This week has been fairly productive.
I’ve spent a lot of it in the digital darkroom processing and preparing shots for a client. Also, I’m confident of a potential sale of prints for use in a local hotel’s suite of conference rooms.
On the non-work side, I’ve been returning to one of my passions: live music photography.
I’m fortunate enough to get the chance to do this once or twice a week when my schedule permits; and I love the atmosphere, the challenge and the feedback (from the bands later as well from the amps during).
I can see my house from here
This week I shot a fantastically anarchic punk band at a charity gig; and also took some in-rehearsal shots of an up-and-coming local act. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people (and relive some of my misspent youth into the bargain).
Next week, I start on rebranding and relaunching the website.
So, busy times – but good times.
Filed under: Photoshoot, Published, software, technique | Tags: photoshop, processing, topaz, topaz adjust
I’ve been very busy this week; though not so much in the field of photography – I’ve even resorted to going back and processing some shots from my Edinburgh Festival Fringe archives from last year…
Tales of the Apocalypse
I’ve also had a prospective client pull out of a job at the last moment, which is always a bit of a let-down; but that’s all part of the game, so I’m not too disheartened.
Last weekend, I lent my second body (Canon 20D) to a friend who’s a photography novice, to allow her to take interior shots of her rental property (far too far away up north for me to get to without training a team of huskies). She was shooting indoors without a flash, so I set things up at f/11, ISO400, Program Auto mode, auto white balance and -1/3 stop exposure compensation (knowing that I’d be bringing the detail back in Photoshop later). I stuck the 10-22mm on the 20D and gave her brief instructions before she set off.
The photos which I downloaded three days later were fine – perfect for her planned use of them. She’d been disappointed when she looked at them on the back of the camera (wow, that 20D LCD looks so tiny now…), but I processed them using Topaz Adjust, some selective masking and colour correction and she was delighted with the end result.
This goes a long way towards proving what I’ve always maintained (as well as ‘always shoot RAW‘): at least half of what makes a decent photo is in the post-processing. Just as well I enjoy that part of it as much as taking shots myself…
I’m doing a commissioned photowalk tomorrow, which should help get the library back up to date again; I’m also hoping to get out and do some more local landscape photography at the weekend, so I shouldn’t have to resort to the Fringe archives again for a while.
And I almost forgot: I did get a photo published on the Mail On Sunday website, so it wasn’t all bad news…
Filed under: Published, software | Tags: Adobe, Lightroom, software, workflow
…or; 2006 Before Lightroom.
The good news is that one of my photos is going to be published in a book, the proceeds of which will benefit a local children’s charity.
The less good news was that the photo chosen by the publisher was taken over 3 years ago: back in the days where I was still finding my photographic feet and loooong before I had anything approaching a reliable and efficient digital darkroom workflow in place. And of course, I only had the lo-res version of the original shot to hand.
At one point, I thought I was going to have to wait for identical weather & lighting conditions and reshoot the thing
Cue several days of trawling through dust-covered hard drives, full of folders with esoteric names and the same unhelpful ‘last modified’ date, searching for the hi-res original.
Eventually I uncovered it, hiding in an obtuse little folder called ‘walk12′ and still named DSC_1648.CR2 or something equally unmemorable. Additionally, as you probably know, very few of my shots get published with no post-processing, so I had to try and guess at my ancient old Photoshop techniques to recreate the requested final shot as closely as possible.
How much easier this would have been had the shot been proudly catalogued, tagged and indexed by Lightroom; with even the RAW editing steps never forgotten, like some kind of post-process pachyderm.
All’s well that end’s well, of course; and I’m delighted & honoured that one of my shots was picked and will feature in a publication helping out such a good cause.
But I don’t want to go through that again in a hurry. Though I’m not sure I can face the prospect of importing all my thousands of old shots into Lightroom…
Filed under: Photoshoot | Tags: Edinburgh, performance photography, photo, photography
A successful week on the photography front, especially as I haven’t started my great 2010 marketing push yet…
Face the music
The two band shoots went well; though both were challenging in terms of lighting. The first was in a rehearsal room with pretty bog-standard tungsten light, making for flat lighting conditions. The second was in a dark and small venue which – although atmospheric and benefiting from coloured spots – was still tricky on the lighting front.
