Photo Story

Street Photography - Hula Hoop Dancer

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Street Photography in St Petersburg Florida - Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D lens @ f/4 ISO 200 1/1600This Hoola Monsters dancer was easily the most talented person with a hula hoop I had ever seen in my life.  By the applause and reactions from the crowd, I was not the only one nearly mesmerized by the gravity defying motions of the hula hoop as it moved from head to toe, floating at each spot, on this dancer's body.  

It was a rare chance to do some interesting street photography in St. Petersburg.  However, still photography, in this case, cannot do justice to what I witnessed first hand.  HD Video would be far better suited for this.

Hoola Monsters impressed me greatly - Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D lens @ f/4 ISO 200 1/2000

As with most street photography, random people straying in front of my lens were large obstacles in getting the shots I wanted.  As my subconscious shoo-ings of a few people were having no effect, I had to strafe to a break in the people to sneak these shots in between passersby.  This is one, when doing street photography, if you see a shot, TAKE IT.  Any hesitation could (and most likely will) result in missing the shot.

Street Portrait Series 01 - University of Tampa

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Street Portrait of Candid Coeds Chatting -- f/11 ISO 200 1/125th SB-600 handheld off cameraWant to get new ideas?  Go to a photography workshop, even a free one.  My newest photo series, "Street Portraits," was inspired by a workshop by the Lighten Up and Shoot crew who talked about just approaching people on the street and asking if you can make their portrait, or even have them be your model for a little while.  Their workshop was free.  

Combine the inspiration from that workshop with the experience I had during my 2nd DSLR Photography lesson with student Kelley in downtown Tampa, and boom, the Street Portrait Series was born.  All these shots were actually made during Kelley's 4th DSLR photography lesson.  See our setup for the bench shots here, though I only used a single off camera strobe for mine.  He used the dual-strobe setup.  

These dudes were all business -- f/11 ISO 200 1/125th SB-600 handheld off cameraThe basic concept of the street portrait is to setup your lighting gear, then anyone you see walking by, ask them politely if they would like to have their portrait made.  If they say no, just say thanks.  If they say yes, say thanks too!  I always offer to send the person(s) the photograph as well.  Basically you combine street photography with candid portrait photography with off camera flash, with a good amount of being able to be outgoing and brave enough to just ask a stranger to let you photograph them.  I will admit, it certainly helped to have Kelley there, as he is not shy about asking people to let us make their portrait.  

People on the UT campus were very open to be photographed -- f/11 ISO 200 1/250th SB-600 handheld off cameraHowever, I approached the girl (and her friend) above to join in our street portrait experiment.  I would have to say things went very well and several more people (not pictured) let us make their portrait.  Now, all these people were on the University of Tampa campus, no doubt a more likely crowd to let themselves be photographed.  It will be interesting to see how different areas of the city prove to be for street portraits.  I am excited to continue this series and just hope my nerve holds up, especially if I try it alone!

How I processed these photographs: 

  • RAW files first processed in Aperture 3 (Nikon D300 default setting)
  • exposure & color correction in Nik Color Efex Pro 3
  • Unsharp Mask applied in Photoshop CS4 (exported from Aperture as a 16-bit TIFF)
  • "Portrait Drama" filter in Topaz Adjust 3 applied  

Gallery & Art Performance Space Promotional Portraits

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Local art scene friend Laly wanted some promotional shots of her to rebrand Raw Vibes

It is always nice when I can work with friends, so when Laly called me up asking if I could make some promotional shots of her inside Raw Vibes for some rebranding she wanted to do, I said, "I'd love to!" She did not want static, posed shots of her just sitting in her art performance space/gallery or anything like that, which was fine with me as I like to specialize in candid style and putting the person in motion makes for an interesting creative and technical photography challenge.  

This promotional shot of Laly mirrors the curve and flow of the image she wants to put forth for Raw Vibes

To make these shots I put my Nikon SB-600 Speedlight on my light stand at its max height of 9' above and to frame left.  I shot with my Nikon D300 using my Nikkor 105mm VR micro lens from way on the other side of the gallery/performance space triggering the strobe in commander mode.  I used aperture priority mode / f8 / 1/60th / ISO 200 / SB-600 @ -0.3 (about)

The challenge was to catch Laly in just the right frozen motion as she danced herself into the candid pose.  She described to me earlier what she envisioned for the shot and I concentrated on waiting for that exact moment and after quite a few tries, I was able to frame everything right and capture Laly at full extension.  It always feels good going from idea to actuality in photography.   

Observing the potential and the uncertainty

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To this day I wonder what he is looking at, thinking about.

The above photograph has long been one of my personal favorites.  It may have no meaning to anyone else, but the main reason I make photographs is for myself actually.  I remember this day clearly.  I had just bought a Nikkor 50mm 1.8D lens, after thinking about it constantly for over a week.  I wanted a fast lens, and a sharp one, and on my Nikon D80 at that time, it was both.  

