The SnapClap

With the introduction of the Rebel T1i a few weeks ago one has to wonder whats next from Canon. The T1i has the same sensor as the more expensive 50d and shoots high definition video. (1080p at 20 frames a second and 720 at 30 frames a second) While the T1i doesn’t share all of the higher end features of the 50d, especially its price tag (at $899 the T1i is a steal!). But then again, the 50d doesn’t shoot video either. So, now that it appears that the lower end Rebels have leapfrogged into the Prosumer range, where does that leave the new 50d? Perhaps the prognosticators are right and Canon will release a new 7D. Maybe it’ll be a full frame 21 megapixel model based on the 5d but with an upgraded focusing system and DIGIC V?

To me, that’s the only logical step for Canon; draw a huge like in the sand: Entry level DSLRs have smaller sized sensors and 1.6 magnification factor, while the prosumer and professional cameras are full frame. Eventually, we’re all going to be shooting fullframe DSLRs anyway, right? So why not push the envelope and drag the rest of the industry up with them, you know? The cost difference won’t be that huge. Well, whatever they do, it really won’t matter to me right now, I’m at least 4 generations in the past with my 10D, LOL! Hey, a guy can dream, right?

Redrock just releases camera frames for DSLRs including the Canon 5d MK II, Rebel T1i and Nikon D90.  Now all I need is one of the aforementioned cameras and I’ll be on my way to shootin Hi Def wonderfulness on my DSLR, especially since I just rented the Canon 70 – 200mm 2.8 IS; NICE.

The Lady in the Red Dress.

originally uploaded by www.thesnapclap.com.

I know I’m a nerd about these things and most people might not be as incredibly, overjoy-edly excitied as I am about this.  But the new Casio EX-F1 can shoot video at speeds of up to 1200 fps?!?  YES, 1200 frames per second.  Thats just insane and revolutionary! Not to mention it can shoot up to 60 still shots in a one second  burst mode;  (making every other digital camera’s “burst mode” seem just a tad bit quicker than a frozen tortoise) or 5 frames a second for 12 seconds or 10 frames a second for 6 seconds or 30 frames per second for 2 seconds or any other mutiple of 60.  Casio’s release of this camera could not have come at a better time, tax time!  ‘Cause with a  pricetag just south of $1000 the EX-F1 has quickly redefined my definition of  “economic stumulus refund”.  Check the video at the break.  This video is just epic.

Last week I attended the Atlanta Photography Meetup’s photo shootout, and my camera hasn’t cooled down yet!  Thanks to Simplephoto.com and Professional Photo Resources (PPR) for sponsoring the event, it was incredible.  This event was a smorgasborg of photography, models and studio lighting.  They had about 20 models and about 24 photographers.  The good people at PPR had three stations setup with different lighting.  Basically, the photographers and models  would rotate through the stations so that you had equal time with each model at each station.  When you weren’t shooting, in the studio you could go outside and shoot.  Also, Eric from simplephoto provided food, snacks and BEER.  Yes, BEER.  I love beer.  At any rate, check out the pics above and if you want to see the rest of them, visit my flickr page, here. 

Also, I’d like to thank all the models that participated, you were excellent, especially under those hot tungsten lights, I know it was hard.  So big ups to all the models!  You guys were fantastic.  Also thanks to all the folks at Simplephoto.com and PPR, you guys really know how to put on an event.  All you aspiring pro photographers out there should definitely check out PPR and Simplephoto.com.  PPR has awesome studio space for rent with reasonable prices, they also rent equipment from bodies to lenses, flashes and accesories. (by the way PPR is having a free lighting seminar on March, 8th; rsvp here before its too late!)  Simplephoto is a cool resource as well and allows you to easily sell photos and create photo packages online.  So defiantly check ‘em out.  Kudos to all the photographers who came out as well, I thought my pictures were great until I saw some of you guys images, great work!  And please keep me in the loop about upcoming events!

 If you wanna join the Atlanta Photo Meetup, you can do so by signing up here.  I’ll see you guys at the lighting seminar in March, Have fun and keep shooting!

In honor of Valentines Day, I made a book of poetry for my wife. I hope she likes it. Happy Valentines Day!

A Match Made i…

By Tyese and Craig Ba…

photo by www.thesnapclap.com.

The lobby of the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta looks like something
straight out of a science fiction movie! The outside of the hotel looks
rather mundane, as do the interior of the rooms (I was thoroughly
underwhelmed). But the lobby?!? I was awestruck, no doubt. The lobby is
incredible.

photo by www.thesnapclap.com

You know, the other day when it snowed, I took out my Canon Digital Rebel without hesitation.  That camera ain’t weather shielded or nothin’. But, I took it out any.  I look back on the places I’ve been with that camera and it’s like, wow, I really don’t worry about damaging the camera anymore; it goes where I want to take pictures.  There’s something to be said for a good old faithful camera, you know?  You know where all the features and control surfaces are.  You’re all used to the ergonomics and everything, you know what I mean?  There’s something to be said for that.

