Author: Cooper Strange

2007-06-05

Good, Clean, Civilized Photography

I had an interesting conversation about my photography. I live in China, which you would probably have deduced already, and that means I have to have a visa to live and work here. Well, in the visa office for this year’s visa, I had a long conversation about photography with the officers there.

It all came up because I had the camera there with me—I was travelling and had everything on me…I did not necessarily want to carry a camera into the Public Security Bureau. I showed them a few photos, which I remember were particularly bad that day. Oh yeah, it was the day I shattered my protective UV filter! Anyway, I digress.

keep readingGood, Clean, Civilized Photography
2007-06-03

Come See the Great West

2007-06-01

What Lenses Do You Use?

I remember back when I used my dad’s Nikon that I used his zoom lens. And in high school, I know the annual staff’s lens was also a zoom. After that though, all I ever bought were fixed focal length, or “prime”, lenses (or my favorite: “fast glass”). With my Vivitar V4000, I have a Pentax-M 50mm 1:1.7. When I bought the D100, I bought with it an Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8D. I did not understand the issues digital SLRs have with focal length back then, and thought I was really buying an 85mm. But with the D100s 1.5 magnification (because the sensor is smaller than 35mm film), that 85mm really ends up acting like a 125mm. I will have to say it is great to achieve the purpose for which I bought it (people, face shots), but cannot be the only lens in the bag for very long. I soon…

keep readingWhat Lenses Do You Use?
2007-05-30

What Camera Do You Use?

I started my photographic ventures on my dad’s Nikon. It had optional automatic speed adjustment, but manual aperture (aperture priority, that is). It was my early exposure to his camera that began my aperture centered approach to photography. My first camera of my very own I bought my senior year of university, 1998. I was preparing for a trip to London for New Year’s, and instead of leaping into the digitized future with everybody else (well, that is not totally true…pretty basic digital SLRs were loads of money), I took another step toward manual with my Vivitar V4000, which has done nothing but serve me well for many years, and even up to the present as a cheapo backup camera when I shooting something important. However, in December 2003, after weeping the loss of four years of ruined photographs, I knew I had to make the digital plunge. If an…

keep readingWhat Camera Do You Use?
2007-05-28

Getting the Most out of Built In Flash

I will readily admit that I am quite new to the world of flash. Simply because I could not afford one many years ago when I started taking photos, I just got used to doing without. In the mean time, I fell in love with natural light photography and the tones available without that awful flash.

Then, I saw good flash photography. I saw the light. Ha ha. And wow, what amazing things can be done with flash! So, though I still prefer natural light photography, I think it would be silly to ignore the development of my skills in using the flash. So, I am starting small, using what I have, and trying to be creative.

keep readingGetting the Most out of Built In Flash
2007-05-26

Photo Fender Bender

I had a little accident…as you can see. I was in a park trying to shoot some early morning exercise, which is so common in China. In this park, on this day, you had a choice of dancing, aerobics, chess (definitely an anaerobic sport), or badminton.

I was keeping my eye on a couple of badminton folks, trying to slowly move into a decent photo position, when they hit their birdie (or shuttlecock if you so choose) into a small tree. It was not too high up, and I thought my extra height might help. So, I decided to do my good deed for the day.

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2007-05-24

How Do We Shoot Basic Sports Photos?

A budding photographer friend of mine sent me this photo he took during a high school “field day”. At first glance, I just have to smile. Not only is it a good action shot, but since it is a sack race, it gains some bonus points for abnormal content.

How could he make it better, though?

keep readingHow Do We Shoot Basic Sports Photos?
2007-05-22

In Search of the Perfect Camera

I have been doing a lot of research the past couple days into a new concept for me: the rangefinder style of camera. Most of you, like me, are probably quite uninitiated when it comes to rangefinders, but we still probably have heard at least one name, the epitome of rangefinders: Leica.

We hear the term “SLR” all the time, and really start to think it just means “big camera with exchangeable lenses”. Minus the “big” part, so are rangefinders. When viewing an image through an SLR, you are looking through the lens, thus there is a need for mirrors that flop back and forth when you take a photo. With a rangefinder, you are not looking through the lens, but through a small window to the side. Sounded a bit disposable-camera-ish to me at first, but I realized it was actually a totally different approach to photography.

keep readingIn Search of the Perfect Camera
2007-05-20

On Things Above

2007-05-17

Hip Shot on the Bus