The f2.8 and high ISO settings came out on both occasions and coped admirably. Nothing of print / publication quality, but as the results of both shoots are intended for the web, they’re good enough; and both me and the bands are happy.
Some promising developments with a local entrepreneur should also hopefully see some of my prints on sale in his premises; ideally online as well. More details on that as things firm up.
At the very least, I’ve made another great contact with a like-minded individual – and I’ve got a great excuse to go out on a photowalk looking for shots that expose the quirkiness and different out of the everyday.
And that’s a challenge I love.
Filed under: Photoshoot, plans, Projects | Tags: Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, snow
Charlotte Square
Like the rest of the UK, Edinburgh’s in the grip of The Big Freeze (copyright all of the national press and television news channels).
Whilst I’d appreciate a thaw as much as the next person, at least the photographic plans are hotting up.
Next week I have two shoots planned with local bands: one staged / posed and the other live.
Also a meeting which could result in some of my prints appearing for sale in a city centre establishment…watch this space for further updates on that.
As well as that, I’ll be kicking off a couple of photo projects in the coming days: I have a couple of ideas bouncing around, so will see how those pan out.
So whilst it may still be freezing, I’m not standing still…
The majority of Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay festivities are now over, meaning I’m (quite happily) back to revisiting familiar locations, such as Cammo Estate on the west of Edinburgh.
The weather’s still shocking, but that does mean the sky, light and ground conditions can make for some pretty interesting landscape compositions.
Cammo Tower
More from Cammo appearing on Flickr over the next few days.
Filed under: Photoshoot | Tags: Carabosse, Edinburgh, Firelight, Hogmanay
Firelight by Carabosse
Ventured out into the freezing cold and snow last night to take some shots of Firelight, a fire-based art installation on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
I’m too old and weary to go to the Street Party and celebrations this evening, so the next photo-op – weather permitting – will be the Loony Dook on the 1st.
So happy new year everyone – here’s to ’10 / oh-ten / twenty-ten / however you decide to call it!
Filed under: Uncategorized
The weather, health and transport problems have combined to defeat my plans to go along to the Torchlit Procession this evening.
I held a small candlelit vigil myself instead.
Tea light
Although the snow has provided some lovely views and scenery around the city and closer to home, I’m officially keen to see the back of it now. However, come hell or high water / snowdrifts, I’ll be heading into town tomorrow evening to see the Winter Light / Fire Light installations and attractions and therefore won’t have to resort to setting things on fire myself to keep me entertained….
In the bleak midwinter
Edinburgh’s been hit by some severe weather over the last few days, and whilst those rare dry and bright days do present some golden opportunities for some snow pics, it is getting a bit old now.
I’m looking forward to the thaw and being able to get out and about again without worrying about rain, sleet and snow; and falling over whilst carrying my camera about (hence the above pic was taken with my point and shoot).
There’s a few events around the Hogmanay period here that I’m hoping to be able to get to, including the torchlit procession in the centre of Edinburgh, and a sound and light show on the Royal Mile on the 30th December. Both of these are weather-permitting however – so I’m sitting here willing the weather to improve so I can make the best of the photographic opportunities they offer.
So, yes, the snow’s been lovely to look at, but enough already!
Filed under: gear
I have around 20 photoshoots arranged during the Edinburgh Festival. A mixture of performance shots and posed / promo shoots, as well as random opportunities as and when they occur.
Here’s the gear I’ll have with me:
- main body with f2.8 70-200mm L IS lens attached (with 1.4x extender)
- second body with f4-5.6 17-85mm IS lens attached
- f1.8 50mm prime
- f3.5-4.5 10-22mm
- Speedlite 580EX with off-camera cable
- Manfrotto Neotec 685B monopod with 484RC2 ball-head
- Interfit 5-in-1 reflector
- 24GB worth of compact flash cards
- Sony DSCT100 compact camera
I may not carry all of this every day (it only just fits in the Lowepro Mini Trekker AW), but on some days I’m doing four shoots or more. I’ll need the 2.8 and monopod for the performance stuff, with the 17-85 on the second body.
The other kit is mainly for posed / promo stuff, especially the reflector and 50mm.
And I just know I’d need the wideangle as soon as I left it at home.
I think I’m ready.
