Canon USA

Charis on the tracks – 5D Mark III + Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM

A few weeks ago I was wrapping up my evaluation of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM super telephoto lens. Just like the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM I had evaluated a few weeks earlier (see my post Fashion: Winnie Stackz Collection), the folks at Canon USA were kind enough to send me a copy for review. This is the second in a series of posts in which I will be discussing my observations and results of my evaluation. I had one last item to cross off my evaluation list and that was to run it through at least one photo shoot with a human subject aka model.

This lens is nothing short of spectacular. The EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM are in a league of their own. They both represent the pinnacle of lens technology and the very best of the best money can buy. They are both uncompromising pieces of precision gear. The EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM was perfect for, if not more at home with the task of fashion/model/portrait photography. The resulting images required no editing whatsoever. The clarity, sharpness and contrast were on point. Perhaps this lens’ strong suit is how well it performs wide open at f/2.8, affording shutter speeds that will stop any kind of shake. The amazing IS was almost unnecessary in daylight. The depth of field is very well defined, none too shallow (perfect), but what sets both lenses apart was how graceful the fall-off is and sublime transition to creamy bokeh. I will be writing more on this soon and which lens won my shoot-out.

Canon 5D Mark III + EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Charis was gracious enough to volunteer. I have photographed Charis before and posted about it in 2015 Sacramento Fashion Week and in Retrospect Vintage Fashion exhibit at Demin Spot. She has a look I always found intriguing, is an all around great person to collaborate with. Beautiful inside and out. New for this shoot was our hair and makeup artist Nicole Matta. This was a last minute shoot and she was a breeze to work with given my time and scheduling constraints. What I like most about her work is her execution – clean, seamless, and picture ready – which means much less work in post processing. My good friend and fellow photographer Steve Phang also partnered with me for this shoot to assist me in making the most of this opportunity. I have often drawn creative inspiration from him over the years, over numerous photo excursions and assignments.

Below are some behind the scenes shots to give you some insight into what it entailed. In all it was a very productive afternoon. I hope you enjoy and please feel free to share any thoughts, questions or ideas you may have.

Jacqueline in motion

I recently covered one of the shows organized by Sacramento Fashion Week. The show featured Emerging Fashion Designers and stylists in the area. I was very impressed with the caliber of the work exhibited. One of the designers/stylist that stood out was Winnie Stackz. There were a few of his looks that I wanted to explore a little more off the catwalk/runway. I was also evaluating some gear from Canon USA and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to put it through it’s paces.

A lot of Stackz’ looks have a very urban feel so I wanted to capture them with some of the amazing graffiti hidden around downtown Sacramento as a backdrop. I also wanted to incorporate the ‘in motion’ aspect of an urban setting into some of my shots. I thought this would take the looks from static and lifeless to more fluid and alive. The Models Jacqueline, Kevin and Anthony were perhaps the best part of this photo shoot. They were all as good-to-go as I have ever seen any model be. My best experience so far. Here are some highlights from our shoot.

Canon 5D Mark III + EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM

For this shoot I used mostly the Canon 5D Mark III with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM lens.For the wider shots I used the 7D Mark II with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. I also used the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 IS II. The later is an an amazing piece of gear which I’ve had the pleasure of evaluating over the past few weeks courtesy of Canon USA. I will be posting my thoughts on that later. Here are some behind the scenes shots from our session in the alley way at sunset.