Jon Witsell Photographic Arts - Latest Comments

Re: Mating Really Right Stuff And Nodal Ninja Panoramic Gear

Jon Witsell — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 20:22:03 -0000

Hi Sanjay,

What type of panoramas do you want to shoot? Flat panoramas for print, like it do? Or do you want to shoot 360x360 spherical panoramas for the web? I very much like my set up above, as I can go from shooting "normal" photos to shooting panoramas very rapidly. Let me know, and I'll try to help.

Re: Mating Really Right Stuff And Nodal Ninja Panoramic Gear

Sanjay Borra — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:12:13 -0000

Jon

I am new to Panorama Photography and therefore need your inputs.

This is my current setup. Could you please tell me what additional equipment i would need to to shoot 360 panoramas. Should I invest in all Nodal Ninja setup(tripod leveler,pano heads etc) as opposed to combination of Bh-55 and NN Setup ? TIA

Current Setup

1. Canon 5D Mark 3 with L Plate attached
2. BH-55 Ball Head with Quick Release clamp

Re: No Words, #22

Jon Witsell — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:12:13 -0000

That they are...

Re: No Words, #22

Donna — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 15:31:32 -0000

A post about the fence posts: a dramatic photo of a lovely fence, but those look suspiciously like bomb casings?

Re: Plain of Jars Project Photo Gallery

Jon Witsell — Thu, 15 May 2014 23:12:04 -0000

Hey Daniel!

Thanks! It has been an amazing and unsettling thing all rolled into one. Miss our chats about life...

Jon

Re: Plain of Jars Project Photo Gallery

Daniel Gurzi — Thu, 15 May 2014 22:50:24 -0000

Jon,
I am truly impressed and inspired by your work with this project. I wish I had had the time to check in on it sooner, but I'm glad I looked you up now. This is truly amazing. Keep it up!

Re: Using A Gitzo Spike Kit On A Really Right Stuff Tripod

Jon Witsell — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 02:34:53 -0000

You really get what you pay for with this type of gear. Let me know how you get along if you add the Gitzo spikes...

Re: Using A Gitzo Spike Kit On A Really Right Stuff Tripod

dave — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 01:47:43 -0000

sure...thanks for some words of confirmation regarding RRS...I have been emailing with them and on the phone sort of checking them out, and like you, have been impressed. Service is important...which is why I like Fuji as well...their firmware updates are superb.

Re: Using A Gitzo Spike Kit On A Really Right Stuff Tripod

Jon Witsell — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 01:22:27 -0000

I'm doing a fundraising campaign for a small school that teaches kids (mostly Hmong) that can't afford to go to the for-pay English language (very important skill here) schools. Will be a crowd funded project. Mind if I send you info on it when the campaign launches?

Re: Using A Gitzo Spike Kit On A Really Right Stuff Tripod

Jon Witsell — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 01:20:32 -0000

I leave them on. The are quite tough to get on and off, which I really like since the vibration can cause parts to fall off lesser (cough, cough, Gitzo) tripods.

Re: Using A Gitzo Spike Kit On A Really Right Stuff Tripod

Jon Witsell — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 01:19:14 -0000

Yes, the head fits and works great for my set up. What I also like about RRS is they have docs about how to disassemble and clean the tripod legs. I've done it already and it is easy. It is expensive... but I don't plan on replacing this tripod for YEARS. Of the top three reasons I really like RRS is their customer service. I had a problem with a screw and two days later a new one was priority shipped to me. No questions asked, just get back to work. I just don't think about their gear when I'm working—which is exactly how good gear should be. Just be prepared to get that first scratch!

Re: Using A Gitzo Spike Kit On A Really Right Stuff Tripod

dave — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 15:49:18 -0000

Also by the way, last question, are you happy with the RRS 24L legs with the bh40 head? As I said, I just ordered it after scouring the internet for the best tripod set up...I have, as I guess most photographers have done before me, gone thru buying two cheaper tripods that have not worked out...I am hoping that all reports of the RRS tripods are accurate given the $1300 I just shelled out. Tell me you love them???!!!! (this will make $2000 that I have spent on stupid tripods!!!!)

