Mario Live! http://mario-live.com/blog The Blog Since 2008 Thu, 17 May 2012 22:26:40 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= MarioLivehttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesDear subscriber, thank you very much for taking the time to reed my feeds in this busy times. Off Camera Flash Fail http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MarioLive/~3/3GgVLITfn3E/ http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/off-camera-flash-fail/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 21:57:00 +0000 Mario http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/off-camera-flash-fail/ Gosh, this was a funny one while we were out shooting a little for some fun today. We were wandering through a botanic yard and at some point I saw that arch of trees in front of a kind of a cathedral or something like that. To get the best out of it I decided [...]

Gosh, this was a funny one while we were out shooting a little for some fun today.

We were wandering through a botanic yard and at some point I saw that arch of trees in front of a kind of a cathedral or something like that. To get the best out of it I decided to lay on the ground and shooting from a very low angle.

At some point I found that the sky was still to bright and that needed some fill light that I wanted to produce with a speedlite. Off camera of course. So I positioned the speedlite at the right spot and triggered it with the radiographic unit I jut bought recently.

The weird thing was that every time when I hit the test button on the transmitter the flash would fire. Whenever I pushed down the shutter button it wouldn’t.

As the speedlite was out of my eyesight I asked Pedro if it fired. He shook his had. I cursed, not being shy to use the F-word a lot.

While I was lying in the gravel Pedro at a certain moment said to me Hey, didn’t you upload a video lately about disabling Flash Firing?

This explained everything. I forgot to turn it back on after making the video.

I don’t expect by the way that something like that will not happen in the future as I always forget to check things like that before going to shoot.

Have a great day shooting and consider a participating in the Photo Of The Day Thingy on this blog. 

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]]> http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/off-camera-flash-fail/feed/ 0 http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/off-camera-flash-fail/ Photo Of The Day #19 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MarioLive/~3/702KfYZWpxs/ http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-19/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000 Mario http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-19/ I have no idea where Pedro took this picture that he named Stone Couple but I’m convinced that this looks more impressive than the original sculpture. Click on the image for a larger version It has some cinematic flair and this is what I really love. At the same time I’m writing this I have [...]

I have no idea where Pedro took this picture that he named Stone Couple but I’m convinced that this looks more impressive than the original sculpture.

Click on the image for a larger version

It has some cinematic flair and this is what I really love. At the same time I’m writing this I have to remind myself that I have to train my cinematic eye a little bit more when looking for objects that would make some great still photography.

Too often I’m running like I’m blind along this opportunities for a good image. I’m probably too people and animal minded when I’m going out to shoot.

I will keep this in mind next time I hit the road! Probably you should do that too.

Here are some technical data of this shot for you:

Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Sigma 70-200 2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/800 of a second
Aperture: f3.2
Focal Length: 78mm
ISO Speed: 800

If you want to participate in the photo of the day series her on this blog feel free to send in a link to your image using the

contact form. Please provide your name, camera settings and title of the photograph. If your photo is picked we will schedule it very soon.

If you live in the USA and want to try lenses and gear before buying consider borrowing it by mail.

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]]> http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-19/feed/ 0 http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-19/ Photo Of The Day #18 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MarioLive/~3/-prMSwxbVrc/ http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-18/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000 Mario http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-18/ If you are lucky when you go out to do some street photography you will find some people who are willing to act a little for you. Click on the image for a larger version Just by giving some glances and nods this lady was putting herself in the right poses to have her photograph [...]

If you are lucky when you go out to do some street photography you will find some people who are willing to act a little for you.

Click on the image for a larger version

Just by giving some glances and nods this lady was putting herself in the right poses to have her photograph taken. She did this while she had a conversation with somebody. We sat a few tables away from the couple and the photo’s taken have something like shots out of a movie in my opinion.

This is by the way a good demonstration why you should go for good glass first rather than upgrading your camera bodies to fast without even considering some fine lenses.

Here are some technical data of this shot for you:

Camera: Canon 400D 
Lens: Sigma 70-200 2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/100 of a second
Aperture: f8.0
Focal Length: 200mm
ISO Speed: 400

If you want to participate in the photo of the day series her on this blog feel free to send in a link to your image using the

contact form. Please provide your name, camera settings and title of the photograph. If your photo is picked we will schedule it very soon.

If you live in the USA and want to try lenses and gear before buying consider borrowing it by mail.

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]]> http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-18/feed/ 0 http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-18/ Why You Can Disable Flash Firing On Your Canon EOS 7D (and other models) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MarioLive/~3/wJHnqzwtjls/ http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/why-you-can-disable-flash-firing-on-your-canon-eos-7d-and-other-models/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 14:52:46 +0000 Mario http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/why-you-can-disable-flash-firing-on-your-canon-eos-7d-and-other-models/ Why would you go to the flash settings of your camera and disable flash firing? Just don’t use the flash I hear some say. So here is why: If you want to use the AF assist beam of your flash rather than the one you have on your camera but you don’t want to flash [...]

