tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775456764355864982024-03-14T04:17:20.707-05:00is hootnik onA photography blog ... and other crap.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-57604847478367754812014-08-06T19:57:00.001-05:002014-08-06T20:02:35.716-05:00Imagine the TimeLast month marked six years in a row I've gotten the privilege of photographing Tate. He's into soccer now, has his hair spiked and is every bit the Tate I've seen since he was a baby. I'm gonna shut up and just let you take a look.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/14824998366" title="t6.0 by Mark Dekovic, on Flickr"><img alt="t6.0" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5592/14824998366_43ce1a4690_c.jpg" width="520" /></a>
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<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6; focal length 135mm, 1/400 @ f/4.8, ISO 800</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/14844898441" title="t6.0 by Mark Dekovic, on Flickr"><img alt="t6.0" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5553/14844898441_a9b5b89982_c.jpg" width="520" /></a>
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<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6; focal length 240mm, 1/640 @ f/5.6, ISO 800</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/14845523884" title="t6.0 by Mark Dekovic, on Flickr"><img alt="t6.0" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/14845523884_a67bdb715a_o.jpg" width="520" /></a>
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<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6; focal length 240mm, 1/200 @ f/5.6, ISO 800</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/14661344229" title="t6.0 by Mark Dekovic, on Flickr"><img alt="t6.0" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/14661344229_117db20abb_c.jpg" width="520" /></a>
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<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6; focal length 70mm, 1/500 @ f/4.5, ISO 800</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/14661445547" title="t6.0 by Mark Dekovic, on Flickr"><img alt="t6.0" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3895/14661445547_46529c1c56_c.jpg" width="520" /></a>
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<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6; focal length 110mm, 1/1250 @ f/5.0, ISO 800</div>
<h3>
A Little Retrospective</h3>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/5960916076" title="cap by Mark Dekovic, on Flickr"><img alt="cap" src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6016/5960916076_59c95467e8_m.jpg" width="165" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/7615904044" title="i am happy by Mark Dekovic, on Flickr"><img alt="i am happy" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/7615904044_3e39d63432_m.jpg" width="165" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/4782757937" title="t4 by Mark Dekovic, on Flickr"><img alt="t4" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4122/4782757937_8c7a990244_m.jpg" width="165" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-91004756216917917272013-11-27T09:35:00.001-06:002013-11-27T09:39:59.177-06:00Two Lights, a Gray Wall, Many Voices<p>It's a good thing I'm starting to hear voices. Not voices of destruction and mayhem but voices of teachers, lessons, mentors and common sense. Well ... three out of four ain't bad. I had been wanting to do a simple portrait shoot with a stark background and an engaging subject for a while now. A friend of mine at work needed some portraits done and I thought this might be a chance to get what I was waiting on.</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/11072953895/" title="s2.0 by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2872/11072953895_be79b98846_z.jpg" width="520" alt="s2.0"></a>
<div class="caption">Nikon D300, 50mm f/1.8; 1/100 @ f/5.6, ISO 400 SB-800</div>
<p>First off, I couldn't remember what their home had to offer for background, ambiance and general workspace. I had been hitting +DavidHobby <i>Lighting in Layers</i> Disk I, lessons two and three pretty hard and trying to memorize "the Strobist voice." David talks a lot about balancing the ambient light with flash, in fact, using the ambient light as the first light in your kit. I started making a couple diagrams and jotting down notes of things to remember: work in manual, get the exposure set, move around the setting, key light, fill ... all that stuff.</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/11073117623/" title="hair by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3693/11073117623_dfe174835a_z.jpg" width="520" alt="hair"></a>
<div class="caption">Nikon D300, 50mm f/1.8; 1/100 @ f/5.6, ISO 400 SB-800 ... ya gotta get the hair flip.</div>
<p>When I got on site (read — got over to their house) it was a gloomy day, raining outside and the ambient light was not very attractive. But imagine my delight when I saw this wall, a gray wall, about six feet wide with pictures hanging on it. And enough room to clear furniture and have a great old time!</p>
<p>We made a plan for some family portraits with the dog and all, worked through those first including a couple of passport photos, and then we could concentrate on individual portraits and take our time ... with the gray wall.</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/11073053146/" title="s2.0 by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3772/11073053146_35ca117012_z.jpg" width="520" alt="s2.0"></a>
<p>For the portraits of Sarah, I set up a 30" softbox to use as my key light and a 16" softbox to use as a rim, er ... kicker, uhhh ... hair light! See? Many voices! See lighting diagram for most of the details. This setup actually came from +ErikValind and his voice from the workshop a few weeks ago <a href="http://ishootnikon.blogspot.com/2013/10/shaping-light-small-flash-workshop.html">(see post Shaping Light: A Small Flash Workshop)</a>. The key light was an SB-800 triggered with a Pocketwizard and the kicker was an SB-800 in SU-4 Slave mode! It worked great! I had never thought of using SU-4 mode ... voices always said CLS is the way to go. Wrong, oh CTO breath!</p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBam_fh-JEeLkQhVXyCgK6lwwJebfUR_c6sH3JWFw958NwHrbv_mIlhz56g5mlicRISVhbDziPzJDGKrWgovD1U-Ir5ZopyXJB_8n4CP2Kotof9mStaRaKcSINQXWsn2mrcgmPPZRqEGH/s1600/TwoLightLightingSetupKeyKicker.gif" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBam_fh-JEeLkQhVXyCgK6lwwJebfUR_c6sH3JWFw958NwHrbv_mIlhz56g5mlicRISVhbDziPzJDGKrWgovD1U-Ir5ZopyXJB_8n4CP2Kotof9mStaRaKcSINQXWsn2mrcgmPPZRqEGH/s400/TwoLightLightingSetupKeyKicker.gif" width="520px" /></a>
<h4>Takeaways from the shoot</h4>
<ul>
<li>I think my key light should have been a little higher in relation to the subject and pulled closer to axis; maybe at 30 degrees instead of 45.</li>
<li>My NEF files seem to be consistently 2/3 stop underexposed ... "watch your histogram," a voice I didn't hear that day but will from now on.</li>
<li>Engaging with an engaged subject is quite engaging ... that might be a +JoeMcNally voice I was hearing.</li>
<li>Should have shot at ISO 200. I had plenty of light power.</li>
</ul>
<p>All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the work we got done. It's become reassuring over time that I have voices to listen to. They've taught me a lot and are a great reference to help guide the work. Thanks gentlemen.</p>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-1887097934875619752013-11-25T21:22:00.001-06:002013-11-25T21:26:46.790-06:00And I Call Them Brooms<p>Twenty years ago, on Saturday, October 30, 1993, two of my best friends were married in an Episcopalian celebration of High Mass. Present were long forgotten numbers of guests, parish dignitaries and attendees, and a ceremonial pastor also a close friend. We celebrated in dignified honor the joining of two gay men. I'm still not sure which one signified the bride and which one signified the groom. I have since settled on addressing both celebrees as "brooms." They don't seem to mind and we all get a good chuckle over our shared interpretation and the double entendre.</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/11060393795/" title="Wedding Party 2013 by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2871/11060393795_8cc0618182_z.jpg" width="520" alt="Todd & Robert"></a>
<p>The ceremony took place at St. Paul's On the Hill on Summit Avenue. Founded in 1854, it is one of the oldest churches of its kind.</p>
