Frank Doorhof - Latest Comments

Re: Ask away Questions 4

Monico — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:13:11 -0000

Hi Frank,

Thank you so much for the thorough answer, Frank. I’ve been shooting for a while and currently make a living with my photography but I’ve always asked the photographers I look up to about their inspirations and motivation to improve. I’m pretty focused at the moment but I don’t want to lose my way or fall into a trap of accepting average photography from myself. Your answer sounds a lot like how I’ve been trying to stay motivated and inspired. I really want my pictures to be better and I really want people to enjoy what I am sharing. I look at my less than stellar pictures and I think about how I could have made them better. For every great shot I take there are plenty of average and below average shot to review.

I’ve learned a lot from having honest critiques of my work and from talking to people like you. I’ve always believed that the great critiques are telling me how I can improve. Honest critiques (sometimes harsh critiques) happen when someone wants me to do better. I feel like I owe it to those reviewers who took the time to help me. I’ve improved so much over the years because my blunders were pointed out to me. Now I make far fewer blunders.

Motivation to learn and grow is something I really want to understand. Top photographers like you have such drive and perseverance that it seems like failure was never an option. I see it in the enthusiasm you show when you are teaching and I want to have that same level of enthusiasm when I am shooting or talking photography with others.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on this subject. You’ve helped me (and a lot of people) who have questions about staying persistent and being inspired to improve. Answers like yours are the reason I ask the questions I do.

I hope your recovery is on track and that you’ll be back shooting soon.

Thanks again,

- Monico

Re: Nadine vs the Mannequin

Tampa Band Photos — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:01:01 -0000

Absolutely. And I'm sure there will be more examples moving forward. :)

Re: Fuji X10 review

marcfelperlaan — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:09:07 -0000

very nice blog.., incredible how this X10 works out...!! I also used the G9 till now, but to many limits these days, but a "brick" that could be always with you..., now reading your article and the last comments brought me to tings that might be all in another new camera the Olympus OM D5, very fast focus, and a viewfinder that shows all the info you want...., expensive, but gives a full range of lenses like a real pano-lens the Samyang 7,5 mm.....

but, really very nice shot's you made with the X10...!!

Re: Your questions….

Frank Doorhof — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:50:42 -0000

Hi
I love shooting manual. However sometimes ettl is just perfect for the situation. It does a good job for quick setups. Nothing wrong there ;)

Manual is more accurate without a doubt but sometimes it's about speed and ease.

Being a strong advocate for metering doesn't mean one should never use auto ;)

Re: Your questions….

Clive Litchfield — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:39:47 -0000

Hi there Frank
First off thank you for making the time and effort to publish the blog and share your valuable info with us, good for you.
My question: I was attracted to this site as you are a strong advocate for using a light meter in order that you have accurate flash exposure for one, it was a bit of a surprise to read that you endorse the use of pocket wizard mini and tt5 which you must admit is not as accurate ettl being reflective as I understand it. What are your views on ettl and similar systems.
Get well soon.

Re: Fuji X10 review

Frank Doorhof — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:05:20 -0000

DOF is not perfect, when you're used to the X100 and X pro 1 it's a huge difference, but I use the camera for different things. And yes I LOVE the shallow DOF shots, but I know the "limitations" of the X10 but that also makes it strong. It's a PERFECT camera for those "don't draw attention to yourself" shots. Set the aperture on f5.6 or f8 and you have plenty of DOF to zone focus and do some really nice from the hip shooting :D

Optical viewfinder is useless because there are no indicators.

Re: Ask away Questions 3

Frank Doorhof — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:03:20 -0000

Painfree since a few days and able to move rather normal, except the extreme moves. Still not worked out, will wait another few days. Think it's gonna heal up nicely. Still does feel a bit stiff and funny but again, much better.

Re: Fuji X10 review

Miguel Nicolau — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:20:35 -0000

Hi Frank,

this was a very nice review, thanks for sharing. I also have been using a G9 for nearly 5 years now, and although it has served me really well, it's time to find a replacement. Some of the things I never liked in the G9: huge depth of field, poor hi-iso performance, lens not wide enough, unusable optical viewfinder. These all seem to be way better in the X10 (some more than others).

About the depth of field, did you feel it was adequate, knowing of course that a camera with a small sensor like this will never be very good anyway? And the optical viewfinder: I know that it's not the gorgeous hybrid one from the X100 and X-Pro 1, but do you find it useable?

Thanks again for your cool review. I am nearly decided to go for it!

Re: Ask away Questions 3

Kathy Porupski — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:54:02 -0000

Very solid and awesome information Frank... thanks for some great advise and by the way the shot above it rocks! Hope the knee is healing up nicely for you. :-)

Re: Ask away Questions 3

Frank Doorhof — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:05:54 -0000

Best is to click on the KelbyTraining link on the right side of the menu and take a subscription there, you REALLY can't get any better tutorials, it will skyrocket your skills.

And of course any book written by Scott Kelby is a wealth of information.

Plugins :
See my gear guide on this blog, but start with NIK software, they have some awesome tools.

Re: Ask away Questions 3

Vahiiid_rouhani — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:02:12 -0000

hello . i do photography , but my photoshop work is not good, i want to know how can i improve that , and what plug - in and software i should use in editing fashion and wedding shoot , and what dvd or book you recommended for learnig photoshop ? :D tanx

Re: Jeremy Cowart

Kathy Porupski — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:56:37 -0000

Jeremy Cowart rocks and I have been a part of The "Help Portrait" project since its start with Rc and Scott Kelby... Such a wonderful project and concept and a true testimony to Jeremy's character. A stand up and wonderfully giving kind of guy. He had everyone in the audience including himself with out dry eyes and needing tissue at PSW in DC when showing images and talking about his his volunteer work! P.S loved the above video... :-) Thanks for posting Frank.

