Just Too Cute, originally uploaded by DeNic Photos.

One of the many great shots from last weeks impromptu shoot. This little guy couldn’t take a bad picture.

It’s been a while since I posted to the blog. Well it’s been a while since I have been shooting as well.

That nagging shoulder injury finally proved to be just too much so I had surgery on April 29. Fortunately the damage was not as bad as they thought it was so in the past few weeks I have been able to start doing some light shooting to get back in the mix.

I still can’t shoot with my 80-200, but the 50 and 28-75 are working fairly well for me.

I have completed 3 small shoots in the past three weeks and plan to do a larger shoot in the next 2 weeks to see how things go.

I am back to booking shoots now for late June and forward. Have a few specials offers I plan to announce soon so keep checking back and look for more posts and work from me very soon.

test-shot-4, originally uploaded by DeNic Photos.

First test shots from the D700. Playing outside of Papadeux in DTC.

I have added some new gear to my bag. So really powerful new gear.

I recently purchased a Nikon D700, along with a Nikkor 50 1.8 and 80-200 2.8, and Tamron 28-75 2.8 and 17-35 2.8-4 to mount up to it.

Big move. HUGE move really!

I was previously shooting Canon and was wanting to go to a full frame body. I had been ready to buy a Canon 5DMKII, but one afternoon I had some time to kill and wound up at Wolf Camera near the studio. I played with the Nikon D700 and instantly fell in love! The camera felt like it belonged in my hand, like it had been built to fit in MY hand. I was shocked.

I have been through 3 different Canon bodies and never found the need to pick up a Nikon…let me tell you I was surprised beyond believe.

So I contemplated the Nikon all the while saving my pennies to buy the 5DMKII…but when it came time for me to actually make the purchase I just couldn’t do it. The way the Nikon felt in my hand was still forefront in my mind.

There were other things as well. I think I best explained it in this post to my fellow photog, Lori:

Well Lori it really started with how the Nikon felt in my hand compared to the Canon. The D700 felt like it was made for my hand, it fit perfectly with no strain. Hard to explain, but it was like putting on those old worn in gloves to go play in the snow instead of the new ones that mom had just bought you.

Secondly, the FPS on the D700. I shoot a lot of sports and the Canon was, IMO, a tad slow in the FPS department to really get things going on the sports side for me. With the grip on the D700 you can get 8FPS…that is crazy. 5DMKII is 3.2 I believe.

Third I felt that while the video on the Canon is cool, it would not be something I would use much if at all.

The high ISO IQ between the two cameras are about equal, nikon may edge out just a tiny bit, but no big deal…they are both great in that respect.

I would say go play with both of them and see how they feel.

The D700 for me just works and fits better. I still have my 40D setup, until I am solid on all the controls of the Nikon I want to keep it for those important shoots where I know things will need to be changed a lot on the fly.

Due to a shoulder injury I haven’t been able to get out and really test it out the new equipment but a few quick shots has me convinced I made the correct choice for myself.

Shooting a wedding next weekend so that will be the real test, but so far I am delighted with the new equipment.

A little less than a year ago I asked a few friends what they would do if given $20,000 and told to go shoot their dream project. It was just a question at the time, but now it could be a reality…

The Name Your Dream Assignment contest is for photographers of all backgrounds. They are looking for the most creative and inspiring photo shoot idea out there. The photographer with the winning idea will win $50,000 to bring his or her dream assignment to life.

So far there are some great ideas posted. Some not so great, but ideas none the less.

You are limited to entering 3 ideas. Ideas are voted on by the users.

You do not have to be a pro, just able to shoot an image….digitally. Sorry film buffs.

If you are interested in entering or just looking for ideas then visit http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/

chinese-new-year-12, originally uploaded by DeNic Photos.

Model June Homdayjanakul for a Chinese New Year themed shoot

Take time out of your busy working schedule to learn some new tricks and keep growing as a photographer.

I spent an afternoon in the studio working with a few fellow photographers on lighting during a Chinese New Year themed shoot last week. We had a lot of fun trying out different poses and lighting set ups.

This was my first time actually shooting on the cyc wall at the studio and figuring out how I wanted to light things in the future was fun.

Taking some time to practice will help with paid shoots in the future as I will have in my head the best way to light this or that and poses that work and don’t work.

Makes for happy clients and a happy photographer as well!

Jere’-11, originally uploaded by DeNic Photos.

Model Jere’ Hicks at the North Denver Photographers Studio during the first ever DeNic Photography Workshop.

DeNic Photography held its first ever photography workshop at the new studio in North Denver on the 24th. It was both a new beginning for me as I have never had a studio space to call home and a grand closing to the old NDPS space.

North Denver Photographers studio is a shared space amongst a number of local photographers who need studio space, but not the big overhead cost of our own individual studios. By pooling our resources we are all privy to having a top notch studio space available to us. And as of February 1st NDPS will be relocating to a much larger facility that allows us to do even more in studio.

To celebrate this new venture for DeNic Photography we are offering a short term special on our session fee. From now until March 15th the session fee will be $75 for two hours of shooting time for any booked and paid in full shoots.

To take advantage of this offer just visit the Contact page and fill out the form and I will get in touch with you ASAP.