I May Have To Rethink New Glass

Ok, I was thinking that my next purchase would be new glass, probably the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 (a compromise down from the $1,800 Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS that I really want -- but $1,100 difference is, well, $1,100 difference!).

But now I'm getting all sucked into the hype about the new Canon 50D. And to think the 40D only came out last September! I love new gear, but give my old gear a chance to wear out a bit before I simply must have the new thing! Take a look at this:



Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? But to complicate matters, have you heard the rumors about the Canon 5d Mark II? Will the madness never end!?!?!

one more lil' lightnin'

Monsoons!

You're In Trouble Now

Yes, I'm afraid you're all in trouble, now. Now that I've discovered embedding video. I'll try to keep it few and far between in the days to come, but it really is a lot of fun. This clip is of funny little (some not so little) wedding disasters.



None of my weddings have had any drama like those, but no matter what happens, I get a picture of it!

Gear and Hype

OK, I'm a Canon guy, but I'm gonna share some Nikon stuff, too.

First: a video from Chase Jarvis, advance testing a top secret Nikon D90



Pretty cool, eh? And now the really cool news.... the Canon 50D!

http://www.popphoto.com/photonews/5496/canon-eos-50d-first-look.html

photo here: http://www.calumetphoto.com/ctl?ac.ui.pn=popup.imageviewer&itemno=EC2750&w=605&h=700

Canon and Nikon keep it exciting, don't they? And they just won't give my wallet a rest! But I still want some new glass first. Either way, Dawn's just gonna have to slap my hand away from the cookie jar.

By the way, this is the first time I've embedded video. That's fun! Thanks Chase Jarvis and Nikon.

Singin' the Blues for Romance

Just an example of how color affects mood. This shot was fine in its natural warm yellow tones, but a conversion to a soft, evening, cool blue emphasized the romance better and puts the kibosh on the hard lighting. This can be achieved with a physical filter, a hue/saturation adjustment, or 3rd party software filter like Nik's Midnight Blue.

Off Into The Sunset (or Just Into the Future)

Walking away, or walking away looking over your shoulder back to the photographer always makes a nice image to close out the album. All the better if you have a nice bridge, rural road, or rustic woods. Sometimes that extra location between the ceremony and reception is well worth it. For pictures, but also for a few precious minutes to wind down.

A Bad Case of Rhinos

I promised you rhinos, and rhinos you shall have. They have been decontaminated for your protection. Just don't look 'em in the eye. They don't like that. No, sir. Not one bit.

Tiggers Are Wonderful Things

I'm in a wildlife (read: zoo) mode right now. So you get a tigger today. Probably rhinos tomorrow. "You're getting rhinos tomorrow" -- sounds like something you should get some antibiotics for. I'll disinfect them first. It'll be OK.

History Magazine / September '08

OK, this post has little or nothing to do with photography (perhaps I'll try to work in some photo related puns.....) but it MUST BE POSTED! THE WORD MUST BE SPREAD! Dramatic, no?

So why all the hubbub? What for all the hoopla? Why the suspense and hype!?!?!

Well, I'll tell ya.

The current (read September 2008) issue of History Magazine features -- as its cover story no less -- an article focusing on the birth of the blues in America, written by none other than my best friend, Heath Lowrance, way over there in the backwoods suburbs of Detroit.

Take a peek: http://www.history-magazine.com/

Then run, don't walk, to your nearest newsstand and buy the thing. Read it, consume it, talk about it, blog about it, and tell your friends in publishing to print more of Mr. Lowrance's terrific work. And if you think you like that non-fiction stuff, just wait 'til you get your hands on some of his fiction. It will blow your mind! Your synapses will flash and pop like a thousand strobes all going off at once. OK, I'll stop trying to work in the photo thing, but I'll be back at it tomorrow!

P.S. I'm Ron Warren and I approve this message.

Lifting Seth Godin

I'm quite deliberately and blatantly lifting Seth Godin's entire blog entry from today to make my point (with a few additions by me [in grey]):

Taken from: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/08/whos-telling-yo.html

Who's telling you the truth about your online personal marketing? by Seth Godin

Yes, it's true. People judge you.
They judge you especially harshly online.
They judge you by your teeny picture on Facebook (named, after all, after the original quick judgment document) and they judge you by your email sig file and your domain (Hotmail?!) and by the look of your bio on Squidoo or Linkedin or the number of typos in your instant messages. They even judge you by the typeface and ads on your blog.
So, are you getting good feedback on your brand presentation?
Would it hurt your feelings if I told you that your picture made you look dumpy? Or that it was boring? Or way too outre?
It seems like it's better to hear this from a few trusted people than to continue to stumble without knowing why.
I'm not proposing that you let the crowd dictate, or that you work hard to fit in. Far from it. I'm proposing that you know the impact your choices are having and act accordingly.
Pictures are the easiest. Post three or four and let trusted people vote (and tell you why). Don't pick the winner, but read their reasons. And yes, if connecting online is important to you, go ahead and spend a few dollars and get a good photo. (Here, he finally got around to my point!)
This isn't about ignorance as much as it involves effort. Once you pay attention to this, it'll get better.

