Posts | Dan Bailey's Adventure Photography Blog

Camera Gear, Reviews and Recommendations

Fujifilm Unveils the GFX Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

After “winning” PhotoKina last fall with their big announcement, Fujifilm has officially skipped right over full frame and as they unveil the first medium format mirrorless camera, the GFX 50S camera system.

With a 51.4MP CMOS sensor that measures 43.8 X 32.9mm, the GFX is designed to produce the highest level image quality in a comparatively small and portable body that’s designed around the distinct Fuij vibe and the same X Processor Pro image processing engine found in both the X-T2 and X-Pro2.

This is huge. And yet it’s not. Given the size of the sensor and the very high resolution that this camera will produce, it’s not as big as you might expect it to be. In fact, it’s really not much bigger than a Canon 5DS R, and people lug those things everywhere.

Designed for professionals and photographers who want the best possible image quality, the Fujifilm GFX is sure to appeal to studio photographers, high-end portrait and wedding shooters, and I also see it appealing to landscape photographers as well.

Again, I see a bunch of existing Canon 5DS R shooters stopping to take a serious look at this camera. You know, the people who are totally intrigued by the Fuji X Series cameras, but who just can’t pull the trigger on the X-T2 because it’s not full frame. They just can’t get past APS-C; now they don’t have to.

Fujifilm has unveiled three lenses for the GFX camera system, a 34-64mm f/4, which will be your standard semi-wide to mid range zoom lens, a 63mm f/2.8, which is the equivalent of a full frame 50mm lens, be a and a 120mm f/4 short telephoto.

In addition, Fuji has also announced a 110 f/2, which will be close to a full frame 90mm, an ultra wide 23mm f/4, (equivalent to a full frame 18mm), and a 45mm f/2.8 (equivalent to a classic 35mm photojournalism lens.)

So is this thing ideal for outdoor and travel photography? Possibly. As I said, there are plenty of photographers who carry heavy, full frame DSLRs everywhere, so size and weight are just not a factor for everyone.

And of course, there are plenty of medium format landscape photographers who like what they see in the X Series, especially the color reproduction that Fuji does so well with their film simulations. These might even be people who actually shot sheets of medium format Fuji film back in the day, and who might really love shooting Velvia and Astia.

Either way, the GFX 50S is a bold and exciting move for Fujifilm. They’ve clearly demonstrated that they haven’t forgotten about professional and commercial photographers who demand maximum resolution. For them, the GFX will offer incredible image quality, extraordinary dynamic range and gorgeous tonal rendition with smooth gradation across the spectrum.

It’s a very exciting time to be a photographer, isn’t it?

The GFX 50S camera and all six lenses will be available soon-stay tuned for an exact date. See the full list of specs and more photos of the system here.

January 19, 2017

Fujifilm Unveils the GFX Medium Format Mirrorless Camera

Adventures with Dan, Featured Images

Magical Fat Tire Snow Biking Photo Shoot

After three dismal, icy winters, we finally got a good one here in Southcentral, Alaska- much to the excitement of pretty much EVERYONE who lives here.

Last week was particularly wonderful, with a mix of clear, cold weather, snow and ice fog, we had a stunning accumulation of hoar frost, rime ice and snow all piled on top of each other on just about every surface in town.

The trees looked absolutely gorgeous. It was like magic. People were saying that all the branches, sticks and twigs looked like big white Cheetos.

I’d been getting out and shooting some landscapes, but I really wanted to capture an awesome snow biking image in these unbelievably amazing conditions.

I knew I couldn’t wait, because you never know what the weather will do from one day to the next. One good gust of wind and all that hoar frost will be gone, just like that. Or else you’ll get a cloudy afternoon and the light won’t be very good.

As a photographer, you have to take advantage of those great conditions when they happen.

So, last Thursday, we brushed off the bikes and pedaled out on the trails. It was 7 degrees F when we left. Taking off from the house at around 2:30PM, we only had about an hour of good light left, so we made the most of our time and rode to a large open area about a mile from the house.

When we got to the frozen swap, everything looked awesome. The trees were all covered in white magic, and the light was really ice. It was almost visual overload.

It was the kind of scenario where I had an idea of what I wanted to show, but it took awhile to bring those ideas to life.

Obviously, my three main elements were the frost covered trees and the snow biker, but it was a challenge to show them in the best way and narrow down everything into a tight compelling frame.

I played around with different lenses and compositions, and although I was pretty excited about each of my scenes, I didn’t want to settle for “really good,” I wanted “awesome.”

Just after 3:00PM, as the sun was quickly dropping behind the trees, I saw what I was looking for: A backlit section of snow covered trees, lit by golden sun, with nothing but snow and frost all around it. That was it. That as my magic scene.

Looking through the telephoto, I was able to isolate that small section of terrain to compress the background and maximize the stunning visual impact of the scene. I had my biking model ride back and forth through this section along the trail as I shot frame after frame until the light faded. Then I put the camera away and we rode a nice 20-mile loop, finishing in the dark.

This is the kind of scene you crave as an outdoor adventure photographer. I’ve never seen it so thick and snowy like it was last week, and I’m so glad I got out and shot in these conditions, because the next day, a new storm rolled in with overcast skies and blew all the frost off.

So, moral of the story- when the conditions are great, bundle up, grab your camera and head outside!

