Archive for April, 2012
The Before and After series focuses on the two or three key creative choices, in terms of composition and processing, that go into creating an image. Specific technical details about the shot have been left out — you won’t hear me talking about tone curve adjustments and whatnot unless it was a key component of the end result.
Bobby passes the ball at the MAC benefit tournament a few years ago.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/2000
- Aperture: f/2.0
- ISO: 200
- Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
Composition and Processing
- It’s a pretty simple passing shot, but I liked the afternoon sun and how it backlit the player (in particular the hair). Bobby’s darker skin tones really help this shot too, making the sand stand out and providing greater separation from the yellow background.
- Had to square crop it simply because I wanted to bring in the right edge and I didn’t have any more room to the left of the ball. Fortunately the ball’s headed up as much as left, so I left in more breathing room at the top of the frame for the eye to move into.
Original:
A pretty simple passing shot, but I liked the afternoon sun and how it backlit the player (in particular the hair).
This darker skin tones really help this shot too, making the sand stand out and providing greater contrast with the yellow background.
April 30 2012 | Photography | No Comments »
The Before and After series focuses on the two or three key creative choices, in terms of composition and processing, that go into creating an image. Specific technical details about the shot have been left out — you won’t hear me talking about tone curve adjustments and whatnot unless it was a key component of the end result.
A lone surfer rides a wave at Steamer Lane.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/2000
- Aperture: f/4.0
- ISO: 400
- Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM + 1.4x Extender (420mm total)
Composition and Processing
- This probably would have been a nice shot a little closer, framing the surfer against the backlit wave, but 420mm was the extent of my reach. Instead I went for the larger context of the relationship between the surfer and the wave as a whole, particularly the sense of scale.
- To exaggerate the uniformity of the wave and lighting, I cropped this as a pano, leaving very little beyond the surfer to break or distract from the even surface.
Original:
April 26 2012 | Photography | No Comments »
The Before and After series focuses on the two or three key creative choices, in terms of composition and processing, that go into creating an image. Specific technical details about the shot have been left out — you won’t hear me talking about tone curve adjustments and whatnot unless it was a key component of the end result.
Ryan, Roxy and Andrea rehearse for the KDH Dance Company.
Exposure
- Shutter: 1/500
- Aperture: f/2.0
- ISO: 1600
- Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
- Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Composition and Processing
- I chose the square crop due to the image’s symmetry, and not just the left right balance. The large prop Roxy and Andrea are holding onto in the background is also square.
- This is a great example of the benefits of shooting rehearsals, or really any subject where there’s a lot of repetition of the same action. I watched this movement develop and saw the potential for placing Ryan in the foreground with the unusual backdrop, but I was standing on the wrong side of the room. So I repositioned for their next run through. It’s not enough to see all possible shots from where you’re standing, you should always be looking for what’s possible from other angles.
Original:
April 25 2012 | Photography | No Comments »