Recently several of my friends have asked me for advice on buying a new camera, with some asking specifically about film cameras. I’ll explain the most important thing to understand when buying cameras, some considerations for choosing between film and digital, as well as the different types of cameras and lenses available, and my recommendation for what to buy and how to find it.
Read MoreJapan is an incredible place, and Tokyo in particular is so rich that you could find literally anything you are looking for. Want to spend a week trying out world-famous sushi, centuries-old sake breweries, and seeing live music every night of the week? Or perhaps go on an all-night bender through Shinjuku & Shibuya between scouting the nerd-Valhalla of Akihabara? Or a serene week of ancient temples interspersed with martial arts training in the mountains? Whatever you want, you will find.
You could take a lifetime of exploring to only scratch the surface. Here are a few of my favorite spots and a few day trips that I have found to be fun, as well as a few recommendations.
Read MoreJapan is one of my favorite places to go, and I have been fortunate to visit many times in many occasions in the past several years. I wrote this guide for friends who are visiting for the first time, and I decided to publish it publicly for others to enjoy as well.
In this first part, I’m excited to share with you some tips that will make it easier to get by, both in terms of navigating the big city and also the big menus. This will be an incomplete guide for people who have never been to Japan before, and might not know anything about the culture or history.
Read MoreOne of my friends just got a new DSLR camera, and asked me what lens he should get next, so I decided to write out my advice and share it.
The key is to understand what you need, and decide if you need it occasionally and can rent the equipment, or if you will be better off owning it.
I’d also like to offer my thoughts on buying used equipment. If you are buying something new, you have a warranty guarantee— if you are starting out with a new system, or an autofocus lens, this is very useful. You never know if the previous owner dropped the camera, or what. However, if you don’t mind buying used (and almost all cameras made in the last 5 years are just fantastic), then you can pick up some amazing gear at very affordable prices…
Read MoreThis is my guide to taking intimate portraits. I cover building rapport during a shoot, developing a mood, posing, gear, and lighting.
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