DIY Camera Rain Cover

Here is quick way of making a DIY Camera Rain cover with items from home

 Items I used:
1x 2 1/2 gallon Jumbo Ziplock Bag
8x 6" inch strips of duct tape
1x pair of scissor
1x hood lens
1x black pen

I went with a plastic 2 1/2 gallon jumbo ziplock bag because I found this bag is stronger than a regular shopping bag. Less prone to tear and can be used repeatedly and also folds compact for a pant or camera bag pocket.

 

Step 1. 

Take your roll of duct tape and affix strips to the middle of the plastic bag. The duct tape will strengthen the cut out, preventing it from tearing.

Step 2.

Grab the lens hood of the widest (radius) lens you plan on using. Using a marker out line the inner circle of the lens hood. It will be slightly smaller then lens itself, but this makes it fit snugly around your lens without having to use a rubber band.

This project is pretty cheap, you might already have everything at home. If the you varying width sizes of lenses such as a 77mm and a 62mm you can make 2 or more of these rain covers. They fold up nicely and you can use the marker to identify which one is which. 

Step 3

Open up the bag and insert the scissor into the bag. Start cutting out the circle shape you outlined with the marker. Only cut the hole out of one side of the bag. 

Step 4

Place your camera inside the plastic bag, keeping the bag opening facing down. Slide the lens through the opening and you are set. The 2 1/2 Gallon Bag is be big enough for Full Frame and Crop Sized DSLR cameras. The larger bag size still allows you to access your camera dials, setting buttons, and shutter button. Access to the QR plate is still easy. 

If you have a smaller entry level camera or a point and shoot camera you use the same ideas just on a smaller 1 gallon plastic bag.

Self Gifting for Buding Photographers

Now that the Christmas Rush has a chance to subside, the Christmas morning breakfast is settling in and all the presents are open and wrapping papers strewn over the living room you can guage your loot. And see that you are really a difficult person to shop for considering the amount of gif cards you have received.
Here are some gear recommendations for different money amounts that I think will serve you all year long and outlast those black socks you got in your christmas stocking

Self Gifting for under $25

Photography Books for the Amazon Kindle

The Amazon Kindle makes toting around a seemingly endless library of Photography Books super easy and light weight compared to storing them on your bookshelf or carrying them in your book bag for the office commute.
Here is a list of Kindle Ready Photography Themed Books you can download in just a few minutes

How to Win the Battle of Close-up Photography

Shooting macro or close-up nature photography can be a challenge to find balance between keeping the tiny subject sharp and in focus and also seperate it from the background. You might have to stop down your lens in order to keep the subject in focus but that also increases the focal plane to include the background.
An out-of-focus background is essential to a good close-up photo, because it helps draw attention to your main subject.
But, it’s not always easy to get that nice background. Sometimes the background is just too close, or your subject has a lot of depth (forcing you to try a smaller aperture, which then puts more of the background in focus).
So, how do you deal with this constant battle? Well, here are a few ways:

#1 – Determine the most important part of the image

The first thing you should think about is the most important part of the image. You might think this would always be your main subject, but sometimes the background plays a larger role. Ask yourself what grabbed your attention about this particular flower or insect: did you see the background first? Or, perhaps your subject is extremely rare, so just getting any kind of photo of it is the most important thing.

#2 – Use the depth of field preview button

Read your camera's manual to find the DOF Preview Button. Generally it is located on the right side of the lens mount. When looking through your viewfinder the aperture stays as wide open as your lens can go ie f3.5, f2, f1.8. Even if you dial in an aperture of f13 the aperture blades themselves wont change until you press the shutter button to take an image. By pressing down the DOF Preview Button you can see what your depth of field will be without taking an image.
One issue with determening the depth of field and in focus areas after you stop down your aperture is the lack of ambient light coming though the lens. You might need to add another light source so you can see the subject in the viewfinder.
Modern DSLR have LCD screens which have Live Preview. This makes things a bit easier to judge focus rather than looking through the viewfinder.

#3 – Don’t obsess over sharpness

A good quality composition will offset some sharpness issues. Photography is in the eye of the beholder and the your viewer will be more interested in a well composed image rather than a tack sharp image with mediocre background. Do not fret over loosing a little bit of sharpness by stopping down your lens. There are many options for software that can adjust the focus are in post production as well.

#4 – Don’t be afraid to keep searching for a better subject

Good Nature photographs take a lot of time and patients. There are many outside influences you can not control while out shooting. The insects might get startled and run, fly off. The lighting might be poor and even a tiny gust of wind will make taking an image very difficult.
If you’ve tried photographing your subject from a bunch of different angles and apertures settings but still have not made that one fantastic image, you might just have to continue looking for another subject.

Think Tank Photo releases Mirrorless Camera Bags

My friends over at Think Tank Photo just announced their first camera bag collection for Mirrorless cameras, the Mirrorless Movers™.  The Mirrorless Movers come in four sizes that range in size from the Mirrorless Mover 5, which fits one small size mirrorless body with a small telephoto or pancake lens attached, up to the Mirrorless Mover 30i, which fits one medium to large size mirrorless body plus two to four lenses and an iPad.

As is their design philosophy, Think Tank placed a premium on quality.  The new bags utilize metal hardware instead of plastic buckles, and only high quality fabrics, YKK zippers and a new, magnetic closure.  In the words of their president and lead designer Doug Murdoch, “The Mirrorless Movers offer photographers quality in their camera bags worthy of their investment in these sophisticated, expensive camera systems.”

When you click on this special link you will receive free gear with all orders of $50 or more and free shipping on all orders if you order by May 31, 2013.

The four sizes are:

·         The MirrorlessMover 5 fits one small size mirrorless body with a small telephoto or pancake lens attached. It is sized for the Canon EOS–M, Leica D–Lux, Nikon 1 series, Olympus E–PM2, E–PL5, EP–3, Panasonic GF3, Sony NEX–C3, or similar sized bodies.

·         The MirrorlessMover 10 fits one medium size mirrorless body plus one to two lenses and additional accessories. It is sized for the Leica V–Lux, Olympus OM–D E–M5, Panasonic G3, GF5, GH2, Samsung NX5, NX11, NX210, Sony NEX–5, NEX–6, NEX–7, or similar sized/smaller bodies.

·         The MirrorlessMover 20 fits one medium size mirrorless body plus two to three lenses and additional accessories. It is sized for the Leica V–Lux, Olympus OM–D E–M5, Panasonic G3, GF5, GH2, Samsung NX5, NX11, NX210, Sony NEX–5, NEX–6, NEX–7, or similar sized/smaller bodies.

·         The MirrorlessMover 30i fits one medium to large size mirrorless body plus two to four lenses, iPad, and additional accessories or a small–size DSLR and one to three small telephoto lenses or primes. It is sized for the Fuji X–Pro 1, Leica M8, Panasonic GH3 or similar sized/smaller bodies. Small DSLRs: Canon Rebel, Nikon D3200/D5200, Sony SLT–A55/A37 or similar sized bodies.