've added include Indianapolis, San Francisco, Fairfield NJ, Nashville, Atlanta, Seattle, Omaha, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs, Woodlands TX, Austin, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.

Arizona adventure
Next week, Winston Hall is operating his sold-out workshop to Monument Valley and the Slot Canyons around Page, Arizona.

The trip is a perennial favorite and almost always fills up as soon as dates are announced.

This workshop is limited to 10 participants. It covers such ideal photo locations as Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Glen Canyon.

We are headed back to Monument Valley later this year, so if you would like attend, we encourage you to sign up right away.

The 4-day workshop begins on September 10, 2012.

Two for California (one brand new)
Michael Mariant's workshops are known far and wide as some of the best in the industry. This June, he's running the Giant Redwoods of Northern California from June 21 - 24.

For those of you interested in the amazing world of timelapse photography, he's created a brand new Timelapse Photography Workshop that will be based in the beautiful city of San Francisco, CA. The dates are July 12th - 14th, 2012.

To see all the other workshops we offer, head over to www.nikoniansacademy.com.

Posted by flashdeadline at 5:47 PM

April 20, 2012

Ilford Galerie Pro Limited Edition 40 Pack

As featured in our last newsletter, the Nikonians Pro Shop is now carrying the Ilford Galerie Professional Limited Edition 40 Pack. The TIPA-award winning package features ten (10) A4 size pages of fabulous stock including Lustre Duo and Gold Fibre Silk.

Posted by covey22 at 8:32 PM

Nikon D4 Digital SLR - The Nikonians Review

Nikonians Team Member Martin Turner takes the flagship D4 for a spin -

"...with an optical rating by DxO labs above almost every Hasselblad ever built, top ISO in excess of 200,000 and essentially noise-free at 25,600, this may well be the last camera you will ever need to buy."

Get the full review after the jump.

Posted by covey22 at 8:26 PM

Blog recommendation - Profoto Blog

Taking the step from shooting with only ambient light or speedlights to start using monolights or studio strobes might seem a little scary to some. Good thing there are a blogs such as the Profoto Blog out there, where photographers who have already mastered the art share the knowledge.

The Profoto Blog covers everything from wedding and portrait photography to product photography and high-end fashion. The blog has been going strong for a couple years now, so the list of featured photographers is pretty impressive by now – Mary Ellen Mark, George Holz, Kareem Black, Jeremy Cowart, DC Chavez, Tim Flach, Michael Muller and Blair Bunting to name just a few.

So if you want to learn about light shaping from some of the best in the business, you should definitely check it out.

www.profoto.com/blog

Posted by hendric at 9:36 AM

April 19, 2012

Nikon unveils new entry-level high level resolution DSLR

Nikon's newest entry in the Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) category has been announced, along with a brand new FX-format high speed wide andgle lens.

Details on the new Nikon D3200 are available at the Nikon USA pressroom in their news release.
Here are the highlights, courtesy of Nikon USA spokesman Matthew Kopacz:

Highlights of the Nikon D3200:
• 24.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor
• Full HD (1080p) video recording with fulltime AF, manual exposure control and stereo sound via a microphone input jack
• Optional WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter lets users remotely control the Nikon D3200 and transfer photos for sharing from Android platform smartphones and tablets
• Intuitive Guide Mode to walk users through key camera functions and settings
• 4 fps high-speed continuous shooting at full resolution
• Standard ISO range of 100-6400, expandable to ISO 12,800
• EXPEED 3 Image Processing and an 11-point AF system that works with Nikon’s Scene Recognition System
• The Nikon D3200 outfit with the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens will be available in late April for $699.95 (USD) SRP
• The optional WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter will be available in late May for $59.95 (USD) SRP

Highlights of the AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G:• Fast f/1.8 prime lens designed for shooting stills or recording HD video in low-light situations
• Engineered for Nikon FX-format D-SLRs (42mm focal length equivalent when mounted on DX-format D-SLRs)
• The AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G lens will be available in late May for $699.95 (USD) SRP

Posted by flashdeadline at 9:03 AM

April 17, 2012

Nikonians Academy Europe Workshops updates.

Spring is in full bloom so let your cameras meet some mates and learn new things. Here are some ideas from Nikonians Academy Europe for the upcoming weeks, where you can do just that. The line up for following weeks includes:

"Master Wildlife Photography: Birds Of Prey"

"Master the Nikon i-TTL Flash System"

"Master your Nikon D90, D7000, D300/D300s, D700, D3/D3s/D3x In Depth"

"Artistic Nude / Beauty Photography Workshop"

Speaking of spring, there is hardly a better time spent, than outdoors with your camera. Just don't say it to your wife or husband. Those of you, who are into wildlife or landscape photography know what we're talking about.

