Here are some of the photos from recent Studio Lighting – Model Photo Shoot Workshops. Now that the warmer weather has finally arrived the Model Photo Shoots are moving outdoors. If you are interested in attending…..send me an email.
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX
For the past several weeks I’ve have been using and testing Sigma’s new 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens and every time I mention it or post one of the photos, everyone asks “what do you think of it?” The short answer is…..Stellar results and performance!
So what makes this lens so great?
This is one of the newly designed lenses from Sigma’s new Art line, one of the three new lines that also includes Contemporary and Sports categories. When I first saw this lens several months ago at a trade show I was quite impressed with the solid feel and mechanical quality/construction. As soon as you see and start handling it you realize the quality of this lens, it has a feel to it of being a superior professional lens – which it is. There are many well thought out and designed features, one which I really thought was very well done is the large and well placed manual focusing ring, which is a full-time manual override. Since the depth of field at F1.4 (as it is with any F1.4 lens) is only a very thin plane of focus, I sometimes find myself fine tuning the focus manually. I’m old school and this approach works for me. That being said, the majority of the time I use the auto focus and with this lens I found it to be quick, accurate and there it almost completely silent. Just take care where you place your focus point(s), as you would with any F1.4 lens. The minimum focusing distance is about 12 inches, which allows you to get in really close to your subject, an added bonus.
So what about image quality? The sharpness and colours are amazing. The resolution/sharpness wide open is excellent, and shooting at F1.4 – F2 is one of the main reasons why you are buying this lens. The in-focus details are razor-sharp and the bokeh, background blur, is very soft and diffused. For low light photography this lens is 2 stops faster compared to my 24-70 F2.8 and with my Canon 5D MKIII it focuses incredibly quickly and accurately. Plus there is the additional advantage of the 1.4 aperture for bokeh, which is way better bokeh than f2.8. There is practically no chromatic aberration, fringing and distortion. On a cropped sensor camera it would be a fantastic normal field of view lens, as it would be approximately the equivalent of a 50mm lens. Before getting this lens, I already had the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM a lens that truly impresses me with it’s image quality. The new Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM actually surpasses the build and image quality of the 85mm.
Below are some of the photos that I have taken using a Canon 5D MKIII and the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens.
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F7.1
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F2.0
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F2.0
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F4.0
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F11
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM @ F1.4
Given the high optical quality and the excellent build of this lens, I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it. The lens sells for a very reasonable price, which is also substantially less than the camera manufacturers’ equivalents. It also comes with a 7 year warranty from Sigma Canada. Bottom line – I would definitely recommend this lens, it is probably the highest quality lens that I have ever shot with!
My go to lens is the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX DG APO OS HSM, this lens is incredible! When I first got it, I did a serious comparison test with the Canon EF 70-200 F2.8L IS USM lens that I owned at that time….which I have since sold. Which should tell you which lens I thought was better.
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX
(Click to see large version)
Here is a 100% close up of Natasha’s eye from the photo below
Canon 5D MKIII – Sigma 24-70 F2.8 EX
Upcoming Presentation NFRCC 2013 – March 15,16 & 17
“A Fashion Shoot, from Conception to Final Image”
There are countless variables to go into the making of a great fashion image; Concept and Theme, Location, Lighting, Model; hair, make-up, clothes and posing, Styling, Post-Processing & Retouching, Photographic Composition and Creativity. The photographer has to create everything that ultimately appears in the picture. Basically starting with an empty studio or location – a blank canvas.
In this presentation, Garry intends to demonstrate how the use of light can create form, dimension and contrast. As with every other field of photography it’s all about the light. He will also cover model posing/composition and will offer some post-processing tips.
http://www.nfrcc.org/convention/speakers/garry-black
Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX
I am planning to hold several workshops this summer in Ottawa, ranging from Fashion/Model photo shoots to Day-Long Photo Walks: designed to improve your creativity and your unique and personal vision. If you would like to receive priority notification for any of these workshop please join the Ottawa Workshop Mailing List
Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX
Canon 5D MKII - Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG
This is one of the images from last weekend’s Studio Portrait Photography Workshop. When I posted it on my Facebook page I assumed that all of the comments would be about the lighting, colour, composition and oh yes, probably a few about Taryn, our model for the photo shoot.
Well, it did receive all of those comments, but there were a couple of other comments that I didn’t expect. Those were about how crisp the image is. Until somebody mentions it, lens quality isn’t something that I normally think about when I am shooting, I do know that the quality of the lenses I use are excellent and that they are tack sharp. And since I earn my income as a photographer – making and creating pictures for magazines and commercial clients, lens and image quality is something that I must and do have.
If you follow my posts you know that my favourite lens by far is the SIGMA APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG HSM, followed closely by the SIGMA 24-70MM F2.8 IF EX DG HSM. I probably use these two lenses for over 90% of my work. The image quality of these lenses is superb! Now there are all sorts of equipment reviews and tests out there, comparing “This thing is better than that thing”…..well, I really am not a huge fan of these types of reviews. They do serve a purpose and are a good starting point in helping you decide what you should consider in purchasing, but what I think is much more useful are “Real World Tests”. Actually using the equipment or getting that advice from someone who will give you a subjective evaluation.
Well, what I can tell you is that I have been using the 4 Sigma lenses listed below for over a year now….and that they are indispensable to my work. In some of my future posts I will give you some Real World examples showing how and when I use these lenses.
SIGMA APO 70-200MM F2.8 EX DG HSM
SIGMA 24-70MM F2.8 IF EX DG HSM
SIGMA 120-400MM F4.5-5.6 APO DG HSM
SIGMA 85MM F1.4 EX DG HSM
Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG
Masterclass Studio Lighting and Post Production Workshop – Due to a cancellation a space has become available
http://www.garryblack.com/studioportrait2013_2.html
Canon 5D MKIII - Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG
Katarina wanted some different looks for her portfolio, these are some of the images from our 2 hour photo shoot.
Studio Shoot with Gary Fong Lightsphere
After my success in using the Gary Fong Lightsphere on outdoor shoots, I decided to give it a try in the studio. I was shooting with the flash off camera, holding it high above my head in my my left hand and directed towards Virginie with the white dome in place. The effect it creates is very similar to a beauty dish. I like it!!!!
Studio Photo Shoot
Model: Virginie Bouchard
MUA: Bianca Scantland
Photographer: Garry Black
Lighting – Gary Fong Lightsphere + Canon 580EX II
Canon 5D MKII – Sigma 70-200 F2.8 @ 112mm F11 ISO 100
Here is a set of comparison photos of Nessa showing the difference between using only natural light and using the Lightsphere Collapsible diffuser. The photos were taken early evening in open shade on a clear day and about a minute apart from each other, in exactly the same location. The amount of time I spent post processing is the same in both images. Basically all I did is I took one shot just using natural light, then took the other using flash (Canon 580 EXII) with the Lightsphere. The difference between these two photos is really amazing. I know which one I like better.
Canon 5D MKII – Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG
