Colophon

Serious photography really began for me in the mid 70’s when Canon introduced the TX with an “auto-winder” and the (ultimate) F-1 w/motor drive. They also introduced their FD line of “aspherical lenses”, which (for that point in time) were exceptionally sharp.

I began taking shots of local sporting events (high school football, basketball, track & field) in the northern suburbs of Detroit as a freelance (B&W only in those days) sports photographer. I only made money “if” the local paper liked the shots and their own guy was covering some other event. I’d load up my TX with a (relatively) fast 50mm lens for close-up shots and my F-1 with a 70-210 zoom for everything else. All together including my shoulder bag, filters, film (Tri-X) and raincoat (it always rains in Michigan in the fall), everything must have weighed in at over 25 lbs and it felt like much more! I’m running down the field to catch the action, reloading film on the fly, taking shot after shot praying that one of two turn out OK. I’m wet, tired and ache all over from lugging all that gear around in the rain and cold. And that’s just the fun part!

Once the event was over, I’d rush back to the darkroom and begin the arduous (and messy) process of developing the ten or so 36 exposure rolls of Tri-X, praying that I was agitating just the right amount to prevent any air bubbles from ruining my shots but not too much or the contrast and grain of Tri-X (pushed to 1600) would turn to mush. Next I would print a quick contact sheet using my enlarger while the film was still “wet” and allow my socks to dry right next to the rest of the film. When I had the time (which was really never, before the usual 4:00 AM deadline) I would also pick a few good shots and print some 5 x 7’s to take along with the contact sheet, to the paper’s sports editor.

So here I am. It’s about 3:00 AM on a Saturday morning. I’m standing in front of some guy who’s smoking one cigarette after another and he pushes my nice 5 x 7’s onto the floor, grabs the contact sheet and marks big red X’s on all but two of the 300 or so shots. These he circles, while grabbing my negs and looking at them on his light-box. All the time muttering about how spoiled we kids are today and how he used to walk to and from school in the dead of winter, up hill both ways, carrying a warm potato to keep his hands from freezing, which he then ate for lunch. He reaches into his desk, pulls out two twenties and says “Kid, those shots really suck but we’ve got nothing else so we’ll run em anyhow”. This guy was the sports editor for a small town paper acting like he ran the New York Times!

Today it’s a whole new world and this is the best time in history to be a photographer!

Digital SLRs are incredibly sophisticated, lightweight and durable. Lenses are designed by computer aided technology, precision fabricated by computer controlled machines and calibrated and tested by laser. Digital film (CF) is fast, affordable and reliable. Post capture processing is done on a personal computer (MacBook) using programs like Photoshop and Lightroom at a fraction of the cost of film and enlargements. Printing can be done at home or online at places like Mpix.com.

Learning your craft used to take years and years. Trial and error was expensive in the days of film. Today we have the Internet. The most incredible learning tool a serious amateur or budding professional could ask for. Over the course of a few days we can take several thousand digital exposures, sort through them and “develop” the best in just a few minutes. Post our work online and ask for constructive criticism or submit our work to online courses and receive feedback from masters like Bill Neill.

What an incredible time to be a photographer!

Jeff Lynch Photography, Ltd.
Serious Amateur Photography
Sugar Land, TX

What Software Do I Use?

• OS X 10.5.6 Leopard on a MacBook
• Adobe’s Lightroom 2
• Adobe’s Photoshop CS3
• Acqualia’s Picturesque
• HDR’s Photomatix Pro 3.1
• Nik’s Color Efex Pro 3.0
• Nik’s Silver Efex Pro

What Photo Gear Do I Use?

• Canon EOS 40D
• Canon EOS 50D
• Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM
• Canon EF-S 17-85MM f/4-5.6 IS USM
• Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
• Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
• Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM
• Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
• Gitzo GT1541T Traveler Tripod Legs
• Really Right Stuff BH-40 LR Head & Clamp
• Really Right Stuff L-Plates
• Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head
• Gitzo GM2541 Monopod
• Really Right Stuff High-Capacity Monopod Solution
• Domke F-2 Canvas Shoulder Bag (Transport)
• Boda Dry Junior Lens Bag (Walkabout)
• BlackRapid R-Strap
• Sandisk Extreme III Digital Film
• Lexar Professional UDMA Digital Film

What Lighting Gear Do I Use?

• Canon 580EX II Speedlites
• Canon ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter
• Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce
• Rosco Cinegel Sheets (CTO / CTB)
• Avenger A625B Midi Kit 7.8′ Lightstands
• Avenger A630B Midi-Max Kit 10.8′ Lightstands
• Avenger D600CB Mini Boom
• Manfrotto 175F Spring Clamps (Justin Clamp)
• Manfrotto 026 Swivel Umbrella Adapter
• Manfrotto 43S Magic Arm Flash Shoe (fits 580EX perfectly)
• Westcott Compact 43″ Shoot-Thru Umbrellas
• Lastolite 33″ Tri Flip / Tri Grip Reflector Kit
• Pony 2″ A Spring Clamps
• Savage Seamless Background Paper, #12 Studio Gray
• Hakuba PSTC400 Pro Light Stand Cases

What Photo Gear Do I Rent?

• Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
• Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM

Legal Notice

”Canon” and Canon product and services names published on this website are the Trademark or Registered Trademark of Canon Inc. and/or other members on the Canon Group. All other products and company names referenced herein, if any, may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Jeff Lynch Photography does not authorize the use of any trade name, trademark, registered trademark, logo, or any copyrighted material referenced herein for any purpose whatsoever, including non-commercial applications.