<p>The wedding party, as well as the brooms, were all regaled in turn-of-the-century tuxedos, the women in gowns of exceeding splendor from the same period. The church was scantly appointed for what could have been a modern-day wedding but for the turn-of-the-century attire the church needed no further embellishment. It was perfectly appointed, scented with incense and lined with straight white candles (no pun intended).</p>
<p>Many things have changed over the past twenty years. Back then it wasn't easy to find a congregation willing nor worthy of celebrating a "same-sex" marriage but now they're a dime a dozen. Back then strict rules would have our presiding pastor defrocked for performing the ceremony; he has since been refrocked. There were even threats of protests, TV stations and other news authorities fervent in their convictions to show humans how capable they are of shaming the whole race with their behavior; although, none showed up. So much for conviction.</p>
<p>By now, we've been treated to DOMA and other acts of silliness rendering most of us nauseated by convention dripping with that sweet taste of hyperbole. It's been an interesting adventure that never knocked off course the conviction Todd and Robert had pledged those twenty years ago. There was nothing more made of their celebration than that of a simple passing rain, leaves falling or the smiles of friends.</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/11060401515/" title="Todd & Robert by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/11060401515_2137868337_z.jpg" width="520" alt="int.todd.robert-1"></a>
<p>On Wednesday, October 30, 2013, we gathered again to celebrate what had been recognized by a church all these years and that which will be recognized by the State for time to come. Essentially, we're all just asking, "how come it took so much bullshit and so much time?" Once again, we met at St Paul's On the Hill, dressed in similar ceremonial fashion and celebrated in dignified honor joining our friends.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-49968949676462533592013-10-28T21:17:00.000-05:002013-10-28T21:21:21.200-05:00Shaping Light: A Small Flash Workshop<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/10249327473/" title="Leah by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8547/10249327473_5ecf9f3feb_z.jpg" width="520" alt="Leah"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 85mm f/1.4; 1/250 @ f/8, ISO 200 SB-800 in softbox right, unknown flash in Lastolite something-or-other for rim light back right. Model: Leah.</div>
<p>A couple of weeks back, I spent a Saturday morning with <a href="http://erikvalind.com/">Erik Valind</a> who was in town presenting a workshop sponsored by <a href="http://natcam.com">National Camera Exchange</a> and hosted at the <a href="http://www.mplsphotocenter.com/">Minneapolis Photo Center</a>. It was an opportunity to work with a professional who supervised two shooting sessions flanked by plenty of lecture, examples, and insights.</p>
<p>I had run into Erik's class on Kelby training and found it pretty helpful. Erik is a professional working out of NYC principally focused on Life Style photography. Or as he put it, "outside shooting. Anything to be outside." For the shooting sessions, Erik set up three stations ... first session with a single light source. The station I worked in was a speedlight in 30" softbox. We were all told to set our cameras to 1/250 @ f/8. Models were provided and each station also came equipped with some kind of reflector. We were instructed to share a pocket wizard and rotate through the queue so that everyone (ten at each station) had an opportunity to work with the equipment and the model.</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/10249328213/" title="Janna by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8253/10249328213_d31c0f8718_z.jpg" width="520" alt="Janna"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 85mm f/1.4; 1/250 @ f/8, ISO 200 SB-800 in softbox left. Model: Janna.</div>
<p>I chose to man the reflector for everyone until it was my turn to shoot. I appreciated Erik's instruction concerning the models ... "say Hi! get to know them, introduce yourself." So, with manning the reflector for everyone, I was able to strike a conversation with Janna (one of the willing model participants) and overhear everyone else stumble through their banter. I learned a lot from that especially what not to say. You can't force a conversation. You have to take them seriously showing some genuine interest so they return the favor. Holding the reflector for others I was able to carry on a good enough conversation with Janna that when we shot together she seemed pretty comfortable and willing to follow my direction.</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/10249123554/" title="Leah by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/10249123554_796652f599_z.jpg" width="520" alt="Leah"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 85mm f/1.4; 1/250 @ f/8, ISO 200 SB-800 in softbox right, unknown flash in Lastolite something-or-other for rim light back right. Model: Leah.</div>
<p>The second shooting session involved the addition of a rim light and a change in models. Leah was naturally gregarious but in some ways too interested in doing the model shit that most people expected. She was good at it. What I tried to accomplish with Leah was to get her to be her. After a few misfires she started to come around and have some fun. It helped that the guy holding the reflector for me was willing to engage and I could get her to play off him as well.</p>
<p>You don't really get a lot of time to work with the models. The main objective is to work with the equipment (everyone from the same starting point) move around a little, play with the ambient light, move the reflector closer, further back, drop the reflector altogether. Mostly look at how the light, the angles, proximity, and reflection work. Try for the smooth soft light that's appropriate for the subject and embraces them.</p>
<p>Here are my takeaways from lecture and shooting sessions</p>
<ul>
<li>We talked a lot about the quality of light and achieving smooth transitions from light to dark. That's where the reflectors came in. They help lift the shadows on the dark side of the subject.</li>
<li>Ya gotta dig Pocketwizards. We were using the PlusX 10 channel, hundred dollar jobbies. They were nice and easy to use.</li>
<li>Rapport with the subject is key. I like to shoot portraits and want to capture the character and persona as much as possible. I'm not interested in who they might think they are or who they might think they should emulate.</li>
<li>I've got a lot of work to do ... most of it is just finding that one thing that I can repeat that helps define my photography.</li>
</ul>
<p>To wrap up, it was a good session. A lot of the lecture I'd heard before but that makes it easier to remember. Now I can add Erik to those little voices in the back of my mind. It was nice having models to work with albeit a short time. I was lucky to get the time I did and think I was able to take advantage of all of it. Nice job Mr. Valind.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-70555726924455589912013-10-27T20:35:00.001-05:002013-10-29T12:33:48.843-05:00Matt & Tasha<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/9909179385/" title="one of many by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/9909179385_20be86d905_z.jpg" width="520" alt="one of many"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5; 18mm, 1/6 @ f/4, ISO 1000 SB-800 w/black foamie thing</div>
<p>Contrary to the lack of activity on my blog, I have been busy this summer. I upgraded my camera to a Nikon D300 and got a chance to take it out for a run in September at my nephew's wedding. I was able to act as sort of a third shooter and made sure I stayed out of the hired photog's way. Besides, they knew what they were doing and as far as I could tell covered the wedding admirably. I enjoyed getting some shots from the periphery and they had some nice setups. Every once in a while there'd be a gap in the shooting schedule and I got to grab the attention of wedding subjects.
</p>
<p>Above is a shot I got at the reception. I was using one of those little <a href="http://neilvn.com/tangents/about/black-foamie-thing/">black foamie things</a> that <a href="http://neilvn.com/tangents/">Neil van Niekirk</a> professes in his blog, books and seminars. So, most of the time the flash was pointer back over my head and directed to the ceiling using TTL. I'm sold on that technique. I'm not real good at it but I got some nice shots using it and can definitely see its advantages.
</p>
<p>
The ceremony was in a beautiful tree-covered clearing at a park in West Des Moines. The light was great if not a little green so I spent some time customizing the white-balance in post. It was a beautiful late summer day and think I got some nice shots.
