Self Image
26/365 Self Image, originally uploaded by Kirk Howard.
Image 26/365
This was a picture I shot with my Canon G10 of myself, while I was taking a picture of my Canon G10 with Nikon D70’s.
You are currently browsing the Portrait category.
Learning with Joe – part 3
Joe McNally - Repeating Flash
This is the last video by Joe McNally of Repeating Flash posted at the Nikon School. This is a advanced technique that uses the Nikon CLS (Creative Lighting System) used on the Nikon SB Flashes.
This example and technique is awesome. Joe explains how to light a set with 14 different strobes for the technique of stroboscope. He produces some very beautiful images with this technique. Unfortunately Joe makes it look really easy, but I know it’s not.
Take a look at Joe McNally video on Repeating Flash at Nikon School.
If you missed the last two video here is the links to those posts:
I hope you enjoyed these video post. I know that I learned something new in these videos.
Have a great day. May your horizons be straight, and your focus clear.
Kids in a Box
24/365 Kids in a Box, originally uploaded by Kirk Howard.
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Kids-in-a-Box, This is my Youngest Niece and Nephew. This is how my wife babysits them. She sticks them in a box that has wheels, and pushes them around. They love it.
Learning with Joe – part 2
Joe McNally - Control of Color Part 2
Here is the second video of Joe McNally teaching Control of Color from Nikon School. As Joe did in his first video, he teaches techniques of using multiple flashes in off camera mode. Show the importance of identifying the correct ambient light and adjusting to the proper white balance. Joe also shows you how to place a flash for hair highlights.
Here is the link to the second video Control of Color part 2 at the Nikon School. If you missed the first video here is the link to that as well Learning with Joe – part 1
Learning with Joe – part 1
Joe McNally - Control of Color Part 1
As I cruise through my daily blog reading I ran across an old post from a Photo Blogger I follow Scott from Weekly Photography Tips. He posted a series of three videos from on of my favorite photographers Joe McNally. For those of you who may not know of Joe McNally he has a few very popular books out there that really have put a turn in my photography, especially portrait photography using small strobes. His first book I read is The Moment it Clicks and the other book, his most recent release is The Hot Shoe Diaries. If you are looking to improve your portrait photography especially with the use of small strobes I encourage you to read these two books. Continue Reading…
Doggie Diner
18/365 Doggie Diner Dachshund, originally uploaded by Kirk Howard.
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The Doggie Diner dog heads have been an icon in San Francisco for a few decades. These heads used to be outside the Doggie Diners. Most were up on poles.
The last of the doggie heads on public display is located in San Francisco at 46th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard. It was refurbished in 2001 by the DPW.
I have seen pictures of the three of the heads Manny, Moe and Jack in parades around San Francisco. The heads are owned by John Law of LaughingSquid.com
When I saw the heads parked on Treasure Island, San Francisco the old naval base, I had to stop and take a picture. They were perfectly lighted by a street light.
Richard Avedon Photography
Exhibition begins at the Richard Avedon exhibit at SFMOMA
Today on Monday morning re-cap, I will tell you about the Richard Avedon exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. A few weeks ago I blogged and invite for anyone in the Bay Area to take a trip to SFMOMA and see the Richard Avedon exhibit.
On Saturday my wife and I spent the day in San Francisco, and we took some time to visit the SFMOMA. We were excited to see the Richard Avedon exhibition, since the exhibit will close at the end of November.
Let me just start with this. I expected the museum to be more crowded then it was. Also, since my wife and I are members we did not have wait in line for the exhibit we were let right in, (Membership has its privileges).
Richard Avedon was born in 1923. He passed at the age of 81 in 2004, was an American photographer. Richard Avedon had a great career that span many decades. His most famous work was done with models of the fashion world. He also shot celebrities, dignitaries and common Americas in his series called the “American West”.
My personal take on the exhibit was inspiring. I love photography, and in was struck by the simplicity of his work. Granted it may not have been simple by any means, however they white background used in most of his portraits was a trademark icon that he used throughout his career. His work showed me how to use a simple white background to make a perfect portrait.
