Google Nik Collection now Free (save $150)
Google has announce this week (on March 25th) that its Nik Collection which was previously priced at $150 is now available for FREE!! The complete bundle is a great collection of tools for HDR, Portrait, Landscape, Black and White, Sharpening and Noise reduction that let you create some really amazing images. I've been using this tool since Google acquired Nik Software in 2012 and priced it down to $150 instead of original Nik Software price of $500 (which was quite high in my opinion). Since then it has developed and improved the software further and introduced a new tool called Analog Efex...
Fujifilm XF 14mm F2.8 on Rodeo Drive
Fujifilm Australia were kind enough to lend me their Fujifilm XF 14mm F2.8 R lens which I took on a trip to Los Angeles earlier this year. Now to be honest, I don't like getting too technical with the lens reviews as there are plenty of them out there on sites like cameralabs.com or dpreview.com. My approach is more practical usage, application and challenges with a lens. And of course sharing some real images that I've taken with the lens. So one of the day trips during this trip was at Rodeo drive in Beverly Hills, with my family as we did some shopping and checked out what this...
What is your Go To Lens?
What is your Go To Lens? Ever been asked this question by another photographer? If you don't let me help you define what is a Go To Lens: It is a lens that you love to use most of the time. This is not your favourite lens but more an all purpose lens that can cater for many shooting situations. Its the one lens that you'd take if you only had the option to take your DSLR or Mirrorless camera with the one lens attached to it. Its the Lens that you have taken most of your photos with. So know you know which is your Go To Lens. If not here is an easy way to find out if you use Lightroom. Launch...
People with Cameras in Sydney
Fujifilm Australia along with Think Tank Photo and Mind Shift Gear organised an unique event "People with Cameras" in Sydney which was open to all, from Smartphone users to high end D-SLR users. No bars on brands, a truly open event. Typically you'd see that when Canon, Nikon or Olympus organise an event such as this, they focus only on their brand specific audience. However, Fujifilm Australia set a new benchmark with this event. The event was held in the beautiful Hyde Park near the Archibald Fountain at 4.00pm on the 27th February 2016. The attendance although not officially confirmed was...
My Fujifilm Gear Setup In Messenger Bag
In this video I show you how I have organised my Peak Design Everyday Messenger Bag to fit my Fujifilm gear with all the lens in this bag. The bag is such a great travel bag which lets you pack all your gear in a compact yet stylish looking bag. The bag supported the Fujifilm X-T1 which I can easily access from the top pocket and the lens organised in a clean yet snug way. And enough space of support the Field Pouch as well from Peak Design. The bag contains: Fujifilm X-T1 (Black) Fujifilm 56mm F1.2 Fujifilm 23mm F1.4 Fujifilm 14mm F2.8 Accessories Field Pouch I also carry my 15 inch MacBook...
Why Post Processing Is Necessary?
A lot of people believe that post processing is cheating and using any software like Photoshop or Lightroom to manipulate the original image captured by the camera is fake. However, often enough its due to ignorance because you may not know this but even in the film era there was post processing. I don't refer to developing process that involve processing the negative and creating a print. I mean the processing of the image to enhance the final result using dodging and burning. Dodging Dodging is the process that decreased the exposure of a particular area during the the development process...
Fujifilm X-T1 Cheats Death at Universal Studios
So the story begins with me and my family travelling to Universal Studios in Los Angeles. While waiting for my family members to come out of the restroom I stood outside the Dodgers Clubhouse juggling a few items in my hands, a water bottle, iPad, Fujifilm X-T1 and the Peak Design Messenger bag (on my shoulder). The X-T1 was secured in my left arm tucked tightly against my body or so I thought (the camera strap was not yet attached). As luck would have it my jacket didn't provide the best grip for a metallic object and so it slipped through my arm/hands and fell on the pavement, lens facing...
A Practical Composition Guide – Symmetry
Composition is a key element of a great photo and there are may ways to create a great image. There are literally millions of photos shared online daily, so it becomes harder to have your image stand out from the rest. Hence in the post about composition I wanted to take a different view at talking about this topic rather than the traditional posts about composition rules and technicalities. I wanted to showcase with examples in a more practical way why an image looks pleasing to our eyes when we see it. Symmetry is one style of composition that breaks all the other rules. When you have...
A Practical Composition Guide – Leading Lines
Composition is a key element of a great photo and there are may ways to create a great image. There are literally millions of photos shared online daily, so it becomes harder to have your image stand out from the rest. Hence in the post about composition I wanted to take a different view at talking about this topic rather than the traditional posts about composition rules and technicalities. I wanted to showcase with examples in a more practical way why an image looks pleasing to our eyes when we see it. Leading lines are everywhere around us, man made or provided by nature. Sometimes there...
Sculptures by the Sea 2015 with a Drone
Sculptures by the Sea 2015 This years Sculptures by the Sea 2015 (hosted at Bondi Beach) was plagued by overcast and rainy weather. In trying to balance work and my urge to visit this event for sunrise shoot I was monitoring the weather forecasts compulsively until I saw on the last Friday before the event finished there was a small window of opportunity between 6am till 9am before the rain gods came back. So at 4am the alarm went off before I make the 50 minute journey to catch the sunrise. By 4.30am I was in the car on my way to Bondi and finally arrived at my destination by 5.30am and...