Topics

1

Software & Accessories / GPS, Geotagging and Website templates

« on: April 03, 2013, 09:54:09 PM »

I think that the GPS features on the new 6D and the GPS addons are great for documentation photography. I am looking for a way to expolit the EXIF data - the GPS and the altitude/ direction data that canon records with the coordinates. I find it strange that there are few ways for photographers to utilize this data - lightroom doesnt seem use the compass/altitude data.

I am currently hosting with Zenfolio and they dont have geotagging. Smug mug has limited geotagging features. The most promising i have found is this wordpress template:
http://themeforest.net/item/autofocus-photography-wp-theme-with-geotagging/3282259?sso?WT.ac=search_item&WT.seg_1=search_item&WT.z_author=vervethemes

Has anyone come across other alternatives that exploit these extended EXIF data sets?

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / 6D as a Compliment to 5DMkiii

« on: February 24, 2013, 10:18:57 AM »

There has been a sort of love hate reaction toward the 6D. I feel that the 6D is the perfect complimentary camera to the 5Dmkiii. Many pro photographers need a second camera, and I believe the 6D is perfect if you use the 5Dm3 as your primary camera. Almost every feature is complimentary. The 5D lacks the fancy connectivity/gps capabilities not to mention the remote EOS software for your phone, the low light focusing ability. The 6D lacks superior focusing, video ability and a few others. All while maintaining similar IQ. I have not heard this discussed. If you own both, you have almost all you bases covered with duplication of the most important qualities. If only the 6D could be had for 1500$ or less - maybe in a few months, the ebay offers will appear.

3

Street & City / Marid Gras Photos (and photography restrictions in Trinidad)

« on: February 13, 2013, 12:39:05 PM »

Hi Mardi Gras is a big thing in Trinidad and Tobago - where I am from I have posted some highlights in this gallery:

http://www.wilmark.johnatty.com/c2k13

In Trinidad Mondays are quiet and most of the masqueraders dont come out in their full gear. Trinidadians like to think that they have what is most likely one of the most popular Carnivals in the world (it definitely is the biggest in the Caribbean). However there is a new challenge on the landscape for photographers - it is the biggest photography event in Trinidad and the government has copyrighted the entire event even making it risky to put carnival photos on Facebook, they want all photographers to pay a royalty fee of over 10,000TT$ (6.30 TT$ = 1.00 US$) for a 2 year license. Most of the photographic community has raised an alarm that it will destroy the art form and international interest in Trinidad Carnival. Personally I believe it is very shortsighted and I dont know of any situation similar to it anywhere in the world (where photos of a public event or art are seen as valuable and automatically assumes a copyright infringement of the artwork) . I have linked a few press/blog articles on this:

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,173304.html
http://lyndersaydigital.com/brain/pix_files/axis_of_copyright.html
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/Pain_for_Carnival_picture-takers-189935931.html

4

EOS Bodies / EOS Interface/Display

« on: January 19, 2013, 11:37:31 AM »

I have been wondering why Canon in its wisdom have not come up with a better user interface over the years especially with the units that have a high res (retina quality) display on the back of the camera. All of the text is just so large and clunky, given that the user is very close to the screen. You have to spend so much time dialing and figuring out which switch or know to use in combination with what. These displays have a very high resolution that can display text far more clearly than canon uses. Many of the cameras also have a joystick to navigate (pointing device).

The interfaces today are pretty much the same since the beginning of digital cameras. They have just become more crowded and jumbled due to features. It is surely an opening for Magic Lantern to exploit.

5

Lenses / New EOS Compatible mount tested in Germany - Polar Mount

« on: October 12, 2012, 10:02:35 PM »

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/10/12/polar-bear-at-a-german-zoo-gets-its-paws-on-a-canon-70-200mm-lens/

Or would a better caption be - Polar bear gets pissed about not using a lens hood on the 70-200!!

6

Sports / Cricket fans - Cricket Matches in Trinidad

« on: August 22, 2012, 04:09:59 PM »

Brian Lara will come out of retirement briefly to lead a side to celebrate Trinidads 50th anniversary of Independence by playing a 3 day 2020 series at the Queens Park Oval. I will be covering the match for the organizers. Brian came out this morning to practice at the nets;

http://www.wilmark.johnatty.com/p192052217/h223ae32#h3243946

My blog about the experience:

http://www.wilmark.johnatty.com/blog

Stay tuned I will update this post with more pictures from the match this weekend. I plan to post over 2000 pictures.

7

EOS Bodies - For Stills / AF Assist for Canons 61/41 AF

« on: August 19, 2012, 04:19:35 PM »

I covered a major event in Trinidad this weekend - its called a carnival band launch, is a promotion for Mardi Gras 2013 held by all the major carnival promoters in Trinidad. It was an outdoor night amphitheater type environment where the conditions except for the main presentation are all low lighting conditions. I posted on
some of the challenges and summarized the shooting for what was my first major night event with the 5DM3 on my blog. I am amazed that you can get shots like this http://www.wilmark.johnatty.com/harts2013/h30876b03#h30876b03 at ISO25600, and there are many more at ISO25600. The biggest challenge is getting focus fast enough. Its a real pain. I wish somebody designed something to make the Canon 61/41 system perform better in dim light situations. Like a shoe mounted LED lamp. I know i can put a  full flash and just maybe use the preflash, but this makes the set up heavier. And that issue with the black squares really messes things up too. You can only get focus when there is enough character in your framing with light in it. This really hampers your ability to use the low light capabilities of the new cams. What do you do to solve this issue? Are there any commercial products?



