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March 26th, 2009I had to laugh and share this with you. I logged on to Amazon.com to get the link for my book when I found this:
It’s Joe McNally’s latest book, The Hotshoe Diaries, paired with my book, Within The Frame. And you can get both for $52.78. I’m one of the few on the planet who have read both of them and I can tell you they’re both excellent books. My laptop, as I type this, is sitting on my copy of The Hotshoe Diaries. I’m about half-way through it and it’s brilliant. I’m about to sign on to B&H and buy a new Nikon system and give up Canon once and for all, that’s how convincingly Joe writes. The Hotshoe Diaries is an important book. I hope people say the same about Within The Frame, but The Hotshoe Diaries is the real deal.
Btw, totally joking about buying a Nikon system. But buy enough of my books and I’m there!
One more post before the weekend, keep reading…
For a while there, I thought you were seriously switching to Nikon! Whew!
I can’t wait to get your book when it goes out. I have always admired your work and I like to travel…
Oi, I totally hear you about the Nikon flash system.
I wish Canon would unconvince themselves that their cameras are only being used by landscape/wildlife people and get on board with the small light movement.
Sigh
Since I’m shooting Canon that statement’s almost a deterrent – the last thing I need is for EVERYONE I follow to use a Nikon – the Apple thing is already wreaking havoc on the gear side of my brain (Are Canon/PC shooters currently the minority? It feels like it…).
Then again, if you switch to Nikon maybe I’ll pick up one of your “used” 5DMKII’s
Hey David, I ordered my copy of Hot Shoe Diaries this week and can’t wait to get it! The next on my list is of course your book, but I might have to wait until the launch to get it – a signed copy… brilliant!
Bay – Thanks! At this point I am planning a release event in Vancouver for June 13th at the same studio I had the blog Gathering earlier this month. Should have copies on hand to sell and sign, some free drinks, and good times. Keep your eye on the blog, I’ll post any info here first. Cheers!
So, was it Joe’s photography in the book that moved you to think about a Nikon or does Joe talk up a Nikon like there is no tomorrow. I’m straddling the fence here because I’m a Canon geek.
Joe is an unashamed Nikon shooter and this book is about flash, so it’s really all about Nikon flash. Nikon flash as a system is simply much better than Canon flash. But I shoot Canon too and at this point if I switched to Nikon it would be to shoot both Nikon and Canon, not just Nikon. No reason to be on the fence about this book – it’ll take a little more effort to translate some of the nikon-specific stuff, but the rest is so applicable – no – so AWESOME – that the fact that some of it is Nikon-specific is irrelevant.
If Canon was smart they’d put out a video explaining how to use their system in similar ways to the way Joe uses the Nikon system. But they won’t. Because Canon seems not to give a damn about it’s shooters the way Nikon seems to. Just my impression, and I’m totally willing to be wrong, but so far…well, you know.
I just spent the last hour or so reading this the Hot Shoe Diaries. Joe uses Nikon terms, but the concepts are appliable accross any system. It is great book. I would strongly recommend it. Go by your local bookstore and look at the first couple of chapters.
I shoot Nikon, but for lens Canon’s 24-105mm f/4L IS and 70-200mm f/4L IS Combined with a 40D, and 5D is a pretty compelling offering. It is certainly cheaper and ligter than the D300\D700 24-70 \ 70-200.
I think Nikon’s lighting system is better than than Canon’s but Canon has a stronger lens offering. Either way you really can’t go wrong. It is all about the vision. At some point the tools you use to express your vision should be transparent.
Nikon, Canon, .. all the same. All that counts in the end is the result. Even if you’re using a no-name point-and-shoot thingy
Joe’s book is great though, I’m nearly through *G
Whoa now, before this becomes an all-out Canon vs. Nikon war, let me clarify. First, I love my Canon gear. Second, I’d happily shoot with Nikon. Third, I agree, gear is gear and what counts is the vision and the commitment to craft. HOWEVER…the Nikon strobe system works differently that than the Canon system, and those differences make more sense to me, they make a flash system that is -to me – more intuitive. And any gear that you find easier to use, and therefore are more inclined to use, will help you achieve that vision with less chance of the gear being an obstacle.
Joe explains the Nikon flash system in a way that makes me wish I could take advantage of it. I’m a Canon shooter, so the only way that’s going to happen is if I bought into the Nikon system.
That’s all I’m trying to say. So, let’s all take a big deep breath.
Dear David,
I saw your pictures on the just released Photoshopuser magazine. I loved your pictures!!! Does Your book give narratives on the shots like Joes? I was really picqued by that shot of the eagle handler. Also, could not help but notice your macbook. AS someone who drove a used Honda for 15 years, even I am impressed at how much juice you are gettin gout of that laptop.
Thanks for the kind words, Tim. My book has about 170 images in it, all of them with captions and EXIF data. Some are associated with longer narratives, some not. Different from Joe’s books but I think he and I share a similar conversational style and love for narrative. The bird you mentionned is a golden eagle. Driving back to Ulaanbaator from rural Mongolia this man and his bird were just sitting in the middle of nowhere. We stopped and talked to him, e flew his bird, let us handle it and do some shooting. It was really wild.
As for the MacBook, with the new 5D Mk2 files I think this thing is on its last legs. Still runds beautifully but it’s struggling to keep up.
Enjoyed reading all the comments from everyone. Hey David, your last comment touched on something I’ve been wondering about for some time now. Perhaps you would consider addressing it in a future blog… What are the practical implications of going with a larger sensor (ie one with 20+ megapixels) vis-a-vis its impact on the work flow? It’s gotta slow things down a bit, eh? For example, I saw a post on Moose’s blog recently where he said one of his processed TIFF images, taken with a D3X, weighed in at 169Mb (I kid you not); six of those and you’re up to 1 Gb. Seems like it wouldn’t take too many more before things slowed down to a crawl. Any tips on how to manage those larger files would make for a helpful discussion, I’d think. Or maybe a simple look-before-you-leap tip or two? Anyway, I haven’t found any other blogs which have addressed this point. Thanks for your consideration.