Be Deliberate

With the advent of the digital photographic age it seems that we as photographers are trying to speed everything up. While aspects of photography like post processing, workflow, and frames per second certainly have benefits for speed there is one aspect that doesn’t. I am talking about the time it takes to create or make an image. When photographing with slide film we generally took a bit more time because each frame cost money. Not only did it cost to buy the film in the first place but it cost more in most cases to have it developed, especially if you used a professional lab. To really improve we also had to take notes for given situations and try to match them up when we received our images back after a couple weeks. It was a painful process. However, in that process we became masters of our work. We took extra time to see the tonality of the image and to ensure that everything was perfect before we clicked the button. “Fix it in Photoshop” wasn’t an option. If we didn’t get it right we wasted money and the shot was lost.


I have been guilty of moving too fast and rushing through a session or an outing. It is very easy to get in the habit of taking several shots to get it all set rather than setting it all and taking a shot. It seems that we as photographers are often under pressure, actual or perceived, to give a client hundreds of images (or even thousands for weddings) rather than a handful of great images. By doing that I am not certain that we are providing the quality service that we could. Besides, if you take the time to get it right then you can move on to other scenes or compositions. Being deliberate with your photography also helps speed up your workflow and post processing because there is less editing involved.

Sure, at a wedding you may have to move a little faster and take a few more images but that was the case back in the film days too. A wedding day is full of things needing photographed and you are on a time table! Perhaps you are a child photographer and you have to take several shots to get the expression you want. That too is fine and if you have taken the time to get everything set then when that expression shows itself you can easily get the shot. Don’t spray and then pray you got the shot. Know that you got it and move on.

This blog post is as much for me as it is for you and here is my final advice. Slow down and be deliberate. I’ll bet your images improve right away if you take the time to make them.

Wings over Homestead

Anything aviation related has always fascinated me.  How they fly, how fast they move, and the men and women who fly them.  See, I have been a pilot since 1994.  I don't fly that much any more but I certainly never pass up the opportunity to photograph them.  Today, I headed out to the Wings over Homestead air show at the Homestead Air Force Base.  This is a show that comes every year or two and it is always entertaining.  

While it might not be a Sun-N-Fun or an Oshkosh it is a fun place to be when the jets rocket down the runway.  I would like to take this time to thank all those involved in bringing us this free air show.  More than that though I would like to thank the men and women of the armed forces for their efforts each and every day.

Take a look at some of my favorite from today.  Enjoy!

Changing Light

It has always amazed me the difference a few minutes can make during sunrises or sunsets.  Below you will see two photographs taken just a few minutes apart.  You can see in the first one that the sun hasn't risen to the point that direct light is hitting the buildings.  It is however strangely iluminating the clouds just above them. 

A short time later the second shot was taken.  It is easy to tell that it is just after the sun has fully risen as the light is directly reflected in the clouds, the buildings and the water.  Always remember, at sunset and sunrise if you don't like the light just wait a few minutes.

These two images are distinctly different and each one works depending on what you like.

Don't forget about my Understanding the Basics of Exposure book that just hit the virtual shelves! You can find the press release here: http://eldridgestudios.blogspot.com/2012/10/exciting-news.html The price is only $2.99!

Nothing to Speak of but Fun Nonetheless

This past Saturday (9/8/2012) I up and decided to head to the Everglades for some photos. I grabbed the family and some photo gear, got in the truck, and off we went. We arrived at the fist destination just prior to sunset… the perfect time. We doused ourselves with a heavy dose of bug spray and I started setting up the gear. Within a few minutes we all realized that the bugs seemed to be more attracted to the spray than repelled and my family ended up back in the truck with the AC going. I stayed out and battled the little critters for a few shots. Nature was not cooperating.

