A thing of Beauty

I drove past the new Public Library last week.  The sun was just setting, the light reflected off the copper and glass. It was great.  I just had to go back. The next night the weather cooperated and I  was able to get two shots.  It was a busy place. I had to wait more than once for the crowds of patrons to clear the area before I could shoot. One of the reasons  good architectural and  nature photography can be  a challenge, it about waiting for the good light to appear. Its knowing were and when the sun will be in the right place and being ready for it. 

Always Learning

A month or so ago, I taut a night class at Brown Collage  for 6 weeks. I was filling in for a photo instructor.  My class was on portraiture,  on location.  You never know what you know until you have to teach it.  It was a great experience.  the students taut me a thing or to also.  It made me want to get my Abobe Expert Certification. I'm working on Lightroom 2 now and then I'm going to do Photoshop.  I should  be taking my test in a couple of weeks. 

This is how I bounce

My last post I mentioned the California Sun Bounce equipment I just purchased. I finally had the opportunity to use it .  One of the advantages of the  CSB system is it takes bad light and makes it good  usable light.  The images were shot with the sun back lighting the subject. This is bad, because I would normally have to add additional lights to the front of the subject to  full in or over power the suns effect.  Instead I , placed the Sun swatter over the subject and the added a sun Pro reflector in the front to fill in the face of the subject.  It only took a couple of minuets.  this Stuff just opens a lot of opportunity for me to be more creative in how I approach a shot. 

Yes I Bounce

I just received my Sunbounce Sun Swatter.  Whats that? well is a  light modifying tool.  Check out  a video on it here.

It better describes what it can do.  I've had my eye on one for a couple of  years. Unfortunately its overcast today and I cant test it out.  But I will have a chance later, I have a annual report project cumming up next week.  It will help a lot.  Its all outdoors shots. And the Sunbouce will help in controlling the light from the sun. So I'll be able to shoot at any time of the day. This will help in the scheduling the people for the project. 

Vacation in the great white north

Our summer family trip was last week.  It was great. The kids are at a great age for traveling. They read, watch a movie and  really like to see other places.  I put on over 2500 miles on the van over 7 days. This vacation  was the longest we ever have taken.  We drove strait thur to Niagara falls on the Canada side. That was 16 hours, then up to Toronto for a couple of days, then back to Niagara Falls on the American side. We then went to the Cleavland Ohio to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  That was great. And finally to see some friends in Illinois.  Then the last drive home was 11 hours. I was so happy to sleep in my own bed. 

Just another day

I just finished a busy week at the studio. We were shooting images for a client annual meeting, showcasing there products. Quarterton productions was on one side of the studio creating video of some of the products. Kurt and I , along with the stylist were shooting  on the other.  I was hectic, but a loved the energy in the studio with all the creativity going on.   I hope to do more of this collaboration. It's one of the reasons QuarterTon and I are here together. 

Food for Thought

I really enjoy  creating images of food. Its one of the subjects I'm making my specialty.  Last week I got the chance to shoot a menu project for a Minneapolis  restaurant .  I had a great time.  and I put together a great team.  Lisa McGann was the stylist. And as usual,  Kurt Adolfson was my right hand man. We did a lot of shots over two days. There were 9  beverage shots Beer, wine,and cold drinks.  And  over 20 plate shots. that's a lot in two days. It was only possible because the client was well organized and we did a lot of  pre-production.