New to the boards

[eben@flmodelsearch.com]

Why hello all! My name is Eben and I live in Orlando, FL. I just recently bought the Panasonic DMCFZ20 a couple weeks ago after over 2 years in researching cameras. I really really really enjoy the camera and to give you a bit of a hint of what I do with it, you can see my work @ www.flmodelsearch.com under the "One Night Stand" Gallery section. All of my images are tagged with my email eben@flmodelsearch.com, anywho I am just here to learn more about the camera and to explore different creative routes I can take with additional accessories.

-Eben

[eben@flmodelsearch.com]

Right now I shall delve in the history of why I purchased the Panasonic Lumix DMCFZ20. I started this journey in the Summer of 2002, I had just graduated High School, and with graduation money I was planning on finally buying my VERY own digital camera. Every camera since before the one I own has been either a friends, family, or strangers camera and I would try my hardest to get behind any camera possible. I have been into photography since I was 8 years old playing with disposable cameras (believe me or not but the best photographer for Swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated carries a satchel with 100 disposable cameras and takes the shots you see in that magazine). So my journey began with the Nikon Coolpix 8500 (my mother owned the 885, 990, and 995) and my uncles owned the old D1x 3 MP Kodak/Nikon dSLR (5000 back in 1999). So i was looking between ultrazoom/fixed lens SLR to a dSLR. dSLR was way out of the question (keep in mind im a full time college student witha full time gig at circuit city and a full time gig in promotions/talent search here in orlando thats why im typing this at 6am when i should be sleeping im reallly really ecstatic about how im getting to learn this camera and its intricacies). I also looked at the Sony DSCF707 and subsequently the DSC717 and DSCF828 all the cameras on the market didnt look as good, then I checked out the DMCFZ10 (i needed at least a 5MP some of the senior photographers for flmodelsearch.com are even using the Canon 1DS Mark I a 11MP 8000 dollar monster with 7FPS). as time passed and models changed i saw the 8700, diamage a2, and then finally the 8800. then a little more time passed and i heard about the FZ20 and its Leica lens that mirrored the FZ10 and i was truly sold. for price, the usage i got at work when the managers let me have a go with the camera for a whole day before i bought it, and all the features like the dual stabilizers and Venus II engine along with the key phrase of LEICA i was sold sold sold sold. i know i may not be as fast as the senior photographers and there 4FPS+ digital SLRs but with the 4 weeks that have progressed since the purchase of this camera and the more time that will passby i will only become better and i will show you all the true potential of this camera in a real life professional setting and show you that this little badboy can play with 1500 dollar + dSLRs... the senior photographers are impressed by my small rig and im not lying when i say this. these guys have 11+ years in photographic experience and range from newspaper/media coverage to some astounding print work and when they got there hands on this thing they did some damage.

thats my story... hope you all enjoy
and i hope to be getting to know more of you as time progress.
please feel free to ask me any questions. i have a wide knowledge in general photography, strobes, lighting, composition, makeup/hair, and much more.

-Eben

[eben@flmodelsearch.com]

http://www.freehomepages.com/alloydesign/digitalresume/hellofoto/ website doesnt allow me to direct link so copy past URL into your browser to see images.

some of my latest images taken around 12:30am 11/13/04 and minor editing.
I utilized a bounceback (forgot the brand) the strobe was set on auto on some shots. others were taken on a pitch black dance floor with lasers, smoke, and lights going off.

[nooner]

The link does'nt work. :eek:

[eben@flmodelsearch.com]

link updated to some FZ20 Shots

[FZ20knowitall]

I found the pics on the website. Are you shooting with the flash built into the camera? Whatever you are doing you are creating a big white reflection behind your "models". Now the one thing I remember from art school is that your eye is drawn to the brightest thing in the picture. Maybe your situation doesn't allow it, but you would be better off using some soft boxes, or if the ceiling is low enough, bouncing the flash off of the ceiling. They even make little soft boxes that go over a typical flash. Also the pics look all underexposed, and even if the camera was responsible, you should have fixed them b4 u uploaded to a website. Otherwise, they are just snapshots. But if you claim to be a professional, then I don't understand why you didn't improve on your photos and in essence "published" them. The FZ20 is a great camera, but it is only as good as the photographer behind it. Hope you don't mind the criticism. Just trying to be constructive.

[nooner]

You're kidding, right? Professional?

[eben@flmodelsearch.com]

using some softboxes already with my flash... the softboxes are flash triggered and because of a pitch black situation with vaulted ceilings we have no other option but to have that bright spot reflecting off the wood.

professional : as into the setting i am in... its a nightclub www.matrixmetropolis.com basically 30 million invested into two clubs in Pointe orlando one of the biggest tourist spots in orlando with the ripleys believe it or not museum located within this mall type setting along with some popular bar/eateries. my other work that will be professional will be set within the next 2 weeks in which i got some photoshoots lined up with a more selectable lighting source.

so my shots can only come up as good as my settings/environment.

the shoots i have lined up are at dawn in early morning sunlight around downtown orlandos back areas and at a rooftop here at the club latitudes located on church st. those shoots will be better to showcase the work that i can do.

right now im starting to build my portfolio and i have 3 mentors by my side. I am not the best, but i do have the best the city of orlando has to offer Mike Anthony Moffa (www.moonnitephoto.com) and Mikey C. along with Von Miller.

all 3 photographers are very respected within the press circle of orlando.
Thanks for checking out my pics guys, I'm here to lend my technical knowledge, knowledge of the cameras (since ive been selling them for 6 years in retail electronics), and to learn as much as i can from everybody else. so far this board has taught me a lot and i really like a lot of the people in here.

