Long time, no blog!
I’ve been slacking on blog updates lately! Between wedding inquiries, bride meetings, email piles and my surprise! abdominal surgery, I am just now catching up from my recovery time. I have also been shooting! I’ve lost all use of my Cactus V4 triggers. They both died within a few months of getting them (the 2nd one died a few WEEKS after I got them) so am just miserable over losing my wireless flash ability.
HOWEVER, I’m going to suck it up and buy a couple Pocket Wizards this month, whether I can afford them or not…because I am just dying with being tethered to a flash.
As for 2010 weddings I’ve got about 15 inquiries pending and a few confirmed dates already. I get inquiries every week so I’m hoping to have lots of work this year! This is my 2nd year and I feel really confident about my ability to improve this year and really push myself. Thanks to all the couples who are trusting me with such an important job!
Now, onto some photos! Here’s a sample of my last few projects.
Last night my friend and photographic muse Hope stopped by with the lovely Adrienne on their way to a club to see their friend spin. We had an awesome hour long session just goofing around. I spent a couple of hours figuring out how to set up high-key (white backdrop, bright) lighting with one slaved flash and one attached to a sync cord. I manged it with the assistance of flags and reflectors and some stretching of muscles I probably shouldn’t have stretch. Anything for the photos, right?
And a few nights ago I did a last-minute session with some friends for their new band, Sauriel. We didn’t have a lot to work with (again, this no wireless flash this is obnoxious) but we got some good shots to start with and will be shooting again after I get my PWs.
I also shot some self portraits just screwing around and finally got some I like so I could update my website photo and whatnot. One light, shoot through umbrella camera right, black side of a zip disc for backdrop.
Alright, I’ve got to get back to editing! Thanks for reading!
Fun with color temperature.
In an effort to keep up with my project 365 this year, I’m leaving my camera and 1 off camera flash on a stand set up at all times. This sparked a random selfie session this afternoon.
I just hung these sheer panel curtains in my room and I just love how soft the light that comes through them is. I wanted to play around with it and started messing around. I decided to throw the white balance to tungsten (the light bulb) to change the neutral daylight to blue. I under exposed the background to enhance the blue, and figured out the right aperture to balance my 1/8 power flash. I put a full cut of CTO (though I wish I’d doubled it now) over my flash and stuck the flash in my shoot through umbrella. I added a reflector just under the camera to fill some shadows and went with it!
Camera:Canon EOS 40D
Exposure:0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture:f/5.6
Focal Length:24 mm
ISO Speed:800
Here’s a lighting diagram of the set up:
If you’ve never played with flash gels, head over to Strobist and meet your next obsession.
A new year, a new chapter and a new project 365.
You may have noticed I’ve been a bit absent lately. My last semester at school pretty much crushed my love of photography for a few months, but I’m happy to report that all it took was one semester-long leave of absence to bring me right back. My break from school was a hard decision, but considering that my marriage have dissolved and I will need to focus fully on supporting myself and kids alone for the first time…I think it was the best decision. Things are changing for me, but I’m not afraid of change.
I’ve found the best way (for me, anyway) to keep moving forward is to start new projects and set new goals. Among these for 2010 is a new Project 365 project. I’ve failed this not once, but twice now! This year I have the added motivation of knowing what a life-changing year this will be for me, so the end product of 365 photos seems so much more important now. If you’ve never heard of Project 365, check out this Photojojo article and see what all the hype is about.
Another cool thing I’ve started is I signed up for Photojojo’s Time Capsule, which is a 2x/month email that shows photos from your flickr from that time last year. I’ve read a lot of articles mentioning reviewing old work from time to time to improve your photography, and this is a nice lazylady way about it!
So to celebrate 2010, I’ve decided to back in time and pull some of my favorite photos from 2009 together and slideshow them here. They’re in order from Jan 09 to Dec 09. Enjoy and I hope you have a wonderful, healthy and fulfilling 2010.
(there is a middle finger in one pic for those watching at home with small children.)
Long time, no post!
Why? School and life are pretty rough right now, I’m pretty down about it all but I’m still shooting! Here is proof! I have TWO shoots with Missi and one with Mara (you may remember her, formally a bride on this little blog). I did some studio time with Missi and she was kind enough to hoop for me while I took her picture. If you don’t know what hooping is, check this video out. It is a new obsession of mine and I wanted to do my final project on unconventional dancers and performers. I’m hoping to get some belly and burlesque dancers soon!
