Blocked or Not

Apologies for the lack of blog. It's kind of funny how creativity can be really active in one area and dead in the water in another. Whilst I've had no lack of ideas to shoot, I've really struggled [and failed] to keep up with this blog.

Maybe I'm trying too hard to get it just right. Something I definitely suffered from when I first started out as a photographer. Somewhere along the way I stopped worry about not being good enough or getting it wrong, and just had fun with it.

A lesson learned for this blog perhaps? The irony doesn't escape me. :)

One of the things I am currently doing in my studio is shooting all my props, to create a catalogue. I was happily shooting some last weekend, not thinking at all about creating any concept or idea, just shooting one item after another, same lighting etc. What I need is a visual reference, plain and simple.

Half way through the shoot I suddenly started to get ideas. And since I had the props right there and was set up for it anyway, I thought why not. The above image is one of ideas that wouldn't go away. :)

[Note: Although very realistic, the above image is a doll not a real baby. :)]

The light for this image was two strip light soft boxes, horizontally one on each side of the product table. The camera was clamped to a boom stand directly over the table, tethered to my computer so I could see the images. I also used a very long extension cord for my trigger. :)

I am really enjoying shooting my props catalogue and it's certainly good practice for product photography. It also made me realize just how much stuff.. props... I have. But that's another story for another day. :)

Six Outstanding Photography Tutorial Sites

There are lots of fabulous photography tutorial websites out there; many more than most of us will ever have the time to follow. So here are my top six favourites.

1. Strobist.com

Run by David Hobby, Strobist.com is definitely one of the “go to” websites for anyone wanting to learn about off the camera portable flash. The wealth of information available is incredible, yet presented in friendly and manageable chunks. If you haven’t checked it out I highly recommend it.

2. Creativelive.com

I am a huge Creativelive fan. They regularly stream workshops on a wide range of photography subjects, which you can either watch live at no cost, or purchase the video files to download.

Admittedly due to time zone differences, a lot of classes start in the middle of the night for anyone like me down under; however this is a small price to pay for outstanding content.

3. Speedliting.com

Another excellent small flash resource, Syl Arena’s speedliting.com is slanted slightly towards “canonistas” but is also helpful to all small flash users in general.

This site carries lots of really helpful articles, links to manuals and a speedliting forum. Highly recommended.

4. Neil vanNiekerk - Tangents

Neil is a very talented portrait and wedding photographer who uses portable flash in his work brilliant. His blog “Tangents” is full of lot of lighting info that is relevant to many other aspects of photography.

5. DIYPhotography.net

An amazing site where contributors send in articles about their latest project or hack. Topics include building your own lights and soft boxes to cheat sheets, techniques and reviews.

6. KelbyTraining.com

I’m a big fan of this site, which has more live streaming video tutorials on photography, lighting, Photoshop etc than you can shake a stick at!

Although this is a subscription based site [USD$24.95 a month] you can also sign up for a free trial. Subscribe monthly, or just a month here and there as you need [and budget] allows. Definitely worth a look.

Have a missed your favourite site? Then please leave a comment below so I can check it out. J

Death By Beauty

Back in Australia and back in the studio for my first shoot for 2012!

My usual style is quiet high contrast low key. So I decided to start the year off by stretching myself right out of my comfort zone and into high key. And what could be more so than a beauty shoot - with a twist. :)

Having a good working relationship with your model is important at every shoot, but especially when you are asking the model to do something that requires great care. Like standing in the studio with a noose around her neck.

Although the noose is not tight, is it suspended from a boom stand above, restricting movement. I am very fortuante to have a good working relationship with model and actress Jessica Hutchinson, whom I have worked with before.

Always remember the golden rule: "Look after the model". :)

The lighting was set up as a beauty shot. I used two small strip-light soft boxes to blow out the backdrop [in this case seamless paper] and a beauty dish directly in front of Jessica to give the soft wrap around light. Bounce back from the white seamless also helped to ensure Jessica was evenly lit.