</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/9909265594/" title="bride & groom by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7454/9909265594_7fcd4859ed_z.jpg" width="520" alt="bride & groom"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6; 300mm 1/80 @ f/5.6, ISO 800</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/9909182955/" title="sprites by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5446/9909182955_37201a02f9_z.jpg" width="520" alt="sprites"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6; 75mm 1/200 @ f/5.6, ISO 800</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/9909180395/" title="happy by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/9909180395_3a5fbffcc8_z.jpg" width="520" alt="happy"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D300, 50mm f/1.8; 1/250 @ f/5.6, ISO 400</div>
<br />
<p>
The lowdown on the D300 ... I really appreciate being able to crank up the ISO when needed. Yes, I got some noise but a lot less than the D200 gave me and nothing that can't be dealt with in post. It was a good day and a nice introduction to the D300.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-85754051685421139372012-11-22T21:26:00.000-06:002012-11-22T21:31:51.300-06:00Me and my friend Jake<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8210195548/" title="jakethis.com ... everything you need to know and more. by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8210195548_56e9b3e1a6_z.jpg" width="520" alt="jakethis.com ... everything you need to know and more."></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 35mm, 1/20 @ f/8, ISO 100 ambient light</div>
<br />
Jake and I have been friends for a long time. It's not very often that we've had an opportunity to spend more than fifteen minutes together but, it's always great to see him. We were working at a restaurant together back in the late seventies, while in school, when Jake came up to me and said, "Well, Deke, I'm moving out to San Francisco to be a stand up comic."<br />
<br />
I have to admit that I wasn't completely surprised about the moving part but, was skeptical at best about the comic part ... then, he disappeared. It took years ... I finished school, moved to Minneapolis and thought Jake might just be another phantom that I stuck into the file of past acquaintances with all the others. You know what? He made it. And he's been making a living at it for over three decades!<br />
<br />
We got a warm fall Saturday afternoon together in November in Minnesota (oxymoron alert) spent the time talking over Chipotle and working some urban portraits in the warehouse district of Minneapolis. It was a great time talking about everything from health to marriage, children, old friends, politics and who's to blame for the monolithic rise of stupidity permeating America. Then, we had coffee.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8209107813/" title="jake by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8209107813_68d3319194_z.jpg" width="520" alt="jake"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 35mm, 1/50 @ f/2.2, ISO 100 ambient light</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8210195672/" title="jake by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8210195672_23a982d0d7_z.jpg" width="520" alt="jake"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 35mm, 1/400 @ f/2.2, ISO 100 ambient light</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8210195450/" title="jake by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8070/8210195450_7153d24443_z.jpg" width="520" alt="jake"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 35mm, 1/80 @ f/4.5, ISO 100 ambient light</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8209107913/" title="jake by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8209107913_945276343a_z.jpg" width="520" alt="jake"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 35mm, 1/250 @ f/4, ISO 100 ambient light -- although, highly processed</div>
<br />
Sue and I had bought tickets to Jake's 8:00 show and invited a couple friends of ours. Jake was great! Very funny! We all had a fun time. One of the best Saturday's I've had. Thanks Jake. Hope to see you soon. I have a feeling we've still got a lot to talk about.
<br />
Check out Jake and his schedule at <a href="http://www.jakethis.com">jakethis.com</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-43249225579152632752012-10-21T22:17:00.002-05:002012-11-12T10:29:14.498-06:00HeatherGood friends can really be good friends. Earlier this summer I did a shoot with a couple of friends of mine and asked them to help me find subjects I could photograph and build a portfolio. Well ... they found Heather. I had never met Heather before we arranged to meet at the Como Conservatory for an afternoon shoot on a beautiful fall day. I was very lucky. She was great to work with and we had a nice time getting some really good work done.
Thanks Heather! The rest of you enjoy.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8111301147/" title="Heather by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8187/8111301147_6b0970f4af_c.jpg" width="520" alt="Heather"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8111306530/" title="Heather by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8111306530_18ff4c5ce9_c.jpg" width="520" alt="Heather"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8111306098/" title="Heather by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8111306098_455db555a8_c.jpg" width="520" alt="Heather"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8111305376/" title="Heather by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8111305376_b9008516dd_c.jpg" width="520" alt="Heather"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8111304852/" title="Heather by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8111304852_b21e6f3e00_c.jpg" width="520" alt="Heather"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8173866949/" title="heather by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8173866949_d1b39d870b_c.jpg" width="520" alt="Heather"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-47113989679196631662012-10-17T22:20:00.001-05:002012-10-17T22:20:39.735-05:00Mike & CourtneyLast Sunday was a beautiful autumn day and I was fortunate enough to have arranged a shoot with a couple willing to help me build a portfolio. Mike and Courtney are the daughter and son-in-law of a good friend but, more importantly, they're a delightful couple. They were eager to help and had great fun. Thanks you guys. I had a great time, too ... here's the proof.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8097830576/" title="Mike & Courtney by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8333/8097830576_c10715f7cb_c.jpg" width="520" alt="Mike & Courtney"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8097830254/" title="Mike & Courtney by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8044/8097830254_16ac7cf615_z.jpg" width="520" alt="Mike & Courtney"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8097829794/" title="Mike & Courtney by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8097829794_6acb5f1cf2_z.jpg" width="520" alt="Mike & Courtney"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8097820911/" title="Mike & Courtney by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8194/8097820911_71f0fd798a_z.jpg" width="520" alt="Mike & Courtney"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8097820263/" title="Mike & Courtney by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8097820263_0ceeff4078_c.jpg" width="520" alt="Mike & Courtney"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8097827864/" title="Mike & Courtney by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8044/8097827864_d8b364716a_c.jpg" width="520" alt="Mike & Courtney"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/8097818901/" title="Mike & Courtney by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8194/8097818901_bcb0b24c82_c.jpg" width="520" alt="Mike & Courtney"></a>
<div class="caption">Nikon D200, 85mm, 1/80 @ f/2.8, ISO 100 ambient light</div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-21445168179483881062012-07-21T11:50:00.001-05:002012-07-27T07:15:24.110-05:00A Little in All of Us<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/7616254790/" title="hmm by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7616254790_5c169cff34_z.jpg" width="520px" alt="hmm"></a><div class="caption">Nikon D200, 85mm, 1/80 @ f/2.8, ISO 100 ambient light</div><br />
There's something inherently photographic about a curious, energetic little boy. They bring so many questions to the table for an aging, curious, energetic photographer. When did I grow up? How is it that these precious times fade so quickly into adulthood? Can I still be curious?
<br /><br />
What do I remember about my own energetic childhood? Was I every bit as curious, contemplative and free? All I can do now is be thankful for that time long gone. It was rich and inspiring, fleeting and yet most impressive. Thanks for letting me take these photographs.
<br /><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/7615904044/" title="i am happy by macdeke, on Flickr"><img alt="i am happy" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/7615904044_3e39d63432_z.jpg" width="520" /></a><br />
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 85mm, 1/250 @ f/2.0, ISO 100 SB800 through 60" umbrella, camera left; CLS</div>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/7615959088/" title="loose by macdeke, on Flickr"><img alt="loose" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8288/7615959088_146bb1ee55_z.jpg" width="520" /></a><br />
<div class="caption">Nikon D200, 230mm, 1/160 @ f/5.3, ISO 320 ambient light</div>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/7615904460/" title="the tree by macdeke, on Flickr"><img alt="the tree" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7615904460_5d60dd2752_z.jpg" width="520" /></a><br />
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 85mm, 1/160 @ f/3.2, ISO 200 SB800 through 60" umbrella, camera left; CLS</div>
For those of you interested ... one of the things I've learned over the past few shoots I've done is that I've dramatically improved the sharpness of my images. There are two things that I lend credibility to: Not always relying on auto-focus and stop trying to hold the camera still by choking it to death. If there is little motion in the frame composition I manually focus. If the subject is all over the place I'll opt for auto-focus.
