I took a step back

I apologize for not posting for nearly a month. I have taken a step back and also a jump forward. I am beginning a new era for my life. A significant new chapter. I am attempting to go back to college to pursue a bachelor's degree in order to get into a position to become a teacher.

For a vast majority of my life (I will be 40 this year) people around me have recognized the gift I have for sharing my knowledge. Some use words that aren't family friendly, others simply say, "you should be a teacher".

If it all goes as planned, I will attend the Art Institute of Pittsburgh beginning in May. Depending on the class load will of course determine the graduation date. I plan on majoring in Photography with a minor in web design, fashion or advertising.

On a totally different, but possibly parallel note....I found this video that I really wanted to share.

To ME, this video kind of brings together the ability as humans to find a common ground and that if we just take the time to smile, dance and laugh....we can be better stewards of this big blue marble called Earth.



Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Tiffany C ptII

I will be shooting with Tiff quite a bit so the post titles might get a bit redundant, hopefully the pictures will not.

Yesterday we just did a really fast session of head shots. But I got her walking down the street and can't pass up an opportunity to take pictures.

(Forgive me for not having setup photos, I keep forgetting to do that stuff).

For the head shots, I had Tiff sit in a wing back chair. I put a bare flash over her left shoulder and a bare flash front/right about 4 feet above her sitting height. Both flashes are Vivitar 285 with poverty wizards (16 channel wireless from eBay). The output was 1/16 on both and looking back, I should have used an umbrella to soften them a bit. Next time I will play with that AND take set up pictures.

The "Main Street" pic was cloudy/available light shot w/ my 300 @ f/2.8.
Headshot was probably my 85mm or 50mm both shot with my original 1D.

We are planning an Alice in Wonderland type shoot soon....not sure where that one will go...LOL

All photos edited in Adobe Lightroom 2.2, sharpness, clarity and black levels adjusted.

Strolling down Main Street


Headshot

Tiffany C

I finally got to shoot with Tiffany today. We did about an hour of "lesson" type pictures, where I applied camera settings to what we talked about on Tuesday. I would set the camera, make some changes, adjust lighting etc and we would review the images. It's one thing to say and show someone, but it's all together another to have them do it. Today I did the settings. Hopefully we can round up a model and Tiffany can take all the pictures next time....I just haven't told her that yet...LOL

Here are just three from our session today. She is only the second person I have ever met that has what I call a "light switch smile". When you turn it on, it lights up a room.

Step 1: Get help

I mentioned on Twitter over the weekend that "I have a sense of reinvention, clarification, renewal and refocus. All thats missing is execution".

I'm working on the execution.

Well, less than an hour ago I had a meeting with Tiffany. It's our second meeting actually. I am working with her to be my assistant and muse as well as a second shooter. I hope to impart to her all my knowledge and use her as an idea sounding board as well as tap her youthful inventiveness and keen eye. To top it off, she's eager and beautiful. The icing on the cake is that she lives here in town and we can shoot on a very short notice.

Today we worked with camera basics like ISO, shutter speed and f/stop. She already takes pictures, but the technical details will hopefully make her a BETTER photographer. Thursday we will be shooting business head shots and if time allows, a few wardrobe changes. We'll be able to put into practice some of what we learned today and add in off camera flash.

Having another creative soul to be accountable to, makes the business part more palatable. I like to create, but I need a partner in crime. Someone that is similar, but different enough to make a good team.

Stay tuned for more from us SOON!

Dismal response

Maybe my pictures suck, or I didn't get the perfect shot, or it's confusing. But after a week, absolutely NO ONE has inquired about the Cheer Ltd. Dance/Cheer at Robert Morris University last week. The perfectionist in me say's the pictures suck. The business person in me says no one knows how to access the sales site and email me the image number. Of course, a big issue that causes difficulty in finding and ordering pictures is that the web sites that exist to SELL prints all want 40% of the sale. That's a big chunk of change. It's almost not worth it to sell a picture for $6 and only get a few bucks out of it. Can't replace camera gear at that rate.

I was excited about the initial response from parents when I was giving out my cards at the event. But something happened, I just don't know what it was. That is the bane of shooting on "spec". I bust my butt getting the best images I can (over 2,200 that day). I take two days editing, creating web galleries and blog posts and get zero dollars for it. Lots of people can take pictures. Lots of people can take really good pictures, especially with all the low cost digital cameras out there. But are you getting "exceptional" pictures consistently? Or is it "eh, it's acceptable". You're settling for McDonald's images when you could have a meal prepared by a chef....so to speak.

