Unusual Rain
Empire State Colors
Light Speed - Sixth Avenue
Flower or Weed
Not sure what this plant is. All I know is that it was pretty, and I took the picture! Maybe someone else can clarify for me?
Light Speed
Louis Nine Boulevard
A Glance Sideways
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Nikon Releases D4s Professional Camera
Earlier today, Nikon announced the release of their new flagship camera, the D4s, which will be available for purchase on March 6, 2014.
However, the D4s has the potential to take beyond amazing pictures. An improved native ISO and autofocus features are the biggest things going for the D4s. For the ISO, a photographer will have an easier time getting the great shot in the dark with little noise (if any) showing on the picture. More importantly, the autofocus for the D4s adapts to when a person or object changes distance from a camera. A photographer can capture that exact moment when someone gets posterized on a dunk, the ball makes contact on a home run, or a car zooming by more easily.
Another plus is time lapse photography, which is awesome for scientific experiments. Plug the camera into an outlet, get a huge memory card, and the D4s will take up to 9,999 time lapse photos. Taking an automatic shot every ten minutes, the camera will take shots for over two months.
The D4s has some new features that are a great for professional photography, and I am sure the pros will appreciate the faster processor and focus, where fast timing is crucial. That alone will be worth the upgrade.
However, for Nikon shooters looking to upgrade their DSLR camera for casual, semi-pro shooting or videography, stick with the D800 or the D7100, and use the rest (or any) of the $6,500.00 sticker price for the D4s on more lenses and accessories.
read more "Nikon Releases D4s Professional Camera"
Some Specifications
- 51 Autofocus points with phase detection.
- Shoots up to 11 fps
- Native ISO of 100-25,600
- Extended ISO of 50-409600
- Full Frame CMOS Censor (36 mm × 23.9 mm)
- 16.2 Megapixels
- Improved Time Lapse shooting.
- 1080 HD recording @ 60 fps.
- Pentaprism Viewfinder at 100% visibility
- EN-EL18a Lithium ion battery that takes approximately 3200 shots.
- Two Compact Flash Memory Card slots.
Thoughts
Some will be disappointed that the D4s retains the 16.2 megapixel censor from the D4 instead of the rumored 36 megapixels like the full censor D800, or even using 24 megapixels like the smaller censor in the D7100. However, as I stated in an earlier article, outside of editors printing large photos, megapixels are not that big of a deal.However, the D4s has the potential to take beyond amazing pictures. An improved native ISO and autofocus features are the biggest things going for the D4s. For the ISO, a photographer will have an easier time getting the great shot in the dark with little noise (if any) showing on the picture. More importantly, the autofocus for the D4s adapts to when a person or object changes distance from a camera. A photographer can capture that exact moment when someone gets posterized on a dunk, the ball makes contact on a home run, or a car zooming by more easily.
Another plus is time lapse photography, which is awesome for scientific experiments. Plug the camera into an outlet, get a huge memory card, and the D4s will take up to 9,999 time lapse photos. Taking an automatic shot every ten minutes, the camera will take shots for over two months.
Conclusion
The D4s has some new features that are a great for professional photography, and I am sure the pros will appreciate the faster processor and focus, where fast timing is crucial. That alone will be worth the upgrade.
However, for Nikon shooters looking to upgrade their DSLR camera for casual, semi-pro shooting or videography, stick with the D800 or the D7100, and use the rest (or any) of the $6,500.00 sticker price for the D4s on more lenses and accessories.
Astronaut's Photographs from Space
Koichi Wakata, an astronaut from JAXA (Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency) took some amazing photographs while in space! Here are some samples of his work.
This one is of an aurora over the south of Australia
This is the moon setting over the earth atmosphere.
A view of Osaka, Japan at night time.
For more pictures, you can visit Koichi Wakata's twitter feed, @Astro_Wakata
Wrong Fluid
At least I didn't confuse it for oil!
Since Elementary
This is Odessa, who goes back from elementary school. She was kind and modeled for this photo in October 2012. Looking forward to another collaboration later in 2014.
