Pictures…
I’m at Photoshop World right now, having a blast. 
I have a few of my favorite pictures on 500px. Some of them are ready to buy a print or digital download. Check it out: http://500px.com/stevenhoagland.
Dream Lens…
Do I have a gear beat topic for you! OK, this is what I’ve dreamed of for years! So many times I’ve gone looking for wildlife. It gets dark. Wildlife comes out. Lens is either too short, max aperture is too small, or it has no IS (image stabilization). Either the wildlife gets away, or noisy and cropped images proliferate to frustrate me. The dream was to have a lens that was long, fast, sharp and with state-of-the-art IS. This is it; the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II. Simply put, it is the sharpest lens Canon has ever made. Also, this lens extends my day, literally! I can shoot earlier in the morning and later in the evening since f/2.8 and hybrid IS combine to allow more light in and damp out any motion I may have hand-holding the lens at lower shutter speeds in near darkness. Yes, even hand-held. At 8.5 lbs, it is a whopping 3.3 lbs lighter than its predecessor. And the center of gravity is now closer to your body, since much of the weight savings was taken from the front of the lens where the previous model had a large glass element (not a lens element) for added protection.
As often as not, I go slingin’ (hand-carrying) with this lens on my Black Rapid strap. It is a bit heavy, but manageable. It takes the new Mark III versions of the extenders well, too. I got the 1.4x III and 2.0x III extenders when I bought the lens. So, it’s like three lenses in one (400 f/2.8, 560 f/4, and 800 f/5.6). The new Mark III extenders include a processor that aids autofocusing accuracy when used with the new Mark II supertelephoto lenses (300 f/2.8 II, 400 f/2.8 II, 500 f/4 II and 600 f/4 II).
Last year, I thought I wanted a 600 f/4 II. But over time, I realized there were situations where I wanted to get closer, or the animals were bigger or I really needed f/2.8 in low light. So, the 400 f/2.8 II was the choice. I’m so loving it! More nature and less frustration. I can’t wait to get back to Cades Cove and have another shot at those bears!
A surprise bonus is that it is fantastic with any photography (not just sports and wildlife). The transmittance of image contrast through this lens is as close to perfect as any lens Canon has ever made. If I can fit the subject into my frame, I choose this lens over any other, even indoors! It really spoils me.
Yes, there are times when a longer lens (bare glass) could be preferable over this lens, such as shooting small birds at a distance or hawks at a huge distance away. But, while I can add extenders to this lens, I couldn’t reduce focal length or increase aperture on the 600 f/4. At Photoshop World this month, Moose Peterson may talk me into getting a 600 down the road anyway. We’ll see. Meanwhile, this lens is the epitome of lens perfection; top notch build quality, weather sealing, speed, accuracy, durability, and optics–with a price to match: $11,500. Whooaa. Yes, I’m crazy about photography! One downside, though. I now have no excuse.
Oh, almost forgot.. why is the watch hanging on the lens in the picture? Life is short. Once those moments are gone, they’re gone. Grab your dreams.
Footsteps…
Dream the impossible… and breathe it to life.
Don’t follow in the footsteps of greatness… make your own.
And grin at that hero in the mirror.
You will be mine…
Picture source: pocketnow.com
Click the audio clip above and rock to SOS while I lay this on you. Although Apple has been pounding loudly in the mobile beat lately, Google and Samsung have been quietly collaborating to produce the most killer smartphone and mobile operating system ever. The phone? Galaxy Nexus. The OS? Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Check out these moves:
- 4.65-inch screen, 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, Super AMOLED HD display technology
- 1.2 GHz dual core CPU with 1GB of RAM
- 16 or 32 GB internal memory (no microSD card slot)
- 1750 mAh (or maybe bigger on Verizon LTE models) removable battery
- 4G LTE or HSPA+ connectivity (depending on carrier)
- Face Unlock — Unlocks your screen by face recognition.
- NFC (for Wallet and Beam functionality)
- WiFi and Mobile Hotspot functionality
- Hidden Notification LED
- 5MP camera with 1080P video (with continuous focus, zoom, time lapse and video snapshots), Low light photo capability, single-motion panorama picture functionality, 1.3MP front-facing camera, Zero shutter lag (yeah, that’s right, shot after shot!)
- Swipe unlock directly to camera.
- Talk to type — words appear as you “type” with your voice.
- “Request Desktop Version” so you can get to full version of site easily
- Android Beam — Using ICS and NFC share any content between Android devices by bump and tap.
- Screen shots — Hold down power button and volume down to get screen shot.
- Keyboard in-line spell checker with suggested corrections.
- Size (mm): 135.5 x 67.94 x 8.9, Weight: 135g
- Release date? November 10 (est.). Price? $299 on contract (est. w/32GB).
Ice Cream Sandwich looks delicious! The famous WebOS developer, Matias Duarte, is now at Google and he has proceeded to make Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich an emotionally pleasing experience, from the new system font (Roboto) to the finely polished and well color-coordinated screens, buttons and tabs, to the convenience features that make life simple. Ice Cream Sandwich combines the separate phone and tablet OS’s into one operating system. It is designed to work terrifically with HD resolutions on both tablets and phones. Note: If you are a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 owner, you’re in luck. You will be getting Ice Cream Sandwich!
