Corrupt SD Card

In the middle of an important high fashion Commercial Jewelry photo shoot, my 16gig SD card took a dump.
Not to worry, my Nikon D800 has dual memory card slots, one SD and one Compact Flash (CF) slot.

Prior to the shoot I set the camera to "back up" mode. When shooting in "back up" mode, the camera  records the images to the SD card and the CF card simultaneously, thus creating a back up copy of each shot.

Photo copyright: Michael Montgomery/Positive Image

I removed the corrupt SD card and continue shooting with only the CF card. Photo shoot saved!!!

 It would have been very frustrating, expensive and time consuming to re-schedule the shoot, have the makeup artist re-apply the makeup and have the model repeat all of the poses.

Lessen learned...If you are on an important shoot and your camera(s) have the back-up capability, use it. If your camera doesn't have the "back up" capability, consider shooting to a couple of smaller capacity cards or spreading your shoot across a "few" larger capacity cards (e.i., 50 shots on one card and 50 shots on another). That way, should a card happen to take a dump (pun intended),  you would only lose a portion of the shoot instead of having to start all over again from scratch.

Also remember, only format your cards "in camera" with the camera you're using at that time.

Do you have any ideas on preventing loss of photos from a corrupt card? Let's hear them.

Posted from my iPad Air

Are you using Model / Property Releases?

Do you use "Model" or "Property" releases? Do you post photos of Friends, Family, Acquaintances, Strangers or persons "Property" on web/media sites?

Easy Release is a Model/Property Release app for iOS, Android & Kindle devices.

Then consider this...

Creating The Perfect Photo Shoot

To create the perfect photo shoot, start by getting acquainted with the client/model prior to the shoot. Invite them to an informal coffee/lunch to take time and get familiar with each other. While you are there, ask and answer any questions pertaining to the model/client and the shoot. This allows you to break the ice, get the clients slant and offer suggestions to accomplish the shoot. To make it more personable, ask what their favorite snacks, drinks (non-alcohol) and other goodies they like and have these items on set prior to the shoot.

YouTube Video courtesy of  Matthew Jordan Smith

You've probably heard the saying "Music soothes the savage beast", well I don't know about the beast, but the use of the correct music can relax the model/client and set the mood for the shoot. e.i. romantic music for dramatic or romantic photos, hip hop for fun and active photos. (Again, ask the client what type of music they prefer?)

Prior to the end of the shoot ask the model/client if there is a certain shot that they have in mind and would like to try before the shoot is done. A lot of times those final trial shots become the winners.

The goal is to make the model/client as comfortable and relaxed with the photographer as possible. The results will show in the final images.

If you have any suggestions on how to better connect with the model/client post a comment in the comment box below.
Keep shooting!!!

Importance of "Catch Lights" and "Highlights"

I see a lot of photos where you can not see the person's eyes in the photo. Not because the eyes are not in the photo, but because there is a lack of a "catch light" in the eyes making them look blank and lifeless. I call this the "Zombie" or "Dead Eye" look. (In the movies when they want to make a person look like the walking dead, the first thing is to darken the eyes). There's a saying that "The eyes are the window to the soul" and when there's no light in the subjects eyes, the subject looses some of the life in the photo.

No Catch Light (dead)

Catch Light in eyes (life)

Why you should have Apple TV

I've been using Apple TV for about a year and I have to say that I consider it to be the best purchase for the price from Apple at $99 ($79 at Fry's Electronics on sale). It allows me to view my photos and videos on my 50" flat screens from my iPad or iPhone.

Photo courtesy of ®Apple Inc.

For the Photographer:
You'll be able to show your clients their photo-shoots or videos immediately on the large screens of your HD TV's using one of the many photo/video apps and mirror mode on the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 or greater.

For Movies or videos:
YouTube and Vimeo videos look great on the big screen. The latest Apple TV has 1080p resolution so I'm able to watch HD movies in True HD. You'll also be able to watch Netflix (Netflix also comes pre-installed on the Apple TV) as well.

For Music:
You can also listen to your music library wirelessly through any connected audio system. Instead of listening to my music through a set of ear buds, I listen to my favorite songs through a professional 700 watt audio system connected to 9 stereo speakers.

For the web:
View websites and watch streaming videos from the web on your TV.

For Podcast:
Imagine being able to watch your favorite podcast such as Kelby Training and being able to see what the instructor is selecting in the drop down menus in "Adobe Photoshop" or "Lightroom" on the big screen instead of squinting on a 4" or 10" screen.

These are a few reasons I can think of to have Apple TV. Leave me a post if you can think of any additional reasons to have an Apple TV.

Posted from my iPad

Drobo Mini

I finaly received the Drobo Mini a few of months ago after pre-ordering it back in April, 2012. It was released six months later after two prior delays in October 2012.

The Drobo Mini has USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt output ports on the rear of the unit. It also has a locking power supply jack in back. This is to prevent accidental power disconnection during data transfer to or from the drives.

My "Top 10" iPad/iPhone Photo Apps

1. Light it. (iPad)

Scott Kelby's electronic digital photography lighting magazine made exclusively for the Apple iPad® and dedicated to the use of photographic lighting whether it be Speed Lights or studio strobes. A must read for any photographer...










2. Photo Transfer. (iPhone/iPad)

Photo Transfer is my photo and video transfer app of choice. It allows me to easily download photos or videos from my iPad to my computer as well as exchange photos between my iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. It allows you to transfer photos over Wi-Fi or Blue Tooth, no cables or extra software required.

Organize your photo equipment for a shoot using the "Packing Pro" app

Here's an app that I use on every photoshoot to organize and ensure that I don't forget any equipment that is required for the shoot.

