Commercial Photography

Panorama Tampa at Twilight Views from a Parking Garage

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Downtown Tampa Panorama at Twilight Bird's Eye View - click for 1200px image - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 5 sec 3-frame panorama tripod mounted with cable release

It is hard to pry me out of St. Petersburg.  Thankfully, a new client hired me to make some images of Tampa for their new website giving me the opportunity to cross the Howard Frankland Bridge with my DSLR and tripod in tow.  Of all the photographs I took that afternoon and evening, in this post a selection of images taken all from the same spot atop a parking garage are featured.  I had never been to the top of this parking garage before.  I just stumbled upon it as I was searching for bird's eye vantage points of downtown Tampa.  It was a little hard to get into, as I had to risk walking up the narrow entrance ramp before I found an actual parking level that had elevators to the top.  I later found out the actual entrance is inside a building on the other side.  After walking the last three flights to the roof (the elevator I was in did not go to the top) carrying all my gear, I was glad I as always was properly attired with the best footwear possible.

University of Tampa from above at dusk with light trails - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/16 ISO 200 5 sec tripod mounted with cable releaseIt was a very unique feeling being alone on the top of that garage.  There were only two cars left parked on the far side from me.  It was after 5:30pm and everyone had already gone home for the day.  I felt like I was in a secret spot with a view of all downtown Tampa.  All this added up to a feeling of peace.  My Nikon D300 was on my Induro CT214 tripod, so I had no weight on my body from gear.  I could move about freely looking for shots.  At first there was too much light to make the light trail shots I wanted to, so I passed the time by observing and wondering.

Blue Skyscraper to Blue Infinity with Moon - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 1.6 sec tripod mounted with cable release - lens correction in Photoshop CS5 to straighten buildingBehind where I knew I wanted to do most of my shooting stood a tall blue skyscraper trying to reach to the Moon.  I thought it interesting how the color of the building nearly blended in perfectly with the twilight sky.  I debated for awhile on which to include in this post, the lens corrected image you see above (building is straight) or the non-corrected one with the building bending inward appearing to reach for the heavens.  

Sykes Building Downtown Tampa Twilight - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/16 ISO 200 10 sec tripod mounted with cable releaseI really enjoyed being alone atop that parking garage waiting for the evening to transition from dusk to twilight.

Business Headshots done on location in your St. Petersburg office

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NEED A PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT TO REPRESENT YOU?
  • At your location or in my home studio
  • 20-minutes or less, fast & fun
  • 2 professionally edited images from $99*
  • Numerous styles & looks available
  • Feature your profession in the shot
  • Final images e-mailed directly to you
CALL: 813-240-5357 E-mail: CONTACT FORM FACEBOOK

*additional cost may apply for locations outside of the St. Petersburg area, use of digital backgrounds 

Tampa Model Urban Portfolio Shoot with Stephanie

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Pay phones may not be around much longer, I will be sad to see them go -- Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/5.6 ISO 200 1/60th Strobist: SB-600 to frame left

During this portfolio shoot with model Stephanie in and around downtown Tampa a telephone theme began to just naturally get created.  I did not think about it at the time, but upon editing the above photo I realized that pay phones will not be around much longer.  Probably anyone under age twenty today has never nor will ever use one.  I find it very interesting the things that become obsolete in a society.

Similarly, phonebooks will become relics -- Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/5.6 ISO 200 1/80th Strobist: SB-600 to frame leftIt seems only natural that if pay phones disappear, so too will phonebooks.  I cannot say that the last few phonebooks did anything but immediately go into the hallway closet and then eventually the recycling bin.  We found this old, decaying phonebook near an equally old and decaying house.  It was my idea to add the cellphone to the shot to contrast with the phonebook.

Analog technology in ruin -- Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/2.8 ISO 400 1/400th Strobist: SB-600 to frame rightI really enjoyed making these nontraditional modeling shots with Stephanie and I appreciate her being open to so many unusual ideas.  She interacted with all the urban props we found in juxtaposition to how she was dressed, in flowing summer dress.

