Well, the wedding is going well so far. Last night, we we able to get some fun pictures of the rehearsal/ensuing party which included a bonfire. One of the close friends of the bride and groom is a firedancer from Portland who was nice enough to put on a show for all of us. I got some great shots of him. They're going to do it again tomorrow night and I'll have Em fire up the flash from way off in left field so it lights him just slightly but I still catch the drag lines from his firedancing. I haven't pulled the images off of my card yet, but I'll post them later today if I have some time.
We've got a few hours before things start up again, so I'm going to just throw on some pants and hang out with my computer in the lobby of our hotel so Em can sleep some more. We didn't get back until after midnight last night and the party was still going strong.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Dragon
How I learned to stop worrying and love Democracy
- Wedding at the Beach (Pt. I)
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![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
winter_in_asia- June 21st, 2008
- New pics are up
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- winter_in_asia
- May 4th, 2008
Photos from yesterday's wedding are now up atthereversedlens and the official RLP blog (http://reversedlensphotography.blogspot.com).
d_g post here.
- More Work
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- winter_in_asia
- April 25th, 2008
I love sitting down with clients who like the idea of working with you. People you feel like you're really connecting with. That makes my day, sometimes even makes my week.
Needless to say, we booked something last night.
Fun Bat Mitzvah in October with a really cool family. They booked 8 hours of coverage (a significant chunk for a Bar / Bat) plus the photobooth. We threw in an extra session, our new "Full Bloom" session that we do with 10-14 y/o kids. They're a good family I'm going to enjoy working with. Best of all, I think they're probably going to refer a lot of people.
Did I mention things are going well?
- I give up
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- winter_in_asia
- April 3rd, 2008
After much hemming and hawing, Em and I have decided to take the plunge and purchase Nikon's 70-200 f/2.8 VR. It's a fairly large investment (~$1700), but it's a piece of glass that I suspect will be around for quite a while. In any case, I'm sure we'll use it for a number of years before we replace it. Nikon just released their nanocoat-class lenses (the 24-70mm and 14-24mm), so I suppose there's a chance they'll revamp the 70-200, but the announcement wouldn't even come until November anyway. We need that lens for this season, and I'm sure there will be a good market for them if we ever opt to upgrade.
I just keep counting down what we still need:
2x Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 N
1x Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 N
At least one canvas for display
At least one flushmount album for display (Confirmed: we're buying this as a companion to one of the orders that was put in last month)
2x 13' lightstands
1x Tripod with pistol grip
The flushmount and canvas will probably happen later this month, as will the tripod. The product purchases from our shoots this weekend (Saturday: Bar Mitzvah, Sunday: Family Shoot) should be able to finance at least that much, if not the lightstands as well. The lenses will have to wait a bit longer, though.
I still need to pick up something so we can use the diffusers on the Alien Bees for the family shoot Sunday. I've got the gels for it, I just need something to soften the light a little. Perhaps a trip to Pro is in order.
- Lightroom 2.0 Beta
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- winter_in_asia
- April 2nd, 2008
curious
For those who did not read the announcement at DP Review, Adobe has now opened up the public beta for version 2.0 of Lightroom.
( A basic description for the uninitiated )
According to Adobe's website, new features include:
* Localized corrections — Enhance specific areas of an image for unsurpassed nondestructive flexibility and control reminiscent of the traditional darkroom dodge and burn experience.
* Improved organizational tools — Find the images you need quickly and easily.
* Multiple monitor support — Add an additional monitor to efficiently manage photographic workflow and presentation.
* Flexible print package functionality — Create custom layouts containing multiple sizes of a photograph on a single page.
* 64-bit support — Lightroom 2.0 now takes advantage of the latest hardware architectures with improved memory handling and performance.
Apparently, the release is very much still in beta, and is still designed to install along side installations of Lightroom 1.3.1. Personally, I think I'll probably give it a whirl on our laptop before I do anything. That way, I run absolutely no risk that it will cause damage to our client files. Adobe does not recommend trying to do any actual editing on the new version, as they cannot guarantee that files will transfer correctly between 2.0 beta and the official release, let alone the beta and 1.3.1.
If you've got a copy of Lightroom, the trial is indefinite; otherwise, you've got 30 days to try it out before it stops working.
Sources
- DP Review announcement: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0804/08040202lightroom2.asp
- Adobe Labs announcement: http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom/
- Lightroom overview: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/
- Notes on Radio Slaves
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- winter_in_asia
- March 6th, 2008
Recently, I've been doing some research on radio slaves. A friend suggested that the community might benefit from some of the information I've dug up over the last few days, so here it is.
( What is a Radio Slave )
Brands
( Cut for the tl;dr crowd )
So there it is. I hope this helps some people out. I've certainly learned a lot in the last week.
- Another Poll
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- winter_in_asia
- January 30th, 2008
I'm doing more research for Ye Olde Businesse, so I'm putting up another poll.
Poll #1129977 Photography
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: AllHow much are you / did you pay for a wedding photographer in US dollars? Choose whatever value is closest.
View Answers
Mean: 2228.57 Median: 2000 Std. Dev 1591.69
0 
3 (2.1%)500 16 (11.4%)1000 20 (14.3%)1500 22 (15.7%)2000 21 (15.0%)2500 20 (14.3%)3000 15 (10.7%)3500 7 (5.0%)4000 3 (2.1%)4500 3 (2.1%)5000 5 (3.6%)5500 0 (0.0%)6000 1 (0.7%)6500 0 (0.0%)7000 1 (0.7%)7500 0 (0.0%)8000 2 (1.4%)8500 0 (0.0%)9000 0 (0.0%)9500 0 (0.0%)10000 1 (0.7%)How many photographers were at your wedding?
