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Archive for the ‘Outdoors’ Category

Passion in Amsterdam – Black & White

Posted in Flash, Outdoors on May 22, 2010| 7 Comments »

Last weekend I went to Amsterdam to attend a Damien Lovegrove Passion on the Streets workshop. I always enjoy meeting up with fellow photographers and especially on these kinds of workshops. I had the pleasure of meeting up with Ian Freelance (link) again and my buddy Graham Law joined in too! This was Graham’s first workshop with Damien Lovegrove and Graham (like myself) was on a real high after the day had ended. Mind you we were both very tired! The models Sam and Bas were great and very easy to get along with.

This was taken a few meters from the coffee shop we met in.

Not far away was a canal, a perfect opportunity for a portrait!

Time to get personal...

Can you feel the passion?

Still at the same location near the canal.

Then it was time to move on... This was a simple wall with a splash of flash!

Increased the exposure for this frame.

Okay, another wall... but the fake door adds a little mystery.

I really like the framing of this image, even though it probably breaks all the rules!

I like the contrast the wall provides in the framing of this image. Although it probably separates the couple as opposed to showing togetherness.

I took a few moments to explore other angles and I just like this image. I like that the bicycles are in the frame also.

Something a bit alternative. Same location as the previous image.

Another angle of the previous image.

Moving on to another location. Sam and Bas were sitting on some stairs which you can just see in shot.

I like Bas's expression in this frame.

A close-up of the previous image. The kick light you see on Sam's hair was provided by a flash.

I love Sam's expression. Especially in the colour version in the next post.

Almost the end of the day. I really like the way Bas is holding Sam.

I like the low view point of this frame.

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Hannah & Colin Portrait Shoot

Posted in Flash, Outdoors on May 4, 2010| 4 Comments »

During the Bank Holiday weekend I photographed a lovely couple Hannah & Colin. I got to try out some new locations around Newtown (in Wales) and a slightly different style of photography. Feeling inspired about my up and coming workshop with Damien Lovegrove, I tried to get that passion aspect into some of my couple shots. Also gave my new Canon 5D mk II camera a good test and it’s awesome to work with!

My first setup with flashes on stands.

Same location using a different camera angle.

Still in the same location but turned off the flashes for a natural light image.

Still in the same location. Natural light image. ISO 1600, 1/125 sec, F4.

I love this image! Shooting at F4 is quite addictive!

Always on the look out for different camera angles. Love this frame.

Earlier in the day we spotted this great blue door! Tried a few flash setups as well as some natural light frames. Natural light worked best.

A nice simple frame.

Then it was time to wonder over to the centre of town. This was a single flash setup and I was finally able to work the wide angle aspect that the 5D mk II allows. This frame has a bit of a fashion feel to it I think...

Same location but with the flashes turned off and from a different angle.

Then it was Colin's turn and went for a more contrasty look by lowering the ambient exposure.

The same flash setup as the previous frame. ISO 400, 1/80 sec, F8.

Onto another location and took this frame with a 200mm lens on a monopod.

Then it was onto my favourite wall and setup the flashes on stands.

Natural light frame. You don't always need flashes... 🙂

I absolutely love this frame! Just how long does the wall go on for.... Flashes turned back on...

Hannah and Colin enjoying the shoot...

The last location was the main bridge in Newtown over the River Severn.

The last frame of the day before heading for a nice mug of hot chocolate.

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Blyth and St Mary’s Lighthouse

Posted in General Ramblings, Outdoors on April 18, 2010| 2 Comments »

So typical! I go out for a day’s shooting and it starts to rain! I had quite a few landscape locations lined up today… Oh well… I did manage to kick off a few frames which I’ve posted below:

My first frame of the day. Shot on a tripod at ISO 200, 1/40 sec, F22.

St. Mary's lighthouse in the distance. ISO 200, 1/125 sec, F22.

St. Mary's Lighthouse up close on St. Mary's Island. ISO 200, 1/500 sec, F10.

I saw this yacht and decided to photograph the view. Taken yesterday from the apartment I'm staying in. ISO 200, 1/500 sec, F8, 200mm.

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Warkworth

Posted in General Ramblings, Outdoors on April 11, 2010| 6 Comments »

Today I passed through Warkworth in Northumberland… it was such a nice day that I thought it would be nice to go for a drive.

The view of the bridge on the River Coquet.

I like doors! 🙂

On the bridge with the camera at a low angle. I used a blended exposure to balance the exposure of the sky and the small building ahead.

The bridge from a different angle.

Warkworth Castle.

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Mothers Day Portraits

Posted in Flash, Outdoors on March 15, 2010| 6 Comments »

Saturday afternoon my shooting buddy Graham and I went with my mother for a portrait shoot at a location near the River Severn in Powys. It was quite cold which focused us on what we wanted to cover. We had some objectives which included specific types of shots in natural light. Once that task was out of the way, our next task was to tastefully add flash to natural light. Most of the shooting we’re doing at the moment has very specific goals of what we want to achieve and this last weekend was a great start! As my mother is elderly we had to adopt an image strategy that would suite her. Before we went out, I got my mother to choose the correct clothes, scarf and a selection of hats to take with us. Also, we hoping to use a reflector more… but it was just too cloudy and around 4pm.

Location near the River Severn. ISO 800, 1/60 sec, F8, Aperture Priority, +0.7 EV.

Different camera angle. ISO 500, 1/160 sec, F4, Aperture Priority, +0.7 EV.

ISO 500, 1/125 sec, F4, Aperture Priority, +0 EV.