<br /><br />
When I hold the camera, I still cradle the lens in my left hand and hold the camera by its grip in my right hand (finger on the trigger) but ... as with a golf swing, I use soft hands. I don't press the viewfinder to my forehead for stability like I'm branding a calf anymore. I found that the body transfers much more movement to the camera the more rigidly you hold your muscles. Just relax.<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-63995003767051829252012-06-21T22:38:00.003-05:002012-06-21T22:44:19.715-05:00All the World's a Stage<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/7386455798/" title="an odd couple by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/7386455798_a2a9458539_z.jpg" width="100%" alt="an odd couple"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 35mm, 1/6 @ f/8.0, ISO 320, one SB800 in a 30" soft-box, one SB600 illuminating kitchen, CLS</div>
<p>Actors are the best. Particularly actors you've known for a while. I've been trying to step up my portrait chops over the last few months and the skill I really needed to hone is directing. Putting together the shot and directing the subject to get the concept you want ... get the subject; not something staged, something honest. And actor's get that. Whether you're taking a portrait or a caricature ... they get the honesty part. They understand that it will all fall apart if you're not honest with the camera and sincere with the moment.</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/7386426820/" title="martini by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5034/7386426820_1ebe0426e5_z.jpg" width="100%" alt="martini"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 30mm, 1/60 @ f/4.0, ISO 100, one SB800 & one SB600 into a 60" shoot-thru umbrella, camera left, CLS</div>
<p>I approached Todd and Robert about doing a shoot, of them, at their house. It's interesting that even your close friends are suspicious about your intent ... maybe it's more like curious, because they're usually pretty game for about anything. Especially, something that points the spotlight in their direction.</p>
<p>The evening was a great time. I brought some good beer, they made dinner and we shot before and after each course. The time we got to spend was really important. We got to talk about the events of the day, events of the recent past, people we know, just chit chat. It was a great way to disarm and establish a more comfortable relationship between photographer and subjects.</p>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/7386427096/" title="robert by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/7386427096_d8e989ddf2_z.jpg" width="100%" alt="robert"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 85mm, 1/60 @ f/3.5, ISO 100, one SB800 into a 60" shoot thru umbrella, camera left, CLS</div>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/7386427366/" title="todd by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5343/7386427366_6ab07feb47_z.jpg" width="100%" alt="todd"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 85mm, 1/60 @ f/3.5, ISO 100, one SB800 into a 60" shoot thru umbrella, camera left, one SB600 shooting thru window into the garage behind subject, CLS</div>
<p>Thank you , gentlemen. We'll do this again sometime.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-47511302624778143922012-06-04T21:56:00.000-05:002012-06-06T17:33:39.230-05:00The Good, The Bad, The Creepy<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/4934838979/" title="fashion by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4074/4934838979_3603dca1aa.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="fashion"></a>
<br />
<div class="caption">
Minnesota State Fair</div>
<br />
Thursday nights are the time to sit and tune into The Grid Live … +Scott Kelby and associates’ weekly live blog show about all things photography. Scott welcomed his wife +Kalebra Kelby and +Matt Kloskowski as they prepared to discuss Street Photography. Scott tells of an episode he had while in Paris filming “A Day with Jay Maisel in Paris” when a woman took offense to being photographed and created quite a stir in response.<br />
<br />
The discussion then turned to photographing women on the street and what their perceptions of getting photographed were. In short, Kalebra and two other female guests spoke to how creepy it was! One of the women voiced a very strong instinct to protect her children from being photographed and would be extremely upset with a photographer that did so.<br />
<br />
I don’t deny them their feelings and instincts. Their expressions are completely primal and uncontrollable. Like all humans they require security and an interloper such as some creepy photographer can present an endless array of discomforts to a creative and suspicious mind. In contradiction, however, they admitted that the more credibility the photographer had (even if it’s only on the surface: id badge, crew, handsome, available?) the more willing they were to allow the photograph and turn their concerns to how they felt about themselves at that moment: self-consciousness.<br />
<br />
It’s an interesting contradiction of themes that send strange and conflicting messages to the sincere student of Street Photography.<br />
<br />
I look at this issue two ways ... first and foremost, I'm a photographer in a public place and have the right to photograph anything there no matter how creepy somebody thinks the act of photographing people on the street may be. I would like to point out that I am not creepy nor do I harbor creepy intent. Whether you are particularly photogenic or not I allow you to think I'm creepy that's your right. But the bottom line is you, as a street subject, lost your right to privacy when you entered the public space.*<br />
<br />
Secondly, the sincere and serious student of the craft needs to remember that no matter the activity you aspire to your success is based on the quality of your relationships. Including the fleeting relationships of street photography. Sadly, there are photographers who are creepy, whether they have a camera in their possession or not, they're creepy. We all know people like that. Every photographer should understand what creepy is and avoid it. I just ask photographers to do one thing and one thing only:<br />
<br />
When you're exercising your public rights to execute your craft, please remember that you represent all of us. All other photographers. Take the work seriously. Take the relationships you create seriously and don't leave a cloud of creep behind.<br />
<br />
<br />
* One "gotcha" you have to know about is a public space may be privately owned or operated. Example: an outdoor shopping complex. And security may exercise the right of their patron's privacy. That happened to me once ... I still think this may be a stretch.<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-22891040691706225222012-05-02T23:15:00.000-05:002012-05-03T12:25:41.887-05:00Hazel<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/7122963309/" title="lo&hazel by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7122963309_4a9f1f0274_c.jpg" width="500" alt="lo&hazel"></a>
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 18mm, 1/100 @ f/4, ISO 100, two SB600's shoot-through umbrella camera left 1/8 power, CLS</div>
<br />
On a recent trip to Ames, I got the opportunity to visit with my sister who is the proud owner of a 2008 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe. She just got it a few weeks ago and I had yet to see it. I was in town for a reunion (fodder for another post) and in the midst of our schedule found some time to pay Lauren a visit. We had talked previously and I told her I wanted to make a portrait of her on the motorcycle and thought I could stop by after the reunion dinner.<br />
<br />
Things were going fine until I looked up from my cajun pasta and saw the sky let loose with a pretty good downpour. My hopes sunk thinking I would miss the chance to make the portrait. The timing would have been perfect ... the sun going down, I could underexpose the ambient and hit her and the bike with two SB's in a 60" shoot-through; but, the rain! Bummer. I still wanted to see her new toy.<br />
<br />
I lingered at dinner a little longer and called letting her know I was going to be a little late. It was still raining when I pulled into her drive but, we were still happy to see each other. We sat and chatted for a little through the cat playing with a pen on the dining-room table and laughed about what little had changed over the years. Time to see the bike.<br />
<br />
We went outside where it was still dripping a little but there were some breaks in the clouds and I said, "it's going to stop ... let me throw some equipment together and let's do this shot." The sun was setting pretty fast but I thought we still had plenty of light if we worked fast. I threw two SB 600's into the umbrella, programmed in a few starting point settings and she wheeled the bike into the street. The sky was darkening but great.<br />
<br />
My goal was to dampen the ambient to get a rich sky but get enough background detail to maintain context and yet show off the rider and the bike. I think I got it. Lauren and Hazel.<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0Ames, IA, USA42.02335 -93.62562241.976167000000004 -93.704586 42.070533 -93.546658000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-3084427241637498382012-03-13T21:40:00.001-05:002012-06-23T10:07:31.684-05:00Thanks Kodak ... thanks a lot.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/6980891271/" title="M by macdeke, on Flickr"><img alt="M" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6980891271_f45642d9d4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="caption">