I decided that since not everything was coming together I would still make the best of the situation. I worked on composition and I worked on exposure technique. This is something you can do regardless of what the world around you is doing (or not doing in this case). Each of these is the first image in a given composition and I used the Zone System to ensure that the tonality of the photograph was exactly where I wanted it to be. I didn’t "chimp" to find the proper exposure. I used the spot meter on the camera which was set to manual mode to target a specific part of the image. Then, setting the exposure to the tonality desired I clicked the shutter.  Nature (or people) will not always be at their best. They will both have their good days and their bad days but that should not stop you from becoming a better photographer. Sure, I have better images out there but given the situation… They aren’t bad at all and on top of that it was fun! 

Hanging with the Frogs

1/160 @ f/8

Most of you know I live near the Everglades National Park.  Well, last night I loaded the family up at about 8:00pm to head deep into the Glades at the prospect of photographing some tree frogs.  There are a couple of trees at one of the simple pull offs that were rumored to be loaded with the little rascals after dark.  I am very happy to report that those rumors were VERY true.

I knew that the light would be nonexistent so I decided to take a portrait lighting set up.  I brought a light stand, umbrella, and a flash (outfitted with Pocket Wizards for remote triggering).  There were a few challenges capturing these images but with a little patience I was able to overcome them.  The challenges included trying to get the camera tripod set up just right for the images, shining a light on the frogs to allow for focusing, getting the off camera lighting set up (very interesting in tight quarters with an umbrella), and swatting mosquitoes.  If you managed to get all that set up and working it was just a matter of moments before the little guys decided to jump to another location.  Normally I would have my wife help but we brought our son (who's 3).  It just didn't seem like a good idea to let him run free in the Everglades at night...  eh, call me an over protective father.

1/160 @ f/7.1

I used my Nikon D700 with a 105 f/2.8 macro lens.  The hardest part was dealing with the lack of light and the shallow depth of field when shooting macro.  Always remember, the closer you are to your subject the more compressed the depth of field becomes.  If you are shooting normally you know that an f/8 aperture gives you a considerable amount of DOF.  When you are shooting macro and you are very close to your subject the same f/8 will produces a very shallow DOF.  The images you see here were all shot between f/7.1 and f/8.  Just look at how everything in front of the eyes and everything behind the eyes falls quickly out of focus.

1/160 @ f/8

This was a great place to go.

Remember, if you ever have any questions shoot me an email or give me a call.  You may not be the only one with the question and perhaps I can answer it with a blog post.

Animoto Slide Shows

In the past I have never been a huge fan of slide shows. I think this harkens back to the days of real slides in a projector and boring teachers. Seriously, who wants to set around and watch a simple slide show? Strangely enough, I do now.


Recently I saw a couple of slide shows that were amazing. They have movement, videos embedded in them, and catchy music. I inquired a bit about the service that was used to create the slide shows and then, while attending Imaging USA I got a hands on look. That helped me to make up my mind and give it a try. The service is called Animoto and it is simple to use.   It also gives me something else I can offer to my clients that I think they will cherish.

Check out this slide show of a recent wedding. Let me know what you think!

Preparing for a Workshop

I recently went on a one day workshop in Delray Beach, FL (see a full review and photos here).  The instructor was world renown travel photographer Rick Sammon...  You can find out more about him on his blog http://www.ricksammon.info/.  If you have been keeping up with me then you know he provided me a portfolio review a few weeks ago.

1.  Make sure you have everything you need.

• My general rule of thumb is to take more than I need because as the song goes it is better to have and don't need than need and don't have.  Since this is a workshop that is based in a hotel there is no real issue in taking some extra gear.  If I were going on a hike it would be a different story.

2.  Don't be shy.

• You paid money for this just like everyone else in the group.  Be kind but make sure you get your questions answered.

3.  Use the time to socialize/network.

• You are in a group of like minded people (well, mostly anyway).  Take your business cards and pass them out.  Get business cards from the others as well.  These are folks that you can help later down the line or that can help you.
• Don't eat lunch alone.  Make sure you hang out and get to know your fellow workshop attendees.
• Follow up after the workshop with everyone that you met

4.  Have fun!!!!!!!!!

• Don't let anything get in the way of you having fun.  Most of us learn more when we are fully engaged and having a blast.

