The Secrets of Digital Imaging

A Small Wrinkle in the Force (MP3)

dennis — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:42:09 +0000

Show: SDI – StudioLightingOne – 024

The file for the studio lighting podcast was somehow corrupted. All is well now (fingers crossed). See the same entry below.

Best,

Dennis Hays

SDI – Studio Lighting One – 024 w/ Dennis Hays

dennis — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 19:24:35 +0000

I start by answering a question from a listener (Jon) regarding the use of model releases for street photography. Jon also wanted to know how to use a flash meter to set the exposure.

Lastly, I set up the next series of discussions by speaking about the four main types of studio lighting.

Link: Studio Lighting Techniques

SDI – Model Releases – 023 w/ Dennis Hays

dennis — Tue, 27 May 2008 00:03:23 +0000

I discuss a part of photography I’ve neglected over the past few years; the model release. This is a subject that is sometimes (maybe often?) neglected and overlooked by photographers. I talk about why you need to have a signed model release, what it’s meant to do and how it can protect you from costly legal ramifications.

Listen and learn how the model release is constructed and what the various paragraphs mean (in a representative sample of a model release) and how they protect the photographer and lay aside all claims.

See also: Minor Model Release (Parent/Guardian) and Property Release

Web Sites:

Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_release

Dan Heller – A Primer – http://www.danheller.com/model-release-primer

ASMP.org – http://asmp.org/commerce/legal/releases/

Modeling Advice – http://www.modelingadvice.com/modelrelease.html

Apogee Photo – The Model Release: A Primer – http://www.apogeephoto.com/mag4-6/mag4-6model_releases.shtml

SDI – Reasonable Assumptions – #022 w/ Dennis Hays

dennis — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:38:34 +0000

Quick Download Link

Further progress of my excursion into portraiture and “portable” studio equipment. I discuss the latest lighting setup, light ratios, direction and equipment needed. At the end of the podcast I talk about minimum needed equipment for your portrait kit.

The art and science of getting a good portrait is more important than controlling your subject (IMO)
Depth of field and portraiture – moving subject five feet or more from backdrop.
Main vs. Fill Light Ratios
Latest session (see images below) main light 30 degrees camera left. Fill light 45 degrees camera right.
On my session, main light was f/5.6 and right was f/9 or f/10
Cross lighting – school pictures
Cheap swivel bracket – buy your equipment ONCE!
Photographing adolescents
Portrait lens considerations
White balance using tungsten lighting

Latest Portraits:

Zachary James Hays – May 2008

Alexandra Carson Hays – May 2008

Alexandra and Zachary Hays – May 2008

Quick note about the next show…

dennis — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:25:50 +0000

I’m running a little late because and have yet to “develop” the latest portraits I took last week (I cornered my kids to use as subjects).

The latest images were shot with a two light setup on the black background and I think I captured more of what I wanted. I’m not there yet, but getting closer whenever I shoot.

In the meantime, I visited the Albany, New York USA tulip festival over the weekend and here are a few images with the Canon XTi and both the Canon 28-90mm f/4-5.6 and the Canon 100-200mm f/4.5:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennishays/

Enjoy
ennis

SDI – Minimalist Lighting – 021 w/ Dennis Hays

dennis — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:40:42 +0000

We start with a brief discussion (very brief) of where I am in my photography and why I couldn’t do a session this back week (hint: my daughter abandoned me!).

The main part of this edition of the Secrets of Digital Imaging is discussing the philosophy of using hot-shoe flashes away from the camera:

Flash on the camera
Using a flash bracket
Using a sync cable and holding the flash in one hand, the camera in the other
Putting the light on a stand with sync cable or slaves (optical and radio/infrared)

Links:

David Hobby – Strobist: http://strobist.blogspot.com

Book review and recommendation:

SDI – A New Beginning – Portraits – #020 w/ Dennis Hays

dennis — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:35:38 +0000

After collecting most of what I think I need, in the way of gear, I set up the “studio” and began my quest to study portraiture. Here are my first results, warts and all. Yes, I made some mistakes and had one equipment failure, but, after all, this is just the beginning of my quest (please, no ‘Man of La Mancha’ comparisons).

This podcast discusses the pre-game, setup, photographing and post-game analysis where everything is laid bare. The following are images taken from the session, processed by Silkypix and touched by Photoshop. Comments by email are welcome: dennis (at) imagingsecrets [(dot)] com.

Michael, Son of Mike

Ryan

Rachael

Alexandra, Daughter of Dennis

SDI – Ready Or Not – #019 w/ Dennis Hays

dennis — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:53:30 +0000

All is moving quite well; the final bits of equipment are in and next week, I’ll start doing portraits. Along with this, my old favorite, the Metz 54 MZ-3 flash came back from repair – $83.00 and well worth it! Also, the Elinchrom Skyport arrived and it’s smaller than I expected. That’s good as it won’t get in the way or change the ergonomics of the camera. I can’t wait to try it out and see what it’s like with no wires. And, finally, the background stands and muslin came in. One of the little rubber feet on a stand was broken and TubeTape, the ebay seller, has agreed to replace it and is sending me a new foot. In fact, he offered to send one without me asking when I told him what happened.

Recommended Website: FlashZebra – http://www.FlashZebra.com
Sync cords galore and other things you need. Ask for Lon and ask him if you need something custom.

Silkypix Developer Studio 3.0 Review
For the written review, see: http://www.photonewstoday.com/?p=12175
Silkypix Supported Cameras [Silkypix supports all the latest cameras]
Shortcut Software (Home of Silkypix)

SDI – The Saga Continues – 018 with Dennis Hays

dennis — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:07:17 +0000

After clearing some personal problems (dead car and visiting mother), I’m back building the equipment base and learning portraiture.

First up is some samples from the new Canon EOS XTi dSLR. The image immediately below, of the New York Capitol building (in Albany, New York USA) was taken with the Canon 28mm-90mm lens f/4-5.6 III lens (the one I don’t know if I like), at ISO 800 and at 28mm:

Click to see full resolution

The next image was taken with the Canon 100mm-200mm f/4.5AF zoom lens, set at 200mm of my daughter’s cat, Sparkles:

Click to see full resolution

The cheap radio slaves from ebay are not what I really need and I describe how you can get them from me during the podcast (for less than 1/2 the cost. I’m ordering the Elinchrom EL Skyport radio slaves.

I’ve placed my order for the background stands, muslin backdrops and a reflector and have placed my kids on notice that they are now my test subjects!

Finally, I finish off with my initial marketing plans.

SDI – The State of Me – #017 with Dennis Hays

dennis — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:25:09 +0000

Finally got the Canon XTi body in and a 28-90mm f/4-5.6 (which may have been a mistake – listen in to see why I think so). I also acquired two lenses from my old film kit (35-70mm EF f/3.5-4.5 and a 100-200mm EF f/4.5AF). My purchase from ebay of a wireless slave may have been another mistake and I’ll have to rectify this with another (and hopefully better) wireless slave system.

Links:
PocketWizard – http://www.pocketwizard.com/
Elinchrom SkyPort – http://www.elinchrom.com/
Sekonic L-358 Meter – http://www.sekonic.com/products/products.asp?ID=4
Epson RX-595 – Epson RX595 Link