Hi all. I just released Episode 6 of my Frame of Mind Photography Podcast.
Episode 6 Topic – Best Investments for Your Photography
In Episode 6, Blake Rudis from f64 Academy joins me again. This week, we give our thoughts on some of the best investments in Photography that we think you can make (and some things we regret over the past).
How to Listen/Watch
You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google. Or you can watch it below.
The podcast is NOT intended to be visual in any way, so all you’re doing is watching the two of us talk and nothing else. But if that’s the way you prefer it, feel free. Personally, podcasts are something I listen to when I have nothing else to do, or to keep me busy while doing something else – so I never watch them.
Apple Podcast Link (Click Here)
Spotify Podcast Link (Click Here)
Google Podcasts Link (Click Here)
PRO TIP: I typically listen to podcasts on my phone while driving or in the gym. And I usually set most podcasts to 1.25x – 1.5x speed to get through it faster.
Since this IS NOT A TRAINING tutorial, and it’s just us talking, I think you can speed us up and get through it faster so feel free to give it a try. I can’t help you find that setting, but again… most podcast apps have it so poke around. If you can use Lightroom and Photoshop I have no doubt you can figure out how to use a podcast app ?
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
In this episode, Blake makes a strong endorsement for the Shimoda “Adventure” pack but their two main product lines are “Action” and “Explore”. Perhaps their both equally good and the different in form factor is just personal preference. But I’m curious which one Blake was referring to in particular.
Love the podcast – keep it up!
This is better than a workshop. Wow – Great Marketing. Love the “tip” format. I’ve used so many of your tips – M o r e. Thank you so much to both of you.
Great podcast, lots of information to digest to stop my “I think that I need gear” lol.
I agree that some areas are better for landscape, wildlife etc. BUT those of us that live in areas where it is easy to get those shots tend to take it for granted and get kind of indifferent to it. I live in Alberta, Canada and within an hour or 2 at the most from my house, I have mountains with wide open valleys, amazing rock formations, badlands, waterlands, prairie vistas, great open skies, birding spots, spots for large game animals, large predators and so much more and yet I can spend weeks not going out at all. You guys have inspired me to get out there and take advantage of the fact that I live where I do.
I actually feel myself becoming smarter when I listen to these podcasts, I learn a lot – and many things I wish I’d known before
I use a circular polarizer, a ND filter (9 stops) and an Irex transitional filter when needed for non-straight sky vs landscape scenes. Even with a great mirrorless camera and lens, no more than those I suspect are not needed.
Regarding clothing & footwear! I am a whitewater kayaker; the mantra is dress for the worst condition. I use whitewater shoes and socks; so I can use them in some really cold water in rocky locations. NRS sells all sorts of personal protection for water sports; do not skimp. Like any good snow hound, dry them out on a boot drier later.
Good conversation you guys had. We all learned a lot from a practical perspective.
Based on no comments to the contrary, I assume neither of you feel any type of filter or lens hood offers significant protection from lens damage.
It was suggested to me that a filter will protect the lens and stop lens cleaner fluid from seeping into the edge of the lens and potentially causing damage.
The position for lens hood is basically the same.
Your thoughts?
Hi Bob. I use the lens hood my lens came with when shooting, to protect from light or flare leaking in and nothing else. As for filters to protect the lens, it’s not something I use or recommend.
First off I really love these your conversations.
Second – I‘ve seen both kind of protections at work. I myself slipped on a rockface, fell, camera lens first onto the rock. Lens hood broken, lens undamaged. I‘ve seen my husband jumping off a rock, camera swinging into that rock, lens first. You NEVER un-hear that sound of breaking glass. Polarizer broken to dust. Sigma Art 1.8 lens undamaged. Having a naked lens mounted makes me nervous, learning from these experiences.
I hear ya’ 🙂 Everyone has different experiences and yours sounds like it wasn’t fun. I’ve seen all sides of it. After 30 years I’m sticking to my guns on this one, that you should not put a filter on to protect the lens. But it comes down to what you think is right for you.
