Warmer days, later sunsets and colored eggs springs Easter joy once again to candy craving children. Over a dozen hard boiled eggs and plenty of colored vinegar later, Easter Sunday bunny hopped to an over easy delight.
Sharing is easy with your older cousin when you barely have four front baby teeth to devour egg hunting treasure. My 13 month daughter loves anything with sugar and will soon be walking on two feet to join the egg hunting festivities.
Easter means wear your Sunday's best, especially when photographed with the new Canon EOS 5D Mark III. Easter came early for me when I picked up my 22 megapixel full frame DSLR featuring a new 61 point auto focusing system and a 6 frames per second shooting capability. There are much more amazing features to list but that will have to wait for my upcoming Canon 5D Mark III Practical Review and Video Test.
Easter cupcakes are the new colored eggs this season. Think of sugary moist cupcakes covered with sweet icing and finally topped off with a Peep. It is Cupcake Wars versus the Easter Bunny.
You can view more eggs and cupcakes in my Easter 2012 Gallery shot with the new Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV.
9 years old and counting. Father time is ticking until your Confirmation, then your Driver's Permit and then your High School Graduation. On top of all the family events in between milestones. The petabytes of future photos and videos are staggering to imagine. Hopefully by then, they will have a 1 gigabyte Apple iPad 10 available at a premium price. Of course, replaced with a better upgrade 6 months later.
From newborn photos shot with the 35mm film Canon EOS 3 camera 9 years ago, SLR technology has changed dramatically with the times. Hauling separate still and video cameras in the past are now replaced with hybrid HD DSLR's that can achieve both with stunning Full HD quality. My daughter can only look forward to smaller, faster, better and cheaper imaging technology in the near future. Anyone interested in a mint 35mm film camera with battery booster?
A summer birthday welcomes a celebration with extended family at a local swimming hole. Local meaning Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida. Luckily, a housekeeping fiasco kept each room a long and comfortable distance from each other. Thank you very much kind random acts of fate!
From Holy Water to swimming pool water, my newly Baptized baby daughter has grown accustomed to her sea legs. Just like her big sister, newborn Serena loves Hello Kitty!
Call of Duty Black Ops has trained my son well in the art of water warfare. The NERF Super Soaker is like an extension of his arm unleashing aquatic surgical strikes against older annoying sisters on their birthday including innocent bystanders.
This is a 1080p video shot with the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV paired with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS and EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II lenses. Edited with Final Cut Pro 6.0.6 and used Compressor to get a 422mb H264 video file at best quality. I used the Canon E-1 Movie plugin to transcode the h264 movie clips to AppleProRes422. For audio, I used the budget priced AZDEN ECZ-990 Supercardioid Shotgun Microphone.
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"You are my Density!" exclaimed Crispin Glover to Lea Thompson in the 1985 sci-fi adventure hit, Back to the Future. My preteen imagination of DeLorean time travel never included HD DSLR film making and all the essential tools like a variable Neutral Density filter.
The buzzing pursuit of the ideal DSLR video settings like a 1/50th to 1/125th shutter speed, ISO of 160 and a wide open aperture led me to a vital film maker's tool on the internet. HD DSLR pioneers, LaForet and Bloom, tout the necessity of a neutral density filter to reduce the incoming light and modify DSLR video settings for an ideal moving image.
A quick Google search displayed a plethora of variable neutral density filters. Unlike fixed ND filters, a variable ND filter replaces several ND filters all in one device. The convenience of rotating the variable ND filter to darken and lighten the image on camera is absolute ease. With benefits come drawbacks and not all variable neutral density filters are made the same.
Variable ND filters made in China, Japan and even Florida scour my Google search. Brands a plenty such as Singh-Ray, Genus, Light Craft, Fader and various EBay knock-offs compete for your coin. Which one is the best value? Better yet, which variable ND filter keeps good color and minimizes lens vignetting?
With the help of my ChadSorianoPhotoBlog friends, North Tampa Photography and The EditWizard, I began my practical review and video test of a mid price range variable neutral density filter. For a street price around $200, the Fader ND Mark II Variable Neutral Density Filter placed itself between the Light Craft and the higher priced Singh-Ray. Vincent LaForet endorses this Fader ND Mark II and you will soon see why.
I mounted the Fader ND Mark II by Fader on my Canon EOS 1D Mark IV paired with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens. My video test on Youtube shows the Fader ND Mark II keeps great color throughout the variable ND stops and keeps lens vignetting to a barely noticeable level. The Fader ND Mark II is well built and the rotating filters has a solid and very smooth feel. I am confident the Fader ND Mark II can withstand hardy use out in the field.
Considering the price, the Fader ND Mark II in 77mm does not come with a lens cap. Well, all you need is a 82mm lens cap because the Fader ND Mark II front rotating glass is one size bigger than the lens filter size. Otherwise, the Fader ND Mark II by Fader is a must have in your HD DSLR film maker's bag.
