Yes,

her eyes actually are that big and beautiful in real life.

figuring out color

I'm just going to write about this because it'll help me feel better to have shared it.

I've struggled with getting color to look right for the past few years, and in the last few months I discovered two things: 
          - Whenever I've opened an application (bridge, photoshop, firefox, etc) with my monitor (which came with my computer) connected, the color profile has always been messed up (go figure). If I open the application with my tv connected to my computer, the color profile is magically correct.
          - Also, whenever I've opened a .raw file in lightroom or ACR, the skintones are, by default, a hideous pink. As if the person's skin was irritated. Everywhere.  BUT, I found out that if I batch a .raw file straight to a tiff (through Bridge), skipping ACR, and open that tiff in photoshop, the skin looks just as wonderfully healthy as it did on my camera screen.

And tonight, I realized that a duplicated image layer in soft light blend mode makes the colors less dull, if you first flatten the tones to a dull gray. 

So, expect to start seeing more color images here soon...

if e'er you meet a prettier woman,

 ...please let me know.

hurricane Isaac somehow found its way into the garage.

more to come.

aaaaaaaaaaand...

we're back.

More to come soon. My profoto pro-5 4800Ws power pack and pro-7 head should be here in about a week or two.

Brushing up.

p tricky

bought a new camera.

tested it out.

In recent news: I ventured back into the studio.

...aaaand I'm getting kind of rusty.

finally here

I've been working on this project for almost 2 years now - finally coming together. Here's a failed print, there'll be more like it (except successful, instead of failed) in the hfac up through monday.

The reception will be thursday, 8-10pm, please stop by and have look sometime.

from the show

s'been a'while...

...I took a break after getting that show up, if you're still in the area, it'll be up until tuesday (CORRECTION: Monday.), stop by if you get a chance.

What I'm up to tonight -



Isn't that som'thing? I'mn't sure how it'll turn out, but't'looks nice...

Respek.

Miguel was one of the graphic design students that helped art direct with my big camera project. He needed some of his work photographed, and I gladly obliged. I respect his work.


More to be updated soon...

Hizzouse.

The kind fellow who resides in this elegant and chic building of luxurious residence was so kind as to allow me to photograph it. He remodeled it himself. It is quite nice, indeed.

Huey, Dewey and Louis Vuitton

Our teacher brought a W magazine to our studio class last year to show us how sleazy the current market is, and to encourage us to fill the market with more wholesome work. Ironically, a set of images that were solarized (seemed kind of uncommon) caught my attention and it frequently finds itself sitting in the back of my mind whenever I'm editing. While cleaning off my memory card it seemed like this "happy accident" of an exposure check for my project about noses had potential, so into photoshop it went. I wanted to compare my solarization with the images from the magazine and was surprised at myself for somehow vaguely remembering that it was a louis vuitton ad. I just searched 'louis vuitton solarized ad' and managed to find it.

Turns out that it was shot by Steven Meisel. What I respect about Steven Meisel is that he doesn't have a "style". His "style" is coherent problem solving. He understands that a color palette or a quality of light is not the message, it's a vehicle for the message. He's the best because he understands what the client is trying to say, and then uses appropriate lighting and styling.

I think I've been writing so much about this because we've been discussing in our fine art class the risk of taking a step into the dark and doing something that isn't just a repeat of someone else's creativity. (Obviously I'm repeating creativity here, but Meisel seems to have made a risky decision) What I'm trying to say is - he took a risk and it seems to have paid off, because it really stuck in my mind. Sometimes risks work, sometimes they don't, but when they do, it sets you apart. I'm going to try to employ that more in my decision making.


(In all honesty, Steven Meisel was really just repeating Man Ray's creativity, but to copy Man Ray today is still somewhat of a step out into the dark)

Small Business shoot

Ha ha, just kidding, it's a pretty big business.
The way that plant looks behind that window reminds me of Eugene Atget's storefront:

Timpanogos Harley Davidson

For our location class we took a field trip to the Timpanogos Harley Davidson shop, and we'll be going again next Thursday. The sun moved quickly while I was trying to get this shot and it moved too quickly, so I kind of missed the lighting. I'll get it again next time, except it'll be more awesomer.

update: another photo (this was shot on paper)

Draper

This afternoon I shot the Draper temple for our religious edifice assignment.

I understand now why the green trees and grass didn't expose. It is not because the paper isn't responsive to green light, it's just that it was nearing sunset, and there isn't a whole lot of green light for the plants to reflect during sunset time. That was my aha moment for today.

a long, long time ago...

I made this image one time, and never got around to posting this cleaned up copy of it. I submitted it to a pdn contest (no luck), and soon I hope to resume this project. This time it will be better. (but not bigger. It was already big enough. I promise.)