Sara - Modeling shots

[24Peter]

Various lenses and lighting setups. See her entire gallery here: http://imageevent.com/24peter/sarar
We had a lot of fun. She was great to shoot.

http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/sarar/large/IMG_2778.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/sarar/large/IMG_2997.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/sarar/large/IMG_3086.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/sarar/large/IMG_3102.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/sarar/large/IMG_3177.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/sarar/large/IMG_3334.JPG

[aparmley]

Very nice indeed peter. Very even light. Clean images. Great model. You make it look easy.

[cdifoto]

Most definitely very nice. Both your work and hers.

[cwphoto]

Well done Mate - what's the go with these Babes? Do you hire them from an agency just for personal work or are you doing some fashion gig?

[24Peter]

Thanks guys. We really did have fun that day. I'm (finally) learning how to relax a little more which makes the whole deal a lot less stressful.

Christian - my subjects are a mix - some are looking to get into acting (a big thing as you might imagine here in Los Angeles) and need headshots and hire me to take them. Some are people I've sought out working on a TFCD ("time for [photo] CD") basis - they pose for me for my portfolio and I give them a copy of their photos that they can use for promotional purposes for their career. Sara was a TFCD person. I found her here: http://modelmayhem.com As I've mentioned before, I also get models via word of mouth or sometimes through craigslist. I don't pay for models unless I've been hired by someone else to do a photo shoot (which hasn't happened yet.) :o

[SketchySmurf]

peter-
you know I'm a big fan:D . How long have you been at this?

[Jeff Keller]

All I can say is "I'm in the wrong business"... :p

[sherlock]

All I can say is "I'm in the wrong business"... :p

Haha and maybe I need to rethink my career choice...:D

[24Peter]

peter-
you know I'm a big fan:D . How long have you been at this?

Well I picked up my first semi real camera (Panasonic FZ20) a year ago and got my XT last April - so I've been at this for around one year. My grandfather was heavily into taking photos of the family and now everyone says I've stepped into his shoes - which is nice for me to hear. However, I'd really like to make a career out of it, so my thing is to learn as much as I can by shooting as much as I can. So it will be a great business once the cash starts flowing full time. :)

[SketchySmurf]

Peter-
a year, huh? can't imagine the hotties you'll be taking shots of 5 yrs. down the line w:D :D t!

I know you might have done this in past threads, but run us through how you set up sara's photos, lighting, regrets and/or lucky coincidences, problems you ran into...I dont see any exif data...what lens are you using?

[24Peter]

OK - but it's easier if you ask about a specific photo since I change setups/lenses pretty often. Also, if you go to the gallery and scroll down to the bottom of the image, there is a link for EXIF data. It doesn't show the lens per se but if you know my setup, you can usually tell by the focal length. The lenses I used for her shots were (all Canon):
50 1.8
85 1.8
28-105 3.5-4.5 USM II
70-300 IS USM (newest version)
But again, it's so much easier if you say, "OK what was your lens and set up on shot # x from the gallery." ( http://imageevent.com/24peter/sarar in case you haven't bookmarked her gallery yet... ;) )

[SketchySmurf]

Actually, what's your approach in terms of metering? Just interested in your methodology is all...Thanks!

[24Peter]

Actually, what's your approach in terms of metering? Just interested in your methodology is all...Thanks!

Well I'm probably the last person to ask about that: I rely exclusively on what I see in my LCD. I don't even bother with the histogram, must less actually use a light meter. :eek: (I'm telling you, I'd never make it as a real photographer if it weren't for digital cameras.) On Sara's shoot I used a silver reflecting umbrella for the first time and discovered later I blew the highlights on a bunch of shots without realizing it. I've gotten better at judging exposure via the LCD but I must admit, I am really quite lazy when it comes to sound photographic technique.

For my studio stuff, I use Manual mode. I usually set the shutter at 1/200th (the XT's max sync shutter speed). That's a good number for me since I never go over a focal length of 105mm (or I guess 168mm with the 1.6X crop factor) and I'm shakey enough at the start of a shoot that even with a wide angle lens I need all the help I can get. Then I set apeture usually based on which lens I'm using. For my 50 1.8 for example I'm usually at f5.6 when I'm using lights or f3.5 handheld (my copy is too soft to go below f3.5.) I also vary the settings on my strobes to compensate.

