flowers
In the studio...
03/15/2008 @ 12:14 AM Filed in:
Photography
All last week I had the week off from
my day job so I spent as much time as I could shooting in my tiny
studio. I haven't had a camera in my hands as much as I would like
and I wanted to learn some lighting techniques. Some of the
pictures didn't turn out great, but I think it was a great learning
experience for me. It just so happens I have next week off as
well.
After reading an online article, I decided to construct a box that allows me to light from the bottom. It works very well and have enjoyed using it. It would be nice to construct something similar but more durable.
One of the things I struggle with is getting a sweep or background evenly lit. I tend to get the light at the wrong spot or too bright. Unfortunately I wasn't catching before I continued shooting. I definitely need to shoot tethered and start taking test shots before proceeding.
Before my two week vacation I purchased a few items. 1. McClamp. Its basically an articulated arm that allows you to hold things such as reflectors or sticks or flowers, or whatever out of the way. I've found they are very useful in the studio to hold up whatever I may need wherever I may need. 2. Color filters for strobes. I bought a package of 12 12x12" filters of various colors. I really enjoy mixing colors and allowing me to get other backgrounds other than white or black. Plus, I can cut about 3" off of a side to use with my speedlights and still have enough left over for the strobes. 3. Pocket Wizards. They are pricey, but man they are nice. I only got two and can't wait to get one maybe two more. One less wire is very welcomed.
This coming week I plan on shooting "drinks". Seems like a fun thing to shoot that hopefully doesn't require too much prep time like food photography. I plan on shooting using window light to get that classic food photography look as well as with some strobes and speedlights. I may get some lemons and limes to add to the shot. I may also add some splashes in with the drink motif as well.
I don't have an exact total but I guess I've taken 2000-3000 pictures last week. Having that much time to shot is just wonderful to say the least. Here's a few samples...
After reading an online article, I decided to construct a box that allows me to light from the bottom. It works very well and have enjoyed using it. It would be nice to construct something similar but more durable.
One of the things I struggle with is getting a sweep or background evenly lit. I tend to get the light at the wrong spot or too bright. Unfortunately I wasn't catching before I continued shooting. I definitely need to shoot tethered and start taking test shots before proceeding.
Before my two week vacation I purchased a few items. 1. McClamp. Its basically an articulated arm that allows you to hold things such as reflectors or sticks or flowers, or whatever out of the way. I've found they are very useful in the studio to hold up whatever I may need wherever I may need. 2. Color filters for strobes. I bought a package of 12 12x12" filters of various colors. I really enjoy mixing colors and allowing me to get other backgrounds other than white or black. Plus, I can cut about 3" off of a side to use with my speedlights and still have enough left over for the strobes. 3. Pocket Wizards. They are pricey, but man they are nice. I only got two and can't wait to get one maybe two more. One less wire is very welcomed.
This coming week I plan on shooting "drinks". Seems like a fun thing to shoot that hopefully doesn't require too much prep time like food photography. I plan on shooting using window light to get that classic food photography look as well as with some strobes and speedlights. I may get some lemons and limes to add to the shot. I may also add some splashes in with the drink motif as well.
I don't have an exact total but I guess I've taken 2000-3000 pictures last week. Having that much time to shot is just wonderful to say the least. Here's a few samples...
|
Shootin' Through
02/24/2008 @ 02:58 PM Filed in:
Photography
On Friday I decided to run to the
supermarket and buy a bouquet of flowers and shoot them using light
from a north facing window. The light in that window is create
because there is never direct sunlight and the light is always very
diffuse.
I'm discovering bouquets of flowers are great to shoot because the other flowers and plants help establish far more interesting backgrounds instead of a solid boring black, white, etc. The other stuff in the bouquet not only act as a background but also an interaction between background and subject and as you'll soon notice a blurring of foreground and background into one.
I soon realized that the bouquet isn't enough of a background as I was noticing the color of my carpet, table, windows, and even sky and clouds appearing in the distant background. So I decided to get a white towel to place on top of the table which worked wonderfully. I don't think I have used a white background before and was quite pleased with the results.
