Tag Archives: camera

Shooting tethered in the studio

Although I have had the equipment to do it I have only recently started to shoot tethered while working the the studio, I like it.

My equipment/software list:

  • Nikon D700
  • Lens as needed
  • Dell 13″ StudioXPS
  • 500 gb external HD
  • 15′ USB cable
  • Gitzo 1258 Tripod
  • ProLine GMS80A Conductor Sheet Music Stand
  • Nikon Camera Control Pro 2
    • * Just bought TetherPro
  • And of course the studio light gear

So here is the basic setup: Simple and useful.

 

IMG 3079EDITweb 300x200 Shooting tethered in the studio

Tethered setup overview

The above image is from a catalog shoot I did for Jane Burch, see “The Transformation” article.

 

Tethered shooting allows me to view the images in real time on a 13 inch calibrated monitor, allows me to zoom into the images to check focus and detail.

 

RKD 0750 300x194 Shooting tethered in the studio
13 inch image view

I rarely show the monitor to the model, unless I need to show them something specific – good or bad. I do, however, encourage the client, in this case the MUA, to review and comment as the photographs are taken to ensure they are getting what they want and need.

 

IMG 3101EDITwebcropped 300x252 Shooting tethered in the studio

Client reviewing images as shot

I don’t know if it’s the same with Canon equipment but Nikon software places the images onto the computer’s hard-drive not the CF card. I do not edit, much, on the laptop so I have the download directory on an external hard-drive for easy transfer to my desktop editing machine.

 

RKD 0647 pp 1024x662 Shooting tethered in the studio

A final image

While this setup isn’t exactly ‘high end’ it works well for my needs.

 

A specials thanks to Tom Thompson for the behind the scenes shots.

-- Weather When Posted --

  • Temperature: 71°F;
  • Humidity: 81%;
  • Heat Index: 71°F;
  • Wind Chill: 71°F;
  • Pressure: 29.8 in.;

Posted in Lighting tests, My Photo; My Comment., Places, Things | Also tagged Camera Control, Canon Equipment, Cf Card, computer, concept, Conductor, connectivity, D700, Dell, Equipment Software, External Hard Drive, External Hd, film, format, Gb, Image Caption, Image View, Inch Image, laptop, Mua, Music Stand, Nbsp, Nikon Camera, Nikon Software, Photographs, Photography, picture, Real Time, Setup Overview, Sheet Music, Software List, tether, tethered, Tom Thompson, Transformation, Tripod, Zoom Leave a comment

Articles

Click to continue reading “Articles”

Posted in | Also tagged apple, Boudoir - Headshots - Couples - Life Partners - Couples Nude - Fine Art Nude -Intimate - Glamour Nudes - Glamour - Sensual - Erotic - Maternity - Model Portfolios - Lingerie - Fashion - Commercial - R, Boy, Capture, Child, Children, computer, Couple, Engagement, family, Flashes, Flickr, girl, Glamour, Graduation. Head Shot, Group, Headshot, Husband, Image, Ipad, iPhone, iPod, lens, Lenses, Mac, man, Moment, office, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photography, picture, Portfolio, portrait, Real Estate, Senior, Session, shoot, shot, TV, Website, Wife, woman Leave a comment

My take on the $35 iPhone 4 Telephoto Lens

I honestly do not remember where I read about the Photojojo iPhone Telephoto Lens but remember thinking it must be a joke.

iphone telephoto lens c5d4 600.0000001297642718 My take on the $35 iPhone 4 Telephoto Lens

Photojojo iPhone Telephoto Lens

Chuckled and went to read about it anyway. After reading their humorous write-up and looking closely at the images provided. I realized I had no use for it at all. But of course I bought one anyway.

“But of course I bought one anyway.”

The iPhone 4 kit was on back order and took nearly three weeks to arrive. If you order the iPhone 4 kit today (March 6, 2011) it won’t ship until March 21st.

Mine arrived last night. First thoughts:

  • Well packaged.
  • Comes complete with;
    • lens (front and rear caps)
    • stand
    • cleaning cloth
    • back case
    • small black cloth carrying bag
    • instruction manual
  • Surprisingly well build components. Not Nikon level craftsmanship but pretty well done.

My only real complaint is the back only case – I prefer a case with front and back coverage for my phone. A smaller disappointment is the minimum focus distance of  3 meters.

Today I took it out to play a bit. I mounted the iPhone onto the  supplied stand and braced it upon a garden fence in my front yard. (yeah – I know.)

