I knuckled down to geek out to something I’ve been exploring for many moons, a lens comparison between Nikon 24mm Trinity which includes the legendary ultra-wide angle Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 ($1760), the practical & smooth Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 ($1650), and exotic Nikon 24mm f/1.4 ($1880). The Trinity shares three things in common:
- They are expensive Nikon glass. Anytime I spend over $1,000 on anything, I think long and hard.
- They focus fast and are razor sharp. One of Nikon’s greatest strengths compared is effective focusing in low-light. You could make 20 x 30″ prints no problem using any of these lenses.
- They photograph well at 24mm. Sure, wide-angle distortion is a common atrribute at 24mm… but nothing that can’t be fixed in post-processing (if that is your thing).
What I have been curious about is how well they shoot at 24mm at their widest aperture. If you are interested in Nikon sharpness, I recommend Ken Rockwell’s 24mm sharpness comparison.
Background:
This study requires an appreciation of seeing the difference between f/2.8 and f/1.4, especially since the most expensive lens in Nikon 24mm Trinity doesn’t zoom and shoots exclusively at a very-wide f/1.4 aperture. If you’ve glanced at camera advertisements in photography magazines, you can spot a huge price differences in f/2.8 zoom lenses like a 24-70 and a fixed focal lens with a wider aperture like a 24mm f/1.4. Understanding abilities of these specialized lenses is important for three reasons:
- Know the right tool for the job. If given the choice, grabbing the ‘right’ lens in your creative quiver takes experience. If I am heading into the backcountry, I take my ultra wide. If I am in a low-light scenario, then the 24mm 1.4 is the winner. For studio work and weddings, the 24-70 stands incredibly versatile.
- Use wide-angle lenses properly. Too many photographers misused wide angle lenses. They are supposed to move closer to the subject, which takes risk.
- Don’t buying something just because it is expensive. When it comes to expensive things like skis, bikes, wine, watches, or cars: More $$$$ doesn’t mean better.
Over the years camping out in airports reading camera photography reviews (read: camera porn), I learned a lot about good optics vs cheap marketing. I’ve been wanting to compare three Nikon lenses, side by side, shot at 24mm and see what works, and what doesn’t. Hover your mouse over to see the difference (If you are reading in RSS, hit HERE to view):
A static image for scale comparison (I stand 5’9.75″)
What works:
If seen a 3D movie, you already know the difference between 1.4 and 2.8 when it comes to 24mm angle lenses. There’s an added dimension, but you have a pay a bit extra to see it. And it may not please everyone, similarly how 3D goggles don’t fit everyone the same.
Shooting at 24mm is a wide angle perspective… consider it panorama vision when it comes to the human eye. The lens actually SEES more than the human eye at that field of view using typical full-frame 35mm sensor.
There’s an intrinsic quality, a depth when it comes with not only getting close with your subject, but close and personal. Photographers use of the phrase “shallow depth of field” to describe the narrow plane of focus which causes certain background and/or foreground elements of the photo to be out of focus. And there’s art and skill in learning how to use these lenses, which takes practice.
Here’s the Nikon 24mm f/1.4 shot at f/1.4 vs f/2.8. Mouse over to view the difference in depth of field and vignette:
Continue Reading…
Posted by R. J. on September 25, 2011
Topped off this week seeing TJ & Megan in Durango, Colorado where we re-lived memories from their wedding photos at Della Terra in Estes Park, watched their wedding slideshow while indulging in bruschetta and red wine, and played with their two happy dogs. Here’s a favorite from their ceremony in June. Thank you for reminding me of the joy of being a Denver Wedding Photographer!
I’m a dog lover, and since their two furry friends were unable to make it for wedding day portraits, I brought along some lighting equipment including the ring flash to create some fun, editorial-style portraits of them in their backyard. As TJ would say, ‘We straight up KILLED IT!.’
Continue Reading…
Posted by R. J. on September 24, 2011
I can’t complain when my weekend is spent shooting a wedding photos in Aspen, Colorado, especially when Lauren & Stephen served everything first class at their wedding on top Aspen Mountain. I indulged in quality time with my world-class photographer friends who just happen to live in Colorado and shoot Nikon, James Christianson and Otto Schulze. Their stylistic contrast amazes me, and working with them is a treat. James likes fashion and soft images with iconic names to frame. Otto nails color and moments with a punch worth the cost of premium 8-ply museum rag mat. Watching rugby, drinking wine, and discussing merits of shooting with the f/ 1.0 Leica Noctilux doesn’t get much better. Otto thinks very well at f/1.0. He shoots even better at that rare aperture like no other.
