ramblings from another Canon – Alienbees User

Latashia ~ Senior ~ Chilling in her Car, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Latashia ~ Senior ~ Chilling in her Car

So i do lots of senior photos for 4 high schools here in my surrounding community.

Senior photography is so fun for me, i get a chance to customize a photo for the student.

it is slower paced photography, less stressful and rewarding because student is getting a custom photo that is taylored to their needs.

Here Latasha and i created some thing out of nothing, the weather was rainy so i went to my favorite place.. a parking garage.. LOL..

and those Oakleys are mine ! ha ha.. but they look really good on her.. Right?

i used a 550 @ full power with 2 red gels mixed with an orange in a shoot thru umbrella, triggered by Cactus V4’s all in a white shoot thru..

main light was an AB1600 @ 1/4 power..

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture:f/5.0
Focal Length:85 mm
ISO Speed:250
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:Off, Did not fire

Linda and Tammy ~ Sisters for a Lifetime, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Linda and Tammy ~ Sisters for a Lifetime

I had a chance to work with my dear co worker Linda. (camera right)

she had asked for a photo shoot with her sister Tammy.. (camera Left) for a photo or 2.

here you can see a warm loving pose that just makes you smile because it is so genuine..

thus i call it “Sisters for a life time…”

i used 2 speed lights for this shot.

430 exII and 580 EXII one on each side , camera right and camera left.

triggered by the pocket wizards flex flex and flex..

i had it on ettl mode, but my camera was on manual…

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture:f/2.0
Focal Length:85 mm
ISO Speed:50
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:On, Fired

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 7 Mar 10, 7.56PM PST.

Katie ~ Magical Winter Wish, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Katie ~ Magical Winter Wish

this is part 1 of my 4 seasons series..

spring, summer and fall will be coming soon..

i haven’t thought up of them yet..

this series is inspired by a great russian photographer Oleg Igorin… he is the man ! and i say he has gained my attention as an industry standard.

this shot was done in a parking garage with 3 speed lights.. and a single alien bee strobe AB1600..

i had the glitter cross lighted by 2 speedlights gelled with blue and green.. the green wasn’t showing up too well..

anyways.. it is a project i have been thinking of doing for awhile and hadn’t had a chance.. but last night presented it self..

1 speed light in the rear and a shoot thru for the wall and partial side lighting

2 speed lights for the cross lighting..

1 AB 1600 for the key light 64PLM was used.

all speed lights were full power

the AB1600 was just below 1/4 power being it was really close to Katie

lots of glitter was use.. LOL.. really fun shot..

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture:f/9.0
Focal Length:85 mm
ISO Speed:500
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:Off, Did not fire

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 4 Mar 10, 4.23PM PST.

Molly ~ Red Beauty, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Molly ~ Red Beauty

this was a practice session working with molly.

She and Alex are amazing ball room dancers and i had to work with them to get some cool dancing photos for my portfolio and then we broke off and did singles shots..

she could easily be a model as shown here, super comfortable infront of the lens..

i used speed lights and the AB1600 and the main light with a beauty dish

speed light with shoot thru umbrella @ 1/2 power
AB1600 for key at 1/4 power with beauty dish

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture:f/2.5
Focal Length:85 mm
ISO Speed:160
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:On, Fired

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 2 Mar 10, 3.44PM PST.

My Mafia Wedding Shot ~ Tough Guys, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

My Mafia Wedding Shot ~ Tough Guys

this shot is so fun for me to do..

i normally don’t do selective coloring at all.. but here is a good example of one..

how to do a shot like this:

tell the guys you want some thing different.
let them know that any goes.. show some energy and have fun..

i set up the shot with them in the back of the parking lot.. in formation, and i hand them look away from the camera.. and told them to walk and be fun and expressive.. (i was in servo Auto Focus) and took about 10 snaps of this walking sequences..

and Bam i got this awesome Mafia Wedding Shot !

see walking just puts people in super natural position…

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture:f/2.5
Focal Length:85 mm
ISO Speed:50
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:Off, Did not fire

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 1 Mar 10, 4.11PM PST.

Toby and Sara ~ Together Forever, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Toby and Sara ~ Together Forever

I have done many weddings recently.

and found it is very important to have the couple walking together to get a dramatic shot.

walking does two things.