Then is was time to use a single flash bounced into a Kood 24" umbrella which was placed about 10 feet away. My goal here was to get better at mixing ambient light with flash. Using bare flash is too punchy and wanted a much softer look for this image. ISO 400, 1/200 sec, F4, Manual.

Same setup as the previous image, but a close up...

I now always check what other options they are and with the same location and same setup, I took this from a different angle.

Then back to natural light and this shot was around 3 stops over compared to what the camera would have chosen. ISO 800, 1/40 sec, F4, Manual.

Now that we were back to natural light, Graham noticed that we could add a little kick light without disrupting the natural light feel. So we setup a flash on very low power to add a bit of kick light on the right side of my mother's face. ISO 800, 1/30 sec, F4, Manual.

This is the setup from the previous shot. Graham shooting...

Same location but just round the corner. A single flash on a stand. ISO 400, 1/100 sec, F5, Manual.

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Landscapes by Graham Law

Posted in General Ramblings, Outdoors on March 3, 2010| 1 Comment »

It’s amazing how photography can inspire people! Every now and again, my friend Graham and I would go out for a few beers and I’d eventually end up updating him on what I was doing as far as photography was concerned. I’m just so buzzed with the whole industry! Last year Graham decided to jump into the fire and he purchased a Canon 40D with a 17-85 IS kit lens in the July 2009 timeframe. We went on a few photo shoots and continued to chat about all things related to photography! It’s so cool to go out with a shooting buddy…

I was really impressed at how quickly Graham became familiar with the camera and when he started taking nice images, he knew why he needed some ‘L’ glass. Since then he’s purchased the EF 24-70mm L F2.8 USM and the EF 700-200mm L F2.8 IS USM lenses (not mention flashes, stands etc). These lenses are real money and he’s taking some really nice images with them. We’ve been on portrait shoots, photographing bands in pubs, location scouting, etc… Last weekend, Graham has gone further by photographing a show at the local theatre company and he often goes to festival events to shoot there also.

It’s simply amazing to see someone so inspired about photography and he’s really getting involved with the whole process. Graham is also going to his first Damain Lovegrove workshop which we are both doing in Amsterdam later this year. Really looking forward to it! I just happen to have a few landscape images that Graham has taken over the recent winter period.

Photograph by Graham Law.

Photograph by Graham Law.

Photograph by Graham Law.

Photograph by Graham Law.

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North East England – Blyth Beach (again)

Posted in Outdoors on February 24, 2010| 6 Comments »

Okay, I’ve already published photos from this location, but I thought I’d have another go because I really wanted to get the active lighthouse in full swing. And there are a few other images also from the session…

The lighthouse in full swing... ISO 800, 30 sec, F11, manual mode.

About 30 minutes earlier.

The active port of Blyth in the distance.

A group with their dogs on the beach. ISO 800, 1/15 sec, F6.3, -1/3 EV.

Getting really dark... ISO 800, 1/20 sec, F4.

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Location Scouting – Newtown

Posted in Flash, Lightroom, Outdoors on February 23, 2010| 2 Comments »

Over the last few weeks me and my shooting buddy Graham Law have been location scouting in and around Newtown, Powys, Wales. We’ve found quite a few locations but needed a suitable model to pose for us to really make most of them work. We’ll hopefully be able to try these out soon… This last weekend, Graham and I tried to find as many different shots as we could in the same location. A very successful shoot, even though Graham and I were acting as the models.

Natural light photograph. ISO 200, 1/80 sec, F4.

Same location as the above picture, just a few meters away.

The next few images were taken under a bridge on the River Severn.

I like the bit of light that hits the underneath of the bridge walk way.

Landscape shot from under the bridge looking back over the River Severn.

Portrait shot in Black & White. A mixture of ambient light and flash.

Natural light frame using a Lightroom preset from Matt Kloskowski.

A wider view of the bridge area we were shooting in. This frame was taken with a 3 flash setup.

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Exploring Whitley Bay and Seaton Sluice

Posted in Outdoors on February 14, 2010| 2 Comments »

I’ve moved up to the Newcastle area in the North East of England and there’s a whole new set of photographic opportunities here. Today I wondered about the area nearby and took these images in Whitley Bay and Seaton Sluice.

A couple taking a walk on the beach together on Valentines Day. I went for a Black & White look to give a timeless feel to the image. I also wanted the lighthouse in the background to be prominent in the frame to give context of where this photo was taken.

The beach front at Whitley Bay.

A mother out with her child on the beach... went for a Black & White look for the same reasons as the first frame.

I like the leading lines of the wall in this frame. It was fortunate that the sky was quite dramatic!

I like the seaside buildings in the background.

This was taken at Seaton Sluice.

A few minutes later and a different position, I managed to get the rays of the sun in a better composition within the frame.

The beach at Seaton Sluice looking towards Blyth.

The beach was covered in dappled light from the sun peering through the clouds.

Houses overlooking the sea at Seaton Sluice.

Boats moored up...

A boat coming in... and I also like the person sitting on the rock in this composition.

The windmills at Blyth. There are 9 windmills plus 2 huge versions!

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Chantel Portrait Shoot

Posted in Flash, Outdoors on January 27, 2010| Leave a Comment »

A couple of days ago I took some portraits on my Niece. These were taken on a farm where there was a bus with Graffiti on it and an old shipping container.

I purposely positioned Chantel next to the arm and hand painted on the bus.

Using 2-point lighting with a 580EX II as the key and a 430EX II.

A single 580EX II as the key in this shot. I wish I had added my 430EX II speedlite on a low power rating to see the difference in the shots. I somehow think that seeing a little more detail on the right side of the frame would have been better.

A Black and White version...

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