Posts for: Thomas902
Nov 21, 2016 20:35:25 #
While I'm impressed with the acuity on the right eyelashes having the tip of the nose out of focus could be a major distraction for most clients... Also the fact that the right iris is in focus while the left iris isn't doesn't work for me either... What did your client think?
Food for thought.... I've not seen that narrow of DOF used for portraiture in major large circulation publications... believe it's just a tad extreme in my humble estimation... Albeit the bottom line is if the client is pleased, nothing else is of merit... at least for those who shoot commercially...
Cute that you can clearly see the light modifier in the right pupil/iris interface... lol
Believe if this glass is stopped down a tad move it may work for portraiture... but I'm not a fan of 1.4
Thank you for sharing...
Food for thought.... I've not seen that narrow of DOF used for portraiture in major large circulation publications... believe it's just a tad extreme in my humble estimation... Albeit the bottom line is if the client is pleased, nothing else is of merit... at least for those who shoot commercially...
Cute that you can clearly see the light modifier in the right pupil/iris interface... lol
Believe if this glass is stopped down a tad move it may work for portraiture... but I'm not a fan of 1.4
Thank you for sharing...
Nov 21, 2016 11:50:49 #
adfoto I have both the 18-300mm (DX) and the 28-300mm (FX) Nikkors... They are prosumer super zooms which are decidedly not in the same league as your current glass... That said, they can/do have there place... Both are best i.e. highest acuity at f/8.0 and are soft wide open... Of the two the 18-300mm (newer) is the better of the lot in my humble estimation albeit for crop sensors only.
Since you are an event shooter I would push you toward the 24-120mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S Nikkor VR instead... Zooming with your feet is a much wiser choice here.... At 670g it is less than half the weight of the 70-200mm VR II and for events a rather appropriate zoom range... Others posting here share this mindset...
Since you asked... here are examples (wedding & test creatives) of the 28-300mm (which I assume you actually meant in your post). For weddings it's borderline acceptable but certainly far from ideal and decidedly not for interiors although it works just fine for creative testing where there isn't a client in the mix... Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
Since you are an event shooter I would push you toward the 24-120mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S Nikkor VR instead... Zooming with your feet is a much wiser choice here.... At 670g it is less than half the weight of the 70-200mm VR II and for events a rather appropriate zoom range... Others posting here share this mindset...
Since you asked... here are examples (wedding & test creatives) of the 28-300mm (which I assume you actually meant in your post). For weddings it's borderline acceptable but certainly far from ideal and decidedly not for interiors although it works just fine for creative testing where there isn't a client in the mix... Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
Nov 20, 2016 13:26:20 #
Robeng Len1 is absolutely breathtaking... Superb Rembrandt illumination and compelling compositional elements... and such excellent tonal range... NPS obviously chose wisely to select you as a member... Good to see this level of talent on the UglyHedghog... encouraging indeed...
While I'm not a fan of the others they are at a commercial level...
So what might be done to improve?
Would strongly suggest you obtain a copy of George Hurrell's 50 Years of Photographing Hollywood...
https://www.amazon.com/50-Years-Photographing-Hollywood-Hurrell/dp/0517413639
You can pick up the Hardcover for under $5
Long ago this tome changed the way I illuminate studio portraiture...
It's an excellent read for any talent interested in portraiture...
While gear may evolve over time the brilliance of superb illumination is in fact timeless....
Thank you soooo much for sharing Robeng...
Looking forward to more of your gifted artistry...
While I'm not a fan of the others they are at a commercial level...
So what might be done to improve?
Would strongly suggest you obtain a copy of George Hurrell's 50 Years of Photographing Hollywood...
https://www.amazon.com/50-Years-Photographing-Hollywood-Hurrell/dp/0517413639
You can pick up the Hardcover for under $5
Long ago this tome changed the way I illuminate studio portraiture...
It's an excellent read for any talent interested in portraiture...
While gear may evolve over time the brilliance of superb illumination is in fact timeless....
