Summer is here, or as I like to call it, “The Payoff.” Although great photos can be had any time of the year, there’s something magical about summer. The days are long, landscapes, flowers, and greenery are in full bloom, and for many of us, we simply have more time to get out and delve into our passion with photography. Maybe it’s just that summer reminds us of our those late nights we spent as kids exploring and playing games like “kick the can” and “capture the flag” well past our normal bedtime. Whatever it is, summer rules.

 

I imagine that your payoff photography season is in full swing right now. You’re probably spending lots of time hiking, backpacking, shooting landscapes, shooting assignments, documenting your own adventures or just enjoying more free time with your camera. Maybe you’re getting ready to travel abroad. Since the sun doesn’t set until 11:30 PM here in Anchorage, Alaska these days, I’ve been spending many late evenings hiking mountain ridges, riding the trails and flying until well past midnight as I chase good light into the late night hours. During times like this, I hope that summer never ends.

 

 

 

The website MirrorLessons.com recently posted an interview with me called Braving The Elements With the Fuji X-T1. It’s part of their series of 100 interviews with professional photographers who use mirrorless cameras, and in this article, I talk about what makes for powerful landscape and adventure imagery, my honest assessment between my Fuji and my Nikon, gear and how I overcome the difficulties of shooting big jobs with smaller cameras. I’m really pleased with this article, you can check it out here.

 

 

I’m honored to announced that I’m now featured on the Fuji X-T1 Expert Reviews page on the FUJIFILM North America website. As one of the initial prototype testers of the X-T1, I’ve been using this camera since before it was even announced. As you know, I’ve been able to incorporate almost seamlessly into my lightweight, fast moving photography style, and on this page, you can read a testimonial by me and see some of my favorite sample images that I feel highlight what the X-T1 is capable of. If you're curious about the X-T1, be sure and read my extensive review here.

 

My Alaska Photo Workshops

 

 

Nikon has announced their latest round of lens rebates. For the next few days only, you can save up to $260 on AF-S Nikon lenses, including the 50mm f/1.8G, the 85mm f/1.8G and the 16-35mm f/4G ED VR. You can save even more when you bundle the lens with a Nikon DSLR. Camera bodies included in this deal are the D3200, 3300, 5300, 7100 and 610, and this deal includes a number of lenses that aren’t included in the regular lens rebates. Lens rebates expire June 14, while the Bundle deals run through June 28.

 

If you shoot any one of the interchangeable Fuji X cameras or the Sony system, you might want to check these deals out. Right now you can save $100 each on the XF 55-200mm lens and the XF 18-55mm lens. 

 

Even more impressive, though, is the HUGE ZEISS LENS DEAL. Right now, you can save $800 if you buy both the Zeiss Touit 32mm f/1.8 AND the 12mm f/2.8 lens. This is an amazing offer; it’s pretty much getting the 12mm lens for free. These lenses offer incredible quality, and when used with the Fuji X-Trans sensor, they produce unbelievable sharpness and resolution. If you want the maximum level of imagery from your X-T1, X-E2, X-E1 or X-Pro1, you cannot do better than this, and you certainly can’t beat the price.

 

With this pair, you get a wide angle and a normal lens, so you’ll have the entire close to middle range, which is an awesome combo for people, travel and landscapes. They both feature metal construction, rubberized control rings and Zeiss anti-reflective coating. They’re available with Fuji X mount and Sony mount. Once they run out of stock, the deal is over, so if you want quality, don’t wait. 

 

 

Summer is tripod season, mostly because we tend to shoot more landscapes than any other time of the year. Plus, tripods let you take those soft, rushing water scenes. Finding a good, affordable tripod that you can take backpacking and traveling is key if you want sharp, crisp photographs. Here’s a look at 3 ultra lightweight tripods, but if you’re looking more on the budget end, here are the two that I’d recommend taking a look at.

 

Manfrotto BeFree: The Manfrotto BeFree is a lightweight aluminum tripod that’s ideal for backcountry use or travel. The legs fold back over the head, which makes the length of the tripod only 15.8” long. Plus, with the included Quick Release ball head, it’s still less than four pounds, and costs just under $200. For the price, this is definitely one of the best deals around. Check it out here.

 

Manfrotto 190 CXPRO4 Carbon Fiber Tripod: The Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 tripod, features four carbon fiber leg sections, which means it folds up even more smaller than most three-section tripods. It has new, redesigned locking levers, a 90-degree quick center column, and it still weighs under three pounds (without head). Closed length is 19.6”. If you’re looking for high quality carbon fiber tripod, this is a great choice.

 

 

My favorite memory card to recommend is still on sale for over 75% off. The Sandisk Extreme Pro 95MB/S SDHC UHS-1 is a high performance card that will let you take full advantage of the bigger image files and higher shooting and write speed that newer cameras offer. Slower cards like the 30 and 45MB/S models will slow down and lock up the camera for up to a minute if you’re shooting large bursts of RAW files on continuous mode. Remember, shooting fast is not just for shooting action, it’s great for portraits because you can capture the slight expression changes that occur between moments. 

 

While this isn’t the fastest card available, it’s still a huge improvement over any of the slower cards, and it’s not much slower than the super fast UHS-II cards that are just coming out. Those are much more expensive though. For only $35 (16GB) or $49 (32GB) you simply cannot beat the value of this memory card.

 

 

A while back, I ran a feature interview with Ian Plant on my blog. In my mind, Ian is a modern day landscape master; he’s no doubt one of the best creative shooters around. He has an excellent understanding of light, solid technique and a mastery of compositional techniques. He’s written a handful of very insightful eBooks, which I recommend, and he’s produced a video training series of excellent tutorials that show you how to unlock the mystery of the digital darkroom. 

 

I absolutely love Ian’s work and I strongly feel that he’s one of the best teachers around. You’d do well to read or watch any of his material, and I can almost guarantee that you’ll walk away with new ideas that you can put to work in your own photography right away. Check out Ian’s Dreamscapes store and see if anything sparks your interest. Or just check out his work. You’re sure to be inspired by his awesome imagery.

 

 

10 Tips for Sustaining a Long Career as a Professional Photographer. This article is a short, concise array of tips that offer insight to keeping your photography career going. This business is not easy, but with a certain mindset, it’s possible to build and sustain a fulfilling career as a working shooter. Definitely worth a read.

 

Are My Images Shot on Slide Film Now Dead? Written by Gary Crabbe, this post explores the conundrum of whether all those slides that we shot before digital have any worth these days. If you’ve been shooting for many years, then you probably have thousands of old slides. What do we do with them? Gary doesn’t have the answer, but it’s a good article nonetheless.

 

Lightroom Keyboard Shortcuts. As you shoot more photos, you need to edit them, which takes time, and so it pays to be more efficient with your software chops. I’m at the point where I KNOW that I need to increase my efficiency, so I’ve started reviewing all the keyboard shortcuts that are built into Lightroom. There are tons and I just realized that I only know a few. By using just a few of these, you can speed up your workflow by leaps and bounds.

 

Scotland is a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. In some ways, it’s like a mini version of interior Alaska. Here are 25 Epic Photos of the Scottish Landscape. After viewing theses, you’ll probably add this place to your list as well!

 

Sometimes we get so entrenched in the idea that the further you go into the backcounry, the better our photos will be. This article, called Roadside Photo Ops, reminds us that great photos can be found anywhere, even just off the main drag. It’s a reminder to slow down this summer and look for great photography subjects just at your destination, but along the road that takes you there.

 

 

That’s all for now, please keep in touch and share this newsletter with your own fans and friends. I hope you have a great rest of June and take some great photos!!

 

-Dan