the Next Level photo

Another season ends and other approaches

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:32:00 +0000

It has been a tumultuous season for me as of late. But as I look in the mirror, I see the changes have been the result of a needed re-direction. Hindsight being 20/20.....I still have a black eye, but as all things do, it's healing.

The blog will get updated a little more now, as I have been able to pick up the camera and begin to create again. I suppose every few weeks will be a start. If you are a recent discoverer of me, then you can go to the Next Level photo to see more images in the gallery. I also have a Facebook page as well as a Twitter feed. Then again....who doesn't?

If you need images, PLEASE CONTACT ME!

A storm of change

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:58:00 +0000

It has been months....and will most likely be many more months before a sense of normalcy returns to me. I am no longer in the Pittsburgh PA region. I have relocated back to my home of the Tri-Cities Washington (Kennewick/Pasco/Richland) and unfortunately, put down the camera for the time being until my personal and family life starts on a new journey. I am still very much a photographer and my mind is slowly returning to it's creative roots. It's just a slow process.

If you have a photography venture you want to entertain me with, please do not hesitate to contact me. But as of now, I am not actively seeking out new clients.

In time, that will change.

Relocation

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:17:00 +0000

I am not located in the Pittsburgh PA area for the remainder of the summer. I will be in the Tri-Cities area (Kennewick, Pasco and Richland Washington).

Buttermilk Falls with Amanda and Bridgid

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Amanda was my model for the afternoon and her friend Bridgid was my 1st assistant. We shot at Buttermilk Falls just north of Beaver Falls PA.

Another look

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:00:00 +0000

I was sifting through some pictures of my Basement Fashion shoot with Tiffany and Amanda and I came across this image that happened to escape my original editing. Both girls were actually sitting waiting for me to adjust lights so they were just sitting there pondering life. Which is probably why it of slipped through. But when I looked at it again, I saw something more....two images in this one.

Tiffany Stare (B&W & cropped)

Amanda/Ball (B&W & cropped)

Original (color, cropped w/light editing)

Web Gallery updates

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:00:00 +0000

I guess I've been neglecting the web gallery....I hadn't posted any soccer pics or the latest fashion shoot(s). So check out the ABE U12 Soccer pics for the season (2 more games to go) and the Basement Fashion shoot with Tiffany and Amanda as well as the small gallery of my daughter and her friend in their dresses.

Main Site or right to the Gallery Page (The gallery links for Paige & Alaysha and Tiff & Amanda are under Model/Muse and ABE Soccer is under Sports....Soccer 2009.

ABE Soccer v Slippery Rock

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:19:00 +0000

This was another really good game. Somewhat physical, but fair. ABE scored first and we ended up wining this game too. Of course, I was talking and didn't get a picture of my son scoring his goal, but at least I saw it.

Only two more games this season. I really wish we had 12 games, but I would settle for 10 per season.

ABE Soccer v LC United

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Wow, was this a physical game. LC United had some really good players. We won this one, but it was hard fought.

ABE Soccer v Prospect

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Tue, 12 May 2009 11:00:00 +0000

This was the soccer game played May 3rd. I have the prior three games set to update every other day from today. Yeah, I kind of fell off the current events train.

Girls in dresses

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:00:00 +0000

My daughter wanted me to take some pictures of her and her friend in their dresses.

I set up out back with a Vivitar 285 behind and to their right. I think it was set at 1/16 or 1/2 power with the wide angle head. Another Vivitar was set up below and to camera left at 1/16 power but zoomed a little bit.

I set my shutter speed at 1/250th and used the aperture to adjust for exposure and the look I wanted.

One thing to note....always check your camera setting before any shoot. This was the first time I used this particular camera after a cheer/dance competition so it was set for jpg (I always hoot RAW), custom white balance, high ISO and appropriate shutter speed. Ooops!

ABE Soccer v New Brighton

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:00:00 +0000

This was a weird game. When the season was about to begin, we received word that my son's team didn't have a coach. Well, I wasn't about to coach again (long story, not good experiences) so I scrambled to find another team for him to play on. ABE stepped up and had a roster spot open for their travel team. We did all the paperwork and he had a team to play on. Well....New Brightoon did get a coach, which I was actually happy about. I was a bit bummed to think that all those boys might not get to play....anyway, we played my son's former team...and his current school classmates. He actually played his position against one of his best friends.

Mars Drums/Monaca PA

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Took some shots of a guitar lesson, the teacher and a couple of drummers.

JamFest Pittsburgh

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:53:00 +0000

Here are a few pics form the JamFest Cheer/Dance competition last April. Our work flow for the events was:

Custom white balance.
Set ISO for about 1600 or 3200
Shutter was at 1/400th of a second, depending on where you were on the performance floor. Really bad light falloff along the edges, so we would sometimes drop the shutter speed to lower, but that would then produce blur...so it's a lose lose situation.
Everything was shot in JPG, medium or small....less than 2MB files was the goal.

After the 3 minute competition, we would pull the cards and put them into a card reader connected to a laptop. We would select the team name in the software then that program would download the images from the cards and put them up on an on-site server. I think the software also created low resolution images for display on the web pages that the parents/competitors would use to buy products.

Once the images were available (probably 3-10 minutes) they could be purchased in 8"x10" collages printed on Dye Sublimation printers at the event.

Viewing stations (35 laptops with the sales software and images/products to purchase)

Printer stations with technicians to create the products for sale.

From the crowds viewpoint. I was located on the floor, directly in front of the performance mat.