1. makes photos look natural
2. allows the couple to display their true emotions and not faked posing.

keep in mind, less than 1 percent of people are comfortable infront of the camera, so do yourself a favor and have them walk.. and you the photog.. circle them to get your amazing shot..

here is my fav from this wedding of the TOBY and SARAH..

“Remember that happiness is a way of travel, and Love is their destination.”

All natural light..

Camera:Canon EOS 5D
Exposure:0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture:f/5.6
Focal Length:60 mm
ISO Speed:500
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:On, Fired

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 28 Feb 10, 4.21PM PST.

Nate Senior ~ Alley Skater, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Nate Senior ~ Alley Skater

Senior Nate, a guitariest, and skater.

We had a chance to do his Senior photos in an alley..and with his skating skills, we just had to do a portrait for him with his board.

Speed lights and Alienbee with beauty dish used here.

1. 580EXII one behind for backlighting @ 1/2
2. AB1600 @ 1/2 power for key light

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture:f/11.0
Focal Length:85 mm
ISO Speed:500
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:Off, Did not fire

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 27 Feb 10, 4.03PM PST.

Cassie ~ Wedding Shot ~ Middle of the Isle, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Cassie ~ Wedding Shot ~ Middle of the Isle

this is cassie, a happy bride that i worked with during her special day.

Weddings go by so fast, that i have some shots that i always do..

here is my take on a bride shot in her beautiful church.

this type of shot is not typical for most and i always try to do at least this one because it is so unique.

1. the perspective of the rows of pews
2. the view of the altar of which she will be saying her vows soon..
3. just different from most shots in a church.

so for young lovers i have a quote

“Trip over love, you can get up. Fall in love and you fall forever.”

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture:f/2.8
Focal Length:85 mm
ISO Speed:640
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:On, Fired

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 26 Feb 10, 4.56PM PST.

Laine ~ Dark Hair Beauty, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Laine ~ Dark Hair Beauty

This is the first time i have worked with Laine a purdue student, we had talked on facebook to do a model shoot for her portfolio.

I am sure she was a little nervous but here she shows us that she is a pro model.. you can find her on model mayhem..

the golden light was so perfect that day..

also this is the first time i used pocket wizards Flex Flex combo..

Beauty without expression is boring.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

580EX II in a westcott softbox about 6 feet way camera right..

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.001 sec (1/1600)
Aperture:f/3.5
Focal Length:155 mm
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 25 Feb 10, 5.25PM PST.

Senior Nick ~ Burning fields ~ CSI Miami look, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Senior Nick ~ Burning fields ~ CSI Miami look

Nick the Senior has a great baseball arm, can also shoot lights out in basketball..

He is an all around Good Old Indiana Guy.. this was his senior session..

here we created a CSI Miami look.. Horatio Caine would be proud of.. can’t you hear the music kick in? LOL..

lighting was one speed light in a 28 westcott box.. camera left about 4 feet away from nick.. mother held down the light stand being it was windy that day..

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture:f/3.5
Focal Length:50 mm
ISO Speed:160
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:Off, Did not fire

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 24 Feb 10, 4.18PM PST.

Warm Engagement ~ Part 2, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Warm Engagement ~ Part 2

Lindsey and Jordan, another young couple that just has total Crush on each other since high school..

we did this engagement session for them in country woods some where….

magical moments happen when true love appears..

“Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.”

all natural light..

Tips on working with couples and how to make photos look natural.

what i have found is not to pose the couples.. sure have a some that i use, but here i just had Jordan and Lindsey sit down and i had them just talk to each other, and laugh, kiss and do what ever then wanted, and i just lined up the sun just outside of the frame and got this magical shot..

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture:f/2.0
Focal Length:85 mm
ISO Speed:100
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:Off, Did not fire

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 22 Feb 10, 4.05PM PST.

The Kiss ~ Wedding Receiption, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

The Kiss ~ Wedding Receiption

“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. “

Ingrid Bergman

2 softboxes in the corners with speedlights @ 1/2 power, triggered by cactus systems

on camera speedlight used to help autofocus assist

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 21 Feb 10, 4.13PM PST.

Wedding Shot ~ Midnight Kiss, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Wedding Shot ~ Midnight Kiss

Corrina and Dustin’s Midnight Kiss !

the newly wed has so much energy, full of vigor for each other! this wedding day went by so quickly i couldn’t believe it was over as soon as it was..

here is my romantic shot for them.

i stiched 9 photos together to get this wonderful shot.

shot with the 85L, @ 2.2 iso 1600

with the photo stiching the High ISO just goes away.. !

lighting was held by a friend of the groom, on a light weight stand..

i had a 430 EX II with an orange gel to match the street sodium vapor lights @ 1/32 power about 8 feet boomed downward with a shoot thru brella.

i love this shot !

