The Greatest Action Cameras Of 2017

I can still remember when action cameras were a thing of the future. It was difficult taking beautiful pictures while on extreme situations because photographers, back in the day, had to endure weight, sunlight, and other external factors just to capture beautiful images. Fast forward to today, we’re blessed with action cameras that are convenient and powerful. Thinking of buying one for your travels? Here are the greatest action cameras (so far).

                                 

                                                                   Image source:cnet.com

GoPro Hero5 GoPro’s Hero5 is a bestseller for all the right reasons. It has stunning 4K video quality, takes breathtaking photos at 16 megapixels, it only weighs 118g, and it is waterproof, even without its housing! The best news is, you won’t have to break the bank to buy it. It only costs around 370 USD!

Veho Muvi K2 Pro If you’re running on a budget, and do not need a waterproof action camera, the Veho Muvi K2 Pro is a good choice. It takes 12 megapixel stills with 4K video quality. It also comes with a carry case, mounts, and an LCD touchscreen. Its 1,500 mAh battery can handle up to three hours of nonstop recording.

Image source:olfi.co.uk

Olfi One.Five The Olfi One.Five has a sleek design that makes a mark from all the other action cameras. It weighs 56g, but it needs a case for it to be waterproof. You can take beautiful HDR videos in super slow motion, too! It may be a budget camera, but its shots are not cheap at all!

Hi there, Keith W. Springer here. I’m a retired photographer from New York City. Even if I’m in my golden years, I still enjoy taking pictures of nature, National Parks, and other travel destinations. Learn more about photography when you visit this blog.

A Primer On Photography Rules In National Parks

Taking pictures in national parks is one of the most fulfilling endeavors for photographers because of the abundance of magnificent natural subjects. However, there are rules to consider if you do not want National Park Service (NPS) Rangers or, in extreme cases, the Feds approaching you for breaking the law.

Image source:myitchytravelfeet.com

The first thing photographers need to determine is whether they need to apply for a permit or not.

The NPS states that it “will not require a permit for photographers, commercial or non-commercial, to go anywhere or to do anything that members of the public are generally allowed to go or do without a permit.” Essentially, most still photographs do not need to acquire a permit, especially if the photographer acts in the same way that most visitors do.

Even using a tripod, large lenses, or time-lapse accessories is permissible. However, other props or sets that are constructed or placed on the land or to stage specific scenes would require a permit.

These props include backdrops, generators, lighting, camera, trackers, camping equipment, and even trained animals. Using a model – person or object – for commercial purposes also needs a permit.

Image source:mikereyfman.com

All commercial filming, which is defined by the law as the “recording of a moving image for a market audience with the intent of generating income,” needs a permit. Contrastingly, personal filming is allowed, as long as it would not be used in any commercial way.

My name is Keith W. Springer. I used to be an event photographer, but after I retired, I have given more focus on nature photography. When I have the time, I visit national parks with my wife, Laura. You can read more about it here.

Three business ideas for photographers

If you have a passion for photography and are very good at it, then it’s time for you to earn income with your shot-taking skills. The photography industry is a multibillion-dollar industry with a lot of potential to explore and make profit. Here are some small business ideas for photographers. 

Image source : reelbigmedia.com

1. Stock photography If you’ve tried to search for an image online, then you’ve probably come across an image of random people that has a watermark on it. They’re called stock photos. Stock photography involves taking random pictures of common places, landmarks, nature, and people and selling them to newspaper companies, magazine designers, website designers, and everyone that has a need for it. 

2. Real estate photographer The competition among real estate agents is tough. They need to market their clients’ properties and make it as appealing as possible to potential customers. So, they hire creative photographers to take pictures of properties and use the image to post in listing websites and magazines. 

3. Wedding photographer Wedding photography is a business that is always high in demand. If you want a business with low risks and more demand, you should try becoming a wedding photographer. You have to be creative though, because brides are very picky about whom they select to cover their weddings. 

