Week 15 - Candid Canine

Here goes a new set of pet photography for my weekly project.  So what's special about it?  Me and Raynan spent the day with my Image N' Techniks friends who were up for the heat on the Strays of Abu Dhabi (SAD) Dog Day.  Although it was a hot day for all, we all had fun photographing pet lovers and canine.

We had planned for a "studio" fun shoot but later on cancelled the set up.  We did not anticipate the wind that day.  We tried to set up our improvise studio however decided to just keep on shooting candidly with the participants and canine.  We have lots of lessons learned during the event.  Much to our expectations, all in all we did had a good time.

Watch out for more of Image N' Techniks candid canine shots on their blog (http://imagentechniksblog.blogspot.com/).  Here's two of my shots from the show.

Gear: Nikon D40, Tamron 18-50mm f/2.8, 1 Nikon SB-25 Speedlight,
Settings: f5.6, 1/200sec., ISO 200, flash power 1/16,
Post process: NONE but Watermarked with Picmarkr

Gear: Nikon D90, Tamron 70-200f/2.8, 1 Nikon SB-25 Speedlight,
Settings: f5.6, 1/250sec., ISO 200, flash power 1/8,
Post process: NONE but Watermarked with Picmarkr 

Week 14 - Twin Treasures

Well it has been pretty busy this week.  Lots of errands to do after office for the upcoming SAD Dog Day.  However have been very lucky last Thursday.  I had the pleasure of spending time with a new found friend, K.  And the bonus is  having the perfect little models for the week.  M and J are twin treasures.  What I love about the twins is how they naturally cuddle each other.  There are times in the shoot they were swatting at each other's faces but for the most part they go into a cozy slumber together.

So how did I photograph the twins? Well, I've prepared lots and send K some of newborn poses I like.  And to add up on the excitement,  K knows photography too.  I just crossed fingers she'd like what I did.

For the lighting, as much as I wanted to have a natural light.  It just didn't happen as the shoot was done in the evening.  So here goes my oldschool speedlight coming in handy.  I positioned the twins at a 45 degree angle, with their heads facing the light.  I like the light to fall over their face and throw soft shadows.

Timing the shots are very important.  The twins didn't move much but they subtly change their position and expressions in ways.  I had my camera set in continuous shooting mode because I find shooting single frame missing some good moments to capture.  However careful not to annoy the twins with the flash.  Eitherway, I've ended up with some wonderful sequences of shots by shooting off three or four shots in a row.

Well all goes and numerous clicks from my camera.  I had difficulty putting it down as I love photographing the twins.  M was a darling and J were the natural.  I bet these two are going to grow up and be best of friends.  Imagine more fun with them, they are identical twins.

Gear: Nikon D90, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8, 1 Nikon SB-25 Speedlight, Manfrotto Light Stand, Prodigy umbrella, clean towel and dates basket
Settings: f8, 1/160sec., ISO 200, fill light flash power 1/8, back light flash power

Post process: NONE but Watermarked with Picmarkr 

Gear: Nikon D90, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8, 2 Nikon SB-25 Speedlight, Manfrotto Light Stand, Prodigy umbrella and white cloth as backdrop
Settings: f3.5, 1/200sec., ISO 200, fill light flash power 1/8, back light flash power, 1/16 
Post process: NONE but Watermarked with Picmarkr

I had a great time hanging out and snugging the boys.  I hope I have created images that will last a lifetime & beyond. Congratulations again to K and her family, your newest additions are just perfect!!

For more of the twins,  see my People's Newborn section.

Week 13 - Abu Dhabi's Architectural Wonder

This week I was thinking of featuring the Chic Lady Show 2010.  Me, Raynan and Kuya June went to ADNEC with all packed up gears.  Not to mention my excitement to see for the first time a fashion show of Arabic culture however ending up in a disappointment.  I wasn't able to photograph their fashion culture because of the VIPs presence.  I remember phoning the organizers confirming photography will be allowed.  However knowing Sheikhs and Sheikhas were there for sure it will be possible.  No way I risk photography and later on decided we would go.  There's no fun without the two and no fun without photography.

So, just dug up some photos of my UAE escapade and decided the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is a good entry on my weekly photo project.

Every time I see it just blew me away.  The interior is awe inspiring.  The white marble and gold exterior just tops the whole experience.  Going to the mosque allows residents and tourists alike to experience this inspiring addition on Islamic architecure and receive an insight into Islam and Abu Dhabi's heritage. 

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is an amazing pice of architecture making it a true wonder.

