Nothing compares to the excitement and joy a couple feel on their wedding day, and no doubt you would want to document every special moment to create lasting memories.  Read on as we take a closer look on how you can shoot like a pro on that special day.

Preparation is the key to taking good photographs. This means that you should be prepared to meet with the couple and think ahead with them on where and how they would like to be photographed.  Scout locations and various settings and most importantly listen to their preferences, requests and wishes. This will help you figure out exactly what equipment you will need.

Photo by KatsuNojiri

Be Creative, don’t shoot the same old shots over and over again, try different angles and change your perspective. While most photographs in your album will be traditional, stand out from the crowd by taking bold untraditional shots without missing small details, i.e. photograph rings, back of wedding dress, shoes,  flowers , table settings;  this will give your album a new dimension. Sometimes you need to be bold and spontaneous to capture a moment, but you better take that shot fast because timing is everything

Photo by Corey Ann

Use a Fill Flash, when shooting outside after a ceremony or during the posed shots, you will want to keep your flash attached to give a little fill light on people’s faces. Fill flash is useful particularly in backlit or midday shooting conditions where there can be a lot of shadow.

Photo By KatsuNojiri

Make use of natural light. Try a solo shot of the bride backlit by the sun, the veil and dress will glow. You might need some fill light to bring some detail back into her face.  The warmer the light, the redder it will be, so carefully choose the time period you’ll go out and shoot.

Photo by Stirling Wedding Photography

Be flexible with your lenses. If you notice that you aren’t getting the bride and groom to interact with you, switch to a zoom lens and zoom in on the action. It gives the bride and groom a chance to relax while you can still snap close ups. Once the wedding party is more comfortable with your presence, switch to a wide angle lens to make sure you get everyone in the shot.

Have a backup plan, so make sure your batteries are charged. A single battery is unlikely to make it through the day, so charge a spare as well. Carry an extra camera body and lens with you with in case something goes wrong with the one you are using.  Let someone else take photographs with you, it will add a new perspective and help you in instances where you can’t capture a shot quickly.

Have fun! The more relaxed you are, the more people will be relaxed approaching and talking to you, which will have a positive impact on the quality of your images.  The best way to make people relaxed is to listen to your subjects, and smile as you are taking the photograph!

 This photo was taken by Gerry Balding in Cuba!

It can be hard to capture the feeling of music and dance in a photograph because they stimulate more senses that just visual. We see it as a great opportunity to stretch your skills! Take photos of music, dance, or both!

Congratulations to Ekhane Britto Nei for winning this weeks "people" themed contest with her photo of people eating watermelon!

To submit a photo, post it to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FocusCamera. If you do not have a Facebook, you can email photos to contests@focuscamera.com. You do not need to be a professional to submit a photo, we would love to see photos of all kinds and qualities. We agree with Ken Rockwell when he said “No matter how advanced your camera you still need to be responsible for getting it to the right place at the right time and pointing it in the right direction to get the photo you want.” So, in short, Get creative! We really hope our contest inspires you to go out and take new photos, but if you have an older one that fits the bill that works too. However, all photos MUST be your photos. We judge photographs 50% on how well they fulfill the theme, and 50% on photography mechanics like light, focus, composition, etc. Submit a photo and you could win a $10 Focus Camera gift card!

*** OFFICIAL RULES ***

Last week we went up to Central Park to film a review for the Nikon D600. As we were crossing the street, an outgoing and energetic young man jumped into Nathaniel's frame and posed for a photo! It was a long and tiring shoot, and this fellow really made our day! Unfortunately we were slow-witted and did not think to give him a Focus Camera card, but if he sees this, he can contact us and us we will give him a $25 Focus Camera gift card! Thank you Focus Camera Fan!

]]> Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:26:59 +0000 ksargent  

The Canon SX50, Nikon P520, and Sony HX300 are high end DSLR’s that boast large optical zoom lenses. We decided to run them against each other in an epic “zoom off” at the Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn. Read our thoughts on each camera below, and look at the photos and video we took to decide which zoom is the best for you!

First off, The Canon SX50!