When you walk up to the images you can see the detail from every pore to crease and scar. Some of the images we not very flattering to the subject, but that were what he was looking for the real person and not the made up face or image that usually come from a professional photo session.
An example that I can give you, is the photo he has in the exhibit of Marilyn Monroe. According to the 87 minute movie about Richard Avedon, he said he spent hours in the studio photography the actress. She posed, smiled, flirted for hours in front of the camera. However when it was all over, she was like a little girl quite and sitting alone in the edge of a couch. According to Avedon, he would never taken the picture without her permission in this vulnerable state.
Marilyn Monroe by Richard Avedon at SFMOMA
Like I mentioned before if you have the opportunity to see the Richard Avedon exhibition go and take in the career of this great master of the lens. It will inspire and awe everyone…
Richard Avedon Collection at SFMOMA
Aloha
Aloha, we all made it back from Maui, Hawaii in one piece. I think I speak for all that went (Kathlene, Karla, Krista, Kirk) we are none too pleased to be back on the mainland.
Vacations no matter how long they are, they never seem long enough. It felt like yesterday we were on our way to Hawaii. Unfortunately all good things come to an end and so did our Maui vacation.
If you didn’t know and you may not really care I have a travel blog on TravelPod.com. If anyone is interested to read more about our trip you can follow this link to the My TravelPod Blog.
Here is a little video I shot on Saturday our last full day on Maui. I had been snorkeling earlier in the day at Black Rock Point with Kathlene and Krista. During that snorkel session we saw some Green Sea Turtles. The turtles had surfaced for air while we were there.
I decide I would go for one last snorkel session during the evening before dinner. I walked to Black Rock and slipped into the water at 5:30 PM. I was the only person in the water.
I swam over to where I had last seen the turtles earlier in the day. I was pleased to see that one turtle was in his little hidy hole.
Now I would just wait for him to surface for air, which could be a 30 minute wait. Fortunately I only had to wait about five minutes. The turtle surfaced and then proceeded swim along the face of Black Rock…
I will let the video tell the rest of the story. I hope you can enjoy it half as much as I did filming it.
Mahalo
Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle from KiHo on Vimeo.
A New Start, A New Adventure
A man moves towards the darker side of light
However being said, it doesn’t make me feel any better. I will do as the many others in my position are doing, and rely on the governments (state and federal) to help subsidize my income until I can obtain another permanent position doing what I know best, an Equity Trader/Market Maker.
However, as one door closes another must open. This is why I will be starting a new adventure as a photographer. I have always looked at photography as a hobby. I have only on few occasions been paid for my work.
In 2003 I was hired to shoot a model hired by a start up cell Phone Company. It was more of a product shoot. My job was to photograph the model wearing the cell phone accessories that the company was promoting. These images were to be used on a trade show booth at the upcoming C.E.S. show.
In 2006 I was hired through a friend to shoot a Christmas party for her company. I was paid a fair amount for someone that had never done this before, and I suppose the company was happy with my work, for they invited me back. As fate would have it by the next Christmas, I had moved away and my fried had been laid off. Nonetheless, I had to decline the job.
Today is a new day, and I must keep putting that one-foot in front of the other. This blog will be ramblings of my photography and business in photography.
I will try to update my blog on a timely fashion to keep those who decide to read it informed about my goings-on at FishEye Studio.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and remember “Keep your Focus Sharp and your Horizon Straight”.
農曆新年
農曆新年 is the traditional Chinese charters for the Chinese New Year. 2008 celebrates the year of the Rat 鼠.
Last year in 2007 was the year of the Pig 豬. My wife and I made the trip from southern California to San Francisco for the Chinese New Years Parade. The parade takes place on the last night of the Chinese New Year.
Last year I tried to capture a few images during the parade. It wasn’t easy. Low light, big crowds and moving targets. Plus once again I didn’t have a tripod. Do you see a theme here? Me without a tripod in times I need it most.