Black Rapid SnapR 10 Review

I am a case/bag-kind-of-guy. What I mean by this is, I prefer to always have my gadgets in cases or bags. I am not so comfortable when my gadgets are naked. The most "naked" gadget that I have is my iPhone4 which only has the bumper on it.

The same is true for my camera gear - I have bags and cases for each and every occasion.

Enter the BlackRapid SnapR 10.

This nifty little bag has a really good design and is made up of really good materials. The shell of the bag is made up of water repellant material - this material was able to shield some of the drizzle that splashed on the wife and I when we got caught in the rain one time. However, this is not a waterproof bag - it is not really sealed - so you should still protect your gear when you're in a downpour.

The first step in using this bag is attach the loose strap to the tripod screw mount. After that, you have several options as to how you want to use the SnapR 10: You can use the small strap to permanently tether the camera to the bag, or you can use the small strap as a handstrap.

You can attach the long strap to the camera bag - you may need to fiddle a little with the buckles since they are partly hidden on the back of the bag. Or, instead of putting on the long strap, you can also use the small bag as a belt accessory.

Inside the bag is a small pocket where you can put an extra battery and an extra card. You can even put your iPhone in! Well, the iPhone before the iPhone5 and without a case!

But, the best way to show it is by a video demonstration. And since the wife is the one who handles the point-and-shoot most of the time, she'll be the one who will model the SnapR 10.

This is a Highly Recommended photography accessory!

So get yours here!

Some notes:

-- This is the first time that I have used a DSLR to shoot a movie, so any sloppy camera work is mine and mine alone (the wife is a much better videographer than I am!). Also, I pieced the video clips together in Adobe Photoshop - it's good that Photoshop can now edit movies also, albeit it slows down my computer considerably.

-- Special thanks go to K. Francesca Lukjanowicz of BlackRapid for providing the SnapR.

-- Music in the video: "Sunshine" by Cath and Phil Tyler.

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 5D Mark II (article)

-- Canon 7D

-- Canon 24-105 f/4L IS USM Lens

-- Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM (review)

-- Joby GorillaPod Focus (review)

-- Think Tank Photo Retrospective7 (review)

Apple Earpods - A Review

During Apple's iPhone/iPod event last September 12, 2012, aside from the new iPhone and iPod Touch and Nano, the other thing that got me excited was the announcement of the Apple Earpods. And you can imagine my excitement when it was announced that it'll be available the next day.

Now, I am no audiophile, but I love how this earphones sound. From my perspective, songs ranging from jazz, to blues, to classics, to techno, to rock all sound great. And since it's a pair of in-ear "speakers", I didn't need to blast it for me to hear the music: a 50% sound level is already loud for me.

You can change the volume level in the inline remote, as well as play/pause your music. Double-tapping the play button, you can skip forward while triple-tapping will make you go back. Of course there is a mic in the inline remote for calls or voice recording.

But, this is not a noise-canceling set, so I can still hear sounds from the "outside" world - this is a good thing especially if I will use this headset to walk about.

And as to be expected from Apple, the packaging in this set is really beautiful. I love all gadgets that care about packaging, no matter what the brand, but for me, Apple is the unchallenged number one when it comes to packaging.

The only thing I do not like about this headset is that it is a little loose - yes, my kind of ear was not taken into account when Apple surveyed the different kinds of ear canals. But aside from that, I love this pair of earphones. I just won't be able to use it while jogging...

For under $30, you cannot go wrong with this set of earphones.

The Shy Photographer, and audiophile hopeful, rates this Highly Recommended!

Get yours here!

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 5D Mark II (article)

-- Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM (review)

-- Joby GorillaPod Focus (review)

Joby 3-Way Camera Strap

If you see me with my camera, you will see me with one of two "modes". Either I wrap the strap that came with the camera on my hand when I'm shooting, or with the strap extended as far as it could so that I could diagonally hang the camera across my chest. This can present a couple of problems: wrapping the strap on one's arm isn't really convenient; extending the strap to the furthest it could go can be dangerous - the strap can slip...

So when Joby announced the 3-way strap, i quickly jumped on the opportunity to try it out.

This strap is made up, primarily, of three parts:

• the thick, short strap that you wrap around your hand;
• the thick part that attaches to your camera via the tripod screw mount;
• and the hidden cord that makes this strap extra special.