January 17, 2017

Magical Fat Tire Snow Biking Photo Shoot

Camera Gear, Reviews and Recommendations

The 10 Most Popular Lenses for the Fujifilm X Series Cameras

In just a few years, Fujifilm has built an incredible line of lenses for their popular X Series cameras. Of course, Fuji is known for producing excellent quality glass. In addition to making their own lenses, they’ve been manufacturing lenses for a variety of high-end professional applications for many years, including TV, film, and NASA, and even for other camera companies.

Many X Series photographers rave about the Fuji primes, which are all incredibly sharp, but their zooms are also excellent, and most of them feature superb image quality and highly advanced optical image stabilization. The OIS is so good on most of their zooms that you can hand hold them at surprisingly low shutter speeds, sometimes down into the single digits.

So which Fuji lenses are the best? That’s a very subjective question. Everyone has their favorites, just as everyone has their own style of shooting. (Here are my 4 favorite lenses in the lineup.) I’ve used most of the X Series lenses, and I can attest to their performance and build quality. And they’re really fun to use.

Here’s a list of the 10 best selling lenses for the X Series cameras. Keep in mind, this is just want people are buying right now, and we shouldn’t forget about the incredible workhorse 50-140mm f/2.8 lens. Note, that a one of them is actually a third party lens. If you’re a Fuji user, you’ll want to download my free PDF guide to the X Series: FUJIFILM Tips and Tricks: My 10 Favorite Settings for the X Series Cameras.

If you’d like to see all of the lenses made for the Fuji X Series, go here.

1. XF35mm f/2 WR

I LOVE the sexy little 35mm f/2 from Fuji, and I use it all the time on my X-T2 and X-T1. It’s got a classic design that’s very similar to the old Leica Summincron lenses. It’s super sharp and extremely usable for just about any subject matter. Think of this as the Nifty Fifty for your X Series camera. It’s also the smallest and least expensive X Series lens. Also comes in silver, to match your Graphite Silver Fuji. Read 10 reasons why I love the XF35mm f/2 lens.

2. XF23mm f/2 WR

If the XF35mm f/2 above is the Fuji version of the Nifty Fifty, the XF23mm f/2 WR is the Fuji version of the classic 35mm photojournalism lens. It has the same design as the 35 f/2, but with a slightly wider focal length and it’s also tiny. If you’re looking for a completely unobtrusive, ultra compact lens for travel, street photography and environment portraits, this one’s for you. Also comes in silver. Read more about this lens here.

3. Rokinon 12mm f/2.0

The Rokinon 12mm f/2 is a favorite among the night photography crowd. With its wide focal length and fast aperture, it’s the go-to lens of choice many X Series users who like to shoot star trails, the Milky Way and the northern lights. It’s manual focus, but for astrophotography, who cares. It’s almost easier that way.

4. XF16mm f1.4 WR

The XF16mm f/1.4 is a fantastic wide angle prime with a weather sealed design and an ultra fast f/1.4 aperture. It also has extremely close focusing capabilities. This lets you really accentuate your subject and still show the background. Many photographers also use the 16mm f/1.4 for night photography as well. If you’re looking for a killer wide angle prime, the 16 is an awesome choice.

5. XF56mm f/1.2

The Fujifim 56 1.2 is a really special lens. Replicating the focal length of a classic 85mm lens, this is an absolutely amazing portrait lens. It produces an extremely shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh effects. This is a first choice lens for portrait and wedding shooters everywhere. I’ve used the 56 quite a bit and I can attest to it’s totally yummy image quality. I actually love shooting landscapes and mountain aerials with it too.

6. XF10-24mm f4 OIS

The 10-24 is Fuji’s widest lens to date. It’s awesome for interiors and architecture, travel and landscapes. With a focal length that’s equivalent to a full frame 15-32, it offers great versatility. Zoom all the way out to 24mm, and you’ve hit that sweet spot for environmental portraits, street photography and photojournalism. This lens by itself would get the job done for all of your wide shooting needs. People love the 10-24; you can read some user reviews here.

7. XF16-55mm f/2.8 WR

The XF16-55mm f/2.8 is Fuji’s version of the classic 28-70mm f/2.8 lens. If you were a former Nikon or Canon shooter and had a 24-70 2.8, then you’ll probably want this one in your arsenal for assignments, weddings and other pro jobs. It’s a little bigger and heavier than most of the primes, but it’s awesome lens that covers the entire middle range with incredible sharpness and gorgeous image quality. One of Fuji’s “Red Badge” zooms, this one is pro all the way to the bank.

8. XF35mm f/1.4

As awesome as the new XF35mm f/2 WR lens is, there are many X Series shooters who still LOVE the older XF35mm f/1.4. The autofocus motor is a little slower and clunker, and it’s not weather sealed but it’s a superbly sharp and extremely fast f/1.4 lens. Think gorgeous bokeh and extremely shallow depth of field for portrait work and other stylized subject matter. This was one of the first 3 lenses that Fuji created for the X Series and it’s a true classic in every way. Read some user reviews here.

9. XF23mm f/1.4

Same with this one. The original 23mm f/1.4 is a truly wonderful lens. It’s said to be one of the sharpest lenses that Fuji has ever made. It’s like the classic 35mm f/1.4, which has long been considered the photojournalist’s dream lens. I have this lens and I LOVE it. It’s the reason I haven’t gotten the new 23 f/2. I just dig my 23 f/1.4 so much, I can’t bear to replace it or even get a somewhat redundant lens. You might fall in love with this one too. Here’s my first look review of the 23 f/1.4.

