DF PhotoFurnace

Red, White and Rock'n Roll

2012-02-13T09:31:00.000-05:00

Rachelle

2012-02-06T09:36:00.000-05:00

One of my greatest joys is working with a model who can exude emotion through their poses. It is never a surprise when I discover that someone who is particularly good at this is also a dancer. Such was the case with Rachelle. She "piggy-backed" onto a shoot I was having with another model and I'm so glad she did!

Jessica

2012-01-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

The light is always right. Whether through some blinds, directly into the sun or with the sun over your shoulder the light is always right. It is up to you to find why it makes sense and work with it.

Lavella - Part II

2012-01-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

a Wedding and a Murder

2012-01-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

Some new work with my friend and creative collaborator LiiLii. This project sort of just fell together one afternoon without a whole lot of fuss. LiiLii had bought a few wedding dresses and I had these crows that had been sitting on a shelf forever. The title comes from the obvious dress and the fact that a group of crows is called a "murder." I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed making them!

Dashaa - Part II

2012-01-16T10:15:00.000-05:00

Stephanie - Part II

2012-01-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

From a recent shoot with Stephanie. Hair, Make up and Styling by Opulent Premonitions.

des Soirs

2012-01-07T10:03:00.002-05:00

Second look from a recent shoot with model Amanda Finesse. Amanda did all the make up, hair and styling here.

Zinc and Copper

2012-01-05T09:01:00.002-05:00

From a recent shoot with model Amanda Finesse. Amanda did all the make up, hair and styling here - it is a real plus when collaborating on a project with someone who is creative and capable in more than one way.

Lavella - Part I

2012-01-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

Lay-By

Above image published on the Vogue Italia website
I don't submit a lot of images for publication because I find it to be time consuming and largely a waste of time however a friend convinced me to submit some images to Vogue Italia's website and voila! I must admit it is nice to see it "published" somewhere.

The End

2012-01-01T15:29:00.004-05:00

From a walk around the lake on New Years Eve. The end of a year seems to mean something to all of us. I hope that yours was one of growth and learning. I hope you spent your time well and invested in memories. I hope you looked upwards. If not, I hear this is a good time of year for new beginnings.

Look up. Plan ahead. Be kind. Don't worry.

Dashaa - Part I

2011-12-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

Christmas Day - Landscapes

2011-12-25T13:59:00.000-05:00

After a bit of a workout and some breakfast I decided to get out into the sunshine and enjoy a walk around a nearby lake.

Stephanie - Part I

2011-12-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Butterfly Prints

2011-11-25T10:48:00.001-05:00

I have some frames that need a 12x12 print in them and some blank spaces on my walls. So I'm going to print one of these (I've already chosen the print for the other frame - its a dragonfly). Which one of these would you choose and why?

By the way these and many more macro prints are available for purchase through my website DFournier-Photography.com

LiiLii - Window Light

2011-11-24T09:29:00.001-05:00

I have worked with LiiLii perhaps more often than any other model. Perhaps because of proximity and a creative synchronicity we seem to be able to pull our concepts and schedules together more often than with others.

LiiLii contacted me to shoot some new wardrobe elements that had been loaned or given to her by a designer. The shoot itself was fairly short. We planned to drive out to a location we had used before, about 20 minutes away, but as we drove the rain started pouring down and increased in intensity until we just had to turn back. So into my dining room we retreated.

These images (and more) were taken in the same 3 or 4 square feet. I love to limit myself on a shoot because I think limitations inspire creativity. So we shot in the same few feet with no artificial lighting.

I shot with several different systems. My trusty Nikon D700 with 50mm f1.8, 105mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8. I don't think I used the 70-200 much. Its a bit much for such a small space. My Nikon F5 was also used (it uses the same lens kit as the D700) with a roll of Ilford Delta 3200 iso black and white film. Then some images were shot with my Mamiya 645 Super and 45mm f2.8 lens, using both the 120mm Kodak Portra 400 iso Color Negative film and Fujifilm Instant (think polaroid) film.

I think the variety of results is fantastic.

Nikon D700

Mamiya 645 Super with Fujifilm Instant Film

Mamiya 645 Super with Kodak Portra 120mm film

Nikon F5 with Ilford Delta 3200iso B/W film

In an upcoming blog post I will be talking about a project I have coming up called 100 Faces on Film. You could be part of it!

My Thanksgiving List

2011-11-24T08:50:00.001-05:00

Today is American Thanksgiving and all over the country families are coming together. Many will watch football or even get outside and play a bit, others go on a run but all seem to eventually gather around the table in a feast to celebrate harvest, endurance, survival and friendship.

In our extremely comfortable lives most of us do not struggle with these concepts of endurance and survival. Most of us do not concern ourselves with harvest. So the holiday has become about family and friendship. Thankfulness in a sea of wealth and prosperity.

For my "day job" I wrote a blog post listing things that I am grateful for this Thanksgiving. It was in the context of that business environment and the people in it. This morning I want to share a list with you as well. Those things and people that I value in this world.

I am grateful for You
For reading this blog, commenting and asking questions. Photography is largely meaningless unless someone can view it. It is a process that is meant to have a purpose - to be shown to an audience. That is you! Thank you for taking the time to look.

I am grateful to the People Who Went Before

The artists and photographers who created and shared their work before, who dared to be different, who pushed their craft or art to new heights. I think of Rembrandt, Monet, Turner, Avedon, Adams and Brady. Their work, and so many more, captivated my curiosity and inspired me to try.

I am grateful to the Models

For those who think a model is just a pretty face I would love to introduce you to so many of the models I've worked with. Mel, LiiLii, Oriana, J, Jillian, Luzia and more, bring so much more to a project than "looks." They bring emotion, kinetic intelligence, charisma, concepts, wardrobe ideas and a spirit of adventure. Because of the beautiful person inside they are able to inspire beauty in the image.

I am grateful to Nikon

Thats right! For making such fantastic gear. For going full-frame. For brilliant glass.

I am grateful to Penn Camera

For hiring people who know cameras and photography. For stocking 120mm and 35mm film and being able to process it. For encouraging me to buy into a medium format kit.

I am grateful to Adobe
For making a system that provides unlimited possibilities in editing and retouching. Some love them and others hate them but I think if you have to take them seriously either way. I am still amazed to have such a fantastic tool to use how I see fit.

I am grateful to Photographer Friends

Photographers have a need to just geek out from time to time and I appreciate the photographer friends who let me do that. For Jennifer, Troy, Dan, Josh, John, JP, J and others, thank you. For always reminding each other it is the eye not the gear that makes the shot, for the encouraging words and support, thank you.

For my family (especially my daughter) who seem to think this is a good idea.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Breakfast

2011-11-19T14:10:00.001-05:00

Autumn Colors at Wilde Lake

2011-11-08T20:32:00.001-05:00

Fall colors - iPhone

2011-11-06T17:37:00.001-05:00

Breakfast

2011-10-17T09:30:00.000-04:00

Film

2011-10-16T12:40:00.001-04:00

Brookside Gardens

2011-10-09T20:12:00.000-04:00

Butchart Gardens

2011-10-01T19:55:00.001-04:00

From my afternoon at Butchart Gardens (Victoria, BC).

Cherise

2011-09-14T02:16:00.000-04:00

Steve and Libby part 2

2011-08-29T17:44:00.000-04:00

Gertha

2011-08-23T08:03:00.000-04:00

Endless Summer

2011-08-17T08:32:00.000-04:00

This was a quick but fun shoot with my friend Mel the other night. It was too dark to be shooting so I had to embrace the high ISO and in the post processing I actually added more grain to the images. I like the organic feel of it.

Congratulations Steven and Libby!

2011-08-16T17:39:00.000-04:00

On a warm day in August...

Baby Emily

2011-07-24T09:23:00.000-04:00

Kids!

