landscapes

Chris Gampat Digital Camera Review Red Tea image (1 of 1)ISO 4001-80 sec at f - 2.0

You remember that kid who was allergic to everything growing up? For the most part that was me, and phases of those allergies come and go with my immune system. Being a creative and journalist over the years, I’ve had to do shoots where I ended up with red eyes from pollen or totally sick for the next couple of days. And as a photographer, we all know that time is money and that any time lost needs to be recounted for with you working twice as hard after your recovery.

If you’re an allergy prone photographer, though, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind whether you’re hankering for capturing that perfect landscape, or the newly engaged want you to photograph them amongst some beautiful cherry blossoms.

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Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Vanguard Auctus Plus 383CT and GH100 tripod head review images (1 of 9)ISO 2001-680 sec at f - 4.0

Vanguard’s tripods have been very impressive over the past couple of years. While they don’t have the household name that Induro and Manfrotto have had for a while, they’ve been gaining more ground as an affordable and all American-made solution to the market. Their Auctus Plus 383CT tripod is one of their flagships–and as a photographer that really hates tripods, I have to admit that this one is really quite awesome.

It also has become by far one of the simplest tripods that I’ve used while giving me all of the features that I really needed. But it has some quirks.

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All images shot by and used with permission from Martin Stavars

Martin Stavars is a born in 1981 in Czestochowa, Poland and has always been fascinated with landscapes. Martin specializes in black-and-white cityscapes, landscapes, and night photography and he has travelled around the world photographing cities. The photographs have won him many awards and they are now published in his book, “Megalapolis.

Beautiful can’t begin to describe Martin’s work as the images hold elements of both simplicity and complexity due to the compositions. When you look at them, the words ghostly, beautiful, hypnotic, and dreamy come to mind. Take a look at the rest of his work after the jump. Also be sure to check out Neutral Density magazine, where Martin is the Managing Editor.

Martin uses a Canon 5D Mk II with Canon 17-40mm f4 L and 24-70mm f2.8 L lenses. Plus he totes around a Hasselblad 503cw with Hasselblad 40mm f/4 Distagon lens. Lastly he always uses ND and GND filters.  He also always needs a tripod. “My photographs are available in limited editions on Hahnemühle Fine Art Pearl paper, their sizes ranging from 12”x12” to 40”x40”. Printed with Epson 11880.” states Martin.

Via Photography Blogger

 

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We’ve reviewed lots of Zeiss glass here on the site, and we’ve fallen in love with every optic. The 21mm f2.8 is a lens that one can describe as luxurious, sharp, and clinical. The lens is really quite a beauty and the perfect compromise between 24mm and 15mm. This focal length has also been very popular with street photographers and landscape photographers for a while.

Being a Zeiss optic though, it will surely command quite the price tag at around $1,843. But is it right for you?

 

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Hey readers, we just got the Sony A99, 135mm f1.8, 85mm f1.4 (yes the Zeiss ones) 50mm f1.4 and HVL-F60M all in for review and we’ve been playing with them quite a bit so far. We understand that there is a ton of interest about the camera and the system overall. To help you guys out, we’d love to answer any questions you have about the camera, lenses, flash, and system.

But before you fire away, take a look at our studio tests with the A99, high ISO test sample, our landscape tests, and our first impressions. Plus, be sure to check out exactly which lenses will take full advantage of Sony’s new AF-D mode. If you’re in the market for a Sony DSLR, also be sure to take a look at which lenses we recommend for the system at the budget level.

Leave us a comment down below in the post. I’ve got nothing to do until tonight and will be happy to answer your questions.

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In the past 24 hours, I’ve been testing lots of new cameras from Sony. But the one that I seem to consistently reach for is the A99. By far, it has to be one of the best cameras I’ve ever tested and its versatility makes my jaw drop. It has also opened up a ton of possibilities to me: I’ve shot better sports photos with the camera, better landscapes (and I really think I suck at landscapes though some like my work) and I’ve also for the first time created video with very little camera shake while shooting handheld with a DSLR. The video will come in a later post, but here are my impressions for my experiences today.

Editor’s Note: be sure to check out our three way full frame comparison test, the NEX 6 vs the X Pro 1, our studio shoot with the A99, our first studio sample with the camera, and a high ISO/long exposure.

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