Nikonians Academy Europe has prepared an exceptional spring workshop called "Master Wildlife Photography: Birds Of Prey" in Tilburg, Netherlands.

Wildlife photography is really tricky for camera settings, focusing and composition and this workshop will show you exactly how to get it right. And that is only one part of the whole process to get really cracking pictures. You must also know how the birds behave to predict what will be their next step so you can plan your shot.

So, do you have any better ideas how to spend Saturday, 28th of April? We don't think so. Our head instructor Hayo Baan is waiting for your bookings with a free lunch!

Let's be honest here. Yes, most cameras have build-in flash. And yes, for professional work it is often useless. That's why most of the pro cameras don't have one. That's where a Nikon Speedlight comes to rescue in low light situations. To find out its use is not only to light up the scene, but actually be very creative, join John M. McDonald at his "Master the Nikon i-TTL Flash System" workshop in London (Herts), UK. You'll probably be amazed what is possible with just one Speedlight, let alone a few of them. The date for your diary is Saturday, 5th of May, so hurry and enroll in this workshop now.

Here's an idea. What about learning everything your flash can do in one day and everything your camera can do the next day? One weekend is just enough to absorb all technical aspects and settings possible for your most important photographic tools. To make this happen, join John M. McDonald at his "Master your Nikon D90, D7000, D300/D300s, D700, D3/D3s/D3x in Depth" workshop in London (Herts) on Sunday, 6th of May. He will cover every key aspect of digital SLR photography and how to optimally use the available options and settings of your camera.

Telling beautiful nude women what to do may sound like a dream to every man, but it is an art when it comes to photography, and a fine art when it involves understanding your model and your final product. Pascal Beatens, nude photography expert, has mastered this fine art and you can can experience it all at his "Artistic Nude / Beauty Photography Workshop" in Adrano, Sicily, Italy.

This 5- day workshop features at least 3 different models available every day and thanks to Pascal's feedback and guidance you will develop your own style. You can leave this workshop with a completely new beauty / nude portfolio and benefit from Pascal's guidance in your future nude photography sessions. The workshop starts in a few weeks time on Monday, 7th of May, so do not hesitate with your booking.

Posted by pkuzmin at 4:21 PM

New workshop topics and cities details released

Nikonians Academy Director Mike Hagen reports the Academy instructors have "stepped up their game" as they prepare for new workshops in more cities.
The new topics and cities were announced a few weeks ago, and you can now check out the workshop details.

Here is Mike’s report, starting with a short list of some of the newest workshop topics:
♦ Master D800/D4 In Depth
♦ Master D800/D4 Advanced
♦ Master D800/D4 - Learn, Capture and Process, Two-day workshop
♦ iTTL/CLS Advanced Lighting Workshop
♦ Master Lightroom Essentials
♦ Master Lightroom Advanced
♦ Master HDR Photography, Two-day workshop

We also have all of the traditional topics you've come to know and including Nikon Capture NX2, Nikon D700/D3/D3s/D3x, Nikon D7000/D90/D80, iTTL Wireless Flash, Master Studio Lighting with Profoto and more.

New cities we've added include Indianapolis, San Francisco, Fairfield NJ, Nashville, Atlanta, Seattle, Omaha, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs, Woodlands TX, Austin, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.

We'll continue to add more as well. If you don't see your favorite city or topic listed, then no worries. We should have quite a few additional cities posted very soon.

Last week we kicked off our very first Urban Photography workshop with Rick Hulbert in Seattle, WA.

Rick just sent me a message saying that the workshop was fantastic and the attendees had a wonderful time learning architectural photography and street photography.

If you are interested in attending this workshop, we'll be running another in Toronto this May.

Jim Stamates' Alaska Whales, Wildlife and Icefields adventure this July is designed to take you on an incredible journey with a wide diversity of photographic opportunities.

Jim has been photographing Alaska for decades and knows the area in and out. This trip explores some of the wildest areas of the Inside Passage using private chartered boats and airplanes.

The month of June brings three nature and outdoor photography adventures to Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP and the Giant Redwoods NP.

Each of these trips are filled with photography potential in their own right with the Yellowstone and Grand Teton workshops focusing on wildlife while the Redwoods workshop will focus on beautiful landscapes.

Posted by flashdeadline at 1:12 AM

April 16, 2012

Nikon wins three TIPA awards

The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) just announced the winners of their annual awards. Each year TIPA chooses the best products of the last twelve months in 40 photography related categories.