The shoot was lots of fun and a great way to get back into the studio after an extended break overseas. :)

Gear Addiction

"Put down that credit card and step away from the computer".

This is something I have to tell myself on a regular basis. Also known as "Gear Acquisition Syndrome". See shiny new gear - want. Not need, but definitely want.

I've always been a bit of a magpie. It's not that I think that new gear will make me a better photographer. It's the many possibilities that they represent.

My addiction extends to photography books, DVDs and online training. The later is slightly more justifiable and I think really good value. But with an already large backlog of material to read/watch it was time to make a few resolutions.

1. To sort out the gear that I just don't use and can't see myself using. Have a gear sale.

2. Don't buy any more gear until I'm using all the gear I kept.

3. Read all the books and watch all the DVDs and online training.

So far so good. I'll let you know how I go. :)

Joe McNally and keeping it all going

2012 is off to a create start. Last weekend I attended the Joe McNally Location and Lighting 2 day workshop, organized by Marc Koegel and the great team at the Vancouver Photo Workshops.

Joe McNally is not only an incredibly talented photographer but also a really genuinely nice guy, very generous with his knowledge and quick with a joke.

Watching Joe work quite frankly makes my head spin a little. So many things to think about and take into consideration; Joe has been doing it so long that it seems effortless although he assures us that it's not.

One of the best parts of the workshop for me was working with the other photographers, watching them approach the same basic brief [a model shoot] from completely different angles, and sharing in their thought processes. There were definitely some incredibly talented photographers there, both experienced and new to the craft, all trying to create the image in their head.

One thing Joe said that really stuck with me is that "Photography is 90% confidence".  Like any creative art, there are so many people ready to tear down your work that it's vital you have the confidence in your own work. Even if it's just to say "I'm just starting out and doing the best I can".

I look back at some of my very early work and cringe - but I knew it was the best I could do at the time. Sometimes we are so focused on how far we feel we still have to go, it's important to look back to see how far we've come.

A good start indeed. :)

A new start for 2012

Apologies for lack of blog postings; traveling around Canada since early December has been really fabulous but one of the traps I always seem to fall into is losing track of days/dates.

Suddenly it's 2012 already and time to think about what I want to personally achieve in my photography for the coming year. I have a large stack of books and DVDs that I want to get through, which just isn't going to happen on it's own.

So my first goal is to dedicate one night a week to "photography study". I'm pleased with how my photography is progressing but there is still so much I want to learn.

My other major goal is to "use or lose". I do suffer a bit from "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" and have a lot of small flash modifiers and books that presently sit on the shelf collecting dust as I tend to use my favourites over and over.

Time to be brutal. I need to sort out what I use and want to keep and what needs to go. Once that's sorted I will be having a clear-out sale of all the bits and pieces that need a new home. And to make room for the new stuff that I know will eventually make it's way in. :)

I also have a new direction I'd like to go in for some of my personal projects, but more on that later when I'm a little further down the track.

Happy belated New Year everyone. :)

Joys and Challenges of Travel Photography

One of the things that constantly fascinates me when I travel is how different the light is in the northern hemisphere from that in Australia. It's hard to explain. Light in the northern hemisphere is less harsh, more defused. Colours in the countryside are more saturated and deep.

The Canadian landscape challenges and frustrates me. So much beauty - how can I possible hope to capture it?

Unfortunately there are no easy answers. I mostly shoot in manual, so I've been experimenting with my camera settings - mostly shutter speed and ISO as I don't want to drop my aperture and get too shallow a depth of field.

Winter is Canada also brings with it the challenge of late sunrises and early sunsets. My camera settings at 8 am are completely different to those several hours later.

Okay so this probably sounds like pretty basic stuff; and it is. But it's also a bit like starting over again, because the rules seem to apply slightly differently here. So I shoot, chimp, bracket, shoot again. Rinse and repeat.

Which pretty much for me is a little slice of heaven... :)