Use & Enjoy Your A/V Gear : Zak

Looking for a one-lens solution? Try zooming with your feet instead

ZakB — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:21:00 GMT

Generally speaking, we think of a "one-lens" solution as being a zoom lens which covers a wide focal range . The logic behind this is infallible: I can snap a wide-angle shot one minute, then wheel around and zoom way in on something else the next. And...(read more)

Fun with macro shooting: get up close and personal

ZakB — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:25:00 GMT

Macro photography means getting really close and shooting extreme closeups of your subject. Flowers, insects, and everyday items take on a whole new meaning when you start shooting macro photographs of them. It's like a window to a world that's all around...(read more)

An iPod dock transforms a baby's room

ZakB — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:17:00 GMT

Since babies go from an environment of fairly loud, constant noise to one of relative quiet when they're born, it's no surprise that they respond well to music being played. My little daughter, for example, seems to like the strumming of a guitar. Since...(read more)

How to take a picture of the moon

ZakB — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:25:00 GMT

1/250, ISO 200, f/8, 600mm. 5D Mark II, using "Live View" mode on a tripod, with the 10-second self-timer. Ever since the dawn of time, man has gazed at the moon. And ever since the dawn of photography, he has tried to take a picture of it. It's actually...(read more)

Shooting holiday lights with a tripod

ZakB — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:24:00 GMT

Travis wrote a great post recently about shooting holiday lights with just your camera in hand — truth be told, it's how I'd prefer to do it, since I'm a lazy man and like to travel light. But I got a new lens recently, and I wanted to see how it performed...(read more)

Starting small with your DSLR yields big rewards later

ZakB — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:47:00 GMT

A lot of people ask me what camera they should buy when they're considering a DSLR . Usually by that time they've got it narrowed down to a couple of choices, and are looking for that last piece of info to help them make their final decision. It's generally...(read more)

Some nice gifts for the DSLR owner

ZakB — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:27:00 GMT

Looking for gift ideas for your favorite photo nut? In a recent post, I pointed out the bare essentials all new DSLR owners need to get going. Here are a few "nice to have" accessories that make every DSLR shooter's life a little easier. 1. Extra battery...(read more)

Three essential DSLR accessories

ZakB — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:53:00 GMT

Whether you're giving or receiving the gift of a DSLR camera this holiday season, these three accessories are essential to get up and running. DLSR kits all come with batteries, chargers, and a lens or two, so what else do you absolutely need before you...(read more)

"Fast" zoom lenses pick up where image stabilization leaves off

ZakB — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:35:00 GMT

Let's assume your new DSLR camera came with an image-stabilized kit lens, or offers image stabilization built into the body. So why would you want to consider adding a zoom lens with a fixed f/2.8 maximum aperture ? The answer, like with most questions...(read more)

Getting great sound on your boat is easier than you think

ZakB — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:39:00 GMT

I took a vacation with my family in Maine recently, where our main mode of transportation was a 19-foot center-console boat with room for six. Earlier in the year, in a conversation with my father, I learned that he and my mother were occasionally toting...(read more)

Help! My photos are piling up - 4 easy ways to get them under control

ZakB — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Your new digital camera probably has you taking more pictures than ever before. The instant results are great — but the pictures pile up quickly, clogging your hard drive. And it's not easy to find that great picture you took last month at the family...(read more)

How to shoot a "motion blur" in 5 easy steps

ZakB — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:24:00 GMT

Photographic motion blurs are pretty cool. The goal is to show streaks of motion in the background while maintaining focus on a moving subject. Even when your subject is moving slowly, it can look like it's traveling a hundred miles an hour. A hiker leaps...(read more)

Using blur to enhance photo details

ZakB — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:54:00 GMT

You'll hear a lot about depth of field when you read about photography — in a nutshell, it refers to what's in focus from near to far. If your depth of field is "deep," or "greater," then more of the objects in the frame are in focus. A "shallow" depth...(read more)