One thing should be pointed out about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus display. Blacks are true black. So contrast is superior, and the screen just POPS! Nothing else comes close. And it’s more energy efficient, since the black pixels don’t fire.
Although the 4.65-inch screen is big, the overall phone isn’t as big as you’d think, since the nav buttons (back, home, etc.) are integrated into the screen, so they’re always oriented correctly. The bezel around the screen is thin, too. The phone is said to be nicely pocketable. I believe it. And this handset is subtly curved for comfort in your hand and against your face.
I wanted the following features for my ideal smartphone:
- Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
- Verizon - broader signal coverage and blazingly-fast 4G LTE connection speeds.
- Samsung’s Super AMOLED HD display – It just POPS.
- Nexus - Google Nexus phones get the latest system updates quicker than all the other phones.
Galaxy Nexus has it all! I’ll follow up with a review when I get it.
That’s right, “WHEN” I get it! Happy birthday, me!
Oh Baby! One thing’s for sure.. Galaxy Nexus, you will be mine!
For more information, here are some links:
PocketNow: Samsung Galaxy Nexus Unveiled
SlashGear: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Complete Guide
YouTube: Android Ice Cream Sandwich / Galaxy Nexus Unveiling
YouTube: Introducting Galaxy Nexus. Simple, beautiful, beyond smart
Dawn…
At the dawn of my sunrise photo experience, I was presented a morning of unimaginable inspiration. Thousands of sunrise photos later, this one is still my favorite. I thought I’d share this trip down memory lane with you.
February 7, 2010, 6:25am Virginia Beach
A dusting of snow covered both sides of the road as I drove to Virginia Beach on this morning. It was 28 degrees and some areas were slippery. The road next to the beach was crunchy underfoot—ice. As I proceeded down the snow-covered walkway toward the beach, I saw an orange glow spanning the whole width of the horizon. Up in the pre-dawn sky, I saw a few dark clouds floating on a sea of soft blue; up to my right, a crescent moon. Although I couldn’t reach out and touch this horizon, it touched me. I felt privileged to be presented this beautiful moment, and humbled by the challenge to capture it forever. Although no one else was around to see, I walked off the beach smiling, assured that there is a God.
Just a man…
Steve Jobs was just a man.
Human.
Like each one of us.
He rose above mediocrity through shear force of will.
He taught us to never settle.
To insist on “insanely great.”
Shall we rise above?
Shall we have the will?
Thank you, Steve.
Not just for your accomplishments.
But, for your inspiration to us all.
Rest in peace, “young and foolish” man.
Tab time…
Since I’m obsessed with mobile devices, I’ve been thinking about adding a “Mobile Beat” category to this blog. Sherry Boylan (of ChesBay360 fame), suggested I do a “choosing tablets” blog. Great first mobile beat topic. Beats? Click the audio clip above to hear “Put it on my tab.”
Photographers on the go love to stay in connected. Early this year, a couple of my friends brandished iPads–screens big enough to display photos–better than smartphones. Had to have one, but…
Then, I discovered iPad’s operating system (IOS) didn’t do things like flash (80% of what moves in the Internet), notification panels, over-the-air operating system updates and voice recognition text entry like I’m used to on my Android phone. The Google Android ecosystem nicely integrates contacts, gmail, google calendar, google maps, gps navigation (yes, voice activated with turn by turn audible instructions), etc. I’m spoiled by Android goodness. So, my tablet search then tread in Android waters. Enter the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Why I chose the Tab 10.1 instead of the iPad2? Android, Wide Screen Aspect Ratio, Higher Resolution Screen (1280 x 800 vs iPad’s 1024 x 768), More vivid display, Higher resolution cameras (front and back), Higher resolution video recording, Slightly thinner and lighter, Stereo support (left and right speakers vs iPad’s single speaker), Customizable home screens, Superior browsing experience. Now don’t get me wrong. The iPad is a wonderful device. And if you are already in the Apple IOS ecosystem with an iPhone or iPod Touch, then you may be more at home with an iPad.
I’m loving that Android system updates come over the air. Already an update from Android Honeycomb (Android’s tablet operating system) 3.0 to 3.1 has been pushed out. Soon, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (combining phone and tablet operating systems) will push down. So far, iPads still have to connect to the computer for this. I also like to voice in my text entry on occasion. Just tap the microphone key and speak. Sometimes I have to edit a character or two, but it does save typing.
