The Old is Gone...A New Blog has Begun!

It is with great excitement that I let you all know that I have moved my blog to a new site that allows me to do amazing things...it is viewable on an iphone of ipod Touch, is connected with my Facebook...and lots of other potential things!

To see the new blog please go to www.singleexposure.com/blog and update your bookmarks!

New Canon Cameras for Wedding Photography in Philadelphia!

Well for me I wasn't jumping up and down for joy, but I will certainly have two new tools in my hands before the end of the year. The first is the new Canon 5D Mark II which has 21 megapixels which will allow me to get just amazing details of those large bridal parties...and the new Canon G10 which is the new version of the G9 which is an amazing detail camera for rings, flowers, and all the little things you spend days planning for the wedding!

Philadelphia Phillies for Wedding Clients

Well just visited the Phillies ticket office and put the deposit down on season tickets for next year. So any of my existing wedding clients keep your eyes open for some emails with dates that I will be offering pairs of tickets for some games!

Enjoy the end of the season...personally as a Boston Red Sox fan (sorry my Yankees fans) it looks pretty safe...but what an end to a season in almost all the divisions!

New Cameras...

For those of you that enjoy photography personally, this September is the annual Photokina Trade Show and all the manufacturers launch new stuff there. Nikon and Canon have announced some things already like the Nikon D90 and the Canon 50D. But most Canon users, me included, are awaiting the announcement of a replacement of a camera that is my "bread n' butter" the Canon 5D. If you are a geek like me you can watch the "evolution" yourself!

There have been all sorts of fun stuff announced as well, the only ones I am interested in besides the 5D replacement are the Zeiss lenses for Canon, which should be superb lenses to soak in lots of details, and the Leica M8.2...I have always wanted to own a Leica...someday!!

Valley Forge Park Model Shoot

Well I am still working on the evaluation and comparison of the sweet Canon 200mm lens, but in the meantime here are some great shots from a fun session that Erik Matey (see Erik's shots here) & I arranged and had Mark Gardner (see Mark's shots here) and Stacie Lech along...we all got some amazing pictures...here are a few of mine.

Erik lined up a few great models through ModelMayhem, and all were great fun to work with. If you ever need a model there are great, talented, models on this site.

Canon 200 2.0 vs 135 2.0...the showdown!

I am no expert equipment reviewer, only a wedding and portrait photographer that practically uses my equipment to deliver my art. I love low light photography and most of my lenses are prime lenses with huge apertures. Honestly I don't use my EF 135 2.0 L lens all that much but after this comparison...I will definitely be using it a lot more after playing with the EF 200 2.0 L IS.

First a disclaimer...I love tight shots, open aperture, yummy boken, and stealthy shooting. My favorite compliment from my wedding clients is, "I never knew you were there getting that shot". My second favorite is loving the "3d" effect of my images, most often with the EF 24 1.4 L lens. Anyway, if you happen to be reading this and don't shoot the way I do...stop reading...I don't have the time or patience for someone else second-guessing my evaluation, cause it is just that...MY evaluation for ME. That said here goes.

So I got the 200 lens from Canon Professional Services...what a great service! So after opening the case and comparing some basic stats, here were a few that were important to me.

Close focus distance:
200 - 6.2 feet, that is a bit far for me personally
135 - 3 feet

DOF of minimum distance:
200 - .02 feet on the 40d and .03 on the 5d
135 - .01 feet on the 40d and .02 on the 5d
All of these are razor thin and requires some really careful focusing and a steady hand

Angle of view:
200 - 12 degrees
135 - 18 degrees
Not that big of a difference in my opinion

Shutter speed for a steady shot:
200 1/200 on 5d or 1/320 on 40d
135 1/135 on 5d or 1/200 on 40d
Of course the HUGE advantage is the IS on the 200...I think I can shoot it at 1/30 with a sharp image...then again I have a really steady hand and can do the same with the 135...remember IS doesn't slow people down!!

The focusing distance alone is one thing that almost made the decision for me before even testing the sharpness and most important to me to compare the boken, angle of view, and compression of the image. So here is how I am comparing the two for my purposes. The 200 on the 5d and the 135 on the 40d...almost equaling the focal length feel (yes I know it isn't the same thing...blah blah). The 135 on the 40d is about 216, or about a half a step back with my zooming feet.

