Week 52: The finale of 2009


Wasn't going to drink but what the hell!!


As you all well know 2009 is coming to end and 2010 is nearer than anyone expected. Happy New Year people, may all of you be happy and prosperous in the new year.

I'm updating today because tomorrow (tonight actually at midnight) it'll be 2010. Here it is. Tomorrow is the beginning of the 365 project. Hopefully I can keep up.

I got a D300 used. I paid for it with my performance bonus at work. I opted to get the D300 instead of the D300s because I figure I didn't need all the new features such as the video and other hoop la with the newer version. And I kind of wanted to save money even though I've been spending like crazy.

I also been editing old photo which you can see at my flickr page. I'm trying for a old faded photograph look. Beware, most are not work safe.

I'm gonna go back to drink now. Keep a look out for a whole bunch of pictures in the new year.

PEACE, LOVE and CHICKEN..

All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Random afternoon blog: Before and After

I'm using image from my last shoot. I used a Canon 30D for the first and since the camera doesn't belong to me I didn't change to much of the settings. My buddy shoots in Large Jpegs most of the time and I don't. It did save me a lot of space on the hard drive but I'm still more accustom to shoot my own way. I shot it with his 55-200mm f/something. I really don't want to say it but I noticed a lot of dust spots everywhere on the image. either his lens is dirty and/or his sensor is dirty.

Anyway are the shots with Julie.

Before


After

Cleaned up background and blemishes on face. Soften, desaturated, and high contrast with a touch of blue.

Nothing to special. PhotoShop is a vital part of photography now a days. It's also one of the hardest things to master. I barely scratched the surface.

That's it for now. Possibly next week will be with film.




All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Week 51: Christmas or Bust!!


Jumping with Julie. Last model shoot of 2009

My only shoot and picture taking event was last Wednesday the 23rd. It was with Julie Riette. I'm a bit rusty on the studio lighting. Since the D80 is pretty much not operable I borrowed Mr. Mike Lee's Canon 30D. I'll tell you now that shooting with a canon is a lot different than shooting with a Nikon. I was a bit out of my comfort zone.

I had a bit of trouble get the the lights to trigger properly. Then realize one of the strobes were not working as it was suppose too. Never the less I got a few good shots off and Lillie was such a kind person to let me use her studio.

I put that statement "it's not the camera that makes the picture. it's the photographer" to the test. So you can be the judge on the quality of the pictures here.


I'm trying a different editing style. I'm learning from Lot 8, who's work I really admire and inspire to try and re-create. Still haven't got it yet but I'm trying.

here's a couple more edits of the old vintage look. These are from past shoots.

Harley Rhodes


Kendra Glaser




If you're familiar with PhotoShop It's not a photo filter of yellow. Rather it's messing with Layers and cross processing. I need to practice.

Well, that's it for this week. I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Were going into the final countdown for next week. It's the very last one for 2009. Then beginnings "365 days" of glory or crap.

Till then, PEACE!!

All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Week 50: More Advertures with film...


Finally update on Tuesday morning the 22nd. Shot most of everything on Thursday the 12/17/2009.


So since it's that time of year again and most of the decoration are out I decide to make this a Christmas theme.

At Town Square they have these Life-Size Vignettes from Norman Rockwell famous artwork. I found out about this in the winter of 2008 but never got around to going over there and take pictures of them. Now I pretty much go there every week.

I figured why not do this now. I did it with a the Holga 120N because I already had it loaded with film. And for a little twist I added some light with a flash I got with my Ricoh camera from eBay.

Pretty simple, 12 exposures and 6 status. One with flash and one without.

The time of day was mid-day but the light was nice and soft from the most part.

The Film was Fujifilm 400H 120 professional color negative. The flash, I try to set it on the lowest setting output as possible but I really don't know if it was or not.

I'll also include a iPhone image of the actually Norman Rockwell Artwork.

Ready, GO!

Christmas


Ambient Light


Flash


Santa and his Helpers


Ambient Light


Flash


Grandfather and Boy on Rocking Horse


Ambient Light


Flash


Santa Consulting Globe


Ambient Light


Flash


Santa Reading Mail


Ambient Light


Flash


I spent about an hour and a half at Town Square that day. The first 30 minutes I found 5 of the vignettes and the rest of the time I was looking for the last one. After awhile i decided either the Last one is in the actually Santa House thing where people take pictures with Santa or they don't have a 6th vignette.


I'm singing a song that nobody knows but that everybody is familiar with.

All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Week 49: Back to the old


Mandiee back in action.

From nothing last week to 3 days and 4 models. That's how I roll I guess.


Usually I do the the blog update kind of late in the day on Saturday or after I get off work if not on a later date. That's because I still could take some pictures on Saturday during the day and it would still count for the week. I figure I took enough pictures to this week and I'm not planning on doing anything for Saturday.

I schedule a shoot with a model from San Diego some time ago. It was for Wendesday the 9th. It was 36 degree out that day. Our model is Miss See-Yin.

