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Last year, I went to an anime convention called Uchi-Con that's at a university in downtown Chicago. I wanted to see if I could take and post photos directly from the camera without editing. After each convention it usually takes me multiple days of editing, so I'd like to avoid as much extra work as possible.  For this event, I was using the Nikon Z5 and the Nikon 40mm f/2 lens. The reality is that the editing process afterwards is a massive amount of work. Ultimately, having ready-to-post photos right out of the camera would be a huge time saver, but as we will see throughout this article it isn't realistic without using your own lighting.  I adjusted the photo afterward so that the cosplayer is brighter. The main issue I ran into was white balance. At least on Nikon Z5 camera I was using, the auto white balance just did not seem good enough to handle the varied lighting environments all the time. Though, being true-to-life of the environment and getting a look that feels...

I was recently sent a Hanji leather pen case from an ad agency that wanted me to do something with it. What better way to feature a product like this than to do a full product photography shoot? In this article, I'll walk you through the entire process, from the equipment I used to the various scenes I set up and the challenges throughout the process. The  Hanji leather pen case. The product itself is a very nice roll-up style case. On the inside, it has two different areas for pens or pencils with protective flaps at the top. There's also a zippered pouch for other small items. To keep it closed, a long leather strap wraps around the case. My goal for the photoshoot was to feature all these different aspects in the final photos. The pen case is opened. The Equipment Equipment being used for this photoshoot. Here’s the equipment I used for this photoshoot. These are B&H affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases! Nikon Z5 camera Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 Nikon Z 40mm f/2 Ni...

I recently created a video from GoPro footage and photos I took at an impromptu trip to Colossalcon North in 2024, which is held at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. It has been a while since I visited this hotel. The convention Daisho Con used this space for years, which I had gone to a few times. It was nice to check it out again!  The weather was nice, which is the main reason I'll decide to go. Considering it was November in the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin area, nice weather is a big factor for me. If it's snowing I'm going to pass.  The main lobby of the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. My Photography Gear and Settings For this trip, I was using my usual setup: the Nikon Z5 with the Nikon Z 40mm F2 lens. It's a cost effective combination, especially with how expensive camera equipment is getting. The Z5 isn't perfect, and its autofocus is not amazing, but if you take enough photos and set the camera up properly, it can be pretty decent. T...

The Nikon Z5ii was announced recently. I haven't actually used this new camera myself, so keep that in mind. This is going to be mostly me looking at the specs and comparing it to the original Nikon Z5, which I've been using for a few years now. The original Nikon Z5 camera. Overall, the original Z5 isn't a bad camera. I've gotten it to a point where it works how I want it to and it's reliable for what I do.  My main use case is often anime and comic conventions, going there and taking photos of people in cosplay. I usually use the 40mm f/2 lens on the Z5, and it works well for that.  First-person view using the Nikon Z5 at an anime convention. Nikon Z5ii vs Z5: The Spec Sheet Comparison  Nikon has a handy comparison section on their Z5ii page, so let's break down some key differences based on that and my experience with the original. Nikon's website comparing the Z5ii and the original Z5 specifications. First up, the sensor. The Z5ii gets a backside-illumi...