As the year comes to a close, I’m selling a few lenses that I no longer use. Instead of going to Ebay, I thought I’d post them here first. Both lenses are suitable for aurora photography, so if you are looking for a lens to capture the northern lights, these may work for you. Both…
I’ve been looking at this lens on my desk for a couple years now. I’ve long wondered what the mechanics inside looked like and how they operated. Curiosity got the best of me so I grabbed a little screwdriver kit and started dismantling the lens. I don’t really have engineer inclinations, just curiosity, especially since this…
I’ve been doing a lot of database work over the past few weeks, executing a huge review and clean up of the 100,000 files in my Lightroom Database. This has included doing a spell check on all metadata, properly tagging images, doing a complete cloud-based backup of my RAW files, and overall file organization. It…
With the release of the Canon 200-400mm f/4L IS with a built in 1.4x there was a lot of enthusiasm in the photography community. But with a retail price of $12K, it really forces some serious evaluation before making a purchase. I felt that I would need the lens in my hand for a period…
After returning from yet another fantastic photo tour in Alaska’s Arctic–which always produces interesting photo opportunities–I am reviewing a few test shots with Canon’s 200-400 f/4. I’ve been curious how the lens will perform using both the built in 1.4x and then adding another external 1.4x. This shot was taken while a very friendly red…
This is another photo from my recent trip into the Brooks Range to photograph the last show of aurora before summer. I was using a wireless remote to attempt some self portrait work, but the long time in the subzero temps caused some problems and it quite working. So I used a regular remote in…
Why the Zeiss 21mm Distagon T* lens Rocks for aurora photography I’ve always liked Don McLean’s song “Starry, starry night”, about Vincent van Gogh. This scene made me think of it, with the profusion of stars broadcast across the sky. I love the night sky and am so glad I live in a place that offers a…
Is the in-camera Long Exposure Noise Reduction necessary when using a camera in cold weather? This is a question I have wondered about for a long time so I finally did a more specific test. First of all, what is Long Exposure Noise Reduction? Here is the scoop: When LENR is turned on, the camera…
I’m often asked about how my camera functions in the cold. So far, in my practical experience, I’ve never really experienced camera failure from the cold with Canon’s 1D and 5D series cameras. I usually fail first. So, for the curious ones out there who own a Canon 5D III and wonder how it may perform in…
Canon 5D Mark III and the Northern Lights Alaska has had a great winter season of aurora photography opportunities. Due to much of my travel, I have not participated in that winfall. Last week however, I eeked out one last chance to shoot the northern lights before daylight consumes our night skies making that option…