Two new videos from B&H Event Space in New York!

As you may have seen from a previous blog post, I was back in New York City three weeks ago, making my first in-person presentations since the pandemic. It was so great to be back at my favorite camera store to see the updated Event Space, and to visit my friends there.

Neither of these presentations were live-streamed, but I had MANY of you asking if they would be recorded. Sure enough, the good folks at B&H recorded them, and they did me a favor by editing them and posting them faster than normal.  

In the first presentation, I share my images and stories from the Winter Olympics in Milan. The second presentation is all about lens selection, and is packed full of visual examples of why I choose a specific lens for each subject.  

Without further ado...here are the two new videos: 

Photographing the Winter Olympics in Milan

Click on the image above to watch the video

How To Choose the Best Lens for Each Subject Matter

Click on the image above to watch the video

I hope that you enjoy them and learn a few things!

Oh, one more thing! I will be back in NYC in May of 2027 for the next BILD Expo. If you have not been to this show, you have to go. I believe that it is now the largest photo show in the world, and it is amazing. 

I hope to see you there.

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• Subscribe to the Jeff Cable Photography Blog by clicking HERE!

• Check out my upcoming photo tours to amazing places around the world. I have photo tours to Costa Rica, Peru, Galapagos, Africa, Iceland and more.

• If you are interested in purchasing ANY equipment, please click here to go to B&H Photo, as I get a referral from them if you enter this way. It does not change the cost to you in any way, but it helps me keep this blog up and running.

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And Then There Were Two!

I was looking at the availability for my upcoming photo tours and noticed something kind of funny.

For some strange reason, I have exactly TWO spots left on almost every one of my photo tours over the next two years!

I have two spots left for the following:

* San Francisco - October 2026
* Iceland - December 2026
* Tanzania - January 2027
* Tanzania - February 2027
* Costa Rica - June 2027
* Galapagos - June 2027
* Peru - July 2027
* Morocco - March 2028

I have no idea how that happened, but I figured it was worth sharing. Maybe those two spots are waiting for you and a friend, spouse, significant other…or maybe just two people who have always wanted to travel somewhere incredible with a camera in hand.

As many of you know, I have been leading photo tours around the world for many years, and they have become one of my favorite parts of what I do. I get to take small groups of people to some truly amazing places, help them improve their photography, and most importantly, make sure we have a great time doing it.

These aren't trips where you need to be a professional photographer—or even close to one. I have guests ranging from beginners to very experienced photographers. Some people come with the latest camera gear, while others are still figuring out what all those buttons do. That's part of the fun.

Non-photographer spouses and significant others are absolutely welcome too!

I intentionally keep each photo tour to a small number of guests. That means I can spend time with everyone, whether we're working on camera settings, composition, trying a new technique, or simply figuring out how to get the best shot in front of us.

Because Canon sponsors me, you can borrow cameras and lenses for any of the trips. It's a great opportunity to try a different camera or one of those big lenses you've always wanted to use—without having to buy or rent it.

But these trips aren't just about photography.

They are about experiencing incredible places, seeing wildlife and scenery that you may have dreamed about photographing, meeting new people, laughing a lot, eating some great food, and coming home with photographs and memories that will last forever. 

Check out the photo tour page and let me know if you want to take any of those 2 available spots.

 __________________________________________________________

• Subscribe to the Jeff Cable Photography Blog by clicking HERE!

• Check out my upcoming photo tours to amazing places around the world. I have photo tours to Costa Rica, Peru, Galapagos, Africa, Iceland and more.

• If you are interested in purchasing ANY equipment, please click here to go to B&H Photo, as I get a referral from them if you enter this way. It does not change the cost to you in any way, but it helps me keep this blog up and running.

_________________________________________________________________ 

My favorite and most used lenses - and why they are!

When I was presenting at B&H Photo this week, I did one presentation on "The Best Lenses for Different Subjects". During that presentation and my Olympic presentation, I had numerous people ask me what my favorite lenses were, and that lead me to write this blog post.

