NASA Does Nikon

NASA just ordered 11 new Nikon D3 bodies as well as several 14-24mm f2.8 lenses. The new gear will be used to document the daily life within the program and on the space station. They join the D2x bodies and a plethora of Nikkor lenses and accessories already in use.
Since I primarily use D3 and D2x bodies with a lineup of all Nikkor lenses, I think I’m in good shape. šŸ™‚
All images courtesy of NASA

Lens Lust

OK, so I’ve been suffering from a little bit of “Lens Lust” the last few months. I was searching for a smaller, lighter, telephoto for situations where I didn’t nead the hefty Nikon AFS VR 70-200 f2.8. The new Nikon AFS VR 105mm f2.8 Micro fit the bill EXACTLY! As an added bonus, it’s a highly regarded close-up lens. It features a non-rotating front, Internal Focus (IF), Vibration Reduction (VRII), the fast Silent Wave Focusing Motor (SWM), and focuses from infinity to an astounding life-size (1:1) ratio. Best of all, it boasts a high-resolution/high optical performance with Nano Crystal Coat and Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements, which enhance overall image quality by further reducing flare and chromatic aberrations, contributing to improved color, contrast and clarity. This lens recently won the TIPA Award For Best Professional Lens. In a nut shell…this baby is fast, versatile, and sharp…just what the doctor ordered. šŸ™‚

Flash Freeze

I created this image at Erin & Jason’s wedding last week. Everyone was marveling at how dramatic the moon was that night. It didn’t take much prodding to get Erin & Jason to join me for a daring adventure to capture that drama in an image of them! šŸ™‚

Working with a minimalist amount of gear, I had my two Nikon D3’s, each fitted with a Nikon SB-900, plus one remote SB-800 on a Bogen 3333 stand I had used earlier for group photos.
I set the SB-800 off on camera right, zoomed to 70mm to concentrate the beam of light on them. I took the SB-900 off one camera and flipped it to remote mode (I LOVE how quickly you can switch modes on the 900 vs. the 800). This one was placed behind the couple for a rim light. I positioned Erin & Jason so that the street light in the distance was behind her veil. And there’s some landscape lighting on the famous Pineapple Fountain I liked.
To pick up the ambient light of the moon, street lamp, and landscape lighting, I used ISO 1600, f2.8. Even so, I was at 1/30th of a second. I was using the D3 with the 70-200. I had no tripod with me. So you’re probably thinking at that slow a shutter speed, this image is going to be blurry, right? Well, by carefully placing Erin & Jason so that all the ambient light was behind them, the couple was pretty much pitch black at this point. The only light hitting them from the camera side was the off-camera SB-800. This is VERY IMPORTANT! By doing this, I am essentially using the high-speed burst of light from the strobe to FREEZE them in place. At this point, the shutter speed of the camera is only affecting the ambient light, it has nothing to do with the exposure of the main subject. So even hand-holding that long lens at such a slow shutter speed, Erin & Jason are as sharp as a tack!
And that’s how you use Flash Freeze to save your behind when you don’t have a tripod with you! šŸ™‚