@Techlicious @CTATech #CTAPhotoNYC Lunch and Learn @QualityMeatsNYC #Photography Gear and Pro Tips!

NOT a compensated post, however it does earn me an entry into a special competition!

This Butterfly about town is currently attending the Photo Plus Expo (which you can best believe I have already been tweeting about and will bring you highlights from the show as soon as possible) in New York City, so since this is going to keep me wrapped up for a few days I thought I would warm you all up on the idea of me talking some heavy tech and photography by sharing about a great "Lunch and Learn" event I attended recently hosted by Techlicious, The Consumer Technology Association, CES and Lifestyle Blogger Danielle Wilson

The Venue: Quality Meats in New York City

Above: You know I am all in when it comes to a nicely set table that is welcoming, inviting and filled with ambience and warm glow!

The Menu:

Above: Appetizers included: Green Goddess Chopped Salad, The QM Crabcake, Hamachi Sashimi; Entrees Included: Filet Mignon, Tuna Au Poivre and East Coast Halibut; Desserts Included: Chocolate Cream Pie, Passion Fruit Tart and Bellini Sorbet

Above: They brought out all three apps to the table and we were able to try a bit of each one!

Above: All about that Halibut!

Above: YES to that Chocolate Cream Pie which I wish I had right now!

The Speakers:

Above: Suzanne Kantra of Techlicious

Above: Tyler Suiters, Consumer Technology Association

Above: Alex Podstawski, Nikon USA

This was one of my favorite tips: VR is useful, but a tripod is better for very long exposures (I totally agree!). Use low ISOs for best quality and use high ISOs to stop movement at night. (Don't you love that effect?)

The Products Featured (and showcase sponsors):

Above: Shutterfly Framed Shadow Box

Above: Shutterfly Ribbon Candle

Above: Shutterfly Watercolor Patterned Frames Coaster

Above: Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II Silver

Above: Nikon D3400

Above: Panasonic Lumix ZS70

Above: Epson Expression ET-2750 EcoTank Printer

Above: Tiffen Steadicam Volt

Tips For Taking Better Photos:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Use Burst Mode to ensure you get the shot - In Burst Mode you are able to take multiple shots with one press of the shutter button.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Use Sports Mode To Stop Action - While this mode is not always as good at capturing true-to-life skin tones, it helps you capture a moving object with more vibrant color.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Use HDR Mode- In this mode your camera takes two or more shots at different exposures and then combines them so both the light and dark areas of your photos are shot properly yielding in a much better end result than if you didn't use High Dynamic Range Mode.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tripod - Holding a camera or phone still long enough to get a clear, crisp shot is difficult no matter how steady of hand you may think you are, start using a tripod and you will notice a difference in your images. I do have one, I need to find the right carrier, and I saw one at Photo Plus Expo that I really like!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - "Fast Lens"- A fast lens will let more light through, enabling you to take pictures faster, and reducing the potential for blur. How can you tell how 'fast' a lens is? Look at the maximum aperture (the shutter behind the lens) called the "f-stop". The lower the number, the wider the aperture and the more light the lens will let in. A good camera choice will come in at f/2.8 or lower.

Cool Halloween Trick Shots:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Create Ghosts in your photos with multiple exposure mode- Take a shot of a scene, and then another shot with a person in it - the multiple exposure setting will combine the two shots, making the shot with the person somewhat transparent - Ghostly! The key here is to use a tripod so the background remains EXACTLY the same in each of the two shots.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Add Ghostly Writing to a Scene - You can add Ghost Writing by using a Long Exposure, ideally 30 seconds, again you want to use a tripod here to keep your camera steady, a light source (flashlight or glow stick) and black gloves to hold the light source. Once you've started the exposure, draw shapes or words with the light source. With your hands in the black gloves they won't be visible in the final shot. If you're writing words, they'll show up backwards in the image, but that's easy to fix by flipping the image afterwards!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Create Spooky Silhouettes - Find a spot with a clear line of sight to the western sky and have your subject stand in front of you with the bright sky behind them, turn off your camera's flash about 20 minutes before sunset for a perfect Halloween Backdrop.

 My Take:

I consider this more of a 'who I met' and 'what I got to see', these are NOT product reviews! You all know my motto on events is this: SEEING product is NOT the same as me putting it through its paces. And I have gone back and amended reviews if a product failed me while still in warranty. This butterfly is always going to be transparent, honest and just plain 100%.

I have followed up with everyone and offered them a shot at an actual product review and also the offer of doing something neat for my butterflies too!

We were provided with the Tiffen Steadicam Volt, which I have not yet had the opportunity to test as I tend to carry my DSLR to document most events. I will try to test it as soon as possible and come back to you guys with a full review.

Lunch at Quality Meats was fantastic, and I enjoyed getting the tips as well as I am constantly striving to improve my photography skills as a Lifestyle Blogger and Social Media Influencer it is a critical skill set. So while I am at the Photo Plus Tradeshow, I leave you with some homework of your own:

Visit the websites and read the product specs, then come back here and let me know which of the products featured above would you most want Santa to slip into YOUR stocking this year and why?

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored or compensated post, this was a press event one not open to the public, this is an event recap. All opinions are 100% my own! I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.