I know even I have to work hard at exceptional images and I missed several key opportunities. But this was my very first indoor cheer/dance event. What I did get was good, but I know I can do much better.

NBMS Career Day 2009

I only got choked up 6 times....maybe 7.

Not sure why, but perhaps my desires deep within are bring ignited. Maybe I have figured out how to set myself on fire....or I am just an emotional sap.

Career day 2009 was today at the middle school. I got 6th grade again this year (by request). Next year, will be 8th grade.

I wish I could show you the images that the students took, but being a professional photographer, I have to have their permission. Hopefully, their parents will read this and give me the opportunity to share the work of their kids. :)

Our sessions are 20 minutes each for 6 classes. I talk WAAAYYY too much for only 20 minutes. I was cut short 5 times I think. Once I was only 1/2 way through because of a lot of questions. Which is fine, but I wasn't able to get out all what I wanted to say for the job of being a photographer. I think I will start on next years presentation this week. I need to cull it down a bit and really focus on the business part of the business. Sure, making WOW! images is the goal, but how do you do it? What does it take to know you have made a great image? How do you market, sell and collect the money. I didn't get to cover those items in my bullet points.

I did however cover copyright and infringement. I asked if anyone created anything and what they would fee like if someone used it to make money and they not get paid? I think more than a few students got it.

All in all, I think MY performance was lacking, but hopefully the students were able to get through my gibberish to realize I am a lucky person following my dream and being able to share it with them.

Thank you NBMS staff! Thank you!

Technical Difficulties

NOTE: This post was written over 3 days..it might not be grammatically correct.

I would be remiss if I didn't add a bit of technical background today.

As I go through the pictures from the Cheer Ltd. competition and I remember the parents that sat next to me with their own cameras I have to reflect on what I think I know.

Preface: Human eyes see light very differently than an electronic camera sensor. A professional photographer has moderately to significantly different expectations than most people with or without a camera.

The first thing I look at when entering a venue is the light. Without light, we cannot take pictures. Secondly, I look at the backgrounds. Are they colorful, cluttered, dark, bright....lots of variables to have to deal with. Sometimes moving a few feet one way or another can make or break a picture. Even to the point by moving to a different location altogether to change a background. In many cases, you have no option of changing locations and have to work with what you have been given. Third, the subject. Is it fast paced, slow, colorful, drab or highly detailed? Add all this up and you have a venue. An opportunity. For success....or failure.

In the 2,200+ images I took Sunday, I will end up with only a few hundred or less acceptable images. Of those few hundred I could probably narrow them down even more to about 10 that are really good and possibly 1 or 2 that I think are worthy of saying...yeah...I took that picture.

Is that good or bad? Well, I have vastly different expectations for an image than many people I know. To ME, a great image has a perfectly clear subject. The sharpness of the subject is so I can count the eyelashes or the way they tie their shoes. Anything less is essentially unacceptable TO ME. I want to see the facial expression and emotion for the task at hand. Cheer and dance have great expressions. But the serious difficulties at these events are they held indoors, with poor light for cameras. We professional photographers don't get to use cameras with flash. Parents can get away with it, we cannot.

Add to the dark venues the incredibly fast pace and active jumping, dancing, tumbles, basket tosses, scorpions and.....lions tigers and bears..oh my!

When a cheerleader or dancer begins a tumbling run, it's easy to put your focus points in him or her and take pictures. But when they jump to perform a flip, they are no longer in the middle of your frame and the camera refocuses on a point that is usually the bleachers in the back. Which is much different than what you wanted....that...is the reality of the sport. Add in a dozen other dancers running in front of each other, passing combining and separating and it makes for a terribly difficult situation to get the perfect picture. Remember, the camera doesn't know you are following a subject, it only looks for contrast where you point it.

Note: Most anyone can take a picture of a cheerleader standing waiting for her run. But I challenge you to get a shot of her coming out of her tucked back flip and be able to see her eyes as she spots the landing. Not once, but every time! I know I can't do it....yet. (After the first round of these pictures, I have a dozen girls coming out of their back flips spotting the landing. But because of the slow shutter speeds, their faces are blurred enough so the pictures are not usable. I have the timing, just not the equipment to capture it.)

