PHOTOS PLEASE

[Eraser]

It's my new wallpaper, if you don't mind
[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/fIYea.jpg[/lvlshot]

[0psys]

Sysop - I'd be interested in any feedback or suggestions you have for lighting shots like the back double bicep image I posted on the previous page. That was a first ever fitness/physique themed shoot - used a beauty dish for the main light, a strip box for some fill, a couple speelites bare for rim. Anything you'd suggest I do for future shots like that or just general tips you have for creating maximum detail and definition when lighting stuff like this?

It's hard to give advice on lighting, because it's such a subjective thing, and it all depends on what you were trying to achieve.

Not much to change really, tnf, it's a nice shot.

Rim light is overexposed by a 1/2 stop, and it would've been better if you'd have move it a bit higher so it had caught his forearm. Also, why only on one side? It's a pretty symmetrical shot, so it should've been both/none as far as a rim light goes. Every light source needs justification, otherwise it's just a distraction, but when you rim light, a light from both sides generally looks far more natural and less questionable than a single directional light. The result of the rim light is that you've lost maybe an inch on his right up and you've completely lost information in his forearm.

But it's a lovely shot. Very gritty.

[andyman]

i'd post the moon picture i took the other night but it's too large to upload to flickr. also not that interesting of a picture, the terminator in the above picture is better looking. also i really want a H-alpha filter to shoot the sun. can get nice detail with those.

[tnf]

Sysop - I'd be interested in any feedback or suggestions you have for lighting shots like the back double bicep image I posted on the previous page. That was a first ever fitness/physique themed shoot - used a beauty dish for the main light, a strip box for some fill, a couple speelites bare for rim. Anything you'd suggest I do for future shots like that or just general tips you have for creating maximum detail and definition when lighting stuff like this?

It's hard to give advice on lighting, because it's such a subjective thing, and it all depends on what you were trying to achieve.

Not much to change really, tnf, it's a nice shot.

Rim light is overexposed by a 1/2 stop, and it would've been better if you'd have move it a bit higher so it had caught his forearm. Also, why only on one side? It's a pretty symmetrical shot, so it should've been both/none as far as a rim light goes. Every light source needs justification, otherwise it's just a distraction, but when you rim light, a light from both sides generally looks far more natural and less questionable than a single directional light. The result of the rim light is that you've lost maybe an inch on his right up and you've completely lost information in his forearm.

But it's a lovely shot. Very gritty.

Thanks for the feedback. I know exactly what you mean about the lost data in the forearm. I had about 20 minutes to set up and run through all his compulsory poses and then some other stuff and missed key details like that in the previews in camera.
Each time I do a shoot these are the types of mistakes I learn from for the next time.

I did setup symmetrical rim lighting, I was using 2 speedlites for rim, but only one of them went off - sketchy generic triggers. I need to invest in something better for sure. I didn't catch that right away either. Another mistake I needed to catch in camera. I was really looking to
see if I got a mix of shadow and highlight to work with. For my first time shooting anything bodybuilding related I was happy enough with this, but yea, definitely some things I would adjust if I did the shot again.

No substitute for practice and experience when it comes to multi-light setups is there? Reading all the books, watching all the demos online is great, but it's not until you are actually screwing around with the lights that you can see how every adjustment - direction, power, modifiers, etc., change the quality of it.

[0psys]

It pays to know what you're going for before you shoot. I know that's easy to say, and really, you have to shoot so much stuff before you can really build something in your head, but it pays in the long run, because basic mistakes won't be missed.

At the moment, the different between you, a good photographer, and a great photographer is that the great photographer would've noticed the missed flash and the lost forearm detail instantly.

The skill isn't really in the vision, it's in having the eye to notice when the vision isn't being realised. Like you rightly say, that comes directly down to experience and seeing things enough times to notice them in a tight window of opportunity.

Also, get 300 bucks together and buy some Pocketwizards. Generic triggers are the one piece of equipment you have the right to blame. They will never give you the confidence to build light.

[tnf]

Speaking of "Great" vs. "good" - and then the rest, are you bombarded in the UK like we are here in the states with people that seem to literally be buying a Canon Rebel at the store, snapping some pics with it over the weekend, and soon thereafter advertising their services on sites like craigslist (or its equivalent over there) for wedding photography and such?

It is unreal what passes for a 'professional' photographer over here. I know several old school photographers who spent years mastering the craft that are disgusted at the state of the industry. They see new users come into their discussion groups and ask questions like "HEY EVERYONE, SHOOTING A PAYING PORTRAIT SESSION TOMORROW AND I'LL BE USING OFF CAMERA LIGHTING FOR THE FIRST TIME, ANY TIPS?"

Or "Shooting my first wedding tomorrow for a paid client, any suggestions?"

Questions that are so open ended and betray such an absolute lack of knowledge, and more importantly, a lack of willingness to learn something about the practice before going off and starting your business and duping unsuspecting clients into thinking they've hired someone who actually knows what they are doing.

[Captain]

My attempt at shitty amateur car photography.

