a Mirrorless Upgrade | my Sony A6000 Preview


the Sony a6000 with a kit lens

My move to a mirrorless camera system started over a year ago now and it all began when I was loaned the incredible Fuji XT-1 for a few days in Disney World. I absolutely loved the feel of the Fuji (especially the small size and weight compared to my big DSLR systems) and the picture quality was nothing short of breath taking. I knew then and there that I’d be adding a mirrorless system to my gear collection.

But as much as I loved the Fuji, it was a bit pricey – as in many thousands of dollars – to get myself a complete system (bodies, lenses, flashes, accessories, etc.) for what would ultimately be a camera I used outside of my professional work.

I tried a number of cameras out and ultimately picked up the least expensive Sony mirrorless camera, the a5000. The a5000 has been a delight to work with and it’s small size, light weight and astoundingly low price were exactly what I was looking for in a travel camera. While I liked a lot of what the entry level a5000 offered, it was also lacking some features that I found myself really missing (like a hot-shoe and a view finder). It didn’t take me long to add an additional body to my growing collection of mirrorless gear.

Today I’ll share a few thoughts on the current flagship Sony mirrorless camera (APS-C sized sensor): the a6000.

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Sony A5000 | Long Term Review


For quite some time now I’ve been using a small mirrorless camera as my primary landscape, travel and video camera. What I wanted to know was simple – could a super small and light alternative to my professional gear give me near-professional results. I wrote an introduction to my camera choice in another article (called: going mirrorless) but now that I’ve had it a while I thought I’d do a follow up. This will be my Sony a5000 Long Term Review.

For my paying jobs the big gear still comes out but when I’m on a photo walk or hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains I really wanted something smaller and lighter. The primary camera I’ve been working with for the last six months has been a Sony a5000 Interchangeable Lens Camrea (ILC). In this article I’m going to share my thoughts on what it’s been like for me to work with the smaller camera.

The Headshot by Peter Hurley | a Book Review


Today I’m going to share my thoughts on a book I picked up recently called: “The Headshot” by Peter Hurley. I picked up a copy to read on a recent flight and I’m truly happy I did. I buy plenty of books every year but this one is by far the best photography book I’ve purchased this year (and possibly this decade).

If you photograph people then I’d highly recommend you order a copy of this book right now then come back to finish reading this review. It’s less than $30 that will make your portraits and headshots better than that $2,000.00 f1.4 lens you’ve been looking at. Having a good portrait lens is great but the lessons in this book will have you capturing killer shots regardless of your gear. This book IS THAT GOOD!!!

Hummingbird Camera Comparison


Recently I had an opportunity to photograph some hummingbirds (at a hummingbird feeder). I happened to have three completely different types of cameras handy so I decided to do a quick test to see what kind of shots I could create with each of them.

I’ve photographed hummingbirds in the past (without a feeder) and I can honestly say that they’re some of the most difficult subjects to photograph there is. If you’re looking to freeze them you need a crazy high shutter speed, perfect timing and a little luck. But even when you have perfect conditions you’ll get different results depending on the equipment you use. For my testing I had a big DSLR, a small mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, a super small point and shoot camera and I even broke out my iPhone to see how it could fare. The results were a little surprising…

the Photoshop Workbook


I have a great appreciation for creatives. I know so many amazing photographers it’s not even funny. I know even more amazing designers who have taught me more than I ever thought I could learn. It’s a rare thing when great photographers are also incredible designers and Glyn Dewis is both – and more because he’s also an inspiring instructor.

Great photographers and great designers know the secret to realizing their vision is to see the final image in your mind and then use the tools at your disposal to fulfill that vision. Cameras and software are tools but having vision is something you need to find within. What Glyn has created with his first book, appropriately titled: “the Photoshop Workbook”, is an instruction manual to using one of the most important tools that can help you start thinking about your final images in a whole new way.

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Ruggard Triumph 55 Sling Bag


For a little over three months I’ve been trying out a new Sling Bag style camera bag from Ruggard called the Triumph 55. Because I sometimes photograph local new and special events (think: “photo journalism”) I was in the market for something that was comfortable, held the all of the gear I’d need on an assignment and had plenty of great features. When I started looking for a bag for my journalism work I decided to look into backpacks and slings because I knew that walking to a location was a huge part of the job (I often use public transportation to get to news scenes in the Washington, DC area). In the beginning money wasn’t a factor because I really wanted to find something that was comfortable.

I own a number of Ruggard products (available exclusively at B&H Photo) including a bunch of tripod/lightstand bags and I’ve always been impressed by their flexibility, durability and their affordability. Because I’ve had good luck with my Ruggard light stand bags I decided to give their sling bags and backpacks a look. It turns out the slick Triumph series of sling bags were perfect for what I needed.

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My New Travel Tripod


I use a tripod whenever I can to make sure my camera is as steady as can be. Most of the time I use a big tripod made by Manfrotto that has always been my number one go-to tripod. It’s a tripod I’ve owned for close to 10 years now and it show no signs of stopping any time soon. As much as I love my big Manfrotto it is a bit heavy and a little large for when I’m traveling or out for a fun photo walk. In those situations I prefer a smaller and lighter solution for keeping my camera steady. Recently I added a new travel-sized tripod to my gear collection and for this blog post I’ll be sharing some initial thoughts about it.

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the Tuff-Luv DSLR Shoulder Bag


Recently I ordered some new Tuff Luv DSLR Shoulder Bags from my friends at LoveCases. I’m always on the lookout for new ways to carry my gear and this time I was looking for some over-the-shoulder camera bags. I’ve talked at length about my gear bags in the past and I own plenty. I own a ton of photography gear and each job I go on will have different requirements. For big jobs I have big gear bags. For day trips walking around Washington, DC I want to travel light. In the past I’ve used sling style bags but I quickly discovered that they only worked over one shoulder (and after a long day it becomes a little fatiguing when you can’t switch shoulders). I felt it was time to try a shoulder style bag again and the Tuff Luv DSLR Shoulder Bags looked like they were perfect for my needs. In this blog post I’ll be sharing my full review of them.

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the Tuff-Luv E-volve Expedition


One of the coolest things about photography is the gear itself. Professional and hobbyist photographers love to try the latest lenses, the newest super high resolution cameras and the coolest flash equipment. I have a ton of gear and I really enjoy talking with others about what I’m currently using.

But one thing that’s super difficult to figure out is how we’re going to carry our gear. There are all sorts of different sizes and styles of camera bags and I own plenty. I have different bags and cases for almost every situation and I’ve found that no one bag is perfect for everything. Because I’m always on the hunt for better ways to transport my gear I buy new bags all the time. Recently my friends at LoveCases contacted me to see if I’d be interested in trying out some of their products and sharing my experiences with their customers. For this blog entry I’ll be talking about camera bags in general and I’ll be reviewing the Tuff-Luv E-Volve Expedition backpack.

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