Super Macro

I bought some extension tubes and this is my first attempt at using them. I combined them with my 100mm macro. It's hard to believe how close to the model I had to get to take this shot. It must be a little daunting to have a camera that close to you. And while I was taking the pictures, all I could think was, "Wow, look at those twitching lips, I'll never get them in focus." Each little movement looked huge in the viewfinder. Turns out that many of the images were in focus, thanks to the tripod!

Editing is a little tricky. I fought between wanting to keep it realistic while also not freaking people at with what looked like insanely huge lines and bumps. I probably went a little soft on this, but I like it.

Side note: the shape of the lips totally reminds me of the Rolling Stone lips.

2008 Review

I had to go to my archives for a file. I did 107 shoots, which is a lot for me considering this is a hobby.

Here's what I learned: more than I love photography, I love to put crap on top of people's heads.

My first shoot of the year on 1/4:

My last shoot of the year on 12/29:

Some more crap on people's heads:

My First Underwear Shots

Somebody was brave enough to let me shoot them in their underwear and in public. I'm grateful to Doug for taking a chance on me.

I'm really happy with these shots. I'm practicing more and more with men. I find them harder to pose and I have less ideas for them, so I really need to step up and figure out my creative block here.

Of course, now that I have three men in my portfolio, I'm getting asked to shoot more and more men, so pretty soon I will have all the practice that I need!!

Perfect Day for an Outdoor Shoot

 

Today was perfect to shoot outside — 80 degrees with no humidity, beautiful clouds in the sky and a breeze. And to make it even better, there were no crowds at every location, we had them all to ourselves. I wish everyday was this perfect when I was shooting, I would never go back into a studio!

I managed to get a variety of shots. I tend to use my lights too much and make it look like night when I shoot outside during the day. That wall shot was shot before the water shot, around 1 pm. I have a bunch from that series that look like afternoon, but I don't like them as much. And the water shot was a good challenge for me, full sun and one light to use as fill. Not to mention a fountain full of water to drop things in, which I did, but nothing electrical.

I haven't shot many men, I think I'm getting better at it.

I Can See the Light!

I am so excited. I've been shooting for a little over three years now and it's been mostly just learning. Well, I think my brain may have actually learned something.

I needed to created these images for an ad for work. I was given a sample image and magically I created the lighting. I knew exactly in my head before I got to the studio where I wanted all the lights. And once I set them up, I barely moved them at all.

I know it doesn't sound amazing, but to me it is. I don't have a photographic memory. I don't see pictures in my head. I don't really "see" anything, my brain is full of words and ideas. Very rarely do I have an exact image in my head of what I want to create, it's an idea of an image. It's hard to explain. But it is the reason I love photography, because it puts my ideas into a concrete reality. 

This time, I saw the picture and I envisioned the lighting. Ah, success. All the years have not been for naught. I am actually learning something. I can see the light!

Eye Contact

I don't know why some models can do it and some can't, but great eye contact makes me go weak in the knees. I've been shooting for about three years now and only a handful of people have made me stare back at the screen. It amazes me every time. It's a rare gift and I am lucky to be able to capture it.

I think the ones that do it best, rest their eyes between shots. They look away or look down. They refocus every frame. As a photographer, it is important to capture that fresh look, the strong eyes—to know when the model has "the look" and snap the shot. It's important to keep the flow and be prepared. Although I must say, I am guilty of capturing just as many shots of the the model preparing for the shot as I am getting the shot. But that's a skill I'm working on.

I know that when I was the model (see below), I tried refocusing with each frame. And I kept thinking of Tyra saying "Smile with your eyes." I didn't really get it until I was trying to do it myself. You really can smile with the eyes. It's a matter of putting that spark or sparkle in your eyes—telling the viewer that you are more than just a picture, you are alive and you are living in that moment. Some say you capture the soul when you take a picture, I think when you get a picture with good eye contact, you have indeed gotten a glimpse of the soul, but it is a soul that can't be captured because it is off living in the next moment.

   

I've Taken Up Modeling

I think every photographer should try their hand at modeling, especially outside in public with everybody staring at  you. Robin, my friend and extremely talented hair and makeup artist, took photos of me today. We did some studio shots and then some shots in a park outside. Modeling is hard. Apparently I have tense lips and eyes because Robin's only instructions were "Relax your lips, lower your eyebrows, relax your eyes." 

While we were outside, I had to wave and smile at all kinds of people. One small boy, around 3 years old, thought I needed rescuing. I guess I did look a little like a damsel in distress and I was standing awfully close to the lake. I told him if he brought a white horse, I'd happily be rescued. He ran away, isn't that just like my prince?

I learned a lot about photography today. For one, I probably should communicate more while I'm taking pictures - I know I spend way to much time concentrating on lights and things. Models need confirmation and a little conversation, I know I appreciated it.

I'm grateful to Robin for giving me the chance to bring out my inner diva. I've packed her back up and I think she'll be happy in hiding for another 10 years or so.