10. XF18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 WR OIS

The XF18-135mm WR was Fuji’s first weather sealed lens. It covers a very useful and wide range, and it’s a pretty good performer, given that it’s considered a “kit lens.” I’ve used this one quite a bit and I find it to be very sharp, especially up close. It also has a very fast and quiet autofocus motor, so it’s good for sports and action, although I use it for just about everything. If you’re looking for an all-in-one zoom lens for your X Series camera, you can’t really go wrong with this one. Here’s my full review of the XF18-135mm WR lens.

Very Special Mention – The XF90mm f/2 WR

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the supremely awesome XF 90mm f/2. It could very well be their sharpest glass. Replicating the classic 135mm f/2 lenses of old, the Fujifilm 90 is a truly awesome lens. Even though I have some of the other more expensive Fuji zooms, I love the combination of weather sealing, fast f/2 aperture, razor sharp image quality and relatively compact design on this lens. Awesome for portraits, awesome for travel, awesome for isolating subject matter at close to medium distances. Awesome all around. Here’s my full review of the XF90mm f/2 lens.

Your reviews on Fujinon lenses had helped me on my choices in purchasing the most optimum lenses.

Badrul

January 10, 2017

Camera Gear, Reviews and Recommendations

10 Highly Recommended DSLR Lenses

Cameras come and go, but good glass is forever. More than any other piece of gear, lenses determine how your photos look. As a photographer, they’re your eyes to the world, and they’re the most important tools that help define your style.

You probably have a favorite lens- we all do. That one lens that gets used more than any other piece of glass in your kit. The one you’ve used to make some of your favorite images. Here are my favorite focal lengths. There’s something really cool about having that tried and true piece of photography gear that you know so well.

At the same time, it’s always great to expand the kit. After all, photographers love to buy gear. And there’s nothing wrong spending a few bucks on your hobby- your passion. If you’re looking to upgrade to a new lens or want to try out a new focal length, check out the glass on this list. To help you out, I’ve gone through the best selling lists and pulled out the essential lenses I think are worth considering

1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Back in the day, everyone started with a 50mm lens. With the advent of kit zooms, that trend has waned in recent years, so it’s good to see that people are buying fixed 50mm lenses again. Everyone should have a 50, or a 50mm equivalent. They’re fast, light, compact and they’re superb for portraits. Plus, they replicate how our own eyes see. For a single walk-around lens, you can’t beat a 50. Nikon has a 50mm f/1.8 as well.

[iframe]<iframe width=”120″ scrolling=”no” height=”240″ frameborder=”0″ style=”border:none;” border=”0″ src=”http://mer54715.datafeedfile.com/widget/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=6746&aff_net=1&widget_num=7618&sid=” marginheight=”0″ marginwidth=”0″></iframe><iframe style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=danhbaisadvph-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00X8MRBCW&asins=B00X8MRBCW&linkId=625ac61e9c27bd1b4c8a3b4bad979bb0&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe><iframe style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=danhbaisadvph-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B013TCJ9WA&asins=B013TCJ9WA&linkId=95ed95cf8127a47e1257b5bc1e026edf&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe>[/iframe]

2. Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G

As I said, everyone should have a 50mm equivalent lens, and if you shoot Nikon DX cameras, this is the one for you. The 35mm focal length gives you that classic 50mm angle of view that closely matches what you see with your own eyes. Up close, they have a very shallow depth of field, so they’re great for close portraits, and since they’re fast, their ideal for low light and travel.

3. Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

Ultra wide angle zooms are very popular and for good reason: They’re ideal for shooting landscapes, and with good image stabilization, they work extremely well for shooting travel and interiors, especially under low light.

The Canon EF-S 10-18 is a reasonably inexpensive lens that gives you excellent performance and versatility on your crop sensor EOS camera. The OIS gives you up to 4 stops of stabilization and enhanced lens coatings help reduce flare and chromoatic aberration. All in all, this a quick and quiet lens that will give you a wide range of creative options.

4. Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

You can never go wrong with a fast 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens, but those f/2.8 models are pretty darn expensive. For most people two grand is just out of they budget. If you can swing a single grand, though, the f/4 versions offer excellent performance for shooting wildlife, sports, distant nature and portraits, all as assignments. The Canon 70-200mm f/4L is an lens that you’ll truly love if you’re wiling to spend the money. Nikon has their own version, the 70-200mm f/4VR lens.