One of my friends is a fashion designer that design this shirt. One Love is what it's call. I told him to loan me a shirt and I would shoot some stuff for his catalogue shots. He gave that shirt last month and I only got around to shooting now.

See-Yin was a joy to work with and a really trooper for it being that cold out there. I did an artist nude editorial shoot with her. I let her take multiple breaks to warm up. I had a great time with her. Although some people show up to the spot and kind of shut us down. I'm running out of location to shoot at. Hit up the flickr to see more photos of her.

Then I had a fall out shoot from a casting I did a week ago to try and complete this project of mine later that day with Jaclyn C. at the same spot but since it was shut down I opted to shoot at Town Square. She was already there and the shoot went pretty quick because it's of the cold. We got some good photos none the less.


The next day Thursday 12/10 I had a pay shoot with a model I've been to work with for a while. Nelly is her name. She contacted me months back and due to scheduling conflicts Thursday was the day we final got to do something. She needed some photos for promotion gigs. I didn't have my regular lighting gear so I had to make some compromised and have my speedlight on camera.

And as usually I try to do a little bit of editorial fashion. For the most part I wanted to use the ambient light around and make real uses of the nifty fifty (the 50mm f/1.8). I didn't get to do this with Nelly because I control the environment. I shot in a small space and didn't have enough room to move freely.

I shot on Friday 11th with a model I work with before at the Red Rock hotel shoot I didn't whenever that was.

Miss Mandiee. I always like this girls look and wanted to shoot with her but she couldn't find the time. Here she is now and I'm diggin' on her shirt.

All in all I'm really diggin' the 50mm f/1.8 and I'm thing of getting the 35mm f/1.8 soon. As I mention in a previous post that I lost a piece off my camera. I think it's time to get a new one. If only I had the loot to do it.

PEACE!!! Kids.

All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Random late afternoon/early evening blog: Lost

I lost the rubber piece that cover the usb and other opening port on my camera. It feel incomplete and I don't know where I lost it.

Thought this was announcement worthy.

I'll post a pictures some other time.



And I was wondering how one becomes a magazine photographer. It is base on your work quality or who you know or both? That the goal for now.

I am a publish and feature artist on zivity.com though.

All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Random late night/early morning blog: The not so legal version of CS4.


When it wants to work it works great. But it becomes a bitch when it wants to be. I suppose it the life of a struggling photographer that can't afford everything he needs.

Still loving the Mac though.

Look out for the update on Saturday.

Later...


All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Week 48: Adventures with Film.... Part whatever




I took a couple shots with a Ricoh manual 35mm film camera and because of my procrastinating ass I didn't get down to develop it till today. They weren't finish and since there are close tomorrow I can't get them till Monday.



I did take picture with my dSLR but it's kind of a bullshit pictures and I don't want bullshit pictures on the "photo of the week" project. You'll see enough of that in the "365" next year.

Well here's the picture anyway. I'm trying to sell this on CL.


Really didn't have anything going on this week. I was trying to get something going on but it fell through.

That's all I got for now. PEACE!!!

All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Week 47: Thanksgiving - Turkeys beware!!


One Last minute shoot with 2 models. Miss Christina Mason and friend.


Well for this week I didn't have anything planned, photoshoot wise, being that it's Thanksgiving week and people just want to be with family and such. I figure I do another "adventure with film..." because I loaded film in my 35mm Ricoh camera and went to test it out but it didn't meter. I figure either the battery (a spankin' new battery) was bad or drained or the meter inside the camera was broken. I got a new battery from Fry's and popped it in and still nothing. So I promptly went on the internet to see if I could find some way to fix it but after looking at a couple things on google, got bored and I was like fuck it and went to Ebay and did an impulse buy and bought another Ricoh camera. If you're asking why I bought another Ricoh and not another brand like Nikon or Canon, Pentax even, is that I like the lens that came with my Ricoh. I paid a totally of $35. $25 for the camera, lens and flash and $10 for shipping from Seattle, WA. Got my Ricoh right now on CL for and grand totally of $30. Came with 3 lenses, filiters, Manual and a bag. Not a bad deal at all. I figure I can still use it in studio if I meter with dSLR first and set the camera accordingly. Which is what I did on Wednesday night.

I switch game plans and was going to Holga it for the week since I did have a roll of 120 film, color this time. On Tuesday morning (afternoon really, but morning to me because I wake up at the crack of noon) I get a text from Christina Mason, whom I shot with 2 time before. She wanted to do some pictures for her dude's, as she like to call him, birthday on Friday which is 2 days away. She wants to shoot as soon as possible. I'm down and I opt for Wednesday. She and I wanted to shoot in studio so I hit up Lillie. Lillie is so cool for such a short notice and it's the day before Thanksgiving. Hoping for just a couple of hours.

Wednesday 11/25/2009, Christina Mason and she brought her friend.

I think I'm typing to much so here are the pictures.





Here is her Birthday picture for said Dude.


This is her friend. I don't know how to spell her name so I'm not going to even try.


