The Nifty 50

So what else is new? It's 4 AM again and I can't sleep. I've made my rounds of photography sites and such. My go-to place is always Adorama TV on YouTube (here). It was there that I found this week's inspiration for the 1,000 photo a week challenge. Its time to shoot with my Nifty 50! Now what's a Nifty 50 you might ask? For most photographers is one coveted piece of glass.

Typically two versions of the lens are sold. One with simple construction and decent aperture. The one I'm using and typically the best lens for any photographer, especially beginner to intermediate, to own is the 50mm f1.8. Now I'm a Canon shooter so this is my guy (here). Now with most entry level lenses: they are the good, will do the trick, and if you're none-the-wiser--will be only lens you'll buy. However, just for use people who've got to have the latest and greatest they have the luxury series 50mm. Typically this 50mm will also boast a f1.4 or in some cases even an f1.2. This is a huge increase in the amount of light the camera can take it before requiring a flash for exposure. An example of the luxury 50 mm by Canon (here). The major points that make it luxury are a focusing ring that tells you at what distancing you're focusing to, a fixed front optic os pesky filters don't rotate on you as you're focusing, and always having a wider aperture for more light sensitivity.

So why blog about all of this? Simple. It's one of the lenses I love and I thought to myself I should master this lens if I love it so much. Now, I've shot with this lens a decent bit already. My favorite model right now has to be Rolo the English Bully (here). My main man loves the camera and loves the 50mm. Almost all of his shoots are done with 50mm. Picks up great detail and nice bokeh (what the heck is bokeh?--Wiki). This is also where my skill level shows. Not all the time do I get the right things in focus nor do I expose properly. Sometimes this is on purpose and is the effect I'm going for. Other times its cause I still don't have a firm grasp on this amazing lens.

Starting Monday May 24, it'll be the nifty 50mm all week in hopes of learning the ins and outs of the lens. Specially how to control the aperture for the proper amount of bokeh I get from each setting. How to balance the ambient light with any fill flash. Also, work on that dang flash and how it works! I think too, like some photographers have done, I might try to see if it is a lens I can build an artistic image with. A sorta brand if you will to the style of pictures I will end of taking. Whatever the outcome, I'm looking forward to shooting more pictures and to the lens they call the Nifty 50.

And what better to do when making a blog about a lens you own? Whip on the camera, use the laptop screen as one source of light, a closet light for another, and the flash to make a few pics to show people the lens. Then, I got all fancy and artistic and shot just the rim on macro mode with one of my other lenses. Hope you enjoy the artistic nature of them.

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Things to do

So now that Hooters is in the books its time to work on the business a little. First thing I want to do is Work on a logo and a business card. That way I can get my name out there and advertise. The second thing I really want to get done in the coming days is to talk to a few photographers about mentoring and looking at my work. I love all the fans of pictures and love the comments I receive from my fans. However, I will always need a seasoned veteran to help analyze my photo-taking style and help me address areas that I weak on. Third thing I want to get done again this week  is shooting my 1,000 pictures per week goal. It's a steep number as of right now but I need that to push myself and to get the shots I need so I can start selling some pictures. As well, 1,000 pictures helps me scout new locations and connect with people to continue shooting. The fourth thing that I know that'll get done this week is going to see Otis Ogburn at the food stand to show him the pictures I shot Wednesday. The turned out great and look forward to what we can do to work together to get some of my pictures in printed media. Lastly, I will be doing some admin work on the company. Emailing contacts I had made at Hooters as well as drumming up more Facebook business for people wanting to help me out with my portfolio.

To recap, the list for this coming week is as follows:

1. Logo and Business Cards
2. Mentoring/Photo Critique
3. 1,000 per week achieved again
4. Visit Otis to get some advertising for our businesses
5. Email Contacts made over the past week

This post is more or less to help me keep track of things. But also keep you guys in the loop. As well, if anyone has any helpful tips on knocking out anything on the list I will greatly appreciate it!

Thanks,

   Two Fish

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The Day After

Michelle(left) and Sam(right) are finalist
in the Swimsuit Contest. They are also
Hooters of Cumberland girls. Congrats!