Another fun part of shooting indoor with available light. The lights in gyms actually change color. From blue to reddish. Humans don't see the color shift too much. But cameras do and they see it well. My camera can take 8 pictures in one second. I saw the color shift several times. Red skin, blue skin...it's so much fun. Kind of like a Dr. Seuss book. I can't do it justice, but Guy Rhodes can..and did on this old link. www.sportsshooter.com

Sunday cheer pics coming in a few hours.

Transform.....a perspective

Wow. Just simply WOW.

I just got done sending up a tweet saying I need a case of the Jarvis. So I headed to Chases blog to see what he was up to and saw this video from Zack Arias. I wasn't going to watch it but since I wasn't exactly doing anything right now, it was a coin flip. I think the video can apply to all walks of life. But it hits home seriously hard to creative types. Of course Zack is an image maker, so I can directly relate. I suck. He doesn't.

You rocked it Zack! You rocked it!

Here's the video.

The state of Photograpy

The level of fear that is running rampant across the world is getting really really bad. Via photoattorney.com I found the War on Photography blog that has reports of photographers getting harrassed. As a photographer that often takes pictures in public places, this situation puts fear in my job and that isn't a place one wants to be.

In the winter of 2007, I was walking around my town taking pictures of various buildings and such. I was followed by one of the business owners and he questioned who I was and what I was doing.

Why can't we all get along?

Year end blowout

Here it is. The beginning of a new year. As I look back, and dwell, or hide, from what has happened this last year, I will share my thoughts.

I have made some great images. I have missed many opportunities for great images. I have met a lot of really wonderful people, faces I remember, names I may not. Many whom I have created wonderful images with. Some people I have left hanging and it keeps me awake at night. A few that I have given my card to, those random people off the street, may have missed a chance to work with me. I have put forth good will and have been taken advantage of. After being burned a few times, I realize this is a business and not a social beer drink night. I still lose sleep from not being able to deliver to a few of you...I am trying to fix that, please belive me.

I have desires that I feel can only be measured through a certain type of success yet my accomplishments appear to be minisucle. My lack of business sense has resulted in me being CENTS-less. I feel that my potential is sky high, yet my motivation has been tempered by fear. I can begin with earnest unbridled fire driven desire, yet I need help with follow up, completion and closure.

I hope that this year will bring be better preparation in order to meet, and take, the opportunities that present themselves. Success can only be taken, I don't feel that is it given. Organization needs to be designed for completion of projects more than efficiency.

My creativity can never take a back seat to standardizing. But getting the money gigs allows me the flexibility to be creative....which SHOULD bring in more money. I am always looking at the future and what can happen, but I fall short when I look right in front of me at what IS happening.

Quick Model Session

I got to work with Becca again this weekend with a couple of models. We were supposed to have two hours of shooting, but Pittsburgh traffic and a few other snafu's came up. I even cut two locations out because I wasn't able to fit them in. One thing I learned...I need to clear EVERYTHING out of the studio to work. Right now, there are still some boxes in the way and they need to GO! (I was also told I need music.....)

Still, we pulled a few shots out of the shortened session. Here they are.

Leave a comment, let me know what you think!

The agony of it all

Now that many photographers are in the digital age, we use computers in our cameras, computers as our darkrooms and computers to communicate. When a computer stops working, it throws our world into disarray.

I was going, going, going, all of this last weekend. I also decided to download the trial version of Lightroom 2, while I am waiting for my copy to arrive in the mail. I use Adobe's Lightroom for the vast majority of my editing. For me, it works very well.

Anyway, there are enough differences in LR2 to slow my workflow down quite a bit. It's a learning curve and is expected.

But what wasn't expected was after I imported all the images from this weekend, and organized them, my library threw up an error message of "Assertion Failed!" UGH!!

After looking for a while, it appears that this error happens a lot and there isn't really a fix. But there is a work around. You have to re create your catalog. HOPEFULLY from a working backup.

To make this a short story, I was able to rebuild my image catalog after a few days of lost work.

I will try to get some images up by Thursday night or Friday.

Where is "the Next Level"?

Of course the Olympics are upon us. I haven't watched them much, mostly because I am too busy proofing and editing images, creating posters and advertisements, blogging and creating things....TV is a distraction at this point.

But I do read blogs. A Newsweek photographer Vincent Laforet is over in Beijing and his blog has been an open window to us photographers of what it's like to be a photographer in the worlds biggest event. His blog is here and one recent post in particular will let you all know, where I want to be in my future. It is "my" next level.

