Advertising Photography with Digitals

I've been shooting advertising material with various digital cameras - from 4Megapixel machines to 12Megapixels for a few years now. The quality of the image comes from ISO/ASA setting, aperture, exposure time, use of a tripod, lighting and of course, planning, design and execution of the shot itself.

This shot is of a product called RotaSeal - used in almost all fuel station applications - to allow the hose to rotate - and still keep the seal around it intact.

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Just a short note to wish everyone a happy Mother's Day! Enjoy the day, have fun, and have a drink!

How many cameras do you really own?

It has come to my attention that a great number of people have multiple cameras - film based and digital. For those of us who spent a fortune on digital cameras about 7 years ago, our attachment to the cameras and related equipment is sustained by the amount of cash we spent on it back then. We can't just throw away something we spent $2000 on back in the year 2001.

So my questions to readers are:

• How many cameras do you own?
• How many are digital?
• How many are film based?
• Are you still using them?

Chasing Megapixels

The constant desire to upgrade and have the 'best' is driving the sale of cameras and other photo related accessories. People who know nothing about photography are clamoring to upgrade their 6 megapixel camera for an 8 megapixel machine. The market is driven by numbers only. Eight is more than six, so it's gotta be good, right? People who print only 4x6 inch vacation and family type prints don't realize that a 3 (three) megapixel camera will produce great results. I've made a 30x40 inch print from a 7 megapixel digital camera and it looks fantastic.


Rather than chase after megapixels and the highest numbers one can find, photographers (amateur and pro) should concentrate on content itself. The subject of what they're shooting is more important than how it's shot. If you can produce 'wow' images with ANY camera, then the only limitation is what you see in your mind. The camera is purely a tool.
I know people who own 5,6,7 and 8 megapixel cameras and do nothing creative with them. Being impressed by numbers isn't creative.

So what's inside an SD memory card?

I dissected an old SD memory card to show everybody what's inside.

There's a front housing cover, and a real housing cover. What's inside is simply a thin wafer containing the flash memory. The 3-shot shows all the components after the card has been opened, and the single image shows a slight detail of the memory itself.

These little cards are easy to open with a sharp knife, but it appears that the plastic is welded during the manufacturing process, and it doesn't just snap open. So don't expect to get the little guy back together again.

Digital vs. 35mm film

Many photographers wonder how much of a difference there is between the 'old' 24x36mm film format and the 'new' digital formats. I did some research and here's what I found:

An Eastman Kodak film scientist was quoted to say that, in a scientific magazine, the upper limits of 35mm film in use today by consumers is about ~25.8MP. Thus, consumer digicams have a far ways to go before even matching the resolution and detail in film in prints.

It seems that whatever the general public perceives becomes reality.
As long as they're happy with the final 4x6 inch print of their Johnny swinging a bat at a ball -- that's all that matters.

In fact, color, focus, saturation, contrast and lighting can go to hell, as long as Johnny's face is 'sorta clear in the pitcher'...

The craft, science and art of photography have been stepped on by all the wonderful technology involving auto focus, program mode, face recognition, and auto ISO.

I wonder if anyone can still pick up a Pentax K1000 with a roll of Tri-X loaded and manage to shoot a roll of good pictures...

Distortion in digital cameras

I have a number of cameras - from standard 35mm SLRs to 2¼ format to a couple of view cameras - and a few digitals.

Having used the Nikons and Mamiyas as well as my 4x5 Horseman for a lot of client work, I know how they handle, and what quality of image the lenses deliver.

I'm noticing a certain amount of distortion in a number of the consumer digital cams. I recently picked up a Fuji S700 as a quickshooter and have noticed that shooting a square or rectangle head on (in both wide angle and 'telephoto' mode) results in a pincushion.

If there are any pros out there - or anyone shooting for publication, would you let me know what camera(s) you're using and what type of optical distortion you might have encountered?

These quick shoot digital cameras are great, but my question is - are they great enough for a picky art director who might wonder why you didn't shoot his assignment with a Nikon F using a 105mm / 2.5 instead of the digital...

Comments?