About Me
My job as your photographer is to do more than just put a face to the name. I bring experience, professionalism, confidence, and a relaxed persona that produces photographs that instill a sense of trust and confidence in a potential client or customer. When you don’t do that, you will fail to get everything you can out of a brochure, website, or press release. The picture is critical.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but you rarely hear about the reactions to a poor quality photograph. Professional photography when presenting yourself or company to the public is a necessity.
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Tag Archives: camera
Bokeh: How we love thee
I shot a corporate annual conference dinner the other evening, then posted the images on-line for the attendees to download. We used flash at the start of the event. In an attempt to capture the feel of the evening I switched to my Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 IF-D and shot wide open at f/1.4 in the dimly lit rooms.
I love the lens for it’s sharpness and speed. It works amazingly well with the high ISO capabilities of the D700 which I had set to ISO 1000.
Nearly all of the feedback I have received were on the photographs with the heaviest bohek.
“Bokeh (derived from Japanese, a noun boke 暈け, meaning “blurred or fuzzy”) is a photographic term referring to the appearance of out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field.”
I like the bokeh too but the comments got me to thinking about why. I will hazard a guess that it most closely mimics the human eye’s ability to sharply focus and isolate upon a single subject within a busy field of view.
Pay attention to your vision the next time your gaze is fixed on just about anything. Notice the ‘bokeh’ effect of the background when concentrating on your morning coffee cup; the sharpness of the person across the room while all else seems to disappear.
Let me know.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 37°F;
- Humidity: 75%;
- Heat Index: 37°F;
- Wind Chill: 29°F;
- Pressure: 30.09 in.;
Posted in Lighting tests, My Photo; My Comment., People
Also tagged Appearance, art, Attempt, Attendees, background, Bokeh, Camera Lens, Capabilities, Coffee Cup, Conference Dinner, D700, Depth Of Field, flash, Flickr, focus, Focus Areas, Gaze, girl, Guess, High ISO, human, Human Eye, Image, Images, Ink, Iso, lens, Lit Rooms, Love, man, Morning Coffee, Nikkor, Nikkor 85mm, Noun, Pay Attention, person, Photo, Photograph, Photographs, Photos, pro, Rig, Rkd, RKD Photography, rkdauph, Shallow Depth Of Field, Sharpness, shot
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Adobe Camera Raw 4.5 and Nikon D300 Picture Control Files
ACR 4.5 Screen Capture
I stumbled upon an update to the Photoshop CS3 plug-in Adobe Camera Raw 4.5 yesterday. The camera profile function is very cool and recognized my Nikon D-300 NEF raw files on its own.
Not only does this update support Nikon’s Picture Control Files supplied by Nikon with the D300 ( Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome) but also the 3 D2X PCFs (D2XMODE1, D2XMODE2, D2XMODE3). It does not however come with Ken Rockwell PCF support. See my ducky Picture Control file test here.
On the few images I’ve had time to play with, the application of the Control File settings in the NEF file appears to be a close match to Nikon’s own Capture NX and NX2.
Posted in Lighting tests
Also tagged Adobe, Adobe Camera Raw 4.5, Blog, Capture Nx, Cat, Close Match, Cs3, D2x, d300, Ducky, File Test, Fun, Image, Images, Ken Rockwell, Nef, Nef File, nikon, nikon d300, Nx2, Pcf, Photo, Photos, Photoshop, Photoshop CS3, picture control file, pro, Profile, Raw Files, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, Screen Capture, Stan, stand, Target, Test
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Lincoln Memorial
On a recent trip to Washington, DC, see Hassled by the Washington, DC Park Rangers for taking photos, I did the tourist thing early Saturday morning before heading back to Texas. I went out at 7am to avoid the heat and the crowds.
I walked from the Washington Monument, past the World War II Memorial headed for the Lincoln Memorial along the Reflecting Pool. There were a few joggers, a few Ron Paul supporters (interesting group of characters) and city workers. As I approached the Lincoln Memorial a small group of tourists were already starting to mill around. I noticed this black city worker mopping the steps, back and forth, back and forth and I knew right away I wanted to include him in the photograph.
When I got to the bottom of the steps the group of visitors were all over the steps and inside the memorial. The worker patiently continued his work, waiting when the people blocked his path.
Standing there with my Nikon D300, waiting for the moment I wanted to capture I was approached by, wait for it — a Canon shooter. He was carrying two cameras (a Rebel XT and a 5D). We had a brief discussion about the light and our shared hobby. Nice fella; other than the Canon part.