The Canon Sx50 was really fun to use. The auto focus was fast and accurate, even when extended to its full 50x zoom.  A major pitfall for many cameras is that their auto focus ceases to work as the camera zooms in closer. As you can see from the photos of the peacock, not only is the Sx50 focused, but also keeps a lot of definition and detail. It’s  ISO of up to 6,400 probably helps out with the focusing, as well as taking great quality photos in low light. The video is 1080 full HD, and though we were standing in the back of the room we could capture details on the baboon’s hands and fur. At the end of the video we put in a sample of the photos taken using the burst shooting mode (13 fps). Overall, big thumbs up for the SX50!

Next up, The Nikon P520!

The Nikon P520 was sleek and light and its 3.2 inch high resolution LCD screen which flips out and rotates made it really easy to take pictures and see exactly what we were capturing. It had a harder time focusing, especially in low light due to its ISO of 3,200, but with a lot of natural light, like the photos of the kissing prairie dogs or video (1080HD) of the otter, it performed wonderfully, albeit a little slowly. Though we were not impressed by the P520 overall, we still got some beautiful photos and video, and given more time and instruction to play around with the settings, we think the ease of shooting could be brought up to match its ergonomic design.

And last but not least, the Sony HX300!

The HX300 was also very easy and fun to use.  With a maximum ISO of 12,800 and aperture that goes to f/2.8, it can focus easily in dim situations. The HX300 has a comparable zoom capability to the Sx50. As you look at the photos and video of the baboons and sea lions, you can see that it keeps focus and definition even when maxed out at 50x. It can snap up to 10 fps in burst shooting mode, but it needs about thirty seconds to process them.  So, if you push the button too early you could end up watching the bulk of the action as the camera processes the mistimed photos you just took.  The HX300 also has the ability to take a 30 second exposure, and it has in-camera HDR capability, both of which open a lot of doors for creativity. Overall we were really impressed by the quality of the HX300 and would definitely take it on another zoo (or actual wildlife) adventure.

Note:

1. We did not use a tripod for any of the photos or videos in this post. A tripod would surely increase the quality and focus of each of these cameras. However, not wanting to get in the way of zoo patrons and hordes of excited school groups, we left our sticks at the office.

2. All cameras are on auto settings unless otherwise noted.

3. We used only the optical zoom on the cameras, no digital zoom. Optical zoom is when the lens physically extends to get a closer picture, while digital zoom is simply cropping and enlarging a portion of the photo in order to get closer, and decreases the overall quality of the picture.

The Nightmare Fear Factory in Niagra Falls installed a camera in one of the scariest parts of their haunted house and snapped numerous photographs that capture how different people show fear. Many of the photos are very humorous, and the collection raises the question, exactly what was so scary?

For this weeks contest, take photos of your family, friends, or even strangers! Though it can be nerve wracking to approach a stranger and ask for a picture, it can be worth it to reach out. Simply be polite and explain yourself "Hello, I'm _____. I'm a photographer and I noticed you _______ (Possible situations: Feeding the geese,playing Frisbee, walking your dog) and I would like to take a photo. Would that be okay with you?" If they say yes, snap away! Make sure to give them your contact information so you can share the photos with them afterwards. If they say no, its no big deal! There are plenty more fish in the sea, and plenty more people on land to take photos of! (If the photo is close up, will show the subjects face, or the subject will be recognizable, you should always ask!)

Congratulations to Jake Jackman Tessier for winning last week's "water" themed photo competition with his photo of the an ocean pier!

To submit a photo, post it to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FocusCamera. If you do not have a Facebook, you can email photos to contests@focuscamera.com. You do not need to be a professional to submit a photo, we would love to see photos of all kinds and qualities. We agree with Ken Rockwell when he said “No matter how advanced your camera you still need to be responsible for getting it to the right place at the right time and pointing it in the right direction to get the photo you want.” So, in short, Get creative! We really hope our contest inspires you to go out and take new photos, but if you have an older one that fits the bill that works too. However, all photos MUST be your photos. We judge photographs 50% on how well they fulfill the theme, and 50% on photography mechanics like light, focus, composition, etc. Submit a photo and you could win a $10 Focus Camera gift card!