Bad Delivery
Photography, like anything else in life, can provide amazing and memorable experiences. Then there are the moments where situations go
wrong, and all a person can do is laugh later.
This story is about the latter.
The Event and Deal
Around July 2013, I worked an event – a baby shower – for an
old classmate back from my high school days.
I shot pictures for four and a half
hours in exchange for monetary compensation. Furthermore, as part of the deal, I was to deliver the pictures
digitally the next day, and a DVD copy of the pictures within the week.
The event was nice and fun. The client and her husband were gracious hosts to everyone. Even I felt nice and loose, and blended in with the background -- something every photographer should do.
What could possibly go wrong?
What Went Wrong?
I mailed the DVD to the client two days after the event (the event was on a
Saturday night). Normally it takes one
or two days for mail delivery within New York City. When she did not receive the DVD after one
week, I sent a second one, making sure the address was correct.
When the second DVD did not reach the client
again, I delivered the DVD directly on a hot summer day after the client recovered from childbirth,
and apologized for the unreasonable delay.
While the client was not upset about it, I was furious. One
of the aspects I pride myself on is promising and delivering good service. With the lack of delivery, it gave the perception of incompetence, which is never good for business.
I demanded answers from the Post Office both times, who did not find the DVDs at that time.
I demanded answers from the Post Office both times, who did not find the DVDs at that time.
Return to Sender
Around November 2013, I received both DVDs marked as return to sender in good condition. I reviewed the addresses on the package. Sure enough, they were the correct address that the client gave me. Naturally, by the time the DVDs were returned, the client moved out of New York City.Great job, United States Postal Service!
Lesson learned. Next time, I will use UPS, or just make the direct delivery myself.
Snailed
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Traffic jam on the Cross Bronx Expressway, a.k.a. I-95 South. Many people went out to enjoy the nicer weather in the winter this weekend.
Anyone want to count how many cars are stuck in this picture?
Ride Forward
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Sometimes people argue the best path being the one most or least traveled.
Doesn't matter how or what way you choose -- as long as you move forward!
Dusk Rainbow
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What a surprise to see a rainbow from my window before the storm! Definitely one of nature's rare moments!
Understanding Megapixels
What is a Megapixel?
A megapixel is a number that represents the approximate area resolution of an image. Camera companies will report the highest megapixels (or MP for short) number possible as one of the selling points for a camera. It mostly worked.
Are Megapixels a Major Factor in Photo Quality?
Contrary to popular belief, megapixels are a minor factor in determining the quality of a photo – the camera sensor, the lens and (especially) the skill of the photographer are by far more important factors. As a result, megapixels for cameras are overhyped.
Exasperating the overhype, there are some phone and compact cameras with high MP counts that do not produce. Sometimes, the sensor and lens cannot keep up and will produce a pixilated image. A lower resolution setting would be required to shoot a high quality image with the same camera. Furthermore, higher MP pictures take longer to process. If you need to shoot quickly (such as a sports event), a lower MP setting is a must.
An example of megapixel overhype is the Nokia Lumia 1020. The phone possessed a 41 MP camera, which is higher than expensive professional DSLR cameras like the Canon 1Dx and Nikon D4!
The problem was that the Lumia 1020 took mediocre pictures at the highest resolution and processed them very slowly. However, with lower resolutions, the phone took advantage of the better censor and lens, and produced photos that surpassed the Galaxy S4, iPhone 5s and HTC One in quality. Not surprising, the next phone in the series, the Lumia 1520, cut the maximum resolution to a more reasonable 20 MP.
An example of megapixel overhype is the Nokia Lumia 1020. The phone possessed a 41 MP camera, which is higher than expensive professional DSLR cameras like the Canon 1Dx and Nikon D4!
The problem was that the Lumia 1020 took mediocre pictures at the highest resolution and processed them very slowly. However, with lower resolutions, the phone took advantage of the better censor and lens, and produced photos that surpassed the Galaxy S4, iPhone 5s and HTC One in quality. Not surprising, the next phone in the series, the Lumia 1520, cut the maximum resolution to a more reasonable 20 MP.
