My PHODCAST interview

For those of you that don't know Robert Norman is hosting a weekly..no ..monthly...ok when ever he can get to it, PHODCAST on his website www.phodcast.com and on PhotoNATIONlive.com. Here is his latest interview of me :)

canon 5d mark II video test

I wanted to test out the video capabilities of this new 5d so I asked Nicole if she would help me out with this music video test. I really think this camera is perfectly build for this type of work. I'm still getting used to the feel it is a bit clunky when holding for video but the quality of the video is just shockingly good. I'm no videographer so my lighting and editing is a bit rudimentary but I learned a lot from this shoot. Hopefully Nic and I can make a full length video at some point in the future.



To view a larger version of this slide show click on this link

It made it!!!

and only a few days late I guess the natural disaster wasn't that bad :)
it got here yesterday and I have been playing around with the video stuff a lot I'm going to post something very soon.

still waiting

tureSomething you don't want to see when tracking a package for a camera that you are very excited to have :( I guess I'll be waiting a bit longer for my 5D lets just hope the "natural disaster" didn't slow it up too much :)

January 15, 2009

07:30:00 PM

HODGKINS IL US

Delay in delivery due to weather or natural disaster

I didn't even know :)

Hey check this out I was on the style me pretty blog back in Nov. of '08 and didn't even know about it :)
And it wasn't just my work but literally a few pictures of me :)
from style me pretty back on Nov.24th 2008

Here is a screen grab of part of the article... word up to Robin Dini and Kristin Karzmit for taking those photo's of me "in action" :)

Yoga at your desk

So my neck has been all tight the past few days. Like most of you reading this blog I spend about half my day sitting,slouching leaning on my computer desk. That with the combo of stress has really has done a number on my neck and upper back in the past week or so. I have made trips to the chiropractor in past but today I figured I would just try some yoga at my desk to see how that worked.
I found this video on youtube and I thought I would share it with you. It just shows some basic neck and shoulder stretching that you can do right at you desk.
The music is a bit much but stretching felt great!!! :)


Thanks to Barbara Simon from Romancing your Soul for making this video

For Sale! UPDATE SOLD!!!

ok now that the new camera is on the way I am going to have to part with one of my mark II's
so here it is . I'm giving 200.00 off and trying to sell it here first(it's also posted on photonationlive.com) before it goes on e-bay for 1400.00. If anyone is interested please e-mail me at steve@stevedepino.com

Product Features and Technical Details (from amazon.com)

Product Features

• 8.2-megapixel CMOS sensor--3:2 aspect ratio the same as in 35mm cameras
• Compatible with Canon professional EF lenses (except the EF-S line)
• Continuous shooting 8.5 frames per second at full resolution; rugged, weather-resistant magnesium alloy
• Supports both CompactFlash Type I and II and Secure Digital (SD) memory cards
• Powered by rechargeable NiMH battery pack; connects to PCs and Macs via FireWire and USB 1.1

