Technical Tuesday - Multiple Focal Lengths, One Flash Set-up

Tonight I'm going to share how different focal lengths of the lens effect the overall look of an image.  So here's the technical info first.

Camera:
Nikon D700
ISO 100
Shutter 1/15

Lens:
Nikon 24-120mm F3.5-5.6
Aperture F5.6

Flash:
Nikon SB28 DX
Camera Left
1/32 Power
3 foot from subject

120mm.  Obviously very tight.  It was difficult to frame and focus these images, seeing as I was the one taking the photographs.  The light in the background is ambient...its just a garage work light.

85mm.  They say this is the best portrait length...what do you think?

70mm.

50mm.  Eyes closed.  I always shoot with a 50mm, and its starting to get old for me.  I'm ready to move on to a new go to focal length.

35mm.

28mm.

24mm.  Too wide the subject seems too far away.

The camera never moved, the flash never moved and I got 7 very different images..  35mm is my favorite perspective.  I like the amount of the environment that it captures, the size of the subject in the frame and the lack of lens distortion.  If you are considering buying a prime lens and you currently own a zoom lens, this is a good test to figure out what lens you should buy.  Any questions?

Ira Glass - Phases of Disappointment

Here's Ira Glass speaking on the phase of disappointment.  Its good to hear that someone who became successful as Ira did, went through a lot of the same struggles that I go through.  The thing that stuck out to me, and it's in line with The War of Art, was that he says, (and I'm paraphrasing) "Even when your work falls short of where you want it to be, you have to continue working and do a large volume of work."  It's the process of working and working in bunches that gets your work to that professional level. I hope you can gain something from this conversation as I did.


Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Sunday Morning Coming Down

Have you ever heard the song Sunday Morning Coming Down, written by Kris Kristofferson and performed by Johnny Cash.



One of my favorite songs of all time and a perfect title to the new section of the blog.  I want to get back to the real reason I started shooting, the glorification of God.  That's the reason I went to college, to gain the technical knowledge I needed to see my visions through.  God blesses us all with a talent, or two, or even three, but if you don't nurture them...you squander them.  I don't want to squander them.  So, to make sure I don't do that I have to shoot continually and shoot what God really wants me to shoot, His work.  That may seem crazy to some who aren't believers, and thats OK, we all answer to someone or something.  And I'm not mad at you if you think I'm crazy, I'll keep moving forward and we'll still be friends.

So here's my first leap back into photographing church.  I used to feel really comfortable getting right in peoples faces, right in the mix and snapping off a frame or two.  Not that comfortable anymore.  That's exactly what I needed to feel right now.  That's the push I need to pursue and get better at shooting.

I really focused on the strong silhouettes and shadows from the lighting.  I was hoping for more hands raised and more encroachment on the light.  But you work with what you're given.

Really liked the light shining, seemingly on this one individual.

I was drawn to this shadow (of the guy in the above photograph).  This sparked me to start looking for the things that could represent worship without being so obvious.  That's something I'm going to work on; looking for the things that aren't so obvious.

Being prophecied over.

I like the graphic element of this image.  It almost forms a W.

This young man came to the front for prayer.

You'll notice there aren't a lot of photographs of faces.  That's my current deficiency.  There was a time when I would have been about a foot from peoples faces.  You really gain a greater feeling for the moment that way.  I have the permission of my pastor to photograph freely at church and I'll take advantage of that.  Robert Capa once said, "If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough."  I'll get back there, I'll gain that comfort level again.

I hope you enjoyed the first installment of Sunday Morning Coming Down.  BTW, this is post 100!

American Master's - Avedon

Thought I would share this tonight.  PBS does these great 1 and a half hour documentaries on American Masters.  They've done them on Charles and Ray Eames (mid century architects and designers), Annie Leibovitz, Jasper Johns and countless other great artists.  If you have the time to watch this do it, its incredibly insightful into the way a true master works.  Hope you enjoy.

Cousins - Santa Rosa, CA

Last Saturday we were in Santa Rosa for Brandon and Amy's house warming party and decided to stay the weekend.  The cousins don't get enough time together so any time that they do, we try and make it as lengthy as possible.  They get along so good and love each other so much, its hard to separate them.  You'll see.

Early morning cereal fest.  None of these kids sleep in.

Crazy boys.

Pretty girls.

Evy moving in for a hug on Lincoln, I told you they love each other.

Then they both wanted to shoot me.  But I shot them first (With a camera!).

Then Evy found the mud in the backyard.

Scout found a Storm Trooper helmet.

Lincoln found a bike.

And Bryden couldn't find anyone to play with.  Its OK buddy, you'll be up and running with them soon enough.

We were able to squeeze off a family portrait.  I love how disheveled the kids look.

Here they are (Bryden gone and Lincoln napping) just before we went home.  They were getting all the time they could together, even reading books!

The kids had a great time together.  I feel like its my duty as the unofficial family photographer to capture these times when we do get together.  I know for me, I still have vivid memories of the great times I spent with my cousins and my parents have the snapshots to show for it.  I don't want them to ever forget there youthfulness and love for one another.  You don't have to be a great photographer to document your children's lives, trust me, you just need a camera and a willingness.  God Bless.