Saturday 31 December 2011
Monday 17 October 2011
Girl Party
Not as great as it first sounds! This was a photo shoot party of two sisters aged 16 and 12 with one friend each.
Aided by my long suffering family I loaded the car with all my camera gear, by all my gear, I mean ALL and by I, I mean THEY.
I had my Canon 5D MkII and assorted lenses along with half a dozen light stands, a C Stand with boom, umberellas, softboxes and reflectors galore, 6 Canon Flash Units with 3 sets of batteries for each, fully charged (overkill? I thought so, but not as it turned out). I had my grip bag, lens bag and camera tripod, my backdrop stand with several backdrops and some collapsible backgrounds. I was pleasantly surprised how little room it all took up once packed away in the car.
We arrived at the home of the home of the models for a day at around 11am and spent nearly an hour setting up, it's not easy to do whilst on crutches and with willing but untrained assistants trying to put up Hotrod Strip Light Softboxes without instructions.
Once set-up I started with a Family Portrait and then began on formal portrait for each of the girls, partly to get some guaranteed headshots but mainly as a way of relaxing them about the shoot and being in front of the camera, I needn't have worried.
Next ensued a whirwind of different styles of shot with white backdrop and train or using the westcott 28in softbox as a background, with reflected light, using the ringflash for that fashion mag look. Wardrobe changes a plenty, it was hard to keep up with the very enthusiastic and energetic girls. It was fun!
We ended up with the green screen set-up and various jumping and prancing around ensued.
I had had quite a structured and formal plan for the day in my head but as things went I found it was easier to just roll with the punches and remain flexible.
A photographers job is, of course, not over when the gear is packed away and what followed was over a week of image processing, it would be quicker if my back allowed me to spend longer periods at the computer but with a comfy bed and a combination of desktop and laptop, I progressed at a steady pace. I think in future I will only process images that are ordered or at least do only a initial process of all images and then a thorough process on ordered ones.
I think I will add this sort of shoot to my regular services but will need to work out a max number of people and guaranteed shots/person that can be offered and maintain quality and viability. Most people see the time that the photographer is there as the service that is paid for, they forget that in the case of this shoot over 70 working hours were invested.
Lessons learned:
Less is more. (take less pictures)
Less is more. (just because you have equipment...)
Know when to stop (I love taking photos and once I begin it's hard to stop)
Aided by my long suffering family I loaded the car with all my camera gear, by all my gear, I mean ALL and by I, I mean THEY.
I had my Canon 5D MkII and assorted lenses along with half a dozen light stands, a C Stand with boom, umberellas, softboxes and reflectors galore, 6 Canon Flash Units with 3 sets of batteries for each, fully charged (overkill? I thought so, but not as it turned out). I had my grip bag, lens bag and camera tripod, my backdrop stand with several backdrops and some collapsible backgrounds. I was pleasantly surprised how little room it all took up once packed away in the car.
We arrived at the home of the home of the models for a day at around 11am and spent nearly an hour setting up, it's not easy to do whilst on crutches and with willing but untrained assistants trying to put up Hotrod Strip Light Softboxes without instructions.
Once set-up I started with a Family Portrait and then began on formal portrait for each of the girls, partly to get some guaranteed headshots but mainly as a way of relaxing them about the shoot and being in front of the camera, I needn't have worried.
Next ensued a whirwind of different styles of shot with white backdrop and train or using the westcott 28in softbox as a background, with reflected light, using the ringflash for that fashion mag look. Wardrobe changes a plenty, it was hard to keep up with the very enthusiastic and energetic girls. It was fun!
We ended up with the green screen set-up and various jumping and prancing around ensued.
I had had quite a structured and formal plan for the day in my head but as things went I found it was easier to just roll with the punches and remain flexible.
A photographers job is, of course, not over when the gear is packed away and what followed was over a week of image processing, it would be quicker if my back allowed me to spend longer periods at the computer but with a comfy bed and a combination of desktop and laptop, I progressed at a steady pace. I think in future I will only process images that are ordered or at least do only a initial process of all images and then a thorough process on ordered ones.