2011-06-22T11:51:00.000-04:00

In the Forest - Part II

2011-06-17T13:36:00.000-04:00

In the Forest

2011-06-16T16:41:00.000-04:00

Wings of Fancy

2011-06-06T09:09:00.001-04:00

Every year I look forward to the Wings of Fancy display at Brookside Gardens. Macro photography is a lot of fun but when the subjects are as varied and beautiful as these, well thats a bonus. I shot these with my D700 and 105mm f/2.8 and a reversed 50mm f/1.8. The reversed 50mm actually gets me closer to the subject but it is harder to use since it disables any metering and you always have to be the same distance from your subject. Anyway, I had a blast, I hope you enjoy these as well.

Emi and Lucca! Kids Shoot

2011-06-02T13:30:00.000-04:00

These are from a really fun shoot with Emilia and Lucca. I had so much fun chasing them around with the camera, catching the moments and grins. I try not to spend too much time telling kids to sit still and smile, that approach rarely yields the results I'm after, so I set them up in a place they enjoy and let them be themselves. Shooting kids photos in this way is kind of like sports photography but I think its worth it!

At the Gardens

2011-05-09T09:30:00.000-04:00

You Don't Love Photography

2011-04-25T09:13:00.001-04:00

She loved photography. It was her passion, her life. It was the reason she got up in the morning and the reason she didn't go to bed at night. She felt it was her calling and jumped into the business with both feet.

Unfortunately, her photos were horrible. Not subjectively horrible. They were, random focus, bad composition, poorly exposed, meaningless moments, horrible. The kind of horrible that comes from either a complete lack of talent or never listening to a single word of advice.

It was a rare moment when she looked up at him and mused that, "it would be nice if more of the photos were in focus. How DO you focus anyway?"

There was the opening, the beginning of wisdom. The door cracked open to the next step. The moment when puppy love could start to turn into something deeper. Maybe.

What is the appropriate response if you love something or someone? These are just a few thoughts, please respond and add your own!

Respect - if you love something you will respect it. This means realizing it is bigger than you are, it was here before you and will be here after you are gone. Will you leave it worse off or improved when you are done?
Time - if you love something you will put in the time to get to know it, to understand it and maybe even teach it to others. Do you understand how your camera works, do you know how to light your subjects or are you just in love with the "idea" of being a photographer? It takes time and effort to learn and buying a fancier camera isn't going to do the learning for you. Are you willing to invest yourself?
Defend - defending this thing you love means looking out for its continued success. Is the photography industry improved by your conduct? Do you undercut your competitors because you do this as a hobby? Could you run your business if your spouse or parents weren't supporting you? Are you giving away the rights to your images? Sometimes this thing needs defending, are you one who understands the challenges and is willing to step up when needed?

Great photographers are willing to invest themselves into their craft. Whether you are experiencing puppy love for the first time or are rocking on the porch with a long established love, just remember this: Love is not about what the craft will do for you, it is about what you will do for it. Love is about giving.

Jordyn

2011-04-18T09:30:00.002-04:00

FOR SALE: Like New Nikon D300s $1,200 USD

2011-04-17T16:55:00.002-04:00

I have a "like new" "barely been used" Nikon D300s for sale. I am asking $1,200 USD

12.3-megapixel CMOS image sensor for high resolution, low-noise images
Body only; lenses sold separately
Nikon EXPEED image processing; D-Movie HD Video for cinematic 24 fps, 720p HD movie clips
3-inch Super-density 920,000-dot VGA LCD; one-button Live View
Capture images to CF (Type I) and SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Compare at Amazon
In depth review at dpreview.com

Contact me david@dfournier-photography.com

A Walk in the Spring

2011-03-29T10:16:00.002-04:00

ARM Portrait Series

2011-03-22T10:47:00.001-04:00

I have been working on a series of portraits where I work. This has really been a fun project for me because it is challenging. On one hand I want to create something friendly and modern but appropriate for the corporate environment. I find this format allows the subjects to be themselves which makes the process easier for them and yields great results!

An Afternoon in Old Town

2011-03-14T11:28:00.000-04:00

One Night at the Studio - the images

2011-03-10T09:13:00.001-05:00

Gowns in the Studio - Part 4 Retouching

2011-03-09T10:00:00.077-05:00

Now we get to the section on retouching! This section covers the process of handling RAW files, color adjustments, blemish removal, noise, dodge and burn as well as sharpening. That's a lot!

First up is handling the RAW file. I open the image from Bridge to Photoshop and it first opens in the Adobe RAW window.

RAW settings

Now I don't like the default settings so I apply my own. I can tweak them as needed but I usually start with what you see above. +1 in exposure because I take it away in brightness. I put 50 in recovery which is aggressive but that's what I like so...you'll find what works for you if you play around a bit. The important part is that I put 0 for brightness and contrast. I want to flatten the image in order to have more information to play with later. I'll add the contrast back in with curves and other methods.

The color on this is pretty good. I had my camera WB set to 5000K which is right in the middle and I set it there in my RAW settings as well. In Photoshop I now add a cross processed curves adjustment layer and a color balance adjustment layer. This adds a unique twist to the color.

Crossed Curves

The crossed curves are easy to make. You open a curves adjustment layer and then simply make "s" curves for red, green and blue. Just make sure one of them goes the opposite way of the others. Hence the "crossing." I tend to make the red and green normal and then make the blue cross them.

In this image I don't actually feel I need to do a lot of blemish removal but the way I do it is like this. I zoom in quite close (200-300%) and using the Healing Brush I sample and heal problem areas. I resample A LOT. If you don't keep resampling you're going to create a pattern that looks like someone has been photoshoping the skin. I like skin to look like skin, not some weird pattern or smoothed beyond recognition.

Dodging and burning is the process of lightening or darkening parts of the image. For this I create a blank layer, set it to blend mode "Soft light" and then grab my paintbrush (opacity 12%) and set my colors to black and white. Black to darken, white to lighten. You can use "x" to toggle between them. There are more sophisticated ways of doing this but for this project that is the technique I used. On this image I darkened a bit of the left side to balance the image better.

Add a little Unsharp Mask. Amount 100, Radius 1.

Noise! I haven't used noise a great deal in the past however I am certainly warming up to it. I used it extensively in this series of images. So I'm going to duplicate my top image layer (in case I decide I don't want noise later) and I'm going to go to filters - add noise, 5 or 6%

So that's about it! I added some additional contrast and cropped to straighten the light stand.

Finished

Gowns in the Studio - Part 3 Editing

2011-03-08T10:00:00.010-05:00

In this post I want to show you how I edit a shoot. If you have been following along this is part 3 of the Gowns in the Studio shoot with J May and Rachelle Dalton.

When I say "edit" in reference to photography I am talking about the process of selecting final images. I've noticed some people use that word to describe color correcting and blemish removal but that is a separate process and we'll get into that in the next post.

Right now I do my editing on Adobe's Bridge although the same or similar process can be done in any number of programs like Lightroom, Aperture or iPhoto. I recently read a great blog post on ChaseJarvis's blog on this process. I encourage you to check that out as well.

Basically I use the "star" system. I go through the whole batch of images really fast and using shortcut keys I quickly assign a low star rating to anything that doesn't suck. I don't stop and think about anything I really just fly through the whole thing. Then I change the setting to show only starred images and add a higher star rating to better images and continue the process till I have narrowed it down to what I feel is the best or tells the story best.

Screen shot from Bridge during my editing process

In this case I wanted to involve the model in the editing process. Honestly it is better to have another set of eyes and if you can find an impartial third party so much the better. You have to be impartial about your images and brutally cut them apart. Better you than the rest of the world right? To do this I used my gallery website to post the proofs for the model to go over and choose her selects.

Screen shot of the proof gallery

The editing process can be time consuming. The key is to be critical, objective and always keep in mind what you are looking for. Are you after that one image? A few to tell a story? Rarely do we shoot something that requires many images. So cut away!

Next up is going to be the retouching process!

Gowns in the Studio - Part 2 The Shoot

2011-03-07T10:00:00.039-05:00

So if you are following along from the last post this is part two, the actual shoot.

I arrived at the studio on time and J and the stylist (Rachelle Dalton) were already there. Even better, they had already started putting the look together. That means less time sitting waiting to shoot and more time actually shooting. Which is wonderful.

After a quick tour of the wardrobe and going over the looks again we all got back to work. I familiarized myself with the tools available at the studio and watched as the hair and makeup came together.