Flamenco Dancer at Ceviche St. Petersburg Florida Commercial Photography

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Flamenco Dancer Vanessa at Ceviche St. Petersburg - Nikon D300 Nikkor 50mm @ f/2 ISO 800 1/40th SB-800 @ 1/8th power hotshoe mountedI first had the opportunity to photograph professional flamenco dancer Vanessa two years ago.  We had been in touch a few times since then about me photograhing her dancing again.  Well, last week finally everything worked out so that I could photograph her while performing at Ceviche in St. Petersburg.  Vanessa told me beforehand that the basement flamenco bar of Ceviche is very, very dark.  I spoke with a photography colleague who has shot there and he confirmed that adding also that the ceiling is very low.  The biggest challenge proved to be the red stage lights, followed by the very tight space available for shooting (serving staff & customers passing by).

The flamenco bar stage at Ceviche St. Petersburg - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/2.8 ISO 800 1/60th SB-800 @ 1/8th power hotshoe mountedThe small space, though, provided for a very lively environment with the band playing quickly and loudly, and the four flamenco dancers taking their turns on the low stage.  Vanessa has her turn while the other dancers looked on.  

I could have used my speedlights to fill the entire space with light, resulting in radically different photos than you see here.  However, Vanessa wanted the images to reflect the actual available light in the performance space as much as possible, which I agreed with.  Since most of the lighting in the basement was reddish and yellowish, those are the tones of the images along with deep shadows in the background.

Vanessa's finale dance at Ceviche St. Petersburg - Nikon D300 Nikkor 50mm @ f/2 ISO 800 1/40th SB-800 @ 1/8th power hotshoe mountedIt was a very fun challenge photographing Vanessa in Ceviche's flamenco bar basement.  Maybe next time I will return just as a customer!

Florida beach bikini model commercial photography

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Model: Monica Location: Sunset Beach Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/2.8 ISO 200 1/3200th 

If you are looking for a place to warm up this winter, Sunset Beach on Treasure Island, St. Petersburg, Florida is a great choice.  In this collection of natural light photographs bikini model Monica makes a strong case for Florida tourism if not out right relocation!

Model: Monica Location: Sunset Beach Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/2.8 ISO 200 1/2000thOne does not swim in the ocean on the west coast of Florida, but rather the Gulf of Mexico.  This means much warmer water year round as well as calm conditions out on the water.  Dolphins are a common sight.  In the above photograph Monica emerges from the Gulf in dramatic fashion.

Model: Monica Location: Sunset Beach Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/2.8 ISO 200 1/2000thThose warm and calm conditions also make Florida's gulfcoast beaches ideal places to put your beach towel down on the white sand and just enjoy the tranquility.  The end to most days on the gulfcoast is punctuated with a fantastic sunset like the one Monica is watching above.

Model: Monica Location: Sunset Beach Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/2.8 ISO 200 1/1250thIf you live in a cold place and have to suffer through a harsh winter, well then I hope these images have helped to warm you up a little and that you visit Florida to thaw out on your winter vacation.  Be sure and contact me for great Florida beach portraits while you are here.

VIP Eye Care St. Petersburg Interior Commercial Photography

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VIP Eye Care St. Petersburg - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDR mounted on Induro CT214 tripodI have been a contact lens client of VIP Eye Care every since I moved to St. Petersburg nearly three years ago.  I chose them as my contact supplier since they were an independent local business, rather than going with one of the chains or an eye care place in a department store.  They recently moved to a new location and had a ribbon cutting with St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster, which I attended and took a few photographs of.  That began my business relationship as a photographer with Dr. Henri and her staff.

Granite countertops on the reception desk - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDR mounted on Induro CT214 tripod

By networking at the ribbon cutting event I learned that there was interest in having professional interior shots done.  A few weeks later, the shoot was scheduled and VIP Eye Care returned the favor by helping my local business by hiring me to do the commercial photography work.

Right on 4th St N & 22nd Ave N - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDR mounted on Induro CT214 tripodThe focus of the interior shoot was to highlight how many pairs of glasses were on display while also showing the exterior view of 4th Street North.  To accomplish this I used the HDR photography technique.  

VIP Eye Care exterior at night - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 5 sec mounted on CT214 Induro tripodThe lone exterior shot requested was a night shot showing light trails from passing cars.  Since cars passing straight across blocked much of the ground level windows of the boutique, I decided that traffic making left hand turns was better.  However, it took quite a few signal cycles until there were enough cars heading in both opposite directions to be able to make the desired shot.  After making this long 5 second exposure, I took another faster exposure so that the signs on the building and the signal post were not blown out.  I then blended those two images in Photoshop CS5 using a layer mask to reveal the signs on the long exposure image.

I look forward to continuing both my eye care customer and commercial photographer relationships with VIP Eye Care and its friendly staff.