Outdoors I usually shoot Av mode, again setting apeture based on the lens I'm using. I occassionally run into trouble with my 135 SF since I like to shoot that at f4-5 for sharpness reasons. If I'm shooting into the sun, I can get a very low shutter speed and blurred pics. I have to remember to bump the ISO before I go that way.

I use Tv mode when I'm indoors using an on-camera flash. I'm usually at 1/100 or so. I find that my XT always chooses 1/60 as my shutter speed in "P" mode and again, because I can be real shakey at times, that might not be enough, esp. if I'm at the long end of my 28-105. So I never use "P" or automatic modes.

Finally, I've experimented with all three in camera metering modes and personally haven't found much of a difference in real life results. I currently use center-weighted.

Hope that helps. :)

[aparmley]

Peter - I have a question for ya buddy. What brightness setting is your LCD on? Have you tinkered with that at all? If so have you found any difference in your exposures.

reason I ask is cause when I was shooting my SPs with those shop lights I noticed my exposures on CRT were a lot darker than they appeared on my LCD, I turned down the brightness and it seemed to be more accurate, slightly.

[cdifoto]

I'm not Peter but I have my brightness all the way up so I can see the darn thing...but I don't rely on it for exposure...I trust the histo more.

[jamison55]

Something the Nikons have on the Canons: the flashing highlights on a full sized image preview. I hate the tiny image in the hist mode on the Canon cameras...

[aparmley]

I'm not Peter but I have my brightness all the way up so I can see the darn thing...but I don't rely on it for exposure...I trust the histo more.


Exactly what I do - Well, I monitor my highlights making sure I don't clip them or in some instances, make sure the highlights I do clip aren't worth anything anyway.

Something the Nikons have on the Canons: the flashing highlights on a full sized image preview. I hate the tiny image in the hist mode on the Canon cameras...

True that bruva!

[cdifoto]

Something the Nikons have on the Canons: the flashing highlights on a full sized image preview. I hate the tiny image in the hist mode on the Canon cameras...

It doesn't really bother me. But hey isn't it bigger on the full frame 1 series cameras? That's something Canon has on the Nikons...full frame! :p


Yeah yeah I know...full frame & histogram not related but I had to add a smartass remark....

[cwphoto]

Something the Nikons have on the Canons: the flashing highlights on a full sized image preview. I hate the tiny image in the hist mode on the Canon cameras...

Another reason do get a 1D my friend.:cool:

[cdifoto]

Another reason do get a 1D my friend.:cool:

There are about 4 thousand little reasons for me not to get one right now! :eek: :D

[24Peter]

Hey guys - mine (LCD brightness) is maxed too. No other way to really see what's going on, esp. outdoors. Like I said, not the best way to judge exposure but I'm beginning to be able to translate it over to my images.

As for the flashing highlights on a full size preview, I think the 5D has it as well. Another reason to check one out Jamie... ;) (I'm dying for you to rent one for the weekend to see what you think.:D )

[Clyde]

Exactly what I do - Well, I monitor my highlights making sure I don't clip them or in some instances, make sure the highlights I do clip aren't worth anything anyway.



Ok, I know to drop the EV if my brights get blown out, and I keep pretty good track of that. What do you do to prevent clipping?

Thanks,

Clyde

[aparmley]

Ok, I know to drop the EV if my brights get blown out, and I keep pretty good track of that. What do you do to prevent clipping?

Thanks,

Clyde

Depends on what mode I am shooting in to be honest. But essentially, I do just what you said you do, drop the EV - sometimes if I am in AV mode that means dropping the EV and the camera choose a slightly faster shutter speed so I can maintain my DOF - If I am in M I almost always adjust my SS - This is because I have a tendency to be aperture oriented - I choose an aperture based on what image I want and let the camera choose the shutter speed. Only in very bright conditions must I adjust my aperture [stopping down] to stop from overexposing. . .

[jamison55]

Another reason do get a 1D my friend.


As for the flashing highlights on a full size preview, I think the 5D has it as well. Another reason to check one out Jamie... ;) (I'm dying for you to rent one for the weekend to see what you think.:D )

There is a new body in my future, but I'm waiting to see what the 20D replacement looks like first. I also have to plunk down $1700 clams for the 70-200 IS to replace my 80-200L (and glass is always a priority with me).

