Portrait

Epic Aerial Portraits in Downtown Tampa Part 1 -- yours truly

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Photo by Vadim - Nikon D700 Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 - yours truly pulling a trademark Liu Kang aerialWhen a trio of friends gets together who have not all seen each other in awhile, and they happen to be photographers, hardcore portraits can, and in this case, did, ensue.  I met my boys Vadim and Pedro in front of the Tampa Theater.  We started out semi-tame, just a 2-strobe setup in front of some huge spiral modern art with each of us straddling a small fountain waterfall.  However, at Vadim's urging we soon packed away the lights and we all decided to take to the air!  This is nothing new for me.  I pulled a Liu Kang air (photo) (update see below!) over a huge gap in a cliffside in Mesa Verde National Park back in 2000, something I called the "Leap of Faith."  So doing an epic drop (unverified) from a skyscraper as seen above was only my latest epic aerial.  

Photo by Vadim - Nikon D700 Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 - yours truly pulling a Jackie Chan parkour move for a shotGood photographers can get shots anywhere.  Luckily Vadim was with us and spotted this alley behind a restaurant and said we should try it out.  I immediately suggested I could do parkour off the wall for some shots.  Vadim got who knows how dirty to get this creative angle.  Pedro was getting dirty too on the ground between the trash can and the dumpster.  Me?  Well, you know my disdain for getting myself into a state of disrepair.  

Photo by Pedro - Nikon D300 Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 - yours truly using The MatrixOne may point out that all these jumps were done while holding my not so inexpensive camera (not to mention lens) in my hand.  That's what makes things real.  Everyone jumped with his gear.  We wanted to get some different (and in my case hardcore) photographer's headshots.  I think we succeeded in that.  

Next up will be the shots I took of Vadim and Pedro! 

UPDATE:

Mese Verder National Park -- Digital Photograph by unknown circa 2000 model, possibly a Sony, owned by traveling friend Steve. - yours truly making the "Leap of Faith"This is my original Liu Kang style jump from March of 2000.  I met two guys in Mesa Verde Park and we explored the place and jumped off of everything we could find.  The photo taken by Steve was with perhaps one of the very first consumer digital cameras.  It might have been a Sony.  I think it was just a 1 megapixel camera.  The original file was only 640x480 as memory cards had very small capacities back then and were super expensive.  Digital photography really has advanced in just 10 years.  Read more about this awesome day and see more epic feats:  Mesa Verde 2000 Adventure 

Urban Wedding Engagement Portraits in downtown St. Petersburg

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Improvising using the one-way sign - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D @ f/5.6 ISO 400 1/100th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight with diffuser cap 1/2 power on light stand above and to frame left Nikon SB-600 Speedlight 1/4 power with diffuser cap on tripod eye level to frame right

Back in May I had an engagement shoot with Mary and Jason at the often used University of Tampa campus.  They were wanting to add a few unique, urban shots to their engagement package so I had them meet me in downtown St. Petersburg one evening.  I had a few spots in mind to use, but as often happens, my favorite shot of the day came via improvisation and just happening upon something.  We were finished with one location and walking toward a corner and I thought a lone one-way sign could be a great prop.  I set up my two strobes and shared my vision with Jason and Mary.  After several tries they both performed their roles just as I had envisioned and the result was one of my favorite shots of the summer.

Improvising using the one-way sign - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D @ f/5.6 ISO 400 1/100th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight with diffuser cap 1/2 power on light stand above and to frame left Nikon SB-600 Speedlight 1/4 power with diffuser cap on tripod behind and belowThe experimentation continued with adding more urban elements into the shot like a fire hydrant and traffic light.  I further pushed things by using a filter in Topaz Adjust 3 to achieve the vivid, painted look.  This was also one of the first times to use one strobe for backlighting/hair lighting (seen in the glowing edge around Mary).  This is a technique I will definitely be repeating.  

Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D @ f/3.5 ISO 200 1/100th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight with diffuser cap 1/2 power on light stand above and to frame left Nikon SB-600 Speedlight 1/4 power with diffuser cap on tripod eye level to frame rightThe engagement shoot was a very fun and creative experience for me and I got to know Mary and Jason a little bit better before their upcoming September wedding.  I am looking forward to photographing their big day!

Natural Light Portrait in the Golden Hour

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Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8 lens @ f/4 ISO 200 1/1600th natural lightI am a huge believer and practitioner of off camera flash.  However, it is very freeing to be able to photograph without worry of a strobe firing, using the right power, diffusing the flash properly, etc.  Florida has mostly very, very harsh and strong sunlight, but it has golden hours just like every where else too.  

I made this portrait using the nice soft light of about 30 minutes before sunset on this Treasure Island beach.  Note though that I still had the subject mostly face the setting sun as well as my back to the sun.  I chose an aperture that allowed me to both use the lowest ISO on my camera and also produce a shallow DoF in order to separate my subject from the background.  

Depending on location and sky conditions, the golden hour for shooting can start from about 90-minutes before sunset and continue on a few minutes after it sets.  Of course there is another golden hour each day for early risers, about 30 minutes before sunrise.

Florida Senior Portraits 2010 - Kristina & Chad

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Central Avenue restaurants provide colorful backgrounds for senior portraits in St. PetersburgKristina is already a little famous around this website, as she is the daughter of my oldest DSLR Photography student, Rosa, and often our model during our lessons.  Her boyfriend Chad makes his debut.  I already knew Kristina was a great and willing model, and I quickly realized Chad was the same, which made our candid senior portrait session a great time.

An alley in St. Petersburg provides the backdrop for this senior portraitWe changed speed several times during the senior portrait session, from serious to fun, to contemplative, to relaxed, and back.  Downtown St. Petersburg provides a great variety of settings within short walking distance of each other.  

Kristina and Chad were open to all my ideas, even this tattoo reaction shotIt was my first time to use a tattoo parlor as a prop.  Not only did this allow for us to make an animated shot, the covered roof provided nice shade to shoot in, and also a break from the heat!  

Thinking about life after high school in this senior portrait near the St. Petersburg Yacht ClubI wanted to find a creative way to work the waterfront into a shot without it just being a background.  So I balanced as far out on the above seawall as I dared, holding my Nikon D300 in my left hand and stretching out my Nikon SB-600 Speedlight on a lightstand as far out in front of Kristina and Chad as I could.  Fortunately all gear and photographer stayed dry.  Thus a very fun and creative senior portrait session came to a close and perhaps in four years or so I might be photographing their wedding?  No pressure guys!

Martineau Candid Family Sunset Beach Portraits Florida

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Nikon D80 with Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens @ f/2 ISO 200 1/1250th natural light (eyes not enhanced)

The Martineau Family was visiting Florida from Pennsylvania . . . right in the middle of our stormiest stretch of weather.  However, once again I was able to finish the portrait session just before the rain started falling.  With three young children our time on Sunset Beach on Treasure Island was very fluid and fast moving.  We roved the length of the beach as both my Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D lens and Nikon D80 with Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens dangled around my neck allowing me to photograph those near to me and still capture the action happening a bit further away.

Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D lens @ f/5.6 ISO 200 1/320th

Due to the storm's approach Sunset Beach was fairly empty allowing nice clean backgrounds free of beach combers and looky-loos.  The Martineau children had free reign to run the shoreline.  I wonder if a lack of front teeth allows one to run faster or does it create wind resistance?

Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D lens @ f/5.6 ISO 200 1/320th

While the children did the running the parents did some of the heavy lifting.  I wonder, does a child notice the last time they were picked up by their father before they got too big to be picked up anymore?  Does the father think, "that was the last time I ever picked up my child."  Looks like there are plenty of years left of lifting though in this case.

Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D lens @ f/5.6 ISO 200 1/400th

No rest for the Martineau family that evening.  I encouraged them to be as active as possible (especially with dark clouds on the horizon).  I even asked them to run twice as the first time was not fast enough!  The faster you run, the more natural it looks.

