Jon Sienkiewicz Blog

The weather forecast for New York calls for temperatures to dip into the single digits this weekend, and if you’re like me, you find it challenging to keep your digits warm while out-of-doors with your digital camera. Here’s a little trick I learned back in my salad days when Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were in my territory and I was a sales rep with Minolta Corporation.

Some discouraged photographers complain and say they can’t get good shots because they don’t have the time or funds to travel to exotic, photogenic places. Sorry to rain on their pity party, but everyone can get decent images without a travel budget. Here are a couple projects you can start on tonight, as soon as it gets dark.

Remember Altman Camera? This year marks the 40th anniversary of Altman’s closing. Why was it important? Because when it closed in May of 1975, Altman’s was the largest camera store in the world. And Altman’s stocked everything. Not just a lot of stuff, everything. 

You all know the story of Jim Domke, the Philadelphia photojournalist who nearly 40 years ago (1975) developed a camera bag to suit his own needs and in the process created a product family that’s sold nearly one million units and is used by photographers around the world. If you stay interested in photography long enough, sooner or later you’ll own a Domke. Or two. 

Beware of these popular (and rightfully awesome) compact camera features that can ruin your holiday pics. Here are some tips about outsmarting technology to improve your photos. 

The Vanguard Reno 22 is as light as a feather but it’s a real heavyweight where it counts. This may be the bag that you Micro Four Thirds shooters have been waiting for.

Some cameras, including my classy and not-so-cheap Sony RX100, charge through the USB cable. There’s no need for a separate charger; simply plug the adapter into the wall and the small connector into the camera. There are pros and cons to this system.