You will notice that most of my lenses are zooms and not primes. That is because I have always been partial to zooms, and the quality of zoom lenses has increased dramatically over the years, now being on par with prime lenses. I am partial to zoom lenses because I am constantly zooming in and out and reframing my shots before hitting the shutter button.

I am going to list out the lenses I use almost every time I pick up a camera, with explanations of why I rely on those for either the focal length, aperture or both. I am also going to order them by how much I use that particular lens. 

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8

This has been my go-to lens for more than 20 years. It all started with the EF version and I have upgraded to newer models along the way, but the 70-200mm focal length and the wide aperture of 2.8 has made this my favorite of all time. I use the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 lens for most of my individual and family portraits. It is tack sharp from 70mm all the way to 200mm and provides amazing bokeh (quality of blur) behind my subjects.

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8

When I am photographing receptions and parties, I use three lenses to cover the event. I do use the RF 70-200 lens for all my tight shots, but most of the time I use wider zoom lenses. The Canon RF 15-35mm 2.8 is probably my most used lens at parties, since I am usually walking around the event and close to my subjects. It is wide enough to show them and some of the surrounding scenery, and tack sharp from edge to edge. I find that the wide shots are really popular with my clients, since they show so many of the people who have joined them for their big day. When shooting at 15mm, there is some distortion at the edges of the frame (making those at the edge look wider), but in my opinion, that is acceptable when viewing a very wide shot. Even though I do not photograph a lot of landscapes, this is my favorite lens for landscape photography.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8

The third lens which I rely on for those same events, is the Canon RF 24-70mm 2.8. This lens gives me a fairly wide view around me, but allows me to zoom in a little more and capture portraits of people with little distortion on the edges of the frame. This is also my second most used lens for portraits, in spaces where the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 is too much lens or I want to take a wider shot to show more of the environment.

Canon RF-100-300m f/2.8

I originally got the Canon RF-100-300m f/2.8 lens for my sports photography, primarily for the longer reach and the ability to capture 300mm images at f/2.8. I also love that this lens, which is VERY sharp, is wicked fast in focusing. 

As it turns out, I now rely on this lens for so much more than sports. I use this long, fast zoom lens any time I am shooting a wedding or bar mitzvah from the back of a church or temple. It allows me to zoom in nice and close to my subjects from a distance and, at f/2.8, do so in low light without having to increase my ISO to levels above what I want. 

Even though this lens is big and heavier than the rest of my lenses, I have been taking it on more and more of my photo tours where we are focusing on wildlife. For most of those times, I will bring extenders with me (but more on those in a minute).

Canon RF 7-14mm fisheye

Most people would think of a fisheye lens as a novelty lens and one not used very often, but I find myself reaching for this lens quite often. It is actually my fourth most-used lens at those same parties I described earlier. I really like capturing super wide shots, especially when I am on a stage, just above the dance floor, shooting down over the crowd. It allows me to capture really nice photos, even in tight spaces, and show so much of the environment. Even though I can correct much of the fisheye distortion in Adobe Photoshop, I usually choose not to do that, as I really like the fisheye look.

This same lens was invaluable at the most recent Olympic Games, when I used the Canon RF 7-14mm fisheye for photographing ice hockey and unique views around the city of Milan.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4

Even though the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 lens is not towards the top of this blog post, this particular lens does get a lot of use. I do not use it at events, since I rely on the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 lens for those times, but I LOVE this lens as my "walk around" lens. Whenever I travel (and I do often), I take this lens with me. I find that the focal range from 24mm all the way to 105mm is ideal for most street photography. I know that Canon also makes an RF 24-105mm f/2.8 lens, but I actually prefer the size and weight of the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 lens for when I am walking around.

Canon RF 100-500mm

This is not a lens I use for photographing events, but I use this lens for most of my other photography, including wildlife, sports and even long lens portraiture when I am traveling. There are numerous things that I love about this lens:

1.  The focal range from 100-500mm is perfect for sports and wildlife photography, when you don't know how close you will be to the subjects.