Mara is another one of my kind friends who are helping with the performers project. Mara does aerial silks. If you don’t know what that is, watch this video! I can’t do that stuff but I did manage to get in and out of the trapeze net without injuring myself or anyone else. Not bad.
Here’s a couple peeks, many more coming!
Mara:
Missi:
I am a lucky girl with beautiful friends!
More of baby Max!
Finally finished up Max’s park session. This baby was oodles of cute and seemed happy as a clam to smile wherever we put him!
We had perfect cloudy light, a nice fall day and lots of leaves for him to try and cram into his mouth before his mother stopped him. Doesn’t get much better than that!
Here’s some more faves, flickr set here.
Epic drool
Model Shoot: Hope
My friend Hope is a fun model. We had a great time Saturday night getting inebriated and shooting. I ran into the downside of Cactus Triggers…if the batteries aren’t spanky new, you’re screwed.
So we had no new batteries, it was 10pm and I refused to be defeated (again, we’re not going to talk about the humiliating experience I had on a child shoot last weekend) by these damn triggers.
I ended up attaching my 430EXII flash to my little Canon cord and mounted it to a light stand. This was annoying because I was stuck to a lightstand (which clocked me in the head once during the shoot…) but sacrifices had to be made. I aimed the flashhead into an open reflective umbrella (not the straight up silver kind, so the light wasn’t too harsh) over her head at 45 degrees to camera right. That light then bounced off a silver reflector gaffer-taped to a reflector to camera left, as well as another silver reflector on the floor as a skip.
Somehow, this ridiculous set up worked pretty well! Only downside is I wasn’t able to really light the backdrop and blow it out. Next time.
Here’s some favorites, all black and white because I was shooting for a black and white assignment for class.
I have some color shots coming soon when I get a little more editing time, and you’ll be seeing a lot more collaboration with Hope in the future!
In which I distract you with something shiny…
…so you don’t notice my lack of blogging!
Things have been kinda crazy around here and I do have some kid portraits coming up, but for now here is my favorite from last night’s “Trashion” show at UMASS. I had to shoot it for The Torch, and unfortunately couldn’t stay too long but once again the Nifty Fifty really worked it and I got some good shots.
This is my favorite, I love this girl (how gorgeous is she?) and her outfit and the red and the sharpiness! (It’s a word now!)
Shot @ 2.8 (with my 50mm 1.8) 1/200 at ISO1600
Julie & Alexis
My friend Julie has had an 8×10 frame hanging on her wall featuring a smiling family for some time now. Unfortunately the smiling family was not hers…or anyone she knows. They are the model family that comes in the frame. We took a quick trip down the road to Battleship Cover here is “lovely” Fall River to get her a nice photo of her and her daughter. These are my two favorites:
Few more here, I’m still editing a few others.
Finn: 6 Months Old!
A knitter friend of mine managed to birth the cutest baby boy…next to mine of course…ever. I can safely say that editing photos of such a cute little person make the work fly right by! I cranked these out in one sitting.
We had a nice cloudy morning, so these are all natural light. I had my flash on at 1/32 power and pointed up to (attempt to) grab baby’s attention and put some catch lights in, but the light itself is all natural.
Here’s some favorites, the full flickr set is here. (20 pictures)
I’m always looking to photograph kids…when did you have your kids’ pictures done last? *eyebrow waggle*
Fun with the home studio.
Shut myself up in my home studio today. It’s more like a “crap in a bag I set up in whatever room is the cleanest” studio, but it does the job.
My two missions for the day were to get a black and white for The Hideout’s 20’s, 30’s and 40’s challenge and a nice picture of the kids. I also wanted a new headshot of myself for work purposes but my hair is ick right now. I have my moments of shallowness.
The selfie:
The kids:
Light was one Canon 430EX II shot through a brolly umbrella to camera right.
Salon shoot, part deux!
