Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Improve your portraits with this free workshop


If you're interested in portraits but aren't sure how to get started, or aren't happy with the results you've been getting, maybe you would benefit by attending one of Sony's Portrait Photography Workshops.
This one hour, hands-on workshop, will give you the basics of portraiture and help you create better people photographs. Great lighting, which lens to use, and how to work with your subject will all be covered and you'll have a chance to try out the latest equipment on your NEX or Alpha camera.
The workshop runs Tuesday evening June 12, 2012 at the Sony Store at Scarborough Town Centre near Toronto. Although it's free, there are a limited amount of time slots so book one today and remember to bring your camera and a memory card so you can take part in this hands-on shooting event.
Contact the store to book your place at sonystore_549@sony.ca or 416-290-0888.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Ilford is having their Ultra Large Format Film run

Once a year Ilford has a special run of film in various hard to get sizes. They call it the Ilford ULF run.
The minimal order for these is just one box, but they are special orders and can't be canceled after the order deadline.

The deadline is Friday June 22 and the film ships early September.

Just send me an email if you're interested in a box or two.

FP4+ or HP5+ in boxes of 25 sheets
2.25 x 3.25 $33.74
3 x 4 $55.39
3.25 x 4.25 $119.21
4 x 10 $65.00
4.75 x 6.5 $66.46
6.5 x 8.5 $94.56
5 x 12 $99.76
7 x 11 $127.87
7 x 17 $197.87
10 x 12 $200.25
11 x 14 FP4 $260
11 x 14 HP5 $215.00
8 x 20 $280.00
12 x 15 have to confirm these prices
14 x 17 $395.00
12 x 20 $400.00
16 x 20 $533.00
20 x 24 $770.00

Delta 100
4 x 10 $98.40 I have this in stock now.
5 x 7 no idea why but this one item is a box of 100 $172.21
6.5 x 8.5 $98.40
7 x 17 $208
16 x 20 $559

Ortho +
10 x 12 $191.93


Rob Skeoch 
My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com 
My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step

Today I take another major step on my journey to get my Masters Degree in Fine Art.
I'm waiting for the airport shuttle to come and then I'm flying to Portland Maine and on to Rockport.

I've applied to the Maine Media Workshops to get my degree and this weekend is a retreat where I can plead my case on why they should take me into the program.

They have three openings.

I not nervous about whether I'll get in, or whether I should be getting my degree, but am nervous if this is the right program for me.

Rob Skeoch
My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com
My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Zeiss 50mm f2 Planar ZM

The Rangefinderstore now has the Zeiss 50mm f2 Planar in the Leica M-mount in stock. These had been backordered for months.
Both black and silver is in stock at $781.

You can find the page here.

Rob Skeoch

Friday, April 20, 2012

Zeiss Sonnar 50mm lens in stock at rangefinderstore.com

The rangefinderstore.com received a shipment of Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f1.5 lenses this week. They have been backordered since April of last year.

Although a bit tough to use because of the shallow depth of field, it's a wonderful lens and people love the look. It works on the Zeiss Ikon camera, the Leica M series and the digital M9. I use one myself and love the look. The speed is nice as well.

This shot was taken with the lens.

You can find the Sonnar's at the rangefinderstore here.



Rob Skeoch

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2 lens is in stock at rangefinderstore.com

The Zeiss 35mm lens for the Leica M9 has been hard to find at most stores. It's been backordered at my store for months.

This week I received a couple black ones and have them in stock. The price right now is $1055 although it's going up later in the moth.

I used the 35mm f2 a fair bit this past summer working in Haiti. These shots were done with the lens on the Leica M9. The clinic shots were wide open, while the teacher looking out the window was stopped down a bit.


Rob Skeoch





Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Same shot with A57 and A65, different ISO levels

I had the Sony A65 and A57 over the weekend. I thought I would post a shot taken with both cameras at each ISO. The lens was the 100mm Sony Macro. These are jpegs right out of the camera.

My wife asked why I had to do this on my day off. I guess I need to get a life.

You can find the hi-rez file by clicking the title under the picture.




















Rob Skeoch
My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com
My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Sony Alpha A57 at each ISO setting

I tested the Sony A57 pre-production model I have for the weekend at each of the ISO settings. All photos were taken on Aperture Priority, F5.6 on the kit lens set around 20mm. These are straight jpegs out of the camera.

I've also posted the flickr files, in case you want to see the hi-rez file. Just click on the ISO below the picture. I can't upload the hi-rez to blogger.











Rob Skeoch
My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com
My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com

Saturday, March 24, 2012

First images with Sony Alpha A57

I have the A57 for the weekend.
I drove my daughter to work and decided to take a few images where she worked. Then it started raining and was cold, so I wimped out and came home and posted the pictures. I've put the flickr info below each image in case you want to see the whole file. I can't upload the hi-rez to blogger.

If there is something you want me to test while I have the camera I will try, but it goes back Tuesday morning.

These images are very basic but show the quality. All were taken at ISO 400, handheld, 100mm Sony Macro lens, shutter speed between 1/200 and 1/400. Lens around f3.5.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sportsphotorob/6864904486/in/photostream/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sportsphotorob/6864907894/in/photostream/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sportsphotorob/7011025131/in/photostream/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sportsphotorob/7011028281/in/photostream

I will blog regarding the use of the camera if it stops raining and I can get out and shoot a bit more.

