Cliff Mautner Photography

9.30.07- 225,000 D3 Page Views and Counting!!!

Startled, flabbergasted, blown away... just a few ways to describe how I feel about the reaction to my post on my experience using the D3. When Nikon asked me to be the first wedding photographer in the world to test out their new flagship camera, the Nikon D3,  I had no idea that the interest in this camera would be this huge. Since my post last Monday, more than 190,000 people have logged on to my blog in an effort to view the first wedding photographs shot with this incredible new camera.

I wish I could reply to each one of the thousand emails and comments, but that would be impossible due to the sheer numbers, not to mention the fact that I don't speak Japanese, Chinese, Italian, or any of the other dozen languages I'd need to reply in! Your comments regarding my work are both inspiring, and humbling. I just want to sincerely thank those who took the time to communicate with me. I can tell you that the folks at the Nikon corporation are beside themselves with excitement with the release of this revolutionary technology. They're reading your comments and taking notice of everyone's reaction to this camera. There's never been a better time to be a Nikon shooter and it's exhilarating to be a Nikon spokesperson. Photoplus East in New York City is going to be an absolute blast!

For those who've asked for high resolution images, I'm sorry that I wasn't permitted to post these yet, but you can view some terrific images HERE. As you'll see, the Nikon D3's ISO performance is astonishing.

However, I'd like to point out that it's important not to let the high ISO performance completely overshadow the other incomparable features of this camera. The autofocus, metering system, auto white balance, dynamic range, and several other improvements, are all aspects that shouldn't be overlooked.

Once again, thank you to all who've taken the time to respond. I just wish I was able to speak all of the various languages! If you're looking for the original post of the wedding images, scroll down, they're still here! Hopefully, you'll continue to visit my blog on occasion to see what I've been up to! Please say hello at Photoplus East if you're there!

9-23-2007 Nikon D3 Test Drive!!!!!!! WOW

OK, It's after 1am and I'm totally spent after a busy weekend test driving the Nikon D3 and editing some files. I'm proud to say that I'm the only wedding or portrait photographer in the country to have been given this camera to test.  I'll definitely post a review of the camera in the next few days, but I've got clients to take care of before I take the time I need to write it.

My first impressions, as expected, were mind blowing. To be brief, I'm stunned at how responsive this camera is and I didn't believe there was much room for improvement to the way the D2xs handled. I was clearly wrong. The Focus, feel of the shutter, focus point selection, enormous LCD, auto white balance, dynamic range, color rendition, and a few other things have all been written about and touted, but nothing prepared me for the incredible quality of the files out of camera. In addition, the high ISO performance, which was also talked about, is nothing short of revolutionary.

This camera literally changes the rules of photography and will simply allow me to capture things like never before. I'll post the full review asap. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the new lenses Nikon sent to me. The 14-24mm 2.8 and the 24-70mm 2.8 are amazing pieces of glass. I'll also review these as well. In a nutshell, you must handle them at Photoplus if you go. In any case, I took it for a test drive at yesterday's wedding. Cristina and Steven at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia. The decorator was the fabulous Evantine Design and the orchestra was The Eddie Bruce Orchestra. Please keep in mind that I shot this camera quite sparingly. I only had it in my hands for 24 hours before I needed to use it for a wedding. My obligation was to capture this day for my client, not test a camera. I did, however, find a few parts of the day that screamed for this camera. The only hard part was putting it down. I love my D2xs, but I'll be replacing them when I get my D3's on a permanent basis. I'll post some data above the files.

In case anyone was wondering, I'm unable to post full rez files until after Photoplus and these files were absolutely STRAIGHT OUT OF CAMERA!!!! In addition, there is no software to open NEF(RAW) files yet so these are all JPG's with absolutely nothing done to them besides a reduction in file size for the web. Most images were captured with auto white balance. For the decor photos, I dialed in 2500 K to nail the color temperature. If these are the JPG's, I can't wait to see the RAW files!!!!!!

 

50 1.4- 1/320th @ 2.8 shot @ ISO 1600

50mm 1.4- 1/125th @ 2.0 shot @ ISO 2000

70-200 2.8 VR- 1/320th @ 4.0 shot @ ISO 200

The new 14-24mm 2.8- 1/160th @ 2.8 shot @ ISO 3200

70-200mm 2.8 VR- 1/320th @ 2.8 shot @ ISO 3200

70-200mm 2.8 VR- 1/100th @ 2.8 shot @ ISO 4000

70-200mm 2.8 VR- 1/80th @ 2.8 shot @ ISO 1600

The new 24-70 2.8- 1/125th @ 2.8 shot @ ISO 3200

The new 24-70 2.8- 1/30th @ 2.8 shot @ ISO 2500

70-200mm 2.8 VR- 1/40th @ 2.8 shot @ ISO 3200

85mm 1.4- 1/100th @ 2.0 shot @ ISO 1600

85mm 1.4- 1/320th @ 2.2 shot @ ISO 1600

50mm 1.4- 1/60th @ 6.3 shot @ ISO 6400

85 1.4mm- 1/160th @ 2.8 shot @ ISO 3200

9.21.07 I've got a new toy!!!!

While I'm not one to blog too much about personal stuff, I can't hold back my excitement about the fact that I'm the first wedding or portrait photographer in the country to have Nikon's newest flagship camera- The D3. I'll be speaking for Nikon at their tradeshow booth at Photoplus Expo in New York.

