Finally!

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ens @ 65mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM.

First of all, let me just say that this guy, despite this image, is seriously adorable. I like this picture very much, though, and so did N and J, because it shows an expression that is uniquely him. All babies look cute in a basket, and they all look very similar. Only little Q. looks like this in a basket!

Shooting with N and J was really  pleasure all it's own. Their love for both each other and Q was right on the surface, and for me has truly shown through in these images. They are some of my favorite images I have ever made. I hope you like them, too.

Nikon d700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 90mm, f/11, 1/200s, ISO 800, Paul C. Buff PLM.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ens @ 135mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM. 

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ens @ 135mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM.

Can't Wait

I had the pleasure of shooting some family portraits for J & N's with their new little guy, Q. I'm really excited to show the images to them tomorrow. Since they haven't seen them yet, it's not fair to post a bunch here...but I just can't wait! 

Here's something to tide me over.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 300mm, f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM.

Ducati Man

I posted a version of this image a few weeks ago, but I got to thinking and learned some new stuff, and really much prefer this one. How many times can I use an ultra wide angle lens with a flash and sweeping skies before I get bored with it? Millions of times, I assure you.

Nikon D700, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 14mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200, SB-800.

Pirate Party

B. & T. are getting married in a couple of months--you've never met two nicer people. It was a pleasure making pictures for their engagements announcements. It was useless, too, to try to get T. to stop smiling, or make a close mouthed grin. "Luckiest Man on Earth" was practically scrolling across his eyeballs in neon lights the whole night.

They're doing a pirate themed reception. Consider this an APB: we need a pirate-esque wedding dress, so keep an eye out for me.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @110mm, f/5, 1/125s, ISO 200.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @120mm, f/6.3, 1/100s, ISO 800.

Fun at the Rodeo

Nikon D700, 85mm f/1.8 lens, f/5, 1/250s, ISO 400, SB-600 Speedlight with 1 and 1/4 CTO gels through white umbrella.

We had fun making some pictures of J. at the Rodeo in Hyrum last night. I highly recommend going down there tonight to see some real cowboy competitions. Keep an eye on the belt buckles, and don't forget to applaud very loudly. 

And if you happen to find a leather wearing rocker while you're there, be sure to make some pictures.

Nikon D700, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 24mm, f/7.1, 1/8s, ISO 800, SB-600 Speedlight with 1 and 1/4 CTO gels through white umbrella.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 70mm, f/7.1, 1/80s, ISO 800, SB-600 Speedlight with 1 and 1/4 CTO gels through white umbrella.

Rodeo Tonight

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 300mm, f/8, 1/8000s, ISO 800.

Be sure to head to Hyrum, tonight, to enjoy the rodeo there. All the seats are excellent, and it's a good time--and it's free! Go check it out! 7:30- 9:30pm.

Free at Last

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 140mm, f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 800, SB-600 through white umbrella.

You probably saw these guys at Summerfest last week. In their words, they play Funk. 

I'm fortunate enough to have them practice at the Mansion on Thursday nights. You should by and jam with them.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 75mm, f/8, 1/250s, ISO 800, SB-600 through white umbrella.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 140mm, f/7.1, 1/160s, ISO 800, SB-600 through white umbrella.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 75mm, f/5.6, 1/125s, ISO 800, SB-600 through white umbrella.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 98mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 800, SB-600 through white umbrella.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 130mm, f/8, 1/250s, ISO 800, SB-600 through white umbrella.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 82mm, f/7.1, 1/400s, ISO 800, SB-600 through white umbrella.

Nikon D700, 14-24mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/125s, ISO 800, SB-600 through white umbrella.

iPhone Flower Friday

iPhone 4, 3.85mm lens, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 80.

Don't Sweat It

It happens pretty frequently: someone comes for a photography appointment and is...a little concerned. I assure them this is the right place, but that may make matters worse. See, maybe you haven't heard, but some folks are nervous about being photographed!

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 200mm, f/3.2, 1/200s, ISO 200.

My friend K., here, is not actually one of those people. He is quite comfortable in front of as well as behind the camera. He and I started photographing together about two years ago, and I have just been so fortunate to know and work with this terrific fellow.  I honestly don't know anyone I'd rather be like when (if) I grow up.

Nevertheless, even the most indefatigable photographers must be prepared to assuage concerns of all kinds, even for those who have an inside knowledge of the profession--actually, especially for those who are themselves photographers. For instance, K. requested we shoot his good side. 

I can tell you: K. only has a good side. Still, I was careful to address this concern respectfully. So many people have a feeling that they don't look good, or that they have too many wrinkles, or that they squint, or that they have six chins, or that they just don't take good pictures. Well, in order for me to take good pictures, I have to find some way to help people feel comfortable in front of my lens.

I frequently resort to self deprecating humor, or even downright silliness (best used on three year olds...and 53 year olds). We laugh a little, I show them how good they look, and then we keep going, changing moods, and lights as we groove through this creative process together.

So far so good. No one has taken me up on my money back guantee, yet! After addressing his concerns, even K. ended up pleased.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 200mm, f/3.2, 1/200s, ISO 200.

"Main Street"--Third Place!

Nikon D700, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 14mm, f/7.1, 1/2s., ISO 800, SB-600 with 1/4 CTO gel through white umbrella.

