ISO 800 , f/4.5 , 1/125th
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
The way I see it
If I was the owner of a business and I asked a photographer
to take some pictures of my factory for a brochure or some kind of promo, I
would like him to show me in his work that my plant is clean, efficient and
well lit, that my equipments are modern and in top conditions and that my
employees are smart and competent. The first thing that I did when I entered
the machine shop was to try to find a way to shoot into a corner. It didn’t matter
if the room was big or not. Shooting into a corner creates some spacial references
and makes any interior look good. Even better there was a machine with lots of
knobs and colorful yellow parts at a perfect angle for what I was trying to execute.
Another element is the verticals; they have to be straight in this type of picture.
I was impressed by the student that posed for me. Carl turned out to be quite a
brilliant young man. He explained to me the functions of the machine and he
told me that he would prefer if possible to be captured operating the mechanism
rather than standing in front of it. I agreed with that. I set up the lights
like in my diagram and the result was I think a well balanced shot. See below for a five photos essay on a Rudyard Kipling poem.
The Secret of the Machines
We were taken from the ore-bed and the mine,
We were melted in
the furnace and the pit—
We were cast and wrought and hammered to design,
Some water and oil is all we ask,
And a thousandth of
an inch to give us play:
And now, if you will set us to our task,
We will serve you
four and twenty hours a day!
But remember, please, the Law by which we live,
We are not built to
comprehend a lie,
We can neither love nor pity nor forgive.
If you make a slip
in handling us you die!
We are greater than the Peoples or the Kings—
Be humble, as you
crawl beneath our rods!-
Our touch can alter all created things,
We are everything on earth—except The Gods!
BY RUDYARD KIPLING
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Fall2013_A#4 Corporate Industrial
Pre
Production Questionnaire
1. What type of available lighting will you be
encountering? Being in a second floor
basement there is no windows and therefore no natural light. This is not an old
factory, the place is well lit. The lights are high enough and are evenly
spread. There is no dark area or corners.
2. What is your intention in terms of how you plan to use
the available light, how will you be addressing the Color Balance for this
mixed light situation? It’s a florescent
light situation. I will use a green gel on the flash.
3. What is the reason for your lens choice? (Do you want the
compression of a long lens or the exaggerated perspective of a wide angle,
fixed focal length or zoom)? I would
like to be able to show the ambiance of the place while concentrating on the
man and the machine. So a long lens with a zoom should be good.
4. What words would you use to describe the Visual Style you
are looking to create in this image? An Industrial photograph that could finds
itself in a company pamphlet or brochure.
5. What aperture do you plan to use and why?
6. What shutter speed to you plan to use and why?
7. What ISO do you plan to use? I already tested my lighting at ISO800,
F/4.2 and 125sec. F/4 is the lowest I could go with the lens I had at the demo
and I manage to get an evenly lit image with these settings.
8. Are there any technical problems that will need to be
addressed at the shoot or any steps you feel will be needed in
post-production? The place could be
cramped, so there could be some changes in the angles of view. There could be
some post or equipment in the way to block the strobes lights. Lighting
equipments from other students could be visible in the background.
9. What equipment you will need for the shoot? 2 strobe lights, one main and one fill. One
softbox and one umbrella. Camera, light stands, grey card, light meter. I will
also bring some gobos and accessories.
10. Who will be your subject and how will they be
represented? A student will be represented
as operating the machinery.
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Sunday, November 3, 2013
Self Assessment Fall 2013_A#3 Food Industry Photography.
Food photography….mmmm….food photography. It has to look
good. A nice photo is not enough. When I look at the final picture what do I
say to myself ?... do I want to eat that stuff? So the choice of props or accessories,
the set up and the composition are very important. The Idea that I had of using
the stage worked perfectly for a straight down picture. With the food on the
floor of the stage near the edge I put the softbox level with the composition
and had my tripod also on the stage to give me the equivalent height of around
2 meters. I used a zoom lens and I shot at f11, 1/125th, ISO 100 to
get everything sharp, clean and crisp. I used some reflective cards at various
distances to soften the shadows without getting any flatness. The chosen
picture is the result of the 6th variant of the original
composition.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Fall 2013_A#3 Food Industry Photography
I will use the stage to allow me to shoot
straight down on the floor without the use of elaborate scaffolding or ladders.