[iframe]<iframe width=”120″ scrolling=”no” height=”240″ frameborder=”0″ style=”border:none;” border=”0″ src=”http://mer54715.datafeedfile.com/widget/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=6746&aff_net=1&widget_num=7621&sid=” marginheight=”0″ marginwidth=”0″></iframe><iframe width=”120″ scrolling=”no” height=”240″ frameborder=”0″ style=”border:none;” border=”0″ src=”http://mer54715.datafeedfile.com/widget/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=6746&aff_net=1&widget_num=7622&sid=” marginheight=”0″ marginwidth=”0″></iframe><iframe style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=danhbaisadvph-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00009XVCZ&asins=B00009XVCZ&linkId=503ed57b2dc2de18675154468803f32e&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe><iframe style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=danhbaisadvph-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B009VZOK0Q&asins=B009VZOK0Q&linkId=fa515471d7d66a62882c8fffdd4793a6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe>[/iframe]

5. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto

If you love shallow depth of field effects and shooting portrait, then an 85 is an absolutely essential lens for you. I had a Nikon 85mm f/1.8 for years and now I have the 90m f/2, and I love the look that this kind of short telephoto gives. In fact, I consider my short teles to be among my favorite lens of all time. They’re extremely sharp, relatively compact and produce wonderful imagery. All I can say is get one- you’ll fall in love with it. I promise. What it lacks in variable focal length, it will make up a hundred times over in sharpness and image quality over a cheap kit zoom lens. Here’s the Nikon version.

[iframe]<iframe width=”120″ scrolling=”no” height=”240″ frameborder=”0″ style=”border:none;” border=”0″ src=”http://mer54715.datafeedfile.com/widget/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=6746&aff_net=1&widget_num=7623&sid=” marginheight=”0″ marginwidth=”0″></iframe><iframe style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=danhbaisadvph-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00007GQLU&asins=B00007GQLU&linkId=d25253af2efa1ef7901898278a7f79c4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe><iframe style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=danhbaisadvph-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B006TAP096&asins=B006TAP096&linkId=455df39fc50e53318fa2daaec1d63e1f&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe>[/iframe]

6. Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 ED IF VR

We’d all like to have a super fast f/2.8 telephoto zoom, but those things are expensive and they’re heavy. Nikon’s 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 offers very good performance for a reasonable price. The AF-S autofocus is very fast, the VR give you excellent stabilization and the 300mm focal length gives you a long throw when you’re shooting sports, wildlife, nature or distant subject matter. Overall, this is a really good lens that will greatly expand your creative options without breaking the bank. Definitely make sure you get the VR version, though.

7. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS Zoom Lens

Sigma makes some very nice lenses and this is a real winner. With a fast, fixed f/2.8 aperture, the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 is available for Nikon, Canon, Sony and Pentax mounts, and it makes for an excellent all around lens. It has a sturdy build, fast autofocus, and a useful zoom range that makes it ideal for everything from landscapes, portraits, astrophotography, and shooting intimate travel photos. Given its f/2.8 speed, I’d go for this one over the slower 18-55mm lenses that most companies make.

8. Canon 17-40mm f/4L USM

If you’re a Canon shooter and are looking for a top notch landscape lens, this would be a great choice. With a close focusing distance of only .9 feet, this lets you get those classic, sharp foreground-to-backgrond landscapes compositions that wide angle lenses offer. At the other end of the range, the 40mm focal length is ideal for environmental portraits. The Canon 17-40mm f/4L USM lens is also weather resistant, which adds to its appeal as a versatile outdoor photography lens.

9. Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX

Tokina also makes some very good glass. I had a Tokina 17mm f/3.5 for years, and I loved it. I also beat the heck out if it and it held up quite well to my abuse. The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX lens offers excellent performance for the price. I like it because it’s wider than most mid range zooms and it has a fixed f/2.8 aperture, which makes it ideal for shooting star trails, northern lights and other night photography scenes. In fact, it’s rated an an excellent astrophotography lens. Overall, this a superb wide angle zoom that gets consistent good marks from people who use it.

10. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 macro USM

This is a fantastic lens. Killer glass for portraits, great for travel and the macro lets you bring those very small subjects to life in a big way. Some photographers consider this to be one of the best, sharpest, most useful lenses that they own. With superb edge-to-edge sharpness, optical image stabilization, and true macro capabilities, this offers serious performance at a really good price. Period. If you’re a Nikon shooter, I’d highly recommend the Tokina AT-X 100mm f/2.8 Pro D Macro lens. It will give you similar performance at less than half the price of the comparable Nikon version.

[iframe]<iframe width=”120″ scrolling=”no” height=”240″ frameborder=”0″ style=”border:none;” border=”0″ src=”http://mer54715.datafeedfile.com/widget/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=6746&aff_net=1&widget_num=7628&sid=” marginheight=”0″ marginwidth=”0″></iframe><iframe width=”120″ scrolling=”no” height=”240″ frameborder=”0″ style=”border:none;” border=”0″ src=”http://mer54715.datafeedfile.com/widget/aff_widget_prdt_generate-2.0.php?aff_num=6746&aff_net=1&widget_num=7629&sid=” marginheight=”0″ marginwidth=”0″></iframe><iframe style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=danhbaisadvph-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00004XOM3&asins=B00004XOM3&linkId=cf583a7b989affe3ae0c09d40a178c7a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe><iframe style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=danhbaisadvph-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B000CMNL52&asins=B000CMNL52&linkId=dfcebddaed779e8b340b78554cb9391f&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe>[/iframe]

January 9, 2017

10 Highly Recommended DSLR Lenses

Personal and Pro Insight

Learn Something New About Your Camera Today

You might not be surprised to hear this, but your camera is smarter than you.

That’s right. Modern cameras are more powerful than the original Cray Super Computer, and they’re have more buttons, dials and menu items than just about everything, except maybe your TV Remote. And a Boeing 747.