Very good blog. Just one point, there are many reasons that photographers do not use so called full frame cameras. As an Olympus shooter (formerly Canon) I would rather have the smaller sensor and better reach especially for wildlife and the mush smaller and lighter long lenses. These lenses are much easier to hand hold and makes air travel much easier because my camera backpack is much smaller than the full frame shooter backpacks. With our gear we have travelled to the ends of the earth with carry on only including cold weather gear that kept us very comfortable and shooting all day long.
Additionally, the Olympus cameras have some terrific computational photography systems built in that Sony and others are only now starting to incorporate.
Excellent Advice. I follow both of you, Matt & Blake, and always learn a lot. Just watched the PS Virtual Summit 5 and was impressed by your classes! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Matt and Blake,
Great podcast. Lots of good info from two guys with great personalities and valuable insights. I’ve followed both of you for a long time and always come away with more knowledge, of which I need plenty. I look forward to the podcast which talks about printers and the value of having one as opposed to a service like MPIX. Just a note; I had an Optech sleeve tucked in my bag for ever and have only used a couple of times but comes in handy and id easy to use. Thanks again.
Neal
I’ve been into digital photography now for almost 20 years and have probably made just about every buying mistake to be made. GAS, yes something we all need to learn to control and thus avoid spending our money unwisely. Every beginning photography needs to listen to this or similar before starting their photography journey…thanks for your time…
Really enjoyed the episode, but you mentioned putting the info into a pdf, but I can’t find it. Is it on the site somewhere?
Ditto! Maybe I just missed it.
Great Podcast episode – Thanks. I miss the pdf too.
I too was hoping to see the PDF of info/gear discussed! GREAT episode….I may listen to it again and take notes as I was in the car earlier! Thank you for the straight forward, honest discussion, including your opinions and recommendations. Love this podcast!!!
Really have to have full frame, I guess if you’re a pixel peeper.
another great session with Blake…really like the compare & contrast with respect to your approaches ad preferences. would be fun to hear the same about approaches to post…
cheers…Jim
This was by-far the most beneficial pod cast to date. Reason being you covered a wide spread of subject matter and not too much or overly timely on any one subject. Quality info, pertinent for the reasons you express and both of you have real personalities, which ground your opinions and experiences. Easy to listen to and believe.
I listened while I was taking pix indoors of still photography. (17 degrees this morning in CO)
What a way to feed the brain while you both talk in the background in support of what I was enjoying… photography.
Both of you are relaxed and what I like the most, you express your differences or option when that exists between you. What a concept, people who tell the truth!
I’ll continue to listen, keep up the good work.
Great conversation. Blake mentioned that he uses a TS lens doing his landscape photography. Can you tell me which lens and focal length. I have a Canon 17mm TS that I use on my Sony A7. Sometimes it does not feel I am getting sharp pictures,
I have gone the full circle on filters. Great recommendation on purchasing the largest size filter with stepdown rings saves a lot of money. I was surprised that you did not talk about shift tilt tripod heads that had dialable vertical and horizontal adjustments. I will never use a ball head again.
If you guys talk about travel photography again talk about planning your trip around the light for the most important places you want to go and walk around your subject keeping your light to your back or over your shoulder.
I need the spelling of the company that makes the blower for sensor cleaning and the name of the tripod Blake uses. I think he said Indiro???
I am definitely going to check out some of your suggestions. Thanks again.
ony
Hey James! I have a Laowa (Venus Optics) 17mm Tilt Shift Wide Angle Macro lens… talk about a mouthful! lol
Also, I use an Induro Tripod. The Stealth series. GIT 403 No.4 Grand Series Stealth Carbon fiber Tripod (3 sections) that’s what it says on Amazon.
Hi Matt!
Great Podcast episode. I would love to see a list of all the items you discussed. I’m not fully out of GAS stage, LOL! 🙂
Thank you!
Great perspectives; really enjoyed listening to the both of you. I’m also in the GS mode after years of buying “better” and “better” cameras and lenses. Made me feel better about having a f/4 70-200mm Sony lense instead of the ff/2.8 🙂 Regarding backpacks, since I’m 5’2″ and 74, I need something that is smaller & lighter and I take less gear with me.
Thanks for all the info!