The eleven hundred dollar price tag derailed my temptation of the Philip Bloom Signature Edition Pocket Dolly by Kessler. Believe me, you get what you pay for in this day of age. His cinematic tool looks like a fabulous piece of machinery but a little steep in the wallet for most. A quick Google search came up with an unusual result. A German industrial manufacturer specializing in mechanical systems with polymer bearing technology called IGUS. Confused?
I did not believe this at first but a quick search of IGUS on Amazon.com came up with a surprising affordable camera slider solution. For one hundred and fifty dollars, you get a precision Drylin bearing slider on a four inch by three feet piece of metal rail. The IGUS W1080-B with pre drilled holes to be exact.
A Manfrotto 701 HDV fluid head and Benro Carbon Fiber legs from my friends at North Tampa Photography plus a quick trip to the local hardware store, you can be setup very quickly for your next cinematic masterpiece. Well, I would not call my quick holiday weekend production shoot at Hermano Family Dentistry anything but epic. Dental eye candy fits the description better.
I used a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with EF 85mm f/1.2L, EF 35mm f/1.4L and the EF 17-40mm f/4L lenses. I paired the camera with the Sennheiser MKE 400 microphone for audio and used a Manfrotto 501 HDV fluid head for my other shots. The wonderful behind the scene photographs are provided by the "Time Lapse Guru", Getawaymoments.
The IGUS Drylin Camera Slider W1080-B is the perfect size to handle the heft of the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with a large lens with no problem. Anything heavier on either ends of the rail can be solved by a two tripod system. For even a lighter rig, you can support one end with full size legs and the other end with a monopod.
The IGUS Drylin Camera Slider Video Test was an astounding success. This great value for the money cinematic tool provided an invaluable element to this production. This unbeatable combination from IGUS paired with an HD Dslr is a "must have" especially compared to the more expensive Philip Bloom Signature Pocket Dolly. You will be seeing more of the IGUS Drylin Camera Slider in my future productions.
"Every Good Boy Does Fine" as my music teacher from year's past would always tell me at my "forced against my will" piano lessons. As I reflect on my delinquent music days gone by with my fellow ChadSorianoPhotoBlog readers, the teacher lost me at "Every". Ironically, my ever so slightly more mature adulthood and my haste for classical composition manifested into a self inspired interest of piano by my very own daughter.
Visions of princess fairy tales and Nutcracker Suites became a precursor to many things to come. The crown and tutu interest waned and she moved on to more athletic pursuits.
Soccer was a blast for my daughter and for me as well. Running up and down the field kicking the ball gave her the exercise and teamwork skills while her father practiced his sports photography. She quickly learned into mid-season the fear of being kicked in the shins soon came to reality. One "Cheetah" season was enough for my daughter.
Nervous described my daughter as she walked past the audience filled with camera toting parents onto the stage under the intense theater lights. My anticipation to capture her first piano recital rested as she pushed through the keys of the holiday favorite "O Christmas Tree".
Only time will tell how long my daughter's piano pursuits will last. I captured this 1080p video moment with the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS lens. I edited with iMovie'09 and used Quicktime at best qualtiy to compress a 369mb h264 video file. I recorded audio with the Sennheiser MKE400 shotgun microphone directly to the camera via mini jack.
Another potential ChadSorianoPhotoBlog fan emerged into this digital world with open arms to the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. My sister in-law's newborn son gazed into my "L" series lens in Full HD 1080p resolution. Infant Keelan looked forward to the 5D Mark II Full Frame "bokeh" and 21 megapixel resolution. My son and daughter only anticipated another playtime cousin to the family.
Did I mention 1080p video resolution? Yes, I captured video at 29.97fps and edited with Final Cut Pro. I used Compressor at best quality and utilized the Canon E-1 Movie Plugin to transcode to AppleProRes422. There is nothing cuter than a sleeping baby and all the adoration that comes with it. I can already smell the dirty diapers.
You can view more Canon EOS 5D Mark II photos in my Baby Keelan Gallery. I used the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS and EF 50mm f/1.2L prime lenses for stills and video.
Capture the moment because everything else is just filler! Like twisters in the mid-west, cliches hit my PhotoBlog like a freight train. Birthday wishes go out to my nephew in-law and he hit the ground running at the local amusement/theme park.
Cake, soda, arcade games, mini-golf and go karts filled the sugar induced day. Berserk only slightly describes the excitement of grade school kids testing the patience of their wary parents. No worries because it is all for the greater good of childhood memories.
This is a joyful event shot with the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with the Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS lens. The 1080p video is shot at 29.97fps and edited with Final Cut Pro. I used Compressor to get a 600mb H264 file at best quality. I also used the Canon E-1 Movie Plugin to transcode to AppleProRes422.