For my part I was shooting with my Nikon D700 and 50mm and 70-200mm lens. I set up a AB800 on a large boom arm with a white beauty dish. That was my primary light for most of the shots. I also set up two SB800s on stands (one with a small softbox) that I could move around more quickly as extra light sources. Not ideal for the studio however they came in handy for some shots we did in the hallway.

Next post will get into the editing process.

Gowns in the Studio - Part 1 Planning

2011-03-06T10:00:00.019-05:00

This series of posts has been a long time coming. I hinted about it in the fall and only now has everything come together to make it happen. Hurray! So what am I talking about? I'm going to walk through a shoot in a series of posts from the planning to the final images. Lets get started!

J and I shot in the fall and we immediately decided we needed to shoot again as soon as we could. We had more we wanted to get done. J lives out of the DMV area so we had to wait till she was coming back into town.

J took the bull by the horns and came up with the concept, found the stylist/artist (Rachelle Dalton) and lined up the studio. What she wanted to create was a "studio as location" shoot with elegant gowns and drama. We talked about using black and white and letting the whole set be part of the frame. She sent me images of makeup and hair and put me in touch with the stylist so we could all be on the same page.

J also had her hair colored just before flying out and kept us up to date with the plan for that and the color. This reference image helped Rachelle and I know what to expect.

I used the iPad app Moodboard Pro to display the inspirational reference images J sent me, below. Makeup concepts are on the top row and hair on the bottom. Each of the three looks we ended up doing are represented here with makeup being right above the hair image.

Most of any production is in the planning. Knowing what you want to create is more than half the battle. Being flexible and able to move organically with and beyond the plan is also critical. You can't get so married to the original concepts that you miss opportunities that come up. Its a creative process.

Next up will be some behind the scenes of the production day itself then we'll get into the editing process, retouching etc.

Caitlyn

2011-03-03T08:31:00.000-05:00

Another from my shoot with Caitlyn. Caitlyn is an amazing makeup artist!

Caroline

2011-03-01T09:01:00.000-05:00

A few shots from a short but fun shoot with Caroline. This was last summer. I'm in love with this color right now. Also with the glare from the overexposed sky. Sometimes its the problems that give an image its value.

New work coming soon. Promise!

Jessi

2011-02-15T13:55:00.000-05:00

These are from my 2009 trip to Spokane, WA. I made some long lasting friends on that trip.

Life can be surprising sometimes.

2011 Wedding Prices

2011-02-08T12:50:00.000-05:00

What I’m hearing from my clients is that they want less posed portraits and more real moments. They want to enjoy their day, respond to each other and their friends and families and listen less to a photographer telling them to “look here and smile!” So that is what I provide. A fly on the wall perspective, expressions and moments from your day that will match your memories. I like to take about 20 minutes for group shots (if you must have them) and another 30 minutes for bride and groom portraits but these are fun, easy and relaxed. After all, its your day not mine. On your wedding day you should be having fun!

Package 1: $1,500
This package includes:

 - engagement mini-session
 - 3 hours of event coverage
 - high resolution images on disk

Package 2: $2,500
This package includes:

- engagement mini-session
 - 5 hours of event coverage 
- 7x7” memory album 
- high resolution images on disk

Package 3: $3,500
This package includes:

 - engagement mini-session 
- 7 hours event coverage
 - 10x8” memory album 
- high resolution images on disk

These prices are meant to give you an idea of what to expect. I work with each client to provide the solution that works best.

I may add more information here if there are questions.

Maternity Session with the Petersons

2011-02-02T09:52:00.000-05:00

There is a wonderful energy to expecting parents. The anticipation, the unknown, the planning, fear, courage and love that you sense when you are around them is a potent mix of emotions. The opportunity to photograph maternity sessions is one I really enjoy. There is a depth and poignancy to the subjects that is hard to find at another time. I was blessed to shoot this session with my friends the Petersons.

Image Deconstruction - Jillian

2011-01-25T11:39:00.000-05:00

I shot these images this summer with Jillian on the Chesapeake Bay somewhere in Virginia. Perhaps you will find the "how and why" interesting! The images were taken with exactly the same settings except that the image on the left was taken at 98mm and the image on the right was taken at 200mm.

Nikon D700
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR

Settings:

Mode: Manual
In a situation like this with so much contrast it is especially important to use a manual setting. Camera meters can be fooled into balancing the scene to accommodate the dark background, its easier to just tell it what to do and be done with it.

Aperture: f/2.8
I was shooting wide open here because I wanted something very intimate. With a large aperture and a long lens I knew my depth of field would be narrow allowing me to make the background soft and unimportant.

Shutter: 1/1250
That is the variable factor in this shot. I really didn't care what the shutter speed was as long as it was fast enough to avoid camera shake/blur and that it met the balance for the correct exposure. In this case it was more than fast enough. It is important to remember that if I were using a strobe this would be too fast as my camera's max sync speed is at 1/250. We'll get into that another time.

ISO: 200
This is my camera's natural lowest ISO actually. Using a low ISO gives less light receptivity however it gives richer colors and less noise. So I usually try to keep the ISO setting as low as possible. In this case I had plenty of light so that was not a problem.

White Balance: K5900
I shoot most of my images with a Kelvin color setting. This allows me to move up and down the scale of cool/warm by degrees. 5900 is a mid to warm setting.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of these shots is the location. We were in a beach town, the sun was high and I didn't have a scrim. This setting is where a pier meets the beach. I had Jillian stand just under the pier so that she was in full shade but close enough to the edge so all the ambient light was lighting her and the sun beating down on the sand acted like a big reflector. This is a scenario I look for a lot and is one of my favorite ways to light a portrait!

I hope you found this interesting and maybe even helpful! Questions? Comments?

Gear - What and Why

2011-01-23T11:28:00.109-05:00

Its the photographer not the camera. Always.

That said, all gear was not created equal so equipment choices do matter. These are some of the tools I use and I have notes about why I have them.

Nikon D700

Why: This is what I shoot with more than anything else. It has a full frame sensor and amazing low light abilities. It is a nice size and honestly I have never been more pleased with a camera. It is fast, and accurate, and ...all the controls are exactly where they should be. I love this thing!

Nikon F5

Why: This is a 35mm film camera! Built like a tank, smooth operation, relatively modern features. This has helped me fall in love with film all over again.

Mamiya 645 Super

Why: Why not? I picked this up at a used camera shop and found the missing pieces on e-bay. I paid less than $500 for the whole kit. Amazing since this was a professional workhorse "back in the day." It shoots 120mm film. Tons of fun. I have yet to scan anything I've shot with this though so no one has seen any results from it. Including me.

Nikon N75

Why: This is the first SLR I bought. I will probably hold onto it forever because of that fact. It is a 35mm film camera and I purchased the F5 to replace this. It is very much a consumer model and I am always frustrated with the lack of control this camera provides. Its also a bit small for my hands. Let this be a lesson! If you are buying your first camera, go get something used but decent! I paid more to have something new and I wish I hadn't bought this. The lenses that came with this were horrible and I have given them both away.

VIDEO
My "job" is primarily as a videographer for an insurance company. I make promotional and instructional videos for their clients. For several years I used the Sony Z1U as my primary camera but last year I moved to the HDSLR world with a Canon 7D. I chose the 7D over other options like the 5D MKII because it was the best choice at the time. It still has some limitations but it is a wonderful camera to use, especially for video.

Sony Z1U

Why: At the time, the Sony Z1U was a decent (at my price point) entry into the HD video camera market. It shoots HDV which is 1080i, comes equipped with dual XLR (audio cable) inputs and has manual controls for nearly everything. Its light and portable. I still have it and use it when I am recording a meeting that needs to be documented.

Canon 7D

Why: The advent of HDSLR cameras has meant access to beautiful depth of field and a film look for the average video shooter. This look just can't be achieved with the smaller sensor's video cameras have been using. HDSLR's are not without limitations but these are easily overcome with a few accessories.

I should also note that the shots in this post were all made with my iPhone 4 and the Hipstamatic app! The best camera is the one you have with you as Chase Jarvis says.