The large softbox will be set at a 45 degree angle on the main floor offstage
and it will allow me to set the light source level or a little higher than the
food. I will use white and silver
bounce cards to gently fill in any harsh shadows and also to bring details,
ultimately adding more color and texture to the image. The bounce cards are
also important because you should rarely be shooting into direct sunlight. I want
to shoot with the aperture wide open to deliver shallow depth of field and
isolate the food in the frame. Maybee I can achieve a good bokeh intentionally blurring areas of the
image and focusing in the main area of the plate. I will bring a zoom and a prime lens that can
open wide and try something with both. I will shoot at 100 ISO to get maximum
quality.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Fall 2013 A#2 Outdoor Editorial Portrait
Taken at Dawson college on October 5th 2013.
Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm zoom lens at ISO/100, f/9.0, 1/80 sec.
DAWSON COLLEGE FINE ART ALUMNIE NATALIE NARDOZZA LOOKS BACK:
Natalie is now in her third year
at Concordia University Fine Arts Program. Her major is in Painting &
Drawing. She considers her Dawson
College Fine Art education to be the solid base of her art.
She started off at Dawson
College with only her raw talent. As a student, she acquired new skills along
with all the necessary knowledge and confidence to pursue her aspiration.
Natalie has published her first graphic novel “Dream Catchers” in 2011. It is a
story that is about the life of a high school teen that just happens to have a
wide range of fears. From spiders to heights and more, Al can’t avoid the
nickname kids gave him in school…”Chicken Al”. Things start getting weird for Al when Skelette
and Misère, the two new kids at school tell Al they are Dream Catchers and they
are there to help Al get over her fears before the monsters haunting her
nightmares get out of control.
Natalie is presently working on
her next novel. She considers her Dawson College training as time and effort well
spent that enabled her to become the self-assured Artist/Entrepreneur that she
is today. She markets her art online and at conventions. You can sample some of
her work at
More Images and how different settings gives different results
Same pose as above but at f/9 and 1/200sec.
This is how I saw it....
I felt quite satisfy with the result of that first try at
what I was trying to achieve. But of course the first time you try something it
is more a discovery process, the second time you quite know where you are going
and on the third time you really are starting to get the exact result that you
are looking for. So I will try to do it again soon. What I really liked about it is the artistry
that comes with adding lights. After the “official” starting point with the
right numbers of ISO/100, f/7.1 and 1/200sec. you can see that by modifying
those settings, changing the position of the lights, the model and the camera
you achieve different results. The fact that we started with a bright sunshine
and ended up with an overcast sky also altered the picture. I used two lights
and a Nikkor 18-105 lens for the wall shots, one light and a Sigma 85mm fix
lens for the garden shots. This type of photography also confuses the auto
settings of the post-processing software so all adjustments have to be done
manually.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Editorial Portrait / New Entrepreneurs, FALL2013 Ass1
This is for an article about the confident modern new entrepreneur women on the go. She is coming out of her hotel heading for a
business meeting, a convention or to the airport to catch a plane. Shot at ISO800, 45mm, f4.8, 1/30th
Self-assessement
I tried to find a location that will give me nice colors in
the background without being distracting from the subject. The lights in the
back add some brilliance. The marble some luxury and the plants give some color
and humanity to the shot.
The reflections from outside were not so much of a factor
because this particular corner of the atrium is far from the windows.
One of the problems was to get the details of the black suit
to show on the picture. I moved the fill light a few time and fixed things in Photoshop.
It looks quite good at least on my computer.
As for the Masthead, on at least 97% of the covers that I
saw on the internet and particularly for a full length picture the title of the
magazine goes behind the head of the subject. There is room on each side for
text.
I used two strobe units. The main light with a soft box and the
fill with an umbrella facing away. Orange gels. The model is close to the wall
with some tungsten backlighting and use a laptop bag as a prop. I used a zoom
lens for some compression. Camera setting was ISO800, 45mm, f4.8, 1/30sec.