Nikon D200, 70mm, 1/250 @ f/4.5, ISO 100, SB800 reflecting in closed down umbrella camera left 1/8 power, CLS</div>
<br />
There's debate around the photog interwebs about "post-processing." Some call it "post." Others refer to it as "re-touching." The debate arises from the premise that the better photographer is the one that gets everything perfect "in camera" (I think that includes zit removal and model releases) and the more someone post-processes their images the lamer-their-photographic-ass. Many are quite fervent in their argument against post-processing. Those people spend too much time wading in trivia when they should be wacking ... well ... their problem is probably a lack of coordination. <br />
<br />
Let me just thank Kodak for why we think this way. "You press the button we do the rest." That's what they said. And for years, they successfully suppressed the existence of post-processing to the point that it's been reduced to inexplicable magic ... something the common man would never know!<br />
<br />
Now we have digital everything. Someone who says, "I don't post-process ... they come out of the camera that way" marks a really naive amateur or a really lazy professional. Or possibly a really lazy amateur or a really naive professional ... one or the other. Either way, somebody somewhere or something somewhere better be doing the processing ... or you're not "making" pictures. <br />
<br />
Shooting Black & White film was liberating! Double exposure! Multi-Contrast paper!!! Rodinol!!! Chemical temperatures, RC Filters and a Gra-Lab timer!!! I could completely lose myself and put hours into the very making of a masterpiece (as my photographing forefathers did). Burning, dodging, pushing, pulling ... and Ansel saw that it was good.<br />
<br />
So, now ... people are bitching that post-processing, having become computerized, is some kind of sin. Against whom? Kodak!?! I'll tell ya one thing ... post-processing certainly smells nicer and my water bill is a lot smaller.<br />
<br />
To be fair to the argument ... I think their fervor comes from the irresponsible and deliberate manipulation of images that the journalism-consuming public relies on for the truth and that the computer makes it far too easy to be irresponsible. Well ... I'm not a journalist. I do expect them to be truthful and add some credibility to their stories with imagery. But, that's journalism, not photography.<br />
<br />
My friends who make the digital switch sometimes ask how I get richer colors and sharp definition in my images. If they're serious about their photography I talk to them about Lightroom and Photoshop. If their photography is personal and they just want to capture memories, I tell them the story about Kodak and let them know about some settings they have in their camera that might help.<br />
<br />
Truth be told, somebody has to post-process your images. Either you give a limited responsibility of post-processing to your camera, unlimited to somebody who knows how to post-process or take the responsibility on yourself. Most of us who are serious about the images we make take it on ourselves. We always have; even before Windows for Workgroups 3.11. And, if there was a camera that could do it all for us we wouldn't buy it because <i>it's our responsibility</i>. It is our art.<br />
<br />
For those of you arguing otherwise, the bottom line is: only the results matter no matter how you get there ... have a nice day.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"If you're not taking full advantage of the medium, you're not making art." Abraham Lincoln.</blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-33042381934082116162011-06-30T22:11:00.015-05:002011-07-13T08:58:28.476-05:00It's Getting Better All The Time<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/5890003656/" title="the dance by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5032/5890003656_f59903e5ab.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="the dance"></a><br /><div class="caption">Nikon D200, 70mm, 1/750 @ f/4.5, ISO 400</div><br />Music. Music In Plymouth. There is nothing better than gathering a few thousand people on a beautiful summer night in front of a large band shell nestled at the foot of a natural amphitheatre. Plymouth is another suburb, just over there a little ways, and every summer before the Fourth of July, they throw an extraordinary party celebrating our heritage, our culture, our freedom and humanity! Quite possibly the only event of its kind that I will attend until next year’s event. This was the 39th anniversary of Music In Plymouth christened “It’s Getting Better All The Time.” <br /><br />Last night we were running a bit late and didn’t arrive until the end of what sounded like a local swing band’s set. The grounds were buzzing with summer and covered with the customary “stake-your-claim” family tarps fortified by the circling wagons of nylon camp chairs. We found our place among the others in our tribe (who had earlier staked our claim for us) and to many exchanges of courtesy we unpacked the cooler and settled in for a light supper.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/5889434857/" title="strings by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5889434857_1a4afdb6e5.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="strings"></a><br /><div class="caption">Nikon D200, 70mm, 1/500 @ f/4.5, ISO 640</div><br />It escapes me the number of times we’ve attended but I know we have enjoyed it every time possible for at least the last eleven years or so.<br /><br />The next performance was a nice little surprise, I think for most, as I don’t remember Music In Plymouth ever having a good blues band open for the Minnesota Orchestra. But, this year they did. Lamont Cranston. I saw Lamont Cranston open for Hall & Oates at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA circa 1981. Thirty frickin’ years ago! They had Charlie Bingham and Bruce McCabe with them and were a wicked good opening act back then. Out promoting their “Shake Down” album “Upper Mississippi Shakedown” was getting a lot of airplay. <br /><br />These guys brought back memories of The Cabooze, Five Corners Bar, The 400 Bar, The Blues Saloon, The Uptown and Archie’s Bunker: cornerstones of a vibrant 1980’s music scene! Now, thirty years later, it was like we all got back together for another bottle of Pabst and a round of head bobbin’ feet shufflin’ blues that went right to the soul.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/5890004678/" title="with feelin' by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5890004678_a780067e60.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="with feelin'"></a><br /><div class="caption">Nikon D200, 300mm, 1/640 @ f/5.6, ISO 400</div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/5889434627/" title="myhat by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/5889434627_eeef4d0cb5.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="myhat"></a><br /><div class="caption">Nikon D200, 300mm, 1/320 @ f/5.6, ISO 640</div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/5889434197/" title="leg guitar by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/5889434197_466422e15d.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="leg guitar"></a><br /><div class="caption">Nikon D200, 140mm, 1/160 @ f/4.8, ISO 640</div><br />I love working the crowd with my camera and have all sorts of fun. Children, their faces painted like animals or America, or just sparkly with purple hair, ribbons and all sorts of attire, are especially giving subjects. I went down toward the stage as I always do to get some photos and people were dancing with every bit the enthusiasm of thirty years past. But … these people were children almost twenty years younger, yet! Dancing, singing and air-guitaring to the blues!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/5890004820/" title="tele by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/5890004820_dcaa58b374.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="tele"></a><br /><div class="caption">Nikon D200, 300mm, 1/1000 @ f/5.6, ISO 400</div><br />The Minnesota Orchestra has always held a special place in my heart. They are so good and absolutely magnificent to listen to. But even the rousing finale of the “1812 Overture” and the world’s most recognized piccolo passage from “Stars and Stripes Forever” were overshadowed by the sight of boys and girls not even in junior high dancing, singing and moved by an art form that is as uniquely American as the blues. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/5889433679/" title="salute by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/5889433679_b04e7fe18d.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="salute"></a><br /><div class="caption">Nikon D200, 240mm, 1/90 @ f/5.3, ISO 640</div><br />Thanks Lamont.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/sets/72157627088823200/">View full <i>Music in Plymouth</i> image set on Flickr</a><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-44425971827802447802009-10-08T21:51:00.004-05:002009-10-08T22:57:52.151-05:00The Marathon ... sort ofThe Twin Cities Marathon was last Sunday. It's a great event and over the last few years my brother-in-law has run which gives us a lot of good reason to get out and attend. Not only that but, we're the pit crew. We drive the course through all the neighborhoods to meet up with Steve about every five miles ... seven of us. In a Dodge Caravan. It's fun stuff.<br /><br />This year was no different. I usually get some nice event pictures, the obligatory group shot of the "crew" and of the tortured soul of my brother-in-law. But, that's not what I'm here to talk to you about ... what I really want to talk about are the interesting things we saw along the way ...