I'm humbled, truly, to be sharing a stage at Photoplus with legendary photographers Dave Black and Joe McNally. Dave's techniques for painting with light have amazed me for some time. Joe McNally, in my opinion, just might be the best all around photographer on the planet. I'll also be joined by Rosanne Penella, who is a wonderful  travel photographer. I'm not sure if there's a country she hasn't been to and her work is awesome. Nikon will also have Tony Corbell on hand. Tony is a legendary photographer and educator and terrific all around guy. He's been a leading teacher of light for decades. If you want to see some truly phenomenal work, take a peak at their sites.

Anyway, being the technogeek that I am, I'm incredibly stoked to test drive this camera for Nikon. I just hope I'm able to produce some worthy images for them. I've had it for 24 hours now and I have to say, I truly believe it will live up to it's hype. I'll be posting some images on my blog early next week and I plan on testing the highly touted high ISO performance of this baby. As for my initial handling of the D3, I can honestly say that it's the most responsive camera I've every had in my hands. I was skeptical when they told me it would focus faster than the D2xs, but sure enough, it does. I'll post a more thorough impression after I put it to a real world test this weekend!!  If anyone is interested in learning more about his camera, this is a good site. Here's me acting like an absolute idiot while holding my new toy seconds after I opened the box!

8.3.07 Margaret and Ryan at Penryn Mansion Bensalem PA

Ryan and Margaret were married at the beautiful Penryn Mansion on an absolutely blazing hot August afternoon along the Delaware River. Here's a few from their day. There were really some great moments throughout the day.

7.28.07 Ashley and Richard- The Ritz Carlton Philadelphia

Ashley and Richard were married at The Ritz Carlton Philadelphia. We began the day with some portraits as we bopped around the city looking for cool light and interesting places. Then back to the Ritz for their ceremony and reception. Late in the evening, we found our way out on to Broad Street for some images at night at Ashley's suggestion. These people were a blast!

09.13.07 Seminar in Phoenix Arizona for AAWP

Over the past 4 years, I've had the good fortune to do seminars and workshops all over the country. However, after all of the places I've been, I'd never been to Arizona. When my friend Ken Sklute called to invite me to speak in Phoenix a few months back, I couldn't say no. Ken is an amazing photographer and educator and the hospitality he and the other Arizona photographers showed me was truly appreciated. I spoke to the Association of Arizona Wedding Photographers this past Tuesday evening and had a blast. I must say, however, the next time I go to Phoenix, I'll make the trip in February! They say 110 degrees in Arizona is a "dry heat".... so is my oven. Here's a few images from my short trip.

Here's me with some of the terrific Arizona Wedding photographers after the seminar. From the left- David DeDios, Ken Sklute, Anne McCarthy, me, Harold Tseu, and Jeff Colling. Thanks again folks for a great stay in cool Pheonix!

07.21.07 Heather and Mark Laurel Creek Country Club

Heather and Marc were married at Laurel Creek Country Club. I've played a ton of golf there, but I'd yet to shoot a wedding there! We began at Heather's home in Moorestown NJ.

9.4.07| Halle Smoger!!

Over the past year or so, I've really expanded in to the world of portraits. It's really special to me when former brides ask me to photograph their babies. My philosophy and approach are a bit different than the norm in that I'd prefer not to do stiff, staged studio portraits with baby posers and backdrops. I prefer to spend some time with the family at their home, allowing the baby to more comfortable in their own home. My subjects tend to be more relaxed in their surrounding which really help the images become more lifelike. This is Halle Smoger. She's one year old and is the amazing daughter of David and Tracy Smoger. They were married at the Westin Philadelphia in May of 2004. I really enjoyed this shoot and love these images!

07.13.07 | Julie and Jim The Crystal Tea Room

July 13th, 2007. Julie began her day at home in Broomall. We made our way to the city for the ceremony at the magnificent Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, and for the reception held at The Crystal Tea Room. We really had a blast shooting around town!

07.07.07 | Elizabeth and Michael The Rittenhouse Hotel

I've been a bit swamped with shooting, so blogging had to take a back seat! Elizabeth and Michael were married on the famed "7-7-07". There were billions of other weddings in Philly, but I was glad to be at The Rittenhouse Hotel. They treat me like family there and I'm proud to be the preferred photographer there. Here's a few from their day.