Conversion factors and shutter speed...

People often ask about why they took better pictures with their point-and-shoots than with their DSLR's. The complaint is that pictures turn out blurry and out-of-focus. While there are many potential reasons, one of the most overlooked is related to lens conversion factors on other than full frame sensors.

The long standard rule for hand-holding (yes I know, we should ALL be using tripods ALL the time...) is that shutter speed should be equal to, or faster than the inverse of the focal length of the lens being used. That may sound complicated but is actually quite simple. If you are using a 100 mm fixed lens or have your zoom set to 100 mm, you can only get sharp pictures with a shutter speed of 1/100 second or faster. An 85 mm lens would allow you to hand-hold at speeds down to 1/85th of a second, and so on. Where there isn't a shutter speed that matches your lens' focal length, use the next fastest available.

Where we run into problems is with DSLR's that have smaller than full-frame sensors. Full frame models correspond to traditional 35mm cameras and the rule above holds true. Smaller sensor cameras have a magnifying effect on lens. Usually called a digital conversion factor, it makes the effective focal length of a lens some multiple (usually 1.4--1.6x) of its named length. A camera with a 1.4x conversion factor makes a 100mm lens the equivalent of a 140, and a 300mm lens...a 450mm! While this is terrific for photographers that need longer glass, it creates a problem for everyone when it comes to shutter speeds.

Remember our rule? Good. Now remember this: the rule applies to the EFFECTIVE focal length of your lens. This means that higher shutter speeds are necessary to hand-hold your camera if you don't have a full-frame sensor. The 100mm lens mentioned above needs to be used with a 1/140 second or faster shutter speed to get sharp pictures. The 300mm must be shot at over 1/450th of a second.

With enough light, increased shutter speeds don't pose a huge problem. At low light levels and in close-up work additional light or higher ISO's will be needed. The biggest problem is REMEMBERING that higher shutter speeds are needed. I've fallen into the trap of thinking shutter speeds are fast enough, only to be disappointed with results later on.

AND, vibration reduction (VR) lenses should not be considered a fix. In some ways they're used as a crutch to compensate. While they can be of some assistance with minor, barely detectable camera movement; they are no substitute for shooting with appropriate shutter speeds.

When in doubt, lug the tripod out. If you can't, or don't want to, be aware--and REMEMBER to apply conversion factors to your shutter speed consierations...

i-Phonery...

So I bit on the new iPhone, managed to locate one (thought the frenzy would have died down, but supply and demand is still an issue [don't know which is driving this wagon...]), and ponied up the d0-re-mi to buy one.

My hope is to use it as a mobile gallery (suggested apps, anyone?) for Carlo Balistrieri Photography, and as an "on person" camera for those occasions when I'm not lugging a bag. As Chase Jarvis says, "The best camera is the one you have with you." His website has featured iPhone photography and he appears to be having a blast--with his phone.

I took it out for the first time yesterday to a little project in the Hamptons. Didn't have time to really mess around, but did a little project photography--grab shots in the purest sense of the word. It can't possibly have put the 3 meg camera through its paces, but was really handy (and it wasn't possible to haul the D2X around...

Video from a DSLR?

I know...I'm a bit late to the party. Video from DSLR's has been around for a while. I've always been leery of the idea, but then read Chase Jarvis' blog about Panasonic's foray into the world of video from a still camera. Chase's review of the camera, the Lumix GH1 was a little luke warm, and I still think I'd prefer a dedicated video camera (although I'm willing to be convinced)...

BUT...what really caught my eye was the piece put together with the GH1 and a little software. You can see it below...

Kauai sunset: Lumix GH1 slow motion from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

SO...what did YOU think? I have to admit being pretty blown away. The quality is much better than I expected--certainly far in excess of what is needed for web applications. Compare it to the huge majority of U-Tube fare and I think you'll agree.

How good is the underlying DSLR? Chase doesn't really get to far with that conundrum and I'm not on Panasonic's list so I can't speak to it personally. Expect reviews to begin flowing as the camera approaches its market release date at the end of May. 

Do I have applications for such video? You bet. I'd love to be able to embed clips on the websites as easy as the short above was to patch in.

The music was great too, no?

Shutter to think?

I shutter to think.

For years much of my shooting has been incidental. Variously described as "run and gun", "grab and go", and "shoot now, ask later"; the camera was there, I was there, and the subject was there. This half-assed approach to photography has yielded many wonderful photographs and resulted in more than a few sales.

While this style, incidental photography, remains an important part of my repertoire, a sea change occurred in the past few years when I began to get more serious about this part of my artistic output. Now, at least some of the time, I think when I shoot.

This contemplation is not limited to the mechanical and technological aspects of "making" the photography...camera and lighting equipment, settings, post-production in Lightroom and Photoshop...but extends well beyond. I'm thinking about WHY I'm shooting what I'm shooting; why I'm shooting it the way that I am; how I'll catalogue it when it's ready; what I'll do with it (i.e. how I can monetize it); and how I can market it. 

As a corollary to the new philosophy (the new ME), I'm thinking about shots I want before I even pick up the camera. I keep a list of shots to take and ideas to explore. I look BEFORE I leap--no longer content to happen upon a scene or event and then record it.

My photography is helping me slow down and think. I photograph--shutter--to think.

Carlo Balistrieri Photography is HERE!

I've hinted, suggested, threatened to take picture making to the next level...and finally have done it. 

At last it's here...CarloBalistrieri.com. After a long gestation period, the website...and this blog, are LIVE. For the moment the galleries are a bit on the skinny side. The big D2x, Photoshop, and Lightroom are all learning curves and the thousands of slides waiting to get scanned have one of their own. Stay tuned as the number climbs. 

The website is a vehicle to show you what I do with a camera. The galleries, "You" (people, events, food, travel...) and "Your World" (Garden/Flower, Wildlife, Texture and Pattern, Color, Macro) will showcase photography from the various disciplines I engage in professionally.

This blog is a place to talk about it. After all, the next best thing to making photographs is chatting about them, sharing experience and learning from the experience of others.

Join me in the quest. It just keeps getting better...