If the 20D replacement is lacking essential features I'm looking for (like a Joe Buissink mode :D ), I'll be back to the internal struggle between a 1D and a 5D. For right now I get buy using the histogram mode with the tiny little preview. Once I'm sure my exposure is where I want it to be, I zoom in to check focus. With the AF accuracy of the L's I rarely feel the need to constantly check focus, unless I'm shooting with very narrow DOF.

I have a tough time shelling out the $$$ to rent a body when that coupla hundred bucks could go toward another toy. There is a camera store here, however, that will apply your rental fee towards a purchase of the same item at the time you return the rental. Still, 6% sales tax if I buy it in store vs none over the internet...I know, it's guys like me that put the local guys out of business... Another reason to ditch the current tax system and adopt a flat tax!

...and BTW, Nikons (at least the D70's I've used) can't zoom in past 2x on the LCD preview. That would frustrate me even more than the tiny histogram preview!

[24Peter]

I have a tough time shelling out the $$$ to rent a body when that coupla hundred bucks could go toward another toy.
No pressure. I understand. Just curious as to your take on the camera once you actually use it.

Going back a few posts, for me I'm waiting for a cheap and reliable WiFi set up to send photos to my laptop wirelessly while I'm shooting. Being able to see shots on my laptop screen in near real time (with a histogram overlay) would be 'da bomb. Some consumer P&S cameras just started shipping with built in WiFi (though I hear the early implementations are pretty dodgy.) And I think the D2X ships with WiFi built in. I'm not up on Canon's progress in this area. Also, does anyone know if there's peer-to-peer WiFi networking, meaning we wouldn't need a wireless router to connect the laptop and camera?

[jamison55]

WiFi would be cool. I have a friend who just bought a D2x, and we are planning to try and send pix to my PSP wirelessly next time we get together. WiFi defices should be able to wirelessly network with other WiFi devices regardless of a hub. My laptop is constantly trying to hook up with other laptops on the commuter train - horny guy that he is (must be feeding him too much p*rn).

I've intentionally stayed away from the 5D because I already know that once I use one in person, there's no going back. Then the CC comes out, then I end up paying an extra $400 in interest payments to Master Card (and that's NOT tax deductable). I was really templted this weekend, when I saw that Best Buy was selling them online with 2 years no interest. I bought my 20D that way last year, and paid it off in three months.

My first wedding this season is not until April 15th, so I'll hold off for another month or so before jumping on a new camera. I really like the 20D, and my lens collection is built around 1.6cf cameras, so I want to see what Canon has up it's sleeve before I make a decision.

[Bluedog]

Peter _ looking through your galleries I'll have to say that your XT images are on par with the 5D results _ or should I say nearly the same quality to my eyes. Darn good work indeed.

[aparmley]

Peter _ looking through your galleries I'll have to say that your XT images are on par with the 5D results _ or should I say nearly the same quality to my eyes. Darn good work indeed.

I've gotta agree with this statement. Back when you rented it I was thinking the same thing, don't know if I mentioned it or not. Another tick mark under the "Its the photographer" heading.

[jwhite]

No pressure. I understand. Just curious as to your take on the camera once you actually use it.

Going back a few posts, for me I'm waiting for a cheap and reliable WiFi set up to send photos to my laptop wirelessly while I'm shooting. Being able to see shots on my laptop screen in near real time (with a histogram overlay) would be 'da bomb. Some consumer P&S cameras just started shipping with built in WiFi (though I hear the early implementations are pretty dodgy.) And I think the D2X ships with WiFi built in. I'm not up on Canon's progress in this area. Also, does anyone know if there's peer-to-peer WiFi networking, meaning we wouldn't need a wireless router to connect the laptop and camera?

Somehow I doubt WiFi could handle the 'realtime' viewing of RAW pictures taken with a dSLR. And what about battery consumption? Having WiFi going the entire time would significantly decrease battery power of the camera.

[George Riehm]

There is a new body in my future, but I'm waiting to see what the 20D replacement looks like first. I also have to plunk down $1700 clams for the 70-200 IS to replace my 80-200L (and glass is always a priority with me).

