BLOG MOVING!!! DAVIDBURKEBLOG.COM

Hi All! We have been experiencing many problems with our current hosting setup, so we are in the process of moving things around to a different web host. During this process I thought it best to create a new domain and site for our blog. This blog is now hosted at http://davidburkeblog.com! Please update your bookmarks and RSS Feeds to the New Address. It is always a pain to do this but it is important to us that we can update our blogs and sites at any time. It is also important that our viewers can get to them at any time!
We have some new things we are working on and hope to roll out soon. Thank you so much for coming and please continue doing so. As a side note, I am posting this entry "Manually" (ie, editing the .html file directly) because I am unable to post! LOL. Good thing I am a geek at heart. See you soon!

Photo Tip - Lenses

I often get asked "What Camera Should I Buy?". A better question is about "What Lenses?". The big issue here is budget. Buy the best you can afford. What if you only have $300? What if you have $5,000 to spend?

I put together a quick video to help shed some light for you.


A few things I want to make note of. If you own the Nikon D40(x) or D60 be careful on purchasing lenses. They must be Nikon AF-S lenses because the Nikon D40(x) or D60 lack a focus motor. This means that if you buy the Nikon 50 1.4 AF lens and put it on your Nikon D60, you will only be able to focus in Manual Mode. The D50, D70, D80, D90, D100, D200, D300, D700, etc... can use any lens. The good news is that you can pick up a used Nikon D70 on Ebay for around $250 - $300! Just because it is older does not mean it makes bad photos.

Also Prime lenses range from $100 to Thousands of $$. Obviously the more you spend, the better the lense. However, YOU can create great images with them all!

B&H Link to some options

Good Luck!

The New Nikon D90 and Chase Jarvis

As you all know I am a loyal Nikonian and am always excited when Nikon brings out new products. Whether the product is Professional or Amateur, Large or Small, I honestly believe in and support Nikon. My Nikon products have served me very well over the years and I have no plans to ever leave them ;-)

That being said, Nikon just released the Nikon D90 which is geared towards the Advanced Amateur. This camera looks to be incredible! One stand out feature is that it does Video too! This camera may very well make its way into our arsenal and be my go to camera for all of our family and personal shooting. It sure is a lighter load than my Nikon D3! So if you are in the market for a killer Digital SLR for a reasonable price, look no further.

This brings me to Chase Jarvis. Chase Jarvis is a Commercial Advertising photographer that is just incredible. I have yet to meet him, but look forward to it someday. His work is so out of the box and extraordinary. He is highly regarded in the commercial industry and among photographers alike. I am an admitted blog stalker of his. His work is so inspiring as well as his personality and willingness to share.

Low and Behold Chase is a Nikon Shooter. He is big time. Nikon gave Chase and his crew pre release versions of the Nikon D90 so they could put them through the ringer. That they did and what they came up with is extraordinary. I encourage you to watch the Behind the Scenes video and then view the image gallery. After doing so you will be headed to B&H Photo to make your purchase. You can thank me later!

Enjoy!

My New Friend - Riz

This morning I had the pleasure meeting Riz Crescini. Riz found me on Facebook, via our common connection to Kenny Kim. How cool is that? Riz has been living in Japan for the last 9 years with his wife and 2 daughters, educating students in the English Language. He also has a ministry and is looking to incorporate Photography into it.

I always love meeting new friends and especially when we have common interests ;-) We talked shop quite a bit and learned about each other. It is neat to discover how many things we had in common. I hope that I shed some useful light for him! Riz promised to keep in touch and let me know of his progress.

Riz it was awesome meeting you. Maybe someday we will get together with Kenny Kim too! God Bless Bro.

Here he is in his Cubs Glory (Cubs are in town beating the Pirates):

Look at Miss Avenue

I had the recent pleasure of shooting this lovely young lady (Miss Avenue ;-) ) in an effort to create some headshots and full body shots. We did both studio and location work. I am so happy with these images and thought you all would enjoy too.

Check her out!

Silhouette on White Seamless

I had an assignment to create a Silhouette at High Noon on a Sunny Day... I thought things through and decided to go for it in studio instead. We were Very Excited with the results! Here is the shot we chose. What do you think?



I used to think that I would not like Studio Photography. I feared being boxed in and forcing images into a cookie cutter shape. I am finding more and more, how wrong I was. I am loving the options I have. Actually shooting more studio images lately, has been a blessing for me. I am starting to see things entirely differently. This can only help my vision going forward, on all of my assignments. I am having too much fun!

Jill and Joe - The Wedding!

OK, so right before we left for vacation, we had one more wedding to shoot! Jill and Joe's day finally arrived August 16 and it was totally worth the wait! God smiled down with his sunshine and puffy clouds. They were surrounded by their loving families and friends as well. Jill put sooo much thought and planning into this day. There were so many great details to capture!

Earlier this year, Jill and Joe had a great engagement session @ Schenley Park.

I knew the wedding would be amazing. I could not wait to be there for them. It was a very colorful day that went off perfectly! They are now enjoying two weeks in Hawaii! I begged to be the honeymoon photographer, but they wanted to be alone... Imagine that! LOL.

Here are a few images and the reception slideshow we ran. See you two soon! Enjoy.

This is one of my favorite bridal portraits ever! Jill was so happy to be marrying Joe!


The Dashingly Handsome Groom


Jill snagging a kiss from her neice


The Processional


A moment by the fountain on Duquesne University Campus


First Dance


Joe Cuttin it up


Reception Slideshow (Click on it to play)


Jennifer Palermo - Makeup Artist
Duquesne University Chapel - Ceremony
Pittsburgh Marriott North - Reception
Carrie Powell - Flowers
All Pro USA - Entertainment
Oakmont Bakery - Cake
David Burke Photographers Duquesne University Chapel Wedding - Pittsburgh Marriott North Wedding

Out of the Office :-)

Just a quick FYI. I will be out of the office until Monday August 25. I have very limited email and phone access as well. I will return calls/emails as soon as I can. Thank you!

David

Shoot N Learn #3 Recap

What a great time we had last night! I think we had 16 people here, which was awesome! We had a very productive evening discussing off camera lighting.

My inspiration for wanting to touch on this subject comes from none other than Zack Arias founder of OneLightWorkshop. Zack is an incredible human being that happens to be an incredible (and giving) photographer. I took his workshop in Atlanta last year and it blew me away. The best investment I have made in my career, as far as fundamental/practical knowledge. If you have not taken his workshop, DO IT. You will not be sorry. Incidentally, he also has released a DVD of his workshop! I am eagerly awaiting my copy. Thank you for the inspiration Zack!

So last night, I had the opportunity to share a few tidbits just to get people thinking differently and not fearing their flash so much. It was so much fun setting up the shots and seeing people say 'Ahh, that is sweet!'. I am hoping that everyone shares some images that they grabbed of Kristen, Beth and me.

Thank you to all that came out to have fun and learn! Hope to see you at the next one!
Here are a few of my own shots. (All shot using Nikon D3, Nikon SB-800 off camera, Pocket Wizards, 60" or 45" umbrella adjustments made in Lightroom Only and then sharpened for web)