chobit

Yeah.. that's actually about the last of the batch which sort of diff. in terms of lens use and style. =D
As you can see, I just love photography so much that in the last many years, I haven't take too many breaks.  At work, I have help my agency taking pictures of charity events, church camping picutures, studio shots for phone directory, and I used to carry my DSLR with me 100% of the time when I am out before I have kids.  Now I keep my XP1 with me including work days.  I may not use it, but I enjoy
photography so much, most people think that's my wife instead =D

I was hoping more of us would share here, but I guess it's ok with me, because I am currently at peak photography mode

I can never analyze a shot like you do. I am amazed how you can go through this entire analytical pr ...
快樂牛郎 發表於 2012-5-2 22:42

chobit

It'll eventually get there.  Overcast lighting is in fact some of the easiest lighting to work with when shooting portrait.  Essentially, it's a large softbox.  In many cases, when we do portrait shots in a wedding, The time is between 1pm-4:30pm where the lighting is at it's worst.  So, the first thing we look when we arrive the shooting site is to find the shade (Opposite side of the sun+large building), where lighting is flat.  Low contrast = easy lighting.

I hope this thread wouldn't become Happycow and chobit only thread.

In all your shots the external light is usually the main source of light. It's simply too hard for ...
快樂牛郎 發表於 2012-5-2 23:25

chobit

The next set of my photos are shot @ Yale Town.  Some of the shots are similar, but it was also purposely done in different angles for capture the different lines/color/shape in the background as a series.  It was actually 1 of my very few photoshoot which I decided to try out some PS Filters.

chobit

Nah, you sure that's truely what you were thinking?
Remember that Paul/Chu Yan photo you commented.  that's a easy/standard setup, but you think it's boring.  The photographer probably play it safe for the same reason.

So, overcast lighting play the same role, it's a anyone can do type lighting where you can't go wrong, but the same old is boring.

The last couple of photos you posted are also unique, right.  It's not everyday you have people taking picture of faces with scars and blood on it, but then that's probabaly where the funs..

PS: BTW, isn't not about fighting the light, it's higher contrast lighting is too help you create the kind of image you wouldn't be able to do with flat lighting.  Say those, extra shadows from the trees, and the higher contrast on the leaves which you want to blend into the shot.

I always hear the pros talking about all kinds of technique to handle difficult light. Sure, if you  ...
快樂牛郎 發表於 2012-5-2 23:46

chobit

Got it, sadly, that's the kind of what you have to deal with in weddings.
Client often pick their location, and time.  And the time simply won't be morning, nor would it be at lunch or dinner time.
Yet, I wouldn't say you can't work around it.  There are so much you can do as a photographer to made decent photo even at relatively poor lighting.

For example, you don't try to to soft looking beauty photo during sunset, you can pick to do Silhouettes, or off camera flash with gel color filter to blend the flash light into the shot, etc.!

Is one type better than the other, I wouldlnt' think so.  But then one may like one style better than the other..!  All it comes down to is preference.

I remember an exercise I did some years ago.  (Recommended by a good photographer).  When we review a decent photo (I don't think there is such thing as best photo), before we say nah.. I don't like it.  Ask myself if I understand the shot.  
where is the light, type of light, how many light source, focal lenght, composition pose, etc..!  Then if I don't like the shot, what would I do provided with the same everything, and how and why it is any better.

That was a studio setup where the photographer could choose any setup he prefers. The "easy" light ...
快樂牛郎 發表於 2012-5-3 00:38

chobit

BTW, I don't recommend making the setup to complicate either.  A DSLR (Highly recommended) + Off Camera Flash (with High Sync capability like FP mode), and stand and an umberlla.  So essentially just 1 light to help you work with your subject.

Including the sun, you can already manage 2 light source which come from lighting directions.  Sometimes, the wall or glass, etc can help as the 2nd or 3rd light source as well...! Again, it's fun to check around and think about the light, then have them work for you to create the kind of mood, and effect.

I always hear the pros talking about all kinds of technique to handle difficult light. Sure, if you  ...
快樂牛郎 發表於 2012-5-2 23:46

chobit

At this point, I think that's no reason to debate about films vs digitals.  Enough had been said by many well known photographers out there.  Just when you think yor MF is what consider the best, someone else will tell you they shoot large format instead.

I think knowing what we want to do with our photos at the end can helps us make the right dicision.
1> Do we plan on printing it, or if is going to display froma monitor
2> If it is for printing, are we talking 4x6?  12x16? billboard?
3> What type of media?  Canvas?  Matt?  Other type of art media?
4> Rather you are dealing with films or digitals.  They both require many steps of pro-process before the final prints.  In other words, I think it's matter of the final applications.

As I mentioned before, most of the good stuff these days are still shot on film. Even when these p ...
快樂牛郎 發表於 2012-5-3 10:11

chobit

These kind of go together, so fig. I'll post them as well.

The next set of my photos are shot @ Yale Town.  Some of the shots are similar, but it was also purp ...
chobit 發表於 2012-5-2 23:58

chobit

This 2 photos goes with the same ideas.

Often enough, people who start taking portrait photos are very photos on the models, but the full picture as a whole.

The idea behind this pictures are the diagonal lines.  Those lines exist in both the subject, and the background, which help enhance the visual quality.  They may not work for everyone, but then if that's not part of your consideration before you take the picture, then you are missing something.

PS: Some people may find the the 2nd photo is tilted too much.  This is actually where the 1st photo comes in to play.  One with a more common accepted angle, and 1 photo where you push it a little more.  That usually works well if the photos are used for photo album design, where the photos aren't always placed in parellel with the album.

chobit

Interesting :o

I am actually not sure what I am looking at. Since we can't see her faces, I assume that this is a ...
快樂牛郎 發表於 2012-5-3 16:27