Just as we were parting ways I got this photograph. It’s the best of the three I took of this man maintaining the monument’s appearance. The fact that it is a black man working for the Federal Government at the Lincoln Memorial somehow struck a cord with me. I mean no offense to the man doing an honest job, the fact Lincoln’s eyes appear to be watching him, makes, to me anyway, this photograph sort of special.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 93°F;
- Humidity: 44%;
- Heat Index: 97°F;
- Wind Chill: 93°F;
- Pressure: 30 in.;
Posted in My Photo; My Comment., Places
Also tagged 5d, Amp, Appearance, art, black, Black Man, Blog, Canon, Crowds, d300, eyes, Fella, Flickr, hassled, Head, hobby, home, Honest Job, Hoot, Job, Jobs, Joggers, Light, lighting, Lincoln Memorial, man, Memorial, Memories, Monument, Monuments, new, nikon, nikon d300, Oment, one, Park Ranger, Park Rangers, Parting Ways, People, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, pro, Rebel Xt, Reflecting Pool, Reflection, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, Ron Paul, Saturday Morning, shoot, Shooter, Small Group, Stan, stand, standing, Taking Photos, Target, Texas, Things, Walk, Washington Monument, World War Ii, World War Ii Memorial
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High-key portrait process
From my Flickr photostream of this image:
Mark Chamberlin says:
“This is a really strong effect. Would you mind divulging what you did to the original image to get it to this point? “
Well Mark, I start with a nice looking model.
Seriously, this photograph was taken almost as framed here. Sometimes when I really like the expression on a wider framed picture I will crop down to the face. this photo of Mona Marie was one in a series of tight shots I took over several minutes, I coached her to look here, there, up and down. I feel this image has the ‘strong effect’ you mention because she is looking pencefully away from the camera.
Orginal photograph
The original image is show here. The first step I took was to spot heal any blemishes (of which there were very few, Mona Marie has very smooth skin), then I did a general smoothing to accommodate the high-key effect. I try to leave enough detail to the face so the larger delicate features are not destroyed.
With this photograph I did add back a bit of color to her lips, but just color, I liked the formation and shape/size as it was. After several bleaching passes to reach the desired effect, I sharpened the image.
Normally I have to resist the urge to tweak more; here I did not.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 84°F;
- Humidity: 54%;
- Heat Index: 86°F;
- Wind Chill: 84°F;
- Pressure: 29.78 in.;
Posted in My Photo; My Comment., People
Also tagged art, Blemishes, Blog, Cat, Coach, color, Colors, Delicate Features, Desired Effect, Expression, face, Flickr, Flickr Photostream, frame, High-Key, Image, Images, Lips, Mark Chamberlin, model, Modeling, Models, Mona Marie, one, People, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, portrait, Portraits, pro, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, shot, Smooth, Smooth Skin, Target, Thumb, Tight Shots, Urge
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$9 optical mini strobe test
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.;
Posted in Lighting tests
Also tagged Blog, Dav, Double Sided Tape, flash, Flickr, Fun, Fun Shoot, Hoot, Image, Images, Kodak Duaflex Iv, Light, lighting, Mini Strobe, Photo, Photos, Places, Playground, Reflector, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, shoot, strobe, Strobes, Test, Things
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What’d I say?,,, What’d 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
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.;
Posted in My Photo; My Comment., People
Also tagged Ability To ‘Strike A Pose’, Amp, Cat, Cell Phone, Clothes, Clothing, equipment, Flickr, Hoot, Interact, Interaction, Job, Jobs, Light, lighting, Lighting Equipment, Limited, Lot, Makeup, model, Modeling, Models, Nap, new, New Model, No Doubt, one, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, portrait, Portraits, Pose, pro, professional, Professional Portrait, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, Sessions, Sexy, shoot, shot, Snapshot, Stan, stand, standing, Strike A Pose, studio, Target, Tease, What Should I Bring To Wear?
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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
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 64°F;
- Humidity: 77%;
- Heat Index: 64°F;
- Wind Chill: 63°F;
- Pressure: 29.87 in.;
Posted in Lighting tests, Places
Also tagged 100%-Crop, Additional Details, AF Nikkor 85mm F/1.4 IF-D, Aperture, Aperture Priority, Auto ISO, Auto WB, Blog, Conclusion, Cs3, D700, Deck, Downtown, Downtown Minneapolis, F1, F1.4, Flickr, High ISO, Hotel, Image, Images, Iso, ISO 11200, Minneapolis, Modes, Neat Image, Nikkor, Nikkor 85mm, nikon, Nikon D700, Noise Ninja, Noise Reduction, Noise Reduction Software, Noise Reduction Test, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, Photoshop, Photoshop CS3, Post Processing, pro, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, shot, Target, Test, Topaz, Topaz Denoise
4 Comments
Melissa
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.;
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Nikon D700 vertical banding issue: It happen to me.
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.
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.
-- Weather When Posted --