My trip to New York City would not be complete without a visit to The Bronx Zoo. I just completed my Canon EXPO 2010 Visual Journey at the Javits Convention Center and looked forward for more sights and sounds of the Empire State.
The Bronx Zoo is the largest urban zoo in the United States. I felt every step as my family pounded the pavement of this "Jungle in an Urban Jungle". Bronx Zoo patrons are transported into a lush environment filled with species contained in natural barriers. From elephants, gorillas, every type of bird, butterfly and of course a petting zoo for kids. I almost forgot about the Sea Lions too!
The best exhibits at The Bronx Zoo were the Petting Zoo, Butterfly Garden, the World of Birds and finally the Wild Asia Monorail. My kids saw prairie dogs up close, every type of deer and a Red Panda that looks more like a fuzzy red fox.
Just like I was "Eyes Wide Open" at the Canon EXPO 2010, my family was enthralled by all the Bronx Zoo wonders. My son said he wanted to live at The Bronx Zoo forever!
You can view more photos and videos in my The Bronx Zoo 2010 Gallery. Shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS lens.
This is a 1080p video shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II at 29.97fps. Edited with iMovie'09 and compressed with Quicktime. I used the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS lens.
The inevitable day finally arrived after two and a half months of past your bedtime schedules and watching hours of daytime cartoons on television. The first day of school hit the Soriano family like a freight train.
Get up before sunrise, drink coffee, assemble school lunches, get the kids dressed while they complain they are still sleepy and drive through morning rush hour traffic through several school zones to get to school on time. Sound familiar? I forgot to add one more step to my morning process. Dress myself and look somewhat presentable to the other rushed parents at school!
Return to normalcy! Comparing summer vacation to World War I is quite a literary stretch, but I had to say it. Single file lunch lines and hallway lockers coin the phrase "back to school".
I am not a morning person as well as my family. Night dwellers unite! My Dunkin Donuts ground coffee from Costco is my medicine to jump start my day.
May the 2010 school year be filled with unbridled knowledge, homework, recess and fantastic field trips. My cameras are waiting patiently to capture the moment.
Irony just fills the pages of my PhotoBlog! I mentioned to my wife that she is just moving the dust around and not really removing it.
I used the Canon EOS 5D Mark II with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 IS L lens for this shoot. You can view more photos in my First Day Of School 2010 Gallery.
Filipina Superstar Toni Gonzaga performed in Orlando, Florida to the delight of many at the Osceola Performing Arts Center on Saturday August 7th, 2010.
Toni Gonzaga is on a United States Concert Tour from her native homeland of the Philippines with her sister Alex Gonzaga. Her next destination is Houston, Texas at the University of Houston.
My daughter enjoyed the sights and sounds of the TGIF! She especially liked the Toni and Alex Gonzaga's version of "Love Story" by Taylor Swift and "Baby" by Justin Bieber. The night was complete with an autographed CD Album Magazine "All Me" and a picture perfect photo with the sisters.
I photographed the concert with the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L II lens. I shot 1080p video with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L II lens.
As for my audio setup for the video capture, I used two shotgun microphones. The Rode VideoMic was attached to the Canon 5D Mark II with manual audio control and the Azden SGM 1X attached to the wireless Sennheiser G2 EW100 transmitter and the wireless Sennheiser G2 EW100 receiver attached to the Canon 1D Mark IV. The wireless setup was needed for mobility because I was shooting pictures and video simultaneously. The 5D Mark II was on a Bogen 501HDV head with Manfrotto legs and the 1D Mark IV was handheld during the entire production. You can read more post production details in my Toni Gonzaga Youtube Video.
Kudos to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for the 3 to 2 victory against the New York Yankees in the July 30th American League East baseball game. I witnessed Rays Matt Joyce hit a three run homer in the sixth inning. The sold out crowd at Tropicana Field roared into a frenzy as number 20 knocked the ball beyond right field granting the Rays with all their runs.
The brief moment my son unglued his eyes from his Nintendo DSi, he got into the ballgame spirit with his own personalized Devil Rays wooden bat. A black bat for my son and of course a pink bat for my daughter.
New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez strikes out. A-Rod fails his attempted 600th career homer.
Our family Friday night out would not be complete without overpriced sugary cotton candy. Nintendo DSi followed with souvenir bats and finally sugar overload to finish off the July 30th Devil Rays victory over the Yankees.
The competition is not over for the American League East. Baseball fans of Tampa Bay look forward to another Rays win and my kids are hopeful for more cotton candy.
Chad Soriano brings more than 20 years of experience as a television news photojournalist and still camera photographer. Chad worked at Tampa’s Fox Television station, WTVT. His primary role there was in the special projects, consumer investigation unit. His assignments ranged from general news to consumer fraud. His skills in news gathering and camera-work combine to create a strong tool in developing and promoting a unique visual style.
