Macro

Last week I bought my first real macro lens and have been having a blast with it now for a few days.  It is the Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR.  What a treat to shoot with!  I figured the best place to test out the macro features of the lens was a local park called Brookeside Gardens where there are tons of flowers (and bugs).  :D  

I discovered that the autofocus only works up to a certain distance (I think its around a foot) from the subject but you can get quite a bit closer with manual focus.  The VR feature is really helpful and ... I love my new lens!  

I am dreading the cost of all the big prints I'm going to want to do now.

Model Shoot

My latest model shoot was with Nasrine, a model I worked with about two years ago. We had been talking off and on about working together again but until last week nothing had worked out. She wanted to update a bit and also wanted to work with her friend; a talented Makeup artist named Lauren.

I was excited to work with Nasrine again because our results from the last shoot were wonderful and well...she is a firecracker. I was also looking forward to testing out a new Makeup Artist because frankly, you can't have too many of them on speed dial!

So the ladies got to work first on look #1 which was to be a more "extreme" makeup design. Strong colors that were to coordinate with the wardrobe. I assured them it was OK to go "over the top." This is the design/combination they came up with:
(Tech: D200 at 112mm, f/5.6, 1/250, SB-800 in Chimera softbox camera right)

The second look was to be much more natural. We shot this series out by the beach in the late afternoon.
(Tech: D200 at 135mm, f/8, 1/250)

Turn Around!

Sometimes we get so focused on the obvious that we miss the miraculous.

I have just wrapped up a wonderful trip to Arizona. I was sent there by my company to film a short piece on an Indian school located on Route 66. Because I enjoy photography as much or more than film work, I bring along my still camera on these work trips in the hopes of seeing something along the way. As is always the case I don't just see "something" I see SO MANY things, and always have to leave feeling that I could have stayed and shot for weeks to properly cover the subject.

As I'm sure you can imagine, Arizona is a wonderful visual feast and photographic opportunities abound. On the drive out (back to Phoenix and the airport) I stopped in Sedona to look at the red rocks. The sun was setting and what a gorgeous light it shone on this wonderful series of rocks. To make it better I could shoot from a river bed and catch the reflection in the water! I was in heaven! It couldn't get any better. Or could it? I took a chance and turned around. Away from the stunning beauty of the towering rock cliffs.

I was amazed. The sun was shining behind a cloud and bursting beams in all directions. As the crowd of people around me continued shooting the lovely rocks I turned and furiously fired away in the other direction. I must have looked odd but I had found magic and wasn't going to let it go.

So next time you find a location of great potential, get that shot and keep looking. There might be magic just behind you.

Stories

Some images tell stories. I like to explore that idea with my photography and recently I had that opportunity with a local actor named Kevin. He wanted to shoot an edgy "Sin City" concept which was a bit more than I thought we could pull off BUT at least the idea got us started in a good direction. We decided to add drama and movement to the shots and voila here is the result.

Tech stuff:

Location: Centennial Park - Columbia, MD

Time: Late afternoon'ish after work (7:00 pm?)

Why: Cuz it were fun.

Post retouching: PS CS3 - Dodge/burn, curves, cloning out the gritty bits.

Image #1: D200, f/8, 1/160th, 70mm (SB-800 flash camera left)

Image #2: D200, f/8, 1/160th, 18mm, (SB-800 flash camera left)

Landscapes

What makes a landscape photograph great?  I have been thinking about this a lot lately.  I have a real desire to master this area of photography and so it is natural to try to understand the difference between a competent landscape image and a truly stunning landscape photograph.  Obviously I want to be creating the latter.

The rules of design and photography remain the same for landscape photography as they do for any other branch of the art-form.  Balance, rhythm, proportion, dominance and unity are still the important principles.  The elements of color, contrast, value, texture, line and shape are still the tools we use to "design" the imagery.  So what makes a landscape image great?

Anyone?

Spring!

Spring is almost here! I can tell because the sun is shining, Crocus' are popping out and every morning I am awakened by an absolute cacophony of amorous birds. Every day I wake up and wonder if this is the day I can skip the jacket. Unfortunately that time has not quite come yet and I have to go dig some extra covering out of the closet. Which sucks.

Spring is a transitional time of year. Everything is changing, becoming and being reborn. I noticed that even with people the creative sparks are flying, attitudes are more positive and of course, love is in the air. Why is that? Are we just tired of winter? That could be it actually. One fact is undeniable, and that is the potency of spring.

So why are these transitional times so filled with energy? Whether it is the dawn or the sunset, the spring or fall, there seems to be a wonderful potential, an energy that bursts forth out of transitional moments. I think very likely it does not matter why. What matters is that we recognize the potential and maximize it!

:)

Welcome to my first blog ... here. :D

There is an important part of photography that doesn't get talked about much that I'd like to address today. This is an element that will dramatically improve your skills and the overall quality of your images.

I'm not talking about composition, lens quality, color or exposure. I'm not talking about long lens technique, stance or equipment.

I'm talking about being there! The odds of taking great images increase dramatically as you get yourself out the door and actively engaged in taking pictures. Simple concept right? I am shocked at how long I'll fiddle on the computer or watch TV (essentially doing nothing) when I could be out getting my best shot ever!

Now don't confuse what I'm saying with the "Spray and Pray Method." I'm not talking about shooting tons of pictures with the idea that at least one will turn out. I'm talking about getting out more often to take some good pictures.

Have you ever wondered how the great wildlife photographers get those amazing shots? Undeniably their high end gear helps, and so does their technical and artistic expertise. A lot of what makes them successful though is that they stay in the game. They are out there as often as they can doing and seeing. They see the great shot because they are out there when it happens.

So get out there and spend some time where the action is!