View AnswersOne photographer alone
76 (47.8%)One photographer with assistant
33 (20.8%)Two photographers
45 (28.3%)Two photographers with assistant(s)
4 (2.5%)Other (please specify in comments)
1 (0.6%)How much coverage did you purchase? Please include wedding and any other pre/post events like a rehersal dinner.
View Answers0-2 hours
0 (0.0%)2-4 hours
5 (3.1%)4-6 hours
32 (20.1%)6-8 hours
41 (25.8%)8-12 hours
28 (17.6%)12 hours or more
7 (4.4%)Unlimited Coverage
46 (28.9%)Which of the following came with your package:
View AnswersImages on disk ("soft copies")
104 (65.4%)Digital negatives or printing rights
123 (77.4%)Album(s)
76 (47.8%)Brag book(s)
13 (8.2%)Proof prints (please specify size/qty in comments)
67 (42.1%)DVD slideshow
42 (26.4%)Print / Product credit
31 (19.5%)Other (please specify in comments)
18 (11.3%)None of the above
1 (0.6%)Did you order any of the following in addition to the items included in the package?
View AnswersAlbum / Brag Book
13 (28.3%)DVD slide show
2 (4.3%)Images on disk ("soft copies")
6 (13.0%)Digital negatives or printing rights
9 (19.6%)Additional prints
25 (54.3%)Other (please specify in comments)
5 (10.9%)Which of the following factored into your decision:
View AnswersPrice / Affordability
103 (65.2%)Photographic style
141 (89.2%)Image quality
101 (63.9%)Deliverables (IE: products or prints as mentioned above)
51 (32.3%)Photographer's personality
118 (74.7%)Personal recommendation
52 (32.9%)Other (Please specify in comments)
10 (6.3%)What is the number one reason you chose your photographer?
View AnswersPrice / affordability
40 (25.2%)Photographic style
66 (41.5%)Image quality
17 (10.7%)Deliverables
1 (0.6%)Photographer's personality
14 (8.8%)Personal Recommendation
15 (9.4%)Other (Please specify)
6 (3.8%)
- I know I said no more pictures
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- winter_in_asia
- August 19th, 2007
Ever sincethereversedlens got taken over by the RLP photos, I haven't really had a place to post my own stuff that isn't RLP related. So I'm going back to posting here.
Em and I went out to take some promotional shots for the website and we decided to have some fun cropping them in a 1:1 ratio. That's right, kiddies: they're all squares. Comments/Constructive Criticism/Small Woodland Creatures greatly appreciated.
I'm thinking that when I get all done, I need to set up a whole mood theme out of these. At least one will become an icon. Suggestions are welcomed.
One
Two
( +15 )
- A Selection of B&W Photos
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- winter_in_asia
- July 12th, 2007
Em and I are working on a new set of photos for our living room. This is the first wave of possible selections. Please vote in the poll for the shots you think would be best.
( Pictures and Poll are in here )
- A changing of the guard...
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- winter_in_asia
- April 17th, 2007
After much thought, I've decided to reclaim my personal journal as a personal journal and move all my photography out. Hence, we have a poll:
Poll #968133 New Photography Journal
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: AllWhat username should I use?
View Answersdigital_gus
6 (33.3%)wia_photos
5 (27.8%)the_reversed_lens
6 (33.3%)f_4
1 (5.6%)Other (please specify in the comments)
0 (0.0%)Should this new journal be public?
When created, would you like to be added to the new journal?
( The Reason Why )
- Urban University: An Afternoon Down Town
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- winter_in_asia
- April 13th, 2007
Em and I sauntered down town on Tuesday afternoon to enjoy the sunny, albeit cool afternoon. Needless to say, we brought the camera and took some pictures. The last one was taken by Em. I'm pretty sure the rest are mine, though.
( +7 )
- Easter Shoot: Sweet and Bitter
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- winter_in_asia
- April 9th, 2007
( +2 )Sweet Drinks
- Easter Shoot: The Tulips
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- winter_in_asia
- April 9th, 2007
I don't have a speed light yet, so I was playing with the pop-up flash on my camera. I'm not impressed with the results, but I tried diffusing it with different things, which seemed to help some. Suggestions are strongly encouraged.
( +1 )Snapshot: Tulip
- Easter Shoot: Ashes to Ashes
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- winter_in_asia
- April 9th, 2007
I've been trying to do more interesting stuff with my photography lately. For Easter, I thought it might be fun to contrast life and death, bitterness and sweetness in different ways. Sometimes this contrast is all in one picture, but mostly I shot multiple pictures, one representing one concept, the next, its opposite. Enjoy!
( +2 )Ashes to Ashes
- Eastbank Esplanade Night Shots (Part II)
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- winter_in_asia
- April 6th, 2007
( +5 )
- Eastbank Esplanade Night Shots
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- winter_in_asia
- April 6th, 2007
( +3 )
- Macro: Random living things (and my keyboard)
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- winter_in_asia
- April 3rd, 2007
( +6 )Parsley
From our garden. I'm not sure why there's so much fuzzyness, probably because of the shallow depth of field. Shot with the 50mm Nikkor, reversed.
- The Basement (A Macro Tour)
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- winter_in_asia
- March 31st, 2007
( +4 )Rare Book Room
That's right, folks, we actually have a rare book room. I can't recall what exactly is in here, but most of it is old scientific texts.
- The Little Train Car that Couldn't (Part III)
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- winter_in_asia
- March 30th, 2007
( More )Shattered
A window from Car #1
- The Little Train Car that Couldn't (Part II)
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- winter_in_asia
- March 29th, 2007
( +3 )Burn Out I
The burned out train car from earlier this week. You'll note the almost total destruction of the inside of the car. There was a bathroom or some such at the far end, but it was gutted as well.
