photOgraPHic journal

New Artist loft Studio

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:48:27 -0700

I have decided to experiment on some softer lighting approaches and the great folks over at Photoflex just sent over their medium five foot Octodome. Have been using their small version and absolutely love the results, so it is no surprise I got some killer results first time out. This medium bank will be a great addition to my assortment of modifiers.

I used it here with my son Levi by positioned the light just overhead about three feet from his face. I am actually shooting with the bank touching my camera using a Canon 50mm 1.4 lens. The results are a very soft light the I think will be great for my beauty subjects.

Can a perfect exposure be measured?

Thu, 20 May 2010 20:06:15 -0700

At the risk of repeating myself, can anyone tell me what a perfect exposure is as it applies to the creative process? Yes, we can take a 18% reflective gray card and measure a zone five value or the exact value between pure white and pure black. But as an artist, when it comes to making a creative decision, I may not what to reproduce an 18% reflective gray card at zone five. Do you see my point? When it come to skin tone, chances are I am not interested in reproducing skin at the “correct” value. I am interested in creating something that fulfills the vision I have as an artist. As a general rule, an average meter reading will produce an image that well, may look all together average. This is why I never use a flash meter or rely on a technical instrument to determine the correct exposure when creating an artistic expression.

By all accounts this image of Dre Merritt is under exposed. As an artist, I want mood, drama, something that creates emotion. I want to create portraits larger than life. So let our intuition be your guide, not a technical instrument.

Interview by Scott Eccleston

Thu, 6 May 2010 11:16:11 -0700

I wanted to thank Gary Lowell, Mark Hensley and Scott Eccleston who hosted my most recent workshop held in Biddeford Maine. We ended up having a great group of attendees and the location was over the top. I have posted a interview conducted by Scott that you might find interesting. You can visit Scott’s blog at http://weeklyphototips.blogspot.com for more on the weekend and what he is all about.

Thanks guys!

Rounding out your photographic skills

Thu, 6 May 2010 10:45:11 -0700

In the past I have talked about the importance of being able to shoot a subject in studio and then drop them into a background to produce a final image. The reality is, it is near impossible to get a high profile athlete on location and do an all in one capture. Just getting Reggie in the studio was logistical nightmare. I still love to shoot a subject on location and will be posting an image I just recently did of a female professional boxer shot in an old boxing gym in Tucson.

Larger than life

Fri, 2 Apr 2010 10:20:54 -0700

I have said this again and again, that I see myself as an illusionist. I am creating something that does not exist in real life. In its purist state, a photograph is at best a representation of reality, but it is not reality and never has been. To some degree we believe it is reality or at least wish it were. Most of is want to see something portrayed larger that life. That is why we go to movies, read novels and hang images on our walls. It is a way to escape reality, to live outside our own circumstances.