<br /><br />The race begins in downtown Minneapolis and so the first stop, five miles from the start, is Lake Calhoun. We get there usually around 7:45 am. The first competitors get there just around 8:30. So, there's some time to get a few shots of the ambiance.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3982738020/" title="tie by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3982738020_12d96baefe.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="tie" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3982730436/" title="fish by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3982730436_5d7fd2932d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="fish" /></a><br /><br />Once we got to the runners my favorite feature of the day turned out to be the footwear. Until Converse got their hands on some colored canvas, shoes were pretty much white when I was a kid.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3981939093/" title="marathon.09_003 by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/3981939093_82e56d743f.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="marathon.09_003" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3981939477/" title="marathon.09_004 by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2666/3981939477_d8e921247f.jpg" width="500" height="275" alt="marathon.09_004" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3981969469/" title="chair by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3981969469_3aaa675ab2.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="chair" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;margin-bottom:10px;" /></a><br /><br />We made our way through south Minneapolis to the Lake Nikomis neighborhood (our third stop) where we ran across a few interesting things. We had parked the car and were making our way to mile fourteen when we ran across this chair. It was just sitting out by the curb in front of, I assume, the owner's house. Perhaps it was used for gardening, hard to tell ... but here it was on display, right in the front yard. In fact, on the easement between the curb and the sidewalk. It was quaint, simple, curious. Definitely something that needed to be recorded. <br /><br />But, that wasn't all. We were walking back to the car when we turned up this alley shortcut and ran into this great looking MGB ... bright yellow, mint condition. My guess ... a 1972. I had a black '67 when I was in high school but this one was in spectacular shape!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3982731124/" title="MGB by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3982731124_aef03f4398.jpg" width="500" height="328" alt="MGB" /></a><br /><br />Over by the river we cut across at mile twenty-one. In Saint Paul, the Lake Street bridge had this view to offer.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3981969721/" title="mpls by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3981969721_4c748c24e9.jpg" width="500" height="285" alt="mpls" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3982731502/" title="sunflower by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/3982731502_f2f2474ba8.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="sunflower" /></a><br /><br />This Marathon thing is actually pretty cool, lasts about as long as a football game, that is if you're following someone that can run the damn thing in just over three hours and finishes up at a big gathering in front of the State Capitol Building.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3981970489/" title="quadriga by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3981970489_48f95c89c8.jpg" width="500" height="318" alt="quadriga" /></a><br /><br />We got there about ten minutes before Steve crossed the finish line. The sky had been working up a threat most of the morning but held off until I got this shot of the Quadriga. Then it started to rain ... that was cool, we were done.<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-22975530806854976512009-10-02T20:13:00.008-05:002009-10-02T20:29:46.206-05:00Quintessential MajestyGenerally speaking, I'm an animal lover but, rarely photograph them unless my dog happens to be the only subject available. I did however, get a couple of shots that I really liked. This is Dakota. He's my sister's dog and a beautiful one at that! A Siberian Husky would be my guess ... docile, affable, just a great dog.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3974839417/" title="dakota by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/3974839417_d8cb8a33ed.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="dakota" /></a><br /><br />While strolling past <a href="http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/features/index.php?feature=37">Lake LaVerne</a> the swans are always a marvelous attraction. This one was preening its feathers showing off his wing. For as long as I can remember this little lake in front of the Iowa State Memorial Union has been populated with two swans ... 1959 would be my first recollection of them: Lancelot & Elaine.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3974839533/" title="elaine by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/3974839533_256187f997.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="elaine" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-70486300774478667422009-09-30T21:13:00.006-05:002009-09-30T21:31:22.636-05:00Alma Mater ... All My MatterWas back home in Ames this last weekend on the ISU Campus ... one of my favorite places to photograph. Howe Hall, College of Design were all targets.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3970780556/" title="Engineering by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2577/3970780556_8856f6d62c.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Engineering" /></a><br /><caption>Engineering: Howe Hall</caption><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3970780334/" title="class by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3970780334_7d3b5ae293.jpg" width="500" height="324" alt="class" /></a><br /><caption>College of Design: Atrium of the King Pavilion</capture><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3960776009/" title="autumn by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2478/3960776009_3bfd629a48.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="autumn" style="float:left;margin-right:5px;"/></a><br /><br />I was really taken with the new King Pavilion at the College of Design. The spaces there are loosely defined by screens separating the class spaces and in the center was an atrium for lecture, presentation and discussion that was literally nothing more that a smooth concrete floor with a shit-load of chairs on wheels. A class can take any form that it wants. Move and flow with presenters, mix, formalize, and morph into a completely different character with the next set of students ... it's great!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><caption style="clear:left;">College of Design: Atrium chair changing color</caption><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-86178564433578710372009-09-30T06:49:00.004-05:002009-09-30T07:02:48.590-05:00Song in AutumnThis is most definitely autumn. And despite the cliche, there is music to be found in the trees. My mom has a small maple tree in her backyard that gets hit with some awesome light early in the morning. Here's a product of that complete with two eighth notes right off the page of Nature's newest symphony.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3960776853/" title="eighth notes by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3960776853_77474abf0a.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="eighth notes" /></a><br />If you don't see the notes, click on the image which will take you to Flickr, wave your magic cursor (that's mouse talk for pointer) and see the embedded note.<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-52376623172079526542009-09-16T20:13:00.007-05:002009-09-16T20:38:33.617-05:00Hello! Anybody!?!Something I ran across a couple of weeks ago has been stewing my grey-matter quite a bit. It's a project, a gift, an inspiration, a great idea. <a href="http://www.jeremycowart.com/">Jeremy Cowart</a>, a professional photographer working out of Nashville conceived of a project called "<a href="http://www.help-portrait.com">Help-Portrait</a>." It's for all photographers and I've been thinking a great deal about participating ... check it out:<br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AYGa9CkC" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="530" height="339" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><br />Have any of you heard about this, thought about this? Are you sitting on the fence, like me? Pass the word and let's start making some connections. Let me know!<br /><br />Follow on <a href="http://twitter.com/help_portrait">Twitter</a>.<br />Follow on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Portrait/50456774679">Facebook</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-36128507652413622172009-07-29T20:48:00.009-05:002009-07-29T21:35:08.350-05:00Stop This Immediately<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55ABRkrAinf12BFni4MlegZuep3HEM2ggKY8RuLulvE35lJod8Y4WFmT44D_uNdiuegjTdBiwIPoWWeJ71YVtYID55ZzUz3vy4J-rrhnWNPKxxVFTi4_wKgVNqf80Afyd9GP9miTYR_TR/s1600-h/dont.do.this.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55ABRkrAinf12BFni4MlegZuep3HEM2ggKY8RuLulvE35lJod8Y4WFmT44D_uNdiuegjTdBiwIPoWWeJ71YVtYID55ZzUz3vy4J-rrhnWNPKxxVFTi4_wKgVNqf80Afyd9GP9miTYR_TR/s400/dont.do.this.