Arizona POTN get together?

Rachel,
I understand your husbands problem (I'm 5'5" at the beginning of the day, shorter as gravity does its evil deed as the day progresses). It seems to me that taller people always move to the front (even in group pictures I do at work)- or at least in front of me- and at cloth stores men's small sizes are always on the top rack with the large on the lower racks.

Adam- would you mind if I did a save-as on the picture you posted of me? Friends always want to see a picture of me (as I'm always taking the picture it's very rare that I take and be in the picture), so this may quiet them down abit.

Hey Steve.. Loved the portrait. Very beautiful! I had contemplated (spelling??) getting the 70-200 before the 24-70L because I can't afford to buy both at once. I decided on the 24-70 because I mostly do portrait work...

HOWEVER, I keep realizing how much I'd enjoy the 70-200 because I always shoot at the long end of my lens and that might have been a better choice...

Oh well.. I'm banking on the hope that the IS will be a standard item on that lens in another 6 months, and hopefully by Thanksgiving the price will drop nicely... just before it jumps up again for the holiday sales... We will see..

Thanks for sharing your photo.. There is no way I could handhold with the shutter under 100 and that's even pushing it for me... 125 is my usual baseline, and then I start bumping ISO/adjusting Aperature to get exposure...

I'd be interested to see how the monopod works... heard of them, but have never seen one in use... I'm pretty new to all this... It's been a bit over a year since I got my 20D.. Before that it was always point and shoot, and with film SLR... well, let's just say that nothing was ever in focus... Amazing what i have learned in the last year's time.

Okay... I'm rambling again.. sorry.. I"m a professional rambler in case you haven't already noticed.

Hey Tami, you still going to that flash class on Sunday??

Kristy, I used the monopod during that shoot and handheld some (with adequate results - not as many sharp images). This was during a workshop and we were using hotlights with 6 photographers so space was limited the monopod was ideal, a little added stability and didn't take the space a tripod would. Here's a link describing some ways to use the monopod (option 1 is really not an option - very little stability). link: http://www.outdooreyes​.com/photo5.php3
The monopod does limit your movement at times, so I have a quick release on it with a ball-head. Loosening the lens collar allows a quick shift from landscape to portrait.
If the 70-200 IS does come down in price I'd trade my non-IS and a few $$ for one in a second.

Thats OK. He got a taste of what I go through a lot! He got a lot of good photos. It was just funny from my perspective... seeing him put his hands on his hips LOL. Cracked me up.
I am 5' on a good day. A lot of times I am in the wheelchair and people are SO rude to people in wheelchairs. I told him I am going to start kicking people or put those leg extension on :P and if one happens to hit someone...
We were in AWE of your camera set up. We were puttering around with the one lens. Nothing too fancy.

Yup that was probably me! I was sitting on a bench with the wheelchair close by. Your butt starts to hurt after a while. I would have stood but couldn't see much either way, so sitting and people watching was good.
I have a request in for a power wheelchair, been waiting since November. Starting to tick me off. They do not even keep me updated on what is going on. And they get irritated at me for calling.
Watch out when I get it, that baby goes 15mph Weeeee! Darren is a much nicer driver then I am. I am getting one of those air horns and I will let loose (I am talking about people who are blatently rude-- and know they are being rude).

Adam B. wrote in post #2781156
Rachel,
That sounds just like me, grey shirt blue "meteor crater" written on it. I also have dark glasses with me but I can't use them when I shoot. Most of the time at the drums I was by myself. Everyone else was trying to find a spot to shoot from.

Now that I think back on it, I did see you. Behind the beachers, right side of the stage, by the table with the umbella, in the archway of the building.

I'm really sorry if I cut in front of your hubby, sometimes you see a shot and don't think about others around you. I must have seen something and went for it. Again, I'm sorry.

Darren likes to say he is 5'5" but I think he is shorter, which is OK by me since I am 5'. He makes me feel taller thenI am *ha ha*. I noticed that about clothes. I wonder why they do that.

Not sure why taller people like to be in front. I don't care. I try and hide behind them. Never seems to work.

JmprSteve wrote in post #2781268
Rachel,
I understand your husbands problem (I'm 5'5" at the beginning of the day, shorter as gravity does its evil deed as the day progresses). It seems to me that taller people always move to the front (even in group pictures I do at work)- or at least in front of me- and at cloth stores men's small sizes are always on the top rack with the large on the lower racks.

I think someone should invent a 'pod for wheelchair users. Try and use a normal tripod... can we said pain in the ....?? Impossible! Even when I stand up and use it, I always feel like I am going to knock it over. I am Ms Clutzy 2 feet.

I am glad I do not have to use a 'pod except when doing longer exposures like at night or concert shots (even when I took these last year, I had no 'pod-- I may try to use a monopod if my girlfriend will loan me hers).
I can steady my camera like you would not believe with out one, but am mastering the tripod and timer to get the best shots possible. Of course, you get good, having someone push you in a wheelchair over bumps or flying down the highway in a car, LOL steading the camera to get shots you want!
I will admit, the 70-300 gets heavy after a while!!

JmprSteve wrote in post #2781672
Kristy, I used the monopod during that shoot and handheld some (with adequate results - not as many sharp images).

~Rachel who did NOT get enough sleep last night and is babbling incoherently.

Rachel,
If it was you up front, I would have never cut in front of your chair. I might jump in front of someone once in a while, seldom without an excuse me, but never in front of a "chair". That's just down right wrong.

About monopods, I really need a ballhead mono very soon. I was shooting birds and other things today a Boyce Thompson Arboretum and trying to shoot up high with a mono and without a ballhead is a royal pain. It was my first time there, fantasic place!!! I can't wait to go again. I think this might be one of those once a month places. WOW.