*** OFFICIAL RULES ***

Last Friday, we took a trip to Pacific Aquarium and Pet INC where Chi, Anita, and Derek helped us test our latest waterproof cameras, the Olympus TG-2, TG-830, TG-630, and TF-1! They led us past tank after tank, (a tiny seahorse, two electric blue jellyfish, more kinds of goldfish than we knew existed, the mystical axolotl) and we had still only seen half of their aquarium. After being warned away from a couple of large spotted fish that might bite, we settled on a pond full of friendly Koi to start diving in. Below are our video clips from the Olympus TG-2, TG-830, TG-630, and Sony TF-1 along with our reviews of each camera.

The Olympus TG-2

The Olympus TG-2 has beautiful picture quality, which made it really fun to film with. We left it on the bottom of the tank, and when the Koi swam up to investigate, it focused clearly and immediately. What really surprised us was the vibrant and clear colors in the video. How does the TG-2 get such vibrant colors? Its aperture can go as wide as F2, which means it can let in more light. Water makes light act a bit funky, so it is hard for underwater cameras to reproduce color, expose properly, and focus. It is often recommended to use a flash at all times and have the subject of the photo no more than three feet away. On top of it's great picture quality, it was easy and fun to use, and collected great video with nice bubbly audio. It was our favorite camera of the four, however it also has the largest price tag, coming in at $350-$400.

The Olympus TG-830

As you can see, the TG-830 also has beautiful quality footage and great auto focus, even in the tanks with less light. It has a 16 Megapixel CMOS sensor which enhances its picture quality, and will enable you to zoom and crop without losing detail as you edit your photos. It felt very sturdy, and like the TG-2 it has locking ports for extra protection. Without having to compromise much on quality, the TG-830 is available in the $200-$250 range.

The Olympus TG-630

The TG-630 has a 12 megapixel sensor, and even at a lower price range ($150-$200) it can still capture 1080HD video. It stayed focused as we tested the 5x optical zoom in the dimly lit Koi pond, which was impressive. It also has double locking ports, so you can be secure that there won't be accidental flooding underwater. You can buy the TG-630, and then use your savings to have a fabulous trip to the beach!

The Sony TF-1

The Sony TF-1 is the smallest and most affordable of these underwater cameras. Out of the four, the TF-1 is the only one that would fit comfortably in a pocket. The TF-1 captures 720HD video. Though it had trouble focusing on the fast moving Koi, it was much more accurate in the calmer Axolotl (black salamanders with headdresses on) tank. At around $160, you can get the TF-1 with the same quality on land as any other point and shoot, AND be able to take it into the water. The lock on the port did feel less secure than on the TG series, but we did not have any trouble as we dunked it in multiple tanks.

Overall

All four cameras were easy and fun to shoot with, but the TG-2 definitely came out on top with its quality of color and focus, while the TG-830 was a close second. Don't get discouraged if you can't stretch your budget! As you can see, the TG-630 and TF-1 still captured awesome video, and you can increase underwater photo quality by using the flash, and getting closer to your subject!

A HUGE thank you to Chi, Anita, Derek, and Pacific Aquarium Inc! We recommend them highly for all your aquarium needs and questions!
 www.pacificnyc.com           212-995-5895

Photo by Pierre Carreau, who uses various high speed cameras and both Macro and Micro lenses to capture these photos of waves so smooth they look like glass sculptures.
Water covers a little over 70% of the Earth, so we think its time to take a look at the different forms it can take in front of the camera! Freezing it with high speeds, blurring it with long exposures, and everything in between, water is one of the most versatile subjects you will ever have. Send us your interpretation of water!

Congratulations to Lori Birnbaum for winning the "Ordinary, Extraordinary" competition with her photo of a magical night at Sheepshead Bay!

To submit a photo, post it to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FocusCamera. If you do not have a Facebook, you can email photos to contests@focuscamera.com. You do not need to be a professional to submit a photo, we would love to see photos of all kinds and qualities. We agree with Ken Rockwell when he said “No matter how advanced your camera you still need to be responsible for getting it to the right place at the right time and pointing it in the right direction to get the photo you want.” So, in short, Get creative! We really hope our contest inspires you to go out and take new photos, but if you have an older one that fits the bill that works too. However, all photos MUST be your photos. We judge photographs 50% on how well they fulfill the theme, and 50% on photography mechanics like light, focus, composition, etc. Submit a photo and you could win a $10 Focus Camera gift card!