Image source : blog.creativelive.com

Hi there, my name’s Keith W. Springer. I’m a retired photographer from New York. I’m currently traveling the country to photograph national parks. Visit my blog to know more.

Capture Good Low Light Photography Even Without a Tripod

As a travel photographer, the size and weight of the equipment you carry around are very important.So, each equipment has to have an essential role in your photography to have a space in your pack.One of the most important tools used by photographers, but takes a lot of weight and space is the tripod. But a tripod is only useful when you can’t find a way to stabilize your photos, especially during low light.

Image source:photble.com

Here are two ways on how to pull off low light photography even without a tripod:

Use a wide aperture

Because you’re going to handhold your camera in low light, you’ll have to work with a wide aperture, a high ISO, or both. Often, photographers opt for smaller aperture lens to maximize depth of field, but that isn’t practical for low light situations. Use your camera’s widest aperture, to get the most out of the available light, and focus on the most important picture in the frame.

Image source:photble.com

Use image stabilization

A slower shutter speed allows you to get more light to come in the lens but restricts your movement in the process because a little movement will make your image blurry. If your lens has image stabilization, you can adjust the value of your shutter speed two to three stops slower than the recommended setting before it gets blurry. This flexibility makes a big difference in low light situations.

The name’s Keith W. Springer. I’m a retired photographer from New York City. I currently travel with my wife, Laura, to photograph national parks around the country. Visit my blog to know more.

Park Photography: The Best Places To Visit

If you’re into park photography, then you know the best places to visit are America’s national parks. These places are dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the country.  Here’s a list of national parks that you ought to visit.

Image source: grandcanyon.com

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon is less popular than Zion and the Grand Canyon, and that’s a good thing. The place won’t be that crowded, plus, there are geological similarities to Grand Canyon. The park is located in southwest Utah.

Sagarmatha National Park

This park is known for Mt. Everest. But this park has more to offer.  Sagarmatha has a designation as an Important Bird Area. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to photograph diverse kinds of bird species. Be warned though, the terrain is not easy to trek. So if you’re not used to hiking rugged places, then this might not be for you.

Image source : tanzania.travel-culture.com

Serengeti National Park 

This park is perfect for wildlife photography. This place is heavily protected due to its wide range of wildlife. It’s also worth mentioning that no humans are allowed to live there, meaning the place is 100 percent home to wildlife.

Hi I’m Keith W. Springer. I used to be a professional photographer, but now I’m retired. Get more tips from me when you visit my blog.

Why centering is the top photography mistake you should avoid

Photography is a craft that takes years to master. It is a learning process with many pitfalls. Just like many artistic endeavors, photography has its set of rules. Although the existence of bad photographs is debatable, there is a pretty ultimate consensus when it comes to separating amateur and great photography. There are, of course, a few rules of thumb to follow, but none as more fundamental as the rule on centering

Image source: digital-photo-secrets.com

When horizon lines are placed in the middle of a photograph, it halves the picture in two. This is one of the most, if not the most, common mistake new photographers make. Viewers are sometimes confused by the image, wondering which half they should look at. The subject then becomes a topic of debate in their minds.

One of the first things taught to photography students is the Rule of Thirds, which is a sure-fire way to remedy any problems regarding centering. It states that horizon lines, even subjects should be on a line that divides the image into thirds.

Image source: photographymad.com

This applies to subjects as well. If you’re taking a picture of a person or an object, have them at them vertical “third” lines. If you’re confused which line to use, take two photographs and choose which one brings more out of the subject.

Hello! I’m Keith W. Springer and I am a photographer. For more on my work and photography in general, follow me on Facebook.

Capturing The Beauty Of Central Park Through The Lens

A visit to Manhattan is never complete without taking a stroll in Central Park, the most visited urban park in the country with tens of millions of visitors yearly and one of the most filmed locations in the world.  Taking photographs in Central Park may not be a walk in the park at first, but these few tips can be a big help to those who want to try it.
  