Thank you soooo much for sharing Robeng...
Looking forward to more of your gifted artistry...
Nov 20, 2016 08:48:54 #
Brent;
Wrong lens as well as wrong aperture, poor illumination, inappropriate compositional elements... Portfolio imagery for agency models needs to be about the talent, period...
Not a fan of David Maynard's work either, which btw is glamour and virtually useless for an agency talent's book albeit I'm certain that naive hobbyist (who btw are so easily impressed with "hot clicks") are draw to this type of imagery... Mayhard's visual statement simply exploits the talent's femininity rather than honoring it... It would be in your best interest to review the development board at dna models https://www.dnamodels.com/div/women-development/ in order to get your head around what it takes to work commercially with agency talent... review each of these talent's books and reflect carefully... Are you shooting to impress hobbyist? If so rethink that and please consider shooting to impress agency bookers...
but wait you say... I thought all I needed was the golden hour and a hot chick... Nope, you seriously need to assist other established commercial catalog fashion shooters in your market... Yes swimwear is catalog fashion NOT glamour...
An example of the visual statement you might have been seeking with a AF DC-NIKKOR 135mm f/2D @ f/3.2
Note: There was a full team on this narrative i.e. hair, makeup and wardrobe... A photographer is merely one member of the team no more or less important than others team members... a.k.a. "Model" photography is a team sport... And yes this is an agency model... enough said...
Wrong lens as well as wrong aperture, poor illumination, inappropriate compositional elements... Portfolio imagery for agency models needs to be about the talent, period...
Not a fan of David Maynard's work either, which btw is glamour and virtually useless for an agency talent's book albeit I'm certain that naive hobbyist (who btw are so easily impressed with "hot clicks") are draw to this type of imagery... Mayhard's visual statement simply exploits the talent's femininity rather than honoring it... It would be in your best interest to review the development board at dna models https://www.dnamodels.com/div/women-development/ in order to get your head around what it takes to work commercially with agency talent... review each of these talent's books and reflect carefully... Are you shooting to impress hobbyist? If so rethink that and please consider shooting to impress agency bookers...
but wait you say... I thought all I needed was the golden hour and a hot chick... Nope, you seriously need to assist other established commercial catalog fashion shooters in your market... Yes swimwear is catalog fashion NOT glamour...
An example of the visual statement you might have been seeking with a AF DC-NIKKOR 135mm f/2D @ f/3.2
Note: There was a full team on this narrative i.e. hair, makeup and wardrobe... A photographer is merely one member of the team no more or less important than others team members... a.k.a. "Model" photography is a team sport... And yes this is an agency model... enough said...
Nov 18, 2016 18:33:19 #
While the D500 has included some outstanding pro grade features image quality isn't one of them.... The D7200 is considerably above it as per DxO marks testing... The D500's overall score is 84 while the D7200 is 87 and the D7200 is ahead of the D500 in Portrait, Landscape and Sports Scores... not to mention acuity at 24.2 megapixels verses 20.9 megapixels...
As always it's a trade off... but hey if you are interested in making a fashion statement go for it...
That said, for sports a full frame has such a huge advantage with subject isolation that a crop sensor simply can't match...
Beside Nikon doesn't make professional grade DX lenses (except for the AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G DX NIKKOR circa 2003)... and it is counter productive to suffer the considerable weight penalty of heavy full frame professional glass without offsetting benefits...
The only folks who might benefit with the D500 are birders who must have insane reach for their narratives albeit they are using extensive support systems since hand holding those long pro grade lenses isn't a viable option... Nope full frame works well for me and sadly my experience with the D7200 is that it's plagued with moiré effect which has degraded my hummingbird imagery... so funny the solution for morié is to run the Dust & Scratches filter which btw, duplicates the AA filter... lol
food for thought... the D610 now goes on sale periodically for $1299 and it's battery grip is nearly $200 cheaper then the D500's grip... the D610's DxO mark overall score is 94... hugely better than the D500.... and at virtually half the price... btw, the D610 works just fine with FX lenses... :)
As always it's a trade off... but hey if you are interested in making a fashion statement go for it...