Gear:  Nikon D40, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1:1.8G DX,
Settings:  f/14, 1/160sec., ISO 200
Post Process:  Increase Luminance and Saturation in LR2 and watermarked with Picmarkr

Gear:  Nikon D40, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1:1.8G DX,
Settings:  f/13, 1/125sec., ISO 200
Post Process:  Increased Luminance and Saturation with LR2 and watermarked with Picmarkr

For some more interesting images of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, remember to browse LANDSCAPE - Buildings page.

Week 12 - Bokeh and a Panning Mistake

Raynan and I went to ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center) for Barbican Turbo 2010 and Adrenaline Sports Live. I enjoyed all the time and my camera never stop clicking for two days. Team Orange return to Middle East with the debut of the drift queen, Sumika Kubokawa (see her in Gallery section). Other than that were the best in show competition car and bikes, UAE sound off, the city ride, the Barbican stage and region's festival of adrenaline-fuelled sports.

As for my weekly photo project, I'm featuring BOKEH and PANNING.

Bokeh is a photography technique where it is purposely defocusing the lens slightly in order to create a soft borderless feature in the image. I took a close picture of my subject- a pro-skate boarder from Europe (Sorry, I don't know his name but he sure is cute!!) I slightly unfocus my lens so that it is softly blurred. The image background was significantly blurred but tried keeping the foreground image, my subject, recognizable. I've set my exposure time relevant to the amount of light present and set my aperture to a lower f-stop. Here he is in his awesome smile.

Gear: Nikon D90, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8
Settings: f3.2, 1/100sec., ISO-1000
Postprocessing: Soften skin, adjusted brightness for popping the eyes in LR2 and watermarked with Picmarkr
Panning is another photography technique I wanted to feature. However, unsuccessful to demonstrate a good sample, I would like to site what faults I did. I chose a moving subject- a pro-biker (Sorry again not to know his name.). I know he is a good subject that could have great pan shots. I designated a focus point where i will take the photo as I pan. However made a mistake with my shutter speed. To focus on a movingobject, it should have been a very slow shutter speed. A good shutter speed for a bike rider could be around 1/50 of a second. Second mistake is, I didn't use a tripod to keep my camera level while panning. The lens (70-200mm) I use what really heavy causing my hand not to be steady. As much as I would want to follow through the rider and keep my movements smooth, my arms and hands are tired of carrying it in effect, a poor panning shot was made. Here goes the image and I hope I could do better next time.

Gear: Nikon D90, Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8
Settings: f3.2, 1/100sec., ISO-1000
Postprocessing: Watermarked with Picmarkr


For other shots taken to this event..... visit the Odds and Ends section.

Week 11 - Fabulous Inside and Out

After attending ILLUSTRADO Magazine's seminar for Fashion Photography Aesthetics, I was inspired to do a glamour shot.

I've researched some facts on glamour photography and found out that it is sometimes associated with pornography. But the fact was it is an entirely separate venture. Glamour shots are suggestive and erotic but not explicitly pornographic. The true glamour shots produce an air of romance and sexiness without crossing the boundaries of good taste. In totality, a glamour shot is wholesome.

As much as I could, I handled the background with care because I want to focus on my model and not the background. Having a cluttered, busy background may detract from the allure and sultry mystery of my model. I thought of having a plain background is more appropriate for glamour shots.

A White backdrop cloth was used in these shot. I applied what I've learned from some tutorials of Zack Arias and demonstrated the effects of using an umbrella diffuser. As for the lighting, I did a play of shadows across the model's face providing an air of mystery.  A slightly opened umbrella concentrated the light on the model's face.  A flash aiming to a backdrop could have some ring effect (sort of vignette) on the model's image.  I've also learned that to control the flash power, the aperture should be adjusted.

I hope I pleased my model in doing my week 11. After all, she’s already fabulous inside out.  Her eyes speaks with her values.  Kudos for you Tita Zadee and it’s a pleasure having you as a model.

Here is what I produced.

 

Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens, 2 Nikon SB-25 Speedlight, Manfrotto Light Stand, Prodigy umbrella and white cloth as backdrop

Settings: f6.3, 1/160sec., ISO 200, fill light flash power 1/8, back light flash power, 1/16 

Post process: Spot Reduction and Skin Softening with Lightroom 2 and watermarked with Picmarkr  

Gear: Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens, 2 Nikon SB-25 Speedlight, Manfrotto Light Stand, Prodigy umbrella and white cloth as backdrop

Settings: f6.3, 1/160sec., ISO 200, fill light flash power 1/8, back light flash power, 1/16 

Post process: Spot Reduction and Skin Softening with Lightroom 2 and watermarked with Picmarkr