This year Canon is the big winner with 6 awards: Best Professional DSLR (Canon EOS-1D X), Best Video SLR (Canon EOS 5D Mark III), Best Professional Videocamera (Canon EOS C300), Best Expert Compact Camera (Powershot G1 X), Best Professional DSLR Lens (Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L USM fish-eye), and Best Multi-functional Photo Printer (Canon Pixma MG8250).

Nikon and Fujifilm both won three Awards. Nikon for Best Expert DSLR (Nikon D800), Best Entry Level DSLR (Nikon D5100), and Best Professional Flash System (Nikon SB-910). Fujifilm won the awards for Best Professional Compact System Camera (Fujifilm X-Pro 1), Best Superzoom Camera (Fujifilm X-S1), and Best Photo Service (Fujifilm Fotoservice Pro).

For a complete list of this years winners, please see the TIPA website.

Posted by Nikonians Academy Europe Head Instructor Hayo Baan. More photography news, reviews & tips, can be found at Hayo Baan's Photography Blog.

Posted by hrbaan at 4:39 PM

April 11, 2012

Nikonians Photo Professors #4

Photo Professors Episode 4: The Photo Professors review a new book by Joe McNally, interview with Nikonian Darrell Young, and interpret an inspiring quote from Galen Rowell.

Download Nikonians Photo Professors #4 (NPC-PP-2012-04-12.mp3;50:30;MP3 format)"

* The Photo Professors review the Joe McNally book, "Sketching with Light"
* Interview with Nikonian Author and Photographer Darrell Young
* Being Inspired by the words of Galen Rowell

Length of the podcast is 50:30

Images by Darrell Young:

Posted by obrueck at 3:06 PM

Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 with Image Stabilization

Tamron announces the world's first full-frame fast-aperture 24-70mm f2.8 zoom lens with integrated image stabilization. The SP 24-70 f2.8 Di VC USD features an entire gamut of the latest optical technology. It is equipped with the silent and fast-focusing Ultrasonic Drive, the extremely effective three-coil Vibration Compensation, moisture-resistant construction and a nine-blade diaphragm for smooth bokeh. The lens will be initially available in Canon mount in late April, with the Nikon mount to follow shortly thereafter. Hit the link for more details.

Posted by covey22 at 2:38 PM

April 4, 2012

Think Tank Photo April special

Just in time for Spring, Think Tank Photo announces a special offer on their popular StreetWalker™ backpacks. When you buy one of Think Tank’s spacious and comfortable StreetWalker® Pro or StreetWalker® HardDrive backpacks by April 30, 2012, you will receive a padded Pro Speed Belt™ for free!

The Pro Speed Belt makes the StreetWalker backpacks even more comfortable and provides greater support for the weight on your back. This padded belt also allows you to attach Think Tank’s modular bags to the belt line. In doing so, you will have quick access to your lenses or accessories instead of having to take the backpack off to retrieve your camera gear.

With Think Tank’s StreetWalker backpacks’ slim vertical profile, you can navigate crowded places while still being able to access professional photographic equipment. The backpacks include a monopod/tripod mounting system, a contoured harness and air channel, and lots of pockets and organizers. Women in particular will appreciate the StreetWalker’s very narrow and vertical profile, especially when combined with the shoulder harness design.

StreetWalker Pro – Holds most 400 f2.8 lenses with a pro size DSLR camera body attached or a pro size DSLR and 70-200 2.8 attached. Lens hood can also remain attached in shooting position. Bottom front pocket can be used to carry a tripod or monopod. A pop out tripod cup is built in for carrying a larger tripod. Removable seam-sealed rain cover included.

StreetWalker Harddrive Holds most 15” laptops. Carry a pro size DSLR and 70-200 2.8 attached with hood in position or a Nikon 400 f2.8 attached to a pro size DSLR body. Bottom front pocket can be used to carry a tripod or monopod. A pop out tripod cup is built in for carrying a larger tripod. Removable seam-sealed rain cover included.

Posted by hendric at 11:38 AM

Nikonians Northern Exposure podcast debut

Welcome to Peter Spence, host of our newest podcast series Nikonians Northern Exposure. Peter hails from Canada (which gives us a clue to the origin of the podcast series name).

His first podcast is now available for free download in the MP3 format, running just short of 30 minutes.

The first topic covers techniques for improving your image sharpness.

Peter draws on his experience as a workshop leader and a self-confessed “Photo Dad” now teaching his daughter how to take photos. He finds that the best way to teach is to ask his students what they are missing in their photography. Once he learns what the student is seeking to improve, he quickly goes into the “basics” mode.

He likes to urge his students to “take the next step” by turning off the full-auto program features on their cameras.

Regardless of your experience level, Peter’s relaxed style in describing the basics is sure to help improve your photography. Give it a listen today.