Here's the one I settled on for my portrait entry this year. T. was such a pleasure to work with, and we made a million great images that could have been entered. She was so good at working with the vision I had for this shoot. I've been envisioning this image and several other similar setups for months. I have literally awakened before sunrise with ideas for these racing through my mind. 

I've heard lots of supposition at the Summerfest contest about how much Photoshop was used here. Besides the Black and White work, this image does not have any appreciable Photoshop work done. To create this set up we first adjust camera settings to make the light from the flash look soft and gently wrap around the truck bed and T. Next, I made sure the lights on Main Street and the sky were just the right tones; this required a long shutter speed as part of the plan. Finally, we drove down the road. With the flash set to rear sync (second shutter on Canons) the light comes on at the end of the exposure and makes T. nice and crisp. So, the truck is moving and the shutter is open causing the streaks of lights, but T. is lit separately and sharply. This is the moving, fun, summer-is-here look I was going for.

Lots more in this style to be done. Any seniors out there ready for Pictures?

This is my submission for the landscape category. The judges didn't look at it twice. Ah, well...

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR lens @ 28mm, f/22, 9 frames from 1/60 to .6s, ISO 200, HDR in CS5, BW in Nik Silver Efex.

Summerfest Photo Contest

I had a dream a few months ago. I this dream I was making pictures, and tonight we made those pictures I imagined in my dream. Seriously, the best time making pictures I may have ever had--right up there with my first foray into photon control. 

That first time taking control of light was so fun because it felt like magic was happening right before my eyes. I pressed some buttons, moved around a flash with an umbrella, rolled into position on the ground, and magic happened on that little LCD. Besides leaving a $200 flash strapped to a dumpster and driving away, it was non-stop fun (flash was later retrieved without difficulty--whew!).

Tonight was also non-stop fun, but for different reasons. Tonight, the results that looked just I imagined them were a result not of mysterious functions and little gnomes living inside my camera (I evicted them months ago). Nope, tonight it was like science--like the second semester of Chemistry when you perform lab work and get some incredible results, but you expected it and it happened because the formula was just right. Tonight I knew what would happen when I adjusted my shutter speed and ISO settings to balance ambient light with the flash. I knew that even though the truck was moving, the pictures would look sharp because i was using rear sync with the flash! It was premeditated and perfectly predictable.

My next chore is to get bigger dreams! Now I can turn my mind to techniques I don't know, and maybe find some more opportunities to refine this one.

Actually, my next Chore is to get my favorite ready for the SummerFest Photo Contest and turn it in by Wednesday at noon! This is one of my favorites, but it's not the one I'm going to enter. Gotta go!

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 90mm, f/7.1, 1/10s, ISO 1600.

Special Thanks to Heather from Aya Photography for her assistance on this shoot.

Eighty...Eight

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 200mm, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 800.

J. has joined the ranks of Octogenarians. His birthday was yesterday, and Jenn and I were fortunate enough to be invited to make pictures for him and his family.

This is S. She is younger than J., the second youngest of J.'s great-grandchildren. What a wonderful thing grandchildren must be, and doubly so great-grandchildren. The contrasts within a single family are truly incredible to see and observe. Ages, preferences, wrinkles, eye colors. What doesn't change is the life in the eyes.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 160mm, f/2.8, 1/160s, ISO 800.

Flower Friday (on Saturday)

Nikon D90, 55mm Micro lens, F/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 400.

The tulips are dead. Long live the Iris.

J. and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Nikon D700, 85mm f/1.8 lens, f/2.8, 1/200s, ISO 200.

J. likes to ride. I often pass him on the highway--going the other direction, of course, or there'd be no way. You may see him on a bike that looks like something Mel Gibson should be riding, circa 1981.  But at the track, he'll be found riding a rich blue Ninja--and wearing TRON suit.

Nikon D700,  14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 15mm, f/8.0, 1/1250s, ISO 200.

Can't wait to see what he wears when he and his wife come for portraits next week.

Vacation Photography

Have I mentioned that I'm a really good vacation photographer? I come along with you and make artful pictures of your family on vacation--the kind of stuff you'll print and keep forever, not just post on Facebook. Let's face it, pictures of your kid at the beach beat pictures of your kid on a stool with a school photographer imploring him or her to say, "Cheese."

Nikon D700, 50mm f/1.4 lens, f/4.0, 1/8000s, ISO 400.

I have a trip to the Caribbean coming up in January, but there's lots of time between now and then, so give me a call and let's get you setup.

iPhone Flower Friday (on Wednesday)

iPhone 4, lens @ 3.85mm, f/2.8, 1/40s, ISO 80.

I've been enjoying this as the backdrop on my phone, and thought you might enjoy it, as well.

Flower Friday

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 300mm, f/8, 1/500s, ISO 400.

Out of Place

Nikon D700, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens @ 14mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200.

This dude obviously belongs on a motorcycle; it's just a surprise to see him on a Ducati and not a Harley.

The CVP's and I enjoyed some time at Miller Motorsports park on Tuesday. Pretty fun to watch and shoot. However, I, too, was out of place. We were unable to locate the guy with our press passes, so we were stuck on the sidelines, which is remarkably close to the action, but it's not close enough to make different perspectives interesting. After about fifteen minutes of shooting we had seen lots of guys and girls coming around turns, dipped low, and they all became a blur. Still very fun.