In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
Checking out different light with Jen tonight.
Before the sun set.
After the sun set behind San Jacinto.
From two to six today Jen and I finally got back to practicing Unit 4 in our 6 Unit NYIP Course. There are 5 or 6 Lessons in this Unit and for this assignment we were practicing north facing window light coupled with a reflector on the shady side. We added the Westcott Apollo Orb softbox (above camera) and liked the lighting best.
5d Mark III
85mm L 1.2 lens USM
ISO 100
f/1.8
1/200th sec
North facing window light on Jen’s right side. Second light source – a reflector just off Jen’s left elbow. Forty three” Apollo Orb above camera. (Wescott’s octagonal softbox…it doesn’t require an adapter ring!.)
Cropped this shot to 16 x 9. Same setup as first.
The 6:40am light falling on Jen near the end of our hike was too good to pass up. Jen came up with the idea of posing like Mother Theresa.
Yesterday I took a day for myself and finally started looking at Doug Gordon’s Workshop DVDs I’d purchased in March at WPPI. I learned a lot. This morning in overhead sun while hiking I took the photo below of Jen in the shade. I got in as close to Jen’s face as I could to gain focus, using the widest aperture, f 1.2 on the 85mm lens. Tilting the camera a bit is new for me too. I always shoot so literal and linear!
I wanted everything except for Jen’s lips to go soft…out of focus. In the past I’ve had trouble knowing how to use this wide open aperture, but today I liked what I got coming in close on Jen’s face. Lastly, while editing in Lightroom, I brought the photo into Nik Efex B & W software applying (and adjusting a bit) the High Key preset for the final look and feel.
Jen, shot this morning, in the shade, on our bump & grind hike, using the Canon 5d Mark 111 and 85 mm 1.2 L lens.
ISO 5000!!!
Jen reading maps in her tent a couple of nights ago on the PCT.
Erika, Jen and I spent late afternoon and evening at the Salton Sea last week. What a joy. And what a great opportunity it was for me as Erika knows so much more than I about flash. This was a first shooting with a skilled photographer. I loved it. I keep saying I need to join a camera club and not be so solo learning photography. Anyone local reading this, let me know if you want to go shooting sometime, ok?
Erika taught Jen and me a lot.
Jen.
Erika took this photo of me.
Erika knew this background would be great.
The shoreline is covered with dead Talapia.
Before we headed out to light write an old Gas Station (I posted this picture a few days ago.), I took a couple of shots out over the Salton Sea.
Fri., March 15th, 2013
Shot with the Lensbaby.
Waiting for Ray’s egg salad sandwich at Luscious Lorraine’s I stole this photo.
On a late afternoon hike with Jen I shot this dog. Back in Lightroom after having worked on the photo in another software program, I added the Profile Correction and got this distorted look which I actually liked better than the undistorted shot.
On our late hike today, Jen posed (somewhat:-)) for me while I tried out an old 100mm macro lens.
The weather is changing here in the desert. I wore shorts this morning on our regular hour long hike (w/backpack). Shorts work so much better for me. I feel freer, AND I can “gottago” without taking my backpack off! My trailname Gottago seems more appropriate than ever, the older I get.
With the weather change and wanting to wear less clothing I seem to pay more attention to my weight (which always creeps up during the cooler winter months).
So I either have to eat less or exercise more. I am committing to an upcoming 5 pound weight loss!
Click here to see Jen’s shot of me this morning.
Looking to shoot different camera angles and learn my 16-35mm lens a bit better, I got close to Jen for this shot.