Steve, PM sent.
Adam

I'm interested to know what lighting workshop you attended.. Not many of them that I can find... I went to one in December, but was looking for more detail, I think....

JmprSteve wrote in post #2781672
Kristy, I used the monopod during that shoot and handheld some (with adequate results - not as many sharp images). This was during a workshop and we were using hotlights with 6 photographers so space was limited the monopod was ideal, a.

Kristy,
Don Giannatti holds a workshop once a month. The first half of the day is spent inside the second part is outside location shooting.
The one I attended the number of people who had used lights was minimal, I think myself and one other person actually had monolights. So, the morning was spent using the cheap set-up - Home Depot work lights, Target brand shower curtain (cloth one not the plastic one for a diffuser, and foam core (4x8 sheet cut to 2 2x8 feet and then gaffered taped together) as a reflector. The portrait I posted was with this set-up. The outside was a combination of using the off-camera flash (some people didn't have those) and reflectors. He covered what to look for in a location and how to make some pretty uninteresting backgrounds into intresting shots. I was interested in how he worked with the 'talent' (models).
Don's website is DonGiannatti.com, I should warn you he uses the flicker film loop and that really slows down the browser (at least for me). The image attached was taken leaning against the east side of the building in the parking lot. For once I had this side by side photo in my head while I was taking the shots. I only wish in the picture with Bryans face expose, Christina's hair was pulled back just a little to expose the side of her face (not completely but just enough to see some facial features).
It was a good working class, but it didn't give any time to experiment with the lighting set-up.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Interesting. I'll have to look into that. I've never attended a workshop.

Smooth1 (James):
Besides Don Giannatti's workshop, I went to one given by Alan Lowry in Cave Creek. The workshop I attended was "Outdoor Portraiture" this was another good workshop. Here's a link to his One Model portfolio to see if you like his style of shooting: http://www.onemodelpla​ce.com/member.cfm?P_ID​=1652 and here is his website: http://www.cavecreek-photo.com/
Alan suggested shooting at f5.6 - f8, where Don like shooting wide open. Different approaches. I find I like to shoot portraits around f4 - f5.6, Don favors the glamour glow (soft focus) his style is a little too soft for my preference, Alan leans towards the sharper image (a little too sharp for me) so I shoot in between.
Alan usually has a schedule of classes (Alan has several different workshops) handout at Tempe Camera and Photomark, or email him and he'll send you a schedule.
Both were very informative and fun to attend. I'm really looking forward to the lighting workshop that AZ2Africa (Terry) is trying to put together. I seem to learn things faster if I read up on a subject then have someone actually demonstrate the information.
Hope this helps.
Steve

Thanks for this Steve. I actually spoke with John (Don) over the phone once.. was inquiring about classes in December, but I was anxious to take one sooner than his next scheduled class in jan/feb... I enjoyed speaking with him and he seems very creative.

I ended up taking a class with Alan Lowrey at Cave Creek photo... He was very cool to work with and we used hotlights the entire time.. I think 99% of his shooting in in studio. I was particularly interested in is classes because they were less expensive (always juggling the funds lol), and he seems to specials in Nudes, which would be helpful to me when shooting maternity. I love the human form and someday doing some tasteful nudes would be quite interesting.... lighting them is critically important though, and I wouldn't even attempt it until I have mastered it... or at least feel like I know what I'm doing...

Thanks for the examples... I may sign up for that Class that you are talking about in the other thread... I'd like to read more about it and also see what the dates end up looking like, and the finance part of course.

Happy Day.. I'm rambling again!! Oops!!

OOPS! Looks like we were both typing at the same time.... Ever consider Alan's Boudior/Nude class?? He has soooo many classes. The Dungeon thing is a little scary, but hey... everyone has their nich I suppose...

Funny you should comment on shooting styles. I noticed that Don (aka John in my book) does a lot of midnight sepia looking conversions on his portfolio.. nice for a couple of shots, but not for the majority... I'm with you on the "too soft" thing... Here's a sampling of "my emerging style" Not sure what it is yet, but I think this last session I did is a huge step in the direction I would like to be going....One light and reflector.

Maybe we can have our own lighting class... we can all come and everyone can contribute whatever equipment we need to make a complete set up. We'll round up some cute friends to pose for us and then we can try all the things that we have read about and learn from each other... could be fun!

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Kristy,
That is an excelent shot, really like it! As far as an equipment get together and share sounds good to me.

Kristy,
That is a lovely shot.

Kristy,
Lately I've been out of sync with Alan, either have something planned for the weekend of the class or keep forgetting to register early and having the class fill-up! I have thought about the Budior/Nude class but getting someone to pose for me is something else. For me its the dreaded Catch-22, need to get more comfortable doing those types of shoots to produce a 'quality product', but without models it's difficult. Somehow I don't think buying a giant sized teddy bear and practise will work for this type of shoot. It has been my experience that teddy bears are severly limited in the poses that they are capable of doing (and they all have short hair, buying a wig for a teddy bear is just WELL.... to wierd even for me).
If you'd like to try using two lights, I have an AB-800 with the medium and large octobox with the AB $39 remote trigger I let you use them to experiment with more lighting IF I can play with them as well. I also have a background stand with 2 muslin backgrounds and an assortment of bits and bobs.

Forgot to mention- that is a 'quality' shot do you have a website?

kristy,
I was wondering why you kept the subjects centered? Since the lady is looking down and towards the lower right corner (as you are looking at the picture) I thought that by cropping tighter to her hair (lose the shoulder) and maybe add a little (very little) dead space to the right side (as you look at it) would bring the subjects off center to add a little interest.
I did the tighter crop, but couldn't add more to the right.
Note: managed to add a bit of space to the right (increase canvas size).

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.