jason_chen3

I have uploaded the pictures from this trip to my portfolio. welcome comments and critics.

I found the following on amazon, but there are very mixed reviews on them:

 

1. The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing by Bill Hurter

2. Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-to-Toe Guide by Jeff Smith

3. Outdoor and Location Portrait Photography by Jeff Smith

4. Professional Secrets of Natural Light Portrait Photography

 

any comments on these books?

Hello,

 

I am looking for any book or web sites that teaches how to pose

people for (outdoor) location/environmental fashion/glamour/portrait

shoots. thanks!

 

Jason

I meant the city of Niagara-on-the-fall. somehow the subject line didn't show up.

somebody mentioned this city above, where to go in that area?

Hello,

 

I plan to go to Niagara Fall / Toronto area early next month, hoping

to see fall colors. I have got some suggestions as to where to go in

the area, like Niagara Escarpment, Lake Huron/Georgian Bay,

Collingwood, Beaver Valley, Peterborough, Haliburton, Ridea Lakes,

Mono Lake, Shelburne, Hockley Valley... BUT, for the life of me, I

just can't find any information on the net as to the scenic drive

route in these areas. Could anyone point me to the right web sites or

any other resources?

 

thanks,

 

Jason

Matt,

would this lens vignette with just 1 regular mount filter at the wide end, or only when more than 1 filters are stacked?

Hello,

 

I went to my local camera store and asked for Hoya HMC or Super HMC

UV and Circular Polarizer filters for my Canon 17-40L lens. The store

owner told me that so many of his customers had trouble cleaning

their multicoated Hoya filters that he doesn't carry them any more.

He said the regular Hoya (single coated) filters are good enough. I

wonder, does cleaning multicoated filters present such a problem that

people would not use them? If you have Hoya (Super) HMC filters, do

you have trouble cleaning them? if not, how do you clean? if you do,

would B+W MRC filters be easier to clean?

 

thanks,

 

Jason

I wasn't looking for a precise date prediction, just information to make an educated guess/bet. Your input is very helpful, especially the info from Environment Canada. I emailed the park service at Algonquin Provincial Park, and they told me the peak is around mid-Sep, while every other source says end of Sep or first 2 weeks of Oct, this contradicting info makes me confused.

I live in south Louisiana, I can't plan my trip based on the foliage report, as I have to book airline tickets months ahead. I have to pick a date that is most likely close to the peak time.

to be more specific, I'm thinking of going to Algonquin Provincial Park either Oct 4-5th, or Oct 11-12th. Which two days would have a better chance?

Hello,

 

I am planning a trip to Toronto this fall. Within 5 hours drive from

Toroto, where is the best place to see fall foliage? I'm thinking

about places like Algonquin Provincial Park. I plan to go around

early or mid Oct. When is the best time/chance to see fall foliage in

that region? (I understand it varies from year to year due to rain or

temperature)

 

thanks!

 

Jason

May 1st is the Labor Day holiday in China, and most people in the country have an extended holiday for the first week to 10 days in May, which is also the time the government promotes tourism, with many festivals around the country. So I would definitely avoid going there during the first week of May - just think if only 1% of the population decides to travel - that's more than 10 million people on the road and at tourist attractions. there could be more people than trees on the Taisan Mountain ;) the Forbidden City would be packed.

I would rate them in the following priority: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Yuan Min Yuan, Temple of Heaven. it's about 32F there in winter, not too too cold. if you are lucky and it snows, the pictures may look much better.

 

Winter is not high tourist season, which is a big advantage for photography, as most places would be too crowded for my taste in summber or fall. If you get to the Great Wall really early (I haven't been there for a long time so I'm not familiar with transportation these days), before the tourists come with 2-hour trip from the city, you could find the whole place to yourself even (wow!)

 

while the landmarks above will be there maybe for another 100s of years, the old neighborhood (Hu Tong) and resident buildings (Si He Yuan) are fastly disappearing due to new development. the government obviously has no intention to protect these cultural treasures. If I were there today, I would skip everything else and just walk around old neighborhood and take pictures of them - they are going to be gone forever, soon, just like some tropical rain forest or reefs.

Hello,

 

I'm going to the Grand Canyon in two weeks. I'll be there for 2 days.

I'd like to take some sunset and sunrise pictures at the canyon, and

wonder which is the best spot on the south rim? Besides the Desert

View Drive, From what I read, the Hermit Road will be open to private

cars at this time of the year. I will have to stay on the rim for

this trip. (bringing my 18-month-old who is not ready for hiking on

the trail yet ;) ) are the different overlook spots close enough that

I would have time to go from one to the other during a sunrise or

sunset? If not, I imagine I will have to stay at one spot, and wait

for the best time to shoot sunrise and sunset. Then I have 2

opportunities for sunrise and 2 for sunset, so I have to choose them

wisely, hence the question - which are the best spots along the south

rim for sunrise and sunset?

 

thank you,

 

Jason

Hello,

 

I'm looking for recommendations for the lightest head for a Gitzo

carbon fiber Mountaineer G-1127 tripod. It will be for supporting

35mm/DSLR with lens up to 3lbs, probably mostly just a light wide

angle zoom lens for landscape shooting. it doesn't have to be a ball

head, as long as it could support the type of camera and lens I'll be

using, reducing weight is my goal. I'm looking at Bogen 484RC2 mini

ballhead which weighs 11 oz. Any other lighter/better suggestions? If

you suggest a head without QR, please also suggest an adaptor to add

a qucik release.

 

thank you!

 

Jason

could someone also suggest the lightest head to go with this tripod?

 

thanks.

Hello,

 

I'm thinking about getting a Gitzo Mountaineer carbon fiber tripod to

reduce the weight I carry. The G1027 is listed as support 6.6 lbs and

weigh 1.7 lbs, while the G1127 supports 9.9 lbs and weighes 2.56 lbs.

I use 35mm DSLR with a wide zoom to shoot landscape most of the time,

this combination weighes less than 3 lbs. it's possible that I get

some better, longer zoom lens down the road, they may weigh about 3

lbs. so the total weight of the camera plus lens is between 3 - 6

lbs. (I don't think I would get any real heavy tele prime lens)

 

My question is, is the lighter G1027 sufficient, or is it necessary

to get the G1127?

 

A friend of mine told me his Bogen, which is supposed to support up

to 11 lbs, could only support a 35mm camera plus a 300mm lens, which

is about 6 lbs. That's why I'm not so sure I could trust the

specifications listed.

 

While I like the shorter folded length of the 4-section models, is

there any reason to go with the 3-section model?

 

It's a big investment I hope I could use for a long time, I

appreciate if you could help me consider all factors and choose the

right one.

 

thank you!

 

Jason

Hello,

 

I'm thinking to buy a light carbon fiber tripod. The Slik Pro 713 and

Gitzo G-1127 Mk2 Mountaineer Sport almost weigh the same (2.7 lbs)

and have close load (10 lbs). The Slik costs about $130 less at B&H

($250 vs $384). Is there any difference in the quality between these

2? I'm somehow under the impression that they are now even owned by

the same company (correct me if I'm wrong). Any reason to go for the

more expensive Gitzo?

 

thanks,

 

Jason