Lines

2011-01-21T11:12:00.002-05:00

Editing - Ice

2011-01-18T10:14:00.000-05:00

What do you think editing is about? Do you edit at all?

I've been wanting to do a post on the editing process for a while now. In fact I've been hinting at it in a few of my posts.

First up, lets clear up a common misconception. Editing is NOT the same as retouching. Retouching is that fun process of processing your image, curves, sharpening, blemish removal, color correction all falls into the field of retouching. Editing on the other hand is the process of selecting images for whatever their final purpose is going to be.

I think this is where we all need a little growth. I tend to tell my visual stories with multiple images however that does not mean that I believe "more is ... more!" A few or even just one image is often more effective than many images. Especially since quantity usually comes at the cost of quality.

Learn to let go of the less than amazing images. Not everything is worthy.

So this is my editing process:

Open my folder of raw files in Adobe Bridge.
Batch Rename and apply my regular develop settings to all images (I've talked about those settings in other posts).
Select the final image(s) by Approving them with the "apple + 8" shortcut.
I then set the filter to show only the approved images. This allows me to easily compare the final selects and eliminate (disapprove) based on quality, contribution to the "story" and impact.
If an image passes all of that, maybe its worth showing. Maybe.

Image Deconstruction

2011-01-14T10:10:00.000-05:00

Today I thought I would do an image deconstruction. I learn a lot from behind the scenes information and deconstructing others images so I hope this will benefit you as well.

This image was shot nearly a year ago, out on the "Eastern Shore" of Maryland. The subject is my friend Mel who is a talented model, makeup/hair/design genius. I wish she lived closer because she does it all. Well.

January 22, 2010 (so winter time). 5:41 pm. Light is fading fast.

Camera is the Nikon D700 (full frame sensor)
Lens is the Nikon 70-200mm AFS f2.8 VR
Flash is the Nikon SB800 (with a tungsten gel)

Rather than just list my settings I'll list them with the "why" immediately following.

Settings:
Mode: Manual
Manual puts me in full control of exposure and image quality. I find I can waste a lot of time with the auto or assisted modes such as aperture priority or shutter priority. They have their place but more often than not they hinder more than they help.

Aperture: F5.0,
I wanted to keep the depth of field shallow and get the nice bubbly bokeh in the background without losing too much face detail. I probably meant to go for a standard f stop setting like f5.6 here but ... maybe my thumb slipped a little.

Shutter: 1/160,
Since I was shooting with the VR version of the 70-200mm I felt I could get away with hand-holding at 1/160th. This shot was at 80mm so I was well within limits for avoiding shakiness. At 200mm I might still have been able to get a clear shot but would have been pushing it.

ISO: 800,
The D700 gives gorgeous clear images up well past ISO 800 and in the low light it was necessary to go up this high. My other options would have been a larger aperture (narrower depth of field) or lower shutter speed (shaky picture) or to increase the light output from my flash unit but that would only have helped my subject and the background would have been darker.

White Balance: Tungsten.
I chose the Tungsten white balance setting because I had an off-camera Nikon SB-800 with a Tungsten gel over it. I wanted to balance for the light and let the background go cool. If you balance for a warm light source your unlit background elements will be quite cold (blue). I like the warm/cold contrast a lot so that is what that is all about.

Focal Length: 80mm
I think I chose to frame the shot at 80mm because of the space we were working in. We were in the woods in a swamp actually and the trail was pretty narrow. So I had to be closer than I would have normally been. I do like the bokeh effect at this focal length though. At 200mm the bubbles of light in the background would have been really large.

Little Things

2011-01-13T19:23:00.000-05:00

Video - Editing

2011-01-09T18:19:00.000-05:00

I promised a post on video editing a while back. I was saying that it is one of the hidden barriers to incorporating video into your business. Many people think that now that their SLR shoots video they can start offering videography services as well. And they can! Just don't forget about some of the hidden barriers like editing and audio.

The first challenge of video editing is selecting your editing software. There are actually a few great options available and I'm not here to pitch one over the others even though I only use one of them. I use Final Cut Pro but there is also Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere, AVID and others. There are also lower end options like Final Cut Express, iMovie...and others I'm sure. Be prepared to invest as much or more into your editing software as you did into your photography software and be sure your computer system is up to the challenge as well.

One of the things that really helps me as I edit a project is organizational skills. You couldn't tell by looking at my studio but when I edit, I am super organized. There are naming conventions for the files and a folder for each type of file I'm going to use. I don't like hunting for anything.

Editing is about time. It is about combining audio and visual elements over a length of time in a way that is cohesive, unencumbered and somehow communicates a message. I often drop in audio and music tracks early on in order to set a cadence for a piece. I don't need every shot. I just need the right ones.

I hope you enjoy this short behind the scenes from a photo shoot.

Bleak Winter Day

2011-01-08T09:28:00.000-05:00

Who are You?

2011-01-07T09:30:00.001-05:00

Really, who are you? I don't mean the resume, or the historical bio, I mean who are you really. How do you relate, what do you like, dislike, what are the ingredients that define your uniqueness?

You're still thinking? OK I'll go first.

I am the Canadian Photographer. The guy who Thinks too Much. Shooting style is loose and fluid, in the Moment. I Love Stories. The Writer. What's for dinner? Poutine! (google it) Love people and haven't seen a subject I didn't want to photograph. Music, always, on, please. Father. Loves wild places, skeptical about cities. Vegetarian, mostly. Faith. I am not going to PhotoCHOP you because I think you are Beautiful already. Everything has BEAUTY, you just need the right perspective. Process. Sketches, concepts and drafts are as interesting as the final product. Do it Right.

So what makes you unique?

Boudoir - A Personal Gift

2011-01-06T13:00:00.000-05:00

Are you one of those who plans ahead carefully or are you more like me and the week OF you are doing most of your shopping?

Well here is my reminder to you for Valentines! Planning ahead allows you to put more thought and care into your gifts and plans. My suggestion is to make an appointment with a great photographer and put together a package of intimate prints or a photo book.

Whatever you choose to do, get started now!

2010 is over!

2011-01-01T13:56:00.001-05:00

It was in many ways a good year. Not in every way to be sure. I would be lying if I said I didn't face some real challenges this year, however generally speaking, it was a good year. My business did much better than ever before, I got to work with some wonderful people and my daughter and I got to go on some brilliant adventures together.

From a day trip to Harper's Ferry, WV

Minerva - my first portraits of the year, in Riverside, CA

Pugwash, NS Canada while on summer holidays with my daughter ;)

I have noticed that my blog post on JOY is the most popular blog post of all (and there have been a lot!)

Erykah - one of most vibrant souls I've met

Some of my favorite photo projects I have ever had the joy of shooting happened this year.

Model: JMay Evolution, Hair: Kyndra Turner, MUA: Marie Webb

Concept: LACE, Model: Juelles, Hair/MUA: Carolyn Berry

Concept: Military'esque, Model: Oriana Layendecker

Model: Jillian Ryan

Rebirth of Film! I fell in love with film again. I guess that has been a few years in the making. This year was especially fun with film though. I was able to retire my little Nikon N75 and started shooting with a Nikon F5. Awesome!

Kodak 100 Nikon N75, Model: Jillian Ryan

Kodak 400, Nikon F5

I shot a bunch of weddings. I had held off on accepting wedding projects due to the technical demands but with no technical barriers remaining, I jumped right in. Guess what? The water is warm! Its fun! I love making people happy.

Tabitha & Greg

Jen & Nick

Taryn & Tony

So now then. Forward to 2011. What does it hold in store? What direction will it take and what opportunities wait for us?

If the past is any indication, we have much to hope for.

Video - Film School on Vimeo!

2010-12-22T10:18:00.000-05:00

Just when you didn't think Vimeo could get any cooler. This. Vimeo has created a video school with a ton of great videos and articles explaining all manner of topics related to videography and film making. Let me tell you, this is a treasure!

Since most of what I do involves shooting with a DSLR I was delighted to see that Vimeo has recruited one of the best in the field to explain the basic concepts in a series of videos. Go check these out! DSLR Basics with Philip Bloom and Andrea Allen

Introduction to DSLR Cameras with Philip Bloom from Vimeo Staff on Vimeo.

