I was feeling good on my way home from yesterday night's photo shoot at the Regent Park Film Festival. In a matter of minutes, I'd be eating dinner and editing my photos...at least, that was the plan.
As I walked from the bus to my apartment building, I noticed a substance sticking to the bottom of my right shoe. I initially thought that it was just stubborn dirt, so I wiped the shoe on the apartment driveway's curb. Unfortunately, that action didn't complelely solve the problem, so I made a detour to the laundry room's washroom to find out what was really happening.
As I cleaned the shoe, I took a whiff of one of the paper towels I was using. That, folks, is when I found out that the "stubborn dirt" was really dog crap. To make a long story short, I spent twenty minutes in that washroom futily trying to clean my shoe, and about another twenty-five more when I finally got home. Thankfully, no one else was in the laundry room while I did my business.
Needless to say, I didn't see the crap in advance. Since it was almost midnight, any fecal matter in that grass was well-camouflaged. I wish I thought about that before getting off the bus; this has proven to be a costly mistake - $158.19 to be exact. I could have spent that money on a zoom lens or a tripod, darn it!
November 06, 2009
With Or Without You
I recently picked up a Lambency flash diffuser ("Mr. Diffuser"); it has certainly proven itself in recent shoots. However, I've recently found out that I don't always need it.
To prove my point, let's compare two shots from yesterday night's photo shoot. This one is a bounce flash shot done with Mr. Diffuser.
Regent Park Film Festival Executive Director Karin Hazé.
Note how the diffuser helps with overall flash coverage, particularly on Ms. Hazé's face. There are hardly any shadows to be found here, other than the soft one behind her.
Now I'll introduce this shot taken using bounce flash, but without the diffuser.
Pay attention to the face of the woman in the centre (yellow jacket) and how shadows creep in on the right.
I know that diffusers are supposed to assist in flash coverage, but I still think that there is something positive to be said for the above shot. Despite the lesser overall coverage, the shadows give the faces a more "human" look, if you will. My choice of shot ultimately depends on my mood and the lighting situation (and whether the resulting photos turn out decently).
Here's another example of shadowplay. (Yes, that's a Killers reference.)
RPFF Manager Richard Fung.
If I used the diffuser here, Richard's face might have been better covered. However, the effects of the facial shadows would have been lost for the sake of a technically "better" picture.
Learning as I go - and loving it.
To prove my point, let's compare two shots from yesterday night's photo shoot. This one is a bounce flash shot done with Mr. Diffuser.
Regent Park Film Festival Executive Director Karin Hazé.
Note how the diffuser helps with overall flash coverage, particularly on Ms. Hazé's face. There are hardly any shadows to be found here, other than the soft one behind her.
Now I'll introduce this shot taken using bounce flash, but without the diffuser.
Pay attention to the face of the woman in the centre (yellow jacket) and how shadows creep in on the right.
I know that diffusers are supposed to assist in flash coverage, but I still think that there is something positive to be said for the above shot. Despite the lesser overall coverage, the shadows give the faces a more "human" look, if you will. My choice of shot ultimately depends on my mood and the lighting situation (and whether the resulting photos turn out decently).
Here's another example of shadowplay. (Yes, that's a Killers reference.)
RPFF Manager Richard Fung.
If I used the diffuser here, Richard's face might have been better covered. However, the effects of the facial shadows would have been lost for the sake of a technically "better" picture.
Learning as I go - and loving it.
Regent Park Film Festival 2009: Portraits & Features (Nov 5 2009)
Four movie screenings took place, along with a question and answer session with one of the directors.
Click this post's title to see all 39 photos at my Flickr site.
Click this post's title to see all 39 photos at my Flickr site.
November 05, 2009
Regent Park Film Festival 2009: Opening Night (Nov 4 2009)
This year's edition of the Regent Park Film Festival launched with ten screenings and a panel discussion.
Click this post's title to see all 52 photos at my Flickr site.
Click this post's title to see all 52 photos at my Flickr site.
November 04, 2009
We Can't Work It Out
Now that my photography gig is picking up steam, I'm generally happier than I've ever been, even when my slow days are taken into account. The seemingly simple process of composing, shooting, editing and uploading photographs has done wonders for my state of mind. However, it has also caused me to scale back one of the activities I used to love: working out at the gym.
Back when I was working, I used to do strength training twice per week, along with a weekly boxing class. These days, I count myself lucky to lift weights once per week; the effects are already creeping up. When I last visited the gym, I weighed myself on the scale and saw that I was 140 lbs. That's not bad...until you consider the fact that my workout peak weight was near 150 lbs. Also consider this: when I first signed up at my gym, I was 135 lbs!
If you haven't figured it out yet, my "problem" is the opposite of what many people experience. When I don't work out, I actually lose weight. I've never had an abundance of fat to deal with, so it's safe to assume that I'm losing muscle as I scale back my workouts. That's a problem.
You might think that physical fitness has nothing to do with photography, but I politely beg to differ. I sometimes climb on benches and similar structures when I'm shooting, so strong leg muscles are a must. Also, some cameras are pretty heavy by themselves; they're even heavier when you add a speedlight and diffuser to them. You don't have to be The Incredible Hulk to be a successful photographer, but you must be able to control your gear at all times. Finally, there's the possibility of doing a lot of walking at any given shoot.
If these points don't convince you, perhaps this will: it's impossible to get the shot of your life when you're on a hospital bed. Just sayin'...