Trip summary

Beginning May 1, 2008 I spent the majority of 9 weeks among the Tamarack and Red Fir trees. I woke to the flowing waters of the Naches River in the Wenatchee National Forest not far from Chinook Pass and Mount Rainer. I also ventured to the desert region of the Columbia Basin where sand and nuclear energy co-exist among the flowing waters of the mighty Columbia River. Where wind blown tumbleweeds and sage brush become yard decorations. I was back home in state of Washington.

Goal one was to help a family member with some projects after his retirement. A secondary goal for me was to bring my kids here for their summer vacation. That second goal sadly, failed to materialize.

Of course, I brought my camera equipment to shoot when I could. I tried to save a little money, but I ended up buying some more light stands, a bike from Craigslist and a few dinners. Never resting (photographically speaking), I talked to a lot of people to see if I could take their portraits. Suffice to say, the Yakima/Naches area of Washington is a veritable vacuum of talent. There isn't much here. I even tried to get a MUA (Makeup Artist) to work a shoot, but she didn't find it important to check her messages except once a month. Maybe she was busy, maybe not, either way, it could have been communicated. A few people I wanted to shoot, one was very interested, and kept saying so, but would never commit. Wish I could have that time back. Another was so rude you would have thought I almost ran over her child in the driveway. The project I mentioned MANY MANY weeks ago, will not get done. I had planned on getting environmental portraits of employees of the two restaurants up here in the valley. I planned several poses out for specific people too. But because of their schedules and mine, it will not happen. I will put the idea in my idea book, and hopefully excecute it at another time and or place.

On the other hand, things were/are going well back in New Brighton/Pittsburgh. First, I was selected by Fe Gallery as one of 250 artists to represent Pittsburgh in a 250 year anniversary celebration/project. Secondly, the building where I was planning on putting in a second photo studio is still open and the owner wants to make sure I will be up and running when I get back or soon there after. Still, that "project" is going on seven months overdue. Also worth mentioning, one of the models I shot with in the spring wants to set up another session. She is/has worked with another local photographer because of my images he saw on her MySpace page. Finally, my MUA (well, she's not MINE, but it's the only MUA I work with), wants to shoot with me too. So things are significantly more promising in "da 'Burgh" than here in "the valley".

I did however get to spend some great times with my family here in WA. I attended a graduation, made it for mothers day, did a little golfing (pictures actually) and a family reunion coinciding with a school reunion. Most importantly, I had a great weekend with my wife when she visited for the graduation.

Regarding physical labor, I have shoveled about 7 tons of sand/gravel, screwed in 150+ pounds of 3 inch deck screws and bent more 20 penny nails than I care to admit. I have cut, chopped and loaded hundreds of feet of wood (did I say hundreds?). Painted walls, decks, railings and even myself. After I bought the CraigsList bike, I started riding it. Usually a couple of times a week. But near the end of my "tour" I was riding every day. My longest ride was 15 miles one way (up hill into the wind)(30 mile round trip). Many rides were 10-12 miles on average. Traffic wasn't a big deal, but the wind was. It always seemed to happen to blow towards me regardless of when I rode. Uphill, into the wind just really sucks.

This is not a "look what I have done" posting. It is to inform you all of my summer thus far. I haven't had an epiphany, nor have the clouds parted for the voice of God. However, I have learned a little about my family, my friends, and myself. Not since Air Force Basic Training and Tech School have I worked so hard (physically and mentally) for so long. (By the way, Basic Training is where I learned that the mind gives up sooner than the body). I hope these mini lessons can translate well to running my photography business and I eventually become very, very successful. I am coming to the conclusion that the world needs wood cutters, painters and construction workers. It also needs photographers, in which I plan to add myself to that list.

Copyright

One of the most important subject for a photographer besides equipment, is copyright. I found the web site/blog of Carolyn E. Wright, Esq. on theSportsShooter.com forums. I think I will make it a part of my weekly routine to see what she has to say.

Valentines shoot

I did the photo shoot yesterday. It was something like a "special photo for your special someone". At least that was what the advertisement wording. Unfortunately we didn't get a single phone call from that ad. If I base any other advertisements from that one, I won't ever place another one in the newspaper. The cost is too high and the return is too little. Word of mouth is a much better ROI.

Anyway, back to the shoot.

It was a tough one. The person didn't really know what she wanted. She did have a few clothes that she wanted to get pictures in. So that helped. Normally, I meet with someone for an hour or two and we talk and share things. This is the ice breaker that allows us to just shoot when it's time to shoot. Well, this time, I didn't get to do the pre-shoot interview so to speak. So we did talk for about 20 minutes. It didn't help much.

