For those who have been following my “Techie Talk” posts, I’ve been playing a lot with Nikon’s CLS (Creative Lighting System), i.e. using my D200 built-in flash in “commander mode” to talk wirelessly to SB-800 off camera flashes.
Over the holidays while searching for a good photography book for a friend, I stumbled upon “The Hot Shoe Diaries” by Joe McNally. It is a compilation of the author’s images using flash units in place of big studio lighting for the very reason that I’ve been researching this concept – the ability to travel light and provide more options for creativity.
Pro Photo Supply, located in NW Portland, had some “toys” I’d been researching in their rental department. I rented a 15″x15″ Lastolite’s Ezybox Hotshoe (image of product to the left below). There is a 24″x24″ version but Pro Photo only has the smaller version.
I experimented with photographing a “reluctant” Derek to see the difference between using this softbox vs. umbrella.
Making these images black and white will emphasize the transition and the contrast between the light and the shadows.
With this experiment, I noticed that the transition and contrast weren’t that different between the softbox and the umbrella. However there is a significant difference between these two and the diffuser.
I’ll need to play a bit more but this gives you an idea of how you can manipulate light to give you different looks. Its all a matter of taste and a matter of what you are trying to “evoke” with your image.
Stay tuned…
I recall hearing a clinical research study which found health benefits when women get together for “girl talk”. Seriously!
“The 2000 study found that when women are stressed, they feel an urge to “tend-and-befriend,” which means that women want to talk with, or take care of, someone. When they do so, a hormone called oxytocin is released that has a strong de-stressing effect, and, when combined with estrogen naturally found in women’s bodies, is ‘potent.’”
A week ago, we had a GNO (Girl’s Night Out) (actually a weekend at that beach) for lots of catching up, eating, drinking wine, laughing and shopping! As life gets more busy, we’ve found its much more difficult to coordinate our schedules for this outing. This was the first time since May 2003 where all the core group could make it, which called for updating our group photo. With us all loaded up with oxytocin (and I think mingling it with a little vino will have an exponential effect), we are ready to face all the challenges of 2010!
I saw a piece on the National news about an ice festival in China and it inspired me to try to set up something different to showcase Françoise Weeks latest sculptures for bridal bouquets. Françoise’s vision requires a lot of technical “behind the scenes” research in terms of structure, architecture and materials to create such a one of kind design.
To create my vision of an “ice cave”, I found some plastic bags and glittering threads lying around. SB-800 speedlights were placed to reflect off the plastic bags and off to the side to light the floral design. Keeping the ISO low at 100 allowed me to achieve a dramatic look by keeping the background dark and only pick up the light from the speedlights and the lighted subject.
To keep stretching our creativity, seek inspiration and try to apply it to your photography!
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My new year/decade began with a “bang” by cleaning out my desk drawers where I shoved things collected over the past 2 years “meant to be filed or reviewed” – most of these went into the recycling bin. A pile was formed for “idea” clippings and another pile for “business planning/strategy, etc.” stuff. Those piles are currently on the floor. A smaller pile lives on my desk, which consists of correspondences from people whom I would like to formally return a personal note. This was accomplished during week one of the new year/decade.
My plan for week 2 was to create a blog post and start tackling my pile of personal notes. This blog post was to declare my resolution – try to be tolerant and respectful of those with different points of views than mine, which will be difficult for me, and to show kindness as much as possible.
However, this week was shockingly disrupted by the devastation of Haiti by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. We all have differing opinions on taxes, the economy, healthcare, the war, our national security but it gives me hope in seeing the overwhelming generosity and compassionate response to this crisis.
So with this added perspective, I wish to add to my resolution:
- Be grateful for all that I have
- Try to stay optimistic and hopeful
- Have faith, do what you can and try not to get overwhelmed.
I hope all of you will keep me accountable to my resolutions. Happy 2010!
I love this image for so many reasons.
From the technical aspect, the “halo” effect comes from the subject being “back lit.” This means the strongest source of light (in this case the sun) is behind the subject.
In this “back lit” situation if you let your programmable camera select the settings for your exposure, most likely your subject’s face would be too dark. This is a good time to use a handheld light meter to read the light exposure coming from the brightest side of the child’s face. Setting your camera to the ”manual” mode, you set your aperture and shutter speed settings according to your readings off your light meter.
Here’s a little trick to measure exposure readings for photographing moving objects like little tikes on the run like this guy when in outdoor settings. Place your hand in the same orientation as your subject and take the exposure reading off your hand using the handheld light meter. You don’t have to be in the exact same spot as your subject.
Another reason why I love this image is the curls of Luke’s hair! This is my third portrait session with him and he has had these lovely locks since he was a little baby. Its hard to resist messy up his hair with your hands when you see him. I’m also in love with his expression, no cheesy smile just soft and sweet.
This little Pomeranian puppy altered my view of the “little yappy dog.” He never barked while I photographed his human owner. He is pretty stinking cute and such a natural in front of the camera. These images were taken within a short span of minutes while we were waiting for his human to grab a Christmas ornament. I learned from “Mom” that Pomeranians originated from Germany and worked as sheep herders. Originally Mom thought to give the new puppy a German name but the little girl, who is this adorable puppy’s new owner, dubbed him “Arthur.”
For those of you needing a break from all the online shopping you are doing…what can be cuter than a baby’s bottom, toes and itty bitty fingers! Enjoy…now get back to stimulating the economy!
Seeing the towers of the Hawthorne Bridge peeking through fog that floats over the Willamette River this morning brings fond memories of when I lived in San Francisco.
Paul Blanding, the Traffic Manager for KKAD-AM/KPAM-AM helped to make my spot for their Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign “stream” from their website this morning. If you listened to the stream on Monday, it did not play. Paul explained that due to legalities not all commercials play when listening to their stream online. He told me last night that he would see what he could do.
The last time to hear this spot, both on AM radio and streaming (for you out of town or work from home on computer friends) will be
- tomorrow, Wednesday, 11/25 @ 8:20 am PT
So when you are sitting at the family table Thursday evening and sharing what you are thankful for, be optimistic and hopeful about human kind – that NICE people do exist! Thank you Paul!
I asked Sam if he would step into the “camera zone” so I could test my lighting set up before the other family members were ready for this portrait session. Though this was just a “test”, it is one of my personal favorites from the session but I couldn’t pinpoint the reason for liking this.
I sought help and shared this image with fellow photographer and my mentor, Jamie Bosworth. [Check out her work and you will see why I'm always inspired by this pint sized powerhouse photographer!] Her feedback was ”intriguing shot… a little dreamlike” and noted that the scale is “little odd… like many things are on the small side… a little Alice in Wonderland. Drink me.” Cool insight. Thank you Jamie!
“what is the use of a book,’ thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversations?” - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland, Ch. 1
by Joni
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