I'm discovering bouquets of flowers are great to shoot because the other flowers and plants help establish far more interesting backgrounds instead of a solid boring black, white, etc. The other stuff in the bouquet not only act as a background but also an interaction between background and subject and as you'll soon notice a blurring of foreground and background into one.
I soon realized that the bouquet isn't enough of a background as I was noticing the color of my carpet, table, windows, and even sky and clouds appearing in the distant background. So I decided to get a white towel to place on top of the table which worked wonderfully. I don't think I have used a white background before and was quite pleased with the results.
Visit to Napa Valley
11/02/2007 @ 08:40 AM Filed in:
Photography
A couple of weeks ago, a large group
of about 100 people from work took a day trip to the Napa Valley.
Most of us took pictures along the way.
Below are several highlights from the trip. I'd like to go back up their and do it all over again but this time go by myself so I can take my sweet time jumping from one garden to the next. I also included some photos I took during that trip that have a Halloween theme. Enjoy!
These are streams of water from a fountain found on at a winery (I can't remember the winery's name).
And now for the Halloween photos. The following are of a fairly elaborate Halloween decoration outside someone's house a few of use discovered a few hundred feet from one of the wineries we visited. Although it was rainy, we had to check it out. Happy Halloween.
Below are several highlights from the trip. I'd like to go back up their and do it all over again but this time go by myself so I can take my sweet time jumping from one garden to the next. I also included some photos I took during that trip that have a Halloween theme. Enjoy!
These are streams of water from a fountain found on at a winery (I can't remember the winery's name).
And now for the Halloween photos. The following are of a fairly elaborate Halloween decoration outside someone's house a few of use discovered a few hundred feet from one of the wineries we visited. Although it was rainy, we had to check it out. Happy Halloween.
180mm f/3.5L Macro lens
09/29/2007 @ 05:55 PM Filed in:
Photography
I'm trying to sell my Canon EF 100-400
F/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens. I told a guy at work about it just to see
if he was interested. He's not but he thinks maybe someone else he
knows might be interested in buying it. Its in very good condition.
I believe I have owned it for about year and half but have only
used it 2-3 times and it has always had a UV filter on the front.
Hopefully I can find a buyer for it soon.
Why am I selling it? In a year and half I have used it 2 times, 3 times max. Obviously I don't have a need for it. So I'd to sell it and buy Canon's 180mm f/3.5L Macro lens. It should give me a different perspective than the 100mm Macro as well as increase my focusing distance which would be nice if I ever get back into shooting splashes. So the guy at work is up for selling his to me and he let me borrow it in order to check it out over the weekend.
This afternoon I decided to give it a quick try with the flowers I shot 2 nights ago. My initial impression is I like it but man is it heavy compared to the other macro lens. Hand holding it isn't much fun. Tomorrow I hope to take it outside to try out the autofocus as well as smaller apertures. I'm already sold on getting it, its just a matter of selling my lens first so I can in turn use the money to buy this lens.
Here's some of the photos I took earlier today:
Why am I selling it? In a year and half I have used it 2 times, 3 times max. Obviously I don't have a need for it. So I'd to sell it and buy Canon's 180mm f/3.5L Macro lens. It should give me a different perspective than the 100mm Macro as well as increase my focusing distance which would be nice if I ever get back into shooting splashes. So the guy at work is up for selling his to me and he let me borrow it in order to check it out over the weekend.
This afternoon I decided to give it a quick try with the flowers I shot 2 nights ago. My initial impression is I like it but man is it heavy compared to the other macro lens. Hand holding it isn't much fun. Tomorrow I hope to take it outside to try out the autofocus as well as smaller apertures. I'm already sold on getting it, its just a matter of selling my lens first so I can in turn use the money to buy this lens.
Here's some of the photos I took earlier today:
In the kitchen...
09/29/2007 @ 01:07 AM Filed in:
Photography
Last night I picked up a bouquet and a
few sunflowers on the way home. I decided to shoot in my kitchen
using the counter, sink, and cabinets as a backdrop. Check out a
few of the shots below; some of them are taken in the studio as
well.
