6 ways to get the best image quality

This video from Duade Paton was shot 3 years ago and still valid today. One thing I love from this photographer is that gives you tips that will not require you to buy super expensive gear. Even more he gave you the required information for you to buy good old lenses that still work well with your Canon camera. 

Is the digital camera market recovering?

It's no secret that the digital camera market has shrunk in recent years. According to some analysts, this trend is primarily due to the rise of smartphones with better cameras and the impact of the pandemic.

However, a recent report published by PetaPixel indicates that digital camera sales in Japan increased in 2024 compared to 2023.

Canon’s sales volume in 2024 was 151.4% of its 2023 level. Fujifilm landed in second place with an 18.6% market share.

Market Recovery Indicators:

• Increased Shipments: The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) reported that global shipments of mirrorless cameras reached approximately $17 billion in the first half of 2023, marking a 20% year-over-year increase and setting a record high for the third consecutive year.

• Growth Projections: The global digital camera market size was valued at USD 7.16 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% from 2024 to 2030.

The shift towards smartphones with advanced camera capabilities continues to impact the digital camera market, necessitating innovation and adaptation from traditional camera manufacturers.

I believe digital cameras will always have a market, even as they compete with smartphones. The fact remains that, due to size limitations, the image quality of photos taken with smartphones cannot match that of mirrorless cameras. Over time, lenses and digital cameras will continue to become smaller and more efficient, but their superior image quality will ensure their place in the market.

Kids Soccer

 This weekend I shot a kid soccer game and here is one of the pictures that I liked from the event.

When shooting soccer, I set my R6 to Shutter Speed Priority at 1/1250 to freeze the action and avoid motion blur. I leave the ISO on Auto to stay focused on the game without the distraction of adjusting ISO manually.

I chose the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L Mk II lens because it provides the reach I need when the action is happening far down the field, while still allowing me to capture shots when the players get closer. Another option could have been my EF 70-200mm f/2.8L, but I find its range too short for this type of event.

I definitely enjoy shooting sports events. It’s the perfect combination of watching the game while doing what I love: photography.

More than 70,000 pictures

I joined Flickr in 2006. At the beginning this platform served me as the media used to hold pictures that I used in my blogs relative to Ultra Mobile PCs. Later on I started to use it as a backup for my photography hobby. Today I noticed that I have reached the milestone of more than 70,000 pictures in this platform!

According to Flickr Statistics, this is the most voted picture from my Profile.

What can be done with your iPhone camera

I wouldn’t trade my camera for an iPhone, even though I use my iPhone occasionally. The image quality from a DSLR or mirrorless camera is unmatched. That said, if your iPhone is all you have with you, don’t hesitate to use it. For inspiration, here’s someone (Michael Shl) who has traveled to over 40 countries, capturing incredible photos with whatever version of the iPhone he owned at the time.

Picture by Michael Shl.

 

The World Sports Photography Awards

Are you curious to see how the winning photos from the World Photography Awards look? Click here—you’ll be left speechless!

Newborn Baby Photography

While I’m primarily a wildlife photographer, I also enjoy doing event photography, including public events, birthdays, and sports. For these occasions, I adopt a casual style, capturing what most would consider candid moments. My subjects aren’t posed; they’re simply going about their lives, and I’m there as a witness, preserving those authentic moments.

I love this approach because it feels natural, and I dislike asking people—especially kids—to pose. More often than not, they end up standing stiffly in what I call the "penguin pose," accompanied by a forced, "Terminator-style" smile.

However, there’s one type of photography that intimidates me: newborn baby photography. While I’ve taken pictures of my grandsons when they were little, those were more personal than professional.

To me, newborn baby photography requires an immense amount of patience and a nurturing touch that I feel is often best exemplified by women. This video beautifully illustrates what I mean.

 

To be always ready

I can’t overstate the importance of always being ready as a wildlife photographer. The BBC recently published an article that perfectly illustrates what I mean.

Just the other day, I was at a local park with a lake when an otter suddenly emerged from the bushes, sprinting toward the water. By the time I raised my camera and attempted to take a photo, it was too late. The otter had disappeared into tall grass, and the camera couldn’t lock focus. I had missed the brief moment when it ran across the shorter grass, clearly visible.

It felt like I’d lost a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to photograph one of the most graceful animals I’ve ever encountered.

Spot were I lost view of the otter.

The Best States for Photographers

Florida is not in that list. The Sunshine State is too flat and after a while the landscape becomes repetitive, it's either beaches or wetlands. 

According to the list published by AOL, the best state for photographers is Hawaii. 

"It’s no wonder why photographs of Hawaii sell worldwide. It’s a beautiful place that absolutely sparkles in pictures. That must be why the average annual salary for a photographer in Hawaii is $91.277. The revenue potential for photographers is said to be $155,112."

Photographers' salaries in Florida vary based on experience, specialization, and location. According to Indeed, the average hourly wage for photographers in Florida is $21.14. This equates to an annual salary of approximately $44,000, assuming full-time employment. SalaryExpert reports a higher average annual salary of $60,864, with entry-level positions starting around $44,457 and senior-level roles reaching up to $74,488.

Panama City ($89,000) and Fort Lauderdale ($57,000) offer higher average pay rates for photographers compared to other Florida cities. These two cities are famous for their beaches.

Specializations can also impact earnings. For instance, the average salary for a wedding photographer in Florida is $63,028, with a typical range between $55,394 and $73,027.