I know I’m due for another camera soon, and hopefully it’ll be sealed for the environment and have all sorts of fancy bells and whistles, but I’m sure it’ll be awhile before it supplants my good old trusty Rebel.  I’ll be all ginger with the new camera, .. I’ll have it all protected and what not, . .won’t take it out in the rain and snow and sand and what not, but not Digital Rebel; That camera is a TANK.  I dropped it the other day and it just kept on truckin’, you gotta love that.  Maybe I shouldn’t even get a new camera, maybe I should get some ridiculous, 85mm f/1.2. or something insane like that. 

I will say this much when I think about how much the new cameras are compared to what I paid for my rebel, it makes me sick.  These cameras these days are so much cheaper then a few years ago, I paid like $1200 about five years ago for my Rebel.  For, $1200 you can get a damn 40D, and for $200 more you can get this crazy vibration reducing kit lens!  But you know what, the enjoyment I’ve gotten outta my rebel is priceless!  So, at the end of the day, I’ll stick with old faithful. 

Futon, by Roger Sizemore.

When I first got down here to Atlanta, I had to acclimate myself to the whole county government thing. In New York you see, its backwards.  New York is the city and the boroughs of New York City are the counties I’m used to.

At any rate, one of the counties down here puzzled me. Its called Dekalb county. I wasn’t sure how to pronounce it, becasue it sounded like people down here pronounce it with a silent “L’ as in ‘Dekab’ county. However, I’m used to Dekalb Avenue in Brooklyn, where the ‘L’ is most certainly pronounced.

So I figured that, if they don’t pronounce the letter “L” in Dekalb, . . then Fulton County, where I live, must be pronounced “Futon” County, as in “pull-out-couch-county”

I think thats what this gaffitti in the picture above is all about.

A Rare snow in Atlanta, originally uploaded by www.thesnapclap.com.

I guess when we moved here, me and my wife bought the snow from New
York with us. Sorry.

Obey, originally uploaded by gogostevie.

The Giant is here in Atlanta too. I’m trying to tell ya’ll’ the Giant is large. He’s everywhere. He’s like Santa Claus, he sees when you’re not looking, or something like that.

Atlanta Silhouetted,  by mcmillend.

So far I haven’t as much as picked up my camera here in Atlanta. I will this weekend since we’re going to the Aquarium, but seeing a shot like this makes me fiend for a lazy evening where I can melt into my photography. Especially since I got the super dope tripod from my cousin. Good work Mcmillend, this picture is fantastic. I’m a sucker for a good silhouette and a sunset.

Another pic from my phone.  This one is of Luckie street in Atlanta.  Where is everybody?  I sure hope its just the weather that’s got folks all holed-up in the offices.  I think you learn the ‘feel’ or vibe of a city by walking around.  I’ve driven by places a thousand times and didn’t really understand it until I got out of the car and walked around, you know?  You can’t understand what’s going on by looking at peoples cars all day.  You gotta, walk around and see the demographics changing around you.  See the city living and breathing, see folks going about their daily routines and such, you feel me.  To me, that’s just the most efficient way to learn about a city.  So far, Atlanta has been a hard crack.  Nobody walks around this place!  It’s a beautiful city, why don’t people walk around?  I went on a job interview in December and it bugged me out because the building had no sidewalk.  It was like a 30 story building with a parking garage, and no sidewalk?!  What gives?  The only way in or out was through the parking garage, that’s just ass backwards if you ask me.

I took this pic with my phone, from my office downtown Atlanta.  The Green tinge makes it look like the Matrix or something.  Atlanta doesn’t look too bad from above.

Photo by lalalaa Dolce Vita

As I get older I start to re examine the things that I did as a youth.  Lately I’ve been on a tear, and I’ve collected alot of old school hip hop and some ‘mid school’ golden area hip hop as well.  While I have my older family members to thank for my appreciation of old school hip hop, you know Kurtis Blow, Bambaataa, Fearless Four etc, it was the golden area that really stands out in my mind.  It seems like everything was great.  I was a teen, hip hop became more active to me.  I began to do hip hop and not just listen to it.  A Friend of mine just dropped a few tunes on me.  One of which was Da Bush Babees, “We Run Things”  I forgot how much I used to really, really like this song.  This song was HOT when it was out in like ‘92; are you kidding me?  

Its funny though, because listening to the lyrics they seem timely even now.  Da Bush Babees talked about representing for ‘real’ hip hop; and lamented that there are a million MC’s and a thousand DJ’s because there’s money in hip hop.  Man where they right!  For them it sprouted out of art and expression.  You know?  It was a golden era.  You did hip hop because you loved it, you did it because it was YOU, you know what I mean?  Nowadays, cats ain’t really down with that.  They just want money.  Forget the artistry.  Forget the expression.  Just give me the dough.

I guess that’s why I dont’ really listen to the radio anymore, or subscribe to the modern day definition of hip hop.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1 Corinthians 13:11