Use cases? Internet browsing, Facebook, Google+, 500px, Twitter, HRDPC club meetup site, pictures, video, e-mail, reading books and magazines, music via Amazon mp3. I take it with me to restaurants, club meetings and anywhere I may have to wait. Apps? I love the Android Kindle app. I prefer to read kindle books downloaded to my Tab. They’re in color! Great for photography books. Also, I love the Zinio app, my preferred way to subscribe to and read magazines. The Android Netflix app lets me watch movies on the Tab. Oh my gosh!!! Movies are awesome on this Tab (brilliant screen, wide-screen aspect ratio, stereo speakers). The more squarish aspect ratio of the iPad leaves large letter-box lines at the top and bottom of the screen when viewing movies. The iPad’s single speaker? Uh uh. The cloud synchronizes songs from Amazon mp3 on my PC, phone and tablet. And the cloud synchronizes the book pages between all these devices.
I got the Wi-Fi Only version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. This requires you to be somewhere where there’s a wi-fi signal (home, restaurant, etc.). In places that don’t have free wi-fi, I just tap the wi-fi hotspot box (tethering) in the settings of my Android phone, and I’ve got wi-fi for my tablet–provided there’s a data signal (e.g., 3g, etc.) in that area. The wi-fi version frees you from having to sign onto a data plan with a carrier. Caution, some carriers charge extra for tethering.
Negatives? Occasionally, the browser would close and put me at the home screen. This has almost been alleviated with the Android 3.1 update. Also, on one occasion, the back/delete button didn’t work. Note that the Android 4.0 operating system (code name Ice Cream Sandwich ) is due out soon, and may resolve these issues. Also, I wish the Tab had a MicroSD card slot (also an iPad failing). The max memory you can have is 32GB and it’s not upgradeable. The iPad can have up to 64GB. Not sure if I’ll ever use 32GB, though. **UPDATE** I must add that, although I have the apps I like, the number of tablet-optimized apps available for the long-established iPad dwarfs those of the much younger Android tablets so far. If the apps follow suit with the smartphone world, this gap will close at a blistering rate. And the key is not the number of apps, but are the apps you really want available?
Price? $499 wi-fi w/16 GB, $599 wi-fi w/32 GB, $529 wi-fi+4G w/16 GB, $629 wi-fi+4G w/32 GB. Note that some Android devices are 4G capable in areas that broadcast 4G signals. IOS devices (iPhones, etc.) are not.
So now, when I’m on the go and want to see it on a big screen, I put it on my Tab!
Feelin’ the pod…
My friend, Sherry Boylan of ChesBay360.com, had a terrific idea for me to post gear reviews. So, I created a new category–Gear Beat. Sherry’s been known to say, “I’m not feelin’ the pod” when she’d rather hand-hold the camera. It fits here for my first beat… Speaking of beats, click on the audio link above (musical title “Hold me Tight”) to help float you through this. 
Travel to new places and don’t want to lug a heavy tripod around? I got a tip (thanks, Sherry) on the availability of a super new travel tripod from Oben… the CT-3510. Research showed that this carbon fiber tripod matched the features and capacities of the Gitzo Traveler GT-1541T. On my recent trip to New York City, I sauntered into B&H Photo (yeah, the actual store!) and checked out the most popular travel pods thoroughly. Honestly, I couldn’t find a more desirable travel pod than the Oben—at any price. It’s extremely light (3.2 lb with ball head attached), compact (15.5” folded up with ball head attached), and nearly 17 lb load capacity. Further, it is just beautiful. All the twist locks and knobs on the legs and ball head are rubberized for a nice grippy feel and tactile feedback that lends confidence that it’s locked down firmly. It also has nice touches like foot spikes you can install, and a removable leg that can be attached to the removable center post for a really cool monopod. I checked out the height with the legs fully extended and the center post down. It’s actually pretty tall for a travel pod. My back is thankful. It only takes a quarter-turn to unlock and lock the twist locks. And the legs can individually lock in two different angles, which helps in sloped or rocky terrain.
Negatives? The internal joint components aren’t as high quality as the Gitzos, and parts may not be as easily replaced as those in Gitzos. For heavy duty work using a super-telephoto lens, I’d probably go with the Gitzo GT3541LS and a Wimberley gimbal head, but that’s a different use case.
The Oben’s price…$399.95 including ball head. That’s a cool $600 cheaper than the Gitzo (w/head) combo. I liked the Oben best, and I’m not gonna hold it against them if they want to sell it cheaper. Heck, I thought, why not give them a chance? So far, I’m thrilled. Not a single complaint. We’ll see how it holds up over time and travels, though. Note that my September 19, 2011 pic “Bright spot in dark times…” was taken at Clingmans Dome with my camera atop the Oben. Now, when I leave the hotel or cabin, I’m feelin’ the pod. Check out the links below for more info.
photoframd – Bargain Compact Carbon Fiber Tripod You Will Want To Carry
B&H – Oben CT-3510 5-Section Carbon Fiber Folding Tripod w/ BB-0T Ball Head
Who…
Who hurts when you fall?
Who smiles when you climb?
Who sees you when you can’t see yourself?
Who’s got your back when no one has theirs?
When all the world fades, who remains? … friends.
No picture… you know who you are.
Bright spot in dark times…
In our darkest moment, a bright spot sustains us. Lifts us. Warms us. And brightens our lives.
Atop the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Clingmans Dome. With dear friends Sherry Boylan and Sam Maggio. August 25, 2011.
