I think I’ve spotted a problem and it’s not what you think. Having just come off another big show where we used the SIGMA FF high-speed cinema lenses (F1.5–F2) I can’t help but wonder why I don’t see the SIGMA brand on more film sets – and I’m not only talking about the lenses. The FF Cine lenses are clean, robust and short making them ideal for a director and DP like me who uses the entire kit of lenses in a scene. I believe lenses form the film’s personality,… read more →
I recently had the opportunity to do a few shoots with the Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN Contemporary lens, to see what this small, but mighty lens can do. BUILD QUALITY Being a Contemporary series lens, I was amazed at the all metal design of this lens, it even has a metal lens hood and includes a magnetic metal lens cap which is something I have never seen before and works so easily. This lens is has a small size factor as well, which truly worked in my favour multiple… read more →
I recently had the opportunity to do a few shoots with the Sigma 70mm F2l.8 Art DG Macro lens, and I took it through its paces with a variety of different styles and genres to see what this budget friendly macro lens can do. BUILD QUALITY Being an Art series lens the build quality is strong and does not feel cheap at all, even at this price point. Also being a nice compact size is an absolute bonus, as it became my go to lens for basically everything. FOCUS Focus… read more →
What has isolation/lockdown taught you? There are many ways in which people over the last year and a bit have had their lives changed. Whether its socially, financially, and other ways it most definitely has changed our lifestyles. However, how has it changed photography? For some and I should say most, travel has been restricted. Only now are international borders starting to open, whether you travelling to the many reserves and private lodges within South Africa or travelling further into the Masaai Mara, Uganda, Mana Pools, Okavango Delta or the… read more →
Shoot what you enjoy A great part of becoming successful as a photographer is shooting what you love. There is nothing more rewarding than shooting what you are passionate about and seeing the result displayed and recognised by your peers and those that appreciate what you do. When you are shooting what you enjoy, you will never feel constrained or limited to a certain style or type of photo. It will always be rewarding; you will constantly learn or see something new. Develop your own style and perfect it There… read more →
My name is Trevor McCall-Peat, I am one of the Sigma South Africa Ambassadors and over the past couple of years I have been afforded the opportunity to work with a variety of their new sports and contempered lenses. I recently hosted a private safari to Uganda to photograph the gorillas and then onto Amboseli in Kenya. A couple of days before I left, I received the new 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS E-mount lens to give it a try. Normally when I travel my camera back can way up… read more →
The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sport is Sigma’s newest lens in the “Sports” series. The “Sports” lenses are focused towards, you guessed it; sports, but also action, wildlife, and general long-distance photography. The emphasis is largely on the lens’s impressive focusing speed, tough and resilient build quality, all while maintaining excellent optical ability. Technical information Lens: 25 elements in 15 groups with nine diaphragm blades Angle of View / FF: 4.1° Angle of View / APS-C: 2.7° Minimum Aperture: f/22-29 Minimum Focus: 280 cm / 110.2… read more →
I have no claim to fame as a knowledgeable person on aircraft. I don’t even like flying. I am however a sport and action photographer and a self-confessed petrol-head, so I love the sound of aircraft engines, the bigger the better, and photographing them doing their thing which is making aircraft fly. I do plane-spotting and go to airshows to listen to the aircraft and photograph them, along with the weaponry they can carry which is also of interest to me. In this brief article I will discuss planning your… read more →
What is photography, really? Here I sit, its early morning approximately 05h30 and I have just checked guests out for their departure from the lodge. This is the time I have before new guests to write these blogs for the public. Its tough when it comes to time as a full-time lodge-based safari/field guide, nevertheless its rewarding as I have the honor of being a Sigma Brand Ambassador. This blog discusses “What is photography really?” We will of course portray it in a different way or have different opinions, that… read more →
I believe every birding photographer, after getting all the regular ID type shots, will work his way towards photographing birds doing some sort of activity. This would imply the typical foraging or eating photos, building nests, birds in flight (also see my previous article on this topic), even birds doing the natural thing of ensuring their species will continue to exist, birds on the hunt and so on. When catching those birds in flight, it invariably leads to birds landing and perching again, which is fairly easy to do; the… read more →