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: Photographer
Hassled by the Washington, DC Park Rangers for taking photos
I’ve spent the last three days here in Washington, DC on business. Meetings with the 
FAA, HHS and the WAAS office. Long times between meetings and I’ve been done pretty early in the day. So, I placed a casting call on ModelMayhem to see if I could pass the time doing what I like to do, take pictures. 5 or 6 TFCD models responded and I set up sessions with two of them. As my luck would have it – both at the same time. That wasn’t a problem for me (read assistant) or them though so we met at my hotel and headed for the National Mall to shoot. The plan was to use the monuments as the background. Sounded way cool.
We chose the new WW II monument because it had a nice water fountain. We got there around 7pm, good light, not huge crowds. As one model was getting her ticket from the Park Police (wrong way on a One Way street) the other model (Emily) and I set off to set up and shoot along the granite outside wall of the monument. I 
used 2 SB800s, at first to fill then to light her. Nikon CLS is so cool. So far so good. I get about a dozen shots off when the other model, Danielle walked up. She dismissed the ticket as part of life in DC and we starting posing her along the same wall Emily had used. About 10 minutes later I hear:
Sir – Sir:
Click to continue reading “Hassled by the Washington, DC Park Rangers for taking photos”
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 93°F;
- Humidity: 44%;
- Heat Index: 97°F;
- Wind Chill: 93°F;
- Pressure: 30 in.;
Posted in Places, Rant
Also tagged art, background, Backgrounds, Blog, business, Business Meetings, Casting Call, Cat, Chap, CLS, Crowds, d300, Dozen Shots, Emily, Faa, face, FDR, Flickr, Fun, girl, girls, Granite, hassled, Head, Heir, Hhs, hobby, Hoot, Hotel, Huge Crowds, Light, lighting, Long Time, Memorial, Memories, model, Modeling, Modelmayhem, Models, Monument, Monuments, National Mall, new, nikon, office, one, Outsider, Park Police, Park Ranger, Park Rangers, Passing The Time, People, Photo, Photo Shoot, Photograph, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, Places, Pose, pretty, pro, professional, Professional Photographers, Reply, Rig, Rkd, Sb, Sb8, SB800, Sessions, shoot, shot, Stan, street, Taking Photos, Target, Teenagers, Things, Tree, ttl, Walk, Water Fountain, Wrong Way, WW II, Ww Ii Monument, Youtube
5 Comments
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, camera, 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, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, portrait, Portraits, pro, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, shot, Smooth, Smooth Skin, Target, Thumb, Tight Shots, Urge
2 Comments
The eyes have it
As the old English or is it Arab proverb goes “the eyes are the windows to the soul“.
I could not agree more.
For me; to photograph someone, in or out of the studio, is an attempt on my part to capture the essence of the photographed. An outsider’s try at seeing the uniqueness of another. I have learned, sometimes at the expense of others; sometimes at my own, that a person is not their clothes or position in life.
The eyes can rarely completely deceive. Lairs cannot calm their eyes. Children cannot hide their excitement., their eyes light up with a fire that makes me smile every time. My mother can still stop me dead in my tracks with just a look. My wife is working on that talent – daily.
An otherwise unacceptable picture can both memorable and cherished because of ‘the look’ captured within it. You know the one I’m talking about, not the picture hanging on the wall you can look up and see from your computer. Go check your old shoe box full of pictures; it’s there.
I talk to the models I work with, giving ideas, comments and instruction. I try to bring out their essence. It’s not always the one they walked in to portray. Oh, we get that alright. But I’m always looking for shoe box shot too.
Posted in My Photo; My Comment.
Also tagged Arab Proverb, art, Attempt, Attempts, Clothes, Clothing, Essence, Excitement, eyes, Flickr, Hanging On The Wall, Heir, Lairs, Light, lighting, Lot, model, Modeling, Models, Old Shoe, one, Outsider, person, Personality, Photo, Photograph, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, Picture Hanging, pro, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, Shoe Box, Shoe Box Shot, shot, smile, studio, Track, Tracks, Uniqueness, Walk, Windows To The Soul
1 Comment
Ultra close up portraits
I have had many comments on my close-ups. All but one was complimentary and it was because I did not high-key it.
I love the female face. I like to test the limits of beauty and recognition. I have said elsewhere that the eyes are the key to the personality and reveal so much about a person’s mood, emotional state and health.
I always take an extreme closeup during a shoot and/or look for the fuller photograph to crop. Granted, ultra close-ups do not with all models, but I do spent a lot of post processing time looking for an opportunity to display their beauty through its use.
Posted in My Photo; My Comment., People
Also tagged beautiful, beauty, Closeup, Closeups, Displays, Duri, emotion, Emotional State, Emotions, eyes, face, female, Female Face, Females, Flickr, Health, Heir, High-Key, Hoot, Limited, Lot, Love, male, man, model, Modeling, Models, one, person, Personality, Photo, Photograph, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, portrait, Portraits, Post Processing, pro, Processing Time, Rant, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, shoot, Test, Ultra Close-Up, Ups
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Setting the mood in photography
Portrait photography is not photojournalism or even about realism; it is an attempt to portray an idealistic view of a person, place or thing. It is the way we see the subject or want the setting to be seen by the viewer of the photograph.
The emotions/memories/ideals we, as photographers, can draw from the viewer are powerful tools.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 31°F;
- Humidity: 58%;
- Heat Index: 30°F;
- Wind Chill: 23°F;
- Pressure: 30.12 in.;
Posted in My Photo; My Comment.
Also tagged Attempt, Attempts, emotion, Emotions, Flickr, Memorial, Memories, person, Personality, Photo, Photograph, Photographers, Photographs, Photography, Places, portrait, Portrait Photography, Portraits, Powerful Tools, Realism, Rig, Things, Tool
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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, camera, 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, 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, camera, 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, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, Photoshop, Photoshop CS3, Post Processing, pro, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, shot, Target, Test, Topaz, Topaz Denoise
4 Comments
Sunrise on the Mississippi
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.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 70°F;
- Humidity: 49%;
- Heat Index: 77°F;
- Wind Chill: 70°F;
- Pressure: 30.25 in.;
Posted in My Photo; My Comment., Places
Also tagged 5am, 5d, beautiful, Beautiful Morning, business, color, Colors, Couple, Dav, David Goldberg, Fall Colors, Few Days, Flickr, Fog, Gold, Highlight, Hotel, Hotel Room, Landscape Photography, Light, Lucky, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Minnesota Lakes, Morning Dew, Photo, Photograph, Photographers, Photographs, Photography, Photos, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, Shorelines, sun, Sunrise On The Mississippi, Venue, Walk
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Young girls and tattoos
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.
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.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 79°F;
- Humidity: 42%;
- Heat Index: 79°F;
- Wind Chill: 79°F;
- Pressure: 30.1 in.;
Posted in My Photo; My Comment., People
Also tagged All Sorts, Amp, Army Boot Camp, background, Backgrounds, color, Colors, Displays, Duri, Emily, female, Females, Flickr, girl, girls, Grandkids, Heir, Ink, Job, Jobs, Light, lighting, male, man, Memorial, Memories, model, Modeling, Models, Nathalie, Night, Oment, one, person, Personality, Photo, Photograph, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, Places, Pose, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, Sessions, Stan, stand, Target, Tattoo, Tattoos, Time And Place, woman, Young Females, Young Girls, Young Lady, Young Woman, Youthful Firmness, Youthful Freedom
2 Comments
Follow Me
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 --