In the past few photo sessions, it takes about 20-40 minutes for someone to warm up to me and the camera. It took her almost an hour and a half.

The session was actually only supposed to be ONE HOUR. I figured that since there wasn't anyone else, we could extend it a little bit. I didn't expect to triple it.

I definitely need to learn to SHUT UP AND SHOOT. I do talk a lot and while that might help a little. I have no coherent flow of words, it becomes painfully clear that when I talk too much, eyes roll. Sometimes it helps the model. Sometimes it doesn't.

After it was all said and done. She said she was happy with the session. I believe she was happy with some of the results. So that means a happy customer. Or so I hope.

Career day

Today was career day at the middle school. I was pretty nervous about the whole deal. I have to speak for 20 minutes to six classes of sixth graders. The speaking for 20 minutes was easy. The hard part was to get the kids to listen and be somewhat entertained. But, I think I did pretty good. I will change it a bit for next year, if I get the opportunity again.

This year, I did a little history. I compared different areas of photography; news, commercial, fashion, paparazzi, portrait and fine art. I put up the type of education needed, estimates of annual salaries (from Monster.com salary calculator). I also showed my images and the images that the students took a few weeks ago. ((NOTE: I will not be able to show you those images, sorry.)) I also talked about copyright with the example being copying songs from a friends CD without paying for them. That was interesting.

Anyway, it was a good time. I can now understand why teachers go do what they do everyday.

Why can't I just be happy

I should be pretty excited right now! But I am actually very bummed.

I was going to go to a gallery show of a local photographer, but it didn't start until 7:30 tonight. I didn't have the option to stick around for 3 1/2 hours for it to start, so I headed back home. I don't know if I want to make the 35 minute drive back to the Creative TreeHouse or not......it starts in an hour.

I also got a call from Melissa this afternoon. She already has 3 people interested in the Valentines day shoot. I should be PUMPED, JAZZED, HAPPY...but I am not.

Becca has also done some marketing for me and has 4 people lined up from her side for a shoot. Well, they are probably going to be individual shoots, but at least they are willing participants.

The bummer is, the models Becca has lined up are TFP. That means Time For Prints. I don't get money and they don't get money. I do get experience and they do too, the model will also get a CD or a few prints of the resulting images. It's pretty standard practice for new models and new photographers in the fashion/modeling realm. But once you get to a certain point, you can begin to get paid. It's usually models that get paid and the photographer or their client that pays the models. Not many models pay photographers unless they need a certain LOOK for their portfolio.

Back to Melissa. I will start working on the second floor of her building on Tuesday. Once the insulation and ceiling tiles are in place, I can use it for a studio. THAT, makes me happy. Then I can get a few signs made. New business cards etc and start shooting some high school seniors, family portraits, other portraits and such.

This weekend I have to come up with a few variations of an advertisement for the Valentines day shoot. Nothing too major, but it has to be done by Tuesday.

Including lunch

I was reading an article about a photography workshop a few weeks ago and was going to do a bit of research about it. Well, I got an email this morning about just that workshop. There is no doubt that the information learned is well worth the price of admission.

One of the workshops was two days, six models and obviously instruction from one of the masters of fashion photography. The price, $2,999.00. AND includes a gourmet lunch. Oh, I laughed out loud at that. Gourmet lunch. BWAHAHAHHA

Now where do I sign up........

Things I thought I'd never say

I have some pictures from today....but I can't show any of them to you.

Those are words I thought I would never say....well, actually, I knew eventually I would but for a different reason.

I went to the middle school today to do a photo shoot with 6 of the 6th graders. One of the agreements is that the images of the students cannot be used outside the classroom setting by me. They can be used as needed by the school/district though.

There are 6 classrooms and each teacher picked one student from each classroom. I was assigned 20 minutes to teach the student the basics of camera function. We didn't discuss composition in any way except that they could get close, get far, get low or high wide or zoom in. I used the same directions for each student.

The first shots were of a stuffed lion and a desk clock that looks like an apple. Then they each had about 10 minutes to freely roam the hallway and classrooms to take pictures of essentially anyone, anything anywhere.

After I get them selected and edited. I will show them to the vice-principal on Monday Jan 14th over lunch. I will ask to use some of the images at that point. If I get permission, then I will put some of them here on the blog.

The week that is and was

The ship has left port, but which way is it sailing.

I didn't realize I missed a posting yesterday. Sorry.

Even though it's only Wednesday, this week has actually been quite productive, in the business sense. Monetarily, ZILCH. Yet, I still feel good.