2. It is relatively small and light (compared to my Canon RF-100-300m f/2.8) and easy to handhold. There are times when I use this lens for more than 10 hours at a time, and it is very manageable for me. I also like that I can lift it quickly to catch fast action, which is not the case with my larger zoom lens. This lens goes on almost every photo tour with me, since I need to keep my carry on size and weight to a minimum. 

3. It is a very sharp lens all the way from 100mm to 500mm.

4. This lens lets me focus so close to my subject that, when combining this fact with the 500mm reach, allows me to photograph even the smallest critters and make it look like I used a macro lens.

I don't love the fact that the Canon RF 100-500mm ends at f/7.1, but for the previous reasons I have given, I put that aside and rely on the lens quite often.

Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 

I consider this lens my "specialty lens" and only break it out when I want to shoot images at a really wide aperture, like f1/.2. The final results are really beautiful with incredible bokeh and narrow depth of field, while keeping my subject tack sharp. I use it sporadically, and love the final results. There are many times when 85mm is too much reach and I may switch this out for an RF 50mm f/1.2 lens in the near future. Regardless of the focal length, I do love having an f/1.2 lens in my bag. 

Canon Extender RF 1.4x and Canon Extender RF 2x

 

For most of my photography career I have not been a big proponent of using extenders, but that has changed since getting the Canon RF-100-300m f/2.8 lens. As I mentioned before, I love this big lens, with the ability to shoot at f/2.8 all the way from 100mm to 300mm, but there are many times when I need more than 300mm reach. For those times, I grab either the Canon Extender RF 1.4x or the Canon Extender RF 2x to give me greater focal length. With the 1.4x on the big lens, I am able to shoot from 140mm to 420mm at f/4, and with the 2x I can shoot from 200mm to 600mm at f/5.6. This has yielded some really beautiful photos in Costa Rica and I look forward to using it in the Pantanal of Brazil in 3 weeks and in Tanzania on Safari in Jan / Feb 2027.

Canon RF 100mm macro lens

Last, but not least, is my Canon RF 100mm macro lens. This is the least used lens in my arsenal, but not because of a lack of quality or functionality. This lens is used mainly for weddings, when I am capturing images of the rings and other small details, and also for my trip to Costa Rica when we are photographing the small tree frogs and insects. As I mentioned with the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, I am now using that lens for a majority of my close-up photography in Costa Rica, which lessens the need to bring this macro lens with me. A little less weight in my bag. 

There you go...now you know my most used lenses and how I use them. I hope that this will help you decide what might work best for you in each photo scenario that you might encounter.

I mentioned that many of these lenses are used on my photography tours. Check out the photo tours page on my website to see the exciting locations where I will be teaching in the future. Remember, you can try any of these lenses at no cost (thanks to Canon) when you join me on a trip.

 __________________________________________________________

• Subscribe to the Jeff Cable Photography Blog by clicking HERE!

• Check out my upcoming photo tours to amazing places around the world. I have photo tours to Costa Rica, Peru, Galapagos, Africa, Iceland and more.

• If you are interested in purchasing ANY equipment, please click here to go to B&H Photo, as I get a referral from them if you enter this way. It does not change the cost to you in any way, but it helps me keep this blog up and running.

_________________________________________________________________ 

These are NOT my photos from Costa Rica!

Today's post doesn't feature any of my own photographs. Instead, I'm excited to share images captured by guests on my recent photography tour to Costa Rica.

This isn't the first time I've showcased their work, but I wanted to do it again because their images deserve to be seen. They are a wonderful reminder of what can be accomplished with a little guidance, the right environment, and a willingness to learn.

The photographs below were all taken by non-professional photographers during one of my tours. I hope they inspire you and demonstrate that with the right instruction and encouragement, anyone can capture incredible images.