Shooting Technique - Window Light

2010-12-20T13:29:00.000-05:00

Its easy to get carried away with all the gear available for photographers. The different kinds of lights, modifiers, stands, booms, gels, boxes, .... stuff, can be overwhelming. Just remember that great images are not made by gear, they are made by people.

I chose to just use a nice window as my light source for these head shots.

Gone Shooting

2010-12-17T16:50:00.000-05:00

Sometimes the best idea is to just grab camera and go. Take a walk. Talk to a friend.

Wet Mornings

2010-12-15T10:54:00.000-05:00

A very accomplished wildlife photographer was once asked how he was able to capture such amazing images of elusive creatures. He has hundreds of amazing shots of creatures many of us will never see in the wild. His answer was that your odds of making an image increase exponentially by spending your time where the animals are.

The point is you don't make great images of sunsets if you are inside eating dinner, you don't get amazing shots of grizzly bears by driving through a park once in your life. You get them by being there, day after day, planning for the moment and waiting for the moment.

You get what you pay for.

For these simple images (from my front yard), I got wet. That was my investment.

Getting out in the elements to chase down some images deserves a reward.

Shooting Technique - Composition

2010-12-13T09:13:00.000-05:00

Composition is one of the pillars of good photography. No image is great without great composition.

I'm going to make this post short.

Learn the design principles.

If you see a post or tree coming out of your subject's head, move. Move your subject or yourself.

If you see its wrong, change it.

This Bleak Winter

2010-12-11T20:38:00.000-05:00

The Hard Part

2010-12-09T11:29:00.000-05:00

Its hard to think of this part of the job as part of the job. Its the part I have to do in order to do the job. That needs to change I suppose. I need to see this as much a part of the job as that other part.

What is this part? The writing part. This is the part where the thoughts are written down, the content is formulated, the message is sculpted. Without this part, there is no video, no image.

It is without a doubt the most important part.

I wish that this thought process worked differently. I wish we could be more like other animals in this way. A dog in search of food will find it. The dog just keeps looking, single-minded until it has found something. Anything. Imagine if our pursuit of thoughts and the writing of them were as “dogged.”

Instead we wait for inspiration. We have to have the right setting, circumstances, we need the right stimuli, our internal equilibrium has to be in perfect balance.

We are lazy and excuse ourselves from the work of life far too often.

My desk is clear. My fingers on the keyboard. No excuses.

Post Processing - How much is too much?

2010-12-06T11:16:00.001-05:00

Are you a Photo-Chopper or an In-Camera Purist?

There seems to be two extremes of thought on post processing. The in-camera purists believe all good photography happened back in the good old days when you had to get everything right in camera and no one had Photoshop. They often shoot JPEG or film. Sometimes if you get them unguarded they will admit that their post processing includes minimal color adjustments, contrast and sharpening. They always emphasize how little they do. Whatever.

The other camp likes to blur the lines between photography and digital art. They haven't seen an image they didn't want to composite, liquify, clone, dodge, burn and reinvent. I call them Photo-choppers.

The point of my post is not to defend or attack one position or another. I don't care. Do what you like. I have been asked to share where I fit into that spectrum. I like my images to be photographs. I like the skin in my images to have pores and the features of my subjects to be recognizable. I do like contrast and color. I will liquify, burn/dodge and even composite to make the image what I want it to be. My goal is to make the post processing transparent. I don't want you to be able to tell what I've done. I can work on an image anywhere from one minute to several hours. Usually just a few minutes.

Where is your line? What guides your post processing method?

Group Portrait update

2010-12-02T15:20:00.000-05:00

The Corporate Board shot is finished!
(see previous blog posts Help!! and Help!! (update) for the challenge and planning process)

Its interesting how a plan can prepare you for a project and yet it still requires adjustments during the execution. With the help of an awesome assistant (Thanks Erykah!) I had to fit in one extra person and change a position we had mapped out beforehand because it ended up not being practical.

In retrospect I would have done a few things differently but I like the overall result and vibe of this image. They were a really great group of men to photograph!

Help!! (update)

2010-12-01T09:07:00.001-05:00

First off, thank you for all the responses, ideas and suggestions. You guys are awesome.

I worked with the communications director to settle on a location. It is an interior space (with all this rain there really is no other option) and very modern. Lighting it is going to be a challenge but I have 15 test subjects to work with today to sort it all out. Hopefully.

The real shoot is tomorrow. I will have 10 minutes.

After looking at a ton of group photos the images that spoke to me the most were those where the subjects were all posed individually (think of the way Annie Liebovitz arranges her group shots). I don't expect to achieve those kinds of results with the subjects, locations, time and equipment available but that is where my thinking is right now.

The location.

This first image I took yesterday at the settings I wanted to use. I am using a Canon 7D for this shot with a 17-55mm f2.8 IS lens. My settings will be f11, 1/50 at ISO 400. I need to keep my aperture small in order to keep most if not all of my subjects in sharp focus and I want a noise free image so I'm keeping the ISO fairly low.

This first image was taken yesterday as I scouted the location. I had my 7D with the above settings and a 580EXII flash mounted to the camera. Underexposed and I didn't want to up my ISO or drop my shutter speed. There wasn't a good way to bounce light in this space. I needed to get my flash off camera and softened. I also needed MORE light.

Location: f11, 1/50, ISO 400, 1 on-camera 580 EXII at 1/1

Today I brought in 2 Nikon SB-800 speedlights and mounted them off camera with shoot-through umbrellas. Umbrellas are never my first choice but for a space this large that was my only available option. Progress!


Location: f11, 1/50, ISO 400, 2 off-camera SB800 at 1/1

Help!!

2010-11-30T09:30:00.001-05:00

I need some help!

I have been asked to shoot a group shot of a corporate board. I have been told that there will be around 15 people in the image and the mood is to be conservative. Yay!!

After spending considerable time in research today, I have yet to see a corporate image of that amount of people that I liked. Making an image is one thing, making an image I can be proud of is a whole other thing. I'd like to make something special here, especially since I haven't seen it done before.

SO! Thoughts? Ideas? What have you got? What would you do?

Thanks

2010-11-28T18:05:00.000-05:00

What am I thankful for?

I am thankful for my daughter, family and friends.
I am thankful for work to do and colleagues who make it fun and who challenge me.
I am thankful for the opportunity to be involved in creative work.
I am thankful for the ability to see.
I am thankful for the tools that make my work possible.
I am thankful for you, reading my blog!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Some shots from our Thanksgiving feast.

Shooting Technique - Mode

2010-11-25T09:15:00.071-05:00

On my camera (Nikon D700) I have a mode button. Yours may have a dial with various modes on it like the image below or similar. I believe the Nikon mode dials have pictographs illustrating various modes such as sports, landscapes, macro etc. I'm fairly certain that most if not all DSLR cameras have four basic modes in addition to whatever else they may have included.

Canon 7D mode dial

So what modes do I use and why?

M - Manual
This is where I like to stay most of the time. Manual mode allows me to control my shutter speed and aperture settings. If I choose to disagree with the light meter it is all on me. I set the exposure and whatever I get is my own fault. I like control.
S - Shutter Priority (Tv on Canon)
This mode allows me to set the shutter speed and the camera will set the aperture as it thinks is best. I use this sometimes when I have a lot going on and I just really want to be sure the shutter speed is fast enough to avoid blur, shake or to catch a fast moving subject. It is important to be sure your camera is in the correct metering mode.
A - Aperture Priority (Av on Canon)
This mode allows me to set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed for me. I seldom use this mode since I am usually less concerned about aperture issues as I am about shutter speed. Aperture affects depth of field which is pleasant but shutter speed can be a deal breaker if you end up with blurry shots.
P - Program
This is essentially automatic. I never use it.

That is what works for me. I like control. What do you use? Why?

Tools - mRelease

2010-11-24T09:28:00.007-05:00

NOTE: This app seems to work best on iPhone 4. Issues on 3G and 3Gs.

One of my favorite tools for photography is my phone. Not only does it have a robust camera all its own, I can show images to clients, collect reference material and (drumroll) make model releases!