It’s no wonder that today’s new-fangled cameras confuse the heck out of most mortals. Despite the fact that they’re packed with tons of features, I meet so many photographers who pretty much keep their cameras on auto all the time, scared to delve into that utterly frightening territory outside of the Little Green Box mode.

Believe me, I totally get it. As someone who teaches photography, I think that many of today’s cameras are WAY more complicated than they need to be, at least when it comes to design and ergonomics.

Camera manufactures are to blame for this, and they don’t help with their horrendously worded, poorly translated manuals. Seriously, who enjoys reading these things?

However, it’s time for you to take control of your camera.

I lied when I said that thing above. Your camera is not smarter than you, it just has more buttons. Don’t think of it as complicated, instead look at it as a device that offers tremendous creative control.

That little black box has all the tools you need to create fantastic photographs of whatever subject you like to shoot. How awesome is that?

Sure, more expensive cameras have more cool features, but you aren’t using most of them anyway, so what does it matter?

Begin the new year/month/week by learning something new about your camera. Pick a single feature that you’ve never used before and learn what it does.

If you don’t want to read the manual, Google it. If you’re a Fuji X Series user, you’ll want to check out my free Fujifilm Tips and Tricks Guide. If you’re a total beginner, I recommend checking out Digital Photography School’s Photo Nuts and Bolts Guidebook. Or take my online video course.

Then, go out and practice. Experiment and see how to use that feature in real world applications. Figure out how it can help you capture a certain type of subject more effectively and expand the scope of your imagery,

The more you know about your camera, the better (less frustrated) photographer you will become. Isn’t that worth a few minutes of your day each month?

So learn one new thing today. Then learn another new thing next week. And so on. Think how much you’ll advance by the time summer comes.

Good luck and have fun.

January 5, 2017

Learn Something New About Your Camera Today

Books, Creative Tips

Read an Excerpt of My Outdoor Action and Adventure Photography Book

If you want to go deeper and expand your photography skills, you’ll want to take a serious look at my Outdoor Action and Adventure Photography book. In fact, you can read an excerpt of the book here.

Published by Focal Press, it’s a 300-page, highly detailed manual that encompasses over 20 years of knowledge, experience and insight I’ve gained as a professional adventure and action photographer.

In other words, it’s everything I know on the subject, at least up to the point when it was published.

It contains a wealth of information that will help you become a vastly better outdoor photographer, even if you don’t necessarily shoot action and adventure sports like rock climbing, skiing or mountain biking.

Much more than being an instruction manual about how to shoot certain types of subject matter, it’s about how to become a more proficient shooter, regardless of what you like to point your camera at.

We all want to be quicker with our cameras, better at reading the light and more technically adept when it comes to understanding how to adjust your camera and manipulate the controls, and this book shows you how to do that.

The thing is, when the light is great and you’re trying to capture a magical moment, the same skills apply, no matter if you’re shooting a downhill biker racing towards you at close to mach speed, a compelling environmental outdoor portrait of your friend, your totally erratic toddler children or grandchildren, the quickly fading light on a spectacular landscape, or your happy and excited golden retriever out on the trails on a summer evening.

At that point, subject is irrelevant. You either nail the shot or you don’t. And if you succeed, it feels great, doesn’t it? You want to maximize that kind of success with your camera.

I pride myself on being a technically proficient photographer who can respond to any situation in the blink of an eye. At least that’s what I strive for, and over the years I’ve gotten pretty darn good at the whole camera thing, largely because I’ve shot so much action and adventure.

In other words, I’ve gotten good at this craft, because I’ve spent so much time photographing subjects that are fast breaking, often unpredictable, and that usually require quick thinking and second-nature execution when it comes to my camera settings.

That’s the message I put into my book. I want my readers to be able to react to those fleeting instances without even thinking. I want you to be able to nail those magical convergences of light, moment and background every time, or at least most of the time.

As I always say, I love photography and I love when other people love photography as well. Capturing a killer shot feels as good for you as it does for me. We’re all the same in that regard.

Let me help you be the best, most proficient photographer you can be. Read the first few pages of my book and see what you think. Also, check out the reviews on Amazon and see what other readers have to say.

The print version looks and feels awesome in your hands, but of course, the Kindle version is easy to take with you and read anywhere, on any device. And it costs less than 20 bucks. That’s one lunch. Brown bag if for one day and you’ve already saved enough money to trade for a huge amount of photography insight that is guaranteed to make you a better photographer.

As always, feel free to contact me or find me on social media if you have any questions about it or about outdoor photography in general.

Thanks – Dan

[iframe]<iframe style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=danhbaisadvph-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00W509XY2&asins=B00W509XY2&linkId=4993d6436649607d9c36dc6c9683fb92&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe><iframe style=”width:120px;height:240px;” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ src=”//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=danbaiphoblo-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=041573424X&asins=041573424X&linkId=452ca10d463ebd09311b3594b8616548&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true”></iframe>[/iframe]

January 3, 2017

Read an Excerpt of My Outdoor Action and Adventure Photography Book

Featured Images, Personal and Pro Insight, Reviews and Recommendations

My 5 Favorite Blog Posts I Wrote in 2016

Here we are at the end of 2016. Seems like it went by pretty quickly. Maybe because I was so busy. Maybe it’s just because I’m getting older. Time should pass at an increasingly slower rate as you climb in age. I’m sure we all wish this were the case. Who can we talk to about that?