That said, for sports a full frame has such a huge advantage with subject isolation that a crop sensor simply can't match...
Beside Nikon doesn't make professional grade DX lenses (except for the AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G DX NIKKOR circa 2003)... and it is counter productive to suffer the considerable weight penalty of heavy full frame professional glass without offsetting benefits...
The only folks who might benefit with the D500 are birders who must have insane reach for their narratives albeit they are using extensive support systems since hand holding those long pro grade lenses isn't a viable option... Nope full frame works well for me and sadly my experience with the D7200 is that it's plagued with moiré effect which has degraded my hummingbird imagery... so funny the solution for morié is to run the Dust & Scratches filter which btw, duplicates the AA filter... lol
food for thought... the D610 now goes on sale periodically for $1299 and it's battery grip is nearly $200 cheaper then the D500's grip... the D610's DxO mark overall score is 94... hugely better than the D500.... and at virtually half the price... btw, the D610 works just fine with FX lenses... :)
Nov 16, 2016 10:48:01 #
Before you press the shutter it might be of merit if you carefully assess background elements...
a.k.a. are they working for the narrative or a distraction? If the background is not in harmony with your visual statement have you considered moving to a better location either laterally or vertically...
Soccer is a wonderful sport sans concussions issues...
If you have a family member and/or associate engaged in league soccer it is germane that you become aware of the serious nature of concussion injury, how to recognize it and most importantly what remediable measures are requisite for any player who may be at risk owing to a collision... The CDC has now recognized the gravity of this issue and has moved forward to stem this tragic situation... Information on this can be readily found on the CDC's web portal...
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a nondegenerative, noncongenital insult to the brain from an external mechanical force, possibly leading to permanent or temporary impairment of cognitive, physical, and psychosocial functions, with an associated diminished or altered state of consciousness.
This is not limited to professional American Football players... The rise of TBI in girls scholastic and league soccer especially is increasing at an alarming rate... enough said...
a.k.a. are they working for the narrative or a distraction? If the background is not in harmony with your visual statement have you considered moving to a better location either laterally or vertically...
Soccer is a wonderful sport sans concussions issues...
If you have a family member and/or associate engaged in league soccer it is germane that you become aware of the serious nature of concussion injury, how to recognize it and most importantly what remediable measures are requisite for any player who may be at risk owing to a collision... The CDC has now recognized the gravity of this issue and has moved forward to stem this tragic situation... Information on this can be readily found on the CDC's web portal...
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a nondegenerative, noncongenital insult to the brain from an external mechanical force, possibly leading to permanent or temporary impairment of cognitive, physical, and psychosocial functions, with an associated diminished or altered state of consciousness.
This is not limited to professional American Football players... The rise of TBI in girls scholastic and league soccer especially is increasing at an alarming rate... enough said...
Nov 16, 2016 10:25:57 #
There are compelling reasons why gray seamless is a top seller...
Colour harmonies are a seriously important issue...
Neutrals are to be cherished owing to the aforementioned...
btw, have you considered bringing packs of powdered rice blotter tissue...
If you're not comfortable applying this to the corporate members simple demonstrate and send them to the rest room mirror to apply this anti-shine solution...
Yes I'm a licensed commercial makeup artist and as such frequently retained on corporate shoots... Where not only "hot" T-Zone issue are tamed but also baldness and other issues as well... At the commercial level MAC anti-shine and Urban Decay De-Slick are the product of choice...
Best Advice? Assist other top commercial shooters in your market until you get your head around what is actually germane to achieve excellence in corporate portraiture... There is virtually no substitute for tenure...
Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
Colour harmonies are a seriously important issue...
Neutrals are to be cherished owing to the aforementioned...
btw, have you considered bringing packs of powdered rice blotter tissue...