Technical Details

• Type: Digital AF/AE SLR
• Recording medium: Type I or II CF card, SD memory card
• Image size: 28.7 x 19.1mm
• Compatible lenses: Canon EF lenses (except EF-S lens) (35mm-equivalent focal length is equal to approx. 1.3 times the marked focal length. )
• Lens mount: Canon EF mount
• Image sensor type: High-sensitivity, high-resolution, large single-plate CMOS sensor
• Effective pixels: Approx. 8.20 megapixels
• Total pixels: Approx. 8.50 megapixels
• Aspect ratio: 0.126388888888889
• Color filter system: RGB primary color filter
• Low-pass filter: Located in front of the image sensor, non-removable
• Recording format: DCF 2.0 (Exif 2.21): JPEG and RAW
• Image format: JPEG, RAW (12-bit)
• RAW+JPEG simultaneous recording: Provided
• File size: (1) L (Large): Approx. 2.8 MB (3504 x 2336 pixels); (2) M1 (Medium1): Approx. 2.2 MB (3104 x 2072 pixels); (3) M1 (Medium2): Approx. 1.7 MB (2544 x 1696 pixels); (4) S (Small): Approx. 1.0 MB (1728 x 1152 pixels); (5) RAW: Approx. 8.3 MB (3504 x 2336 pixels)
• Folder setting: Folder creation/selection enabled
• File numbering: (1) Consecutive numbering; (2) Auto reset; (3) Manual reset
• Processing parameters: Standard parameters plus up to three custom processing parameters can be set
• Color matrix: Five standard types plus two types that can be registered with color matrix
• Backup image recording: Enabled (Same image recordable on CF card and SD memory card)
• Interface: IEEE1394 for personal computers; USB for direct printing; Video output (NTSC/PAL)
• White balance settings: Auto, daylight, shade, cloudy, tungsten light, fluorescent light, flash, custom, color temperature setting, custom white balance (Total 10 settings)
• Auto white balance: Auto white balance with the image sensor
• Color temperature compensation: White balance bracketing: +/-3 stops in full-stop increments; White balance correction: +/-9 stops in full-stop increments (Blue/amber bias or magenta/green bias possible)
• Viewfinder type: Eye-level pentaprism
• Coverage: Approx. 100 percent vertically and horizontally with respect to the effective pixels
• Magnification: 0.72x (-1 diopter with 50mm lens at infinity)
• Eye point: 20 mm
• Built-in dioptric adjustment: -3.0 - +1.0 diopter
• Focusing screen: Interchangeable (9 types), Standard focusing screen: Ec-CIII
• Mirror: Quick-return half mirror (Transmission:reflection ratio of 37:63, no mirror cut-off with EF 1200mm f/5.6 or shorter lens)
• Viewfinder information: AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure information (shutter speed, aperture, manual exposure, spot metering circle, ISO speed, exposure level, exposure warning), flash information (flash ready, FP flash, FE lock, flash exposure level), white balance correction, JPEG recording, number of remaining shots, memory card information
• Depth-of-field preview: Enabled with depth-of-field preview button
• Eyepiece shutter: Built-in
• Autofocus: TTL-AREA-SIR with a CMOS sensor
• AF points: 45 AF points (Area AF)
• AF working range: EV 0-18 (at ISO 100 at 20 degrees C/68 degrees F)
• Focusing modes: One-Shot AF (ONE SHOT); AI Servo AF (AI SERVO); Manual focusing (MF)
• AF point selection: Automatic selection, manual selection, home position (switch to registered AF point)
• Selected AF point display: Superimposed in viewfinder and indicated on LCD panel
• AF-assist beam: Emitted by the dedicated Speedlite
• Metering modes: 21-zone TTL full aperture metering; (1) Evaluative metering (linkable to any AF point); (2) Partial metering (approx. 13.5% of viewfinder at center); (3) Spot metering; Center spot metering (approx. 3.8% of viewfinder at center), AF point-linked spot metering (approx. 3.8% of viewfinder), Multi-spot metering (Max. 8 spot metering entries); (4) Centerweighted averaged metering
• Metering range: EV 0-20 (at 20 degrees C/68 degrees F with 50mm f/1.4 lens, ISO 100)
• Exposure control systems: Program AE (shiftable), shutter-priority AE, aperture priority AE, E-TTL II autoflash, manual, flash metered manual
• ISO speed range: Equivalent to ISO 100-1600 (in 1/3-stop increments), ISO speed can be expanded to ISO 50 and 3200
• Exposure compensation: AEB: +/-3 stops in 1/3-stop increments
• Bracketing methods: (1) Shutter speed or aperture; (2) ISO speed
• Manual exposure compensation: +/-3 stops in 1/3-stop increments (can be combined with AEB)
• AE lock: Auto: Applied in One-Shot AF mode with evaluative metering when focus is achieved; Manual: By AE lock button in all metering modes.
• Shutter type: Electronically-controlled focal-plane shutter
• Shutter speeds: 1/8000 to 30 sec. (1/3-stop increments), bulb, X-sync at 1/250 sec.
• Shutter release: Soft-touch electromagnetic release
• Self-timer: 10-sec. or 2-sec. delay
• Remote control: Remote control with N3 type terminal
• EOS-dedicated Speedlite: E-TTL II autoflash with EX-series Speedlite
• PC terminal: Provided
• Drive modes: Single, low-speed continuous, high-speed continuous, self-timer
• Continuous shooting speed: Low-speed continuous: Approx. 3 shots/sec. High-speed continuous: Approx. 8.5 shots/sec.
• Max. burst : JPEG: Approx. 40 shots (Large, JPEG 8); RAW: Approx. 20 shots
• LCD monitor: TFT color liquid-crystal monitor
• Monitor size: 2.0 inches
• Pixels: Approx. 230,000
• Coverage: 100% with respect to the effective pixels
• Brightness adjustment: Five levels provided
• Interface languages: 12
• Image display format: Single image, single image (INFO.), 4-image index, 9-image index, magnified zoom (approx. 1.5x - 10x), rotated image
• Highlight alert: In the single image and single image (INFO.) formats, any overexposed highlight areas will blink in the image display.
• Image protection: Erase protection of one image, all images in a folder, or all images in the memory card can be applied or canceled at one time.
• Image erase: One image, all images in a folder, or all images in the memory card can be erased (except protected images) at one time.
• Sound recording method: The voice annotation recorded with the built-in microphone is attached to the image.
• File format: WAV
• Recording time: Max. 30 sec. per recording
• Direct printing compatibility: CP Direct, Bubble Jet Direct, and PictBridge-compatible printers
• Printable images: JPEG images (Print ordering enabled with DPOF version 1.1)
• Custom Functions: 21 Custom Functions with 67 settings
• Personal Functions: 27
• Camera settings saving/reading: Possible
• Battery: One Ni-MH Pack NP-E3; AC power can be supplied via the AC adapter and DC coupler.
• Number of possible shots: At 20 degrees C/68 degrees F: Approx. 1200; at 0 degrees C/32 degrees F: Approx. 800 (these figures apply when a fully-charged Ni-MH Pack NP-E3 is used)
• Battery check: Automatic
• Power saving: Provided. Power turns off after 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, or 30 min.
• Date/time back-up battery: One CR2025 lithium battery
• Dimensions : 156 (W) x 157.6 (H) x 79.9 (D) mm / 6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in.
• Weight: 1220 g/43 oz. (Body only. battery: 335 g/11.8 oz.)
• Operating temperature range: 0 degrees C- 45 degrees C / 32 degrees F - 113 degrees F
• Operating humidity range: 85% or less