Digital Delray Days with Rick Sammon

I just got back from my one day workshop with Rick Sammon.  This workshop was hosted at the Colony Hotel in Delray Beach, FL.  This hotel was built in 1926 and still used the original elevator!  The Digital Delray Days was the first annual workshop.  It was limited to eight people so we could rub elbows with Rick.

After meeting at 8:00am the day started off with an introduction to HDR photography.  Then we moved onto working with a professional model.  This included some posing, etiquette, HDR photography, window lighting, and basic flash photography.  After lunch we got together and Rick showed us some post processing techniques.  The last part of the day was a walk down the streets of Delray.  Rick is a master at talking to complete strangers and convincing them that nine people (8+Rick) taking their photographs is a good idea.  Below is a list of pros and cons for the workshop.

Pros

• Very well instructed by Mr. Sammon:  You can always learn something from a workshop regardless of your skill level or years of experience (you just have to watch and listen).  Rick did a great job even with the different experience levels of the group.
• Beautiful Location:  Not only is the Colony Hotel beautiful but the area is nice as well.  The beach was only about 1/2 mile from the hotel.
• Small number of participants:  There was a class maximum of eight people.  This meant you got a chance for one on one instruction.
• Rick and his wife Susan:  They are great and friendly people.  They make you feel comfortable after just a few moments. 

Cons

• There is just not enough time in the day.  The workshop was very well planned out but if just felt a little rushed.  Rick and Susan noticed this right away and by the end of the day had taken a poll among us how many days they should be for next year.  This should not be a deal breaker at all... if you ever have the chance to spend the day with Rick and his wife.

The images shown in this post are just a few of what was captured.  Enjoy!

"The Magic City" at the Magic Hour

I have mentioned the "magic hour" of photography before.  The "magic hour" is that time 30min before the sunrises to 30min after (or 30min before sunset to 30min after).  This is the time when the light is it's most favorable for almost any kind of photography.  This post is about how quickly the light can change and how different the photo can be as a result.  Each of these photos below has a very different feel.  Both photos were taken from the same spot on the same day.

5 Image Panoramic shot with 80-200 f2.8 @ f11

The first one was shot just a few minutes before dawn.  You can see it has a very "cool" feel with all the blues and darker colors from the city.  This image in particular was shot as a five frame panoramic and has extreme detail as a result.

Single Image cropped as a Panoramic.  Shot with 24-70mm f2.8 @ f16

The second image was taken 15 minutes later than the first.  Just 15 minutes...  As you can see it has a very different feel with the tones being very "warm" in nature.  You can see the reflection of the golden sky in most of the buildings.  This images was shot as a single image using a 24-70mm f2.8 and cropped to a panoramic view.  Even at this resolution you can get large panoramic prints without loss of detail.

Remember, if you don't like the light when you first arrive to a site you may be better suited to wait until it changes than rushing off to find a new place.  The above images are great examples of that.  Please feel free to share this post on Facebook or Google +.  Remember too that if you have any questions feel free to e-mail me or even give me a call.  Thanks for stopping by!!!!!

Artistic. Personal.

When I picked two defining words for my business (artistic and personal) I never dreamed that it would have such an effect on both my clients and my attitude. 

I recently photographed a wedding but long before the big day I decided to do things a little different.  Trying to talk things out on the phone or through e-mail just doesn’t cut it for a wedding.  I wanted to get to know my clients so I asked them to pick a restaurant and my wife and I took them out to dinner.  It was really nice getting to know them.  We talked about whatever came up and I got an idea of what to expect from them and they got an idea of what to expect from me.  A few weeks after the dinner we met again for an engagement shoot and that too went really well.  Now, they had a really good understanding of what to expect from me.  The more you get to know your clients the better photographs you will make. 

