Lighting with one Speedlight

About a week ago I was up late and decided to experiment with the Speedlight SB700 as this is fairly new to me and there is a lot to learn.  It could be any compatible light but I happen to have this one.  For the photo above it was about 11:30 PM and I had only one small lamp on beside me so I could see what I was doing.  Otherwise, the house was dark.  The 105mm f/2.8 was on the D600 so this is what I used.  This idea was spur-of-the-moment and the shooting session very informal.  Anyway, I set the speedlight behind this vase to see what kind of effect it may have on the environment once the shutter is tripped and this is the result.  What you see is a speaker grille on the left, the vase, television on the right, and what is our sunroom in the back.  Remember, the house was dark except for the small lamp bedside me.  The camera was set to Manual mode, manual exposure, 1/50s, ISO 100 @ f/2.8  The camera's built-in AF assist illuminator had to be turned on ( I usually keep it off) for auto focus to work because it was too dark otherwise.  I did not note what manual setting was used on the speedlight and will have to remember to do so next time.  Anyway, I like this.  The sunroom looks lit up, outside is dark as seen through the windows and the highlights in the photo all help portray the feel and sense of that evening as I remember it.  Look close and you'll see little white specs suspended around the vase.  That's dust in the air captured by the instant flash of light.  And next time I'll have to hide the speedlight better.  : )

Love Is In the Air (and the SB 700 Speedlight Off-Camera)

Congratulations to our daughter and her husband on the birth of their little girl.  All are doing great as they experience a whole other kind of love and wonder. 

New Life

It's been a very tiring week around here as Mindy and I have been expecting the birth of our daughters first child.  It began when her and her husband went to the hospital on Monday because the contractions were steady and frequent.  Mindy and I showed up minutes after they did and 5 or 6 hours later we were all sent home because the contractions had lightened up and our daughter was deemed "not in active labor".  

Autumn - A Photo Essay

Sunset Glow

I made it out for a very brief time yesterday but was able to capture this sunset.  Just wanted to share.

Photo Shoot for Free or Not? Part 2

The other day I asked if I (we) should do photo shoots for free or not.  If interested you can read my thoughts on that, and I hope you do because I mention other costs in that article that are altogether different than what this piece is about.  Here, I want to explore some real monetary costs that are involved on our part as well as the cost of our time which is based on my limited experience concerning what I have encountered.  

I am not a professional photographer.  By that, I mean I do not make my living from photography.  It is my hobby.  A passion. Something I enjoy very much.  I derive much satisfaction and pleasure from it.  And it is all the sweeter when someone else appreciates and enjoys my efforts.  If photography is your hobby, this article is for you.

Photo Shoot for Free or Not?

My daughter and son-in-law

No doubt this is a controversial subject with many opinions for and against.  To each his own.  I don't know that there's a hard, fast right or wrong but wanted to share my thoughts on the matter after experiencing a recent dilemma.  I'm sure some of you have found yourselves in similar situations and struggle with what to do so I hope this will be of some help.

DSLR and Compact Camera Dilemma

Panasonic FZ100

Yesterday I wrote of a pain in the neck and the need to explore some options.  Though I certainly haven't wrung it all out yet I thought it may help the decision-making to put it in print, so here goes:

Option 1 - stop carrying the DSLR every time I go out.  Well, this approach has definitely aided the healing in my neck over the last couple months but leaves me feeling empty otherwise.  Like I'm missing out.  Not only on capturing a moment but also the enjoyment of using the camera itself.  I've also been much less active - not getting outside, which I've written about before.  What is it about not being able to freeze moments in time to look them over later and reminisce of the day, place, events, etc.?  To not be able to post-process that image to create what I saw or envisioned?  To share that with others?  Before a few years ago these things rarely, if ever, entered my mind.  But now, it's very much a part of me and I don't want to be without if I don't have to be.

Option 2 - carry my current compact camera when out and about.  I've done this on occasion as mentioned in this post, for instance.  And while on the one hand I was pleasantly surprised by the image quality it rendered for having such a small sensor and that it fit in my back pocket, it just isn't a camera that makes me want to carry and use it all the time.  Its body is slick with no grip to it which makes handling difficult.  Its viewing window gets washed out in sunlight making it difficult or impossible to know where the focus is or how the scene is being composed.  It's slow in use, has limited dynamic range, limited ISO range, etc.  

Option 3 - purchase a camera that is smaller/lighter than my DSLR yet is engaging, competent, and responsive.  The last thing I want is another camera system (body and lenses) to add to what I have already - which consists of two DSLR's with associated lenses and two compacts.  So I would have to sell at least some, if not all, of what I currently have.  On one level that's a tough thing to come to terms with.  After all, it was the Nikon D7000 that seduced me in the first place.  Then there's the Nikon D600 with its terrific image quality, dynamic range and high ISO ability.  Not to mention some terrific lenses that go with these bodies.  On another level, the weight of these bodies and lenses are having a negative impact on my health which I never saw coming.  

Coming up - thoughts on which camera/camera system to go with if I go that route.  But concerning what I've written above, let me know if you have any other ideas.  I'd love to hear them.  

A Pain in the Neck

I've been on a bit of a hiatus recently.  The main reason for it was a pain in my neck that restricted side to side head movement that I put up with for many months.  I had a suspicion as to what brought it on so to put it to the test I pretty much stopped carrying the camera around...which meant I haven't been out much, which means I haven't been making many photos which means I haven't had much to blog about.  The few times I have been out with the camera I carried it in my hands instead of around my neck.  This is okay for a short while but it does get tiring after awhile and my hand starts cramping.  Nor is it very safe.  Heaven forbid I drop it because it's not slung around my neck.

So what was the result of not carrying the camera over my shoulder/neck for almost two months?  No more pain.  It's been completely gone for a few weeks now.  Suspicion confirmed.  Crud.  Now what to do?  In the next post I'll explore some options.

Shimmer of Light

I got out for bit after work yesterday to take a walk and make some pictures.  It was a beautiful evening with bright sunshine and a blue sky filled with billowy clouds but it was no surprise I ended up in the woods as they just seem almost magical somehow and are one of my favorite places to be.  Be sure to click the images for a larger view.  You'll appreciate them much more that way.