While randomly surfing the net, I found this blog - Still Life With... Although it is food photography related its not a bad resource for general still life work, equipment, and technique. Also it has been providing me encouragement as the author is a software developer turned food photographer which is similar to myself (granted I'm not quite there....YET). I'll probably write more about this site later but I have to go to bed now.
While randomly surfing the net, I found this blog - Still Life With... Although it is food photography related its not a bad resource for general still life work, equipment, and technique. Also it has been providing me encouragement as the author is a software developer turned food photographer which is similar to myself (granted I'm not quite there....YET). I'll probably write more about this site later but I have to go to bed now.
today's bouquet
09/23/2007 @ 01:21 AM Filed in:
Photography
Today I decided to pick up a flower
bouquet to shoot. I too often shoot single or maybe double flowers
and some times several but of one kind. So I thought I'd mix it up
a bit and try to get one with a early fall look.
Before I get to them, I mailed 12 postcards to various people include past customers, editors of flower or gardening magazines, and a few interior decorators. I think I'll be surprised to hear that the postcard trigger just one of those people to visit this site but who knows. It cost me very little to make and mail them and there is a possibility. I plan on actually making contact either through email or written letter to those editors in hopes to get some of my work published.
And here are some of today's photos...
Before I get to them, I mailed 12 postcards to various people include past customers, editors of flower or gardening magazines, and a few interior decorators. I think I'll be surprised to hear that the postcard trigger just one of those people to visit this site but who knows. It cost me very little to make and mail them and there is a possibility. I plan on actually making contact either through email or written letter to those editors in hopes to get some of my work published.
And here are some of today's photos...
More roses
09/17/2007 @ 07:43 PM Filed in:
Photography
Last night I shot some more roses.
Went to the grocery store and the only thing that seemed
interesting of their selection were the roses. I wanted to practice
shooting and lighting as well as keep my creativity exercised. But
in the end I think I ended a Sunday afternoon with some good
images.
Before I show them I recently got the idea of mixing water into my flower photography. I won't reveal all my ideas, not until I have the pictures anyway. One idea has to do with the submersion of a bloom in water. When I came up with the idea, I didn't realize that flowers float. Now I realize, due to experience, they do in fact float. The problem with that is...I don't want them to float. Now I need to find a way to keep them submerged without me holding them down constantly.
And yes, I'm still in backup hell. I have all my flower shots backed up, now I'm working on all my personal images and then on to other general images. I expect to have 2 sets of over 100 DVDs when I'm finished. I have no idea how to I'll do incremental backups. Besides the image files themselves I also need to keep the XMP files from Photoshop & Lightroom as they contain the all important adjustments metadata.
Finally, on Sept. 9, 2006 (a year ago) my Canon 5D arrived at my door step. I bought it as at the time I thought the digital instantaneous results and no cost usage would allow me to experiment more than what film allows. Well after 1 year's of use, I still believe that to be true. I estimate I have taken over 19,000 pictures with it. That's a lot of exposures in a year. I'm not sure how many I have kept, but its definitely a small fraction of the total.
And now for the photos...
I intently adjusted this to be dark. I may lighten it but just a bit for the finished product. But this should be pretty close the real deal. I wanted the look of early morning or evening light indoors.
I really dig the edges of the rose petals here; interesting patterns. Unfortunately, at this size its probably too small to notice what I'm talking about. Also, at the bottom the leaves and stems have a nice layering effect that makes them appear like they are vibrating.
Originally this was in the portrait orientation (rotated 90 degrees).
The Container Store sells, among many other things, pieces of plastic that is meant to be used to line shelves so that small things don't fall through. Several months back I bought such a piece for my shelves in my studio. I haven't used it until placing it in front of the rose and here's the result. Very moody as a rose shot probably should be.
In a book I recently read about human vision and the visual arts, there is a section where the author discusses two systems that make up human vision: the where system and the what system. In order to help explain the two systems she discusses the famous Mona Lisa painting. As visual aids she creates versions of the painting that resemble what the where system sees when looking at it and what the what system sees. This image reminds me of those visual aids (look at it as if you are using your peripheral vision and not your center of gaze).