If you're not comfortable applying this to the corporate members simple demonstrate and send them to the rest room mirror to apply this anti-shine solution...
Yes I'm a licensed commercial makeup artist and as such frequently retained on corporate shoots... Where not only "hot" T-Zone issue are tamed but also baldness and other issues as well... At the commercial level MAC anti-shine and Urban Decay De-Slick are the product of choice...
Best Advice? Assist other top commercial shooters in your market until you get your head around what is actually germane to achieve excellence in corporate portraiture... There is virtually no substitute for tenure...
Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
Nov 16, 2016 10:03:55 #
dnbjb1 wrote:
Not a problem, simply place the Canon 60D in Live View Focus with Lens set on Manual... Zoom in pressing the Zoom button... refine focus manually... issue solved...Super Moon... with my Canon 60D with a Tamron 150 X600mm lens...suggestions on how I might improve this shot?
As previously mentioned AF is not germane for imagery of the moon...
Best Advice? Practice using Canon 60D Live View Focus with the Tamron 150 X600mm lens repeatedly until you have mastered this means of acquiring focus...
btw that Tamron is a tad soft at 600mm have you considered backing off just a little and comparing results?
And no worries on November 25, 2034 you'll get another chance... But the best option will occur on December 6, 2052 with the closest supermoon of the century :)
Edit: Didn't notice that you've already found this solution... good job!
Thank you for sharing...
Nov 12, 2016 10:44:00 #
Mark you have a good eye for compositional elements and colour harmonies...
As for the Monarch Butterfly... I've always been enchanted by their annual southward autumn migration through my locale...
So amazing to behold a sky filled with these beautiful creatures... Alas they to will soon likely become extinct... A ten-fold drop in the population of the eastern monarch butterfly population over the last decade, prompted a 2016 study which predicted a likely probability that this population will go extinct within the next 20 years...
The aforementioned is likely thanks to the massive marketing efforts of Monsanto and it's Roundup Ready crops are now becoming widespread (read ubiquitous here) in the US Midwest. Roundup Ready crops are engineered to be herbicide-resistant so that farmers can (and now are) apply massive amounts of weed killers i.e. chemical pesticides also manufactured by Monsanto without damaging their crops. This in turn has lead to a shocking decline of Milkweed the primary source of the Eastern Monarch's existence...
Rachel Carson got it right with "Silent Spring" How many more species will we lose to chemical pesticides?
Biodiversity is but a dream within a dream now... Industrial Farming has little use for it... After all, is a business entity not charged with the responsibility for maximizing profits and dividend yields for it's investors?
Enjoy that cheap processed food on your table... Think not of your children's, children's children... What they never see they won't miss will they... Let's hear it again for that wonderful organization of Monsanto... which btw in which Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation owns more than $23 million worth, or 500,000 Monsanto shares. Yes Bill Gates is part of the problem... go figure...
Thank you so much for sharing Mark but the Monarch brought a tear to my eye...
Looking forward to more of your bio-diverse imagery...
As for the Monarch Butterfly... I've always been enchanted by their annual southward autumn migration through my locale...
So amazing to behold a sky filled with these beautiful creatures... Alas they to will soon likely become extinct... A ten-fold drop in the population of the eastern monarch butterfly population over the last decade, prompted a 2016 study which predicted a likely probability that this population will go extinct within the next 20 years...
The aforementioned is likely thanks to the massive marketing efforts of Monsanto and it's Roundup Ready crops are now becoming widespread (read ubiquitous here) in the US Midwest. Roundup Ready crops are engineered to be herbicide-resistant so that farmers can (and now are) apply massive amounts of weed killers i.e. chemical pesticides also manufactured by Monsanto without damaging their crops. This in turn has lead to a shocking decline of Milkweed the primary source of the Eastern Monarch's existence...
Rachel Carson got it right with "Silent Spring" How many more species will we lose to chemical pesticides?