I have to say that the geek in me just loves this one. mRelease allows you to build a really stunning model release in just a few easy steps. It has the legal lingo built in and all I do is enter contact information, take a pic, have the model sign it (on the touch screen) and tada! Instant model release. Oh, the best part? It emails both myself and the model a lovely pdf (printable) version of the model release.

One of the reasons I find this way of making model releases so helpful is because it starts (and stays) in a digital format. I can print it if I need it. The old way involved printing, signing and then filing. I did ok with the printing and signing but filing the forms and being able to find them later is a whole other thing. Now I have a copy built into my phone, I have a copy in my inbox and if I really want one, a copy in print.

Planning - Makeup

2010-11-23T09:16:00.006-05:00

What could I possibly have to share about makeup? Next to nothing I assure you. On most of my shoots however I get asked for direction from the makeup artist as to what I want done. It doesn't seem to matter who put the shoot together it always comes down to me. Why? Probably because the buck has to stop somewhere.

So what do I say? What direction could I possibly give? Its good to have something of a plan. It is also good to be somewhat educated about makeup (and hair and styling and...), and I'm working on that. In order to provide some direction I use this approach:

Reference Material!
I spend some time looking at "makeup work" every day. I may not be an expert but I do want to know what is going on in that world and browsing makeup and beauty looks provides me the opportunity to collect reference material. If I don't have the words to describe a look or technique perhaps I can show a photo on my phone that will describe what I have in mind.
Unity
It may be simple but it never hurts to unify a look with a color from the accessories or wardrobe.
Keep it You
Is your work bold and brash or is it more demure and soft? Let it show in the direction you give the makeup artist. You may not know all of the vocabulary of their world but you do know yourself.
Experts
Trust your professional team! Give them room to breath and contribute. Give an idea and ask for one back. Your work will be greatly enhanced by other people's contributions.

Makeup can be a real asset to your work. Value the artist and the process, learn about it and don't let it intimidate you!

What is - a Portrait?

2010-11-22T09:30:00.071-05:00

I recently ran into a discussion about some award winning portraits on an online forum I look at from time to time. The discussion seemed to be revolving around the fact that these award winning photographs were not good, strange and not head shots. Which is probably why they were award winning. I left the comment that not all portraits have to be head shots and that not all head shots are in fact portraits. Probably not helpful.
So what DOES make an image a portrait? I googled it. First up was Wikipedia with the following:

portraiture is the capture by means of photography of the likeness of a person or a small group of people (a group portrait), in which the face and expression is predominant. The objective is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the subject.

That is certainly reasonable. I am not sure I agree with the stated predominance of the face though. Perhaps it is because I want to push the idea a little further but I think a portrait is more about the personality of the person you are trying to capture. No doubt the face and expression will often be paramount, but not always. I don't like the implied necessity.

One of my favorite portraitists is Chris Orwig. If you get a chance, his book Visual Poetry is an incredibly insightful journey into photography. He provides examples and exercises that will push your abilities and help you understand portrait photography in new and more interesting ways. Can you take a portrait without showing someone's face? Can you take a location portrait? Are you showing what someone looks like or who they are?

Head and shoulders a portrait does not make. Necessarily.

These are some of my portraits from this year. Yes, most are heads and shoulders.

Video - 3 Steps to Great Audio

2010-11-21T09:23:00.085-05:00

Never underestimate the importance of great audio in a video production. It is as important (and sometimes more important) than the images. These are the three factors that I believe will have the most impact on your audio capture.

The basic setup is Microphone + Recorder + Monitor (headphones).

Microphones
Not all microphones are created equal. Lav mics can be a great tool for speaking roles but you will usually need to be sure they remain hidden under a collar. Stereo mics are for recording ambient audio (in all directions) and directional shotgun mics are great for isolating your audio source. I often choose the shotgun over the lav mics because I am not that great at hiding my lavs and keeping them from rubbing against clothes.
Monitoring
A very important aspect of audio capture is listening to the capture as it comes in to be sure you are not experiencing interference, over modulation (capturing too loud) or too low. Is the sound clear and clean? You don't want to find out later, you want to know while it is being captured so you can fix it if necessary. A good set of headphones is a must.
Recording
The device you use to record your audio is obviously an important part of the process. You may be tempted to record directly to your DSLR (especially if it has a "mic in" port) but let me caution against this. Your DSLR probably does not have the ability to control that audio (I think the new Canon D60 has some controls for this) so the audio pretty much comes in uncontrolled. I know audio from my D300s and 7D just sounds awful. I do use an external on-camera shotgun mic to improve audio captured by the camera but this is really just to improve my ability to sync with the real recording.

So what do I use to record? There are several options but I use the Zoom H4N recorder. It has some robust microphones built in but more importantly it has dual XLR inputs. This allows me to plug in a professional grade mic/cable into my recorder for optimum capture.

Another great recorder is the MarantzPMD661.

The last step is to sync your audio and video in your post production software (I use Final Cut Pro with a sync plugin called PluralEYES).

Questions? Comments? Better ideas? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

History!

2010-11-19T09:30:00.006-05:00

I was feeling very much like pulling together a Victorian or Steampunk shoot today. I'm not sure I will right now but..that's how I was feeling. It got me thinking of all the projects I've done that found their concept born out of historical inspiration. So as I looked through my projects I figured I would share some of them with you!

I wish I could explain how I grateful I am to the amazing models, makeup artists and stylists who help make this possible. An amazing amount of these projects were put together with just me and the model. Tip of the hat to you ladies.

Shooting Technique - Focus

2010-11-18T09:30:00.122-05:00

I just wrote a post on focus about a week ago! Why am I back at it again?

Well this post is about technique. How to achieve great focus while shooting. There are different techniques for different situations so lets break it down!

Portrait under normal lighting conditions.

Rule of thumb: Make sure your shutter speed is greater than your focal length. For example if you are shooting with your 50mm then you want your shutter speed to be over 1/50th of a second, with the 105mm then make sure you are shooting over 1/100th. Don't forget to adjust aperture, ISO etc. to nail the exposure.
Hold your camera properly, trigger hand gripping the right hand side of the camera with trigger finger resting on the shutter release and the left hand cradling the bottom of the lens. This also puts your left hand fingers in position to adjust focus if necessary.
Move your focus point in the camera's viewfinder as close as you can to your point of interest and lock focus. I know sometimes we have to lock focus and recompose a bit but the "farther" you have to recompose the greater the chance focus will be off.
Breath. Really, take a breath and let it out, get your focus point on your subject's eye or wherever you want it - I really recommend the closest eye) and gently press your shutter.

Macro subjects (the simple version) Take all of what we talked about for Portraits and add this to it.

Increase your aperture setting to a higher number (smaller hole = larger number) which will increase the amount of focus depth. When shooting macro subjects you will find your depth of field is so narrow that almost nothing is in focus. Just a sliver of a bug's eye is in focus and the other eye is just a blur!! That looks cool sometimes but can be frustrating most of the time.
Stabilize. Tripods, mono-pods, lock your elbows, pretty much anything you can do. If you do choose to hand hold, you will need to breath very carefully, lock in your focus and move yourself and the camera into the focus point you are trying to catch. Not easy, I often find myself completely winded after a macro shooting session!

Moving Subjects. This can be anything from sports to wildlife. Often we shoot these subjects with telelphoto lens' and again we have to fight with a narrow depth of field.

Change your focus mode from "single" to "continuous."
Mount your lens onto a tripod with a movable head like a video head or a Wimberly.
Move your left hand on top of the lens. This helps reduce barrel shake. This is especially true when dealing with very long lenses.

So in summary the basic techniques are:

Fast shutter speed
Stabilize with good hand holding, elbow bracing or tripod
Breathing (or not breathing!)

Tools - Lens Choice

2010-11-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

Photographers love to talk about gear. Which lens, why, what brand, which camera, kind of light, strobist vs natural light, Canon vs Nikon etc. ad naseum et infinitum.

I will admit to some specific opinions on all these "issues" but let me just start off by saying:

The Photographer Makes the Image

I will be giving a spot on my blog (about once a week) to talk gear. Probably on Wednesdays!