I have been frantically (?) (maybe "semi aggressively" would be better) setting up a fashion shoot for Jan 5th. The model is primed and I am waiting for her to get me a wardrobe list. I have a "most likely" on a MUA (Make Up Artist) who also does hair. Unfortunately, I don't have a studio....but I will have a meeting with the salon owner to talk over her 2nd floor. I am also waiting for a response back from one of the operators of an artist's building about 20 minutes from the house. It's called Creative TreeHouse. If I can get "in" I will have a studio to shoot with and it appears to have TONS of open space to work with. It's not my final location, but it's an option. A good option.

This week will also set in motion another option, which is the fate of a building I am trying to get access to. It's currently housing a bowling alley in an area that is slated to get developed. If the development plans are approved, the building will be bought and torn down. If some of the plans are not approved, I might be able to get access to the building. Or at least a floor...maybe a portion of a floor....LOL

I also got a verbal from a family friend for a family session in January. She's a former photog so I better be on my game. I've seen her work.....now there's a bit of pressure on me to equal or exceed her work. Aacckkk!

This is the business side of it. Create leads. Call/contact leads. Follow up with the contacts. It seems to take about 10-20 hours of work for one good lead. Then it will be a day of work for shooting and another three to five for post processing. I'm loving it. As time goes on, I will streamline the process. But for now, it's hit and miss.

One last COOL thing for the post. Le me set the tone.

Becca Bullet (the MUA I will be using on this next shoot), was educated and has worked in NYC (New York City) and she gave me the name of whom she worked with. I thought, just for grins and giggles, I will send off an email, kind of like a reference check. I didn't think anyone in NYC would respond. Well, lo and behold, I got a phone call last night from Kinga.

We talked for a few minutes and he had some great suggestions. I was pretty damn excited to get a call from someone working "in the industry" in NYC. I had to call Becca and tell her. We too, talked for a while about the upcoming shoot.

Where's that ship now?

Reality bites and dreams don't put food on the table

MUCH to the chagrin of my family, I have spent the vast majority of this weekend on the computer. I have been immersing myself in images. Hundreds of portfolios and web sites, THOUSANDS of images. To 99.995 percent of the world, it's a true waste of time. To me, I am 50/50.

Step back.

My former blog gets more traffic than this current one. I guess it's true, sex and controversy sells. No sex here. The controversy is coming up. Then I will re-evaluate the sex part......

I did some data mining to pull some names from the local talent and I sent them some messages. Hopefully I can at least get one or two to respond. I don't care which one's either. I need some talent to work with. My time's a wastin'.

I realized my current portfolio is pretty substandard. Either that means I suck as a photographer or I just need models/talent that can stretch my capabilities and get some results that are worth displaying. That is why I was looking at as many images as possible. It was a bit of an information overdose. I looked at so many images that nothing really sticks out. Well, a few do, but I can't put them here....still, I hope that when the time comes, I can draw from those images and create my own.

Photographing seniors and weddings pay the bills for most people. That is where I will probably make a stake. But I have things I want to bring to the table. Things that I dream will make a name for myself. It's going to be a great ride once the boat comes in.

As I move forward in the pursuit of being a full time professional photographer. I know my vision. I see the challenges. But I am still living in the dream. It doesn't let my kids eat when I say "but I want to do....." I have to begin to perform. I have to produce images that are compelling. What I do will speak more for me than anything.

I do have something to prove.

For now, I give you these:

Shooting a tiger

I was bored tonight so I thought I would set up a quick portrait session with my daughters stuffed tiger.

All images were sharpened and the last couple had a little brightness and black levels adjusted.

Uncorrected (over head lights only)


White balance (selected a white area on the tiger to use as a reference white point)


Added light/umbrella to camera right, black reflector camera left


Adjusted light output down


Put a small white reflector in front of the black reflector to add more light to face


Added 2nd Vivitar 285 to camera left at full power to overexpose the background. The light was bare, no umbrella but it was higher than the black reflector and the light spilled over and exposed the tiger.


Dropped the height of the light so it's behind the black reflector


Here is the setup.
(Left to right)
Bare Vivitar 285 HV flash (full power)
40" x 60" Black foam board folded in a "V"
12" x 24" white foam board to add light to face
bean bags with black crushed velvet over them
Stuffed white tiger with black spots
Vivitar 285 HV flash shooting through a white umbrella (1/16th power)
White cloth background
camera on tripod in foreground