Why would you go to the flash settings of your camera and disable flash firing? Just don’t use the flash I hear some say.

So here is why:

If you want to use the AF assist beam of your flash rather than the one you have on your camera but you don’t want to flash at all you can disable the flash firing.

Now you are able to use its assist beam without firing your flash by accident. It’s no rocket science yet somewhat confusing.

Have a great day shooting!

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]]> http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/why-you-can-disable-flash-firing-on-your-canon-eos-7d-and-other-models/feed/ 0 http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/why-you-can-disable-flash-firing-on-your-canon-eos-7d-and-other-models/ Photo Of The Day #17 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MarioLive/~3/WgTvWpGkqxA/ http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-17/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000 Mario http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-17/ This shot was taken by Pedro Hamers during a photo walk on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Germany. Click on the image for a larger version Besides the fact I like this photo journalism kind of photography I like the fact that Pedro has taken this one with a relatively slow shutter speed. This way [...]

This shot was taken by Pedro Hamers during a photo walk on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Germany.

Click on the image for a larger version

Besides the fact I like this photo journalism kind of photography I like the fact that Pedro has taken this one with a relatively slow shutter speed. This way the movement of the clapping hand in this image called Celebration really underlines the happy mood of the people captured here.

Here are some technical data of this shot for you:

Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Sigma 70-200 2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/100 of a second
Aperture: f4
Focal Length: 112mm
ISO Speed: 1600

If you want to participate in the photo of the day series her on this blog feel free to send in a link to your image using the

contact form. Please provide your name, camera settings and title of the photograph. If your photo is picked we will schedule it very soon.

If you live in the USA and want to try lenses and gear before buying consider borrowing it by mail.

Related Posts


]]> http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-17/feed/ 0 http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-17/ How To Speed Up The AF Point Selection On The Canon EOS 7D http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MarioLive/~3/30bn9qbY6Nc/ http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/how-to-speed-up-the-af-point-selection-on-the-canon-eos-7d/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 15:17:07 +0000 Mario http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/how-to-speed-up-the-af-point-selection-on-the-canon-eos-7d/ You know the drill: You want to select an AF-point on your Canon EOS 7D. First you hit the button that activates the focus point selection then you have a limited time to select the new AF-Point. You are used to it and you are fast at doing so. You know that some models have [...]

You know the drill: You want to select an AF-point on your Canon EOS 7D. First you hit the button that activates the focus point selection then you have a limited time to select the new AF-Point.

You are used to it and you are fast at doing so.

You know that some models have a direct button where you can always select a different AF-point with just one button. There are some Canon EOS 7D owners out there who don’t know that their precious shooting device has this possibility as well.

Have look:

If you ever missed just this one important second because you had to fiddle around with your focus points to long, the short video above can help you a lot to avoid this from happening in the future.

Have a great day shooting with whatever camera you use!

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]]> http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/how-to-speed-up-the-af-point-selection-on-the-canon-eos-7d/feed/ 0 http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/how-to-speed-up-the-af-point-selection-on-the-canon-eos-7d/ Photo Of The Day #16 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MarioLive/~3/f5IiWxpTTKU/ http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-16/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000 Mario http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-16/ Submissive wolves are licking the teeth of their leader. This is what happening in this photograph called (obviously) Honor The Leader. Click on the image for a larger version You have to be very patient to get a shot like this, is what I hear often from people who are browsing through my animal pictures. [...]

Submissive wolves are licking the teeth of their leader. This is what happening in this photograph called (obviously) Honor The Leader.

Click on the image for a larger version

You have to be very patient to get a shot like this, is what I hear often from people who are browsing through my animal pictures. My typical answer is yes and no.

You see, you can patiently wait on the side line until something like this happen. This doesn’t mean that it will happen. In fact it’s more like being at the right time at the right spot.

Nonetheless, patience is a very important ingredient for shooting animals.

What still wonders me when I look at this picture is that many people like it as due to the low shutter speed and not using a flash nothing of the action is really frozen.

Here are some technical data of this shot for you:

Camera: Canon EOS 7D 
Lens: Sigma 70-200 2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/160 of a second
Aperture: f4
Focal Length: 200mm
ISO Speed: 1250

If you want to participate in the photo of the day series her on this blog feel free to send in a link to your image using the

contact form. Please provide your name, camera settings and title of the photograph. If your photo is picked we will schedule it very soon.

If you live in the USA and want to try lenses and gear before buying consider borrowing it by mail.

