THANK YOU SARAH BURKE // OLD-SCHOOL OTTAWA // INSIDE WHISTLER'S DEEP WINTER
PHOTO
ISSUE
WINTER 2013 SBCSKIER.COM
$6.99 DISPLAY UNTIL APRIL 30, 2013 Will Wissman photo
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CDN PUBLICATION AGREEMENT #40036843
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OH, SNAP! Any photographer will tell you the quickest way to make money at it is to sell your camera. But whether you insist on taking the plunge—or just taking a few photos for friends—SKIER photo gurus have some suggestions. BY DAN CARR AND JASON MOUSSEAU
to make the jump from iPhone-poutine-Instagrammer to legit photographer. But before you drop hard-earned cash on a bag full of gear, remember: photo editors are all liars, marketing managers will steal your images, athletes will leak your shots, and nobody will pay you on time—if ever. Photography may be challenging both as an art form and a profession, but it can also be very rewarding. So whether you truly want to make it your life’s work (so you won’t really “work” a day in your life) or are merely trying to cart home decent memories of a rad ski day like the rest of us, SKIER offers a basic list of consumer and entry-level prosumer photo equipment to get you started. Keep in mind, this is far from an end-all list, and the pros and cons of each item are specific to shooting uh… skiing. YOU’VE DECIDED TO TRADE IN YOUR WALL OF EMPTIES
Camera Bags Dakine Mission Photo ($145) + Removable camera-bag insert so pack can be used for other tasks + Smaller size feels less restrictive when skiing - Carry system not ideal for skis or extra tripods - Little room for backcountry gear or supplies - No laptop compartment Best for: casual shooters who prefer smaller camera systems for inbounds or park shooting. Lowepro Rover Pro 35L ($299) + Best tripod mounting system + Lightweight, excellent back-panel ventilation + Storage space for backcountry gear, clothing and food - No dedicated straps for attaching skis - Back panel vulnerable to snow buildup - Camera-bag insert is quite small Best for: those who spend a majority of time inbounds or park with occasional slackcountry. f-stop Tilopa BC ($405) + Designed for snowsport action photographers + Fits most international carry-on regulations + Waterproof base for standing in the snow + Dedicated ski and tripod straps - Doesn’t include rain cover - Front pocket only fits smaller shovel blades Best for: those who spend a lot of time shooting in the backcountry and need a sizable array of camera equipment, including large strobes.
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Tripods and Video Rigs
OH, SNAP!
photo gear guide
Manfrotto 055XB Classic ($199) + Tried and trusted design + Heavier weight provides good stability - Plastic leg-locks become brittle at cold temps - Aluminum legs will bend if pushed too far into the snow Best for: budget-conscious photogs who don’t shoot with long zoom lenses. Induro CT214 ($400) + Stronger and lighter than aluminum tripods of the same size + Three-section design makes collapsed length shorter + Circular leg-locks are easily operated with gloves - Snow can build up around foam padding - Leg-lock mechanism requires monthly maintenance Best for: photogs and filmers who think their packs are already too heavy to ski with. Manfrotto 701HDV ($125) + Small enough to fit inside a photo pack + Tilt motion very smooth for a budget head - Panning can get sticky in very cold temps - Pan lock mechanisms tough to operate with gloves - Doesn’t work well with larger cameras or longer lenses Best for: photogs wanting to learn to shoot a bit of video on the side without breaking the bank.
Manfrotto 504 HD ($339) + Lightweight, designed to support 16.5 lbs (7.5 kilos) + 4-step counter balance for fine tuning + Monitors and accessories can be mounted directly to the head - Requires specific video tripod - Counter balance knob tricky to access with thick gloves Best for: those concentrating on filming rather than photography.
Redrock Micro LowDown Rig ($199-$249) + Small, lightweight, easily gripped with large gloves + Enables low-angle follow cam + Expandable for future larger rigs with standard rod mounts - Works best with DSLR cameras - Only stable for low shots Best for: DSLR follow-cam work on a low budget; a perfect first piece to build on.
Cinevate Medusa Cage ($590) + Can be disassembled to fit into your pack + Convertible from cage to dualhandle mode + Larger adjustment handles work well with gloves + Provides stability to follow cams, useful for things other than skiing - Plastic parts may become brittle in extremely low temps Best for: those looking to take filming seriously and create smoother follow cams.