If the 20D replacement is lacking essential features I'm looking for (like a Joe Buissink mode :D ), I'll be back to the internal struggle between a 1D and a 5D. For right now I get buy using the histogram mode with the tiny little preview. Once I'm sure my exposure is where I want it to be, I zoom in to check focus. With the AF accuracy of the L's I rarely feel the need to constantly check focus, unless I'm shooting with very narrow DOF.

I have a tough time shelling out the $$$ to rent a body when that coupla hundred bucks could go toward another toy. There is a camera store here, however, that will apply your rental fee towards a purchase of the same item at the time you return the rental. Still, 6% sales tax if I buy it in store vs none over the internet...I know, it's guys like me that put the local guys out of business... Another reason to ditch the current tax system and adopt a flat tax!

...and BTW, Nikons (at least the D70's I've used) can't zoom in past 2x on the LCD preview. That would frustrate me even more than the tiny histogram preview!

Note: The 2X is just the instant zoom preview using the QUAL button, by pressing the ISO button and rotating the rear thumbwheel you can zoom to around 8X. At least I think it's 8X, as I really don't remember. But it's more than enough to check focus, and very easy to use once you get the hang of it.

I've never had a problem reading the histogram on the D70 (or were you still talking about the Canon?).

[24Peter]

I've gotta agree with this statement. Back when you rented it I was thinking the same thing, don't know if I mentioned it or not. Another tick mark under the "Its the photographer" heading.
Thanks guys for the positive reinforcement. I'm not saying the 5D is the end all, be all. The biggest drawbacks of the camera for me are the size/weight (compared to my XT) and price (again compared to the XT). The pluses include the (perceived by me) perspective of a full frame sensor and all that resolution. As I said when I first rented it, the dynamic range was more of the same (similar to what's already out there) so that was a little disappointing. And compared to the AF on my XT (which seems to really suck lately), the 5D was a dream. I'll be upgrading to either the 35D (seems to be the consensus on what it'll be called) or 5D in the next few months for improved AF alone.

I've seen stuff posted on-line by guys/gals who shoot with P&S digital cameras that runs circles around what I've done so far. So, yes, it's the photographer, not the camera. But again I'd just be curious to see what a pro like Jamie thinks of the 5D.

[24Peter]

Somehow I doubt WiFi could handle the 'realtime' viewing of RAW pictures taken with a dSLR. And what about battery consumption? Having WiFi going the entire time would significantly decrease battery power of the camera.
Yeah, both are valid concerns. I did say "near" real time for that reason. Right now I get about 24mbps consistently on my home 80211g network which is about 3MBps. In terms of viewing .jpgs from my XT (2MB-3MB per photo), that should be fine. RAW or images from a larger sensor (5D) would not be as real time. But there are faster varities of WiFi looming out there now approaching theoretical 100mbps and 50mbps real life meaning ~ 6MBps. Get your RAW files in 2-3 seconds. Couldn't check every shot but my original point was viewing my images on a laptop screen instead of the LCD on the back of the camera would help lazy guys like me in terms of checking exposure.

[jamison55]

The 2X is just the instant zoom preview using the QUAL button, by pressing the ISO button and rotating the rear thumbwheel you can zoom to around 8X. At least I think it's 8X, as I really don't remember. But it's more than enough to check focus, and very easy to use once you get the hang of it.

I've never had a problem reading the histogram on the D70 (or were you still talking about the Canon?).

So THAT's how you do it! I shot an e-session the other day with a new D70 owner and we couldn't for the life of us figure out how to zoom past the 2X option. Guess I should have told her to read the manual!

Nope, we were commenting on how the histogram and flashing highlights feature of the D70 and its ilk were so much superior to the 10D, 20D, XT...

[George Riehm]

So THAT's how you do it! I shot an e-session the other day with a new D70 owner and we couldn't for the life of us figure out how to zoom past the 2X option. Guess I should have told her to read the manual!

Nope, we were commenting on how the histogram and flashing highlights feature of the D70 and its ilk were so much superior to the 10D, 20D, XT...

When I first got the camera and tried to check focus, my monolog was actually not printable, as I kept stabbing the QUAL button, but all I got was 1X, 2X, 1X, 2X, etc.. So being a guy who tells people to RTFM, I decided to follow my own advice, and give it a go.

Amazing what's in that little book.;) For as intuitive as the D70 is to operate that is the one little gem that Nikon didn't exactly make obvious, and even the manual is a little vague as to the magnification.