Posts for: Brent Rowlett
Mar 26, 2018 07:50:56 #
karno wrote:
I have acquired a couple breakthrough ND filters and am having fun with them, I was curious if others are using them and if so what kind do you use?
Here is an image I took yesterday with a recently purchased breakthrough 15 stop ND filter
For this 8 minute exposure of a favorite tree of mine.
Here is an image I took yesterday with a recently purchased breakthrough 15 stop ND filter
For this 8 minute exposure of a favorite tree of mine.
I am not a fan of silky waterfalls or streams--they are overused and look fake to everyone. I want my waterfalls looking realistic. Attached is almost an exact replica of Peter Lic's 8 x 12 foot version hanging in the his gallery in Maui. I very much enjoy trying to equal the quality of capture of the best photographers out there.
However, I do use a #8 on my drone on sunny days which gives me richer color on average. Being able to capture 4 waterfalls with my drone in tack sharp detail was a highlight of a trip to Hawaii. Being able to fly in close with the drone was exciting.
Mar 25, 2018 17:56:18 #
canon Lee wrote:
I too have heard complaints about other wedding ph... (show quote)
Smart. In addition to declining prices, what did it for me was trying to get quality pictures without 15 other cell phones in the view. I know one wedding I had to compete with a disposable camera placed on every table. And then a couple of bozos took pics of me. Oh what frickin fun :)
Mar 25, 2018 13:24:24 #
traderjohn wrote:
"wedding photographers giving it away for $500 and DVD" My daughter was married last year. Your $500.00 and a DVD are WAY off the mark. I wish that were the case.
You should go to the wedding and bride exhibits at the large hotels. I am RIGHT on the mark my friend. There are also bidding sights like "Send Me" (I may have the name wrong where you pay for credits to use to bid on jobs) and several others where prices are give away. Look at all the Craig's List advertisers...everybody is a photographer. As of March 15 Craig's List is charging a fee for advertising jobs and services for some categories. That may clear out the rift raft of rookies thinking they are wedding photographers. Don't believe me? Check out Atlanta and search Wedding Photographers.
Some photographers have been in the business for some time with a reputation and can command some decent prices. However, I got tired of negotiating with Mothers of the bride against these "fly-bys" and when I could make $500.00 per food shot and $5000 per advertising project taking 3 days, the BS and all the work to put together wedding albums for less just was not worth it. And I like my weekends with my family.
And you may be in a small city where competition is not present. Photographers charging less than a $1000 in Atlanta are a dime a dozen and starving. $500 and a DVD is very common. Good fluff and extra money to pay for a vacation here and there, but paying the bills in this profession? NOT!
Mar 23, 2018 13:29:31 #
YeloCab1 wrote:
... The picture on top was taken with my Blackberry phone. The picture on the bottom was taken with my Canon SX50 Powershot. There definitely IS a difference in cameras and other equipment - BUT a picture of a bigfoot or a unicorn taken with a disposable camera or a cheap $1.00 B&W film camera from the 60's would still be worth millions if it could be proven to be real. Quality, settings, equipment and all the other stuff count - but the content is what makes the picture in MY opinion ...
You cannot judge a pic from a 2x3 snapshot. The smaller the picture the sharper it appears. Prints 16x20 and larger may sell—the others just document memories.
But you’re right, the guy who just happened to capture the only documented tornado hitting downtown Atlanta from his hotel balcony sold his pic for $10,000. He used the auto setting—BAAM! Really don’t give a damn what camera or “so called” tack sharp lens he used. Right place at the right time is the key.
Mar 23, 2018 13:21:52 #
drklrd wrote:
Can you tell us how to get into a gallery? I shoot primarily for other studios but now at retirement age i would like to shoot and sell to galleries.
Galleries are folding and going out of business right and left. Galleries are forced to charge rent for space and as much as 60% of the sale—not worth it.
On line is where the sales are, but I have found that is not worth it either. I have a whole bedroom full of photography and paintings. People would rather spend money elsewhere these days.
Mar 23, 2018 13:16:04 #
Yes you have to be locked down with some device.
I have seen a photographer capture a little sand crab from 1 foot with everything in perfect focus from sand foreground to the waves in the distance. There will be slight differences as you adjust the focal length, but Photoshop with Stack and ALIGN fixes that.
Get yourself a cheap mini tripod or clamp on a stake and try it. The pics are stunning and unusual.
I have seen a photographer capture a little sand crab from 1 foot with everything in perfect focus from sand foreground to the waves in the distance. There will be slight differences as you adjust the focal length, but Photoshop with Stack and ALIGN fixes that.
Get yourself a cheap mini tripod or clamp on a stake and try it. The pics are stunning and unusual.
Mar 23, 2018 13:10:52 #
berasner wrote:
Hi Brent,
I also shoot an sr and 5D Mkiv. with a 100 mm macro...but in the ocean doing close-ups of design there. Having never done any stacking and with no opportunity with a tripod....it doesn't sound like I can avail my self of this procedure, does it? I am quite good and hovering over my subject, but invariably I move a bit. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Bruce
I also shoot an sr and 5D Mkiv. with a 100 mm macro...but in the ocean doing close-ups of design there. Having never done any stacking and with no opportunity with a tripod....it doesn't sound like I can avail my self of this procedure, does it? I am quite good and hovering over my subject, but invariably I move a bit. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Bruce
You need to be locked down so that each frame matches the other. There will be minute differences as you adjust the focal length, but stack and ALIGN fixes that.
I’ve seen a photographer capture a little sand crab close with everything in perfect focus 1 foot to infinity. He was locked down with a little mini pod on the sand.
Mar 23, 2018 10:52:00 #
leftj wrote:
Many knowledgeable photographers shoot Auto when the situation calls for it.
