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.