This pedestrian bridge was my favorite place in all of Tokyo.  Connecting to Shinjuku station, the busiest public transportation hub in the world, the potential there is tremendous.  Yet there is so much it can be and is overwhelming.  The pedestrian bridge puts you just slight above it all, in a safe position where the potential, as well as the uncertainty of all things, can be observed.

I saw this ojisan taking a long stare down the street I actually lived on for 4 years.  Looking at this photo now, after one of the most chaotic days of my life, it makes me feel calm, and reminds me that potential is still out there, along with uncertainty.

Pole Dancer Model Portrait Session at Raw Vibes

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Pole Dancer Marla in the Black Box room of RAW Vibes in St Petersburg FloridaSunday evening I had a portrait/model session with Marla, a pole dancing instructor at RAW Vibes, the art and performance space run by Saint Petersburg art community friend, Laly, whom last year exhibited my haikyo photographs.  

It was very easy to work with Marla, who posed very well on her own.  I do not believe I said a word to her about posing the entire time, she just went from great pose to great pose.  This allowed me to focus on just making and composing the photographs as best as I could.

The "DANCE" painting was already on the wall, so I cannot take credit for thinking to include it in the photograph.  I did of course notice it and tried to make best use of it for this photograph.  I position myself so that no part of Marla overlapped with the frame of the painting, and also to make it seem like the person in the painting is gazing upon Marla, unbeknownst to her.  I imagined the viewer of this image to be like the viewer in the painting.  

I chose the "antique plate" filter in Silver Efex Pro 3 because I wanted to really accentuate Marla as the subject of the photograph and put into shadow most of the background.  

How I made this photograph:

  • Nikon D300 with Tamron XR Di II 17-50mm lens handheld
  • f/8, 1/60th, ISO 200, aperture priority
  • strobist:  Nikon SB-600 Speedlight on light stand high to frame left triggered by commander mode on the D300
  • processing:  RAW file in Aperture 3, image clean up in Photoshop CS4, conversion to black & white in Silver Efex Pro 3

Classic Late 19th Century Military Couple Portrait

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This couple kindly agreed to let me make their portrait on the University of Tampa Campus

EXIF DATA:  Aperture priority f/8 1/60th ISO 200 - Nikon D300 with Tamron XR Di II 17-50mm

STROBIST:  Nikon SB-600 Speedlight full power with cap diffuser hand held to frame upper left triggered by commander mode on Nikon D300

(Whenever possible, I will be including the EXIF and strobist information with each new photo story.)

This is maybe the sharpest portrait I have ever made using the Tamron XR Di II 17-50mm lens.  I was teaching a DSLR Photography Lesson on the University of Tampa campus when the student and I came across this couple.  The student first approached them and asked if she could take a photo.  After she finished I made my portrait using my "quick and dirty" portrait method of just holding my SB-600 off camera in my left hand extended as far out as I can, while balancing my Nikon D300 in just my right hand.  I believe it is a method I am getting good at!  Of course I would prefer to be able to setup my light stand, put the SB-600 right up on it, and have two hands on my camera to carefully get the exact composition I want, but unless I am working with a portrait client, that usually is just not possible (unless you setup a street model shoot!).

So I have been working on my "quick and dirty" portrait method while making the portraits of my students during their lessons.

This couple was standing on the front porch of the Plant Building looking very dignified, quite in contrast to the attire, or lack there of, that many of the student body choose to decorate themselves with these days.  I had no trouble addressing the couple as sir and ma'am.  Even if it was just acting or just the costumes, they had an aura of class and dignity about themselves.  

No doubt wearing such outfits back in the pre-airconditioning days of Florida no less would be intolerable to those accustomed to t-shirts, shorts and 70 degree controlled climates.  Heck, I cannot even wear cotton as that is too stuffy for me, all synthetics only.  Still, I am very enamored by the formality such attire creates.  I thank this couple deeply for offering me a few minutes of time travel.

Lucas? Spielberg? or other portrait?

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Lucas or Spielberg lookalike

When I first saw the man pictured above, something caught my eye about him.  I did a double take of sorts.  I did not see it at first, but after awhile it finally came to me:  this man looks like either George Lucas or maybe Steven Spielberg.  Tell us in the comments below what you think, Lucas or Spielberg?

I made this candid portrait using a single Nikon SB-600 Speedlight off camera on a light stand.  I just slowly walked over, set the light stand down, and boom! portrait made before he even knew I was there (he was a member of another event I was shooting).  Most of the processing was done using Nik Software Color Efex Pro 3 via Aperture 3.  I cannot recommend this great set of software filters enough.