Things went better than I thought because this is not my
favorite type of shots. I prefer architectural and sports photography. I
appreciate to have a location partner who is like me and wants to get down to
business and get things done. It gave me the time to get more comfortable and try
different settings and locations. Also, thanks Pierre for all the tips and
suggestions.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Applied Location Photography Ass1 Questionnaire
Pre Production
Questionnaire
1. What type of available lighting will you be
encountering? A row of
tungsten-halogen lamp in the back and very minimal natural lighting,
2. What is your
intention in terms of how you plan to use the available light, how will you be
addressing the Color Balance for this mixed light situation? Use of color gels
and a reflector is primordial
3. What is the reason
for your lens choice? (Do you want the compression of a long lens or the
exaggerated perspective of a wide angle, fixed focal length or zoom)? I
will use a moderate zoom lens for compression but I also want to experiment
with my 85mm fixed focal length portrait lens
4. What words would
you use to describe the Visual Style you are looking to create in this image. I want to create a strong business type
photography that could be used on the front page of a magazine
5. What aperture do
you plan to use and why? Explain, I will start at f4. I would like
to use a lower f stop to give a certain amount of shallow depth of field in the
back.
6. What shutter speed
to you plan to use and why? 200, my fastest sync speed
7. What ISO do you
plan to use and why? Iso 200, The native ISO of my camera
8. Are there any
technical problems that will need to be addressed at the shoot or any steps you
feel will be needed in post-production? There is a wall in the back of the
model
9. What
equipment you will need for the shoot? Camera, 2 lens, 1 soft box,
1 umbrella, 1 reflector, 2 light heads,
stands
10. Who will be your
subject and how will they be represented?
A business women who hold a high position.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Warbirds composite
I love aviation. It’s
a passion. I have a full bookshelf of publications, magazines and books on the
subject, I built scale models that I researched to the smallest details, and I
fly virtually online using my skills on computer software to create 3D
airplanes. I visit airports and museums whenever I have a chance and actually
before I took this course it was really a toss between taking photography or
getting my pilot license. So right from the start these photos are a composite
of two things that I like very much. Both pictures could find themselves in “Scale
aviation Magazine”, the first one as a display finished product and the second
one as a detail showcase for modelers.
Supermarine Spitfire MKIA (Composite-01)
The first picture is
from a 1/32 scale model that I build last year. It’s a Spitfire MK1A from 609 “West
Riding” Squadron, Middle Wallop depicted during the Battle of Britain September
1940. You can build models in various conditions. Usually I tend to showcase them
in museum restored conditions but for this one I decide to weathered it in
battle situation. The model is 30cm long and I photograph it on a table in the
same angle as the intended background. I then needed a grass field with a European
look. (There were no runways during WWII ). Therefore I went right away to the
back of the Concordia University Loyola campus to take a picture of the soccer
pitch that would pass for a vintage airport. Doing the two photos in a short
interval made it that the light stayed the same.
Sopwith Camel (Composite-02)
The second picture is
not from a model. It‘s from a photo essay that I did of an actual authentic Sopwith
Camel, the most successful fighter of the great war. The photos were taken at
the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa. They are part of the research that I do
to built a 1/32 scale model of the airplane. I choose one the close up photo because
WWI airplanes are not really pretty as a whole. They are full of strings and
not really streamline or beautifully aerodynamic but the details are amazing. With
the picture taken from a low angle and by putting a blue sky with clouds in the
background one feels a sense of what it would have take to be one of those
pioneering knights of the sky.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
RMR Antique show and sale in Westmount
RMR Antique show and sale in
Westmount
On Saturday April 6th 2013, about
30 dealers from Quebec and Ontario were on hand for an antique show and sale
held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Royal Montreal Regiment, 4625 Ste. Catherine
St. in Westmount.
Primitive and formal antique furniture,
folk art, pottery, estate jewellery, coins, collectibles and 20th-century
design objects were among items available for sale.
Admission was $6, free for children under
12.