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture:f/2.2
Focal Length:85 mm
ISO Speed:1600
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:On, Fired

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 20 Feb 10, 7.49PM PST.

Jordan ~ Golden Model ~ Senior, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Jordan ~ Golden Model ~ Senior

My co-works grand daughter needed some photos taken.

this was our session on grand dad’s property.. such beauty!

am going to let you reverse engineer this lighting.. let me know what you think i did to get this lighting..

phamster

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 19 Feb 10, 5.28PM PST.

Corrina ~ Flower Girl, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Corrina ~ Flower Girl

Corrina’s senior photo.

done in the flower fields during the fall

one of my favorite fields shots to date..

just so colorful and the golden late sun..

i had a red gel on speed light for rear hair light..

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 18 Feb 10, 7.59PM PST.

Erica ~ The Golden Nature Girl, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Erica ~ The Golden Nature Girl

Erica wanted some unique photos for her senior year.

Here we matched her sun dress outfit with mother nature.

Her pure beauty was enhanced by the flowers and the golden sun we had in the back ground..

the flower bundle was just a perfect touch as with the wind kicking up just right.

lighting was a speed light camera left for her slight rim, and the front was an Alienbee 1600 with beauty dish..

F3.5
ISO 100
1/160

alien bee was about 1/2 power @ 7-8 feet away camera right

speed light was full power about 5 feet with shoot thru umbrella

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 17 Feb 10, 4.38PM PST.

Love for Ever ! ~ Wedding Cake Shot ~ Ring Shot, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Love for Ever ! ~ Wedding Cake Shot ~ Ring Shot

from this weekends wedding i was a part of..

weddings are so fun and sweet, full of emotions and smiles..

just glad i have couples trusting me with their amazing day

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 16 Feb 10, 3.48PM PST.

Warm Engagement ~ Part 1, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Warm Engagement ~ Part 1

working with couples is really hard for some.. and really easy for others..

what i have found is this:

put the couple sitting..

ask them to talk to each other.. make them laugh.. kiss, touch.. etc.. and you the photog.. be taking the photos the whole time..

and wham.. you get a frame like this one..

Love is like heaven, but it can hurt like hell.

~ Unknown ~

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture:f/1.6
Focal Length:35 mm
ISO Speed:320
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:Off, Did not fire

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 15 Feb 10, 4.33PM PST.

Compose your blog entry

Leah ~ Snow Fun, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Leah ~ Snow Fun

Let it snow!

actually it was Leah’s sister that was making the snow falling for us but that didn’t work out so well. .but then all the sudden the wind kicked up and the snow from the trees came down.. so it was perfect..

i work with my seniors on many mini shoots.. this was her winter session..

i always say to them it will only take about 10 mins to do the shots.. but it turns out to be 30 mins or more, because i continue to shoot.

i need to stop having so much fun and respect others time.. lol..

we used a reflector on this shot..

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 14 Feb 10, 4.31PM PST.

Fang ~ Power, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Fang ~ Power

Fang a Pharmacology major ~ has knowledge of Medicine, Martial Arts, and is in great physical health.

Recently he ran a marathon..

Seriously you want a guy like Fang in your corner ! LOL..

i lighted him up with an AB1600 and a 580 EX II ..

really simple set up.

580 EXII was on FULL power with a shoot thru umbrella and the AB1600 was the 86 PLM..

we did this shot on top of a parking garage.. i don’t have a studio that is why.. LOL>.

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 13 Feb 10, 5.53PM PST.

Claudia ~ Senior with some glam, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Claudia ~ Senior with some glam

Claudia and i have worked together twice now.. this shot was from her first shoot..

she rocked the lens every time we work together.. LOL..

i had an orange gel in a speed light to light up the alley. and an AB1600 with beauty dish for the front lighting. gridded

speedlight was on the lowest power 1/64.. it was a 430EXII..

It is good that the young are beautiful;
it is the only advantage they have.

“The Duchess of Windsor “

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 12 Feb 10, 4.45PM PST.

Molly ~ Fairy Tale Princess, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Molly ~ Fairy Tale Princess

My friend Molly, is the one that really kick started my photography career.. a wonderful model, a Christian role model, and just as charming as she looks..

here, we created a Fairy Tale like Princess look for her.. very much her personality.