With that out of the way however let me tell you a bit about my two favorite lenses! I have been shooting a lot recently with just these two lens.

1. The Nikon 50mm f/1.8

What? I shoot with the f/1.8 version? Yeah. I do. It was SO CHEAP! I do intend to replace it with the f/1.4 but honestly this thing has worked really well for me for several years and I don't have many complaints. Not no complaints, just not many. I especially love working with it on my full frame camera. Its an honest lens, its sharp and did I mention how inexpensive it is?
The Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR

This lens serves for my longer focal length shots, lovely close-ups and it is a brilliant macro lens. I couldn't imagine life without it. I often shoot full length shots with longer lenses (such as this one) to maximize the compression.

When shooting with people I will often take a moment here and there to shoot some macro shots from the location as well. I don't always use those shots in the image story but its nice to have them and well I just can't help shooting macro when I can!

What is your favorite lens and why?

Macro shot with a reversed 50mm f1.8.

Macro shot with 105mm f2.8

Carol

2010-11-16T09:30:00.001-05:00

Post Processing - Basic Workflow

2010-11-15T09:24:00.081-05:00

There are a lot of ways to get the job done. Some better than others.

This is what works for most of my projects.

1. Open the Adobe DNG Converter and move my raw files from the memory card(s) to a lovely date/client named folder on the hard drive. This accomplishes both the transfer and conversion to a more universal format.

2. Editing is the process of selecting images. I do this in Bridge although Apple's Aperture and Adobe's Lightroom are also great for this. Bridge allows me to rate images and then sort them by rating, rename with my own naming convention and apply a raw conversion setting. I can automate the process of making web sized proofs. If my client wants to review proofs I then upload the jpegs to a password protected album on my zenfolio account.

3. Once the final selects are chosen it is time for retouching. This starts with another trip to the Adobe RAW converter. I make final tweaks to color temperature and tint, as well as exposure, fill and black levels.

4. Finally the image is open in Photoshop. Since I retouch in layers I make a copy of the image, and run the unsharp mask filter Amount 100, Radius 1 pixel. I might add a curves adjustment layer, or possibly a cross processed adjustment layer.

I will often do a little dodging and burning as part of my retouching. There are many ways to do this but the way I do it is by making a new blank layer, setting the blend mode to "Soft Light" and then brushing in darker or lighter values. I set my brush to a very light setting like 12% opacity and my foreground and background colors to black and white. White for dodging, black for burning. A shortcut is to hit your "x" key to switch between foreground and background colors.

5. The final steps are to save a .psd to preserve the process then convert from 16 to 8 bit and save a high quality .jpeg.

Ta da! All done.

Video - Transition from Photo to Video

2010-11-14T11:00:00.095-05:00

Are you excited about how video has come to the DSLR? Are you thinking of jumping in to this world of motion imagery? Are you eyeballing a D7000, T2i, 5D Mk II or 7D?

I make my living doing both photography and video, and while DSLR video is not for everyone this process has made sense to me from the beginning. There are some challenges that you should be aware of and carefully weigh before you spend your money though.

Clearly the ability to capture great video is now well within reach of consumers, amateurs and photography professionals. There is a learning curve but I don't think it is hard to translate from stills to motion. The two real challenge barriers for motion imagery are less obvious:

1. Audio
Great sounding audio is no easy task. Learning how to get clean audio from talking subjects, multiple subjects, ambient, foley and post processing are all new skills that can really make or break a video production. Having an audio specialist on hand is a real plus. If you are a "one man band" learning to juggle both video and audio at the same time is difficult but possible. It is something to take very seriously. Look for some basic training to get you started. I will be doing a blog post on basic audio in the not too distant future.

2. Editing
Editing is an art form all its own. Can you design visual and audio elements over time? That is what editing is about. Unlike photography editing which refers specifically to image selection, video editing refers to clip selection, sequencing and pretty much everything else. There are specific aspects which can be carved out such as color grading and mixing audio but generally the whole process is considered editing. Learning the basics of sequencing, pacing and continuity will set you ahead. I do intend to spend more time on this subject in a future post.

I think photographers can make amazing film makers, just be sure you are intentional about your approach. If there is anyway I can help just let me know!

Some links I have found to be helpful.
BH DSLR On-Camera Microphones
BH DSLR Film Maker's Workflow

Spokane Photographer Jennifer Harvey: The Secret to looking great in your photos!

2010-11-13T08:02:00.000-05:00

Spokane Photographer Jennifer Harvey: The Secret to looking great in your photos!: "David reveals the secrets to the age old question 'what do I wear for my photo shoot'! David Fournier is a photographer and friend from Silv..."

Right Frame of Mind - Guest blogger Jennifer Harvey

2010-11-12T08:11:00.032-05:00

There are so many times when I wish I could get into my client's heads and help them, calm down, relax, or infuse them with a mood or confidence. Just saying it doesn't always seem to work. I asked Jennifer Harvey from Spokane, WA to write a bit about how to mentally prepare to be photographed. Jennifer is a specialist in Boudoir photography.

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When I first sit down with my clients I am able to size them up and get a feel for what kind of experience we will have with each other Given the nature of the type of work I do, It's safe to say two thirds of my clients are very nervous when they come in for their session. You would be too if you were going to have your pictures taken in nothing but expensive lingerie, well I would.

Women are incredibly hard on themselves. We all have our own issues we deal with, very few have a perfect body and those who we might judge to be perfect have their own issues too. So I don't judge. It's my job to make sure my client is comfortable and at ease with the entire process.

We start with Hair and Makeup, the providers I use are experts and are very good at putting you at ease. Before you know it you are laughing and enjoying the pampering. By the time you are finished with the make over, you are ready for the camera, and you're used to me and my crew.

I always say the first 25 or so pictures don't count, so lets get the "deer in the headlights" looks out of the way and once we settle in and hit our groove, that’s when the magic happens. If my client isn't comfortable, it shows on camera, so I do breathing exercises and I'll make silly jokes, and all the while telling them they are beautiful, and totally rocking the sexy diva look!

This last Sunday I had two BFF's come in, they started out nervous, but by the end of the night, they both said "That was so much fun! I can't wait to do it again".

If you are nervous about having your picture taken, please relax, the photographer wants to make you look amazing, it's our goal! After all it's our name in the corner. One tip I can give you is to hire an expert in their field. If you want Boudoir, go to a specialist, if you want nudes, go to someone who specializes in them, if you want beautiful portraits, again, pick a photographer who has made their name by specializing in that type of photography. A jack of all trades is a gamble, so be careful. A specialist, will have the expertise to bring out your best features, and give you the confidence to put your worries aside and make something spectacular.

http://jharveyphotography.blogspot.com/

Vision part II

2010-11-11T11:30:00.001-05:00

See part I on Jennifer Harvey's blog where I was a guest blogger last week.

I watched Alice in Wonderland (the Tim Burton version) last night. I was reminded again how very clearly unique his vision is. His films have a distinct look that no matter the subject matter just scream "Tim Burton." His moody clouds, twisted trees grabbing at the sky, his pale skinned actors with their shadowed eyes, its all his.

Nothing could be more valuable to an artist than this clarity of vision. To have a look that is so distinctly yours, to be so in tune with your uniqueness is a gift and a powerful tool. Especially when it is backed up by excellent technique and solid design principles.

So how do we find "our own" look? How do we go from the trying and exploring and learning to the thing that is distinctly our own?

I'm not going to say its easy. It seems everything has been done before. There is truly nothing new under the sun. Well, almost nothing. There is you. Have you been taking care of you though? Have you been feeding your uniqueness or have you been simply admiring everyone else's.

It is going to take some conscious decisions to get where you want to go. Its going to take less of looking at your peers, more introspection, more doing, less milk and more meat. The truth is the world is going to try to pull you in all directions but you have to stand for something, you have to be able to relate your personal philosophy into a visual reality.

Thats what I think.

What do you think?

Behind the Scenes

2010-11-09T17:04:00.001-05:00

3 reasons focus matters

2010-11-09T11:46:00.000-05:00

Focus, selective focus, soft focus, focus plane, focus stacking, back focusing, how important is focus in an image? What do all those terms mean!?!