I think I will add this sort of shoot to my regular services but will need to work out a max number of people and guaranteed shots/person that can be offered and maintain quality and viability. Most people see the time that the photographer is there as the service that is paid for, they forget that in the case of this shoot over 70 working hours were invested.
Lessons learned:
Less is more. (take less pictures)
Less is more. (just because you have equipment...)
Know when to stop (I love taking photos and once I begin it's hard to stop)
Saturday 1 October 2011
BBQ in October
Who'd have thought that we would be having BBQ's in October eh? sun cream on and unpack the ND filters again. Off to our neighbours today, time to do some happy snapping.
It is amazing how many happy snapping sessions can produce a hero shot, so keep your eyes open and camera at the ready, I will be doing!
Have a great Day!
It is amazing how many happy snapping sessions can produce a hero shot, so keep your eyes open and camera at the ready, I will be doing!
Have a great Day!
Sunday 25 September 2011
Theme Parks
(links to gear are all to Warehouse Express' website as I find them to be well stocked and reasonably priced)
They are not just for kids!
My family and I were lucky enough to have four tickets, provided free of charge, to Paultons Theme Park.
They were gifted to us by SSAFA a support association for servicemen and women, they have been aiding me in my transition into a four wheeled monster for the last 20 months.
So off we went this morning, camera bag packed, wheelchair in the back, to have a family fun day.
They were gifted to us by SSAFA a support association for servicemen and women, they have been aiding me in my transition into a four wheeled monster for the last 20 months.
So off we went this morning, camera bag packed, wheelchair in the back, to have a family fun day.
Long story short, the kids and my wife had a great time jumping on and off rides and it was very therapeutic to see the joy in their faces. I, on the other hand, acted as coat and bag watcher and was treated to a really diverse shooting environment.
It was great merging nature with fun rides, shooting just nature and some ornate old fair rides to capture in chosen crops. I hope to have processed some of the images for inclusion on my website and/or Facebook, Google+ and Twitter pages.
It was great merging nature with fun rides, shooting just nature and some ornate old fair rides to capture in chosen crops. I hope to have processed some of the images for inclusion on my website and/or Facebook, Google+ and Twitter pages.
So, just like the previous shopping post, take your camera everywhere and get some great opportunities to make some pictures.
My equipment for today was a Canon 5D MkII DSLR body with a Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L IS USM Lens attached and occasional usage of a Canon Speedlite 580 EXII Flash Unitfitted with a white Stoffen diffuser. I carried in my back pack the 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens and the Canon EF 17-40mm f4 L USM Lens as well as a Kenko KCM3100 Colour Meter and a Sekonic L-308S Flashmate Light Meter, all of which remained unused in my rucksack as it happened.
My equipment for today was a Canon 5D MkII DSLR body with a Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L IS USM Lens attached and occasional usage of a Canon Speedlite 580 EXII Flash Unitfitted with a white Stoffen diffuser. I carried in my back pack the 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens and the Canon EF 17-40mm f4 L USM Lens as well as a Kenko KCM3100 Colour Meter and a Sekonic L-308S Flashmate Light Meter, all of which remained unused in my rucksack as it happened.
Typically as is always the way, I would have changed lenses if only I had packed my Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS USM Lens but not having that made me plan my position and composition more carefully. It is a great project for any photographer to do, spend the day (or session) with only a fixed focal length lens to use. It is too easy to rely on zoom lenses to do our composition adjustments etc. Why not try it yourself?
Keep an eye out the for my new images on my website here and feel free to register or even just leave a comment in the guest book.
Cheers and keep 'clicking away every day'.
Day Out
We were lucky enough to get free tickets to Paultons so we that is where we are today, the kids are running from ride to ride having fun and I am sitting in my chair looking for new photo opportunities. it's great being out, but I am suffering somewhat and I know I will pay for this tonight and tomorrow. A theme park gives you a great new outdoor studio to shoot in.
Blending nature and fair rides is quite cool.
Blending nature and fair rides is quite cool.
Friday 23 September 2011
Shopping?