It's important to note that these figures are averages and can vary based on factors such as experience, location within the state, and the specific type of photography work.

Godox is releasing 3 new flashes

According to a recent article on PetaPixel, Godox is set to release three new compact and affordable flashes.

While I haven’t tested these new flashes yet, I’ll admit I’ve fallen into the trap of buying compact flashes in the past. Although they’re better than having no flash at all, their limited features and performance often leave much to be desired. To put it politely, the results have been far from impressive.

Dade's Battle Event

 Last Saturday I went to the Dade's Battle Event. This is a year re-enactment of this battle that happened in 1835 where the United State Army was ambushed and defeated by approximately 180 Seminole and Black Seminole warriors as they marched from Fort Brooke on Tampa Bay to reinforce Fort King in Ocala.

The whole album can be checked at Flickr. Here are few pictures from the event.

Click To See Details

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Click To See Details

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Camera Design

 I recently came across an article on Digital Camera World that raises an excellent point about camera design.

I wholeheartedly agree. Current Canon cameras lack the classic design elements that once made the brand so iconic. Personally, if I had to choose between the design of my Canon 5D Mark III and my Canon R6 Mark I, I’d pick the 5D every single time—with just one modification: adding an articulated display.

It feels like Canon has leveraged the touchscreen capabilities of the R series displays to replace many of the buttons and design features that were integral to its older DSLRs. Is this a step forward? Maybe. But one thing is clear: it doesn’t quite replicate the professional, tactile experience of the classic DSLR design.

CANON R6 Auto Focus for Wildlife Photography

 This is a very common question, how do you set up your camera auto focus? I use what is called Dual Back Button Focus, which basically is a method where you configure or assign auto focus functions to two of your back buttons in your camera. In my case, I use the AF/ON for Eye Focus and tracking and the * button for Single Point AF. You can find a very detailed explanation of how to set this up (with the difference that he uses the * for Eye Focus and tracking) in this video. 

Pileated Woodpecker

 The end of the year vacation ended and I'm happy with the pictures that I took during this time. This Pileated Woodpecker pictures is an example of this.

Click on the picture to appreciate the details.

 

Canon R1 Dynamic Range performance

Canon's New Cameras include new features in both hardware and software and we all expect to perform better than previous generations but that's not always the case, at least in some areas or features such as Dynamic Range. Dynamic Range refers to the range of light intensities that a camera sensor or film can capture, from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights. It's a measure of a system's ability to distinguish between the brightest and darkest parts of a scene while still retaining detail in both areas.

According to tests results posted recently at PhotonsToPhotos the Dynamic Range of the Canon R1 at ISO between 100 to 1600 is lower than the results obtained in the Canon R3 and slightly lower than in R6, R6 Mark II, R8 and even the R5 and R5 Mark II.

Starting from 1600 the Dynamic Range Performance is similar than the one seen in the R3 and the other above mentioned cameras.

Why Dynamic Range Performance is so important? 

Landscape Photography: Capturing detail in both bright skies and dark foregrounds.

Wildlife Photography: Maintaining detail in fur or feathers while also capturing background detail.

Post-Processing: RAW files often allow more flexibility in recovering shadow and highlight details because they retain more of the sensor's dynamic range compared to JPEG files.

It’s somewhat disappointing to see this, as the Canon R1 is expected to be Canon’s flagship camera for sports photography. For this purpose, excelling in low-light scenarios, such as those common in indoor sports, is crucial. While the differences in dynamic range aren't massive, the disappointment stems from the high expectations set for this new camera.

A nice surprise, The Old Man and the Piano

While visiting a local park by the sea to look for gulls and other marine birds, I stumbled upon something unexpected: an old man playing an electric piano! 

 

Naturally, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to capture some photos of him.

2024 in 12 of my pictures

Let me try to summarize 2024 in 12 of my photos. This is no easy task because I love them all. The 12 pictures I've chosen aren't necessarily my best—they're simply moments in time that hold meaning for me. Each one represents a piece of my life and a memory from this past year.

January

February

March

April

May

 

June

July 

August

September

October

November

December

 

Please do not do this

I recently took this picture of somebody feeding gulls. 

Feeding gulls with crackers/bread is not advisable for several reasons:

Nutritional Deficiency: Bread and crackers, especially white bread, lacks essential nutrients that birds need. Feeding them bread can lead to malnutrition, as they may fill up on bread and neglect healthier, natural foods.

Health Problems:  A diet high in bread can cause health issues for birds, such as:
    -Angel wing in waterfowl, a deformity caused by malnutrition.
    -Digestive issues, as bread can ferment in their stomachs.

Dependency on Humans: Feeding birds like gulls can make them overly reliant on humans for food, disrupting their natural foraging behavior. It may also increase their aggressiveness towards humans or other birds as they compete for food.

Encouraging Aggressive Behavior: Gulls that associate humans with food may become more aggressive in seeking food, potentially leading to conflicts with people or other animals. In urban settings, this can contribute to nuisance behavior, such as scavenging or attacking food directly from people.

Environmental Impact: Feeding wildlife, including gulls, human food can disrupt local ecosystems. It may cause an increase in gull populations, which could lead to overcrowding, competition for natural food sources, and the spread of disease.

For these reasons, it's best to let gulls forage naturally and avoid feeding them crackers, bread or other inappropriate human foods.