Using the strap can't be any simpler: just use it as you would the strap that came with a point-and-shoot - run your hand through the strap and grip the camera with your fingers. This strap is useful because, as opposed to going commando (my term for strapless - I don't know if other photographers use it in this sense), you have no fear of your camera dropping to the ground in case it slips your fingers. The thick strap has you covered. You can even increase the security of the camera by tightening it with the red ring that is conveniently placed on the tripod screw mount.

Now, you could be wondering why the screw mount is as thick as that. Well, it is because of the hidden cord that's wounded inside that same mount. You see, with the flip of a switch, you can extend the hand strap and convert it to a full-length strap. You can now put the camera on your shoulder, what I like, or on your neck, which i really don't like. You are then free to use your shooting hand.

And when the time comes that you need to shoot again? Well, you can shoot with the cord extended or, with the flick of a switch, you can retract the cord and convert the "shoulder" strap back to a "hand" strap.

But what am I saying? The best way to show how this wonderful strap works is with a video...

Some thoughts...

Joby stated on their website that the cord is really strong and can carry a 90-pound weight. If they say so, then I will entrust my precious to it. Secondly, I wish that this strap can be combined to the GorillaPod Focus (my review). That would be the best set up. However, this does not diminish, in any way, how good this 3-Way Strap is.

The Shy Photographer rates it Highly Recommended!

Special thanks to Emily Voigtlander and Jen Goykhman of Joby Inc.

Music in the video: "Fat Caps" by Jason Shaw.

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 5D Mark II (article)

-- Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM (review)

-- Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM (review)

-- Canon Powershot SX230HS (review)

-- Lowepro Urban Photo Sling 150 (My reviews here and here)

-- Joby GorillaPod Focus (review)

-- Benro Travel Angel A2691T (review)

Product Photography: Adidas Vigor Trail 2.0

As I've said in a previous post, I fell in love with jogging. However, I needed to retire my pair of shoes: it had its share of run ins from the toe paths of Princeton, NJ to the concrete trail of Chicago's Lake Shore Trail. So, when I got the new pair, I decided to make some photos of it. (Full disclosure: I already used the shoes before I got around to photographing it.)

These are the photos that I was able to make.

Product photography usually require a big budget, lots of lights, lots of people working and with the most gear one can imagine. But not having those doesn't mean that you cannot make great product pictures. Or at least attempt to. All you need is some photography know-how and a willingness to "drop on the ground", so to speak.

When I started off, I photographed my shoes on top of the foot rug, as pictured above. (Yes, that's a foot rug...) However, I wanted to have some illumination on the underside of the shoes, so, in order to do that, I reversed the foot rug so that the shoes will now be resting on the rug's lighter side. This means the light from the ceiling will then be reflected back to the shoes. However, with the lighter side of the foot rug now in the picture, the scene became dominated by a light-colored background and base. If you know your photography, you know that the camera will then adjust the scene to make it 15% grey: it will underexpose the scene. So, to compensate, I overexposed the setting by one stop. I then adjusted the contrast in post to make the shoes pop.

So, the next time have a new gear, whether photography-related, your next iOS device, or even your favorite candy bar, make some photographs out of it. I assure you it will be really satisfying. Oh, and I really love the shoes!

Behind-the-scene shots can be found here. Thanks to the wife for taking these shots.

Side note: using a GorillaPod really makes product photography very easy!

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Gear used in this photo shoot:

• Canon 5D Mark II (article)
• Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro (review)
• Joby GorillaPod Focus (review)
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

BlackRapid RS-Sport-2 Review

When you buy a new camera, you always find a strap inside the box. The problem with this strap, especially for DSLRs, is that they are emblazoned with the camera brand and, more often than not, the camera model. The camera makers would like that: you already paid for the gadget and yet you still serve as an unpaid advertiser - you will be advertising the brand and model of the camera that you are using to the public.

This presents an unsafe situation: if a thief reads the latest photography blog post or magazine, then s/he will know exactly how much your camera is worth.

Another thing, the neck strap that came with your DSLR can also cause neck strain: imagine carrying a 5-pound gear, or more, on your neck for extended time...

Enter the BlackRapid RS-Sport-2.

This strap is one of the slim versions of the BlackRapid family of straps. It is made up of some really nice materials from the strap, to the buckles, to the metal connector. Your camera is attached via the FastnR which you screw into the tripod mount hole. Yes, BlackRapid has an ingenious way of naming things.

What makes this strap extra special is the extra strap, called the Brad, that goes underneath your arm. Yes, the connector can glide smoothly along the strap but the Brad will prevent the RS-Sport-2 from slipping down your shoulder. This extra strap enables you to move swiftly from one point to another; you can even run towards a photographic opportunity without your camera strap moving out of place. That is very important for those who shoot high speed scenes, like sporting events, weddings, or street fairs, to name a few.