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364066347351330626" /></a><br /><br />Dear Fellow Photographers,<br /><br />Please don't do this anymore. "What do you mean," you ask? You know exactly what I mean. Don't take pictures of models in this pose. Don't! Just don't. It's not attractive. It's not comely. It's not sophisticated. It's not classy, chic or elegant and it's absent of any intended attitude or refinement. It doesn't do anything for the model and shouldn't be in your portfolio or the model's for that matter. It scares me that Flickr is loaded with this pose. Where did it come from? Who started it all? Do I know them? Is there legal action we could take?<br /><br />Models, if you find yourself doing this pose, stop! Photographers, if you see models posing like this, don't click the shutter. If you get one by mistake, I forgive you but, get rid of it. Photographers, if you're making your models pose in this pose, stop and models refuse!<br /><br /><br />Thank you<br />Committee to Get Rid of This Pose<br /><br /><br /><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> The opinion expressed in this post is not about the technical qualities of image production including lighting, exposure, or post processing. It is not meant to challenge the integrity of any photographer's art or craft or model's talent and abilities. It has only to do with the unfortunate use of the following described pose: hand on knee, hand on hip, shoulder forward, contorted (nobody stands like that!). Should you have a counter-opinion you may express it in a comment or feel free to keep it to yourself. This post is offered as is and implies no binding obligation to follow its advice. It's intention represents nothing more than promoting the concept of ending the making of images of said pose and models posing in said pose.<br /><br /><span style="color:#666;font-size:.85em;">A special and sincere thank you to the photographers whose images illustrated the pose perfectly.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-64824922467934752322009-07-28T20:32:00.007-05:002009-07-28T21:37:19.096-05:00Portrait NightWell ... it was Portrait Night the other night. I'm not sure what the inspiration was; probably the combination of wanting to try a little different technique and being tired of sitting around and waiting.<br /><br />Our house has been in flux a little lately. Lots of stuff going on and the traditional spaces just aren't available for doing a portrait shoot. So, I grabbed all my stuff, draped my old backdrop over the fence in the backyard and set up. <br /><br />I had gotten a small, square soft-box (20" x 20") for a hot shoe flash a while ago and haven't had much of a chance to use it. I've also seen Joe McNally use a strobe below the subject and bounce it up off a gold reflector ... adding some warmth and softening the light.<br /><br /><strong>Paul</strong><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3760026045/" title="paul by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3498/3760026045_2c97a1207a.jpg" width="500" height="361" alt="paul" /></a><br /><br />That's what I did - my setup consisted of an SB800 shot into the soft-box positioned camera left, 45 off subject but feathered forward slightly. I have a 42" lite disc with a gold side that I laid down in front of my imaginary subject and bounced an SB600 into the gold reflector and presumably into the face of my ... ahem ... model. Now ... who's gonna be the model?<br /><br />You know you live in a good neighborhood when you can go across the street and solicit a body for portraits 'cuz they're not doing anything but waiting for their pizza to arrive. Duke and Paul came over. They're actually neighbors, too, sharing a driveway and both are great subjects. Paul's a web guy and Duke's into repos.<br /><br /><strong>Duke</strong><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3760026217/" title="duke by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/3760026217_3308c4c691.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="duke" /></a><br /><br />This was about 9:00pm so we were just seeing the last rays of sunlight. I didn't expect any ambient light for the shots so eliminated it with the exposure settings. I set up the camera thusly: ISO 100, Manual Mode, 1/250 @ f/9, WB = Flash. BTW, I'm using my trusty 18-70mm DX EIEIO. <br /><br />Then I chimped in the flash power settings (SB800 @ 1/8 power & SB600 @ 1/16 power). Actually, before the boys came over my wife helped me get the initial setup and Karlyn actually sat for a shot.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3760823038/" title="livestrong by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3760823038_16580c3815.jpg" width="500" height="377" alt="livestrong" /></a><br /><br />Although, not quite as enthusiastically as I might have hoped. Still got a nice shot, though.<br /><br />I really liked working with the soft-box; completely different light control versus the shoot-through umbrella. Not necessarily better; umbrellas definitely have a great place in my photographic arsenal but, different. Controlling the direction and spill is what's great about the soft-box.<br /><br />The reflector on the ground below the subject is a really nice effect that adds some needed warmth without looking "filter-ish" and "post-processy." It added some welcome light up underneath Duke's cap and opened up his face and eyes. Nice touch. Thanks for the idea, Joe!<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-26626929922005151972009-07-26T19:22:00.003-05:002009-07-27T09:54:28.645-05:00Just a couple of notes ...There are a couple of resources that I use quite a bit that I want to share with you. <a href="http://strobist.blogspot.com/">Strobist</a> is a really great resource for a lot of information. If you’ve never been there, it’s a “Must Bookmark” for every photographer that has ventured passed ambient light – ie. Using a flash of any sort. It’s a blog hosted by David Hobby. <br /><br />Anyway, I was reading <a href="http://strobist.blogspot.com/">Strobist</a> the other day and ran across the following video on <em>Street Portraiture</em> which I found very interesting. It demonstrates the relationship between man and photography with amazing clarity and a profound spirit. It was actually published at <a href="http://www.wired.com/">Wired.com</a>, Strobist embedded it on their site and now I, here, to share most conveniently with you.<br /><br /><object id="flashObj" width="404" height="436" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/1813626064?isVid=1&publisherID=1564549380" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=27609165001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fvideo%2Fstreet-portrait-photo-how-to%2F27609165001&playerID=1813626064&domain=embed&" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/1813626064?isVid=1&publisherID=1564549380" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=27609165001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fvideo%2Fstreet-portrait-photo-how-to%2F27609165001&playerID=1813626064&domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="404" height="436" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><br /><br />Actually, I’ve been interested in finding an excuse for embedding video as a resource on my blog and this seemed like a fitting start. So, enjoy!<br /><br />Another resource that I’ve been using lately is called <a href="http://www.dtowntv.com/">DTown TV, <em>the Weekly Show for Nikon DSLR Users</em></a>. It is hosted by Scott Kelby (of <a href="http://www.photoshopuser.com/">National Association of Photoshop Professionals</a> fame) and Matt Kloskowski (of <a href="http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/">Adobe Lightroom Killer Tips</a> fame). Both are famous for their photography and share much of their experience in their blogs, DVD’s, books and in videos on DTown. They have currently published 22 episodes all of which are worth a click. <a href="http://www.dtowntv.com/category/episodes/">Find them here</a>. You can subscribe to DTown in iTunes and download the episodes as video podcasts as well. I’d embed one of their videos but they seem to be less accommodating … no embed link.<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-87347645162721233172009-07-22T21:44:00.009-05:002009-07-27T09:55:31.378-05:00A Wedding Now & ThenNow, I've never actually witnessed a wedding in the Sculpture Garden and they may not book or even allow weddings to be performed there ... being a well-trafficked attraction. But, plenty of people get married elsewhere and make the trip to the garden on their special day to capture their memories in this unique landscape.<br /><br />Little did Claes Oldenburg expect his cherry to be so copiously embedded in the American matrimonial memory or spraying out the top of some poor schmuck's head while grasping the only person who could share the experience with the same abandon.<br /><br />Weddings over the last forty years have become more about getting the groom's tuxedo for free by increasing the size of the wedding party than celebrating a ritual steeped in tradition. Weddings were really ugly in the seventies. I don't know if it was the hair, the powdered blue ruffle themes or the bell-bottom tuxedo pants but, they were really ugly. I'm not so sure they've tamed down since then although they seem to have become more like a mixed drink that has sat at the bar too long.<br /><br />Anyway, I saw this couple getting their wedding portraits done that had a much more modest sense of what they'd just done. It may be because they were young, it may be because they've struggled as a minority, it may be because they were catholic, but I hope it was because they have a little more respect than the rest of us. They certainly possessed the dignity.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3748070584/" title="bride & groom by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/3748070584_49a7358574.