Together, we stayed up way past our bedtimes talking about our passions: photography, life, and yes, more photography. It’s easy to be distracted in life, especially when money interferes. Among the topics we discussed: Fighting for time to be creative to do the job for which we were hired; Being accepted among peers; wanting to nail THAT shot, but admitting to missing it; Balancing the rest of life with kids and a business; Being human; Not re-formatting a card before it is too late… and and dealing with after thoughts in said event; Being happy; Balancing the difference between wedding coordinator time vs mountain time. These are things destination wedding photographers think about.
Here’s a glimpse of my fun series of creative lighting experiments while photographing a Caribou Club Aspen wedding reception. I really dig the layers of people, the depth of emotion, and candid energy in this wedding celebration at 8,000 feet!
My biceps appreciated this end of the night treat, a splendid way to wrap a night of creative muscle-flexing.
Posted by R. J. on September 19, 2011
Sitting at 30,000 feet, I wonder if I know where I am. We could be in the middle of a OR surgery case saving a life. Or lost in translation in Japan. Or just a photographer returning from a trip. We could be quietly sitting back, looking around at snoring families… wondering if the exact latitude or longitude or elevation matters. While no fan of precision, place still matters. While my iPhone video captures amazing snippets of Iife, I’ve come to appreciate those glimpses more and more with the passage of time.
The Art of Being
Chase Jarvis reminds us the importance of the Art of Being… quintessential for creative living. Watching this short video shared an incredible collective meaning to me. I felt he was talking directly to me.
Chase’s Golden Nuggets:
- You have to take a picture that no one in the world can take.You have to be making things no one can make. If you are taking pictures of your life, you are constantly creating snap shots… those are images no one has ever seen.
- Celebrate the snapshot… it has become some of the most important photography of our culture.
- A snap shot is much more personal, intimate. A mirror of life. It is that much closer to the moment.
- Thinking clearly is a HUGE component to creating good art (for me).
- Carve out time to create and separate yourself from a normal routine and you will be rewarded.
Keep in mind this comes from the same guy who hung a gallery show of images shot with an iPhone. I’m with Chase: The Best Camera is the One that’s With you (check out The Best Camera world-wide hub and order the book.).
Continue Reading…
Posted by R. J. on September 15, 2011
This sentence could be finished one of two ways.
The Easy Way : had a better equipment, traveled to an exotic place, knew people with connections, sucked up to others
The Hard Way : got closer, worried less, improved skills, pushed harder, dug deeper, broke rules, wasn’t timid, stopped rushing, took risks
Photographers, writers, painters, musicians all faces similar challenges: we like to think about the easy ways to improve, yet find it difficult to act on the hard ways.
—-
Over the last few months I’ve learned a few things… some moments after getting laid off. Buckle up, ‘cause this is about as visual eclectic as it gets.
Think of this Top Ten list of how to take better pictures like giving broccoli to a 4-year-old. Or encouraging a college first year to continue doing pull-ups. Or telling an award-winning wedding photographer they don’t need a Leica M9. As we mature, the prescription for what is actually good for us, changes. (Rach, Dan, Otto, and Gino… you know what I mean).
Please, just don’t spit it out back it out if you don’t like it.
**** IMPORTANT: One lucky commenter will receive a $25 iTunes gift card by Friday, September 16, 2011 by 10pm MT. Details at the end of the post.
10. Dabble in an different genre of what you are used to. I chose documentary photography of the US military. Photographing a US Army change of command ceremony held at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO, represents a difference from my normal style of photography. The experience offered me a glimpse of US military traditions can be witnessed in the faces ages 18-23 year old that fight our battles. A reminder of how September 11 changed our lives forever. {read more about an Army change of command}
9. Think about how another artist would approach my genre. I focused on painting. While this is an actual photograph, I thought closely about how an impressionistic painter would think: composition, line, color, emotion. {read more the importance of de-focusing}
8. Look at my favorite masters. Ok, so while Norman Rockwell name isn’t also a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, he’s had a good thing going over his exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. {read more about behind-the-scenes technicals about re-creating a masterpiece}
7. Try something I may not like. Who knows, you might find it might tickle your fancy. While I’m no fan of the overly ‘fake’ looking HDR images which tend to give the technique a bad rap, I strived to create a “classy” effect that pushes the creative envelope. {read more about my thoughts on HDR photography}
6. Give back to my friends. Time, money, or a special portrait session gifts well. One of my favorite couples:
Continue Reading…
Posted by R. J. on September 14, 2011
Today, I received this letter:
I’m excited to become a Nikon Pro, my dream for a decade! My final image at Lauren & Yong’s wedding tells me this is exactly what I need to do!
Closing day thought…
“Keep my words positive : Words become my behaviors.
Keep my behaviors positive : Behaviors become my habits.
Keep my habits positive : Habits become my values.
Keep my values positive : Values become my destiny.
There is no dress rehearsal.
This one day is YOUR life.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
Posted by R. J. on September 13, 2011
