Wednesday, May 27, 2009

The Retouch.

I know when I first saw an image in a magazine of a car or product, I simple thought, "Oh, nice picture." I also know that when you make something LOOK easy, to a client they think the same. Until I REALLY understood what went into creating a masterpiece or a portfolio piece. It requires a sophisticated attention to detail, the eye of a hawk and the skills that (I know now) can only be acquired over time. When you see a guy like this or like this, you know it takes years and years of the acquisition of that knowledge. You have to know though, within a shadow of a doubt and believe that you too can acquire such knowledge over time. I was terribly frustrated with myself and skills 4 years ago, and now I still know that I know nothing. It is a growth like success, its a process of knowledge that can't be forced, just nurtured and massaged into place. You have to start somewhere and where you'll end up is completely up to you. It takes time. However as you see yourself grow and get better at your craft, there is NOTHING more gratifying. I'm going to check out a location in Santa Barbara to shoot a 2009 Toyota Landcruiser next week. I can't wait.

This is the image that my camera captured.
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This is 3 hours of digital retouching and post-production.
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Monday, May 25, 2009

Opinions.

Sometimes you get caught up in your own image. Give us your opinion. Karen says no fog, I say yes to the fog. What do you say? I like the light shining through on the bottom, like maybe you just opened the doors and it kind of rolled in. Any comments are welcome. For a larger look at the photos give them a click.

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Portraiture.

For a while now, I obviously am, and want to be a product, food, more particularly, automotive photographer. However, every now and then I'm asked to do a portrait and usually its for a friend. So I can't necessarily turn it down, one for the friendship, two I'm NOT a superstar automotive photographer yet, or at least as far as I want to be, and three, anyone could use $400 in this seemingly slow economy. So the only right thing to do is the portrait. And sometimes, you get something that just completely surprises yourself as well as a happy client. More and more, I like doing portraits from time to time. I like the editing process after and what it takes to get one that really stands out from others that are out there. I used to wonder HOW these other photographers we obtaining that "look" from the pixels. I knew it wasn't just lighting, I KNEW it had to be digital technique as well... What I didn't know, is that eventually I would get it and really push my skills and knowledge of Photoshop as well as a few programs in my secret arsenal. Ok, they're not so secret, I've talked about them before, but it does take technique and time to work through an image. About an hour or so actually. In Ventura, California in May it is extremely overcast for a month or so. We call it "May Gray" and "June Gloom". You can either sink or swim in this kind of light. These are done with one soft box umbrella with a Canon 580ex flash. Reyna (the woman in the picture) is a repeat client. This is her second pregnancy and she wanted one with her family this time for the Baby Shower invitations. She thinks we nailed it right on the head. The quality of light of the Marine Layer coupled with the soft box is beautiful. Who thought I would ever like May Gray. :)

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Outtakes!
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