Some people have been asking for tips on how to do star trails. There seems to be a few misconceptions and a few different methods. Here’s a tutorial on my personal technique.
What you need:
Camera (obviously)
Remote shutter release (or duct tape… You’ll see)
Tripod
Clear skies
Adobe Bridge (optional but highly recommended), and Photoshop
Check out Robert’s website for images, workshops, webinars and more: LINK
Hey, everybody. My name is Robert Rodriguez, Jr. I’m a landscape photographer, working primarily right here in the beautiful Hudson Valley region of New York. For me as an outdoor photographer and hiker, nothing beats a great backpack for getting my gear around. I’ve used lots of backpacks from different manufacturers over my career, but for the last few years, I’ve relied exclusively on Gura Gear bags. They’re light and well designed. They’re strong, and most importantly for me, they’re really comfortable on my back and shoulders, especially when I’m carrying lots of heavy gear around. They just make my life in the field a lot easier, whether I’m carrying stuff around out here on a long hike, traveling my air, or just getting my gear from one place to another in my car.
I’ve been field-testing their latest model, the Bataflae 26L, for a few months now. I have to tell you, I really, really, really like it. It’s got some great new features over past models from Gura Gear, the most obvious one being this beautiful new color that it comes in; a nice gray. I thought I would share my thoughts and opinions, and also go over some of the key features of this bag that make it a top choice for me, and help you decide whether it’s the right bag for you.
We’re back here in my studio where it’s a little bit warmer than it was outside, thankfully. Let’s get right into it. The Bataflae bag comes in two sizes, a 26L and a 32L; ‘L’ stands for liters. The only difference, really, between the two bags is the height. The 32L is about 4 inches higher than the 26, otherwise, same width and same depth. It really depends on your personal preference, how much gear you want to carry. For me, the 26L kind of fit the sweet spot between the size, the weight when it’s loaded, and how it
Invented in the early 1970′s by cameraman Garrett Brown, the Steadicam has become a staple in the world of motion pictures. But given how frequently it’s used, most of us have lost appreciation for the true impact the camera stabilizer has made.
Ever been in this situation? You ask someone a question. They answer. Yet, something about their body language leads you to suspect something is, well… off. The fact is that is it much easier for a person to provide you with an answer they think you will want to hear than to hide their body language.
This is not to suggest that people lie. Rather, it highlights the differential in what someone speaks and what someone’s body language indicates. One is more telling than the other.
Rain Covers can protect your gear from all the elements—not just rain! Mother nature throws all kinds of corrosive material at your gear: sand, salt spray, snow and dust to name a few. Think about how dirty your clothes were the last time you shot near the water or in a dusty field. That same stuff that made your clothes dirty is on your gear!
Your choice of rain covers is all over the board, both in price and in sizes. From $5 plastic disposable covers to high tech solutions running several hundred dollars, it might be overwhelming as to which one to choose.
Photo contests/shows are part of any photographer’s journey. Another stage as they hone their craft. For many, it is a wonderful foray into learning how to show your work. It’s also an opportunity to learn about honest perception from strangers.
It is not always easy. Many times, it can be quite eye opening. Your experiences from this will be invaluable to you going forward.
Understanding perception is important. It is a topic I will cover in a future post. This post focuses on lessons that must be mastered before we get to perception. This is the lesson of dealing with rejection.
There are a few traps that we photographers fall into at times that hinder our creativity. Perhaps the main trap often encountered is following rules especially when it comes to composition.
The four main rules most often considered are the rule of thirds, reading an image from left to right, avoiding having the horizon centered and finally, not putting the center of interest in the center of the image. All are valid, however if you disregard these rules and the image in the end, “works”, is not the image a valid one?
Most macro photographers would walk right by this great opportunity and not see the artwork waiting there for you. Here are two images of a small tree and a branch that has fallen during some high winds. I find these a lot where I shoot and always check any interesting combinations of dying leaves. Love the way they curl as they go through the dying stage.
Ice, Hudson River / Canon 60D, 0.5 sec @f/18, 17mm, ISO 100
A very familiar location, but always enlightening to realize how infinitely variable it can be. Whether composition, light, mood, feel, or most importantly my own willingness to see these things clearly. That for me has become the biggest challenge, as well as the most rewarding aspect of landscape photography, especially in familiar locations. The willingness to be open to the moment, and see more than what is apparent at first.
For this week’s Podcast, I’ve put together a quick video to show you the new Gura Gear Bataflae 32L camera bag. As a long time user of the Kiboko bag, I’m happy to say that the Bataflae actually improves on perfection. Anyway, links are below, but here’s the video. Don’t forget to select the HD version under the cog-wheel in the video settings and go full screen!