The show was full of atmosphere with an
impressive crowd showing up. The quality and quantity of merchandise was
extraordinary! It was great place to find and discover treasures but patience
and persistence was required. Deals were being made and watching the people go
by with their treasures was a hoot. All the participants were amiable and
willing to share their passion for antiques. A snack bar was operating during
the show.
Participating dealers include:
* Jamie Stalker of Ruth Stalker Antiques in
Westmount, which carries early Canadiana;
* Robert Trudel of Yama-chiche, with pine
furniture, country collectibles and vintage advertising items;
* Brian Davies of Brian Davies Fine Art and
Antiques in Knowlton, who brought to the sale such items as an unusual cane
stand, an 18th-century spice cabinet and 19th-century Canadian prints and oil
paintings by artists including Romeo Vincelette, Harold Beament and Terry
Tomalty;
* Montrealer Mark Zannis, who specializes
in contemporary folk art, featured carved figures by Quebec families Trygg,
Hannah, Bourgault, Bouchard and Bolduc in his booth, along with hooked rugs and
paintings;
* Ken and Karen Simmons of Montreal, who
organize estate sales and do appraisals, had a selection of sterling silver,
china and paintings;
* Michael Kamoff-Nicolsky and Michael Pavel
of Times Past Antiques, with Georgian silver and such Russian items as Fabergé
pieces;
* Robin Pridham and Josée
*Bonneville of Vankleek Hill, who operate
Pridham's Auction House, with art nouveau and art deco items.
RMR Antique show photo story 02
The enjoyment of a find is evident in
Collette Watson reaction. The dealer behind her just notices a potential buyer.
RMR Antique show photo story 07
Friday, April 19, 2013
TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY
I could see these
pictures being part of a free touristic brochure or magazine on Montreal. The adjacent
area of the Musee des beaux-arts with is collection of sculpture who invites
you to come inside. Lively Chinatown, where you can immerse your senses in
colors and smells. The classics and typical Montreal foods that you can’t find
anywhere else.
Travel 01
From an early morning
walk, trying to capture the artistic surroundings. Taken at, f/11, 1/200.
Travel 02
Taken in Chinatown
with a 10-20mm wide angle at f/5.6, 1/800, ISO 200. Notice the freshness of the
products that makes it look like to be arrange for a publicity shot.
Travel 03
Taken at”La Belle
Province” on St.Jacques west. Told them
that they better make it nice because I’m going to take a picture of it for a
school project. So they arrange it in a breakfast plate instead of the usual
plastic for lunch. I used an 85mm prime at f/1.4, 1/160, ISO 200 to get that
shallow depth of field.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
A decisive moment ?.....Lachine FC U17F last game (EVER)
Lac St.Louis Region
U17F Gold medal game march 25th 2013
Lachine FC last game
EVER
A decisive moment if
there was ever one. Because of the lack
of players willing to register for the upcoming summer season the management of
the Lachine Football association decided that the U17F team was folding at the
end of winter. At that point the team had already clinched first place and was
preparing to move to the playoffs. On
the 18th of March they beat DDO 2-0 to move to the finale, the girls
always hoping that enough players could be found to save the team. But then the official announcement came, the
championship contest would be the last game ever for the team.
On the 25th
of March 2013 in an emotional and hard fought game the Lachine FC U17F beat the
LaSalle Rapide 4(1)-2(1) in shootout to close the book on their history with a
gold medal.
The following
celebrations we’re full of mixed emotions for the girls and their parents. Joy
and sadness, laughing and crying, all the players hugging each other for the last
time.
There will be a huge
party this summer to celebrate the achievement.
For those who still
want to play they have to find themselves another team, going thru
try-outs. My daughter Melanie was picked
by the Dollards Dragons AA team.
The soccer life goes
on.
The game was played
inside at Catalonia in low light situation. I could not use my flash during the
contest so shooting f/1.4 at high ISO was the norm. For the after game I used
my flash. It was the type of fast sport photojournalistic situation. Even the
team photo with the medals had to be taken in less than a minute. You see that
when for example the Stanley cup is won. Players are everywhere; things are
happening all around you and nobody wants to stay in place. As for permission,
I was asked to shoot the event and post the result on the internet.
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