Technique

35 MM / Cameras / DSLR / Digital Photography / Events / Nikon D70 / Social Issues / Strobist / Technique — No Comments
9
Feb 10

Photoshoot for cast of MLK in a Hip Hop World

A little background information about this act sourced from a PR release:

Rooted and grounded in the civil rights era, “MLK in a Hip Hop World” allows audiences to observe dramatic scenes through the lens of the hip-hop generation. We are reminded that hip-hop is not just a form of music but an undeniable social movement.“MLK in a Hip Hop World” examines the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., contemplates his work and lifts his legacy to the rhythm and pulse of the streets.

“MLK” reminds viewers of Dr. King’s history and philosophy through a cultural perspective that has influenced our progress as a diverse nation.“MLK in a Hip Hop World” is an original theatre piece written and performed by ACT alumni and Asante Touring Company members Jocque “Coosto” Carey, Cleo “The Dark Knight” House, Vincent “LL” Jordan and “King” David Orr, under the direction of Deborah Asante, Founder and Artistic Director.

35 MM / Cameras / Nikon F4S / Technique — No Comments
21
Jan 10

Hybrid digital darkroom workflow

Dunn Meadows (Indiana University Bloomington): Digital Darkroom Workflow

Many of you that follow my blog know that I use film for some of my work. Sometimes I get asked if I have a wet darkroom and my answer is no, but I did at one point. I got rid of it when I purchased my first DSLR, a Nikon D70. I also got rid of all my film cameras including my favorite Fuji GW670. But for the past several months I have started building my arsenal of film cameras again and I couldn’t be happier. I however decided not to rebuild a wet darkroom and instead chose to take a hybrid approach. I shoot film but all the post-processing and printing is done using a digital workflow. Here are some details about the hardware and other products I use:

Digital Darkroom Hardware:

Scanner: Nikon Coolscan 8000 and Coolscan 4000
Scanner Software: Vuescan Professional Edition
Computer: Macbook Pro with 2.5GHz Intel Processor and 4BG Memory
Monitor: Dell E248WFP
Software: Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CS3
Printer: Epson R2400
Monitor Calibration: Colorvision Spyder Pro 2
Calibration Software: ColorEyes Display Pro
Photopaper: Epson Somerset Velvet, Hahnemühle FineArt, and Ilford Premium Plus

I couldn’t be happier with this arrangement, I get all the benefits of shooting film including access to cameras that would cost thousands for equivalent digital versions. I enjoy the process of manipulating images a lot more than I used when doing the same in a wet darkroom. I however do realize that all my time spent in a wet darkroom have trained me well to get the most out of my digital darkroom. The image you see above is what I envisioned and created in the digital darkroom and what you see below is the actual capture itself. What do you think?

35 MM / Adobe Lightroom / Cameras / Nikon F4S / Photoshop CS3 / Technique — No Comments
10
Jan 10

Holton Valley Farm [Before and After]

BEFORE

After working on this image in my Digital Darkroom this is what I got. Tools used:
1. Adobe Lightroom 2 – Preset Punch and Sharpen Landscape
2. Photoshop CS3 – Levels, Healing Brush, Selection Tools, Layers and Layer Masks, and Adjustment Layers

AFTER
Holton Valley Farm (Kentucky)

35 MM / Alternate Cameras / Cameras / Holga / Technique / Toy Cameras — No Comments
2
Jan 10

How to load 35mm film in a Medium Format Holga 120S Toy Camera

How to load 35mm film in a Medium Format Holga 120S Toy Camera

Recently I wrote on how I used my favorite 35mm Black and White film, Ilford HP5 Plus, in a modified Holga 120S Medium Format Camera. Many have commented (On Flickr) and I really appreciate that. I did receive some inquiries on how I loaded the film in the camera and kept it in place. Before I show how I did it here is a video on Youtube showing how others have done it:

Unfortunately for me I did not have pieces of foam lying around so I improvised. Instead of foam pieces I used a Bic ballpoint pen. I cut two pieces (you will have to experiment just a little to get the right size) and made notches on one end of each piece to fit into each end of the 35mm film spool. Make sure that the film is centered while you experiment, you will just have to eye ball it.

