Camera | A Photographer's Journey

$9 optical mini strobe test

Dec 152008

I’m always looking for ways to light things. This was a fun shoot and I decided to use a small flash attached to the camera’s reflector with a piece of double sided tape.

The camera held by Miglena is a Kodak Duaflex IV Camera with a mini strobe placed into the flash holder. The light on Dav is actually coming from the Kodak. See Photo Playground set from a closer image of the camera.

-- Weather When Posted --

Temperature: 76°F;
Humidity: 71%;
Heat Index: 77°F;
Wind Chill: 76°F;
Pressure: 29.97 in.;

What'd I say?,,, What'd I say?

My Photo; My Comment., People No Responses »

Nov 292008

3065791943 b7fbfd4afd m Whatd I say?,,, Whatd I say?

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.

-- Weather When Posted --

Temperature: 52°F;
Humidity: 50%;
Heat Index: 52°F;
Wind Chill: 49°F;
Pressure: 29.77 in.;

Something soft & sexy, something mean and something in-between

My Photo; My Comment., People No Responses »

Nov 102008

3461391320 3c511648e1 Something soft & sexy, something mean and something in between

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.

-- Weather When Posted --

Temperature: 50°F;
Humidity: 53%;
Heat Index: 50°F;
Wind Chill: 48°F;
Pressure: 30.18 in.;

Nikon D700 High ISO Test

Lighting tests, Places 4 Responses »

Oct 242008

2970572838 c99a57e97b m Nikon D700 High ISO Test

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.

100%-crop and noise reduction test

: 100%-crop

: Neat Image

: Noise Ninja

: Topaz Denoise

: Topaz Denoise then Nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 applied

-- Weather When Posted --

Temperature: 64°F;
Humidity: 77%;
Heat Index: 64°F;
Wind Chill: 63°F;
Pressure: 29.87 in.;

Melissa

My Photo; My Comment., People No Responses »

Oct 152008

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.

-- Weather When Posted --

Temperature: 76°F;
Humidity: 30%;
Heat Index: 77°F;
Wind Chill: 76°F;
Pressure: 30.19 in.;

Should I use a light meter with a digital camera?

Just a quick thought 2 Responses »

Aug 212008

I was recently asked the question in the title, there is only one answer.

Get one, use it.

Simple really, as a photographer you paint with revealed light and shadow, that’s all. Why would you hesitant to utilize a tool to designed to report the variances you cannot see in a way you can use?

Do I shoot without one, yup, sometimes. Do I rely on the camera’s metering, yup, alot sometimes. But I never leave home without a light meter in my bag.

-- Weather When Posted --

Temperature: 91°F;
Humidity: 42%;
Heat Index: 93°F;
Wind Chill: 91°F;
Pressure: 29.82 in.;

Using the Nikon Creative Lighting System

My Photo; My Comment. No Responses »

Aug 052008

2661837751 771b9eb490 m Using the Nikon Creative Lighting System

This photograph was taken using a Nikon D-300, the Nikkor 28-70 f2.8 and 2 SB800s. One SB800 was placed high picture right behind Emily the other was hand held slightly high picture left above her head. Although I have the equipment to mount the flashes to either an umbrella or softbox, this session was done with only the Nikon defusser on one of the strobes.

I am becoming a real fan of the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) and the ability to control the SB-800s using the Commander mode on the D300. I’ve now used them in studio sessions as fill or hair lights, outdoors from as far as 30 feet away or the sole source of light as in this photograph.

The two cautions when using the system is to remember to have the sensor facing toward the camera and don’t step to far in front of the flashes. I spent nearly 10 minutes on one outdoor shoot trying to figure out why the flash wouldn’t fire, gave up and realized, the next day, that I had the IR receiver facing away from the camera.

CLS is a great tool, take the time to learn it.

Read about us being hassled by the Park Rangers in Washington, DC during this shoot.

Also see Damien Franco’s expansion of my photo tip about Seeing the Shadows over at www.yourphototips.com.

-- Weather When Posted --

Temperature: 81°F;
Humidity: 71%;
Heat Index: 85°F;
Wind Chill: 81°F;
Pressure: 30.02 in.;

Nikon Speedlight umbrella test

Lighting tests No Responses »

Jul 162008

2383308897 950b011af0 m Nikon Speedlight umbrella test

Nikon Speedlights

When I decided to start playing with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS) I took this series of photographs to try and understand the difference between a shoothrough umbrella and a reflective one.

I also used this test to learn how to use the Commander mode on my D300 to change the power settings of the Speedlights.

SB-800 on left into 32 inch Photogenic white umbrella: SB-600 on right through 48 inch Wescott umbrella. Controlled by D300 Commander mode.

Top half of photo: both at half power
Bottom half of photo: Both at full power.

Boston's coolest vandals

My Photo; My Comment., Things No Responses »

Jul 142008

Boston’s coolest vandals

Train tagging and graffiti have always interested me. This day was the first time I stopped to look and had my camera with me. I spent over an hour walking among the parked train cars. Some of the graffiti artists obviously took both pride and a lot of time to make their traveling art.

One car was marked “R.I.P. Crash Erwin” another ” Rust never rests” and who is Jenn?

Check out the full Train Graffiti set on my Flickr Photostream.

Nikon D300 & SB-800 Speedlight Flash Diffusion Test

Lighting tests, Things No Responses »

Jul 062008

Nikon D300 & SB-800 Speedlight Flash Diffusion Test

Originally uploaded by rkdauph

On camera flash photography has always challenged me. I learned photography, in West Germany during the early ‘70s, using natural light only, black and white film and developed my own prints. My first experience, in the early ‘80s, with a flash gun was a reunion of flight school classmates and our families. We paraded the kids through the living room, onesies, twosies, you know the drill, and I took whole family photos too. The garish, over exposed pictures with that damn hard edged shadow (like the top center picture) was embarrassing when the color prints arrived. Who needs a flash? Not a REAL photographer anyway; so, back to natural light for more than 2 decades.

Click to continue reading “Nikon D300 & SB-800 Speedlight Flash Diffusion Test”

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