ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Saturday 8 March 2014

I’M CRAP. (08/03/14)

The wind is still blowing though it is a southerly so warm. This afternoon the dogs and I went to take some pictures of a superb instrumentalist. The bar was too small to use a fill flash and Rod Webster was too close to the wall. I knew he would be but wasn’t prepared to accept defeat. This is a really small venue.

_V0G8290    Riverman Rod with a smile on his face. I do appreciate his talent. I needed another strobe to get rid of the shadow. Nowhere to put it he plays jammed in a corner.

_V0G8284

_V0G8291   Sorry Rod you deserve better. Two strobes would see the job a good un. A bit of posing with a smile wouldn’t go amiss.

It would take me over an hour to do him justice and a half hour for Rod to forget the vets bill. His poor Alsatian stuck his head down a badger set last night and got savaged. Poor dog he was only being friendly. Molly used to go down Badger holes and has a scar on her tail for her trouble. She must have told Alf because he gives them a wide berth.

Ho Hum. Some days you crack it and others you fail.

26 comments:

  1. A brilliant instrumentalist of all sorts, and they had strings. Poor Molly, 1 up for the Badger, hip hip hooray. Long live our Badgers.

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    1. Bob, the badger was naughty. Pity they don't eat Camerons.

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  2. Hi Adrian, have you tried bouncing the flash off of the ceiling. There is another method, it's what the news photographers use. First tape a white card on the top of your flash, then point the flash at an angle towards the ceiling. The card acts as a bounce for front fill and the flash bounces off of the ceiling. Give it a try and see what happens. Just make sure that the ceiling is white. ;-)

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    1. Oh, and make sure the card hangs over the top of the flash by 80%. I hope this helps you. I've tried it and it works.

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    2. Thanks Horst, I'll tape on a white card as the ceiling is the same as the walls. Rod has seen his pictures and is coming on Monday to subject himself for more scrutiny. I use a soft box and a flash bracket. I could have got rid of the shadow on the wall with another strobe but the place was too busy.
      He is also having a shower and bringing changes of clothes and hats. It would be nice if he didn't wear glasses. Not all subjects are perfect specimens.

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    3. PS. Horst is it daft to set up a couple of strobes to act as back fill light. I've done it with cars and it works. ETTL doesn't in this circumstance. I shoot manual and today had to drop to !/30s to get DOF. I only shoot with flash through a soft box or diffuser. Folk that know me will testify that I don't waste many shots. Today I shot five getting lighting and trying to avoid flare from his specs, I then picked these three from the next eight, I took another four of the spectators. They were fine as they were away from the wall,

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  3. If you had not mentioned the shadow I might not have noticed. Still the pictures are fine - clear and sharp. The first one is the best I think, the second he looks a bit distracted but the third is the most interesting. He looks like he's really feeling the music. Actually, it is my fav.

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    1. David, I always have trouble with flash. It is a necessary tool but even with a few trial shots I find it difficult to shoot fast. Yes the portraits will do with a bit of Photoshopping but a perfect capture would be nice.
      Clear and sharp is what photography is about for me and at this moment.

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  4. Three different instruments? That takes talent! Hey the photographer has talent too.

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    1. Red, I am having another go on Monday afternoon. It should be quiet then.

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  5. Preciosas esas gitarras Adrian. Las fotos están muy naturales!!
    Buen domingo.
    Un abrazo

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    1. Laura, estamos tomando de nuevo el lunes. Me desharé de la sombra.

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  6. I find fascinating the actual bar with it's wooden walls and instruments hanging up it looks like it has a unique character.

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    1. Douglas, I'll miss this place. I visit the bar two or three times a week and for a new place it has got character.

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  7. Oh the poor pup- badgers are mean buggers. Rod looks relaxed and happy- good pics!

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    1. Terri, he will learn not to stick his head down holes.

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  8. It's all very well for those who can use a studio for portraits, live performances must be an altogether more difficult proposition. I really like the first one - conveys a nice warm personality and the shadows don't really distract from the subject.

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    1. John, I could Photoshop the shadows. It is only a small bar and with twenty people in impossible to move around. I would have shot in natural light and avoided flare from his glasses but the place is lit by Halogen, Fluorescent and daylight so flash is easier.

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  9. Adrian, I noticed that you have a flash on one side of the camera, a lot of photographers use a second flash on the other side as well therefor removing the shadow. In other words 2 potable strobes one on each side of the camera. It's just a thought.

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    1. Horst, yes on and old Vivitar bracket. I did intend using a second strobe off to the right but there wasn't room. I'm having another go this afternoon when it should be quiet.

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  10. :-) it is so nice when there is warm wind in the spring, I really like it.
    ... nice guitars.. and I think your portrait comes out good or?

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    1. Laura, it is okay but hopefully I can do much better.

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  11. I like the idea of bouncing the flash, but you can always Photoshop this shadow if you don't get another chance.

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    1. Maria, I am doing the job again today. It is much quicker to get it right in camera. I enjoy this sort of photography but don't do enough of it.

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  12. Forget all the techno stuff, I bet he is happy and surely that is what matters.

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    1. Pauline, he is happy enough but we are having another go today.
      I'll miss this place, tomorrow I leave for pastures new.

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