Also, the histogram for this picture is odd. RGB components appear to be almost completely separated (though they don't appear so in the image) and there doesn't appear to be much luminance data.
Above is what the histogram originally looked like. I obviously widen it to add contrast (mostly to add more blacks).
A shadow of a rose in a clear vase on a piece of foamcore.
Before I show them I recently got the idea of mixing water into my flower photography. I won't reveal all my ideas, not until I have the pictures anyway. One idea has to do with the submersion of a bloom in water. When I came up with the idea, I didn't realize that flowers float. Now I realize, due to experience, they do in fact float. The problem with that is...I don't want them to float. Now I need to find a way to keep them submerged without me holding them down constantly.
And yes, I'm still in backup hell. I have all my flower shots backed up, now I'm working on all my personal images and then on to other general images. I expect to have 2 sets of over 100 DVDs when I'm finished. I have no idea how to I'll do incremental backups. Besides the image files themselves I also need to keep the XMP files from Photoshop & Lightroom as they contain the all important adjustments metadata.
Finally, on Sept. 9, 2006 (a year ago) my Canon 5D arrived at my door step. I bought it as at the time I thought the digital instantaneous results and no cost usage would allow me to experiment more than what film allows. Well after 1 year's of use, I still believe that to be true. I estimate I have taken over 19,000 pictures with it. That's a lot of exposures in a year. I'm not sure how many I have kept, but its definitely a small fraction of the total.
And now for the photos...
I intently adjusted this to be dark. I may lighten it but just a bit for the finished product. But this should be pretty close the real deal. I wanted the look of early morning or evening light indoors.
I really dig the edges of the rose petals here; interesting patterns. Unfortunately, at this size its probably too small to notice what I'm talking about. Also, at the bottom the leaves and stems have a nice layering effect that makes them appear like they are vibrating.
Originally this was in the portrait orientation (rotated 90 degrees).
The Container Store sells, among many other things, pieces of plastic that is meant to be used to line shelves so that small things don't fall through. Several months back I bought such a piece for my shelves in my studio. I haven't used it until placing it in front of the rose and here's the result. Very moody as a rose shot probably should be.
In a book I recently read about human vision and the visual arts, there is a section where the author discusses two systems that make up human vision: the where system and the what system. In order to help explain the two systems she discusses the famous Mona Lisa painting. As visual aids she creates versions of the painting that resemble what the where system sees when looking at it and what the what system sees. This image reminds me of those visual aids (look at it as if you are using your peripheral vision and not your center of gaze).
Also, the histogram for this picture is odd. RGB components appear to be almost completely separated (though they don't appear so in the image) and there doesn't appear to be much luminance data.
Above is what the histogram originally looked like. I obviously widen it to add contrast (mostly to add more blacks).
A shadow of a rose in a clear vase on a piece of foamcore.
Rosey
08/28/2007 @ 12:01 AM Filed in:
Photography
Last night I took some quick shots of
a few roses I bought at the grocery store. I wanted to just shoot
them normally as I really liked the color of the roses (a few were
dual-toned) and to help start the creative juices flowing. I was
cut short a bit due to time (was getting too late at night) but I
think I was able to make worthy of posting. I re-used my make shift
snoot with my Canon flash. The snoot is just a cone made out of
regular 8.5x11 printer paper taped to the flash. I have a few new
ideas I hope to explore later this week.
Unrelated: I bought a flash shoe adapter for a light stand so I can put my Vivitar or Canon flash on a light stand instead of hand holding them or velcroing them to a stand. And 200 or so DVDs so I can finally backup my scans and digital photos. I have probably 400-500 GB of photos (I want to try to trim that number down a bit) and I've never backed up any of the photos. I plan on doing that very soon (still need to formulate a plan).
And on to the pictures...
Unrelated: I bought a flash shoe adapter for a light stand so I can put my Vivitar or Canon flash on a light stand instead of hand holding them or velcroing them to a stand. And 200 or so DVDs so I can finally backup my scans and digital photos. I have probably 400-500 GB of photos (I want to try to trim that number down a bit) and I've never backed up any of the photos. I plan on doing that very soon (still need to formulate a plan).
And on to the pictures...