Award time and all the dancer and cheerleader from a particular session attending.

More from the awards session.

Ground level and up close with one of the cheer teams.

Missing In Action

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Yeah...the goal is three blog posts a week. I kind of miss it every once and a while.

For the past several weeks, I have actually been shooting for other people. Last weekend, I was in Springfield MA shooting a JAMFest Nationals Cheer/Dance competition. Yesterday was a baseball/softball league.

Friday I did shoot a few pictures for my daughter and her friend, but I don't have them processed yet.

Hopefully I can try and get something going this week since the photos have been a bit bare in the past few weeks....not so good for a photography related blog is it?

Tiffany and Amanda Basement Fashion

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:00:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of working with Tiffany and Amanda this week. We did a short 1 hour concept development session. I had an idea of tutu's a long time ago...as time goes on, I added to it and made a few changes in my mind. This is just a small iteration of what's in my brain.

Phase 1 of a concept is usually brainstorming and the idea.
Phase 2 is the gathering and maybe execution of that idea and critique.
Phase 3 comes changes.
Phase 4 maybe the everything coming together and the final shot.

I would say that in nearly all cases, this is all done in a one day photo session. Because of my limited time during this shoot, we are breaking it down to several shooting sessions. Next will come the critique of these images. Adding and taking away elements, modifying poses and expressions. Figuring out the necessary makeup and lighting style. Then we will add props and then do the final shoot.

For this shoot....I forgot to get a set up picture...AGAIN...UGH! I used two Vivitar 285 manual flashes on light stands (left light is about 45 degrees to camera left and 6-7 feet up, right light is mostly frontal but slightly off to the right of the camera, 6 feet up). Both are bare at 1/16th power. The space is pretty small and eliminating shadows was near impossible. I might add my diffusion wall the next time and possibly use an umbrella to help soften those shadows. I do like the hard light look, but not too sure on the shadows in this series.

ABE Soccer wk1

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Soccer is back in season. Here are a few shots form the game against Mars (score was tied 3-3).

I took a step back

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:27:00 +0000

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.

Breathe slowly

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:09:00 +0000

For those of you that have shot with me, you know I love taking pictures. For those of you that haven't ever been around me during a shoot....I'm a bit funny. One of those little things that happens to me is that I stop breathing when I am behind the camera. I focus so hard on getting the right shot, the details, clothes, lighting, composition etc...that I hold my breath. Then after a few shots I remember...I actually tell myself....BREATHE DUMMY, BREATHE. By then, when I start to breathe again and give out instructions it sounds like I am hyperventilating.

When I am behind the camera, I don't care who I take pictures of. Seriously. But as life is, some people just stick out more than others. Today...either I lost, or it was take from me...the opportunity to shoot with a model that I thought had truly natural posing skills. She ROCKED the camera.

I received an email this afternoon that said she wouldn't be pursuing modeling anymore. I actually got sad as I read the short, three sentence paragraph. She was gracious in it's content, but the message is still the same and the result took my breath away.

I have never said I can make anyone famous. I don't make any promises that I can't keep and I am honest if we shoot and the images aren't quite working out or if something is really working and we need to keep going on that path. I also realize that modeling at any level isn't for everyone. But damn it sucks when you have something then it's gone.

CY....I do wish we had more time, but as life does, it moves forward with or without us. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, so much for your time we did have.

Ohhh SNAP!

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:16:00 +0000

Had a shoot with Tiff C loosely scheduled yesterday but I had to cancel it at near last minute. I really loathe having to cancel or reschedule shoots. ESPECIALLY if it's within my control. I figure I should be able to work it in, regardless of circumstances. But nooooooo, I wasn't able to. Or didn't make proper adjustments.

The weather would have been great for an outdoor shoot. All weekend looks good too. Maybe Tiff will forgive me and we can make it up.

Tiffany C ptII

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:50:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:46:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:08:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:13:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:46:00 +0000

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!

Cheer Ltd. at Robert Morris University

noreply@blogger.com (Brent Rust) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:45:00 +0000

UPDATE: Pictures have been uploaded to the sales web site. DO NOT BUY FROM THE SALES WEB SITE. EMAIL me with the photo ID located under each image. In this period of change, I am selling the edited .jpg file, NOT PRINTS and this is an interim band-aid. Thank you.
brent (at) thenextlevelphoto (dot) com

Here are a few pictures from the competition last Sunday. I took over 2,200 pictures, narrowed them to less than half, maybe more like a third. Then I had to cull them down to about 60 then again down to these six. They are not my best work. But I will try to justify it by saying this was my first time taking pictures of an indoor cheer and dance competition. I hope I get much better the next time I get the chance.

The sales site will have the UNEDITED images up later today.
DO NOT PURCHASE THEM DIRECTLY FROM THE SALES SITE.
DO NOT PURCHASE THEM DIRECTLY FROM THE SALES SITE.
DO NOT PURCHASE THEM DIRECTLY FROM THE SALES SITE.

DIRECTIONS TO PURCHASE:
1) Browse the pictures.
2) Make note of the image number BELOW the picture.
3) Put the picture #'s in an EMAIL message to me.
brent ( at ) thenextlevelphoto ( dot ) com
4) I will reply with a few more directions.
5) You will be purchasing the actual file, NOT PRINTS.

DO NOT PURCHASE THEM DIRECTLY FROM THE SALES SITE.
DO NOT PURCHASE THEM DIRECTLY FROM THE SALES SITE.
DO NOT PURCHASE THEM DIRECTLY FROM THE SALES SITE.