Posted by flashdeadline at 8:48 AM

Profoto Light kit passes Hagen test with flying colors

Nikonians Academy director Mike Hagen recently proved the reliability of the Profoto D1 Studio Kit by taking it straight to an important shoot two hours after he unpacked it for the first time.

Mike’s adventure resulted in a successful series of images and a Profoto D1 Studio Kit Review, now available in our Resources at Nikonians® pages

The hands-on review shows the flexibility of the Profoto D1 Studio Kit when handled under some challenging conditions.

The background for this particular session, a fundraising event at a museum, consisted of a brushed metal surface, which most photographers might have avoided. Mike used that shiny surface to his advantage, and the Profoto kit delivered.

Mike’s on the spot appraisal:

“The shots from the fundraiser turned out very well. My initial fears were unfounded, which is a true testament to the ease of operation and overall quality of the Profoto equipment.

The equipment performed flawlessly and allowed me to focus on my job – taking photos. There wasn’t a single glitch or failure in hundreds and hundreds of shots. The Profoto gear was reliable, consistent, and excellent.”

Check out the full review for more sample images and details on how Mike arranged his lighting.

Posted by flashdeadline at 7:00 AM

April 3, 2012

What is the best memory card for you?

While at first this may seem like a silly question (just get the cheapest and fastest card available), choosing the card that's best for you is in fact not a straightforward thing?

In the Nikonians resources Hayo Baan, Nikonians Academy Europ Head Instructor gives you some advise and things to consider when buying your next memory card and/or card reader.

Posted by hrbaan at 3:29 PM

April 1, 2012

Nikonians Academy April Highlights

Nikonians Academy Director Mike Hagen tells us the April schedule is showing instructors launching for workshops in Denver, Seattle and California's Big Sur.
He also gives us an inside look at the instructional motivations behind some of these workshops and you will be surprised to learn it's not always about a specific favorite camera we all share in common.

Here is Mike's report:

Winston C. Hall heads for his Denver workshops this week (April 4-7). During the Denver series he will be covering: Master the Nikon D700 & D3/D3s/D3x - In Depth, Master the Nikon D700 & D3/D3s/D3x - Advanced, Master Adobe Lightroom 3 and Master Nikon i-TTL Wireless Flash, CLS.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the “In Depth” and “Advanced” workshops?
The answer is not about differences as much as progression.

The advanced workshop builds on the D700/D3 in depth workshop from the previous day and Winston adds a full day providing more advanced D700/D3 operation, setups, and real-world usage. We aim to show you how to customize your Nikon D700/D3 for just about any shooting situation. By the end of the second day, you'll have your D700/D3 configured as a professional level tool.

There is still time to register for some of these workshops, so make sure you check the Denver listings soon.

Richard Hulbert brings his four-day Urban Photography workshop to Seattle (April 12-15). Rick’s approach to this workshop is unique in many ways, including his unusual gear list.

There is no absolute requirement for fancy equipment, or for that matter, Nikon gear.

Any and every brand of camera will work, so we strongly encourage participants with Canon, Pentax, Sony and other camera brands to attend.

The principles taught will also apply to point and shoot cameras, new mirrorless cameras and even camera phones.

That’s not a typographical error. Rick invites you to bring your iPhone or Android and see what you can create.

Michael Mariant's trip to California's Big Sur (April 19-22) will take photographers through one of the Pacific Coast's most dramatic areas. Michael knows the area well and is one of the foremost experts on the landscapes, waterfalls and coastlines in this region.

This workshop focuses not only on the "where" to take the pictures, but also on the "how" to take pictures, incorporating photographic education throughout the workshop at each location. Once again, the Nikonians Academy focus on “progression” inspires you to grow your skills in a natural and easy to follow manner.

By building on the previous location's techniques and lessons, this allows for culmination in a comprehensive lesson in composition, modified exposure, light controls, Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS), and Infrared (IR) photography.

Your Big Sur deadline for signing up is April 4th.

Don’t forget our June $100 rebate special
Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons are two of North America's most incredible locations for wildlife photography.

Our wildlife photography instructor, Jim Stamates, knows these two National Parks like the back of his hand and is running two workshops in June.

For participants who book both of these back-to-back, we are offering a $100 rebate. The Yellowstone dates are June 2-5 and the Grand Teton dates are June 6-9.

Speaking of North American wildlife, check out Jim Stamates' Alaskan Wildlife Photography Adventure from July 22 - 28.

This trip will be an excellent opportunity to photograph whales, bears, eagles, glaciers and everything else "Alaska".

Jim knows how to run a great trip and I know you'll love this experience.

Posted by flashdeadline at 6:22 PM

Subscribe to our Newsletters


	Add Nikonians feed to your RSS reader