I went back to Stephen & Co. Salon in Dartmouth Wednesday morning to finish up the shots they needed to launch their new website. I ran into some tough lighting situations, especially with the front desk which is backlit by rows of (very lovely) bright windows and absolutely swallows light from a flash like a black hole. But we managed to get a decent shot…somehow! Thankfully that shot is just for the website and not to be blown up to poster size. o_O Here’s some favorites:
I wasn’t prepared to shoot headshots but after a small moment of panic over not having my umbrella with me, I remembered I do sort of know what I’m doing and banged these out. I’m pretty happy with them both.
The product shots are always fun.
That is a shot of their “continuing education” program for their stylists.
And the make up area. The girl applying the make up is bloody adorable. I’m pretty sure you have to be really good looking to work at Stephen & Co.
Whole set here.
Revisiting older images and LINKS!!
EHere’s a few before/afters of images I revisited last week while I was deleting crappy photos.
Madison, the beautiful daughter of old friends. The first image was all about her eyes and cropped in tight, but I wanted to try something that pulled the whole photo together…
BEFORE
AFTER
This is an image of my friend Erin. I love the photo but I realize not everyone goes for the “ghostly pale” look. That and I’ve learned to sharpen properly since the first process.
BEFORE
AFTER
I like both of those for different reasons.
I also had fun trying my hand at “saving” a junk shot. I saw a few articles online this week (which naturally I forgot to bookmark for my links post) on salvaging crap exposures with over-the-top processing and fun with drastic edits. I put this one together going for “silly photoshopping”.
I quite like it.
And here’s one last one, a re-edit of the photo of my son I processed after learning what the history brush did. It doesn’t take long to “get over” selective coloring so I re-processed this one with a more chocolaty tone.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
And now…THE LINKS!!
- Digital Photography School has a great tute on making a DIY ring flash. Not pretty enough for you? Craig White has a sleeker version.
- And 50 “Must Have” Wedding Shots.
- DIY Photography has compiled a list of 43 Photography hacks, mods and DIY projects.
- Here’s a sweet article on using v-cards (which is a term I attributed to something entirely different before I took up photography.)
- Miss the film darkroom? Me too. Here’s how to develop that film at home on the cheap. Now to find an enlarger…
- Want to try developing with coffee and vitamin C? I shit you not.
- Quite possibly my favorite Strobist post ever. Included: cute mouse.
- Ever have anyone ask you why professional photography is so expensive? Point them here.
- Has anyone ever demanded you remove a photo of them taken in a public place? Check this out.
- Picking up where Adobe dropped the ball, here’s a great tute on advanced watermarking in Lightroom 2.0.
- Want to try macro photography but don’t know how? Me either. DPS to the rescue, here’s macro photography for beginners part one and two.
- Fun? No. Necessary? Yes. Here’s an article on licensing your photography.
- Miss the Photoshop World Convention in Boston last weekend? Yep. So did I. Scott Kelby has some recaps up on his blog. Go there and pout with me, I had no babysitter.
ETA! I forgot to add this! Michelle Black and Jessica Price (two of my favorite photog e-buddies who also happen to be amazingly talented.) are hosting FLARE: A National Photography Contest. All entrants get some freebies so go check it out!
New Camera & Links!
Ladies and Dudes, I’ve gotten my hot little hands on a Canon 40D thanks to the amazing Chris Haskell (go check out his flickr, he’s one of those annoyingly talented people that does everything well. Plays guitar, sings, technologically skilled, amazing photog, etc.)
Anyway, I love this camera. I’ve packed up my Xti for it’s next owner, it was a GREAT learning camera! I really recommend it as a first DSLR, I think if I had got this one first my brains would have exploded out the back of head. Custom function what?
I took some selfies today with it…this was tricky since my remotes don’t work and I don’t have a sturdy enough tripod to hold this beast straight. I had to hand hold and I think if I did this often enough I’d have some Linda Hamilton/Sarah Conner guns going for me.
And since it’s been a long time, let’s hit the links!
- Got an extra $5.00 a month? Back up your photos online with unlimited storage!
- Feeling uninspired? Here’s 10 Ways to Break Photographer’s Block.
- Need to design a business card? I sure as hell do. Here’s some free Photoshop templates.
- Photojojo shows you five things you can make with an empty film can.
- If you’ve never browsed Steve Poff’s (guy behind 365 Days) project, now is the time.
- Presetheaven has posted 10 great Lightroom tutorials.