FZ20Knowitall,
i need all the help i can get, ive been selling the hardware but dont really know the full extent to the software. i am learning from 3 of the best in this industry and i take all the constructive criticism i can get. my editing was null, just wanted to pull up what i could as quick as i could. this is about my 4th week owning the camera and im still learning about composition, ISO, MF ranges, lighting, makeup, framing, etc etc.

-eben

[PixChick]

using some softboxes already with my flash... the softboxes are flash triggered and because of a pitch black situation with vaulted ceilings we have no other option but to have that bright spot reflecting off the wood.

professional : as into the setting i am in... its a nightclub www.matrixmetropolis.com basically 30 million invested into two clubs in Pointe orlando one of the biggest tourist spots in orlando with the ripleys believe it or not museum located within this mall type setting along with some popular bar/eateries. my other work that will be professional will be set within the next 2 weeks in which i got some photoshoots lined up with a more selectable lighting source.

so my shots can only come up as good as my settings/environment.

the shoots i have lined up are at dawn in early morning sunlight around downtown orlandos back areas and at a rooftop here at the club latitudes located on church st. those shoots will be better to showcase the work that i can do.

right now im starting to build my portfolio and i have 3 mentors by my side. I am not the best, but i do have the best the city of orlando has to offer Mike Anthony Moffa (www.moonnitephoto.com) and Mikey C. along with Von Miller.

all 3 photographers are very respected within the press circle of orlando.
Thanks for checking out my pics guys, I'm here to lend my technical knowledge, knowledge of the cameras (since ive been selling them for 6 years in retail electronics), and to learn as much as i can from everybody else. so far this board has taught me a lot and i really like a lot of the people in here.

FZ20Knowitall,
i need all the help i can get, ive been selling the hardware but dont really know the full extent to the software. i am learning from 3 of the best in this industry and i take all the constructive criticism i can get. my editing was null, just wanted to pull up what i could as quick as i could. this is about my 4th week owning the camera and im still learning about composition, ISO, MF ranges, lighting, makeup, framing, etc etc.

-eben

I have to commend you for taking criticism so well--most people don't, even when the critic is one with good intentions. I am sure that you will go far with your career.

[FZ20knowitall]

Ok, gettting a good photography book is a good start. Not necessarily a "digital" book, but just one that explains fstops, shutter speeds, ISOs and the relationship between them. Henry Hornstein (Maybe spelled Horenstein) writes great books on Photography. As far as make up goes, that is a make up artist's job, yes if you knew make up it would be a help, but ask professional make up artists, preferrably ones who work with professional photographers/movies etc. There are a lot of wannabes in that field. Make sure they went to school and check their references. Then ask them what you want to know. Also know that what you are photographing is usually called "Glamour Photography" and they have books on that. If you are looking to become a great photographer study the masters: Ansel Adams, Steiglitz, Weston, Man Ray to name a few. Photographing dancers is always good, esp if they teach you about how the body moves thru space. The Japanese are really into Eros, "Erotic Photography". It's all out there for you to take in. I don't fully understand this line : " ive been selling the hardware but dont really know the full extent to the software." You are selling equipment? Or are you trying to say that you know more about the cameras than the photo editing software?
First off, if you are trying to become a great photographer, concentrate on taking great pictures. A great photo has a few main elements. For one, it shouldn't need cropping, it should be perfect when you shoot. It should have a full range of tones (from fully black to fully white--this is more of an old fashioned rule, if you study Ansel Adams you will understand). There is so much, the best thing to do is to get some books and surf the net. Maybe even take a course on studio lighting, there is a lot to know. Or the best thing is to be a photo assistant to those photographers you mention, you learn so much from watching the pros work, and setting up their lights. Good luck!

[eben@flmodelsearch.com]

hehe i should go into detail... im into:

1. glam photography
2. commercial photography
3. event photography
4. and the new style Maxim Style Photography or aka Implied Nudity
5. Artistic photography

yes i have those books. i know makeup is left to the makeup artist, ive seen a lot of the senior photographers having massive knowledge on the issue of makeup.

your right working as an asst to a pro is the best knowledge i have received so far.

what i meant about knowing hardware over the software is an age old thing in the ITS field. theres the hardware engineers that wire and set up all the systems and then theres the software engineers yes typically its vs versa. THey play off each other. So i know what the cameras are capable of because i sell the hardware the software is i.e. composition, lighting, ISOs, and shutter speeds so that i can set the appropriate settings and be ready for the shot that i want to achieve.

thanks
:D wish i could buy you both beers pixchick and fz20knowitall