Click on the following images to enlarge:

photo 1 300x224 My take on the $35 iPhone 4 Telephoto Lens

iPhone 4 only lens at widest setting

photo 2 300x224 My take on the $35 iPhone 4 Telephoto Lens

iPhone 4 only lens maximum zoom

photo 3 300x224 My take on the $35 iPhone 4 Telephoto Lens

iPhone 4 with Photojojo 8x telephoto lens installed

photo 41 300x224 My take on the $35 iPhone 4 Telephoto Lens

iPhone 4 with Photojojo 8x telephoto lens installed AND maximum digital zoom

Pro D/SLR quality it ain’t: but it is functional.  And would be very handy if you were a spy. Well, except for the 3 meter focal distance thing.

I will carry it and look for opportunities to use it.

.

-- Weather When Posted --

  • Temperature: 50°F;
  • Humidity: 37%;
  • Heat Index: 50°F;
  • Wind Chill: 47°F;
  • Pressure: 29.98 in.;

Posted in Things | Also tagged action, angle, Aperture, auto, background, black, broadcast, circle, close, Closeup, Craftsmanship, digital, Disappointment, electrical, electronic, entertainment, equipment, eyesight, film, First Thoughts, focal, focus, Front Yard, Garden Fence, glass, Images, industry, insight, iPhone, iPhone 4, Iso, isolated, Joke, lens, Lens Front, Light, look, Maximum, media, Minimum Focus, movie, nikon, objective, optic, optical, Photo, Photograph, photographic, Photography, Photojojo, picture, professional, quality, Rear Caps, Reflection, shot, shutter, Spy, studio, technology, telephoto, Telephoto Lens, television, video, white, Zoom 1 Comment

The iPad and photography: Tool, toy or prop?

iPad and David test 2 300x223 The iPad and photography: Tool, toy or prop?I had offered to loan/help another photographer with a project involving the iPad. Of course in order to help him incorporate the iPad into his assignment I had to figure out how to make it work – so off to the studio to do some testing.

I have found the iPad to be much more useful than I had expected in my photography work. I use several Photo apps now at most every session.

So, for you is the iPad use in your photography a tool, toy or prop?

Come join the Flickr group and show your stuff: Flicker iPad and Photography Group

-- Weather When Posted --

  • Temperature: 71°F;
  • Humidity: 86%;
  • Heat Index: 71°F;
  • Wind Chill: 71°F;
  • Pressure: 29.87 in.;

Posted in Lighting tests, My Photo; My Comment., Things | Also tagged aiming, america, american, apple, caucasian, computer, D700, digital, dslr, electronics, equipment, Flicker, focus, Groups, Incorporate, Ipad, laptop, lens, nikon, notebook, Photo, Photographer, photographic, photographing, Photography, Photography Group, Photography Work, picture, portrait, studio, Stuff, technology, Tool 1 Comment

Flash Above The Rest – Canon Speedlite 430EX

Canon has been at this for a long, long time and they realize what it is their customers want, need and expect from them as one of the most well known camera purveyors in existence today.

Click to continue reading “Flash Above The Rest – Canon Speedlite 430EX”

-- Weather When Posted --

  • Temperature: 42°F;
  • Humidity: 88%;
  • Heat Index: 42°F;
  • Wind Chill: 37°F;
  • Pressure: 29.97 in.;

Posted in Guest Article | Also tagged art, Aster, Axis, Butt, Canon, Canon Speedlite 430ex Flash, Cat, color, Curtain Sync, Custom Functions, digital, Digital Camera, Digital Slr, Eos 1ds Mark Ii, Eos Rebel, Eos Rebel T2, Eos System, Exposure Technology, face, Feet, film, flash, Flash Exposure, Flash Model, Flash Unit, Focal Length, frame, Fun, Head, Heir, Image, Ink, Iso, Lc, lens, Light, Long Long Time, Long Time, Love, man, Manual Flash, Maximum Guide Number, model, Models, Modes, Nap, Nef, new, one, Ounce, person, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photos, Places, pro, Rebel T2, Rechargeable Aa Batteries, Rig, Rotary Dial, Sb, Second Curtain, shot, Stan, stand, standing, Sync Function, technology, ttl, White Balance Leave a comment

Copyright Notice

© 2008-2011 RKD Photography/A Photographer’s Journey/Ray Dauphinais All Rights Reserved

All photographs and written content contained within these web pages are the sole and exclusive property of RKD Photography/Ray Dauphinais. None of the photographs  contained within this web page are within public domain nor are they royalty free photographs. None of the photographs contained within this web page may be reproduced, use for stock, reference, website wallpapers, photo manipulations, copied, transmitted, altered put in your book as reference or projected in any way alone, or with other images, by use of computer or other electronic means, without a prior written and signed licensing contract between you and RKD Photography/Ray Dauphinais.

