So my favorite financial planner was in the studio yesterday for an updated photo for his website and various social media uses. We talked beforehand about the feel and emotional impact he wanted the images to convey.  He said: Accessibility, confidence, warmth. And from that, it was my job to interpret it into a visual representation. At that point, decisions are made; lens selection, background selection, RAW or jpeg? (Of course RAW, just kidding!) lighting set-up, shutter-speed, f/stop, white balance, reflector, grids, gels, etc, the list goes on. And yet, it’s all so cool when it comes together, like building a puzzle on a deadline :)

tnt

(till next time)

Mimi the Clown came to the studio recently for some promo shots and to help me out with a few images for my new book on Canon Speedlites. After she got into costume we did various poses showing a range of her expressions. The original plan was to do some shots outside in the fading light, then move into the studio once night fell. Unfortunately, the light faded quickly to black but we moved outside anyway.

As Mimi danced and mimed in what little ambient light there was, I set up two Speedlites on either side of her, one on the left zoomed all the way to 105mm undiffused, and one on the right in a Westcott softbox. I like this shot because after fiddling with the settings on the Speedlite, I forgot to zip the softbox back up and a tiny sliver of light escaped from the bottom that lined up perfectly with her fooot and the shadows from her legs. A mistake that added to the overall image. Mimi thought it gave the shot a “highwire” look!

Afterwards, we moved back into the studio for the top shot and the rest of the shoot. When Mimi was done, we shot some portraits of the real person and I think she cleaned up nice!

Had a floor covering client in the studio this week that wanted a variation over a standard studio portrait. He wanted something like a trade show/showroom feel that he could use for his marketing and web sites along with some social networking. After discussing a variety of ways to do it, we incorporated a banner he had brought with him and a bright red canvas backdrop.

Since I’m working like crazy on my second book for Wiley, this one on Canon’s Speedlite System, I’m shooting everything now with Speedlites until the book is finished. This shot actually uses four Speedlites, one for the main/key light, shot through a softbox, edge light camera right, background light and one on the banner to kick it up a little.

First, we went over basic digital capture and histograms, then moved on to f/stops, light quality and reflectors. We then broke into smaller groups and shot work they had brought and they thought it was cool to see how much punch you can get out of one light. It is amazing to see how finely detailed and small a lot of the beads are. It was a lot of fun to present to such an enthusiastic audience. I’ll be doing another glass lighting workshop this summer in the Portland area in case you missed this one!

I must admit the Lensbaby look just didn’t fit my style, or so I thought. Until I shot with the new Composer. OMG, have you ever had you head slapped up against a wall, in a good way? Everything they say about these unique marvels is true and the possibilities are really endless. It really is a whole new way of seeing.  My thanks go out to Craig Strong and Keri Friedman of Lensbaby for their unquestioning support, advice and friendship. I’m new to the fold but I’m a quick learner.

This shot required lots of tender, loving Photoshop care to remove the new construction going on next-door, add bushes by the stairs, and then removal of long two telephone wires which connected to the tree in the foreground and then cut across the house diagonally, to a spot just above the panelling on the left entryway. After some perspective control (missed the ‘ole view camera on this one) and a coupla quick experiments, I taught myself a whole new way to do this detailed retouching using only two of Photoshop’s tools. Can you guess which two?

This next one was for a branding firm from Indy that needed site photos of the new ITT Technical Institute, out by the airport in Cascade Station. With so much construction going on, the biggest challenge was getting a clean shot. Still moving into the building, lots of people and equipment were in and out of the building and parking lots all day long. Getting the right time of sun on the building was critical, as well as using a polarizing filter to make the colors pop. Right at the end after making the last images, I popped on my new 15mm Fisheye, just for fun. Like drinking beer with friends, you always get a different perspective.

Recent shoot for AND1 Shoes and Sportswear at the Memorial Coliseum , here in Portland. Andre Poole (aka “Silk”) easily grabs his own rebound while the announcer calls the game from midcourt.

“The Professor” (aka Grayson Boucher) leaves the ground on his way to the basket while the ref sleepruns behind him.

“Baby Shack” (aka Hugh Jones) eyes the basket.