The Mirosoft ipod?

Just found this great parity video on the web that asks the question "what would happen if Microsoft had to design the packaging for the ipod". The video is from 2005 so the ipod is dated but this video is right on and just hilarious.
Moral of the story
Simple design = Great design

Made the Plunge!!

I promised myself after holding out on getting a Canon Mark3 that I would upgrade my camera system this year. So after much debating I finial did it and I ordered a Canon 5d mark 2 today!!!
I have really been in need of a camera that can shoot better in low light situations then my work horse over the past 3 years my canon mark 2 N. Technology has come so far in the past 3 years that this new entry to the canon line is half the price I paid for the mark 2 N and seems by the specs to be at lest twice a better camera. Oh and did I mention it shoots HD video as well!!
Needless to say I'm really looking forward to using this camera in the next few days

Update: For those of you out there interested in how I even got my hands on this camera. I have been looking at a bunch of different sites for weeks now and I just happened to check amazon.com this morning and one was there. I have check back since and the camera is no longer available at the price I got it at. I got mine directly from amazon and now all they have is a listing for one from a company called BuyAcessories .The price tag balloons by 1000 bucks if you buy it from them.

UPDATE 2: If you are looking for this same camera looks like they might have some at Milford Photo check out the link here

80,000 visitors and 73 members!

ok looks like I'm getting close to 80,000 hits on my blog that's cool :)
In much bigger news photoNATION turned one week old yesterday and we now have 73 members !!
dare I say it's the fastest growing photo based website that stared one week ago? I really have no way of knowing but I like to think it is :)
OK my new office/studio is done I'm going to take some quick photos today and try to post them later.

back to life

ok looks like I got my blog back to life... had to remove my last photoNATION blog post because it seemed to mess up the formatting of my blog for some reason. Very odd but it's back to normal. I still think I need an update so I'm looking into a few different options right now.

Funky blog issues

I guess I am now forced into redesign my blog now that my formating got all messed up :)
Well I'm in the process of redesign my workspace anyways so I guess this will be job number two. As far as the workspace goes I'm all done with the painting and now have some new furniture in place. I just have to get my mac back so that I can set up my computers again. I'll share some photos once I'm all done.

Live from frozen Essex

Live from frozen essex, originally uploaded by stevedepino.com.

It's surprising warm & nice weather

Steve DePino Photography www.stevedepino.com