Nikon D80 with Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens @ f/2 ISO 200 1/1250thIn the end I was very pleased with the variety of shots I was able to make and the fact we all stayed dry the entire time, not taking into account any perspiration after such and active shoot!  Thanks again Martineau family for being so cooperative and not afraid to run! 

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    • Clearwater Beach Candid Odum Family Florida Portraits

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    Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D lens @ f/5.6 ISO 400 1/640th strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight on light stand to frame left triggered by Yongnuo radio remotes 

    "Third time's the charm" is a cliche, I believe, yet it was true for the Odum family's candid Florida beach portrait session.  Originally scheduled for an early Sunday morning, that was promptly rained out.  A Monday evening plan was empathically rained out.  That left only a few hours of daylight Tuesday morning left to have the portrait session before they had to return to Georgia, and finally Florida's brilliant blue skies revealed themselves and photographs were made.

    Nikon D300 with Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens @ f/8 ISO 200 1/250th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight on light stand to frame left triggered by commander mode

     

    It actually worked out well as Clearwater Beach is normally the most crowded beach in the entire area, yet on a random Tuesday morning it was as empty as it ever is.  At 8am, even the lifeguards were not yet on duty so their stands could be used as backdrops.  The sun was already fairly high in the sky, creating a hair light for young Jada.  

    Nikon D300 with Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens @ f/11 ISO 200 1/500th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight on light stand to frame left triggered by Youngnuo radio remotesIt was a cloudless morning, so I painted the background of many of the shots with vivid blue, as seen above.  I used my trusty default Florida strobist sunshine shooting settings of f/11 ISO 200 and at least 1/250th shutter speed.  I use a light stand rather than a tripod for several reasons, but the major one is that my light stand can reach a hight of 9 feet, whereas a tripod cannot even come close to that.  For shots like the lifeguard stand, having all that height is necessary.

    Nikon D300 with Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D lens @ f/8 ISO 200 1/1000th Strobist: NIkon SB-800 Speedlight on light stand to frame left triggered by Yongnuo radio triggersThis shot up on the Clearwater Beach Pier itself would just not be possible in the evening as it is packed with artisans selling their crafts.  I would not have even of been able to set down my light stand.  So again we were lucky in a way to have to wait until Tuesday morning for our portrait session.  The Odum family naturally took to this defiant stance at the entrance to the paid section of the pier.  I am very glad we were ultimately able to produce some photographic memories of their 4th of July trip to Florida. 
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    • Hebert Family Candid Florida Beach Portraits in Black & White

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    Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens @ f/8 ISO 200 1/320th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight 1/2 power on light stand

    A majority of my photography jobs lately have taken place in the evening outside (or in "the environment" in photographer terms).  This has coincided exactly with the start of the subtropical thunderstorm patterns of west central Florida.  Thus, on top of all the other things I have on my mind as a photographer, nowadays the weather has become almost the dominant thought.  For my own shooting style, I do like the drama and dynamism a storm can bring to a photograph's background.  So artistically, I am very ok with them.  However, the logistics can get quite intense knowing when to continue a shoot, and when to run for cover!

    Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/8 ISO 400 1/320th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight handheld off camera 1/2 power

    As long as I am able to start shooting 30 minutes before the rain arrives, I have a very good sense for avoiding the rain.  Having lived in Florida since I was a boy, and spending most of that time outside, knowing if a storm on the horizon will pass or punish is an acquired skill.  With the Hebert family, we were at the far south end of Sunset Beach as a southerly storm closed in quickly.  I used my fastest shooting methods possible.  Got the shots I wanted to, then got everyone on the boardwalk back toward our cars in order to take cover if necessary, and if not then drop off all gear but what I can handhold and go back on the beach for a few final pre-storm shots.

    Nikon D80 Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8 @ f/4 ISO 500 natural lightWell, everything was timed perfectly as I was able to get all the shots the Hebert family requested and all the shots I personally wanted as well.  With all gear safely in the back of the Lexus and my drive away song queued, the rain fell.  Skills. 

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