Shoot portraits

The park is the perfect backdrop for portraits.  And if a photographer does not have a companion to use as a subject, there are plenty other people in the area.  Just remember to give performers or artists a tip and ask permission from parents before taking pictures of their children. 

Image source: telegraph.co.uk

 
Include the NY skyline 

The city skyline provides an excellent backdrop, too.  It provides a photographer the opportunity to practice with the camera’s focus settings.  Also, since Central Park has serene bodies of water, great reflections of the skyline can be taken in various locations.   

Stay late

Open until 1 o’ clock in the morning, the park transforms into a mysterious place during the night.  With enough illumination along the pathways and the passages, it provides another angle of the park for photographers.  

Image source: aponderingmind.org

Obey the rules

Central Park is easily accessible to film productions and photographers, whether professional or amateur.  But to protect the park, along with its visitors, structures, and flora and fauna, these guidelines must be adhered to.  

Hi there, I’m Keith W. Springer.  I used to work as an event photographer, covering events in the socials circles of New York.  Now, I enjoy nature photography, which brings me to different parks in this state and beyond.  If you are looking to discuss photography, connect with me on Google+.

Go Pro As Photog? Three Reasons Why you Should and Should Not Do It

Many aspiring photographers think that the gear brings them the title, and having a camera makes them a photographer. Some think it’s easy to get into the industry, meet clients, and build a nice portfolio.

If you’re one of those people, and you’re on the verge of ditching your current job to push through being a full-time professional photographer, you must read the following reasons on why you should or should not go PRO.

First, work schedule. You may think that the job will give you a lot of time to pursue other things -- more time than what you have with your 8 to 5 desk job.

Image source: Photographyschoolguys.com

The real deal. Flexibility in schedule is something that freelancers have, which most regular employees do not. As a photographer, you will get to decide on your projects and clients. You can turn down offers, if you don’t feel like doing it. However, if you want to earn regularly, grabbing gigs is a must.

Flexibility is also a con as much as it is a pro. The downside of not having a fixed schedule is that you cannot plan things ahead. You may get hired on any day of the week. There may also be situations wherein a promising project will be offered to you, which may force you to alter personal plans you’ve already booked that are equally important. Family time can also be affected.

If you think that photography stints take only a couple hours, think again. The more gigs you get, the more time you’ll spend doing post-processing work.

Second, output and creativity. Taking your family’s picture when there’s an occasion doesn’t qualify you as photographer. That portrait looks good, but everyone can take a photo like that. Becoming a full-time photographer will require you to become your own brand.

The real deal Photographers can differentiate themselves with others by having their own unique style and technique, not only in taking photos, but also in their photo editing styles. Some photographers even save the custom settings that they use when enhancing their pictures.

Having your own style is good. But, not all clients let photographers do their thing. Some clients want to have full control, completely disregarding a photographer’s creative input. As the photographer, you must be open to this, and to altering your style once in a while to accommodate clients’ requests.

Third, gear. Since you have a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, the field of photography is yours to take. Not really.

The real deal Owning a camera, and one that is a cult-favorite within the industry, doesn’t mean you’re good to go. The path to becoming a good photographer is more demanding than that. If you want to improve as a professional photographer, you need to have more than just a good eye in photography and good gear.

Image source: Allartschools.com

 Speedlites, softboxes, umbrella lights, and other external devices are some of the things that you will need in the future. If you’re not earning enough yet from being a photographer, this is a challenge because most of these come with a hefty price tag.

However, you need to invest in these things, if you want to be better at your craft. Natural lighting can only do so much, and it isn’t applicable in every setting or location. Do your research, and invest only on what’s necessary. Avoid overspending, since you’re not really sure when you’ll get a return on investment.

Hi, I’m Keith W. Springer. I am a retired professional photographer. As of present, I enjoy life by appreciating nature through regular strolls in the park. I always take snapshots of my family and of nature because the photographer in me is still alive and kicking. But most of the time, I am about the quiet life, content in writing in my journal, and rediscovering my community. Join my quiet trips around New York by following my blog.