Background

"Angie Loves to Sew" - Cary

Better late than never, right? I knew I wanted to use Angie as my model but I couldn't figure out the background or lighting I wanted for the longest time. I finally had an idea that worked better than I thought it would. My remote flash is in slave mode (1/8 power) with a blue gel and diffuser dome behind the sewing machine. A hand-held diffuser is softening out the on-camera flash (1/4 power).

E-3 w/ 12-60 mm @ 23mm, 1/60 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100

By Lisa

This fits the background category?! This Mexican restaurant has a lot of cool wall motifs for backgrounds. I finally got my camera back from the shop so I can explore some more with my new external flash. (I feel complete again.)

"Read to Me, Grandpa" - Matt

One of the important grandfatherly tasks.

f/9.5, 1/250sec, 50mm, 1 flash

Next Week's Challenge:

Southern Shots

27 January 2010 - Weekly Photo Challenge: "Look Smart"

Due: 3 February 2010

The third assignment from the "strobist" blog. Again, the point is to learn lighting. Let me know if I should continue with the strobist assignments.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/boot-camp-assignment-number-three-look.html

Matt

Bonus Pics:

"Red Berries on Ice" - Cary

While I was in Davenport, Iowa, they were thoughtful enough to let me experience a Midwest ice storm. Makes for interesting pictures but not fun driving.

E-3 w/ 12-60mm @ 48mm, 1/20 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 100

"Edge-cut Sun at the Illinois Monument" - Cary

My current favorite photography book, Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision by David duChemin (which I highly recommend) has several examples of this edge-cut sun technique. I like it.

E-3 w/ 12-60mm @ 12mm, 1/320 sec @ f/8, ISO 100

Headshot

"Addie" - Lisa

My grandaughter is a natural poser which made my job so easy! I did enhance her eyes a little in LR2 to bring out her beautiful color.

"Benjamin will pose for candy" - Cary

My boys are generally not willing models but Benjamin can usually be talked into it. This time required a bribe. I used a tin-foil snoot on my flash to keep the light just on him so the rest of the room in the background would appear black.

E-3 w/ 50mm, 1/100 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100, remote flash w/ snoot

"Pat Harwood?" - Matt

The posing is a little plain and boring, but hey, it's supposed to be a mug shot.

50mm, f/4, 1/180sec

"Just how do I get off this box again?" - Aaron

Last night when I went to work on this assignment the only one awake was Jackson, so he got to be my subject. He did a great job and works pretty cheap - doggie treats!

55mm, f/5.6, 1/25 sec, iso-1600

Next Week's Challenge:

Southern Shots

20 January 2010 - Weekly Photo Challenge: "Background"

Due: 27 January 2010

The next assignment from the "strobist" blog. Include an adult subject on a background that complements. Light the scene with your set-up. No tight head shots.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/boot-camp-assignment-2-background.html

Matt

Bonus Pics:

"Busy Evening on the River" - Cary

A tow with barges, a boat, a train, clouds and a setting sun. A passing flock of geese would have been a nice addition but as it was, last Thursday's sunset was pretty nice.

E-3 w/ 12-60mm @ 33mm, 1/250 sec @ f/8, ISO 100

Peace

By Lisa

I have no idea what to call this, but thought it might fit the category for this week. This photo is a bit heavy handed in editing but it was a picture I felt like needed to be saved and sometimes you can hide defaults from the original photo by giving it a bit of a face lift. (My flash hadn't recovered when I took this picture so the photo came out pretty orangey. Is that a word?)

"Peaceful Slumber" - Mike
I tried getting this shot before tonight, but it just didn't work out. I admit that I like my new ball-head tripod a lot. It's nice to make all the adjustments at once.

There are few things as peaceful as a sleeping child. Although our home is not generally peaceful due to the presence of five small children, they do make life more interesting. Things can get crazy at times, but kids help keep us young and remind us what an amazing and magical world this is that we live in. It's a shame that we somehow tend to forget that as we get older.
50 mm, f/5.6, 6.0 sec., ISO 200, Measured White Balance.

"Green Peas" - Cary

Peace, bro - have some snackin' peas.

E-3 w/ 50mm, 1/100 sec @ f/8, ISO 100, bounce flash

“Pre-Dinner Nap” – Matt

Peace in the subject… and peace for the rest of us as a result.

f/2.5, 1/4sec, 50mm

Next Week's Challenge:
Southern Shots
13 January 2010 - Weekly Photo Challenge: "Headshot
Due: 20 January 2010

I apologize up front – this is going to be long. Skip to the end if you like.

I thought we’d do a series on off-camera lighting. The next six challenges (unless there are too many complaints) will be from the following website:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/

The blog is written with off-camera flash in mind, but should work well enough with continuous lamps as well.

Some background stuff if you have time:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/02/welcome-to-strobist.html
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101-balancing-flash-and.html
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101balancing-flash-with.html

Now on to the assignments. He presents them as assignments issued to a budding photographer, which is a fun twist on things:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/06/lighting-boot-camp-archive-page.html

We’ll do the first assignment (“Headshot”) this week – due next Wednesday. Let me know if there are any big objections.

Matt

Bonus Pics:

"Frozen Cypress Swamp" - Cary

It's been very cold here in Mississippi, like much of the eastern US. This swamp along the Natchez Trace (Ryan used it as a subject once) was intriguing to me because the shadows and the reflections of the trees on the ice were at such odds with each other. See the original, pre-treatment, unprocessed RAW file here.

E-3 w/ 12-60mm @ 12mm, 1/40 sec @ f/8, ISO 100

New

One day old - Kirk
I confess that I was pretty certain that our new little girl would show up last weekend giving me an easy target for this week's challenge. After I saw the original I thought this shot would be a great candidate for a high key image.
52 mm, f/5.6, 1/8 sec, ISO 1600, p-mode, post processed in Gimp

"Eager Hyacinth" - Cary
Too eager, it would seem. Someone needs to explain to the hyacinths and daffodils that have sprouted all over our yard that it's still the DEAD of WINTER - even in Mississippi. Snow is forecast for tomorrow and we might not break freezing on Friday.
E-3 w/ 12-60mm @ 60mm, 1/30 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100


"Anticipating" - by Lisa


"Keep Your Stick on the Ice"
His first time on the ice and he did great, even with the adult-sized skates. Fortunately, I didn't fall as I skated backward and looked through the viewfinder trying to get this picture.
f/13, 1/10sec, 50mm

Next Week's Challenge:
Southern Shots
6 January 2010 - Weekly Photo Challenge: "Peace"
Due: 13 January 2010

Pretty straight forward, have fun this week. If do didn't see I actually did post something for the last challenge, it just took me until last night to post process it and today to get it up.

-Kirk

Bonus Pics:

"Can you guess what this is?" - Cary
I got a new lens - the magnificent and highly acclaimed Olympus 50mm f/2. The folks at slrgear.com rate it as one of the sharpest lenses at all apertures that they've ever tested. It's a wonderful portrait lens and with the extension tube, it can get really close. Macro photography is something I've not tried much but could be fun for some subjects. This subject is something with which you're all familiar - in fact you're probably using one right now. It would also have made a decent "accidental face" a few weeks back. Once you've made your guess, click here to see if you're correct.

"Sisters" - Kirk
I think this is a pretty cute composition and felt pretty lucky to get this shot. I guess my love of holding down the shutter paid off in this occasion.