Having explored a great number of videos on Kelby Training for over three months now, I think it's time that I post a brief review of the site and make suggestions to those that are considering joining. On the plus side, Kelby Training offers a month to month subscription which lowers your level of commitment and allows you to try it out at a relatively low cost of $2[...]
Author archives: Michael Woloszynowicz
Architecture Photography in Toronto - Exteriors
If you're visiting Toronto with a plan in mind to take some Architecture or Cityscape type shots, there's certainly no shortage of spots to keep you occupied. Given that we're located in the Toronto area, I've done my fair share of exploration of various parts of the city and taken lots of photos along the way. This post will therefore cover some of the my favourite a[...]
Elinchrom Diffusers with Speedlights
When working with strobes you'll likely spend a ton of money on diffusers, only to have to buy a whole new set to work with any Speedlights you may have. While there are a few Speedlight to strobe softbox adapter solutions out there, such as the high quality ones made by Kacey Enterprises, these themselves will cost you a small fortune. Since I already use the Elinchr[...]
Portrait Do's and Don'ts
Perhaps it's just me, but I often stumble onto local studio photographer websites and am saddened by what I see in their portrait portfolio's. I'm not referring to more arty or fashion oriented portraits as this is a different and much more subjective realm. I'm talking about a standard head shot that is meant to depict the person as they really are. The sort used by [...]
Shooting Beverly Hills Style
I've had several people ask about the lighting setup and details behind the Beverly Hills Style shoot that I've posted to 500px and Facebook recently. Rather than answer each one I promised that I would provide some details here on how the photos were taken.
The majority of people believe the photos are taken with natural light, which is partially true. While the r[...]
Fun and Frustration with 10 Stop ND Filters
High density ND filters like the 6 or 10 stop are a great way to add creative motion effects to architectural or landscape images, but there are some important considerations for those looking to experiment with them. Ultimately the creativity they afford the user come at the price of convenience and consistency, so my goal here is to help you choose a filter that's r[...]
Lee Filters SW-150 Filter Kit Review
For those that own one, there is no wide angle substitute for the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8. Its edge to edge sharpness, minimal distortion and consistency at all apertures and focal lengths make it a sought after item, even by owners of Canon's and other makes. Sure the 16-35mm f4 is the practical choice, it's lighter, cheaper and accepts filters, but its lack of consis[...]
Great Shots Are Rarely Convenient
A lot of people wonder why their shots don't live up to those of others. What am I doing wrong? Is it technique, equipment, post processing prowess? Perhaps, but they often ignore one fundamental and crucial element; they don't work for the shot. Typically we go on vacation, focus on convenience, walk by something cool and take a snapshot. When we review them late[...]
Always Use A Tripod...Sometimes
It's advice we hear repeated often, "pro's get great results because they almost always use a tripod". For the most part this is good advice but sometimes it can work against you. Moose Peterson is a big advocate of taking the camera off the tripod to help you make small adjustments to the composition more easily, but I would even go one step further. I would say that[...]
HDR, It Doesn't Make You A Bad Photograher
As I comb through various forums on architecture or landscape photography, a recurring question keeps popping up: "Is it technically bad to use HDR?". The reason this question exists in the first place is that over time a certain stigma has gotten attached to HDR because of people recklessly abusing it. Photography sites are absolutely littered with over processed, un[...]