Back when I was working, I used to do strength training twice per week, along with a weekly boxing class. These days, I count myself lucky to lift weights once per week; the effects are already creeping up. When I last visited the gym, I weighed myself on the scale and saw that I was 140 lbs. That's not bad...until you consider the fact that my workout peak weight was near 150 lbs. Also consider this: when I first signed up at my gym, I was 135 lbs!
If you haven't figured it out yet, my "problem" is the opposite of what many people experience. When I don't work out, I actually lose weight. I've never had an abundance of fat to deal with, so it's safe to assume that I'm losing muscle as I scale back my workouts. That's a problem.
You might think that physical fitness has nothing to do with photography, but I politely beg to differ. I sometimes climb on benches and similar structures when I'm shooting, so strong leg muscles are a must. Also, some cameras are pretty heavy by themselves; they're even heavier when you add a speedlight and diffuser to them. You don't have to be The Incredible Hulk to be a successful photographer, but you must be able to control your gear at all times. Finally, there's the possibility of doing a lot of walking at any given shoot.
If these points don't convince you, perhaps this will: it's impossible to get the shot of your life when you're on a hospital bed. Just sayin'...
Quick News Bite: MOO Part 2 Edition
My second batch of MOO cards arrived this morning. They've got my real name on the back, but not my phone number - I'm not that brave. Since I don't feel like posting pictures of them yet, you're just going to have to see me in public in order to find out what they look like.
Speaking of pictures...despite the difficulties I experienced at the Curcuit Gallery photo shoot, the resulting pictures are still making a mark. A link to my Flickr set has been posted at Circuit Gallery's Facebook page. Also, I'll be shooting at tonight's Regent Park Film Festival event.
Onward and upward!
Speaking of pictures...despite the difficulties I experienced at the Curcuit Gallery photo shoot, the resulting pictures are still making a mark. A link to my Flickr set has been posted at Circuit Gallery's Facebook page. Also, I'll be shooting at tonight's Regent Park Film Festival event.
Onward and upward!
November 03, 2009
Kicking The Bucket
Last week, I described being very nervous about an upcoming photo shoot. However, I need not have worried.
For those who haven't clued in yet, Rui Pimenta and Kal Mansur invited me to shoot more photos of the artwork at Median Contemporary; they were impressed by my pictures from a few weeks ago. I approached this shoot as a test to see whether my previous pictures were flukes, but that viewpoint was somewhat misguided. Before I even started shooting, Kal and I talked about my previous shooting experience and how to get myself out there, among other things. To make a long story short, I was further emboldened in the path I'm taking towards my next job.
Using a tripod for the first time didn't hurt, neither, even though it wasn't mine.* Even with the obvious advantages, this is where having only three focus points really hurts. Due to this weakness, I often had to get my desired subject in focus, then recompose the shot. I often do this when I'm not using a tripod, but the process is a bit tougher with one. Furthermore, if I knew that I would have been using a tripod, I would have brought my wireless controller. The lack of one doesn't really hurt, but it would have made me look more like a professional. As I've said before, if you act like a professional, you'll be treated as such.
Between this shoot and the West End Food Co-op event (where Mr. Diffuser got worked), yesterday was a good day.
*When I do get a tripod, I'm going to call it "Legs."
For those who haven't clued in yet, Rui Pimenta and Kal Mansur invited me to shoot more photos of the artwork at Median Contemporary; they were impressed by my pictures from a few weeks ago. I approached this shoot as a test to see whether my previous pictures were flukes, but that viewpoint was somewhat misguided. Before I even started shooting, Kal and I talked about my previous shooting experience and how to get myself out there, among other things. To make a long story short, I was further emboldened in the path I'm taking towards my next job.
Using a tripod for the first time didn't hurt, neither, even though it wasn't mine.* Even with the obvious advantages, this is where having only three focus points really hurts. Due to this weakness, I often had to get my desired subject in focus, then recompose the shot. I often do this when I'm not using a tripod, but the process is a bit tougher with one. Furthermore, if I knew that I would have been using a tripod, I would have brought my wireless controller. The lack of one doesn't really hurt, but it would have made me look more like a professional. As I've said before, if you act like a professional, you'll be treated as such.
Between this shoot and the West End Food Co-op event (where Mr. Diffuser got worked), yesterday was a good day.
*When I do get a tripod, I'm going to call it "Legs."
Worth The Risk?
Just when I thought that I was done taking photos for the night, I saw this gem on Gladstone Avenue.
I tried a few shots with Speedy and Mr. Diffuser (my current nickname for my flash diffuser), but all I really needed was Nifty. I tweaked the lighting in Photoshop Elements, but only subtly.
So much for keeping the eighth commandment.
I tried a few shots with Speedy and Mr. Diffuser (my current nickname for my flash diffuser), but all I really needed was Nifty. I tweaked the lighting in Photoshop Elements, but only subtly.
So much for keeping the eighth commandment.
West End Food Co-op Bond Campaign Launch (Nov 2 2009)
Gladstone Hotel hosted this fundraising event dedicated to the launch a food co-op in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood.
Click this post's title to see all 70 photos at my Flickr site.
Click this post's title to see all 70 photos at my Flickr site.
November 02, 2009
Return To Median Contemporary (Nov 2 2009)
Rui and Kal at Median Contemporary invited me to shoot a few more images of the artwork on display.
Click this post's title to see all 23 photos at my Flickr site.
Click this post's title to see all 23 photos at my Flickr site.
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