This awesome photo from Bret show a very large Humpback whale at the beginning of a full breach. (Photo credit: Bret B)

From big creatures to small ones. (Photo credit: Bret B)

It is not easy to photograph the Scarlet Macaw in flight, but this tight shot really shows the beauty of this bird. (Photo credit: Bret B)

Capturing a dolphin fully out of the water is difficult...capturing two is even harder! (Photo credit: Bruce S)

This was not a composite, Bruce actually captured this moment and had the perfect settings to get both subjects in focus. (Photo credit: Bruce S)

I love that Colleen saw this and captured something very different. (Photo credit: Colleen C)

This spotted dolphin was right next to the boat and Colleen managed to get the shot, even that close. It was SO close that she missed the end of the snout, but we managed to fix that using AI. (Photo credit: Colleen C)

Beautiful... (Photo credit: Colleen C)

Another beautiful foliage shot from the rain forest. (Photo credit: Colleen C)

We love finding owls in the rain forest. (Photo credit: Colleen C)

Even the dragonflies are beautiful in Costa Rica. (Photo credit: Don M)

You might think that this is an owl, but it is actually a Stick Bird. (Photo credit: Don M)

Don locked in on this grasshopper, really showing the intricate details of the face of this insect. (Photo credit: Don M)

A great pose from this tree frog. (Photo credit: Don M)

This toucan was captured on the last day of the trip, and is now the watch face on Don's Apple Watch. (Photo credit: Don M)

I love this photo of a Spoonbill in flight. Perfect light under the wings. (Photo credit: Don W)

Look at the height of this dolphin jump! (Photo credit: Don W)

Another great snake and bug shot. (Photo credit: Don W)

A White-faced monkey protecting his territory. (Photo credit: George L)

A Squirrel monkey looking cuter than ever. (Photo credit: George L)

It is tough to capture these VERY small frogs, but George took a great shot. (Photo credit: George L)

This is an awesome shot with so many dolphins in one photo. (Photo credit: George L)

An Iguana emerging from the leaves. (Photo credit: Gina W)

A great frog shot, with the yellow hands in perfect position. (Photo credit: Gina W)

Another great frog shot. (Photo credit: Gina W)

Our crocodile friend made a couple of appearances. (Photo credit: Gina W)

The Red-eyed tree frogs are always a favorite for my guests. (Photo credit: Joe M)

We had numerous sloth sightings, and Joe grabbed this nice shot of a Three-toed sloth. (Photo credit: Joe M)

This is a nice portrait of a Squirrel monkey. (Photo credit: Joe M)

I encouraged everyone to get tight shots of the crocodile's eye. Mark nailed that one. (Photo credit: Mark H)

He also got the snake with it's tongue out. (Photo credit: Mark H)

A Helmet lizard posing for us. (Photo credit: Mark H)

Most vultures are not very photogenic, but the King vulture definitely is. (Photo credit: Mark H)

Mark took this really nice shot of a butterfly in the perfect setting. (Photo credit: Mark H)

Two Red-eyed tree frogs in one shot. Nice! (Photo credit: Mark H)

This is a really great shot with the dolphin jumping out of the water, with the Costa Rican landscape in the background. (Photo credit: Tracy I)

A nice shot of a juvenile iguana. (Photo credit: Tracy I)

We saw many Howler monkeys, like this one in a tree. (Photo credit: Tracy I)

Getting a nice shot of a White-faced monkey is great, but getting the baby is even better! (Photo credit: Tracy I)

These images are proof that you don't have to be a professional photographer to create extraordinary photographs. With personalized instruction, incredible wildlife and landscapes, and plenty of opportunities to learn, my guests consistently return home with images they're proud to display—and memories they'll treasure for a lifetime.

 __________________________________________________________

• Subscribe to the Jeff Cable Photography Blog by clicking HERE!

• Check out my upcoming photo tours to amazing places around the world. I have photo tours to Costa Rica, Peru, Galapagos, Africa, Iceland and more.

• If you are interested in purchasing ANY equipment, please click here to go to B&H Photo, as I get a referral from them if you enter this way. It does not change the cost to you in any way, but it helps me keep this blog up and running.

_________________________________________________________________