So, its a wrap. The Hooters shoot is in the books and I came out of the whole thing wiser and humbled. I felt very confident all the way up the time the girls hit the runway. I was coming off the high of a contact  for advertisement the day before. Some good pics from that previous day, as well. The first of the shoot was rough with a lot of frustration. At the half, I mingled with some photographers and regained my confidence. The second half went better and the top pictures ended up coming from that batch. In the end, I was glad I did it and can now move on to further my portrait skills in a more controlled environment.

I had got to Hooters around 2 PM and started working on the previous day's pictures. And I thought I would be able to do some "before" picture of them setting up and the girls hanging out. By the time I got here the tent was up, the inflatables were inflating, and the restaurant was already swinging into gear for the night's festivities. So I had a lot of down time. I mean a lot. But the awesome girls kept me company and I sailed thru until 7 went they started the tent seating.

With my credentials purchased and my drink tickets in hand I began doing some test shots. Snagged a few pictures of the girls working out side and a few "product placement" shots. And then... more waiting!! Finally, around 8:30 PM South Side Steve came out onto the runway and MC'd the night away. The First Round--the contestants wore public service outfits. 30 contestants in total and it took them a while to get to all of them. And in that time I think I had everybody and their brother hug/touch/block my camera. On top of that, the nerves had set in and I was desperately spinning my flash around to get the right bounce back. That's when I also noticed the settings on my flash were running at full, which meant I had to wait ~5 seconds between shots for the flash to recharge. I was not a happy camper. The crowd and an uncooperative flash made for a bad start for an important shoot.

It was the Second Round that was definitely my best stuff. I had met 2 photographers at the intermission that gave me some confidence and a new area to shoot from. That spot was the best! My white balance ended up being a little off but I didn't care. I'd fix that in post production. I was having a good time in my new corner. One of the photographers kept me company and we kept trading the back of the cameras in between flash recharges. This part went smooth. I had fun changing lens. Felt confident that the settings I had dialed in would last me for the shoot and I could concentrate on composition and even the contest itself. 7 contestants in total were from the location I frequent. As well, it was also the same location that the contest was held. So we were all cheering for our girls rocking it.

In the end, I got some good shots. The girls like them and I feel like I came out of it okay. The finalist even had 2 of the Cumberland girls! So congrats to Sam and Michelle. As for me, I really hope this opens up more portrait opportunities and we'll see what comes of the photographer from L.A.!

Thanks for tuning in,
   Two Fish

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The Night Before

Okay.. I shouldn't be up this late, but...I did lose some pictures after having a good impromptu shoot around my neighborhood. I met a cool guy today that runs a small vegetable and flower stand next to our small coffee shop. Otis Ogburn, the owner, allowed me to shoot in exchange that he'll get to see them to maybe use them in advertisement. Easy gentlemen's agreement, but not with any photos to show... : \

So yea, I had this cool idea to copy the set and do them in Black&White and have both a color set and a B&W set. Well that would have been a good idea if I did not delete all the pictures after importing them. On top of that, I did not have the pictures on the card because after importing I typically clean the card off to start again. So no back-up, nothing on the card and one giant, BLANK folder of pictures that once was. Needless to say I had a figurative bowel movement of shock and didn't get my pre-event chores done that I had set out to do.

Alas, if I was not going to be doing the pre-event chores, if I was going to be mad at myself, and if I thought all my options were exhausted; then HACK MY COMPUTER I shall!!! And dammit it was good! I slash hacked the shell prompt until it bled my pictures back and wish it had never gobbled them into hexadecimal hell. I even poked at my root directory, but then I realized that I'd gotten what I had come for and that attacking my root directory would leave me with one unhappy computer. I love my computer--picture gobbling and all.

So, all that nerd speak to say the pictures are back and I'm 6 hours behind where I wanted to be. No sweat!

Well its time to sign off and get the prep done,
   Two Fish


::UPDATE::
Food Stand Color pics after post production:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/twofishphotography/sets/72157626759306810/
Black and White pics after post production:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/twofishphotography/sets/72157626633836971/

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The Big Shoot is Coming Up!

My current set of equipment and in the background,
my tabletop studio I've made on the kitchen table.