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photo gear guide
Strobes & Accessories Vivitar 285HV ($85) + Unbeatable power/value ratio + Manual-only control forces you to understand flashes and camera settings - No auto settings, limited variability of power, slow recycle time - Can’t be used on a camera hot shoe - Fragile Best for: a first off-camera, manually controlled flash. AlienBees AB800 ($279) + Equivalent to 4 to 5 smaller speedlights + Fast enough to stop most action - Requires external battery pack - size requires larger, heavier light stands - Cheap build, vulnerable to damage Best for: those with off-camera flash savvy looking to add more power to shoot larger features on a small budget. Paul C. Buff Einstein ($499) + Small, light enough to fit in large packs alongside camera gear + Incredible value - LCD and ventilation holes vulnerable in heavy snowfall - Power needs to be turned down to increase flash duration Best for: serious urban photos with multiple off-camera flashes or sunset sessions on large park jumps. Pocketwizard PLUS III ($149 x2) + Units can be either transmitter or receiver + Good battery life, even in cold weather - Susceptible to misfires in certain situations - Manual control of flashes only --Range is greatly reduced around large solid masses of snow like park jumps Best for: those using off-camera flash for shooting urban or park. (Note: at least two units are required.) Pocketwizard Power MC2 ($99) + Remote control of flash power with proper on-camera transmitter + Powered by flash unit not batteries - Only works with Paul C. Buff Einstein flash units - Less range than a Pocketwizard PLUS III - Delicate electrical pins on the bottom require careful storage Best for: those who own the above mentioned Einstein.
Cameras Pocket Point-and-Shoot (shown: Canon S110, $379.00) + Easy to slip in a pocket, better for partying + Quality far exceeds your smartphone - Shutter button lag and slow, inaccurate autofocus not ideal for action - Tend to do a poor job auto-metering on snow - Images have that P&S look where almost everything seems in focus Best for: enjoying the slopes with friends without really having to worry about your photos. EVIL / Micro Four Thirds (shown: Nikon 1 V2, $899.95) + Doesn’t require photo-specific pack + Excellent image quality and shooting speed + the manual control of a DSLR plus RAW image format - Smaller range of available lenses - Less-effective autofocus for tracking a moving target - Generally less robust than most DSLRs Best for: those who value image quality from a good camera but have no pro ambitions.
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OH, SNAP!
photo gear guide
Crop-sensor DSLR (shown: Nikon D3200, $569.95) + Burst speeds and autofocus fast enough to capture action + Full HD video now a standard feature + Best value for money in terms of image quality - Manufacturers pushing MP count to unnecessary limits - Built-in flash useless for ski photos Best for: taking a photo hobby to the next level as these cameras are easily capable of producing images fit for magazine spreads. Full-frame DSLR (shown: Canon EOS D6, $2099.99) + Bomber high ISO beneficial on cloudy and stormy days + Solid build, weather-sealed against moisture + Larger, brighter viewfinders make critical composition easier + Standard lenses offer wider view and shallower depth of field - All but most expensive have low shooting speeds - Often not as easy to use with flashes Best for: photo students and aspiring pros who want to see through lenses the way they were meant to be seen through. GoPro Hero3 ($199 - $399) + Built-in Wi-Fi connection to iPhone/Android allows you to check camera position + Captures decent images and time lapses + Slow motion at full 1080p available, and resolutions higher than HD - Photo mode offers no exposure control - Menu control not really improved from previous versions Best for: follow- or head-cam; Black edition useful for professional video integration.
Lenses
Fisheye (shown: Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM, $1549.99) + Makes jumps and cliffs appear bigger + Allows shooter to get very close to the action - Susceptible to colour fringing, requires extra step in post-processing - Requires more practise than imagined for good results - Expensive for lens of limited use Best for: those who already have many other lenses, or those who like to shoot park and urban. Wide Zoom (shown: AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED, $1869.95) + Large variety of uses + Relatively lightweight - ‘Kit’ lenses not the sharpest or fastest, often fragile - Wider aperture versions significantly more expensive Best for: general purpose; if they could only have one lens most pros would choose a 24-70. 50mm Prime (shown: Nikkor AF-S f/1.4G, $579.95) + Cheapest, smallest, most lightweight fast lens available + Broadens the range of images you can create from a feature or trip - Changing angles in deep snow is a slow process - Typically no weather sealing - Slow AF motors in cheaper versions Best for: those looking for a first fast prime lens or looking to gain greater understanding of how aperture size affects an image. 70-200mm Zoom (shown: Canon EF 70-200mm, $2349.99) + Go-to lens for action sports; works in a huge variety of situations + Built to last if bought from a major manufacturer + Fast and accurate autofocus - f/2.8 versions heavy and expensive Best for: shooting cliffs from a distance, backcountry jumps and big-mountain lines when using a cropped sensor DSLR. Add a 1.4x extender to your kit if shooting full-frame.
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