2016 was another big year of blogging for me, in fact it was my most successful year ever. This path has grown to be a significant aspect of my business and during the past year, I hit two tremendous milestones.

In the middle of August, I hit my 2 millionth page view, and in September, this site was awarded as one top 100 photography blogs on the web. That was an enormous achievement for me, because I’ve poured my heart and soul into this.

I love sharing my imagery and insight in this format, and I love how blogging lets me combine my photography with my passion for writing and helping other photographers improve and achieve success with their own work.

Whether it’s recommending gear or helping fellow Fuji users get the most out of the equipment, posting creative tips, encouraging other photographers to think about their craft in new ways, inspiring people to get out there and explore with their cameras, or just entertaining you guys with my adventures stories photography from afar, blogging has brought me tremendous success and personal fulfillment.

A Big Thanks to My Readers!

I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to you, my readers, because you are the ones who make this site what it is. You’re the ones who read and comment on my posts, give me your feedback on email and social media and keep me motivated to continue every week. Thanks so much for your support.

I’d like to close out 2016 by sharing a few of my favorite blog posts from the past year. These aren’t necessarily the most popular posts, but the ones I enjoyed writing the most, that I’m most proud of. There’s a lot more in the archive, and you could spend days of valuable desk time going through the stuff I’ve written over the year, but for now, here are my 5 favorite blog posts from 2016.

Enjoy, and keep in touch through 2017!

1. My Fujifilm X-T2 Review

The Fujifilm X-T2 was a breakthrough camera. Announced in early July, it showed that today’s mirrorless cameras are truly on par with high-end DSLRs with regards to performance and image quality. In DPReview’s 2016 Photography Awards, they ranked the X-T2 in a VERY close second place behind the Nikon D500 for Best Interchangeable Lens Camera of the Year, well ahead of all the other cameras in the running.

That’s HUGE, considering that Nikon has set a very high bar for cameras during the past 80 years, and Fujifilm introduced the X Series line just five years ago.

As an X Photographer, I put the X-T2 through extensive testing during the spring and early summer. My full review post, which was ranked as one of the best X-T2 reviews, was a detailed writeup of the camera’s performance capabilities, and full of example images that spoke for themselves. As an action, adventure photographer, I put the camera through real-world tests so that my review would be mostly about how well the camera does in outdoor photography situations, instead of just writing a PR piece.

2. Photographing the Amazing Action of Cyclocross

I LOVE racing cyclocross and I love cyclocross. To me, it’s an ideal sport to practice action photography techniques. I also love the fact that when I’m shooting the Anchorage races, I’m really just taking pictures of all my friends and making them look like (suffering) heroes!

I was extremely pleased with some of the photos I shot during this years cross season, and they showed me that even though I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, I continue to improve as a photographer. As I often try to do in my blog posts, my cyclocross post was an enjoyable way for me to share both my images an excitement, and a little bit of history about the sport.

2. Happy 69th Birthday to my Little Yellow Cessna 120

This past April, my little yellow Cessna turned 69 years old. I took her out flying on her birthday, but not until I wrote a birthday blog post to commemorate her special day, the adventures we’ve had and her history it the world of general aviation.

I always love throwing a little bit of history in my blog posts, and in the process of teaching my readers a little something extra about the topic I’m writing about, and hopefully transporting them to a different place, I always learn a few new things myself. Win win, all the way around! I hope you like this one!

4. Being Self Critical Within Your Creative Process

With many of my blog posts, I’m usually writing them for myself, as much as I am for you guys. I struggle with the same kinds of creative and technical blocks as everyone, just in different ways. I’m especially prone to these creative struggles with music, so I often write from that perspective and then apply them to photography.

This post was all about how to manage the four hats we all wear in our creative process– The Explorer, The Artist, The Judge and The Warrior. I got this concept from a book I read many years ago, and I always some back to it. I hope it helps you look at your own creativity in a different way.

5. Modern Cameras are Just Too Damn Complicated!

I wrote this one after teaching an intro photography class back in January. Everyone in the class had brand new cameras, and they were all totally mystified by the dizzying number of controls, buttons, dials and menu items.

Even though I had sent out a pre-class worksheet that was designed to familiarize people with the primary adjustments, like aperture, shutter speed and ISO, they were all still clueless.

However, my rant… I mean blog post, wasn’t so much directed at them, it was a comment on how camera manufacturers do such a disservice to beginners by making cameras too hard to understand.

Basic photography is largely about understand light and the relationship between shutter speed, aperture and ISO, but this is a pretty hard thing to grasp when you’re looking at a little computer box that has 35 controls and 100 menu items.

My goal with this post was to help new photographers learn what to look for when buying a new camera. Have fun reading it and be sure to spend many hours digging through the archives, because there are 11 years worth of treasures to find in there!

Happy New Year!

-Dan

December 30, 2016

My 5 Favorite Blog Posts I Wrote in 2016

Interviews, Press, Interviews and Info

X-Pert Interview on 53mm – Why I Love the Fuji XF35mm f/2 Lens

I was recently interviewed by the website 53mm, about why I love the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 WR lens. The article features a number of images and insight from my experience using the sweet little 35 f/2.

53mm, or fiftythreemm.com, is a fan site devoted to the two 35mm lenses that Fuji makes, and it’s called 53mm because that’s the effective angle of view those lenses when you factor in the 35mm focal length on an APS-C sensor.

