I had a session in my “home studio” (living room) with Boston hip-hop artist Greg Dor, here’s the first edit from that:

He’ll be using these for his next CD, which means I’ll be getting published soon!

And of course, there was the model party myself and the amazingly talented Adam Wills threw here last weekend. If you’re a hideout member, I’ve done a 2-part article on throwing a model party (an idea I probably didn’t invent, but will take the credit for anyway, hahaa) but basically, it’s like a group-shoot where photographers pool their talent, gear and ideas and switch off shooting different models…all with music, booze and good times! All the fun of an evening party with all the awesome of a group shoot! We had an absolute blast, and these will be happening again!

Our photographers were supposed to number 4, but ended up being 3 when James (of UndyingPhoto) couldn’t make it. So it was myself, Adam Wills and Kelly Ellingsen (who 2nd shot wedding with me last summer).

I gathered five of my beautiful lady friends to be models for the evening and one of those ladies happens to be a very talented hair and makeup artist (the lovely Miss Ashley MacLean) who literally transformed these women into glamourous models in no time!

Here’s the first round of edits from me:

The lovely Dina:

Julie, ever beautiful…REALLY played her part and got the best pics for me!

Jacky (who was one of my very first models!) played soft and elegant like a pro:

And Ashley, our makeup artist (here she is on Model Mayhem- hire her!) is also an incredible model (and person, I love her)!

Our other model, Erin, had to leave before I could photograph her but Adam got AMAZING shots of her, like this one. Erin was also, along with Jacky, one of my first models!

Stay tuned for more from all of these shoots, plus more! I’m feeling absolutely caffeinated lately and broke my camera down to it’s smallest bulk (removed the battery grip and have re-acquainted myself with my nifty fifty) so I would use it and carry it more.

On Monday I’m taking it to IKEA for a field trip with James Barron of Undying Photo! Hilarity should ensue!

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!

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!

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!

A night on ebay searching out a working film camera since my 2006 Canon decided to stop working just in time for my Photo III class! I ended up scoring a beautiful Canon TX in great condition with 3 Canon lenses (a 50mm 1:1.8 S.C., a 35 mm 1:3.5 S.C., and a 135mm 1:2.5), a flash, 3 filters, shutter cable release and lens cases…

aaaaand an “as is” vintage Kodak.

The vintage Kodak is what pushed me to finally make the lightbox. This thing is beautiful.

I haven’t stopped looking at it since it came Saturday morning. It appears to be fully functional. It’s medium-format, takes 120 film and has four apertures, which from what I’ve read is rare for affordable cameras in the 20s like this one. I read somewhere (and apparently forgot to bookmark the link?) that the Hawk-Eye cameras were originally made by Boston Camera Company, who was bought out, and then bought out again by Eastman Kodak.

I believe the bellows were replaced because they shouldn’t be in such good condition.

ANYWAY! The light box!

You’ll need:
A 12x12x12 box
Tracing or gift tissue paper (white). You could chop up a shower curtain, too.
Masking or gaffer’s tape
Box cutter
First Aid (just in case)

These photos should make the process pretty easy on you. You’re basically tipping the box (with the bottom tapes and the top flaps open) on it’s side, open end facing you. Cut off the top and bottom flap so only the left and right remain. These will be used to keep the light from spilling into your lens.

Now cut a large window into the top and left and right side of the box. Tape the diffuser material you chose (tracing paper, etc) over the windows. Finally, hang a piece of cut posterboard (cut it to fit your box) from the top to make a seamless background.

Now you can use daylight, flash (off camera), or simple lamps (but be sure to set your white balance to the bulb temperature, or shoot RAW) to play with the direction of light. Experiment with different colored backdrops and sliding black posterboard window-blockers on one side to get a dramatic side light with no reflection.

If you look at these two photos, you can see the difference moving the light makes:

Side lit:

Top lit:

For my knitting readers (waves), your stash and projects look great in these, and it can be done outside in the sun with a point and shoot camera (turn the flash off, set to sun/daylight).

Etsy sellers, collectors, ebayers…all have a great excuse to use one of these so give it a shot! And if you do, leave me a comment so I can see how you made out!

My Photo III class assigned color film work for the first project. I had to dig out my Canon Rebel K2 and blow the dust off of it, only to find out something’s wrong with it. It keeps powering off and blaming the brand new batteries…very irritating. Now I own 5 non-working film SLRs.

Anyway, our first assignment is playing with complimentary, analogous and tertiary color combinations. We looked at some examples in class and talked about what the colors conveyed in each image. I was thinking about the nudes that Annie Leibovitz did under those video lights. They made the skin look somewhat grotesque. I thought I’d play with the idea of unattractive skin lighting and think I got some OK stuff. I will post when I get my negatives scanned (assuming my camera malfunctions don’t earn me back some blank rolls.) I did some shots of my limbs under a gross green gelled flash against a deep red backdrop.

For my 2nd roll of film I wanted to do soothing colors and again broke out the flash gels and whipped together a tabletop studio. Here’s a couple test digital shots with lighting diagrams. I snooted my flash with my DIY snoot (made of cardboard and duct tape…FANCY) and put on a light green gel from my Rosco sample pack, I also took a custom white balance reading so the camera wouldn’t warm up the cool light.

Today we had to do a group assignment, each group taking a color and shooting it with it’s complimentary color and analagous color and then an example of it in a monochromatic shot. My group shot for a while on campus and then went home with one third of the assignment a piece to make a few extra images. This was my favorite for mine (I had complimentary).

And two others:

(Another complementary)

(monochromatic)

Now that the fun homework is done, I’m off to read text books. Blerg.

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.

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