Weddings are a TON of work and not all the photos I take are "artistic" in nature but they can be personal.  I apply these two words to my post processing as well.  You would be surprised how defining words can well…  define you.

I will be following this same method with all my future clients.  Doing things this way allowed me to get to know my clients on a personal level.  I would like to think that we are slightly more than passing acquaintances. 

Fruit and Spice Park (Homestead, FL)

I have lived in Florida for almost 7 years now.  Today my wife and I decided to try out the fruit and spice park that is within 10min of where we live.  I am amazed to have lived next to such a photographer's paradise for so long and not known that it was here.  There is something to be said about your own "back yard".  I see my self spending a good bit of time there throughout the year now.  We had a great time and despite the fact that we were there in the worst possible light I did come away with a few keepers.  I also found out that bamboo looks really cool in black and white!!!!!

The Importance of a Contract

The first thing I want to mention on this topic is the fact that I am NOT a lawyer.  If anything here sounds like legal advice...  It isn't...  This is practical advice.

Recently my wife took a job to photograph a group doing underwater dives.  She contacted the group leader and discussed the basics.  Among those basics was a price quote for her time and the end product (dvd of the images).  The price was lower than usual because it was for a good cause.  There were three dives scheduled.

Day 1:  She went and had a great time photographing the group underwater.  When she got home I asked about a contract.  I had forgotten to get one ready for her.  She said no but would take one the second day.

Day 2:  I did not get a contract ready so she went again without the contract.  No worries we will get it on the third day.

Evening of Day 2:  The 3rd day of diving was called off due to the expected seas.  My wife called the group leader to discuss how the payment was to be made and that the price would only be 2/3rds of the discussed price because the 3rd day was canceled.  The group leader told her that he had no recollection of the conversation where cost was discussed.  He said that it was supposed to be for charity/donation.  Apparently there was a miscommunication somewhere...

Here is the business nugget ...  Get a contract signed before you ever take that first photograph!!!  Always!  If we had this misunderstanding would have been evident on Day 1 before the dives.  She would have gone anyway but there would not have been any confusion or expectation of payment.

Conclusion:  Thankfully a resolution with the group leader has been met!!!

Bottom Line:  Get a contract even if you do charity work!

HDR is not Just for Color

HDR photography has been around for some time now. If you are a photographer chances are you fall in one of three places.

1. You hate it in all of its forms

2. You are okay with the HDR that is close to “natural” looking (this is where I fall)

3. You love it in all of its forms

This is not an HDR hate/like post and you can check out a detailed post I did on HDR here. This is about another aspect you may not have thought about. Sometimes the issues I have with HDR is the amount of color saturation you get when you merge all the images. I generally pull the saturation and vibrancy back in my HDR images to “tone it down”. This time around however I took it all the way down. HDR is not just for color images. Pulling out the dynamic range for images and then converting them to black and white can have a very dramatic effect, especially on any large “puffy” clouds. The next time you are processing some HDR images consider them for black and white just to see what you can come up with.

Working a Subject

Often times when I go out for a fun day with my camera I find a single subject that catches my attention.  Ages ago I would set up a shot that I thought was good and take a couple of exposures.  Then, I would pick up and move along.  Now days though I tend to want to work the one subject just to see the different looks I can produce.  That extends to post processing as well.  I create several "virtual copies" in Lightroom and try different settings to see what happens.  I might even move it over to Photoshop and try working with some layers.  Sometimes all of this works and sometimes it doesn't.  I recently went to South Beach for some sunrise fun.  I wasn't overly excited about the photos I was getting in the beginning and so I became interested in the lifeguard stand that was next to me.  I worked it from many angles and took multiple exposures so that I could do some HDR work on them in post.  Take a look and let me know what you think.  Remember, don't just run up, take a shot, and run away.  There are many ways to explore a single subject.