Lillie helped out a lot with wardrobe and make up. Even some patron tequila. Stay longer than anticipated but Lillie was all cool about it. I highly recommend renting and working with Lillie. You won't regret it.

I'll have the photos from the film soon. I didn't finish the roll yet.

I didn't take this and it's not even from this month. I was going to make this photo of the week and justify it by saying I edited this week. I came to my senses and thought the better of it. This was taken in May 2009 at a Motorcycle event on Russell and Rainbow. A friend was trying to help me out and throwing me gigs liking shooting this event (for free). As lazy as I am and I really don't need this for my portfolio, I handed the camera to my bud Deontae and told him to take hit the streets and take the pictures. He caught this candid shot of me and some chick.

Super Chinky

That's it and more than enough for now. PEACE!!

My flickr account is expiring the 5th of December. If people would be so kind.

All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Week 46: The adventures in Film...


This was my weapon of choice. The Holga 120N.

So since I was on a little hiatus but not really more like a little break, I decide to work on my photography skill just a little bit and try my hand at film. I recently pick up a Holga on CL for cheap and got a roll of 120 film. My original plan was to go to Bellagio or something and take some pictures there. But since my foot was bother me I didn't want to go there limping around. So my location of choice was our local Target. I had to go there anyway to pick up some stuff.

The Holga is a pretty simple camera. No batteries needed, just load the film and start snapping away. So I basically just worked on composition. I didn't know what the shutter speed was or how big the aperture was. It really was just point and shoot. After developing the film, I came to the conclusion that I need more light or higher speed film. Out of 12 exposures I got 10 images, I think I messed up loading the film in at first. Some are okay but in general just dark.

Don't mind the scan. My scanner is a cheap one with some dust on it. I didn't know it till I looked at the pictures.


This is the picture of the Holga on the iPhone.


Not even Thanksgiving yet but the Christmas Trees are up already.


More Decorations.


And of course I had to take pictures of my beloved Spam.

So Film is pretty interesting. I'm still going to work with film and with the Holga. I do like how the images have that vintage look. I already have another roll of 120 color film. And I have a number of 35mm film which on is in the camera already.

The Adventure in Film - to be continued...

I did sneak in a shoot on Friday the 20th with Ashley Liberty at a Familiar spot.


That's it for now. PEACE!!



All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Random early evening blog: The summer of '09


The joy of jumping. Miss Victoria Quang.


So I've been going through old photos from months past or re-editing some work that looks a little off. Still keeping up the old stuff I done just to see how far I've come. I may have progress as a photographer or may have not. But I've learned a lot from when I started, meet some really great talent people who were willing to help another out. I also work with lots of great people in this industry. From models to make-up artist to hairstylist and other photographers. I really enjoyed what I did and if I had to do it all over again, I would.

You guys can be the judge of my work but I like them and I enjoyed creating all the images I've done. I may as well live by this quote. "the worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." - by Sylvia Plath. I may be down and in a slump sometimes but I always come back and I never really give up.

That being said I'm horrible at hiatus because I'm always thinking about shooting something or someone. So after a week and half (but not really because I shot in between then) I'm back but I'll keep slow and work on the my technical aspect of photography. I working on film right now. I'll keep you posted.

Yeah but anyway these are the images from this summer. I've edited some with Victoria but I found these others. It wasn't that hot but I was still sweating bullets. Victoria is really great to work and a great person to work with.


And here's some of Tanya Su. She was one of the first models (3rd model actually) ever worked with. Not to long after she went to Hawaii.



I'm also testing out my new logo and working with CS4 which is kind of the same but you will notice the difference as soon as you start using it.

And if you wondering why I did so many blog post in the last week or so is that my foot has been bother me again for the past 2 weeks now and I've been spending lots of time in front of the computer.

That's all I got for now. Till next time. PEACE!!

All images can still be seen on my Flickr account and don't forget to check out my website for all your photography needs. LordSpam.com


Full post here.

Random mid day blog: Polaroids are coming back.

So Polaroid stop making their famous instant film in the summer of 2008. And pretty much the dream images that was polaroid would be gone forever as soon as the film runs out. I just recently found out that a group of people calling themselves the Impossible b.v. has bought the factory in the Netherlands and will be producing polaroid film and will be distributing the in early 2010.

There's also a company in china that's going to reproduce the polaroid cameras themselves.

When I started shoot I had a fascination with all thing vintage especially with polaroid. So much so that I have 5 polaroid camera at one time. Range from cameras that were built in the 30's or 40's till my most recent which I purchase at a drug store in 2008. I still own 3 out of the 5 cameras.

I tried to make some of my photos that I took with my dSLR to look like the colors of the film of polaroid. Through a program I got from poladroid.net it kind of immolates the actually 600 film. My pictures got a little cut off but I think I just have to resize them before going through the process. I'll give a go a little later in time.







Hopefully when the films starts coming out in 2010 it will be affordable enough to for everybody (especially my broke ass) to enjoy.

All the information about the film and cameras can be found here: The Impossible Project





LordSpam.com


Full post here.