Trademark owners: If you think any of the files on A Photographer’s Journey is infringing your copyright please write a note to this email address: ray@rkd-photo.com and the file in question will be removed.

Posted in | Also tagged Actors, apple, Boy, Capture, Child, Children, Commercial Purposes, computer, Copyright Notice, Email Address, Email Photo, Engagement, family, Flashes, Flickr, girl, Graduation. Head Shot, Group, Headshot, Husband, Image, Images, Ink, Ipad, iPhone, iPod, Journey, lens, Lenses, Mac, man, Moment, office, paper, Photo, Photo Manipulations, Photo Reproduction, Photograph, Photographer, Photography, picture, Pose, pro, Public Domain, Real Estate, Reference, Reproduction, Rig, Rkd, Royalty Free Photographs, Senior, Session, shoot, shot, Stock, Trademark Owners, TV, Wallpapers, Web Page, Web Pages, Website, Wedding, Wife, woman Comments Off

Using Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS) in daylight

4045844104 a58a35651d Using Nikons Creative Lighting System (CLS) in daylight

SB900 using the sun as a hairlight.

I have heard and get asked a lot of questions about Nikon’s CLS’ ability or inability to function in bright daytime conditions. In my experience it really have not been an issue. I pay attention to the speedlight’s position and its sensor location relative to my camera and SU800.

Today’s metering technology is a great asset so I normally let it take the first ‘shot’ at what it sees in a scene. While I have studio lights and a Vagabond II, there is little I haven’t been able to do with my SBs. The above shot was taken with a single SB900.

4063884049 fcbf7c3117 Using Nikons Creative Lighting System (CLS) in daylight

SB900 powered by SD8A on 36 inch JTL stand with 24 inch Westscott umbrella. I use this rig when I travel because it fits in my suitcase.

It was very sunny in California the day I shot Candice – notice the shadow on the lower left of the umbrella even though the speedlight fired for this behind the scene picture.

In the photograph of Candice above I metered for the shaded portion of her face and let Nikon TTL do the rest.

In the event it does not produce the result I want I adjust the stop (by 1/3 steps) on the speedlight.

3486666059 99818abf71 m Using Nikons Creative Lighting System (CLS) in daylight

Controlled on camera with the SU-800. Both speedlights were set to TTL remote.

Distance is another concern CLS nay-sayers bring up.

In this photograph Jason is holding a 42 inch Wescott umbrella with a SB-800 tucked up in the open ribs point towarded the camera to get the light reflected back to his face.

Behind him is a SB-900 shooting into another 42 inch Wescott umbrella. That c-stand is a good 50 feet away and up the hill about 10-12 feet above Jason’s head.

Line of sight is important – so just pay attention. But I have used the SB8 & 900s behind glass, reflected the signal off of windows, mirrors, cars just about any reflective surface. I have also ‘staged’ the lights to ‘see’ another but not the SU800.

Think of the IR signal like a billiard ball.

I also use the Nikon CLS to fill on cloudy daylight sessions.

While in Phoenix last week I did the entire shoot with these tools:

4300344523 030252e866 Using Nikons Creative Lighting System (CLS) in daylight

Stand, Speedlight, umbrella and a model: the only tools you need.

The result:

4301095762 d54deb8801 Using Nikons Creative Lighting System (CLS) in daylight

Single SB900 camera left - TTL triggered with SU800.

The only time I have trouble with the system is when I position myself on the wrong side of the speedlight’s optical sensor or move in front of the flash. I use a ballhead so I can quickly rotate the speedlight into the correct position.

-- Weather When Posted --

  • Temperature: 42°F;
  • Humidity: 72%;
  • Heat Index: 42°F;
  • Wind Chill: 35°F;
  • Pressure: 30.2 in.;

Posted in Just a quick thought, Lighting tests, Things | Also tagged Amp, background, Ballhead, beautiful, beauty, beginner, Blog, business, Candice, Cat, Class Announcement, CLS, Controlled, correspondent, creative, Creative Lighting, Creative Lighting System, Creativity, digital, dslr, equipment, face, fashion, Feet, flash, Flickr, focus, Fun, hair, hairlight, hand, Head, hobby, Hoot, human, Image, Ink, journalist, JTL, Lc, lens, Light, lighting, Lighting System, Line Of Sight, Lot, Metering Technology, model, nikon, occupation, one, Pace, paparazzi, Pay Attention, People, Phoenix, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, photographing, Photography, portrait, Portraits, pro, professional, Reflective Surface, Ribs, Rig, Rkd, RKD Photography, Sayers, Sb, sb-800, SB-900, Sb8, SB900, Sbs, scene, Sensor Location, Sessions, Shadow, shoot, shot, speedlight, Stan, stand, strobist, studio, studio lights, Suitcase, sun, Sunny Day, Sunny In California, Target, technology, Test, Tool, traditional, ttl, Umbrella, Vagabond, viewfinder, Wescott 1 Comment