A Purdue girl, who is bright, young and full of vigor.

thanks molly for working with me from the beginning..

i had a blue gelled speed light at 1/2 power behind camera left, and an AB1600 with beauty dish in front camera right @ 1/4 power..

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 11 Feb 10, 5.40PM PST.

Band Shoot ~ Coming out of the Woods, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Band Shoot ~ Coming out of the Woods

My first and only band shoot.

Name is Plantation way..

fun shoot but super dark outside, i had to bring a flash light.. and also had to have a flash on top to auto focus.. learned that real fast !

i used 4 speed lights for this shot..

one behind hand held by a groupie.. lol.. deep in the woods..
one camera right in a 15 inch soft box.
one camera bare set to low power for slight fill
one on top of my camera to help auto focus..

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 10 Feb 10, 5.30PM PST.

Dancing with the Stars, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Dancing with the Stars

Life is so simple when you are not thinking about the normal stress of life.. Dancing can do such wonders for the mind..

here we have a young couple that can just dance the night away.. under the stars..

We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance. ~Japanese Proverb

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 9 Feb 10, 4.23PM PST.

Beach Friendship ~ Newport Beach, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Beach Friendship ~ Newport Beach

Companionship, Friendship and Love all are spoils of good Life.. Especially when found the right person to be in your world!

Here at Newport Beach, this lovely couple is soaking in the magical moment that most search all their lives…. True Friendship

“To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.”

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 8 Feb 10, 4.01PM PST.

Tori Golden Barn ~ Senior Rep part 2, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Tori Golden Barn ~ Senior Rep part 2

worked with Tori many times now. This fall created some great opportunities to play with light and challenged my location lighting and creative back grounds for senior students.

here i have a barn location, Dr Kirkhams place.. wonderful indiana old rustic scene behind Tori and the late sun created this cool shot for her..

Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower.
– Albert Camus

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture:f/5.0
Focal Length:85 mm
ISO Speed:50
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Flash:Off, Did not fire

the beauty dish was about 8 feet way camera right, i know i broad lighted her.. but it turned out ok.. really a ring flash would have worked too..
AB1600 at about 3/4 power with beauty dish did the trick, cactus V4 as trigger

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 7 Feb 10, 8.12PM PST.

Ginell ~ Power of Light !, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Ginell ~ Power of Light !

Aristotle and Light

his views on the phenomenon of light was graciously simple: Light, he said, is nothing of substance. It is indefinable, featureless, and it is therefore pointless to contemplate its nature.

i used an AB1600 with a boom arm with 64PLM at the lowest power for Ginell, a red gelled speed light in the rear of the subject.. and long exposure for the rest..

Camera:Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure:5
Aperture:f/9.0
Focal Length:35 mm
ISO Speed:160
Exposure Bias:0 EV

LA Hotness ~ Models on the Beach, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

LA Hotness ~ Models on the Beach

Meet Sharon Gomiero (camera left ) and Shanoa Garcia (camera right)

Sharon, a Nutrition and Food Sciences, Dietetics, and Shanoa works for the BCBG Max Azria , but on their fun time.. they rock the bikinis on the beach..

Shot at Santa Monica Pier in L.A.

“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious – the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. “

ALBERT EINSTEIN

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 5 Feb 10, 4.44PM PST.

Ginell ~ In Vivid Color , originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

Ginell ~ In Vivid Color

this shot is dedicated to Sway – Ginell’s late friend

“Life is too short to not have VIVID MEMORIES !!!”

High School Model Shot

we did this in middle of the night, under the cool lights, and wildly vivid back ground near purdue university

i had a orange gel in an shoot thru umbrella for back lighting

front light was AB1600 with PLM boomed for the front lighting..

and the bokeh-licous background was because i was at 1.6

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 4 Feb 10, 5.22PM PST.

The Golden Child, originally uploaded by ~Phamster~.

The Golden Child

Life is full of wonders, Love, Riches, and Happiness.. .but all of those wrapped into one would Equal = Children..

for every stress in life can be solved by hugging a child…

“The soul is healed by being with children.”

FYODOR DOSTOEVSKY

Camera 5d mk II, 85L

F10
1/80
ISO 100

Lighting was alien bees 1600, with PLM 64 about 8 feet away

Uploaded by ~Phamster~ on 3 Feb 10, 4.54PM PST.