This is very close to the traditional 50mm view that many photographers started out with back in the days of film. The classic “Nifty Fifty,” as it’s often called, produces a highly versatile view angle that’s close to the angle of human vision, which is why it can be used with great results when shooting a wide range of genres and styles.

There’s a reason that these were very popular lenses back in the days of manual cameras, and it’s a shame that most camera manufacturers pair their entry-level cameras with lower quality kit zoom lenses these days. It would be nice to see them offer Nifty Fifty kits.

With the popularity of the two Fuji 35mm lenses, the older 1.4 version and the newer weather sealed f/2, it’s nice to see so many Fuji shooters embrace this classic focal length. I’d love to see Fuji come out with an X-T2/35mm f/2 bundle kit.

fifythreemm.com and the accompanying 53mm Instagram feed celebrates this traditional look. Run by a UK photographer named Iian, aims to inspire and share how much can be done with this simple focal length.

Even if you’re not a Fuji shooter, you should check out the site, because the Nifty Fifty look is universal. No matter what camera brand you use, if you don’t have a fixed 50mm equivalent lens, I highly recommend getting one- they’re usually quite small, light and inexpensive, and of course, they’re extremely versatile.

Embrace classic. Get a 50. Anyway, enjoy reading my interview and check out my recent post to see 10 more reasons why I love the sweet little Fuji 35 f/2 lens. Also, check read this post to see how to get the most out of your Nifty Fifty style lens.

In love with this magical forest😜💕 #tree_magic #rsa_naturepics #fujifilmcz #divine_forest #fujifeed #bestshotz_tree #ig_shotz_trees #_53mm_ #rural_love #royalsnappingartists #bns_trees #tree_captures #vzcomood #splendid_shotz #nature_brilliance #hugs_for_trees #ig_countryside #fotocatchers #fingerprintofgod #loves_united_trees #gottalove_a_ #tree_brilliance #nature_perfection #igrefined #rsa_nature #ig_myshot #master_gallery #shotzdelight #moodynature #moodygrams

A photo posted by Jiří Krejčí (@krejir) on Dec 28, 2016 at 11:08am PST

December 29, 2016

X-Pert Interview on 53mm – Why I Love the Fuji XF35mm f/2 Lens

Media

Happy Merry Holidays, Everyone!

[iframe]<iframe width=”100%” height=”450″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”no” src=”https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/299194701&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true”></iframe>[/iframe]

I’d like to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and good tidings to you and your family this holiday season. I hope you’re enjoying time with loved ones wherever you are in the world.

To celebrate this year, I wrote and recorded a fun rock and roll Christmas song. Having graduated with a music production degree, it’s about time I put my college education to good use, right? 😀

The song is called “Santa, What’s in Your Bag,” and you can either stream it here or listen to it on Soundcloud if your browser won’t play it in this page. That’s me on guitar, bass and vocals. For the drums, I used the smart drummer loops in Logic Pro.

Enjoy the song, be sure to play it over and over for your friends and family, and share it with everyone you know. Maybe I can knock that Mariah Carey song from the top of the Christmas Charts.

Have a great holiday!

Take care, -Dan

December 24, 2016

Happy Merry Holidays, Everyone!

Reviews and Recommendations

10 Holiday Wish List Items for Photographers

It’s that time of year, and even though the big holidays are quickly approaching, there’s still time to make a wish list for the stuff you know you want… or stuff you didn’t know you want.

If you’re hard pressed to think of some cool stuff, here ere are 10 things for your photography holiday wish list, whether it’s for you or a fellow photographer friend or family member. And I don’t mean stuff like lens mugs, I’m taking stuff you can really use!

1. The Creative Fight, by Chris Orwig

I read through Chris Orwig’s latest book, The Creative Fight recently, and I loved it!

The full title is The Creative Fight : Create Your Best Work and Live the Live You Imagine. It’s a very thoughtful book about the ongoing process of creativity and how to find the motivation to create your best work and stay inspired with your craft.

With a very friendly voice, engaging stories and plenty of exercises and self-assignments, Chris, does a great job to inspire and help you find new perspective with your photography.

Chris Orwig s a longtime photography teacher and workshop leader, and he’s written a number of photography books. His goal is to help people be more creative and lead better lives. I can’t disagree at all with his approach. 🙂

2. Fujifilm INSTAX Share SP-2 Printer

The Instax SP-2 is a battery operated handheld printer that lets you print wirelessly from either a Fujifilm camera, or right from your mobile phone or iPad, using the dedicated app.

The SP-2 is the second generation Instax printer and it’s able to produce even better prints than the first one with improved tonality and detail.

They’re great for travel photographs, because you can produce a tangible copy of your photo right there on the spot. They’re also great for portrait and wedding photographers, shooting events, parties and other ingenious creative endeavors.

It makes baseball card-sized prints, and believe me, they’re a ton of fun! I’ve had the original Instax printer for a year and the best thing I love most about it is giving away all the prints.

This is definitely the thing you didn’t know you wanted, but if you get one, you’ll think it’s the coolest thing in the world! You might even decided you want one of the Instax Mini 8 Instant Cameras too. I don’t know which one is more fun. They’re both a blast! And don’t forget the film!

