Quick Trip to Lafayette

I went up to Lafayette last week to meet with Jacklyn and Jarad about their wedding photos and while I was there I got to stay with some friends I haven't seen in a while.

This, this is Kevin and his "Hey guys
I might switch to Canon" face.

Firstly, my good friend Kevin is moving to Los Angeles in about 2 days from now to start his career path towards becoming a world-renowned Director of Photography.

So if any viewers out there in the LA region have a job that needs to be filled - hit him up.

Best of Luck Kevin, and remember, Orange on Teal = Summer Blockbuster!

Triathalete? Check. Photographer?
Check. Ph.D.? Sooo close...

Next up, I hung out with Andy quite a bit. I do have to say one of the best things about Andy (aside from his personality, open couch, and a bunch of other stuff) is that he's got a bunch of fun toys and is willing to let me mess with them. So this weekend I took a 1d mk3, 100mm IS macro, and 24mm f/1.4 out for a spin in the woods. Here are the results:

[Click images to view larger]

Self Portrait. Hand held, f/1.4, 4lbs of camera - not easy or
comfortable for that matter.

Seriously, the 24/1.4 was made to be shot wide open,
its not worth the price tag for anyother use.

I think I have fallen in love with the 100mm IS macro.

No, seriously, its sharp, its a great focal length for
macro as well as portraits (Kevin's pic - look at his eye!)

It's ridiculously sharp.

Did I mention IS, because it has 4 stops of it...

Oh and it's price tag won't break the bank
clocking in at just under a grand before tax/shipping.

Because who doesn't want to get closer to this guy...?

One more thing about the 100mm IS Macro - the IS is killer when shooting video. Don't believe me? The video below was shot with the 100mm hand held (with a viewfinder). The only issue I have is when you start to pan it lags, but just once, before it recognizes you aren't just shaking.

Canon 100mm L IS Macro Handheld Test from Michael Carney Media on Vimeo.

a quick 2 shot test of handholding (with viewfinder) the Canon 100mm L IS Macro lens on my 60D. I think I've found a new object to drool over....

Midwest Foresters' Conclave

Brad, a member of the
Purdue Society of American Foresters,
takes a break during practice
for the yearly SAF regional conclave

Remember Brad from way back when?

I grabbed this picture of him while taking a break from practicing for the Underhand Chop competition at the 2010 Midwest Foresters' Conclave.

This year the conclave was held at Purdue and, while I wasn't able to grab any sweet stills like you see here, I did get the opportunity to shoot some video during the actual competitions.

I wasn't able to stay all day, however I did make it in time to film the Underhand Chop - one of my favorite events of the day.


So here it is - The Underhand Chop

Underhand Chop | 2011 Midwest Foresters' Conclave from Michael Carney Media on Vimeo.

150 Competitors from nine schools gather each year to challenge each other in traditional lumberjack games at the Midwest Foresters' Conclave. This year was the first year the event was held in the spring and was hosted by Purdue University during their annual Spring Fest and Bug Bowl.

Masterpiece Kitchen

As you may know, Last fall I started a project where I would cook new recipes and then photograph them, detailing all of my learning experiences on the this blog. Well wouldn't you know it, but life once again got in the way of my plans and I haven't been keeping very up-to-date.

This time around, I was all set to take a photograph when I got an email from the Vimeo Weekend Project group. As if a sign from above, it was a project based around creating a cooking show.

I put away my strobes and fished out my video lights (a-lá Home Depot) and my tripod to record the magic. With a little help from Abby, we made dinner and the video in a reasonable amount of time.

Chicken Bruschetta Pasta | Masterpiece Kitchen from Michael Carney Media on Vimeo.
Welcome to Masterpiece Kitchen, the most dramatic cooking show known to man. In this episode we examine how to create the classic entreé Chicken Bruschetta with Farfalle, or the more colloquial "Bowtie," Pasta.

Sit back, relax and enjoy your meal with Masterpiece Kitchen.

Photo/Video Info:
Photo: Canon 60D w/ 50mm f/1.4 @ f/3.5 1/125 ISO 1000
Video: Canon 60D w/ 24mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4, 135mm f/2 all @ f/4 1/50 ISO 1000
Lighting: 23w CFL in "HD" reflectors (Home Depot) x2 - one high left over cutting board/counter, one high right over stove acting as key and fill each for the different shots. Intro sequence 1x23w CFL in "HD" reflector high left, practical lighting

It is done.

Well, it's done. I've sold nearly all of my lenses, my D300s is almost sold, and I've already got my 60D, 50/1.4 and the 24/2.8 and 135/2 are on their way.

Here's the first thing I've shot with the 60D. Enjoy

Dare to Bare / 60D test from Michael Carney Media on Vimeo.

Its not you its me...

I'm sorry, but we can't do this any more.

I mean, we get along great, we've been together for 4 years now, but well... Its just that lately you haven't been living up to my expectations. Its not for a lack of trying, but it just isn't cutting it. You do a great job at lots of things, but just not the things I need right now. It's not you, its me.

I hope we can still be friends. I think we can still hang out together, I mean we know a lot of the same people and I still think you're lots of fun, but i've found another.

That's right. I've decided to make a major change. I've thought about switching to Canon before, but I stuck with Nikon. As time has progressed so have both companies, but one way beyond the other. I find myself doing more and more video work and projects. Nikon hasn't been able to keep up with the competition and I've outgrown the limitations of my Nikon's video.

As I write this, I'm in the process of making the transition. I'm selling my Nikon equipment on Ebay. Right now I'm only selling a few lenses. At this point I can't afford to outright by the new Canon equipment. I'm first selling a few lenses in order to pay for a Canon 60D and 18-135 IS kit lens. Now, I normally frown upon kit lenses, however this will be the only zoom I am getting (to start with) and will be very useful as a simple walk-around lens.

Once I get the 60D and lens I will sell my remaining equipment. In replacement I am getting a Canon 60D, 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, 24mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4, and 135mm f/2.0 (yeah, that's a 135/2 baby!). This will cover all of my needs for the time. Then I can begin to build my collection back up.

One of the major reasons I've decided to do this is thinking into the future. Canon, like Nikon, makes excellent still cameras. I will be losing very, very little functionality by making this switch. However I will be gaining much needed versatility as a video camera. Manual exposure, manual audio levels, swivel screen, variable frame rates - all things my Nikon can't do. Now, as Dr. Brown would say, back to the future - it is inevitable that Canon, with their decades of video experience, that they will within the next 2 years produce an APS-C sized sensor in a video camera with an interchangeable EOS lens mount.

With all of these factors in mind, I have made the decision to switch to Canon. Like it or Love it, I'm doing it.