Phoenix in the rain

4291709389 5f237953fb m Phoenix in the rain

I finally get a chance to do a shoot in Phoenix. Phoenix = sunshine and moderate winter daytime temperatures right? Not for me – three straight days of rain and 20-45 mph wind.

I had two TF models lined up – one canceled – good call – it was nasty out.

The second day Lindsey and I manged to get some shooting done between rain showers on South mountain. What a sport she was. we worked inside a covered gazebo then walked up the backside of the mountain to get to the ‘hole in the rock’.

Lindsey is a beautiful young truck driving Army reservist who goes on active duty next month with hopes of becoming a helicopter pilot flying Blackhawks.

See more of Lindsey (LC Pace)

-- Weather When Posted --

  • Temperature: 59°F;
  • Humidity: 59%;
  • Heat Index: 59°F;
  • Wind Chill: 59°F;
  • Pressure: 29.61 in.;

Posted in People, Places | Also tagged Army Reservist, Backside, beautiful, black, Days Of Rain, eyes, face, Flickr, Gaze, Gazebo, girl, Hawk, Helicopter Pilot, Hole In The Rock, Hoot, Lc, Light, lighting, Lot, man, model, Models, Moderate Winter, Nasty, one, Pace, Phoenix, Phoenix Phoenix, Photo, Photo Shoot, Photography, Photos, Places, portrait, Rain Showers, Rig, Rkd, RKD Photography, rkdauph, shoot, Straight Days, strobist, sun, Sunshine, Target, Umbrella, Walk, Winter Daytime Temperatures Leave a comment

Things that go Bump during a shoot: A solution for strobists

I have tripped and bumped my way through a lot of shooting locations; the act of repositioning the speedlights on stands with modifiers, while not the biggest challenge of any photo session, was an annoyance I didn’t like. Between the umbrella, open or not, and the open legs of an 8ft light stand I have said ‘Excuse me’; Pardon me’ a hundred times.

Indoors; the knocking around furniture, people and doorways is a headache. Outdoors; moving through people, parked cars, shrubs, trees and rocks presents its own challenges. The act of closing the umbrellas and legs every time I want to reposition the lights is both time consuming and then reversing the process at the new position can a bit unprofessional looking. Sometimes while balancing my camera gear too. I’m not as graceful as I used to be.

I’ve been doing the strobist thing for a couple of years and am always looking for a better more efficient way to get the job done. I was shown a Kwik Stand about a year ago by a studio photographer and liked the idea, but soon found out the Kwik Stand Company had gone out of business. Over the past year two companies have come to market with their versions of the folding leg light stand: Denny EZ Stand and Cheetah Stand. I have tried both and chose the Cheetah Stand for several reasons:

There is no real comparison if you take the time to see the differences. The all metal construction of the Cheetah with its slim solid metal legs and rubber rib-footed feet beats out the thin walled tubular legs of the EZ Stand with its flat smooth plastic ones. The EZ Stand feet appear larger but only one edge actually contacts the floor and it slides easily on smooth shiny floors. Maybe it’s a feature and not a flaw; in any case I didn’t care for it.

The legs of both extend on contact with the ground but the EZ Stand does not compress back to its body as closely the Cheetah. Not a huge deal but depending on the space, think church pews, you’re navigating – it just might. The all metal locking clamps and thumb wings of the Cheetah appear to be better suited to hold up over time with field use.

My copy of the EZ Stand did not smoothly extend or compress, the bottom (largest) pole section was very stiff in fact. It’s supposed to be an air cushion stand, why I’m not sure for such a small stand, which may be the reason for the gummed up feel. Fully extended, the EZ Stand is about an inch taller. The tubes are not internally secured (more on this in a minute). The Cheetah on the other hand is quick and smooth without being a hazard to your equipment with common sense and normal equipment care.

In field use neither stand met all my needs. Because of the inherent design required for this type of stand, the center post must extend down to within an inch or so of the surface. This is only a problem, for me anyway, when shooting on very rough uneven terrain like a rocky ledge 3708200578 f962113392 m Things that go Bump during a shoot: A solution for strobistsnear Lake Grapevine.(Let me add that neither stand was designed nor intended, as far as I know, to be use exactly the way I describe here.) But this is how I found out that the EZ Stand’s main extension tubes are not internally secured.

