Back in Action...

It's been a while since I've made a post, which goes completely against what I was trying to go for. Unfortunately I don't have internet tubes at home currently which makes posting every week (or twice a week was was my recent goal) somewhat difficult. Either way, I still have been shooting, I still have been lighting, I still have been carrying entirely too much equipment around, and I have been mixing Jalapeno Cheetos and peanut butter on occasion just to spice things up a bit. During the slight off time though I have been asked to give a few presentations, I've been asked increasingly more lighting questions, and I've definitely been asking more people where I've parked my car.

(Canon 5D Mark II, 640ISO, Canon EF100MMF2.8Macro, 1/25th@F14. Single Canon 580EX through a 42" umbrella set to full power camera left fired by Pocket Wizard. Single Canon 580EX fired through another 42" umbrella set to half power to camera right fired y pocket wizard. White balance set to Cloudy Day to bring out more of the orange in the sunflower.)

Been asked to go back to the Photo Venture Camera club on April 1st to give a presentation about shooting Macro Photography. Great group, I've spoken there before except last time it was about Sports Photography centering in Roller Derby. Great group of people who are extra eager to learn anything they can about photography, and I look forward to speaking to them again. The shot above was shot on the nicest day of the year thus far, during last week. Unfortunately it was also shot artificially lit inside the garage of a florist...


(Nikon D3, 800ISO, Nikon 70-200mmF2.8VR@175mm, 1/250th@F4. Single Dynalight 400JR to camera abott 70 feet behind camera right bare bulb set to just under full power, Single Dynalight 400JR set to a little above half power about 70 feet behind camera left bare bulb. Both lights fired by Pocket Wizard Plus II's.)

Also been asked to go speak to a new photo group named the Indy MU Photo Club about Sports Photography prior to a club trip to the Roller Derby in April. They are also very interested in some on location lighting that I have done, which ties in nicely with a lot of work that I have done lately with the Salute to Nurses here in the Indiana Area. As I've mentioned before, working in hospitals can be extra tough as you have patient rights and identities to consider, as well as they are not the most expansive of venue's. See the photo below for an indicator on that, and keep your eyes peeled. LOTS more soon.

(Look for more information about this shoot coming up soon)

Weathermen.....

The running joke in life is that weathermen have the greatest jobs in the world. "Wouldn't you love to have a job where you could be wrong 60% of the time, and still be employed?". That's one of my favorites right there, but quite frankly I've learned that weathermen are usually pretty accurate as long as you're looking within a 24 hour window of the forecast. This guy's job however, was long term weather predictions and forecast for the planet.


That's Dr. Brian Soden from Miami. He's a global warming specialist and a few weeks ago I was asked to photograph his presentation by the Hoosier Environmental Council. One of the things I find greatest about being a photographer is that in an occasion like this I am learning something new while doing something I enjoy. It doesn't matter what the topic is as I'm one of those people that falls asleep some nights with the History or Discovery channel on the television; but I love hearing what experts in different fields have to say regardless of what that field may be. Dr. Soden was no different as his visual aids, as well as his stories about the compilation of weather data in the United States since the 1970's held true with the weather jokes that we've all come to use and love.


A lot of people don't believe in global warming because of the 20" of snow we received last week here in Indianapolis, and I can understand their doubt. I don't like the snow as much as anyone else, as I have yet to do anything with it photographically which I consider to be a personal failure. I've got a few ideas, but I just haven't done any of them. Dr. Soden did pull a full house crowd though. Old, young, students, anybody and everybody seemed to be there, which is good as he has quite a few interesting things to say.


As usual, I am working on a few other things too though. I have been throwing around a few short film ideas, similar to the video posted below:


That short film was shot entirely with the Pentax K7 and various lenses. Very cool video, very cool idea. I've been shooting a lot more video lately with the 5D Mark II and I've been loving every minute of it. It's annoying carrying two camera systems around though to the point where there may be a D3s in my future before the end of the year if I can get all my ducks in a row. (Dang that's a lot of ducks...) Lots of neat stuff coming up soon though. Going to be at an uber secret location Warehouse Indy photo workshop on Tuesday night. Have some neat new light modifiers that I'll be trying out that night; going to be doing some neat stuff there guaranteed so check back for that. Speaking of light modifiers, I've also had some equipment questions come though, and am working on an equipment page for the blog. Will keep you posted as to how that goes. More soon.