That focal length for me is mainly used for some tight shots in a small church during a ceremony or full-body shots of the ceremony in most churches. For portraits or bridal formals I can definitely use that length for close shots of a senior or couple. With the 135 the focus is fast enough to even track indoor sports or fast kids running around for a family session. I mainly have used the 135 on the 40d as a stealthy reception lens to get all the guests and on the 5d as a great headshot lens for senior portraits.

So here are a couple of images with the lenses mounted...

Down the barrel...


My favorite of the 135 on the 40d shot through the 200 mounted on the 5d...couldn't resist.

So those are basics and the test images are coming on my next post in a week or so...

Meghan & Luke at Longwood Gardens

Meghan and Luke were guests at Ann & Scott's wedding last year (on the coolest day of July in years) and we decided that it would be a great match for their wedding at Rivercrest in Phoenixville. We spent a hot (temperature that is) hour at Longwood Gardens and got some great shots!

Canon's New Lens...

Well it isn't the newest of the Canon lenses, but I now have my hands on a Canon EF 200 2.0 IS L lens and will be testing it over the next week and at a model shoot next week. My first impression is that it is heavy...feels heavier than the 300 2.8 IS only because it is more compact. I am sure when I test it fully next week that it will produce some stunning images, but my hypothesis is that it will be no better than the Canon 135 2.0 L that I already own, which is smaller, lighter, and just as stunning to make all my couples and seniors look AMAZING!!! Stay tuned for more from this next week with a complete review and comparison to the 135 and even the 70-200 IS.

Anniversary Ideas???

So every year we spend a long weekend away for our anniversary and love going to neat little towns. For our upcoming 11th year anniversary I am lacking ideas...we have been to great places in Williamsburg (Liberty Rose B&B), Cooperstown (Cooper Inn), Cape Cod (Ocean's Edge), The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA (also our honeymoon location), and a few other places around.

If you have some ideas of neat little joints to head to this year post a comment below or email me...craigsingle@singleexposure.com.

I'm one of a kind...

Here is a funny website that proves that I, Craig Single, am one of a kind! LOL...How Many of Me

I'm back....

After an amazing week at the Pittsburgh Project I am back! Yeah! Can't wait to get back in the swing and get some amazing albums out to everyone! Until that...here are a couple shots from my week away.

Here is my awesome work-site crew...nothing like teenagers paying to go work on a stranger's house in another city.

Before....

After...


Yes...even when I am working on a mission trip I bring the weddings with me....lol

Melting ice...it was hot...

A painting that only one can create!

The Pittsburgh Project...doing good!

I'm off to The Pittsburgh Project in (you've guessed it) Pittsburgh, PA. It is an amazing mission run by Saleem Ghubril (moving on after this year...tears...) is a mission that helps elderly families that have dilapidated homes and have no hope.

Our senior high group will work with groups of other senior high kids from around the country and have a blast. Each night spending time together listening to some rockin tunes! Have a great summer week...for once I won't be in 100 degree heat!

Irina & Simon at Merion Tribute House

I started out meeting Irina at Calista Grande Spa in West Chester, PA where she got her hair and makeup done. What a beautiful job they did. We then met up at the Merion Tribute House where I have shot several times and as usual the place looked great. Flowers were amazing (Boyd's Flowers)...and according to Irina she just told them what she liked and they created an amazing bouquet!

Check out their slideshow here.


One of my favs of Simon as the ladies were struggling with the bustling of the dress...




One of the greatest cake's I have seen in a while...

Mandi & Phil's Engagement Session in West Chester, PA

Mandi's co-worker was at Jessica & Matt's wedding in New Jersey and immediately told Mandi that she needed to talk to me about her wedding photography. Well it worked out and Mandi, Phil, and I spent a HOT July afternoon in West Chester...a special place for both of them.



Some great shots outside the Chester County Courthouse.

Outside of Limoncello where they got engaged in the back room! Great place and see some great restaurant reviews at the WCDish.

And outside Ryan's Pub...yes this is that tiny alley right next to Ryan's.

Randy & Susan in South Jersey

Kate & Brittany shot Randy & Susan's wedding this past weekend while I was involved in Jamie & Paul's wedding. They did a beautiful job and here are some of the best from the day. They started at the Marriot in Mt. Laurel and a few hours after I was there, they went to Strawbridge Lake Park for some formals. Then onto Laurel Creek Country Club where the reception was and also some more awesome pics out on the course!

Check out their slideshow here.











They had a lot of little ones at the reception and had a huge table filled with toys for all the kids to play with including Elmo...

I love this shot!