Smaug on the Colbert Report

Last week, Smaug from THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES paid a visit to The Colbert Report on Comedy Central.

The impressive CGI was provided by WETA and the character was voiced once again by Benedict Cumberbatch.

See the video below. What do you think?

Good deal on Nikon lenses + Lightroom 5

Buydig has some great deals on Nikkor lenses right now for Nikon mounts. Both the 35mm ($197) and 50mm ($217) AF-S f/1.8G lenses are quality, fast lenses for photographers on a budget. I have both, and I use them often and recommend them. And right now they come with a free copy of Adobe Lightroom 5! Buydig also offers free shipping and no tax in most states.

A few other lenses are also included in the sale, but these two are the highlights.

Grab them before they’re gone!

Beckett Simonon Caine Oxford Dress Shoe Review

UPDATE: Beckett Simonon’s new line of shoes are in! Check out my new review here!

I recently picked up a pair of kicks from Beckett Simonon in my quest to find higher quality dress shoes at a price that didn’t make me want to cry myself to sleep at night on an empty stomach. I settled on the Caine oxford cap-toes. This is my experience so far.

EDIT: Now, take 20% off your order with our exclusive promo code PRAKTICALA20!

EDIT: Beckett Simonon is launching a somewhat new, pre-order based business model, so the Caine oxfords are no longer available. You can read about the relaunched business here, or visit here to see Beckett Simonon’s current lineup of products.

Continue reading Beckett Simonon Caine Oxford Dress Shoe Review

UCLA Beat SC Bonfire Rally 2014

Last month I was again invited to shoot the BEAT SC bonfire rally at UCLA. To get more coverage, I asked Yoselin from 6 Mono Media to assist me as second photographer. As always, it was a great evening of impressive performances, team fervor, and intense rivalry. But this year there were a few unexpected changes to the show.

Continue reading UCLA Beat SC Bonfire Rally 2014

New Mad Max: Fury Road Trailer Released

George Miller’s upcoming film, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, and Nicholas Hoult, has a new trailer, and it looks incredible!

Miller is the creator and director of the original MAD MAX films, starring Mel Gibson. The first MAD MAX was a blast, even on a low budget and with unintelligible Australian accents. This trailer looks like Miller has kicked it up ten notches.

Have you seen the original MAD MAX movies? How do you think this new one will compare?

Point and Shoot: Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS

I’m putting my Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS up for sale. It is a fantastic camera, in excellent condition. It features 3x optical zoom, 10MP resolution, face detection, optical image stabilization, and video recording capability. You can find the Craigslist posting here.

Although point-and-shoot digital cameras have been largely supplanted by the rapid advance of smartphone technology, there is still much to be said for having a dedicated device for taking photos.

Continue reading Point and Shoot: Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS

Black Friday Deals on Nikon

What do you know — just after I wrote about the Nikon D3300, a smoking Black Friday deal shows up!

Beach Camera (legit) is selling the refurbished D3300, including Adobe Lightroom 5 (!), for $379.99 with free shipping via their Ebay page. If you’re in the market for an entry-level DSLR, I would snag this now before it’s gone!

Link

Which DSLR Should I Buy?

Now that DSLRs (digital single lens reflex) cameras are so affordable, more and more people are interested in high-quality photography. Although mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras have gained quite a bit of popularity, nothing beats the speed, control, versatility, and quality of a good DSLR.

There are a lot of cameras to choose from out there. Many people just getting into photography often ask me where to start. Here are my recommendations.

Continue reading Which DSLR Should I Buy?

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