*** OFFICIAL RULES ***

Seth Casteel took extraordinary photos of ordinary dogs by choosing to take them under water. In an interview with Writer's DIgest he said: "At a routine on-land photo shoot, a little dog named Buster the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel decided he would rather be in the pool. Watching him jump in again and again, I wondered, “What does he look like under there?” I’m interested in the emotion of dogs, and as it turns out, the water is a great way for dogs to express themselves."

As you take photos, let your curiosity lead you, and find the answers to your questions with your camera!

If your questions take you underwater, check out some safe waterproof camera cases that will enable you to take the camera you own underwater. If you are in the market for a new Camera, there are a lot of rugged waterproof (not to mention drop/dirt/dust/shock proof) digital cameras on the market. Olympus just released the TG 2, and TG 630, while Sony released the TF 1. All are durable cameras that you can feel comfortable using in adventurous situations.

If you have any photos that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, submit them to our weekly photo contest by posting them to our Facebook wall for your chance to win a $10 Focus Camera Gift Card!

Photo by Lesley Ann Ercolano

“Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.” – Matt Hardy

It’s safe to say that we all look at life through different lenses, but when dealing with similar cameras, beautiful yet very similar pictures seem to be taken. For example, the posed group shot in front of a tourist attraction or the close up of a flower. These familiar pictures say a thousand words, but this week we are looking for a picture that says those thousand words in a different language.  Push your limits and experiment to see how you can make the ordinary subjects you might think are boring turn into extraordinary photographs!

Photographer Murad Osmann took pictures traveling the world, each one from the point of view of following his girlfriend.

Photographer Justin Quinnell developed fun ways of taking pictures from rare yet enjoyable perspectives using a pinhole camera. 

And for more inspiration you can look through this collection of photographs that change perspective to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

To submit a photo, post it to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FocusCamera. If you do not have a Facebook, you can email photos to contests@focuscamera.com. You do not need to be a professional to submit a photo, we would love to see photos of all kinds and qualities. We agree with Ken Rockwell when he said “No matter how advanced your camera you still need to be responsible for getting it to the right place at the right time and pointing it in the right direction to get the photo you want.” So, in short, Get creative! We really hope our contest inspires you to go out and take new photos, but if you have an older one that fits the bill that works too. However, all photos MUST be your photos. We judge photographs 50% on how well they fulfill the theme, and 50% on photography mechanics like light, focus, composition, etc. Submit a photo and you could win a $10 Focus Camera gift card!

*** OFFICIAL RULES ***

We are excited to announce that Focus Camera made the Internet Retailer Top 500 list! Coming in as number 15 for computer and electronics, and number 174 among the top 500 overall. CBS Money Watch covered the success in an article entitled "Brooklyn Based Focus Camera makes the Internet Retailer Top 500". We sat down with Focus Camera IT Director Lukas Agrapidis to hear more insight on how the company achieved this recognition.

What changes has Focus made over the past years to achieve the ranking in the Internet Retailer Top 500 list?

Lukas: We have always been a leading name and we say that for a number of reasons. From day one Focus Camera has always been interested in valuing every customer, we don’t look at figures and statistics but at the individuals behind them. Customer feedback always plays a key role in our process to determine the best course of action for development.

In return, we show our customers gratitude with  guarantees like same day shipping for all orders placed before 1 PM. Receiving orders earlier in the day enables us to process and ship them more expediently, which in turn makes for a happy customer.  It is the realization that customers always come first that distinguishes us from our competitors and makes us enter the ranks of the Internet Retailer Top 500.

What changes are currently being set in motion? What are your plans for the future?

Lukas: We are using the latest technology to advance our business, which can be tough at first as we learn the software, but ultimately pays off with a smoother and more engaging shopping experience for customers. As head of the IT department, I am always looking for new and innovative ways of expanding and employing software tools to engage web visitors and improve our sales and customer service.

What advice would you give advice to other companies trying to grow and improve their eCommerce?

Lukas: That’s simple, treat every customer as an individual and show them that they matter. Even though you might not see customers when doing business online, you can make customer service a priority. Reach out through social media, it is a wonderful development that gives eCommerce sites the opportunity to say “Hello, how may I help you”, as if they had just walked into your storefront. The key is to be reachable and listen to the voice of your customers!