Packing Pro comes with 800 pre-loaded items from toiletries to clothing to electronic gadgets. Being fully customizable, I loaded all of my photography equipment including the weight and serial numbers of the cameras, lens, reflectors, batteries, etc.

Now prior to every shoot I start this app and select the equipment I plan to use which sometimes includes electric fans and mp3 music players. It creates a checklist of the equipment that I plan to use that I check off as I'm packing for the shoot.

I must say, I haven't forgotten any equipment or to charge my camera batteries since using this app.

P.S. It's also very good for packing for vacations/trips.....

New Touch Light Meters from Sekonic

New Light Meters from Sekonic that you control with the touch or swipe of a finger...follow this link

Why buy a Canon camera? Why buy a Nikon camera?

Why did you choose a Canon camera? Why did you choose a Nikon camera?

I'm curious to know why you chose the cameras that you use. My story starts with me buying a Canon A1 in the 80's and later a Professional Canon F1 camera (still have this one). I chose Canon at that time because I was impressed with the quality and clarity of the 35mm images that it produced. It was also the first SLR that I was introduced to by my personal friends and the photographers that I hung around with. I really enjoyed that camera and bought quite a few lenses and accessories for it.

A few years later came "auto-focus". I'm told by Canon that if I upgrade to one of their "new" (at that time) auto-focus camera's, my "manual" lens would not work (become obsolete), requiring me to not only buy a new camera, but a complete new set of lenses. That rubbed me the wrong way. So after looking at my options decided to jump ship and go with a new "Nikon" auto-focus system.

One of the reasons that I use Nikon is that all Nikon 35mm SLR and DSLR cameras past and present use the same lens mount, allowing you to continue to use your manual lenses on your auto-focus cameras, sans the auto-focus function. That was enough to convince me that my lens collection would not go out of style.

So, why did you choose the camera that you are using???

Sharing your iPhone Calendar

It's been a while but now I'm back. This time I will show how to share your iPhone Calendar between two or more people.

First, make sure that all participants have an Apple "iCloud" account which is free to set up and require iOS5 or higher.

Then log into your "iCloud" account by going to www.icloud.com and signing in using your Apple id and password.

Select the "Calendar" icon. You should see a screen similar to the screen below:

Network Access Storage - Securing your Digital Files

4 Bay D-Link / 5 Bay Drobo FS NAS Units

As of this date, I have acquired 18,000+ digital photos from various shoots, events, places and things. That’s not including the negatives and slides that I have stored in negative/slide sheets hanging in file cabinets in my office(I’m slowly getting around to scanning these slides and negatives for digital storage).

Originally, I stored the digital files on an external, 1 terabyte Western Digital Passport hard drive and never gave a second thought to the security of these files until….

New Features in Photoshop CS6

Check out this 1-hour video about some of the new features in Adobe Photoshop CS6.
"I'm loving the new features and layout. Makes photo editing fun again..." Michael - Positive Image Blog

Click here for Video

Virtual Lighting Studio

Try your hand at lighting a virtual model in this Virtual Lighting Studio.

Nik Software - Education Blog & Videos

Enhancing the Travel Image with Janice Wendt

By Janice Wendt - Nik Software | On May 15, 2012 | No Comments

Follow along as Janice Wendt, Nik Software’s trainer to the trainers, teaches you how to quickly and easily enhance travel images with timesaving techniques using a variety of Nik Software tools using Photoshop. This webinar will feature a variety of travel images and teach you how to effectively enhance buildings, skies, landscapes and more.
Click here to watch this webinar… http://education.niksoftware.com/

Turn Your iPad into a Wireless Monitor for Dual Displays

Ever wish you had an extra display for your computer? There’s an app for that! With Air Display, you can use your iPhone, iPad or Mac as a wireless display for your Mac OS X or Windows computer.

more info: http://avatron.com/apps/air-display

Triggertrap Mobile - iPhone Remote camera trigger

Triggertrap enables you to use your iPhone/iPod/iPad to trigger a camera based on lots of different things, by using the built-in sensors on your iOS device. For many of the triggering modes, you can use the camera built into your phone, but if you want the full Triggertrap experience, hook it up to your SLR camera!

click the link for more info: https://triggertrap.com/products/triggertrap-mobile/

You break it, you bought it!!!

Clumsy Photographer breaks ancient African sculpture

A Manhattan art collector says a photographer snapping pictures of her 2,630-year-old sculpture for an art magazine carelessly smashed the rare piece to bits during the photo shoot — and now she wants the publishers to pay $300,000.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/art_breaking_imo1lyGL5zNsGJ8CWTgBjN#ixzz1v3ne4jxL

645 Pro - iPhone App

 645 PRO—it feels like a pro camera. Because it is one

645 PRO has been designed, from the ground up, for professional and serious amateur photographers. So it works the way a camera works, not some piece of computer software.
Every setting is managed directly from the camera—no layers of menus to negotiate. You have instant access to everything that can be controlled, from focus/exposure and white balance locking to a 645 PRO-exclusive choice between spot and multi-zone metering.
And you have all the information you need, all the time, including a real-time ISO and shutter-speed reading and even a live histogram!

For more info or to get the iPhone App, follow this link... http://jag.gr/645/

Death Valley Photography Trip / part 1

My son and I went to Death Valley about a week ago to take photos and explore some of the unique sites in that area.

Day 1. We started at the small ghost town of Ballarat. There we photographed the town cemetary, jail house, and a building built of earth and rocks.

 

Next, we headed to the "Wildrose Charcoal Kilns" where we camped out for the night.