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: Rig
Strobist “On Location” kit.
This is my on ‘location’ kit. 2xSB-800s, SB-600, PhotoFlex LiteDome Q3 9, a Wescott 32″ umbrella and two or three stands.
I have replaced the SB600 with a SB900 since this article was written.
Flashes controlled with the D300′s Commander mode.
Taken with my ‘location’ kit. In this case, the location was my media room.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 36°F;
- Humidity: 85%;
- Heat Index: 36°F;
- Wind Chill: 32°F;
- Pressure: 30.12 in.;
$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, camera, Dav, Double Sided Tape, flash, Flickr, Fun, Fun Shoot, Hoot, Image, Images, Kodak Duaflex Iv, Light, lighting, Mini Strobe, Photo, Photos, Places, Playground, Reflector, Rkd, rkdauph, shoot, strobe, Strobes, Test, Things
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Skye
Skye was a both sweetheart and a challenge. The right side her had been disfigured; she was not in the least embarrassed or intimidated by it and I loved that about her. We worked with light and shadow during the entire session to our advantage.
The temptation to mask the injuries in post processing was quickly overcome when I looked into her eyes.
Posted in My Photo; My Comment., People
Also tagged art, Duri, eyes, Flickr, Inti, Light, Light And Shadow, lighting, Love, Photo, Photos, Post Processing, pro, Rkd, rkdauph, Sessions, Shadow, Skye, Sweetheart, Temptation
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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, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, portrait, Portraits, Post Processing, pro, Processing Time, Rant, 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, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photography, Places, portrait, Portrait Photography, Portraits, Powerful Tools, Realism, Things, Tool
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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, 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, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, portrait, Portraits, Pose, pro, professional, Professional Portrait, 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, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, Photoshop, Photoshop CS3, Post Processing, pro, Rkd, rkdauph, shot, Target, Test, Topaz, Topaz Denoise
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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, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photography, Photos, Rkd, rkdauph, Shorelines, sun, Sunrise On The Mississippi, Venue, Walk
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Follow Me
My daughter the ax murderer
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.
-- Weather When Posted --