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REMINDER - October 2010 Arizona Photo Workshop

2010-06-28T22:56:28Z

You have Only 5 days left to register to the 2010 Arizona workshop and reserve your spot for this wonderful experience. We will have the opportunity to photograph the most beautiful landscapes in the american south west. So make sure you have your seat for this adventure.

Best of light !

Jean-Daniel (JD)

Still a few days to register to Arizona 2010 workshop

2010-06-22T14:52:05Z

I still have 4 spots for this fall Arizona workshop ( see Workshop section). This workshop is quite a photographic experience with best places to see and shoot at the best time of the year. So hurry before July 15th to get your place in the group.

Some of the subjects reviewed in the workshop will be: composition, using filters(polarizer, neutral density) and when, using a light meter, using hyperfocal for best results, optimizing photo quality...

To register or for questions, please send an email to : nature@jdgagne.com

Best of light

Jean-Daniel(JD)

Western Canada photo trip 2010 - a new blog

2010-05-31T23:54:56Z

I will be using(testing) the iPad to review the daily shots and make my various posts on the blog.

That is why I am moving my travel blog to the following address: jdgagne-e.blogspot.com

Cheers and best of light !

Photographing Grizzlies: Part 1- Logistics in traveling

2010-05-04T22:48:59Z

Yes, in a month or so, I will be shooting grizzlies; I mean photographing naturally. This means long lenses and this is where it gets complicated. Why? Because of the transports.

The destination is Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. The gear: a 600mm f/4L IS, a 300mm f/2.8L IS, 70-200 f/2.8L IS II as well as 2 TS-Es and an ultra wide lens for landscapes. Total weight with backpack: approximatly 43 pounds including chargers and batteries. The problem is both the weight of the gear and the size of the super teles...

Because there is a connection flight in Vancouver and the second flight to Prince Rupert is onboard a Dash 8; not a plane with enough space to slip in the overhead compartment, a backpack the size of one that could carry a 600mm. The choises are then: everything goes in a Pelican case, or a part goes in one or I keep everything inside. The Pelican case is cool and solide but there is a connection flight...what happens if it does not make it to the second flight... The necessary gear required for the purpose of your trip might not be there... So I choose inside the plane.

Logistic: one large backpack inside the checked luggages and one small enough backpack that carries the smaller gear (300mm, 70-200 and the rest)to go inside the Dash-8 with a light nylon bag to carry the 600mm rolled into some bublle wrap. When in Prince Rupert, we swap the backpacks to get all the gear inside the larger one and the smaller goes inside the checking luggages.

But there is a third plane ! A float plane ! With a 60 pounds max load per person. This is where you get your small compacted duffle bag which was inside the checked luggages as well. I am allowed 17 pounds for clothing and all the other stuff...guess I will do some clothes washing at night...

Here are the bags I will be using:

1. large backpack...a Thintank Addicted 2: it's light and get all the gear(or almost) inside.

2. smaller backpack...a Thinktank Antidote (they can slip inside a CRJ)

3. nylon bag to carry the 600mm(hood in checked luggages)... an Arcterix Axios 33

4. duffle bag... an Eaglecreek large duffle bag (goes flat as half a centimeter in the luggages)

Stay tuned for the rest

Arizona Workshop 2010: the registration is now open !

2010-04-12T01:07:11Z

5 Photographers with or without travel companions will be able to get onboard our 8 days photography pilgrimage in Arizona !

For all details, please follow this link: ARIZONA WORKSHOP 2010

JD.

First shot with the 1D MK IV - ISO 3,200

2010-02-05T01:36:29Z

After surfing the manual and browsing the various menues, I must say we are in known country with the 1D MK IV, coming from several years of 1D MK III and 1DS MK III usage. Small additions of functions like the lighting (exposure) adjustement similar to the way you do micro adjustments. I am excluding videos here which I will review later.

First shot at ISO 3200 just to see how it reacts although I rarely go over ISO 1250(I will be spoiled I think). The lens is an 85mm f/1.2L MK II. Focus was done on the truffe of our friend Chinook, WB at 3000Kelvin, 1/60sec @ f/1.4 to give a fashion shooting look ;)

The shot taken in RAW w treated in Lightroom II to make some minor adjustments on highights, contrast, sharpening at 89 and noise redux at 5 and chroma at 10. Final treatment in PS3 for depeckling and a final sharpening.

For the noise in the 1D MK IV, it seem to be easily workable without loosing the details. And details, there are a lot. I will do some more tests this weekend on noise and tracking autofocus with AI Servo.

Click on the photograph to see a bigger size.

Best of light !

Jean-Daniel

Coming soon! A test with the Canon 1D MK IV

2010-01-31T00:26:54Z

What a surprise when I received an email from the Web sale manager from my favorite store, The Camera Store in Calgary (www.Thecamerastore.com) letting me know that my 1D4 has arrived in store. After a few administrative details, this new comer was shipped and I am expeting it sometimes next week.

I will write my first feedback about the camera and I will make sure I do some test as well.

So stay tuned,

Best of light!

Jean-Daniel

My almost new Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L MK II for sale

2010-01-31T00:24:19Z

Just a note to let people know I am selling a like new Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L MK II. This lens has net seen much exterior and has been used rarely. Purchased in 2009 (Date code UX1016), it is offered for sale with the box, papers and manual.

Price: $1,950 CAD + Transport...a deal !

Interested people will write to nature@jdgagne.com

Cheers,

Photo published in Ourdoor Photography Canada magazine

2010-01-12T13:37:06Z

I was happy to learn that an other photograph has been published as a 3/4 page in the winter 2010 edition of Outdoor Photography Canada magazine.

This photograph is about a young mountain sheep calf fed by his mother in the surroundings of Jasper. I was shooting mountain sheeps when suddently this young fellow started his feeding. This moment lasted a few seconds, enough for me to take this shot.

You can click on the picture to see a larger size.

Best of light !

South West circle blog

2009-10-09T15:22:41Z

This is it, the departure is in 2 days. I will be reporting the progression of the trip, the discoveries, the challenges with some temporary shots taken on the course.

In the meantime, the preparation.

Best of light!