So, let's get you a digital image upgrade. For Facebook, Linked In, Match.com, Chemistry, or any social or business networking. Or business cards, direct mail, magazine ads, or even bus stops and benches! Or perhaps.... political campaign signs!?!?! Call me at 248-250-3369 or e-mail ron@ronwarrenphotography.com so we can get you some new headshots!

(See http://ronwarrenphotography.blogspot.com/2008/04/portraits-for-business.html )

BTW: My favorite political sign seen around town recently: "Vote SCHMUCK! That's right, Frank Schmuck!" His sign didn't have any photo at all. But I suppose with a name like Schmuck, it's got to be good.

More Goin' Nowhere Fast

As they used to say on WKRP, "And now, more news with Les Nessman."

In keeping with that very sentiment, I give you more goin' nowhere fast. Previously that meant a new image of an old truck baking in the hot sun. Today, it means an old image of a turtle. They famously move oh so slowly, however just on land. They can be quite graceful and speedy in the water. But here we have one that is merely a bump on a log.

I've seen several interesting wildlife shots recently where the animal was captured with a camera equipped with a motion-activated shutter release. Also, check out this: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/08/art-on-wing-bradford-fullers-fly-in.html . Great, artful bird imagery all done in a backyard with a feeder and one flash. Very impressive. How do you get the shot without spooking your subject?

Goin' Nowhere Fast

Better call AAA because this tow truck won't be coming to help you anytime soon. One messed up truck looking cool in the hot desert sun. F/10, 1/200, ISO 100, Sigma 10-20mm at 10mm.

Sheer Lunacy

Just a simple shot of last night's full moon. Turns out shooting the moon takes a bit of trial and error. This was shot at 1/20 sec., f/22, ISO 100, 75-300mm lens at 300mm.

Perspective on Dance

Want a new perspective on shooting dancers at a wedding without risking life and limb (and camera) by standing on a questionable chair? Here's what I do.

• Put a wide-angle lens on one of your camera bodies (I use a Sigma 10-20mm)


• Throw an off-shoe cord into the hotshoe (and a speedlite on the other end)


• Put the camera on a monopod


• Set the camera timer for 10 seconds


• Hold speedlite to aim or bounce off ceiling


• Hit the shutter and thrust that camera up over the crowd (angled down a bit)

Voila! Crazy aerial perspective. It can be very hit or miss, but when it works, you'll be mightly pleased with yourself. Note: if you have a remote shutter release, you can use that instead of the randomness of that timer business.

FX

I'm generally not big on the special effect picture, but I have to make the occasional exception. Like this one, for instance. Just too sweet to not post.

Eichhorn Nation

Well, I am clearly still editing pix from the Eichhorn wedding... and loving it! Here I've done a little magic to the color but I'd be nowhere without good subjects doing photogenic things! Thanks Jennifer and Eric!

Elevated Eichhorn

Another teaser from the weekend. Aren't they a handsome couple?

America the Beautiful

From the Binaghi wedding last year. I always liked this picture but I changed out the distracting background and added the Old Glory. Seemed right, especially during the Olympics!

May I Introduce, Mr. & Mrs. Eichhorn!

I had the great privilege of photographing the wedding of Eric and Jennifer Eichhorn. Just a lovely outdoor wedding at Addison Oaks in Leonard, MI. The weather held out long enough for the ceremony and the grounds and gardens there are terrific. The bride and groom looked great and didn't seem nervous in the least. Here's a preview shot for you.

Birdy Over the 9th Hole

A Birdy, not a Birdie flying by the 9th hole.

Arizona Skies

It's monsoon season in the Valley of the Sun. That means beautiful skies and lots of lightning. So........wait for it........wait for it....... here is a beautiful sky and some lightning from last night in my new neighborhood.

Erin & Her Dad

A little something from the Morris/Burke wedding.

116.2 Degrees Fahrenheit!

OK....

116.2 degrees fahrenheit. It's some kinda joke, right? It doesn't really get that hot here, does it!?!?!