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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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Terms of Use
A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography’s Terms and Conditions of Use
By accessing this web site, you are agreeing to be bound by these web site Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any applicable local laws. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing this site. The materials contained in this web site are protected by applicable copyright and trade mark law.
1. Use License – Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the materials (information or software) on A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography’s web site for personal, non-commercial transitory viewing only. This is the grant of a license, not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not:
i. modify or copy the materials;
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iii. attempt to decompile or reverse engineer any software contained on A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography’s web site;
iv. remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the materials; or
v. transfer the materials to another person or “mirror” the materials on any other server.
vi. This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography at any time. Upon terminating your viewing of these materials or upon the termination of this license, you must destroy any downloaded materials in your possession whether in electronic or printed format.
2. Disclaimer – The materials on A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography’s web site are provided “as is”. A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties, including without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property or other violation of rights. Further, A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of the materials on its Internet web site or otherwise relating to such materials or on any sites linked to this site.
3. Limitations – In no event shall A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography or its suppliers be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of data or profit, or due to business interruption,) arising out of the use or inability to use the materials on A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography’s Internet site, even if A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography or A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography’s authorized representative has been notified orally or in writing of the possibility of such damage. Because some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties, or limitations of liability for consequential or incidental damages, these limitations may not apply to you.
4. Revisions and Errata – The materials appearing on A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography’s web site could include technical, typographical, or photographic errors A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography does not warrant that any of the materials on its web site are accurate, complete, or current. A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography may make changes to the materials contained on its web site at any time without notice. A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography does not, however, make any commitment to update the materials.
5. Links – A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its Internet web site and is not responsible for the contents of any such linked site. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography of the site. Use of any such linked web site is at the user’s own risk.
6. Site Terms of Use Modifications – A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography may revise these terms of use for its web site at any time without notice. By using this web site you are agreeing to be bound by the then current version of these Terms and Conditions of Use.
7. Governing Law – Any claim relating to A Photographer’s Journey/RKD Photography’s web site shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
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Also tagged Applicable Laws, Commercial Purpose, Compliance, Conditions Of Use, Downloaded Materials, Engineer, Fitness, Including Without Limitation, Journey, Laws And Regulations, Mark 1, Notations, Photographer, Photography Terms, Possession, Terms And Conditions, Warranties
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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.
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Also tagged Actors, apple, Boy, camera, 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, Royalty Free Photographs, Senior, Session, shoot, shot, Stock, Trademark Owners, TV, Wallpapers, Web Page, Web Pages, Website, Wedding, Wife, woman
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Using Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS) in daylight
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.

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.
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:
The result:
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, camera, 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 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
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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, camera, 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 Photography, rkdauph, shoot, Straight Days, strobist, sun, Sunshine, Target, Umbrella, Walk, Winter Daytime Temperatures
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King Street Metro Station – Alexandria, VA
While in VA on business for 2 days I decided to walk over to the metro station one evening. Boring stuff, but I was bored.
I had always hesitated taking photographs of strangers on the street. I’m not sure what I expected by way of reaction from people but the truth is no one really seemed to notice. People would watch me take pictures of others, but when they thought I might take their photograph, they ignored me.
People are funny.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 63°F;
- Humidity: 29%;
- Heat Index: 63°F;
- Wind Chill: 62°F;
- Pressure: 30.06 in.;
Posted in My Photo; My Comment., Places
Also tagged Alex, business, Flickr, Fun, Heir, King Street Metro, King Street Metro Station, one, People, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, Rig, rkdauph, Stranger, street, Stuff, Tree, Truth, Walk
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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.
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 --
- Temperature: 50°F;
- Humidity: 56%;
- Heat Index: 50°F;
- Wind Chill: 47°F;
- Pressure: 30.06 in.;
Posted in My Photo; My Comment.
Also tagged art, Ascii, Blog, Break, Cambria, camera, Coach, color, Couple, D700, family, Fun, Fx, girl, girls, Girls Lacrosse, Girls LaCrosse Team, Head, Heir, High School Girls, home, Image, Ink, Last Saturday, lens, Light, Little Girl, man, Mso, My Daughter The Ax Murder, Nap, new, Night, nikon, Nikon D700, Nikon D700 Vertical Banding Issue, Nikon Website, office, one, Orphan, Overcast Sky, Overexposed, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, pink, Pose, pro, Reference, Rig, Send Your D700 Into Our Facility For Evaluation, Style Definitions, Target, Team Coach, Team Photograph, The Nikon Team, Times New Roman, Track, Train, Trinity High School, Trouble Ticket, ttl, tx, Unfortunately There Is Nothing I Can Do Over The Phone, Vertical Banding A Couple Of Photographs, Vertical Lines
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Post processing; finding the edge
Before and after: Too much?
Sometimes I like to play with a photograph that doesn’t appeal to me in it’s original form. I see other’s work and like the processing or like the concept of it. I tend to get fixated trying new filter effects, crops or plug ins while trying to produce an artistic version that is like a gossamer thread in my mind’s eye.
Sometimes I get to the ‘ah ha’ moment – sometimes I don’t. I do however enjoy the journey to artistic expression.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 56°F;
- Humidity: 66%;
- Heat Index: 55°F;
- Wind Chill: 54°F;
- Pressure: 30.05 in.;
Posted in My Photo; My Comment.
Also tagged Ah Ha, art, Artistic Expression, Crops, Expression, eyes, Filter Effects, Flickr, Gossamer Thread, Journey, new, New Crops, Oment, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photography, Photos, Plug Ins, Post Processing, pro, Rig, rkdauph
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WWII Re-Enactors strobist shoot fun
Last weekend our DFW Midcities Strobist Meetup Group had a fun and interesting strobist outing shooting a few local WWII re-enactors. Lynn and Dean are long time players while Zack and Zane were a member’s teenage sons were conscripted into the German Army for the event.
As a photographer I thought I had a lot of gear; man these guys had more toys than any man should be allowed to own. A full sized anti-tank canon, land mines, machine guns, pistols , camouflage nets, manikins, road signs, barbed wire and on and on and on.
10 strobists, 4 actors, 5 acres of land and toys! We had a blast.
See more of my photos, including behind the scenes shots, here. To see all the uploaded photos by members of the groups go here.
-- Weather When Posted --