| Beyond the Best
Anil Kumar Commercial Photographer |
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" I am a commercial photographer based in Cochin. Photography was my hobby. I was very interested in wildlife, so I turned to fulltime wildlife photography. After about five years in wildlife, I returned to commercial advertising photography for the next 18 years of my life. I find it more challenging Wildlife photography is an extremely specialized subject and takes a huge amount of patience and perseverance. In a way, commercial advertising photography is very different because everything is so rushed. Clients always demand immediate results." |
"I was quite fond of using film. It is the medium of an artist. IT needs a lot of control. Besides, I never really found digital cameras comparable by film. However, a little more than two years ago, I was introduced to the Leaf Valeo 22 by Vihang Vasa. I was so impressed by Vihang's hand's-on demostration and Photoquip's professional approach, that I purchased it. I found the capabilities of the Valeo so good that I have not used film at all since then."
"The transition from film to digital is normally rough for most photographers as they attempt to upgrade from a low-end product to a high-end back. I think this is a mistake. Digital technology is not just some buzzword coined by a marketing agency, but most digital photographers treat it that way. They are often impractical with their choices of equipment and end up spending a huge amount of money in their attempts to move from low to high-end and keep upgrading."
After my stint with using film, I have directly gone with the Leaf Valeo 22, and have used it extensively. And though my business increased by a almost double of what it was when I was using film, I did not find the urgent need to upgrade. I was quite happy with my Leaf Valeo 22."
"This was until I was shown the Leaf Aptus 75, which has recently won the TIPA award in 2006 for the Best Digital Camera Back. I just fell in love with the product. Every photographic situation which could have been so much better with the Leaf Aptus 75 ran through my mind like a video film. I have the Aptus 75 now. It's incredibly good!"
"Why did I continue with Leaf? It has got real time review capabilities, a touch sensitive display, and is hugely compatible with my other equipment. I use a Sinar P2 and F2 with Digitar lenses and Hasselblad 555 ELD and 503CW, with all their lenses. It works superbly well with a Sinar. Secondly, it is the best digital back money can buy today. The quality of the image is second to none. Vihang had to go through quite a bit of trouble tp practically prove this to me before I bought it. Last but not least, Mr. Dhaval Soni of Photoquip was there. I know them ever since I bought my first studio light from them about 18 years ago and I have shared a fantastic relationship with them since then. And finally, the Leaf software, Capture, is stable and yet sophisticated."