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="bride & groom" /></a><br /><br />I chose to process these in black and white. That was the way my parent's wedding was filmed back in 1955. There was something special about that time in photography. For many were again a first, maybe second generation of immigrants looking to prolong the dream ... classic, traditional, respectful. And those are the qualities I saw in these young people and their wedding party.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3747183897/" title="pretty in pink by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/3747183897_1ffb390eb6.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="pretty in pink" /></a><br /><br />The boys gathered around the cutest girl, her dress a fuchsia cotton. She played the part of Nature's inspiration with an ease only innocence and youth could perform. She was perfectly sweet and they were perfectly engaged. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3747929506/" title="they're so young by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3496/3747929506_420fc7ca41.jpg" width="500" height="288" alt="they're so young" /></a><br /><br />The groomsmen uncomfortably pocketed their hands and shuffled about wishing there was something to do, hoping to win their own girl and awkwardly maturing in front of the camera.<br /><br />Normally, I'm not much for nostalgia ... romance maybe, but I'd rather the pendulum swung back and cherry-picked the things done well and avoided most of the fashions.<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-63485131301186894502009-07-18T23:15:00.008-05:002009-07-27T09:56:54.159-05:00Summer's Half FullActually, Summer's half over. But, optimistically still seems half under ... er ... half, well ... there's still half of it left. I haven't taken the time to blog lately which is not my intention. I just seem to be changing the focus of the blog from a technical discovery blog to more of a self indulgent exchange. I'm sure it will evolve into something else entirely as time marches.<br /><br />I had a nice afternoon, yesterday. Went on my own photo-walk and ran across some interesting things I thought I'd share: an interesting guy with an interesting beard and hat, a model wearing a bridal gown, a young boy feeding the ducks, a nice lunch and some red shoes. All in a day's walk.<br /><br />My first stop was at Parade Park where there was a festival celebrating bike-riding. I gathered that the main theme was dress up in costume, ride your bike over, listen to some live music, get drunk, eat some over-priced food and generally show-off. All to support bike-riding. I suppose versus other modes of transportation.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3734894029/" title="hat & beard by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3734894029_d74005c2f9.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="hat & beard" /></a><br /><br />This guy was the first interesting character I encountered and I got a nice shot. Although my favorite shot was the red shoes. I couldn't image riding a bicycle with these shoes and I'm not sure how she might even walk to the event in them but, they offered a great photo op.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3734893405/" title="red shoes by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2443/3734893405_04b0471d56.jpg" width="500" height="303" alt="red shoes" /></a><br /><br />Parade Park is right next to the Sculpture Garden which was a-buzz with activity. Perhaps from the festival but, usually it is busy on a nice Saturday afternoon. There I saw this young boy feeding the ducks and a woman in a bridal gown.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3735690908/" title="Feed the ducks by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/3735690908_592ccea874.jpg" width="500" height="341" alt="Feed the ducks" /></a><br /><br />This young boy was with his family who seemed to be taking a picnic break from the bike-riding festival. He was obviously dressed for the celebration and delightfully distracted from his surroundings by the wildlife.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3735690214/" title="bride model ... model bride by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3735690214_37a038150f.jpg" width="313" height="500" alt="bride model ... model bride" /></a><br /><br />As it turned out ... this bride met with a couple of photographers and a groom at the north arbor of the garden for a photo shoot. I happened to catch her on her way. She was intent on her mission, had the gown under control but struggled a little with her heals in the soft grass ... very focused.<br /><br />The most interesting encounter occurred when I stopped in at a favorite restaurant (really more of a deli or bistro) and had lunch. I took some time making my choice at the counter, purchased my food and sat at a table next to the window ... I'm thinking, what beautiful light! I've got to get a picture of lunch. So, I snap a few shots (50mm f/1.4 set at f/4).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdek/3735964777/" title="nice lunch by macdeke, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2472/3735964777_5dd0055255.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="nice lunch" /></a><br /><br />At this point I was approached by an employee, I can only assume she was the manager that day, who asked what I was taking pictures of. I thought I was pretty straight-forward with her explaining that I was taking a picture of my lunch. She asked, "Why?"<br /><br />My response was that I'm an amateur photog that simply sees a nice image in front of them. To which she replied, "I'm not that gullible." <br /><br />"I'm not that gullible." Now, what do you say to that!?!<br /><br />The conversation ended with me offering to delete the images if she was uncomfortable but she said, "I want you to stay just stop taking pictures of <em>our</em> food." At this point it wasn't worth making any further issue but I had to think that the $20 I just paid for the food would rightfully make it mine and not theirs. I could have gotten it to go and photographed it to my delight without interruption anywhere else.<br /><br />I can only imagine what she was really afraid of and I suppose she's in a position where she might feel the need to protect the proprietary rights of her employer however, I could be someone who was interested in promoting her business, too. <br /><br />I could blog about D'Amico's restaurant in Golden Valley, tell my readers how wonderful the food is, that they should try to get there and experience the patio, drink free refills of the house wines and especially have one of the molasses cookies which are to die for!<br /><br />But, I don't blog about restaurants. I'm an amateur photographer who photographs interesting things.<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-477545676435586498.post-60388502615590265382009-01-03T19:54:00.006-06:002009-01-04T20:51:11.787-06:00After PhotographyThe other day, I was reading a blog post titled <a href="http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2008/12/after-photography.html">After Photography</a> on Chase Jarvis' <a href="http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/">blog</a> which inspired me to comment. <br /><br /><img src="http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/uploaded_images/Picture-5-710639.png" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;" /><br />The posting conveyed the release of a new book by NYU photography professor, Fred Ritchin, titled, <em>After Photography</em>, which explores the democratization and manipulation of photography via digital cameras and computers.<br /><br />I don't know anything about this book. I've never held it, seen it in the stores, or even read it. But, I see the democratization of photography happening and I have seen ridiculous scenarios involving image manipulation on CSI.<br /><br />After I blurted out my comment I took pause to consider what I had said and why. I was surprised that most of the previous comments centered around the feeling of infringement photographers felt with talented image manipulators ... PhotoShop'ers.<br /><br />And the photographers felt put out that Nikon and Canon (as well as others like Apple, Nokia, etc.) dared put easy-to-use cameras in the hands of mere amateurs! They're giving our secrets away! Nobody's gonna want us photographers (present and would-be) to take pictures!<br /><br />I would have hoped to find someone commenting on an article Chase posted early last month <a href="http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2008/12/secret-to-success-in-photography.html">The Secret to Success in Photography</a> reminding others that success is being "Undeniably Good" which would fend off even some of the most fervent amateurs. Or comment on the responsibility that comes with journalistic image making. How much can someone trust you to truthfully depict a newsworthy event? Are you showing an otherwise unknowledgeable public an accurate story with your images or violating the trust they have no choice but to give you, the image-maker?<br /><br />That's a question of reputation that only you can build for yourself! A thousand amateurs will always be questioned about their integrity because they have no reputation. Build yourself the best you can. Be undeniably good and you won't have to bitch about those damn camera manufacturers and their customers muscling in on your territory.<br /><br />Then, all we'll have to work on is the photo-editors and photo-buyers hoping they have the integrity we aspire to build for yourselves.<div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright © 2009 - 2014 ishootnikon</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045667364810083232noreply@blogger.com0