Shopping with the family tomorrow is not as tedious a prospect as it once may have been. Now I call it urban photography! It really is a fantastic opportunity to get some street shots off. I guess it is more important to me, being trapped in the house all week, no one to push my wheelchair up the hill. So when I get the chance I have to seize it! So if you can walk freely or even if you can't, like me, then seize every 'tedious family duty' with both hands and take some awesome pictures every day.
Sent from my DavidLashPhotography
Sent from my DavidLashPhotography
iPhone
Website
Well after trying and failing to get to grips with Dreamweaver and building my own website, suitable for the needs of the working photographer, I have started a free trial with ZenFolio who have an easy to understand system of web design. At the moment I have forwarded my old homepage to the new address and added a few pictures to test drive the site, my old portfolio is still available here. If anyone fancies testing my new site I would love some feedback/comments, plus feel free to register and I will be able to keep you updated on all things me.
Sunday 18 September 2011
Process Daily!
There is nothing worse than letting the images pile up! Today I have hundreds to go through, about half from my sons birthday and half from a flower project I have undertaken.
So its processing day today with a short doctors visit in the middle, a nice break by then!
My advice, which I shall be following from now on, is to keep the projects on separate CF cards and process daily!! It really is a nightmare when they stack up.
My advice, which I shall be following from now on, is to keep the projects on separate CF cards and process daily!! It really is a nightmare when they stack up.
Keep smiling as you shoot and others will smile back.
Friday 16 September 2011
Party time!
It's my sons 9th birthday "party" today, he chose 5 friends and my wife, Solveig, and I (along with our daughter) are escorting them to the cinema and then a restaurant meal after.
So I shall take the Canon 5D MKII along with the 17-40 f4L USM for group shots and any landscapes I notice along the way, the 100mm f2.8L IS USM Macro for portrait, distance and extreme close up and finally the 85mm f1.2L IS USM for low light small Telephoto lens work (also because its my favourite). In addition I will carry 2 x Canon 580 EXII flash units with modifiers to diffuse or bounce the light. A Sekonic Light Meter and a Kenko Colour meter, so as to get it right incamera, the Canon TC-80N3 Timer Remote Controller. X-rite Colour Checker Passport, Spare batteries for all, extra CF Cards and my Manfrotto 055PRO B Tripod with quick release attached to cameras base permenantly.
It may sound alot but I have been caught without one or more of these items before, you live and learn though!
I will also be trying out my new Black Rapid camera strap RS-7 fitted with 1 x Joey 2 pouch (it can take 3 I have 2 more on order) a BRAD strap and the buckle wrap. I will post a review of this in the near future.
There are times, when the back pack is fully loaded as it is today that needing a wheelchair is quite handy;-)
More later. ...
So I shall take the Canon 5D MKII along with the 17-40 f4L USM for group shots and any landscapes I notice along the way, the 100mm f2.8L IS USM Macro for portrait, distance and extreme close up and finally the 85mm f1.2L IS USM for low light small Telephoto lens work (also because its my favourite). In addition I will carry 2 x Canon 580 EXII flash units with modifiers to diffuse or bounce the light. A Sekonic Light Meter and a Kenko Colour meter, so as to get it right incamera, the Canon TC-80N3 Timer Remote Controller. X-rite Colour Checker Passport, Spare batteries for all, extra CF Cards and my Manfrotto 055PRO B Tripod with quick release attached to cameras base permenantly.
It may sound alot but I have been caught without one or more of these items before, you live and learn though!
I will also be trying out my new Black Rapid camera strap RS-7 fitted with 1 x Joey 2 pouch (it can take 3 I have 2 more on order) a BRAD strap and the buckle wrap. I will post a review of this in the near future.
There are times, when the back pack is fully loaded as it is today that needing a wheelchair is quite handy;-)
More later. ...
David Lash Photography
Has finally arrived at Blogger and I am looking forward to blogging along with you all and posting some tips on photography. Feel free to check out my web at www.davidlashphotography.co.uk
So until next time, "say cheese"
So until next time, "say cheese"
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