Related Posts


]]> http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-16/feed/ 0 http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-16/ How Many Destruction Attempts Can The Canon EOS 7D Handle? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MarioLive/~3/1Ok5O6Fdg88/ http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/how-many-destruction-attempts-can-the-canon-eos-7d-handle/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 14:19:26 +0000 Mario http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/how-many-destruction-attempts-can-the-canon-eos-7d-handle/ Yesterday I saw somebody at the zoo putting the lens cap on her kit lens after every single shot she took. I guess a lot of us have to admit that we had this habit when we were first starting out. It’s not common that I share the video’s of others over here but when [...]

Yesterday I saw somebody at the zoo putting the lens cap on her kit lens after every single shot she took. I guess a lot of us have to admit that we had this habit when we were first starting out.

It’s not common that I share the video’s of others over here but when Kai Wong from DigitalRev.TV did his ultimate crash tests on the Canon EOS 7D I couldn’t make another decision then to share it with you here.

Oh gosh, my precious….

Here are the tests the Canon EOS 7D survived easily:

  • Being hit by a truck several times. I still burst at full rate.
  • Crashing down a staircase in a wheelchair several times. Still bursting.
  • Being frozen into a huge ice cube. Then shooting the ice away with a plastic gun. Putting it in a oven afterwards to melt the rest of the ice. See for yourself.
  • Putting it on fire. Melting parts of the camera away. Still bursts at full rate.

So if you drop it from the table one day don’t be afraid. Your Canon EOS 7D will be capable to take the shot anyway. Of course there is no reason to treat it roughly from now on but it surly gives you that comfortable, convenient feeling if something happens.

Have a nice day shooting!

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]]> http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/how-many-destruction-attempts-can-the-canon-eos-7d-handle/feed/ 0 http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/how-many-destruction-attempts-can-the-canon-eos-7d-handle/ Instead Of The Newsletter http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MarioLive/~3/_puOzZpp1HA/ http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/instead-of-the-newsletter/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 +0000 Mario http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/instead-of-the-newsletter/ Regular visitors and of course newsletter subscribers probably already noticed this. A couple of weeks ago I decided to stop the Mario Live Newsletter. While some bloggers would see this at the beginning of the end I had very good reasons to cut the cr… I’m subscribed to some newsletter as well and there comes [...]

Regular visitors and of course newsletter subscribers probably already noticed this.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to stop the Mario Live Newsletter. While some bloggers would see this at the beginning of the end I had very good reasons to cut the cr…

I’m subscribed to some newsletter as well and there comes the point where you just notice that your mailbox is full enough. I felt that I didn’t want to pump a newsletter out just for the sole purpose to stuff your mailboxes some more.

The newsletter, whether you use it properly or not can be a huge expense. For the real marketing guys it is worth it. For me it is not. The income this blog is creating has nothing to do with the newsletter at all. For example: the complete hosting for the last year was paid by a large British company just for mentioning their name in one of my Manga Studio tutorial posts.

Anyway, I still want to connect and interact with you. So instead of gathering your e-mail addresses and sending you information you jut don’t want to know or you already know I created an accompanying Facebook page.

I will really appreciate it if you subscribe to it by giving it a like. You can do this by clicking here.

Let’s stay connected!

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]]> http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/instead-of-the-newsletter/feed/ 0 http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/instead-of-the-newsletter/ Photo Of The Day #15 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MarioLive/~3/D891q12e_7M/ http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-15/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000 Mario http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-15/ Sometimes you have to make it work in a split second. Getting the settings right in situations like this means knowing your gear. Click on the image for a larger version In one of this split seconds Pedro Hamers took this photograph of a little boy and an approaching lion in Gaia Zoo (Kerkrade / [...]

Sometimes you have to make it work in a split second. Getting the settings right in situations like this means knowing your gear.

Click on the image for a larger version

In one of this split seconds Pedro Hamers took this photograph of a little boy and an approaching lion in Gaia Zoo (Kerkrade / The Netherlands). The two stood just inches from each other just divided by security glass.

Are the parents of this boy are happy with this image? You bet. This image also got Pedro a honorable mention by Jared Polin.

Here are some technical data of this shot for you:

Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Sigma 70-200 2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/200 of a second
Aperture: f5.6
Focal Length: 140mm
ISO Speed: 1600

If you want to participate in the photo of the day series her on this blog feel free to send in a link to your image using the

contact form. Please provide your name, camera settings and title of the photograph. If your photo is picked we will schedule it very soon.

If you live in the USA and want to try lenses and gear before buying consider borrowing it by mail.

Related Posts


]]> http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-15/feed/ 0 http://mario-live.com/blog/2012/05/photo-of-the-day-15/