Re: Your questions….

Frank Doorhof — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:44:44 -0000

I know, and the written word is often a bit harsher than meant.

However my knee injury had nothing to do with weight, I did a photoshoot and squatted so deep that my "behind" hit the floor, now normally if you're smart you sit down and stand up, however I did not I pushed up without support, saw a nice shot so stopped half way up and held that position and then.... well it hurt like you know what.

According to the doctor I saw my rescue was that I do sport a lot so I have a good muscle structure, otherwise it would have torn 100%, on the other hand I know for sure that someone like you describe NEVER could have gotten down so far :D

It's just a sensitive point for me.
I've been battling my whole life, count my calories to never go above 2500 (not even on a "junk" day), I do cardio for 45-50 minutes per day in zone 3-4 and still walk around with the body I have.... so when someone just mentions that maybe a diet would be a good idea I indeed respond a bit harsh because the only diet I could try more is water and bread, and stop sporting, what I do now is close to what is possible, if I would stop sporting I can take away more calories but I will loose muscles. And I'm not willing to do that.... plus I'm a little bit addicted to my workouts (gets the stress out).

So sorry if it offended someone, it was just that the name Frank, Frank and a gmail account with just that description indeed triggered me to respond that way.

Re: Your questions….

Thomas Nils — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:11:34 -0000

Frank, I think "Frank Frank" was just trying to be helpful. My wife is a Physical Therapist and the *first* thing she recommends to anyone with knee problems is to lose weight, if possible (I'm sure you are aware of the rampant obesity problems we have in the US).

We all just hope you get better soon!

Re: Bob Rosinsky guestblog, dog photographer

Adam Bradley — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:56:09 -0000

I prefer the colored one. By the way, how old is are these Greyhounds?

Re: Your questions….

Frank Doorhof — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:40:16 -0000

With all due respect but you really don't know what you're talking about.

First this happened due to me squaring down way too much.

Second my calory intake has been around 2200-2000 for years.

Third I am very active with at least 45 minutes of zone 3-4 cardio each day, rowing, elliptical and biking.

So I wish it was that easy.
In the last year I went from 30 minutes cardio 3 days a week to 45-60 minutes every day (1 rest day) and lost SOME weight but not in comparison to what I do.

So please don't just assume its about eating wrong. I count my calories. Even
Abroad ;). Some people are just born that way. (most not and use it as an excuse).

Re: Your questions….

Frank Frank — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:42:43 -0000

maybe it is time to consider getting into a Diet, I had the same problem and loosing weight help me a lot, get well soon we all love you

Re: Fuji X10 review

Frank Doorhof — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:18:30 -0000

You're gonna love it ;)

Re: Fuji X10 review

Alessandro Burato — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:21:34 -0000

Ok, bought it :) Couldn't resist.

Re: Fuji X10 review

Alessandro Burato — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:05:36 -0000

Actually I'm begging you to convince me to buy this little boy :) The thing is: the Powershot S100 *in theory* would be a better option, and it's cheaper. BUT. At the Telephoto end it's dark as hell (f/5.9, wtf???) and it's sluggish when it comes to autofocus (as a Canon shooter --5Dmk2-- I know how much Canon can be sluggish, trust me...)
Plus, this camera is so good looking that... oh well, I guess I'll jump the shark and buy the X10. As you say, there's no perfect camera. Thanks!

Re: Fuji X10 review

Frank Doorhof — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:38:55 -0000

Did not experienced myself sorry, and I shot straight into some strobes. Maybe I'm lucky.

However I have a similar artifact on my MF back, when you overload the sensor it will "go" in a bizarre streak pattern. Solution... Take down that strobe a bit and it's perfect again.

Every sensor will respond differently. Work around it if you love the rest. By another camera if you don't.

Sounds harsh but it's not meant that way. Its just that there will always be something. And yes it must be solved IF possible. But it's also being blown up like crazy ;)

Re: Fuji X10 review

Alessandro Burato — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:19:47 -0000

Hi Frank, congratulations for your great work, inspiring videos and reviews. I'd like to know your opinion re. the infamous "ORB" issue... have you ever experienced it? If so, can you deal with it or do you think it's unacceptable as many people seem to do?

Re: Calibrating the Light meter, some quick notes

Frank Doorhof — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:04:06 -0000

I think I already mentioned that in this or another blog post in the lightmeter section.

Always calibrated within the workflow so not with for example c1 when you retouch in photoshop.

It has to be in the same workflow and settings and software.

Re: Calibrating the Light meter, some quick notes

yannis — Sat, 12 May 2012 07:50:55 -0000

Thank you so much Frank you really made my day at least here we have midday :) something more because somewhere i read about the camera settings, should they be in raw (definitely), neutral, but what color space in camera sRGB or adobe RGB? and the last thing i wanted to ask you, should we work on a same workflow as we meter with camera? for instance we shoot srgb we setup photoshop to srgb? and shoot adobe rub setup the photoshop to adobe rgb 1998? tell me please at what workspace whole i setup my photoshop or lightroom to edit my photos...?

Thank you so much...in greek we say efharisto poli :)
YOU ARE GREAT

Re: Ask away Question 2

Adam — Sat, 12 May 2012 07:40:10 -0000

Frank and Marc. I just purchased 2 seets of Pixel king wireless with flash triggers from amazon for canon. Full ettl and range of +300 feet for 115 a set. I love these thing. I didn't have enough money for pocket wizard but I feel I am happy with the pixel king.