[MKJ]

were those colours done in post?

[Captain]

It was just before sunset and the sky had a nice pinkish hue, but I edited the contrast and tint to give it a more vibrant feel.

[MKJ]

I digs it

[0psys]

Speaking of "Great" vs. "good" - and then the rest, are you bombarded in the UK like we are here in the states with people that seem to literally be buying a Canon Rebel at the store, snapping some pics with it over the weekend, and soon thereafter advertising their services on sites like craigslist (or its equivalent over there) for wedding photography and such?

It is unreal what passes for a 'professional' photographer over here. I know several old school photographers who spent years mastering the craft that are disgusted at the state of the industry. They see new users come into their discussion groups and ask questions like "HEY EVERYONE, SHOOTING A PAYING PORTRAIT SESSION TOMORROW AND I'LL BE USING OFF CAMERA LIGHTING FOR THE FIRST TIME, ANY TIPS?"

Or "Shooting my first wedding tomorrow for a paid client, any suggestions?"

Questions that are so open ended and betray such an absolute lack of knowledge, and more importantly, a lack of willingness to learn something about the practice before going off and starting your business and duping unsuspecting clients into thinking they've hired someone who actually knows what they are doing.

Oh, fuck yeah, there's tons of that shit over here. I was just ranting about it on Twitter last night.

This guy is a classic example. sonnyannesleyphotography.tk

He specialises in "Portrait - Portfolio - Pets - Animals - Commercial - Weddings - Landscape - Children - Babies - Events - Sports - Head Shots - Cars/Motor"

So basically, he's pretty much a specialist in every single genre of photography. This is the kind of shit that makes me absolutely sick. His "commercial" portfolio is a single, blurred, out of focus picture taken in a hair salon.

This is really typical of the UK scene as a whole. People buy a camera, and invariably, they immediately specialise in "natural light", shooting babies, families, etc.. For some reason, anyone who shots babies and families also shoots fucking "portfolios". I don't even know what portfolios are, but apparently, if you're a model looking for a "portfolio", you go to someone who shoots cats and babies, as opposed to, I dunno, a fucking fashion photographer.

Their prices are always ridiculously cheap, and they always shoot out of a home studio.

​Honestly, I could rage about people like this all day. Every penny he earns from this business is a penny he has fleeced out of someone who doesn't know any better. I mean for fucks sake, not only does he include HDR in his portfolio, but the stupid cunt even misspelled it.

FUCK

[obsidian]

From a web developing standpoint, people who make websites with auto-playing music (particularly the awful kind and especially when they don't provide any way to turn it off) need to be dragged through the streets and guillotined in the town square. His photos aren't any good, but negative points awarded for being a pretentious and annoying prick to think we would also like his music. Go find out where he lives, dip his skinny jeans in lighter fluid and toss a lit match his way.

I guess I shouldn't bring up the topic of stock photos before a professional photographer for fear of hemorrhaging a temple vein in rage.... oops...

[HM-PuFFNSTuFF]

pretty amazing time lapse photography movie

http://vimeo.com/51137834

[GONNAFISTYA]

pretty amazing time lapse photography movie

http://vimeo.com/51137834

I like how he didn't let the CN Tower dominate the vid and just presented Toronto the city.

[Tsakali]

that was very nice

[Captain]

Took a trip to London, Ontario. About a 2.5 hour drive from where I live. Locals pointed us toward a nice conservation area by a lake.











These chickadees would quickly swoop in and grab peanuts from my girlfriend's hand but the shot didn't turn out as sharp as I'd hoped.

[HM-PuFFNSTuFF]

my life partner

[plained]

ey ur cat doesn't look hungry !

yellow chrysanthemums ey !

[GONNAFISTYA]

I fucked yer cat.

Jelluz?

[Captain]

Cute cat, what kind of breed is it?

My Bella passed away just last August

[Don Carlos]

So I had to "model" for my sister and I'm gonna be in a gallery in Portsmouth towards Christmas. I was dressed up in a suit playing with kids toys.

She was using a 5Dmk2 which is a wonderful bit of kit. When they are ready I might post them up, depending on how ridiculous I look

[HM-PuFFNSTuFF]

Orange tabby...

here's my other one.

[U4EA]

Took a few pics at the Sydney motor show.

[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/PJ1Jf.jpg[/lvlshot]

[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/mGwJ5.jpg[/lvlshot]

[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/uoQnS.jpg[/lvlshot]

[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/WDvNa.jpg[/lvlshot]

[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/EValE.jpg[/lvlshot]

[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/Mhmgx.jpg[/lvlshot]

[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/LuC7n.jpg[/lvlshot]

[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/XIcsN.jpg[/lvlshot]

[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/vza1Z.jpg[/lvlshot]

[lvlshot]http://i.imgur.com/iiuUW.jpg[/lvlshot]

[Tsakali]

are those production cars? that blue lexus looks fucking crazy!

[U4EA]

Mostly production, but there were some vintage cars [there was a huge Corvette exhibition showing all the previous generations], and some prototypes. That Lexus is a prototype.