You bet! Rarely is one ready for the moment.
Mar 23, 2018 09:54:01 #
Brent Rowlett wrote:
There has been a lot of discussion about marketing... (show quote)
Help others make money. This is a $5000 project building this man's website and populating it with before and after video. Nothing sells a business like pictures and video. They can send this clip to prospects and eliminate hours of Bull Roar selling.
https://vimeo.com/260551867
Mar 23, 2018 09:43:46 #
BridieMcKenna wrote:
What is your market and how did you get it started? Did you call real estate agencies, etc? Do you have to live somewhere like New York or LA or travel frequently to have anything worthwhile to photograph?
There has been a lot of discussion about marketing. That is important but quality of image, being able to correct wide angle distortion, pulling in the window views, and attention to detail in presentation is probably more important. I tried to photograph for the big out of state companies, but they run you to death, pay you peanuts, and keep most of the money for their overhead and owner's 6-figure salaries. I make 6 times what they were willing to pay me photographing a home working for myself. And Drone work makes BIG money--$1000 to $3000 per day for commercial concerns. But you have to be able to edit photos and video, put commercials together with music etc.
I made quality 6 x 8 photo cards using Vista Print, and made personal sales calls to all the brokerages. Advertising on Craig's List has done wonders. Most of my out of state Drone work comes from those firms searching for photographers on Craig's List. Once you build up a customer list of 20 real estate brokerages/agents, you will have no trouble making $1000 per week and more. I spend extra time reviewing my images with the home owner and agents. All my blue sky, green grass, and defects edits, I do for free. It is that 110% effort that promotes word of mouth advertising and loyalty. The other guys rush in, do a half-ass effort, and rush off to the next home. If the home is not ready, they leave and charge a trip charge. Music to my ears...all the marketing and promotion in the world cannot please a dissatisfied customer with that experience. If you are a salesman, you will be booked solid...solid.
Same thing with jewelry and food. Call on the companies that use those images continually to market their products on the web or in print. If you are a designer, you are golden. Nothing like a 1 Stop Shop to help the little guy with the daunting task of how to market products. Where do I find a good photographer? How do I get a spread designed? Where do I go to get it printed? How can I place my images in a web site? If you can command solutions to their task, you are valuable and you can command big money. I hope the links work.
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/rts/6527903486.html
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/rts/6527871759.html
https://vimeo.com/235470784
https://vimeo.com/255076806
www.eyephotodesign.com
Mar 23, 2018 08:51:06 #
Photocraig wrote:
Remember, you are referring to magazines. They der... (show quote)
Today editing expertise is as important as the camera used. Ansel Adams made his name in the dark room. The possibilities of a RAW image cannot be overstated.
Mar 23, 2018 08:35:31 #
Peterff wrote:
Possibly those that get paid for delivering the pizza or being an Uber driver?
Being a self employed professional or small business owner has never been easy, there has to be sufficient market opportunity.
Someone mentioned jewelry. My wife had a decent growing business dealing in antique jewelry, but the market collapsed in the 2008 recession. It has not recovered, there is nothing you can do when the market is gone.
Being a self employed professional or small business owner has never been easy, there has to be sufficient market opportunity.
Someone mentioned jewelry. My wife had a decent growing business dealing in antique jewelry, but the market collapsed in the 2008 recession. It has not recovered, there is nothing you can do when the market is gone.
It’s coming back but slowly. I propelled one of my clients into the big time. I have had to invest in a Canon 5DSr to keep the business from going to the big boys in NY using medium format cameras. But for now we are hitting the magazines on a regular basis with good quality. Fingers crossed.
Mar 23, 2018 07:45:20 #
traderjohn wrote:
Out of all the people who own cameras and of all who profess to be "pros" how many support themselves as business people and their families?
Very difficult to do today. I could easily support myself today with what my business brings in. I started my real estate photography, video, and drone business 18 months ago just to utilize my $50K investment in camera equipment and bring in part time income. I am so busy that I may have to hire editors soon. I hate to rely on other people for my quality of output. Young people just do not have the work ethic today. One time sales like portraits or weddings are just fluff, and with wedding photographers giving it away for $500 and DVD, or bidding the business on an internet site, they just are not worth it. Look for businesses that use their photography to sell products and services. Those are the repeat customers that will keep the income flowing.
Sadly the digital camera has ruined the photography business. Now it is about selling the latest camera and tack sharp lenses. If you got those, YOU'RE a photographer.
Mar 23, 2018 07:24:37 #
Brent Rowlett wrote:
Back in the film days with my 4x5 view camera we c... (show quote)
Mar 23, 2018 07:17:27 #
Back in the film days with my 4x5 view camera we could adjust the focal plane so that the image was in focus front to rear. When digital cameras came out one started to see some of the product in focus and most of the set out of focus-the lazy way out in advertising.
For Macro photography at f-8 (the sweet spot of most lenses), a 1/16" difference in focal distance can cause an area of the photo to be out of focus. Today I shoot 13 images of a ring or diamond front to rear of the piece with a Canon 5DSr and 100mm f-2.8 macro lens, focus stack the 13 images, and print a 24 x 36 image of the ring for store displays. Lightroom will allow you exact click adjustment in focal length for accurate photos front to rear.
For Macro photography at f-8 (the sweet spot of most lenses), a 1/16" difference in focal distance can cause an area of the photo to be out of focus. Today I shoot 13 images of a ring or diamond front to rear of the piece with a Canon 5DSr and 100mm f-2.8 macro lens, focus stack the 13 images, and print a 24 x 36 image of the ring for store displays. Lightroom will allow you exact click adjustment in focal length for accurate photos front to rear.