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Sigma Photo Contest
December 13th, 2013It’s Been Awhile
September 24th, 2013In fact it’s been a LONG time since I have posted anything here. I have been extremely busy with work – photo shoots, workshops and editing/processing photos. So unfortunately I haven’t had a spare minute to post anything here. I do however do post many of my pictures on my Facebook Page and Garry Black Photography Facebook Page, please add me or “Like” my page if you haven’t already.
Here are two images from recent shoots, one in Ottawa and the other in Namibia, Africa. Somehow they seem rather similar to me.
Virginie in the grass
Lion in the grass
For the Africa trip I used the new SIGMA Sport 120-300 mm F2.8 DG HSM OS lens. I used it with a Canon 7D which has a 1.6x cropped sensor, which made the lens effectively a 192-480 mm which was incredible. I had bought the 7D especially for this trip and to use with this lens. Once I have the opportunity to process some more of the images from this trip (and some time) I will post more images taken with the lens and a review of it. But I can tell you right now – I loved using this lens!
LENS REVIEW – SIGMA 35MM F1.4 DG HSM
April 18th, 2013For 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!
Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX DG APO OS HSM
April 16th, 2013My 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
Nova Scotia Workshop
April 12th, 2013NOVA SCOTIA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
June 9 -16, 2013
There are still a couple of spaces available for the week long workshop based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. We will be concentrating our photography on this very photogenic and appealing small town, but we will also be visiting and photographing Peggy’s Cove, Halifax and some of the small fishing villages and rocky shorelines along Nova Scotia’s Lighthouse Route.
Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM – A
March 20th, 2013On Monday I received the newly redesigned Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM Lens , it is one of Sigma’s new ART Series lenses part of the Contemporary line of lenses. It was last November when I first saw this lens at the Henry’s Exposure Show, but I didn’t have an opportunity to take any photos with it at that time other than of the trade show area. What I did notice and was extremely impressed with, is the design and the high quality of construction of the lens.
Yesterday I took a few test photos around the house, we had a huge snowstorm in Ottawa, so I stayed inside. So far I’m impressed! The auto focus is quick and very smooth and there is also a full-time manual focus override using the large and easy the reach focusing ring. Over the next couple of weeks I will try to put this lens through various shooting situations and will write a review giving you my honest and objective thoughts about this lens. Here are a few of the images from yesterday.
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM lens
Our poinsettia is still flowering, 3 months after Christmas!
NFRCC – Niagara Falls Presentation
March 2nd, 2013
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
Ottawa 2013 Summer Workshops
February 23rd, 2013
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
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
February 10th, 2013When you think about the landscape of Colorado, sand dunes isn’t one of the first things that comes to mind. I have photographed many deserts and sand dunes around the world but what makes this one unique is spectacular mountain scenery surrounding the dunes, they are the tallest sand dunes in North America.
2013 Sigma Scholarship Contest
January 28th, 2013
2013 Sigma Scholarship Contest, which offers full-time photography students who shoot with Sigma lenses a chance to win a grand prize of $3,000 towards tuition in an accredited Canadian university or college.
The contest reflects Sigma’s desire to support aspiring young photographers in their photographic education. Three regional grand prizes will be awarded, along with three second prize $1,000 photo gear packages from Gentec International. Entering is as simple as submitting a photo shot with a Sigma lens, along with a short description of the creative process behind the photo.
Winners will be selected based on their ability to produce a compelling, high-quality image with their Sigma lens. Submissions will be accepted until April 30, 2013. Complete details and online application can be found on the contest website at http://scholarship.sigmacanada.ca/.