I then inserted the pieces of Bic pen on either side of the film spool and loaded it into the camera.

Make sure you absolutely remember to do this: I made sure that the film counter window is tapped up on the outside and inside with black electrical tape. You will have to do this because unlike 120 film which has a paper backing 35mm film does not have one. If you do not cover the counter window the film will be exposed to outside light – which could be very bad.

Once you have the lid closed tape up areas (Like in the photo above) to make sure that there are no more light leaks or eliminate any accidents.

Adobe Lightroom / Cameras / DSLR / Digital Photography / Nikon D70 / Strobist / Technique — No Comments
24
Dec 09

A…B…C…

35 MM / Cameras / Canon AE-1 / Indianapolis / Street Photography / Technique / Thoughts — 1 Comment
23
Dec 09

Hey IMA – I Wanna Blog

I heard on Twitter that the Indianapolis Museum of Art, one of my favorite places to hangout with my camera, announced a competition to select a blogger for the 2010 season. My first reaction was cool – I should try out for it. I had written a few blog posts based on my experiences at the IMA and I continue to draw inspiration every time I visit the museum. One experience in particular set off a chain of events that resulted in a photograph that I consider to be one of my favorites. The IMA had an exhibit last year titled: On the Road Again with Jack Kerouac and Robert Frank . The exhibit had on display 83 photographs taken by Robert Frank which were accompanied by a 120 feet long original typescript of Jack Kerouac’s novel “On The Road”. Jack Kerouac is said to have written this novel under the influence of drugs and caffeine over a period of 20 days.

My curiosity aroused I went over to the nearest Public Library and borrowed “The Americans”, a collection of photos by Robert Frank some of which were on display at the IMA as part of the exhibit. I spent several days pouring over the photographs, studying them, and hoping to learn to see the world as Robert Frank did through his camera. Several months later I saw an opportunity to do what Robert Frank did but on a very small scale. The Indiana State Fair just started and I thought that this would be a perfect place to photograph people from different parts of the state and socioeconomic backgrounds. You can read more about that project on my blog post: The Americans (PK Edition) [Images from The Indiana State Fair 2009]. The composite from that project is below:

Indiana State Fair 2009 Tractor Shuttle or Midwest on Wheels

Click on the Photo to View The hi-res Version

You see if I did not go to the IMA that day I would have never heard about Robert Frank or Jack Kerouac. I would have never had the inspiration to do a project like this. It is for this very reason I keep going back to the IMA.

So IMA staff – if you are reading this blog post please please please consider me to be your next blogger.

35 MM / Adobe Lightroom / Digital Photography / Indianapolis — No Comments
23
Oct 09

Gathering Leaves


20091023-25

Gathering Leaves

by Robert Frost

Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.

I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.

But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.

I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?

Next to nothing for weight,
And since they grew duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.

Next to nothing for use.
But a crop is a crop,
And who’s to say where
The harvest shall stop?

35 MM / Digital Photography / Technique / Thoughts — No Comments
21
Oct 09

Working from the gut

20091021-16-Edit
I don’t know about you but when I am working on my photos in photoshop I rarely follow a set path. The first 3 or 4 steps may be the same form photo to photo but I eventually start going on several different directions until I find a look that I like. The above is a photo of Mira that I took in my home studio and put it through my own random post-processing routine. The below version is the original.
20091021-16

35 MM / Adobe Lightroom / Digital Photography / Portraits / Technique / Video — No Comments
2
Sep 09

[Video] Using Local Adjustments Tool in Adobe Lightroom

youtube-logoThis short video shows how you can use the Local Adjustments Tool in Adobe Lightroom to lighten up a dark background in a photograph after the fact.

35 MM / Alternate Cameras / Digital Photography / Flowers / Medium Format / Technique / Thoughts — No Comments
29
Aug 09

More experiments with Hasselblad Lenses on a Nikon D70 DSLR

20090829-20090829-6Took some more photos today but this time with a Hasselblad 120mm S-Planar lens on a Nikon D70 DSLR. Check out the slide show.

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