In The Light Of The Night

I mentioned Tracie and I were out all day, it was quite dark before we finished our walkabout. On the way back to the Skytrain station came upon Christchurch Cathedral and it looked quite lovely. 

 For this photo I used the 17mm shot at 1/50th sec f3.5 iso 6400

You Hear It?

  24-85 at 85mm 1/125th sec f4.5 iso 200

The Nifty Fifty At Fifty

Meaning the 50mm lens shooting at 50 iso. Tracie and I went downtown a couple days ago and we walked. A lot. If we showed our route on a map you would think we were drunken pirates drawing a treasure map. Of course we had to start with a coffee and of course about the first thing I said when we sat down was "May I take your picture?" She said "Sure!" and I was able to get some very nice photos including the one I am posting here today. I have said it before and I'll say it again, I love this light you can get sitting up next to the window in a coffee shop. We went off and walked from before noon to well after dark which at this time of year was about 5:45 pm. I was able to give my new camera a good work out and got plenty photos some of which I will post here from day to day.

Shot with the 50mm 1/60th sec f2 iso 50. I recall as a young fellow a 50mm lens on an slr would have been what we call the "kit lens" now. It was an in between wide angle and telephoto lens before the days of zoom lenses. It was a good general lens which for me didn't see a lot of use after I got my other lenses. As I bought into dslrs and their aps-c sized sensors I rediscovered this lens and started using it for portrait work. It spent a lot more time on my camera and I really enjoyed using it. I wasn't too sure if I would use it much when I got my full frame camera but after my little coffee shop photo shoot with Tracie I know I'll always have it with me.

 

A Head Shot

When doing a photo shoot it's only natural things will go wrong. Minor or major the trick is to not let them stop you. I wanted to try out some head shots with Jenn my daughter. It started with a missing little brass piece that fits in a bracket for flash and umbrella. It is one of those things you always see whilst browsing any camera store and think "I should get one of those just in case."  Of course when it goes missing no one carries them or ever heard of them. That's ok I'll just use something else. As we get into the picture taking it becomes quite apparent one flash isn't working. It works when I stop taking pictures and fiddle with it but as soon as I start using the camera it doesn't work. Oh well I just move the one that does work around till we get a look that suits us. I think another part of the trick is when it doesn't work don't let it bother you or at least don't let your model know it's bothering you. There was a time I might have given up and gone home (In this case to my bedroom). But working with what we had we got the job done and I am happy, but more importantly Jenn was.

For this photo I used the 70-300G at 150mm 1/125th sec at f5.6 iso 50. I am quite excited about shooting at 50 iso. I bought the Sony a99 because it is a great performer at high iso. What I hadn't realized is it is also great down to 50. I used to love Fujichrome 50 and Kodachrome 64 so I had to give it a try on this camera. I was not disappointed. Now I will have to go and not look for that brass piece and get it. Just in case.... 

Tilt And Shift Redux

My new camera came with what Sony calls "picture effect". You can do things like select one colour and make the rest of the photo black and white, Posterization, Toy Camera, amongst others. One I have always liked is the tilt/shift or miniature effect. It makes photographs and videos look like miniature scenes. I have posted about it before having done it in computer. Now I can do it right in camera. It isn't something I will do a lot but it is nice to know it's there if I see an opportunity.

For this photo out my balcony window I used my 100mm macro (coincidentally) 1/80th sec f4.5 iso 400

Trying Light

At Home on a Friday night with nothing on the tube. What is one to do but get the camera out. I was here by myself so figured it was time to try a self portrait. There was a light set up I saw a while ago so I thought I would give it a try. I think Grace Kelly looked quite lovely in the photo that inspired me to try this.

I shot this with the 50mm 1/160th sec f11 iso 200. One flash behind and to the left with a Lumiquest Softbox LTp plus one behind and to the right with a Lumiquest Softox III. It was fun but time consuming being the cameraman, assistant, and subject.