Re: Using A Gitzo Spike Kit On A Really Right Stuff Tripod

dave — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 15:10:41 -0000

and so my guess is that you are not losing the rubber feet? i.e., they just snap on and could come loose? or are you just leaving them off most of the time given the fairly rugged conditions you are working in?

Re: Using A Gitzo Spike Kit On A Really Right Stuff Tripod

dave — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 10:49:42 -0000

Thanks Jon...what kind of work are you doing in Laos?

Re: How To: Working With Plywerk Bamboo Art Panels Part #1

Jon Witsell — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 09:47:10 -0000

Hi Dave,

I've been to the Plywerk shop in Portland, OR., and they do a pretty stellar job of making the panels. I think it just comes down to the amount of labor required to make the panels look the way they do. When you see one on a gallery wall, you'll know what I mean.

I don't really know of any other similar alternatives. If you come across any, let me know.

Re: Using A Gitzo Spike Kit On A Really Right Stuff Tripod

Jon Witsell — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 09:43:04 -0000

Hey Dave,

Thanks for writing. I'm in Laos working in terrain from rock-hard red clay to jungle undergrowth—and the spikes are doing just what I need. They aren't too long, are just sharp enough, and with the feet, don't tear up my bag. I'm quite happy with them.

On a side note, I like the fact that you tighten them down with a wrench. I also have a small Gitzo tripod with me now for my video camera, and one of the adjustable feet unscrewed when I was riding a motorcycle and is gone forever. Not an item I'll be able to find here so I'm going to try to find a bolt to screw in to protect the end of the tripod. Not happy about that at all.

Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

Re: How To: Working With Plywerk Bamboo Art Panels Part #1

dave — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 08:13:33 -0000

Is there a less expensive alternative to the bamboo panels...? and why are the panels so seemingly expensive?

Re: Using A Gitzo Spike Kit On A Really Right Stuff Tripod

dave — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 07:58:12 -0000

and so this was posted about a year and a half ago, wondering if these spikes/feet are still working out for you. I just purchased the RRS 24L and like you, am frankly a little disappointed that for the money they do not include spikes...and then they are way too aggressive (wonder how they do in the RRS bag...would think that they tear the heck out of bag?)...at any rate, wondering if you are still happy with the Gitzo alternative...

Re: From The Archive: At The Hook

Rex Eacho — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 03:40:07 -0000

Hook me up!

Re: Hmong Wedding

Jon Witsell — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 05:04:09 -0000

Hey Rex!

Yeah, unreal. What a beautiful people and place!

Re: Hmong Wedding

Rex Eacho — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 07:32:01 -0000

Nice experience for you!

Re: Final Cut Pro X Ingest Bug — And A Solution

Jon Witsell — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 03:23:26 -0000

Hi Mark,

That's strange. I just ran through the process and it did work. What version of OSX and FCPX are you using?

Jon

Re: Final Cut Pro X Ingest Bug — And A Solution

Mark — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 07:32:20 -0000

I have the same problem. Unfortunately this didn't work

Re: Final Cut Pro X Ingest Bug — And A Solution

Jon Witsell — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 02:03:38 -0000

Hi Ori,

Hmm, that's strange. Have you downloaded the latest FCPX update? I am in Laos and don't have a fast enough connection to get it. I was wondering if that might fix the ingest bug. Have you tried deleting FCPX preferences? I've not tried this yet, but you might see if it helps:

http://www.digitalrebellion...

Let me know how you fix the problem!

Jon

Re: Final Cut Pro X Ingest Bug — And A Solution

Ori Danziger — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 14:53:53 -0000

Hi there, first thank you and second it didn't work for me not with an existing event, not with a new one I have just created before importing