First a Short Message
If at all possible I will now be posting once a week. Those that have signed up for my newsletter will now get an email of that post on Tuesdays. My posts and emails are not designed to sell you anything! So please open the emails! I will be offering tips and suggestions for all things related to Photography, Photoshop, LightRoom, and Fine Art Printing. Basically what I do, day in and day out.
Do you need to be that committed? (or some would say I might be a little sick in the head)…No not at all. However many of my followers have told me they did not know of something I might be doing, or some PhotoSafari I might be putting together, or that they missed something they wanted to attend…
So If I’m doing it, that will also be announced here as well. I wish to have one central place where all things ByWinslow can be found. This is it! So stay tuned! And like many of you, I do not wish to spend everyday, 24/7 in front of a computer. So this website, and my FB profiles are everything that I will be doing from now on. Nothing more! Instagram and all the rest are not worth my time, in my opinion…
Yes, it’s very likely I’ll be doing something with YouTube. It’s faster to watch a three minute video than read stuff; so look for that this Fall.
My First Tip – Use The Gear You Already Have!
We can’t seem to be able to resist the next great Camera or Lens, can we? All OF US! Including myself. Well after five decades of being a Professional Photographer I’ve finally learned not to do this!
Instead use the gear you already have and maybe do something different with it! Yes, the new cameras are pretty cool, but guess what? For the most part you can already do what the new Camera does. It captures images you compose!
Yes, there are some things that will “improve”, but do you need those improvements for most of your shooting? Or just sometimes? One example would be very high ISO Photography. Would that new camera really assist? Or would different post processing techniques work, and consume far less money? Yes, I know this could be a whole ‘nuther blog post, so I’ll leave that for a future edition.
Tip Number Two – Buy Used Gear!
Yes I’m a big proponent of buying used Photography Equipment from trusted sources. My personal go to place to shop is UsedPhotoPro.com (no they don’t pay me to say that!)
When I’m shopping for something that’s my first, and most of the time, the last spot to shop. I only buy equipment in good to mint minus condition, depending upon the item. Once again a good topic for a future post. You can use the code “ByWinslow” to get an additional 5% off of any equipment purchase at UsedPhotoPro.
Tip Number Three – Do Not Buy Everything!
Honestly? I could do about 80% of the Photography I do every day with one camera and two lenses. The Camera? A good sensor! In my case the Nikon D-850 but there are others, in every brand… Once again? A topic for a future post. The lenses? A top of the line 24-70 – f/2.8 and the Nifty 50 offered by every manufacturer. No, I seldom buy third party lenses. Actually I only own one, the Sigma 135mm f/1.8. Once again, another good topic for a future post.
I would probably add another Camera converted to Infrared. This could very likely be that entry level camera that we all bought to see if we’d even like Photography.
If you would like to see my entire gear list… please remember I’ve bought all of this gear over the past five decades. The lens on my camera 85% of the time is the 24-70. Yes, even for portraits! If I was traveling? I’d take that and the nifty 50. You can see my entire gear list if you like by Clicking Here!
Bonus Tip – Used Equipment Can Be Scarce
This means you need to stay on top of the market. Currently as I type this I did not find a D-850 in Excellent Condition for what I bought my last one for. I found only one and it was $1700.00! I paid $950.00 for the last one I bought with less than 5,000 clicks on it. I bought my last D-850 when everyone was hyped up to buy the the new Z-9 and just before the Z-8 was announced.
Now you might not believe this, but I knew Nikon was going to bring out the Z-8. Once again a topic for a future blog post. So now a Nikon D-850 is in high demand on the used market. Why is this? It’s because the D-850 is an Iconic Camera. One of the best Nikon ever produced!
The used market knows this and that has dried up inventory, taking prices up. But guess what? I saw a used Nikon D-4x in excellent condition for under $900.00! This is still an excellent Camera. A bit bigger than the D-850 and it lacks focus stacking in camera, but you can do that manually. Not too long ago the D-4x was THE top Professional Photographers Choice, and sold for over $6000.00!
As I type this you can pick up a used Nikon Z-6 mirrorless in excellent condition for $946.00
Wrapping It All Up
I’m certain you noticed several places above where I said a “topic for future posts”… Yes I’m going to place a category on my website that is for the long story. A more in depth review of the topic. I’ll be giving excerpts of my experience that only a long time Professional Photographer can give.
Maybe as a YouTube presentation. No body likes to read long posts, including me. Maybe a Pod Cast? I’m on the fence about all of this. I do not wish to spend the balance of years I have left on a computer.
Bottom line? You don’t really need a lot of expensive gear to be an awesome Photographer. You need a lot of passion. You need passion to persist. Passion in your compositions. Passion to be different and set yourself apart. And Passion to have FUN with it!
With This Newsletter I’m Announcing A PhotoSafari
This will be the last chance to capture the core of the Milky Way for 2023. This PhotoSafari will occur in the High Country of Southern Utah for good, clean air. We will also Photograph some Bristle Cone Pine Trees, and other attractions. Dates for this PhotoSafari will be September 12th, 13th, & 14th. This will be a total blast, and only open to eight people! For more information CLICK HERE!
I’m Also Announcing A Class on Infrared Photography
This class will be October 5th at B&C Camera. For more information on that and to register CLICK HERE! Following the Infrared class I’ll be offering an Infrared PhotoSafari where you can use my Infrared Cameras, if you do not have one of your own. Information on the Infrared PhotoSafari will be in next weeks newsletter and occur in mid October.
The Image above is now my favorite B&W Infrared to date, and my favorite road shot. Captured with a Nikon D-850 Converted to 590nm with KolariVision. You’ll hear much more on this at my B&C Camera Class.
One last topic. I wish I could answer every email I get, or all the comments on posts. I do not and can not do this. There is not enough time in the day. Questions that come up a lot become topics I discuss. On PhotoSafaris? Or my classes? I bust my butt to answer every single thing my students wish to know!
So!… Thanks for being here! Thanks for reading, and stay tuned!