3. iPad Mini 4

After using a regular sized iPad for a few years, I switched to the mini, and I love it. I was concerned that I would miss the bigger screen, but since I mostly use it as a portable and travel photography business workflow tool, the smaller, lighter size more than makes up for that.

When I’m on the road, traveling or bike touring, I use the iPad mini 4 as my primary computer, often leaving the laptop at home. With the variety of apps and connectors, it functions as a total workflow tool.

From writing, journaling, web surfing and social media to photo processing, sharing, and even keywording, there ins’t much that I can’t do, or at least workaround with the iPad now.

The capabilities of the iPad have come a long way and with the incredibly small size of the mini, it packs a tremendous amount of competing power into a very portable device.

4. Lightning to SD Card Camera Adaptor

If you don’t have a camera with built-in Wi-Fi, you can use the Lightning to SD Card Camera Adaptor to import both RAW and JPEG photos straight from your card to your iPhone or iPad.

This adaptor supports standard photo formats, as well as HD video formats, including H.264 and mpeg-4.

When you connect this device to you iPhone or iPad and insert an SD card, your device automatically opens the Photos app and lets you select which files to import.

This turns your iOS device into an even more capable travel and location photography workflow device.

4. Memory Cards

Who doesn’t need more memory cards? My favorite are the SanDisk 95MB/s cards. They offer the best performance for the money.

Prices have come way down in recent years, and now you can get a 64 GB card for about 35 bucks.

I use them in all of my cameras, including my X-T2, and they work great, even when shooting action.

With very fast write speeds, but in-camera and when downloading photos to your computer, these cards make for a zippy workflow all the way around.

5. Mindshift Gear Multi-Mount Holster

Mindshift Gear makes some great holster-style bags and pouches for outdoor photographers.

This is no accident, one of their designers actually worked with Galen Rowell, who pretty much invented the active holster-style camera chest pouch.

The new Multi-Mount Holster offers great accessibility and protection for your camera gear, and you can wear it in one of five configurations- Shoulder, Front, Chest, Back and Belt.

This allows you to climb, hike, bike and ski with your camera and keep at the ready, while keeping it protected against the elements or from being knocked around.

A weather proof barrier under the lid also keeps the dust and water out. The 10 size is perfect for going fast and light with a mirrorless cameras or smaller DSLR and prime or short zoom. They have three larger sizes as well for carrying bigger camera gear.

6. Digital Photography School eBooks & Courses

Digital Photography School has an extensive line of eBooks and other photography tutorials, and during the holidays, the run their 12 Days Sale.

Each day, one of their books, preset collections, bundles and courses is featured with a big discount. You never know which one will be next, and once they’ve been featured for 24 hours, they’re going.

Don’t worry, though. Even if you miss the 12 Day Sale, you can still find all of their eBooks and tutorials on their website.

7. Hoya SOLAS IRND Filters

Hoya’s new line of SOLAS IRND filters are true neutral density filters that block infrared light.

During long exposures, which you often do with ND filters, IR light can creep into your sensor, causing reddish color shifts in your imagery.

The SOLAS IRND filters prevent color shift and give you true, accurate color reproduction. I’ve been using these with great results. The 10-stop version is amazing! It allows for some very creative imagery when shooting water, clouds, even in sunlight.

Looking for a fun new photography accessory or stocking stuffer? This is it.

8. Subscription to CLARITY Magazine

CLARITY: Photography Beyond The Camera is a quarterly journal that features a wide range of professional photographers and teachers, like Piet Van den Eynde, Sean McCormack, Michael Frye, Kevin Kubota and yours truly. I even had the cover image on Issue #5 and a winter photography article.

Edited and created by Dave Seeram, CLARITY offers solid photography articles, insight and tutorials that focus not just on technique and creativity, but also on passion, inspiration, and how to make photography have a lasting and positive effect on your own life and that of other people.

CLARITY is designed to enhance your photography life by delving into issues that we all face as photographers, no matter what our style or experience is. It’s worth reading and even more importantly, worth supporting, being a totally independent magazine.

While we’re on the subject of independent magazines, Fuji shooters will want to check out these two magazines- FUJILOVE and Fuji X Passion. I had a feature article in the November 2016 issue of FUJILOVE.

9. Rechargeable NiMH Batteries

The best rechargeable batteries out there are the NiMH Eneloop batteries by Panasonic. (Formerly Sanyo). The 2400 mAh Amazon Basics batteries are the same thing with a different OEM label and a lower price tag.

These batteries provide enough charge for high capacity devices like speedlights, radio triggers, and other non-photography stuff like bike lights, headphones and aviation headsets.

You can never have too many of these things kicking around your house, and at some point you should probably just replace all of your AA and AAA batteries with NiMH rechargeable.

Who wouldn’t want some of these in their stocking?

10. My Backpacker Falcon Guides Adventure Photography Book

Looking for an outdoor photography pocket guide that will give you information about how to shoot great photos in the outdoors? Look no further!

My pocket photography guide, published by Backpacker Magazine and Falcon Guides, is full of great tips and insight that will help you improve your camera skills.

If you like to go adventuring with your camera, this is an ideal how-to manual for beginning to intermediate photographers.

You or your loved one(s) would love to find this in the gift pile this season- I guarantee it!

December 20, 2016

10 Holiday Wish List Items for Photographers