During a two speedlight shoot, one Cheetah and one EZ stand, I was unable place the opened legs of either stand on the uneven rocky ground. So, in my get the job done mode, I placed (gently wedged/balanced) the stands in-between some rocks. Worked like a charm; got the pictures; time to move on. When I reached out to grab the EZ Stand by the middle tube, balanced upon another rock, to lift it out of the crevice I had half a light stand in my hand. I did not jerk or twist it; it just ‘plop’ came apart. Ten minutes later I moved on with two complete stands. Good news, the tube went back in as easily as it came out.

Now here is a completely mox nix point I noticed, the EZ Stand could be used as a wind chime with all the hollow metal racket it makes when you walk around with it.

So the Cheetah Stand works for me, I now have four of them and they go where I go. Quite, reliable and built to last.

-- Weather When Posted --

  • Temperature: 31°F;
  • Humidity: 75%;
  • Heat Index: 30°F;
  • Wind Chill: 25°F;
  • Pressure: 30.48 in.;

Posted in Lighting tests, Things | Also tagged Air Cushion, Amp, Annoyance, art, background, black, Blog, business, Camera Gear, Cat, Cheetah, Cheetah Stand, CheetahStand, church, Church Pews, Clamps, color, colour, Common Sense, Contact, Couple, Denny, Denny's EZ Stand, door, Doorways, Duri, education, equipment, Extension Tubes, EZ Stand, face, Feet, film, Flickr, frame, hand, Head, Headache, Heir, Hoot, Hundred Times, illustration, Image, Ink, Iso, isolated, Job, Lake Grapevine, lamp, Light, lightstand, Lot, metal, Metal Construction, Metal Legs, model, Modifiers, new, New Position, object, office, one, Open Legs, Pace, paper, People, person, Photo, Photo Session, Photograph, Photographer, Photography, portrait, Pose, pro, professional, Reason, Repositioning, Rig, RKD Photography, Rocky Ledge, Shiny Floors, shoot, Shrubs, Smooth, space, speedlight, spotlight, Stan, stand, standing, strobe, strobist, studio, Studio Photographer, Target, technology, Tension, Things, Thumb, Tree, Trees, Umbrella, Umbrellas, Uneven Terrain, Walk, Wings 2 Comments

Strobist ballhead and umbrella test

3493512371 076561ff9d m Strobist ballhead and umbrella test

In Joe McNally‘s CLS video it showed him using a ballhead to align the flashhead along the umbrella stem axis. Made sense that it would distribute the light more evenly; so I bought the rig. Here’s the test results – you decide.

As pointed out in the note above, I forgot the diffuser.

Single SB800 set to TTL into Wescott 42″ shoot through umbrella.

The ballhead is the Manfrotto Lite Tite Swivel+Umbrella Adapter 26
The coldshoe is the Stroboframe Shoe-type Flash Mount Cat. No 300-SHO

I consider this as a ‘nice to know’ experiment only. With the inherent spill associated with shoot through umbrellas and with the difusser on the speedlight the coverage appears to be good. One additional advantage I found with the ballhead set is the ability to quickly rotate the flash body to align the IR sensor to face the camera.

I’ll know better after I field test it.

3493654589 a843384855 m Strobist ballhead and umbrella test

3500660886 fd9585bbbc m Strobist ballhead and umbrella test

Sideview

-- Weather When Posted --

  • Temperature: 31°F;
  • Humidity: 75%;
  • Heat Index: 30°F;
  • Wind Chill: 25°F;
  • Pressure: 30.48 in.;

Posted in Lighting tests | Also tagged art, Axis, background, Ballhead, black, Cat, CLS, color, colour, diffuser, education, equipment, face, Field Test, film, flash, flash test, Flickr, frame, Head, Hoot, illustration, Image, Ir Sensor, isolated, Joe Mcnally, lamp, Light, Light And Shadow, lighting, Lighting tests, man, Manfrotto, metal, model, new, nikon, Nikon Speedlights, object, office, one, paper, People, person, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photography, Photos, portrait, professional, Rig, Rkd, RKD Photography, rkdauph, Sb, sb-800, Sb8, SB800, Shoe Type, shoot, Shoot Though Umbrella, space, speedlight, Spill, spotlight, stand, standing, strobe, strobist, studio, Target, technology, Test, Test Results, ttl, Umbrella, Umbrellas, Wescott, White Umbrella Comments Off