Biodiversity is but a dream within a dream now... Industrial Farming has little use for it... After all, is a business entity not charged with the responsibility for maximizing profits and dividend yields for it's investors?
Enjoy that cheap processed food on your table... Think not of your children's, children's children... What they never see they won't miss will they... Let's hear it again for that wonderful organization of Monsanto... which btw in which Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation owns more than $23 million worth, or 500,000 Monsanto shares. Yes Bill Gates is part of the problem... go figure...
Thank you so much for sharing Mark but the Monarch brought a tear to my eye...
Looking forward to more of your bio-diverse imagery...
Nov 10, 2016 15:40:47 #
"I am of the opinion that 1/3200 should be fast enough..." Except for the wing tips...
Nalu possibly you're over-thinking this... What I'm endeavoring to share is perhaps the "bigger" picture needs to be revisited...
The bright foreground immediately command a viewer's attention... the bird is competing with the foreground in this composition. Excellence in Photography is typically effectively painting with light...
As for your query likely there can be no valid answers from anyone other than yourself... The key is in testing your equipment's limitations and potentials in multiple scenarios... then it becomes a matter of experience meeting opportunity (a.k.a. the classic connotation of "luck")
"Perfection is an enemy of excellence" Words to live by...
Nalu possibly you're over-thinking this... What I'm endeavoring to share is perhaps the "bigger" picture needs to be revisited...
The bright foreground immediately command a viewer's attention... the bird is competing with the foreground in this composition. Excellence in Photography is typically effectively painting with light...
As for your query likely there can be no valid answers from anyone other than yourself... The key is in testing your equipment's limitations and potentials in multiple scenarios... then it becomes a matter of experience meeting opportunity (a.k.a. the classic connotation of "luck")
"Perfection is an enemy of excellence" Words to live by...
Nov 10, 2016 15:12:49 #
Tim; intriguing compositional layout... The attention to vanishing point perspective is indeed rather commendable...
Only suggestion might be to rethink the vignette effect (dark banding) on the lower portion of text characters...
Believe it's a bit of a distraction to an otherwise effective rendering...
Thank you for sharing...
Only suggestion might be to rethink the vignette effect (dark banding) on the lower portion of text characters...
Believe it's a bit of a distraction to an otherwise effective rendering...
Thank you for sharing...
Nov 6, 2016 07:22:08 #
Intriguing wardrobe... Totally love the hair styling here... works so well with this talent's facial features...
Albeit not a fan of the finger/toe nail decor...
The symmetry latent in Padmasana is superb... That said have you considered the merit of using your Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011 glass for enhanced isolation via DOF? You might be pleasantly surprised at what 600mm glass could/would bring to the dance...
btw, highly recommend the wellness benefits of a daily Yoga practice... it is not exercise, nor is it a sport... it is indeed a lifestyle... Kudos to this talent for choosing her path... may she touch the lives of many in her journey...
Thank you for sharing Brent...
Look forward to seeing more of your artistry...
Albeit not a fan of the finger/toe nail decor...
The symmetry latent in Padmasana is superb... That said have you considered the merit of using your Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011 glass for enhanced isolation via DOF? You might be pleasantly surprised at what 600mm glass could/would bring to the dance...
btw, highly recommend the wellness benefits of a daily Yoga practice... it is not exercise, nor is it a sport... it is indeed a lifestyle... Kudos to this talent for choosing her path... may she touch the lives of many in her journey...
Thank you for sharing Brent...
Look forward to seeing more of your artistry...
Nov 6, 2016 07:05:34 #
Very nicely done... As always the wood duck (Aix sponsa) takes one's breath away ...
Mother Nature's wardrobe styling is surreal... I'm baffled over how Aix sponsa's colour harmonies work for Darwinian Selection but just like the superb melodic songs of the Mocking Bird they are truly a class act...
Thank you so much for sharing...
Mother Nature's wardrobe styling is surreal... I'm baffled over how Aix sponsa's colour harmonies work for Darwinian Selection but just like the superb melodic songs of the Mocking Bird they are truly a class act...
