One Really Fine Lens

Not long ago, I bought a very inexpensive lens for my camera kit.  As you know, I shoot Nikon equipment and have done so since 1973.  I bought the 50 mm f/1.8 lens for only $109.00, what a steal for such a fine lens.

I just love the shallow DOF this lens provides when shot wide open.  These two shot where shot for the annual report referenced on an earlier post. 

I might as well add an additional shot using this lens.  Just look at the bokeh that this lens produces.  Bokeh is the term referring to the appearance to out-of-focus (ness,ness) of the areas in an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field (DOF).

The lighting on the above photo was direct sunlight passing through a 42 inch diffusion 5 in 1 flexfil collapsible reflector.  If your looking for a very nice inexpensive lens to add to your arsenal, look at the 50 mm f/1.8 Nikon lens.  B&H has this lens at a very reasonable price.  DT

Athena... Thanks for your post

Athena Danoy, a recent participant of the Small Strobes, Big Results workshop in Arlington, TX has written about her experience at the workshop on her blog. Thanks Athena for all the kind words, I glad you enjoyed the workshop.

I must tell you, I really enjoy sharing my knowledge with those who attend the workshops.  I wish there where these types of workshops when I first started shooting.  It's my belief that I could have cut my learning curve about lighting and other issues of location assessment by years.

If you have been considering attending a Small Strobes, Big Results workshop, take the time to read Athena's post at her blog.  These workshops are very informative and fun!  

My next workshop will be held in Denver, CO on Saturday Jan. 10th 2009. I'll also be teaching a one week long Small Strobes, Big Results workshop at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops in Santa Fe, NM. this winter.

I Love Texas

I'm sitting in my hotel room editing my photos from this weekends Small Strobe, Big Results workshop in Arlington, TX. It was a blast, we all had fun!

Our host, Mark Gist is a firefighter for the Arlington, FD, Station 14. I photographed Mark in a small space where they store their jackets and helmets. I know there is a name for this room, but just can't think of it.

For this shot I used 3 SB-800 strobes. The key light was a 43" shoot through umbrella, the rear lights rimming Mark are SB-800s each mounted on Justin Clamps and clamped on top of the shelves on each side of the room. These strobes where fitted with full CTO filter over the flash head.

If your interested in attending a Small Strobes, Big Results workshop, we have one opening left for next months Indianapolis workshop, Nov. 10th. We have recently announced our Jan. 10th, 2009 Denver workshop. If you are interest in any of these, do contact me to secure your spot.

If you're interested in hosting or booking a workshop for your club or other corporate communications department, drop me an email. DT

UPAA Symposium 2009

I'm honored to have received an invitation to speak at the 48th Annual University Photographers' Association of America Technical Symposium this coming June in Jamestown, NY.

The UPAA was founded in 1961 by a small group of university photographers in the New England area. Since then, their membership has grown to include photographers from across the United States, Canada, Australia and Israel.  Their organization of college and university photographers are concerned with the application and practice of photography as it relates to the higher education setting.

Their annual Symposium underscores their commitment to photographic excellence and th continuing education and networking with their professional colleagues.

I've been asked to speak on the topic of small strobe lighting techniques.  The Symposium co-host felt that the small kit lighting techniques that I use in the wide range of photo assignments that I shoot fits extremely well with the type of assignments university photographers must cover for their schools.  They felt that my expertise would greatly enhance the professional development opportunities that they wish to provide their members.  I am delighted to be part of their 2009 Symposium.

Last years speakers included Michael Grecco, Steve McCurry and Sports Illustrated's photographer Bob Rosato.

I don't know who the other speakers are just yet but I understand they're trying to get Jim Brandenburg to commit.  As I receive word who might be speaking I'll let you know.

Knowing that I will be in Western New York in late June for the Symposium, I thought it might be an excellent opportunity to hold a Small Strobes, Big Results workshop in the area.  It looks like some of the surrounding areas would include: Buffalo, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, PA and Akron, OH.  I would love to hear your thoughts regarding your choice of a location.

Home Grown Annual Report

Over the past several months I've been working on an annual report for a client of mine that generates and transmits electricity in a 3 state region via their Co-Op's.

Earlier this week I was in Western Nebraska shooting various agricultural scenes and landscapes.  This years thyme to the annual report is "Home Grown".  Most of the photography will be used as full page spreads with copy or some other insert of graphics or other photos in the image area. 

Personally, I thought it a bit late in the season to be photographing crops and related agricultural subject matter.  I would have preferred sometime in the month of August, crops are a bit more green and fresh looking.

Waiting later in the season however, allows us to capture images like the one above.  Your not going to find much in the way of bailed hay like this early in the season.  I also had the opportunity to shoot some aerials of farmland east of Denver for this project.  Erik and I spent just about 2 hours tooling over the county side looking for graphic scenes like the next few images shown below. I love shooting aerials, helicopters are the coolest aircraft to fly in.



For the Nebraska portion of this assignment I took lighting with me.  Even though I knew I was shooting landscape type shots, you just never know what you might get yourself into.  I took along a couple of SB-800's and a more powerful Q-flash if needed.   We never pulled out a light, we did however use a flexfil to bounce some sunlight on the back of a farmer.  DT