THE GREAT PORTRAIT SERIES-0003...SETUP

So the first thing i wanted to avoid,was to throw direct light on the baby.....

The setup is pretty simple....

I mounted a canon 580 EX II on a tripod, and raise it hight enough to the ceiling...

This was a small baby and the poses where simple...always on a hug or on the sofa..so the light would come from the top and fill with soft light this little angel.....

Here is the setup shot...

                                

simple..true simple.....

I used a Canon EOS 5D with ST-E2 transmitter for triggering the 580.

The ISO was set to 400 since i had only one light.

A canon EF 70-200 F:2.8 was used 

The white balance was set to Auto..and it worked pretty well..

The 580 was in manual mode at 1/16 of power (Maxa Powerex batteries where used)

F:7,1  t:1/40...pretty risky if you thing that this angel couldn't stand still..

I chose RAW file and shot about 250 frames.

THE GREAT PORTRAIT SERIES-0003

One of the thing i like beeing a photographer, is that everyday you might see,or learn something new.The joy gets double,when you have the opportunity to play with them...and shoot them.

So i was sitting in my office, when suddenly the phone rung...

It was George...George & Maria.......i was lucky enough to shoot at thei wedding a couple of months ago.....

He says to me..."Can you come to our house?....we have a new member..and we want you to shoot it.."

So,we scheduled the day...and that was it........

But he didn't prepared me for what i was going to see..

 

                          

 

                                         

                            

                            

                                          

Until now,there are no words left to describe this beauty.......

She is only........10 days old....yes..10 days.......and it's the first time in my life i see this wonder of life....so early........

She is perfect......she is magic.......and she is small...believe me......

                                     

SUMMER STORM

The storm was on her way.....i had to shoot it..!

SETUP:Canon Eos 20D mounted on a tripod triggered with Canon TC 80N3  

              B mode

              sigma 17-70cm lens F:2.8

              RAW file in AWB

              

BABY STORIES vol.1

Isn't she a beauty?..or what?....

This is little Kostantina........she is 8 months old....and she is amazing....

I was booked to shoot at her baptism and create the invitation cards....this is actually a composition with the main theme from the cards...though it is not the final version....

During the shooting,she was amazing...she was more co-operative than a professional model...

Thank you Kostantina for this wonderful experience...

SETUP:  speedlight 580 EX  II mounted on a tripod to her left,reflected of the white ceiling

                speedlight 580 EX      mounted on camera

                both flashes on manual mode,triggered with ST-E2 transmitter

                EOS 5D in RAW mode with AWB

                canon 70-200 f:2.8 

                                    

WEDDING STORIES vol.1

Maria & Stelios....or Stelios & Maria  if you like....whatever...

A nice young couple...they joined with the bonds of....together..forever.....in other words..they got married..!!

Actually Maria is my aunt....yes i know...she is not too older than me....well you see,her mother when she...or my grandmother and...nevermind..

The fact is that Maria is my aunt...and Stelios..well..he is my new uncle...

So,i wish to them all the best from the bottom of my heart....i hope that this love and this sweetness on their faces,will last  for the rest of their lives...

Thank you for letting me be part of your happiness,by shooting at your wedding....

i had a great  time....

THE GREAT PORTRAIT SERIES-0002 SETUP

This is the setup photo from little Jim's shot..

Yes, this is my living room....

I used a piece of white fabric stretced to my DIY backround holder, for the backround.

Three lights were used.

1) Canon 550EX behind the white fabric, mounted on a small tripod.

Manual mode, 1/4 power.

I wanted to blow out the fabric, so i can have a clear white backround, and smooth backlight.Like an enormous softbox.

2) Canon 580EX mounted on a tripod, to the camera's left, reflected of the white ceiling, so i can have uniform light on the whole subject.
Manual mode, 1/2 power.

3) Canon 580EX II, mounted on a tripod to the camera's right, shot through a white 32" umbrella.
Since little Jim was playing with his head, i placed this flash for fill in his face, so i don't get shadows under his little eyes.
Manual mode, 1/4 power.

The power for the three strobes came from three sets of the MAXA POWEREX rechargable batteries (see previous post). I have to report that i was shooting for about 45' (160 photos) and the power was the same, without waiting for the strobes to load.At least i didn't feel it.Nothing bothered me.

Camera: Canon Eos 5D, manual mode, AWB, 1/160, f:9, shooting on RAW at ISO 200
Lens: Canon 70-200mm L, f:2.8

The strobes were triggered with the Canon ST-E2 transmitter.

Post Process:Photoshop CS3 (Camera RAW) including Levels, Curves, Cloning the fabric to match with the foreground, Blur, and the final B/W conversion.

Have a great weekend..

THE GREAT PORTRAIT SERIES-0002

Yes, i know..it's been a while...but you know...i've been busy...(almost a classic excuse)..!

So this is little Jim.Isn't he cute?Normally i don't get to excited with babies, but it seems that this little fellow had me from the beginning..!

He is 9 months old and this is the reason he exists........

Joanna and Kostas, aka "the usurer"....

I had a great time shooting at their wedding a few months ago, and now it was time for little Jim..Like his parents, he didn't cry, we played with him, he played with us and...."Like his parents??"..

Anyway, we had scheduled this shot for his baptism invitations cards...and here are some photos, from the day..

I will post the final version of the invitation in a few days, along with some post process info.

Right now we are waiting for Joanna to announce her final decision..

Thank you Jim for this wonderful experience..