August 11, 2009

• Another Random Photo Shoot – Orange County

  One thing that the Facebook group “Photog Shootout” is really trying to promote is the impromptu, casual get-together.  Have a random afternoon / evening free, and so do a couple other photographer pals?  Maybe have a friend who is always up for modeling?

  I had zero access to these kinds of friends just a few years ago.  The internet has been an amazing thing for me, connecting me with so many like-minded photographers, and people willing to get in front of the camera, it’s just awesome!

  I firmly believe that 99% of getting good at photography is, thanks to the digital revolution, just a matter of dedicated practice.  Getting out there regularly, shooting, critiquing your own work, and demanding better from yourself next time.  You just can’t become great soley by attending one $1000 workshop each year.  It’s all about practice, practice, practice!

  So while our big, exciting shoot-togethers have been, well, exciting, I’m even more excited (possibly) about the smaller connections and friendships that should spawn from these bigger events.  Two or three or four people connect, click, and then maybe a few weeks later they decide they wanna go out and shoot again, and they can’t wait until the next official GTG so they plan their own little event!  That’s awesome! 

  Sunday afternoon my friend Hanssie and I got together at The Lab in Costa Mesa for just this kind of photo shoot.  Sometimes I like open-ended photo shoots that anyone is welcome to drop in on, and sometimes I like private / one-on-one sessions.  This time, I really needed an opportunity to play around with light, try some things I had never done before, and relax too.

  Well I dunno if we managed to relax; tackling weird light is not condusive to relaxation as it turns out.  But at least we tackled some weird light!

  Take care,
  =Matt=

  
  (Bouncing normal flash off a very red wall.  White balance was set to about 4000 Kelvin, which is almost indoor WB…)

  

  
  (I wanted to get this shot with David leaning against the doors, looking in.  But my flash was just spilling all over the place.  Yuck.)

  
  (…So, I made a “snoot” out of a random newspaper insert and the rubber band from a Lightsphere.  VERY directional light!)

  
  (Hmm.  Better, but still a reflection on the wood.  Good experiment though!)

  
  (More experimenting.  White balance set to something like 3500 Kelvin, which is about right for the ambient light.
  I left my color gel at home, however, so my flash turned out super blue.  Love it?  Hate it?  It’s just an experiment!)

  
  (100% ambient light, just experimenting with moving around to influence brightness.  WB set to 2750 Kelvin and +18 on the Tint)

  • 3:07 pm
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