And since the strap runs along your shoulder, not your neck, you won't experience any neck sprain even if you are in a day-long event.

However, you don't need to be a sports photographer to take advantage of the benefits of this strap. As an example, watch the video the wife and I made during one of the special (late) summer events here in Chicago: The World Music Festival.

As I've said in this really old post back when I was just starting, the BlackRapid Strap is the best camera strap in the world. My opinion of BlackRapid has not changed with the RS-Sport-2.

The Shy Photographer rates it Highly Recommended.

Get yours here!

Special thanks to K. Francesca Lukjanowicz of BlackRapid.

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 5D Mark II (article)

-- Canon 7D

-- Canon 24-105 f/4L IS USM Lens

-- Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM (review)

-- Think Tank Photo Retrospective7 (review)

-- Joby GorillaPod Focus (review)

-- Benro Travel Angel (review)

The Think Tank Photo Retrospective7 Camera Bag - A Review

As I have said in my review of the Think Tank Photo Airport 4-Sight, I usually am a one-camera-one-speedlite photographer. And usually, I use a backpack to lug my camera gear around.

But now that I am no longer hampered, not as much anyway, by my shoulder problem, I believe I am ready to use shoulder bags again.

Enter the Think Tank Photo Retrospective 7.

The pinestone-colored Retrospective 7 is gorgeous! The texture can be likened to, I believe, a pair of pants. It doesn't look remotely like a camera bag. Even up close, because of the material used for the shell of the bag, you wouldn't be able to tell. Only a few trained eyes, perhaps only the other Retrospective users, will be able to tell that you are lugging around a camera bag. On the front, there are no logos, no brand names - just a plain and simple shoulder bag. And this, I believe, is a big plus since you would not want to shout out, on the streets, that you are carrying your precious camera gear. Of course all bets are off once you pull out your camera and you start shooting...

The Canon 7D paired with A 70-300mm lens.

The only logo that you can find outside the bag is the one found on the back; which is right next to your body; which cannot be seen by other people when you walk around.

Speaking of pulling your camera out... Underneath the flap are two of, I believe, the biggest hook-and-loop fasteners that I've seen in a bag. (Yes, yes, the more popular name for that thing is Velcro, but not all hook-and-loop straps are Velcro brands, right?) This means that it is not that easy to open up the flap - even fully-loaded, the bag tends to lift when I open the flap. Now, this size of a hook-and-loop strap makes for one noisy contraption. However, Think Tank Photo provided a silencer for those times you need to maintain the quiet. But, with this mode there really is nothing to prevent the contents of your bag to spill out, no buckle, no magnets: So use caution when you silence the hook-and-loop straps.

Behind the bag is a space for an iPad or, as you can see on the picture, an 11-inch Macbook Air. That is a sweet deal!

Padded dividers are provided and you can customize how they are placed to your heart's content.

Also, you can find, on this bag, one of the thickest padding I've seen on a shoulder bag strap. This makes carrying the bag really comfortable. A rain cover is also provided for those times when you get caught up in the rain. Or in the snow in winter time.

And where is the best place to test out this bag? On the streets of course - during a music festival. What can I say? The bag is a joy to use. So let me serenade you with a little music from the Chicago Jazz Festival.

With all these features, The Shy Photographer rates it Highly Recommended!

So get yours here:

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Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 7D

-- Canon 24-105 IS USM f/4L

-- Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro (review)

-- Benro Travel Angel (review)

-- Canon Powershot (review)

Good Photographers Will Go to Great Lengths to Get Their Shots

What is the difference between a good photographer and a person who happens to own a camera, whether it's a cameraphone, a point-and-shoot or a DSLR? Well, a good photographer would go to great lengths to get that great shot, whether to wade through mud, stand in freezing water, or to just ignore the bees buzzing around hoping that they will not sting you. A person who just happens to own a camera will just get the shot while ignoring composition, cutting limbs of the persons in the photo, or just thinking that s/he can correct things "in post".

While I don't know if the wedding photographer here is really a good one but the fact that she really thought of her compositions speaks volumes about her "artistic" capabilities: the couple was backlit, the sun about to set, the way the couple was posed... Well, I would have added a little fill flash so as not to overexpose the background, but maybe that is her style. Maybe she really deserved to get hired!

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Shots made with a Canon 7D and a Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens. Want the best backpack for your DSLR? Check out my review of my favorite, the Lowepro Versapack 200AW, here and here.