When do Megapixels Matter?
Megapixels do matter when it comes to editing or printing large images.
For editing, the reasoning is straightforward. A larger resolution image allows better precision with editing and cuts that can improve the final image.
For printing, an excellent quality print comes at 300 pixels per inch (ppi), or 90,000 pixels per square inch. With that in mind, there is an equation that determine how many pixels you need from a camera in order to get an excellent quality print.
For printing, an excellent quality print comes at 300 pixels per inch (ppi), or 90,000 pixels per square inch. With that in mind, there is an equation that determine how many pixels you need from a camera in order to get an excellent quality print.
Now, let's try a few examples with the equation.
And apologies for throwing mathematics into the post.
And apologies for throwing mathematics into the post.
Example A: Store Prints / Online Poster
This person only buys a camera to print typical 6" by 4" photos that can be picked up at a store. The digital versions of these photos are also small enough to upload on websites with ease at an excellent resolution.Using the equation mentioned above:
All modern cameras have at least 8 MP in resolution. Most camera sensor can handle a 3 MP image with ease. For anyone looking to print typical photos or to share them with people (which is the majority of people who use phone cameras and compact cameras), megapixels are not important.
Example B: Newspaper Cover
A photographer wants to print a picture the size of a newspaper page, which is 11" wide, and 17" to use as potential front cover for a featured story.
Using the equation again.
To take that kind of a picture, one would need a camera that is packing at least 16.9 MP (or rounding up, 17 MP) This is when megapixels matter, as a 14 MP camera cannot match the print quality at this size as an 18 MP camera would.
Provided the censor of the 18 MP camera censor can produce a quality image at max resolution.
Provided the censor of the 18 MP camera censor can produce a quality image at max resolution.
Example C: An Enormous Wall Decoration
A person wants to print an enormous 20" x 30" photo on a wall to fill in blank space on a wall in a home.
We need to use the equation again.
To print an enormous photo at an excellent quality one requires an insanely expensive medium format studio camera, or stitch together several photographs together like a panorama in a photo editor first to keep the quality high.
The person should just use twenty-five 4" x 6" photos or four 11" x 17" photos to decorate the wall. It's just cheaper.
The person should just use twenty-five 4" x 6" photos or four 11" x 17" photos to decorate the wall. It's just cheaper.
Conclusion
Again, megapixels measure the resolution of an image and how large it can become, not the quality of an image.For any person using a camera phone or compact phone to put pictures online or print basic 4x6 pictures, megapixels should not be a major consideration when deciding to purchase a camera.
However, for a person looking to print larger images, or for those who edit images, megapixels are an important consideration.
Tranquility
Took this picture of my best friend Doris in April 2012 as part of a school project. People still compliment her about this photo! (It is also my favorite one of her.)
Everyone's Sunrise
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Whether you live in a mansion or the ghetto ... or even homeless, the sun rises the next day for everyone!
Corner Pocket
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A phone camera shot. Reminds me of my time at New York University, when I played pool regularly.
Inquisitive Eyes
This is Pepper, the younger of two cats at home. Whenever she has this expression, she is trying to understand what you are doing.
Snow Rock
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And yes, it feels as cold as it looks.
Streets of Snow
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This is a picture from one of the many snowstorms in 2014. This street picture of Third Avenue in the Bronx, made Eyewitness News photo gallery and aired live.
Getting Started!
I promised many friends and relatives that I would create a
blog specifically for my photography work.
I also said that I would start blogging again like I did on Xanga and MySpace back in 2004-2007.
Today, I fulfill those promises. In addition to posting pictures taken by me, whether they are done with a camera phone, or a DSLR, I will also brief articles about photography, reviews on cameras and general advice.
Looking forward to writing and sharing my photography with everyone!
I also said that I would start blogging again like I did on Xanga and MySpace back in 2004-2007.
Today, I fulfill those promises. In addition to posting pictures taken by me, whether they are done with a camera phone, or a DSLR, I will also brief articles about photography, reviews on cameras and general advice.
Looking forward to writing and sharing my photography with everyone!
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