Photo of the Day 3/364 Doyel a A Mix of Both Worlds

I met Doyel through Nikki on our last shoot. I took a couple of shots with her and noticed the light really falls nicely on her skin. Probably because of her skin tone. I asked her if we could schedule an hour of shoot for her portrait on Pakistan costume and she gladly agreed.


For the lighting i used 4 580 EX II 3 as slaves and one as master using Pocketwizards 3 Flex tt5 as receiver and Mini TT1 as commander (mounted in it the 4th 580 EX II) on mounted to Canon 5D Mark II's hotshoe. Please see diagram below.


On post processing I used a bit of Librodo's editing and on lighting the Strobist way hence the title A Mix of Both Worlds.




Here is Nikki and Doyel after the shoot.

Canon Speedlight Video Tutorials

If you are a Canon user like myself I have discovered a link with speedlight video tutorials courtesy of canon digital learning center.  Check the part 1 here and part 2 here.  The video shows how to control external speedlights through the camera.

Photo of the Day 2/364- Farewell Winter Friends!

Photo of the Day 2/364- Farewell Winter Friends!
Originally uploaded by Jun Madayag
This is my second day for posting photo of the day. Today's photo are our winter friends which are about to leave for a long sleep.

It was still chilly outside and its hard to ask a model to pose so decided to do it inside the house with these cooperative models.


I have used three 580 EX II 1 set to 1/4 power group A and the other at 1/64 power group B. Both of these flashes were receiving command via Pocektwizard Flex TT5 from a Mini TT1 with a 580 EX II set in a command mode on my Canon 5D Mark II. All settings were controlled on 580 EX II with Mini TT1 on Cam.

Camera Settings:

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: On, Fired

For lighting setup

Welcome 2010!!

I have compiled some shots taken during the fireworks and welcoming of 2010 at Two IFC Hong Kong. Hope you guys enjoy this.

ExpoDisc Portrait White Balance Filter

I am amazed with this ExpoDisc Portrait White Balance Filter.  I was playing around with it yesterday and I  was surprised how off the colors of what camera captures.


This shot on the left is from a cafe house and the area was tungsten lit.  I had a lamp on my right side.  My camera setting was f2.8, 1/20 @ ISO 800 I think.  The first shot was set to Auto White Balance the second is Tungsten Balance and the last was Manual White Balance using the ExpoDisc filter.


If  you want  to know about this product check their website.   I will be posting more samples after my shoot this sunday.









Image courtesy of Expoimaging.

Fireworks Photography Tutorial

New Year is just a few days away and for sure there are some of you photogs out there who are planning to shoot some fireworks so I thought of posting my own tips.

Equipments:

SLR Camera (preferably with Bulb function)

-Tripod

-Shutter release/remote

-Black cardboard

1.  Mount camera in a tripod.

2. Use Shutter release cable or remote to trigger the camera

3. My working aperture is around f8-11.  I prefer to use wide angle lens for this kind of shot and setting it to its widest angle  and place the focus on infinity and manual.

4. Set your shooting mode to Bulb mode.



Before opening your shutter  or shooting place your black cardboard in front of  the lens to cover it from capturing when you open your shutter.  Now press your shutter release to open.   If you want to capture the light trails remove the black cardboard to capture the trail then cover it again with the cardboard.  After the first bang remove again the black cardboard cover to capture the burst.  Then release your shutter to save the image.   Timing is of the essence in capturing beautiful fireworks and it takes a lot of practice.  Hope to see your shots soon!

Happy New Year!!

Lazy Saturday

Didn't do much today except being a couch potato.  It was cold and hazy outside and didn't realize it was 5:30PM.  I peaked out on the porch and noticed it was hazy.  The light on the dock just overlooking my place just turned on and got a few shots.

I turned my white balance setting to tungsten and this made the grayish ambient turned blue and it gave the feeling of coldness on the scene.