Thank you so much for sharing...
Nov 4, 2016 09:41:38 #
Brent superb capture of the decisive moment... and with a Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD A011! Not the easiest glass to use... great lens management technique!
Totally agree with your thoughts on shutter and aperture settings... they in fact are SOP for BIF... which might be an interesting journey for taking your skill set to the next level...
As for what could be enhanced here? You've lost a tad of highlight detail in the white surf... Little wonder since bright sunlight nearly always exceeds the dynamic range of one's image sensor... Although you have done a magnificent job in managing exposure there are post processing algorithms to recover data from the blown highlights... Actually to many to enumerate so Google is your friend here...
Bottom Line? Strong compositional elements... Fantastic timing... Brent you're blessed to reside in Southern California! So envious... lol
Keep up the good work, looking forward to more of your lens artistry....
Totally agree with your thoughts on shutter and aperture settings... they in fact are SOP for BIF... which might be an interesting journey for taking your skill set to the next level...
As for what could be enhanced here? You've lost a tad of highlight detail in the white surf... Little wonder since bright sunlight nearly always exceeds the dynamic range of one's image sensor... Although you have done a magnificent job in managing exposure there are post processing algorithms to recover data from the blown highlights... Actually to many to enumerate so Google is your friend here...
Bottom Line? Strong compositional elements... Fantastic timing... Brent you're blessed to reside in Southern California! So envious... lol
Keep up the good work, looking forward to more of your lens artistry....
Nov 1, 2016 08:16:53 #
Alissa, photography is painting with light... from the shadows latent within it appears your key was high to camera left... lovely expression with the hands... which provide an excellent balance with this talent's facial features...
That said, her hair (assuming this is the signature of the narrative) lacks separation from background elements...
Have you consider the merit of using a kicker to halo the aforementioned? Without adequate separation of her gorgeous auburn tresses this falls considerably short of commercial quality...
As others have mentioned, lose the distracting blown out background elements which contrarily to your perception do little for the narrative... Simply crop tighter which would also improve compositional elements... the talent should dominate the image..
As for color balance? Might consider removing the orange/magenta color cast... SOP is to shoot a color card with each change of illumination... reliance on auto white balance is not germane for commercial work... And without shooting a color card you're only guessing in post... Once you enter into catalog fashion there is zero tolerance for color casts...
The luminosity levels are a tad low and not for good effect... please study this image's histogram and adjust accordingly...
Bottom Line here? Moving forward you will likely benefit from using a full team of hair, makeup, and wardrobe stylist... Without the aforementioned you'll not likely advance into the commercial realm...
Best Advice? Assist other commercial shooters in your market in as this is the traditional route into the industry... Those who would suggest otherwise do not speak with tenure...
Thank you for sharing...
All the best on your journey...
That said, her hair (assuming this is the signature of the narrative) lacks separation from background elements...
Have you consider the merit of using a kicker to halo the aforementioned? Without adequate separation of her gorgeous auburn tresses this falls considerably short of commercial quality...
As others have mentioned, lose the distracting blown out background elements which contrarily to your perception do little for the narrative... Simply crop tighter which would also improve compositional elements... the talent should dominate the image..
As for color balance? Might consider removing the orange/magenta color cast... SOP is to shoot a color card with each change of illumination... reliance on auto white balance is not germane for commercial work... And without shooting a color card you're only guessing in post... Once you enter into catalog fashion there is zero tolerance for color casts...
The luminosity levels are a tad low and not for good effect... please study this image's histogram and adjust accordingly...
Bottom Line here? Moving forward you will likely benefit from using a full team of hair, makeup, and wardrobe stylist... Without the aforementioned you'll not likely advance into the commercial realm...
Best Advice? Assist other commercial shooters in your market in as this is the traditional route into the industry... Those who would suggest otherwise do not speak with tenure...
Thank you for sharing...
All the best on your journey...