I ~~sometimes~~ often see images with missed focus. I don't typically say anything unless asked but I don't see a lot of reason to keep images like this. I know, I know, maybe it fulfills your artistic vision to do things differently. I'm not saying there aren't times when out of focus isn't appropriate. I'm saying those times are rare. There is also a big difference between out of focus and missed focus.

I do it all the time, I don't use those images.

1. It matters
Oh it definitely matters. Your focus point is where your audience's eyes are going to go. Its where they rest, it is the destination. If their eyes are tourists on your image, do not send them on a wild goose chase, get them to the destination and wow them with the best of everything when they get there.

2. Its not hard
With modern cameras amazing auto-focus abilities and increased high ISO sensitivities there is little reason to miss focus. Make sure you are shooting at a fast enough shutter speed and move your focus point to the part of your screen closest to where you want it to focus. Locking a focus point and then moving is often necessary but you can lose focus if you have to reposition your camera too far.

3. Its a tool!
From a design stand point focus is a powerful tool for directing your audience. Just like lighting and composition you can use focus to direct their eyes where you want them to go. Using depth of field to narrow the point of interest is one of my favorite tools.

Don't forget that the most valuable tool for making great images is NOT showing bad images.

From a recent shoot with the beautiful JMay

Family Portraits!

2010-11-08T16:45:00.000-05:00

Had a quick, chilly but super fun shoot with one of my favorite families this weekend.

Spokane Photographer Jennifer Harvey: Guest Blogger David Fournier- Artistic Vision

2010-11-07T19:44:00.000-05:00

Spokane Photographer Jennifer Harvey: Guest Blogger David Fournier- Artistic Vision: "David is a photographer from Silver Spring Maryland, his talent is multi-faceted, and his work speaks for it's self. I have found very few..."

This Melancholy Autumn

2010-11-05T21:27:00.000-04:00

can words reveal this dying thing
between us gone like days of summer
dreams left moldering under-foot
I reached for lingering rays of summer sun
knowing the winter's cold embrace was near
that leafy carpet saw love burn its final flame

Tabitha & Jillian

2010-11-04T13:17:00.000-04:00

These images are from over a year ago. I guess I just forgot to get the film developed. I found it again though and took a little time to scan the negatives. I hope you enjoy!!

Color images are from Kodak 100 Color and the black and whites are from Illford Delta 3200 Black and White.

Child Predators

2010-11-03T11:08:00.001-04:00

I don't usually post "work" projects here but I wanted to make an exception. This is an issue that gets swept under the rug entirely too often. I will be working on more videos for this project over the next year. Most will be more instructional in nature so I solicit your ideas on how to make instruction interesting!! Always a challenge.

JMay

2010-11-02T08:46:00.000-04:00

Model: JMay
Hair: Kyndra Turner
Makeup Angel Roy

I have to say I am delighted with the team on this project. Also a big thanks to Sandy Jones for being our hostess. JMay gets extra credit for putting it all together.

On to the images!

What is a Professional Photographer Worth?

2010-11-01T08:46:00.001-04:00

I asked Jennifer to share this story. I think this issue of value and respect is sensitive for everyone no matter their profession.

Where do you think value comes from? Where does the cost go? Who is paying for your goods and services?

I've recently experienced something that really put a bee in my bonnet. Here is the story.

I recently had a bride and groom come to me wanting to hire me for their wedding. They also wanted engagement photographs and invitations. They agreed to my terms and operating procedures, paid a $100 deposit and agreed to have the balanced paid by the wedding date. I designed their invitations free of charge, as a favor, and had them drop shipped to their door. When it came time to pay, the credit card was denied.

The bride asked me to give her a CD with their engagement photographs, I told her once the balance was paid I would release all the photographs. A week before the wedding I was informed they called it off. They had decided it was more economical to say vows with a Justice of the Peace.

I invoiced them for the invitations but did not charge them the rest of our agreed up amount, because again I was doing them a favor. Times are tough right? Her reply was as follows. “We already paid you $100.00 so that covers the invitations, and you have our pictures you can use in your portfolio, unless you are going to release the pictures I see no point in paying you for the invitations.”

Needless to say, I felt under appreciated and used. They obviously did not place any sort of value on my skill or profession. They acted as though they were entitled to the photographs simply because they were in them. Thankfully the laws in this country are very clear as to who owns the rights to photographs, the photographer does. There is no area of gray. I don't even have to have a model release to post the pictures online in my portfolio, website, or blog. I learned a valuable lesson, “People don't value what they don't pay for.” I could go on about my opinion of these people, needless to say, I will never ever work with or for them again!

If you want to have someone take the time to get to know you, and sculpt you with light and use their camera to make the picture with the right depth of field by using the correct aperture and half a dozen other settings, then retouch you to perfection and hire the best pro. printing labs to print your photographs on archival quality paper that will last at least 100 years. Okay that was a run on sentence, but my point is. Anyone can snap a shutter and take a picture. But a professional, “makes” the image to match the artistic vision that only s/he sees.

You wouldn't have a $3,000 designer dress made for you then tell the designer the price is outrageous because the fabric only cost $50.00 a yard! S/he would be pretty upset that you don't care about all the hours it took her/him to actually design, cut, sew and fit the dress to your body.

When you hire a Professional Photographer, you are hiring years of experience, artistic in site, professional gear, and a brain that knows how to use it. You are hiring a professional lighting expert. You are hiring a professional retouch artist, and the high end computer programs that they use. As well as a plethora of skills and talent that only a professional who has dedicated their life's work to producing something you will be proud to display in your home or office, and to send out to friends and family.

If you want designer photography, hire a professional. It's well worth the investment, and I hope my story helps you understand a little better the value of doing so.

Thanks for reading!

-Jennifer Harvey
located in Spokane WA. U.S.A.

Follow Jennifer's blog!

Please Take a Moment

2010-10-31T11:34:00.003-04:00

EDIT: Title changed, language softened. Upon further reflection and a night's sleep I felt the tone of this post needed to be addressed. The purpose of this post was not to create an "us vs them" mentality, it was to share and following that, to listen.

I want to show you things as I see them. I want to share my vision. That's why I am a photographer (among other things). This requires that you be open to seeing things differently. It requires a sensitivity on your part.

If you are a professional* (*edit: added for clarity) photographer you already know this. If you aren't, please read on. Photographers experience some needless misunderstandings as I am sure all professions do. Let me shed some light on a few common issues in the interest of mutual respect and understanding:

Please don't say "Wow your camera takes gorgeous pictures!" My camera does what I tell it. I make gorgeous pictures. At least I try. I could make gorgeous pictures with your camera. The reason I have a fancy camera is because I do this a lot so I need something rugged, that will do what I tell it and that allows me to have all the controls at my fingertips.
Please don't ever backhand compliment the people in my images. Especially on a social networking site. If you have a comment about the photography, have at it, but if you are going to comment on the subject...isn't that just gossip? Go talk to them directly if you must.
"I like this image a lot, don't you think it would work better if..." Actually I shot it and more importantly am SHOWING it the way I wanted it. If you would like it done differently how about you go shoot something better? Can you? Be aware of how your comments reflect on yourself. I am unaware of another profession where the layman feels so free to offer unbridled, unsolicited critique.

Being a photographer requires vision, planning, connections, ability, tools and energy. It also requires the ability to let go of most of your images to show the few shots that say what you are trying to say. It then requires the courage to stand beside what you made and let the world say what they will. Parts of that audience are educated, informed and sensitive to what is being presented. This post is for those who are not... but could be.

As photographers we are delighted to share what we do, we love to share how we do it and we love teaching others what we've learned but please "for the love of pete," think just a little before opening your mouth. If you are an amateur and know it, how about asking questions? We will be happy to share with you. After all, we are trying to show you the world in a new way.

A NEW WAY. Not your way. A new way.

Just to share. I hiked up Sugarloaf Mtn. yesterday.

Autumn - crisp and colorful

2010-10-24T10:35:00.000-04:00

Amazing the amount of flowers still in bloom over at Brookside Gardens. The weather has turned crisp, the leaves are in full color and yet, a perfect rose.