Rob Skeoch
My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com
My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com

Friday, March 16, 2012

New Zeiss 15mm F2.8

I thought a few people might find this interesting.

There's a new lens available for your Nikon F or Canon EOS mount from Zeiss.
They've just announced the Distagon 15mm F2.8 in both mounts.
You can order them through me at www.bigcameraworkshops.com. The cost is $2950. 
Zeiss also has a new UV Filter in 95mm $317 and circular POL at $509 for the lens.
I've attached the entire press release in case you're interested....

 OBERKOCHEN, GERMANY – March 16, 2012 Carl Zeiss brings out a new super wide angle lens in May 2012. 

The super wide angle Distagon T* 2,8/15 will be available with an EF (ZE) or F bayonet (ZF.2). With an extra-large angle of view of 110 degrees in combination with a fast f/2.8 aperture, the lens enables the features for dramatic perspectives and performance demanded by the most ambitious landscape and architectural photographers. With a unique ability to capture events in a natural and extraordinary manner, it is also an ideal companion for advertising, journalism and commercial photography. 

Thanks to the extreme angle of view of the lens, the fore and background can be creatively emphasized in landscape and architecture photography. These applications will also benefit from the large depth-of-field, which provides a wide range of image sharpness from close-up up to infinity. With a close focus of 0.25m (10”) – combined with a wide angle view, photographers can work in tight spaces, while also allowing focus on close-up details. Distortion is extremely well controlled, producing naturally proportioned photographs which are not typical of many other super wide angle lenses. "With the Distagon T* 2,8/15, Carl Zeiss sets the standard in super wide angle photography," says Dr. Michael Pollmann, Consumer Lenses Program Manager in the Camera Lens Division of Carl Zeiss AG. "Even at full aperture it achieves outstanding detail rendition and opens up room for extremely imaginative design."

The Distagon T* 2,8/15 incorporates two aspheric lenses and special types of glass material with abnormal partial dispersion to provide an extraordinary correction of chromatic aberration. A floating elements design guarantees high image quality from close-focus through infinity. Like the other SLR lenses in the ZE and ZF.2 series, stray light and reflections are well controlled by the Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating and the sophisticated treatment of the lens element edges with special light absorbing paint. 

The robust all-metal barrel of the Distagon T* 2,8/15 is designed for decades of reliable service. A long focus rotation and buttery-smooth action is perfect for photographers who want to take control of their picture making, as well as for filmmakers looking for superior focus control. A nine blade aperture provides a nearly circular opening, producing natural looking out of focus details.

The lens shade is integrated into the design and helps to protect the lens surface from unintentional damage. The 95mm filter thread accepts all standard filters, including the recently released Carl Zeiss T* UV and POL filters. 

Monday, March 12, 2012

Photographers gathering


I try to have an open house at my studio once or twice a year. An evening where photographers can hang out and meet other shooters. It was this past Saturday night and 22 people came out for the evening of fun, laughs, showing of work and cameras and some good pizza.

Rob Skeoch

Large Format Photography Workshop




I taught one of my Intro to Large Format classes at my studio, Saturday. Four photographers took advantage of the day long class and had a fun day shooting 5x7 and 4x5 of still life's and a model. We even had a chance to try the new Ilford Direct Positive paper and whip into the darkroom to see how it looked.

You can find out about the workshops on my website.

Rob Skeoch My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com

Friday, March 2, 2012

Mary Ellen Mark video

This is a very well done video on Mary Ellen Mark, Maybe you'll find a nugget worth keeping in it.

http://invisiblephotographer.asia/2012/03/02/maryellenmarkvideo/

Rob Skeoch

Friday, January 20, 2012

Zeiss Sony 24mm on NEX C-3, 5N, 7

It was an easy plan. Take the NEX 3, 5N and 7 and the Sony Zeiss 24mm lens out and take the same photo with each.

How hard can that be?

It was -7 and my brain froze as I was walking from the car.

All three cameras were set to ISO 200, shutter speed was 1/4 at f16. (I think). Of course when I opened the first file I learned the C3 was set to black and white.

I'll try again next week.

I was very surprised how hard it was to adjust the cameras with gloves on.

I did remember to try a panorama.... this was done with the 5N. I set the exposure compensation to +2 stops to clean up the white's.

Rob Skeoch

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Gathering at the studio March 10, 2012

I try and host these once or twice a year.
If you love photography you're invited.
It's a chance to meet other photographers, see what they have been up too and show what you've been up to. Last year we had 26 people. Most showed a few recent prints, one or two had a new book, and one or two had an interesting camera they enjoyed using. It's fun, very casual, you'll see great photographs and meet interesting people. Everyone is encouraged to bring something to show, but if you can't, then still come over. Most of the photographers are shooting film, about half use large format but everyone is welcome.
These are the basic rules; Be Interested, Be Generous with your knowledge, Be Interesting, Connect.
If you bring along your M-mount Zeiss lenses you can use the studios 6-bit coding kit to mark them up.
Starts at 7pm, runs till 10pm, pizza at 8pm $10 covers the pizza. 3123 Walkers Line in Burlington, Ontario.

If you're interested send me an email to skeoch at sympatico.ca

Rob Skeoch
My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com
My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com