NPAC Picture of the Year Nomination!

I’ve been nominated for a News Photographers Association of Canada Picture of the Year Award for my Sitting Volleyball Video!  The winners will be announced on April 25th in Toronto. Wooooo!

Sitting Paraplegic Volleyball from Ryan Jackson on Vimeo.

Tags: poy

102 Musical Chairs

102 people played musical chairs on Saturday March 21, 2009 for a chance to win a one-year lease on a 2010 Kia Soul at Kia West Edmonton. Sonic 102.9 radio station drew names for 102 contestants to play and Mark Laing, 38, was the “Soul survivor” that took home the prize.  Photo by Ryan Jackson/Edmonton Journal
*** Watch the video ***

Jack Layton

NDP Leader Jack Layton speaks to the media at the Varscona Hotel in Edmonton on Saturday March 14, 2009. The national party leader was meeting with Edmonton-Strathcona NDP MP Linda Duncan and three representatives from local environmental groups to discuss a “green economic recovery strategy” for Canada. Photo by Ryan Jackson/Edmonton Journal

Chris Black – Edmonton Headshot

Jeffs – Edmonton Headshot

I’ve discovered how to achieve that super-duper narrow depth of field like you get with medium format (the Martin Schoeller look) without having to buy an 85mm f1.2 or use a Mamiya 6×9 camera …. the secret … use a macro extension tube!
The 85mm f1.8 only focuses close enough to do a head and shoulders… put a short 12mm extension tube on the lens and I am able to almost completely fill the frame on a full-frame Canon 5D camera.
Since DOF is controlled by three things: F-stop, focal length, and distance to subject…. the extension tube allows me to get even closer to the subject = super narrow depth of field. Your focus has to be EXACT though or else you ruin the photo.
I

Tags: head shot