My blog here:
http://www.wilmark.johnatty.com/blog/2012/8/harts2013NightPhotography
The galleries shot are here:
http://www.wilmark.johnatty.com/harts2013/h356af3bf#h356af3bf
you can see the carnival presentation from here:
http://www.wilmark.johnatty.com/harts2013/h88fce06#h88fce06

8

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Canon GPS Options

« on: August 16, 2012, 07:19:59 PM »

I know that the GP-E2 is available for the newer Canon bodies. I notice that there are a lot of third party options for Nikon bodies. Anyone know of inexpensive way to get gps tagging without the 250$ price tag? I have found solutions for nikon costing 40$ that looks very similar to what the gp-e2 achieves. I have tried EyeFi and I think it is a waste of time. (too small capacity, and it must be uploaded to eyefi and besides it not really GPS, it wont work where there aren't any hotspots). What are my options of i want GPS tagging in Exif, and lightroom comaptible?

9

Street & City / Carnival Street Party

« on: August 03, 2012, 03:35:08 AM »

Street Carnival in one of the biggest carnival (mardi gras) events in the world. These pictures were taken there in 2011. Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is the most significant event on the islands' cultural and tourism calendar, with numerous cultural events running in the lead up to the street parade on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

http://www.wilmark.johnatty.com/p489035842

I am interested in seeing any other Carnival/Mardi gras Events In other parts of the world and how a photographer should capture it. I was having a conversation with other photographers that lamnted that this culturally significant event was reduced to women in gstrings and a few feathers.

10

Lenses / Long Range L Choices

« on: August 01, 2012, 12:02:18 PM »

I am thinking about a long L series telephoto. My interest is action sports and birding. I am a value conscious buyer.

Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM (+teleconv)
Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4X (when it becomes available)
OR Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM (sigmonster)

I am looking for long term use and value in the purchase. I know at least one of the items in the list has not been released yet but apparently there are lot of people previewing it. How does the Sigmonster compare with the Canon L brethren? Considering that its about half the price (well OK not quite half), both from a usage standpoint (speed of focusing, weight, zoom etc) and from IQ. Which one of the Canon is the best choice, Would the 400 F2.8 + 1.4X Converter (not the zoom) be a near match for the 600mm F4? Because if its close, then the 400 F2.8 may be the better choice as it give you the 400mm F2.8 which is a sweet combo for many options, including sports. Whats your opinion? Especially if you'd had any experience with these guys? I plan to use it with a 5DMkIII in the first instance?

11

Sports / Soccer

« on: July 25, 2012, 05:37:17 PM »

Kids Soccer Training in Trinidad.

http://www.wilmark.johnatty.com/p874172859

* The main coach here is Terry Fenwick former English  National Full Back, who was well know during the Maradonna Hand of God and Goal of the Century events of World Cup 1986.

12

Pricewatch Deals / bestpricephoto.com

« on: June 18, 2012, 12:58:55 PM »

Has anyone had any experience with Bestpricephoto. They often show up in pricegrabber with lower prices for 5DMk3 and other DSLRS, they currently have the 5Dmk3 kit for 3969 w free ship, two weeks ago i saw the 60d body for less than 600$. Are they one of these sellers that pressure you to buy overpriced accessories or they cancel?

URL Removed by Admin

13

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Need a Back up Body

« on: May 30, 2012, 01:04:16 PM »

I recently sold my 7d to buy a 5D Mk3. I need to have a backup body with the type of photography i am doing (I do more event, journalistic and people type photography with some nature), and i dont know what to do. I want another FF body buy i cannot afford another 5D M3, Besides i feel canon ripped us off in terms of how expensive the 5D Mk3 is. The 5D Mk2 is an option, but i have heard so many horror stories about the focusing is that i wonder whether to wait for one of the new FF bodies we are talking about. I absolutely hate the 7D, i think it is tantamount to a 'pig' with lipstick. With the 7D i dislike its ISO performance in low light and the overall IQ and i refuse to go that rout again with  a body with that particular APC sensor for 1700$. Maybe a Rebel 2ti or 3ti? It is really a difficult time to be the owner of Canon Glass.

14

Street & City / Night Street Photography

« on: May 30, 2012, 12:51:16 PM »

Aripita Avenue, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies, The liming (partying) Capital of the Southern Caribbean

http://www.wilmark.johnatty.com/p504616586

These pictures were taken with a 5D Mk3 with no flash with the 70-200 II.

I am amazed at the ISO on these and their 'usability', and relate it to the recent review on DPR that the 5D has less than expected low light performance.

15

EOS Bodies - For Video / IPB vs ALL-I settings

« on: May 22, 2012, 03:08:11 AM »

Has anyone done any extensive comparison about choosing between these two settings other than the fact that one produces much larger files. The manual says it is easier to edit in post.