A Photographer’s Journey

I always talk to the models during a shoot; giving direction and asking for a look, pose or interaction.

“Give me the come here look.” “Give me the go to hell look.” “No, your other left hand.” “Relax your eyes.” “Calm your face.” “Do the chicken dance.” “Where’s my camera?” Ya’ know that kind of stuff.

It works 99% of the time; but sometimes I cannot fathom how they came up with that look based on my request or instruction.

People are funny.

Response (Kevin J.)

11/15/2008 06:26 PM

Dear Ray,
This does in fact look like a banding issue and unfortunately there is nothing I can do over the phone.
I am sorry to say you will in fact have to send your D700 into our facility for evaluation:
Again, Thank you
The Nikon Team

I FedExed my D700 to California today ($87 overnight); Kevin, the Nikon rep I spoke to, tells me it’ll be 3-4 weeks to get it back. I purchased the camera in Albany, GA on September 26, 2008 while visiting my folks, so the camera is, what, 2 months old.

I first saw some vertical banding a couple of photographs I took at a local airport. The red (pink) vertical lines were in the gray overcast sky of two pictures. The sky was a bit overexposed and I ignored it, thinking it was something I did wrong.

Last Saturday I was asked to take a team photograph of my daughter’s (See “My Daughter the Ax Murder” article) high school girls LaCrosse team for their website. The coach was there with her young daughter and I took the opportunity to grab a couple of pictures of her with her little girl. (See attached photo - full sized). The banding was intense, bright and undeniable.

The banding was intense, bright and undeniable.

I checked the Nikon website, saw the support office was open and called. I spoke to Kevin who actually told me ‘he’ had not seen any red banding from a D700. I pushed and asked was there a known issue with banding; he again said he had not seen any banding or heard of many at all. We discussed the problem, he opened a trouble ticket, I uploaded the Jpeg to him. Well, I wish I had recorded him when he opened my file; “Wow, I’ve never seen red banding before; it’s usually gray.” No, I didn’t go there.

I have got to tell you: my camera bag full of lenses sure looks empty.

Only 3-4 weeks to go.

UPDATE: November 27: After speaking to a Nikon manager on Tuesday about the problem and possible solutions I arrived home yesterday to find a brand new D700. They replaced the camera.

Most every time I work with a new model I get asked the same question: What should I bring to wear?

There is no doubt that clothing, makeup and the ability to ‘strike a pose’ are important to a successful portrait/modeling session. However, the most essential asset a model can bring to the studio or location is the ability to interact with the camera.

My job at a shoot is to make them look as best I am able given my limited skills with lighting and equipment. I cannot, however, do it alone. You have seen that cell phone snapshot that drew you in; you have also seen a professional portrait that, although technically sound, just leaves you feeling that something misfired. A model must have an understanding they are not trying to tease/seduce/influence me as the photographer: They must make the connection with the viewer of the photograph.

They must make the connection with the viewer of the photograph.

My answer to the outfit question: Bring something soft & sexy, something mean and something in-between.

While in VA on business for 2 days I decided to walk over to the metro station one evening. Boring stuff, but I was bored.

I had always hesitated taking photographs of strangers on the street. I’m not sure what I expected by way of reaction from people but the truth is no one really seemed to notice. People would watch me take pictures of others, but when they thought I might take their photograph, they ignored me.

People are funny.

A test of my D700 on the hotel deck: downtown Minneapolis. Camera set to Aperture priority mode, Auto WB, Auto ISO, AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 IF-D at f1.4. The photograph to the right is ISO 11200.

See additional photographs and the “More Properties” information on D700 high ISO Flickr set for additional details.

No post processing in Photoshop CS3 other than to resize for here. All noise reduction software applied at default setting.

See gallery below to see the effect of Noise Ninja, Neat Image and Topaz Denoise.

I did not speak to the result intentionally, each should reach his own conclusion.

larrygerbrandt on Flickr had a good idea on post noise reduction sharpening so I gave it a shot.

Added: Topaz Denoise then Nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 applied to the image.

Noise reduction applied to whole photograph added to the Flickr set here.

I’m in Minneapolis, Minnesota on business for a few days. The fall colors are wonderful. I wanted to get out of my hotel room and try some landscape photography. Not my normal venue.

Where to go? How to get there? I was lucky enough to meet up with a local photographer, David Goldberg, who was not only willing to show me around but get up at 5am to do it!

It was a beautiful morning, crisp, clear and just a bit of fog hanging over the river and the couple of 10,000 Minnesota lakes I saw. We must of walked 3-4 miles through the woods and shorelines. The morning dew was thick and added a sparkling highlight to most everything.

Thanks David.

I got to work with Melissa yesterday. A little 4′11″ bundle of energy. We spent a couple of hours at Rockledge Park dodging rain showers and finding places for her to change her outfits.

I like working with someone who not only knows how to play to the camera but actually knows the look and style she wants to portray. Mellisa came with clothes, props and lots of ideas.

A well spent afternoon.

I finally got some time off to go back to Georgia and visit my family last week. I visited my folks, my daughter, Nicole, (or as I now like to call her - the mother of my grand-daughter(s)), and my son, Jason.

My folks are doing well after a few medical scares earlier this year.

Nicole is due the end of this month with my second grand-daughter. Vanita, Jason’s wife (my favorite daughter-in-law) is due to have their first child in March.

I miss them all.

I have photographed many young females with massive tattoo displays recently. Most all of them were strikingly colorful; both the young lady and her tattoos. They have held all sorts of jobs, been from various backgrounds and nearly all under 21.

Examples: Nathalie and Emily.

The young never see themselves growing old or their bodies wearing out and loosing its youthful firmness. Although I do not have tattoos, almost got inked one night in Army boot camp back in ‘72 though, I can understand one, two or a few tats to mark an occasion, person or event. To have massive, highly visible sleeves at 18 or 19 is not looking beyond the rebellious moment of youthful freedom.

I did encounter a young woman about 2 years ago, she was in her late twenties, who realized life, to include her body, moves on. She asked if I would photograph her tattoos, after a short discussion we agreed on date, time and place. During the session she explained to me her body was ‘failing her’, her words and she wanted to memorialize them as her body is now and not as her children and grandkids would eventually see them.

I am not against tattoos, I enjoy the photographic challenge of lighting them and posing the model to achieve the best effect. I never mention my thoughts about the years to come and how I have learned life and bodies change. I simply take the photographs for their grandkids.

A couple of weeks ago as I was watching television my 14 year old daughter popped in and asked if she could borrow some of my clothes. I actually did ask “Why?” All she said was she wanted to play a trick on her sister so I said sure but don’t get them messed up.

15 minutes later I looked up and saw her walking through the house carrying an ax. Okay, so that got my attention.

Turns out they had watched a move called “The Strangers”. Her 17 year old sister had gone upstairs to take a nap and Alex decided wake her up.

Never a dull moment around here.