- You know you were curious. Click here for President Barack Obama’s official portrait, the EXIF data! (Sidenote: this is the first DIGITAL presidential portrait AND it was shot by a photog from New Bedford, MA…my husband’s hometown, about 20 minutes from here!)
- Cool one minute video of Annie Leibovitz shooting Sean Connery for Louis Vuitton.
- 22 Photo Resolutions for 2009, will you finally organize your photos???
- Strobist shows a video on lighting people with eyeglasses without the glare and reflections.
- Photojojo gets creative with a cool photo calendar that lasts forever!
- Smashing Magazine has the ultimate collection of useful (and free) Photoshop actions.
- Lusting after an old style Holga? A Leica? A Blackbird? This place has you covered.
- Camera Dojo gives us a great tute on advanced watermarking in Lightroom.
- This guy makes me want to quit photography. Also Photoshop. Thatsthespot.com
- I am so getting a leopard print camera strap from My Funky Camera.
That’s all for now! I’ll leave you with my Valentine’s Day flowers. 
Mother & Son
Had a shoot on Monday for mother & son photos for Valentine’s gifts for Dad. Here’s a few from the first round of processing:
An update for Aunt Nancy
Just when I thought no one would notice me neglecting my photo blog!
Moving pretty much zapped most of my time but here’s a few photos from the last month. I’ll be updating later with last night’s Withered Sun promo pictures.
365.74 – Random Selfie II
365.69 – Me, at home. (For The Hideout’s “You at home” self portrait challenge.)
365.70 – Baby Mackin’
Last Minute Family Photo for Xmas Presents. Which reminds me I need to get some printed…
(Taken sitting against my son’s white wall, strobe behind a shoot-through umbrella to camera right. Reflector disk to our left to fill in some light)
365.47 – Well, shit. (Only snow could make Fall River look that pretty.)
Maternity Shoot: The Burke Family
Had a great shoot today with the Burke family! Thanks to Kate, Tom and the adorable Nora for letting me invade their home with all my crap.
Zoe at sunset!
Took my daughter out today to take a stab at sunset/flash fill photography. I came to the conclusion that I really need a stand for my speedlight. Holding it at arms length and trying to blind aim? Lame.
365.2 “Yes, We Did.”
AN historic day, indeed. Whether you’re blue, red or in between try to really take in the huge step this country took last night toward becoming one, unified race: human.
Project 365…v.2
I’ve already failed Project 365 once. I started it a couple weeks before my son was born and life proved a little too chaotic and I flunked out somewhere in the 50’s. Well, with today marking a major change in my country regardless of who wins today’s presidential election, I thought it was a great day for a do-over.
Project 365.1 – New Beginnings
Maternity Session: Katie
Upon begging my friends via MySpace to model for me, I received an email from my knocked up buddy Katie. She and her “Green Bean” came down to the ‘Riv today for a quick shoot before she heads back home to the boonies.
It was high, harsh sun and naturally not a cloud in the sky. I did the best I could and rode my light meter through the whole shoot. I swindled Jacky (another friend who’s modeled after my myspace begging) into working my reflector disk to fill in the shadows. She did a great job.
Here are my favorites.
One studio: Unpacked.
My “studio” arrived last week via a mangled UPS box (thanks for abiding by the “fragile” note on the box, guys) and I tore right into it…just in time to go class. So days later I had my “craft room” deconstructed and by way of my excellent Tetris skills I managed to make just enough room for my backdrop support, my tripod and myself.
To my dismay on of my lightbulbs did not illuminate when I asked it to so I was stuck with one light for now. I called the darling daughter in an attempted to take a few quick shots of her before the ants in her pants went to town. That took about 4 and a half seconds. I managed to get one decent, semi-craptastic shot before it was time for dinner and all hope of a calm 8 year old was abandoned.
Crappy attempt #1
Ignore the wrinkles in the backdrop, my sister in law was holding my iron hostage.
Dinner was ready so I couldn’t fiddle anymore. Later I got some more time with a very happy baby of mine and got MUCH better results:
Much better attempt #2
Ex: 1/200 – f3.2 – ISO800 – 60mm – No flash, one umbrella light to camera left.
I’m pretty excited to mess around in there some more asap. Unfortunately the above happy baby is currently a stuffy cranky mess (as is his mother) so it might have to wait a few days.
~P