So, with the frenzy of activity over here in Two Fish world getting more promotions and what not set up, I am also preparing for an important photo shoot for myself. Now, there isn't any thing great coming from this, nor am I going to see Major League Photographer scouts there. However, I am going to get a taste at event photography (something I hate never done) and good test of how long I can shoot--both physically and equipment wise.

Tomorrow, May 19th 2011, is the Hooters of Cumberland Swimsuit Contest (http://www.hooters.com/EventDetails.aspx?event_id=23346&store_id=56&service_key=007)! And Two Fish will be out taking pictures for most of the day. Hoping that I'll be able to get some candids leading up to the event and then be ready to shoot the main event at 8 PM. The weather(see here) is looking good for the day and that should make for a somewhat easier time there.

Mentally, I'm pretty prepared for this. I've been studying all that I can about my camera, the flash, the type of lenses I'm looking to use for which parts of the day. I've just got to do it now. Still a little unsure of using the flash off camera or not with my radio transmitters or not. It'll just be more equipment and pieces to keep up with. From what I have been studying--fewer pieces the better. As well, there is the issue of the flash. Now there is nothing wrong with it. It's brand new out of the box practically. However, for event photography it's almost mandatory to have a diffuser for it. Now its not mandatory I USE the diffuser but if I end up in a situation that bouncing the flash or having nothing to bounce the flash off of I'll need a diffuser to help bounce the flash around. Bottom line, a diffuser will help with any hard-edged shadows created by the flash. I'm sure, like my homemade softbox which I will showcase in a later post, that I will end up fashioning a diffuser that even Macguyver will be proud of.

So what's left before tomorrow?
Well, packing the gear and making sure everything is charge and I have backups of some supplies. Figure out what I'm doing about a card to hand out. I know, that should've been higher on the pre-planning list. Also, that I get a good night's sleep. This anticipation has been throwing me off. Clothes! I should be dressed for it and after finding out a little trivia behind what photographers where black I'll be preparing some nice dress blacks to wear. Ah yes, the anecdotal trivia about the photographers and black--it's not light reflecting material. So when looking into the eye piece of the camera you're not picking up any stray reflections of light. As well, you're not as easily reflective in the objects you're taking pictures of.

Well, I think I've ranted long enough about this. Time I up date the site to show this post off and relax for the evening before prepping and packing.

Until the uploads start tomorrow,
    Two Fish

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It's Finally Over!

After an extensive search and rehashing of old java code books I've FINALLY been able to convert the red theme of my template to a nice #000099 blue.

The template can be found here: http://www.premiumbloggertemplates.com/2011/04/solid-premium-blogger-template.html

Just showing off really all that was changed. But I seriously want to strangle this author though. I mean 8 shades of red? REALLY? And not all were in nice little classes so they were easy to find. NOOOoooo. This was a labor of slight dislike. Nevertheless, many thanks goes to the author and the hard work coding the template. Tip for next time, lay off so many slight shades of the same color.

Anywho, the blog should now be good to go. With the ground work set I don't see much else holding me back other than the writing of it. I think my next step is to maybe post a little bit about what's in store for Two Fish and I: establishing an identity, the equipment and where it still needs to grow, and the difficulties of what step comes first in trying to get off the ground.

At the end of the day, I'm very happy with what I've got done. Even more impressed that I remember enough coding to be dangerous and was able to come out of the whole process with a "site" I can finally share with people. Cross my fingers that as I grow I don't find anymore red...

It's 5:50am. I'm out,
   Two Fish

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MyDumbHead

This is Two Fish Photography's blogspot. Here I'll be posting ideas, projects, and the info for the behind-the-scenes look at my attempt to start a homegrown photography business.

Currently, I have a few resources to help me promote and view what's going on:

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Two-Fish-Photography/151903964870627
• Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/twofishphotography/sets/

If at anytime you guys like any of my pictures please feel free to contact me at photography.twofish@gmail.com to ask about pricing. All images are copyrighted by Two Fish Photography and use of the images without the explicit consent of Two Fish Photography will be a violation of those copyrights. Sorry guys, I got to make money : ( 

Time to go set up this blog and get to posting!

Thanks guys, 

   Two Fish

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