Planing a New Year's Eve Party

Happy New Years 2010!

So we're here thinking of what to do to ring in the New Year. We thought about heading out to The Strip to party with the tourist at the clubs but at the end we decided that we would hold our own dance party at home.

First we need food. This being a dance party we need food you could eat with your hands... Pizza! Perfect. And what's pizza without breadsticks. Oh man we're styling now. We'll probably do some popcorn as well to you know, really show 2010 that we mean business.

Now on to the drinks, we figured we just go all out here with some chocolate milk, cuz you know how we role. We'll finish the eating festivities with some ice cream.

For music selection we decided that we would put iTunes on shuffle and rock out with The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Hi-5, throw in a bit of the Disney Princesses in there and when the party reaches the peak, mix in some High School Musical.

3 - 2 - 1 Happy New Years!

Peace and one love everyone.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/32 softbox camera right | 430EX 1/64 softbox camera left | 550EX 1/128 for background | Triggered by 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/300 ƒ/1.4 ISO 100

Yes Mouse Girl saw me making pictures and got on the table and demanded I take her picture as well.

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Dirty Gray

Wanted to mess around today with a dirty gray on white photo. So I started by underexposing the white table to get me the color I was looking for. Once I was happy with that I started to light the chocolate covered almonds starting from camera right.

Once I felt I got enough contrast between the top of the almonds and the table I took another softbox and placed it camera left to slightly lift the shadows caused the the softbox on the right.

Wanting to break up the sea of gray I then decided to gaffer a speedlite on a chair and have it cut it's light right across the top portion of the frame.

I admit it's a bit funky but hey, we all need to experiment.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/32 softbox camera right | 430EX 1/64 softbox camera left | 550EX 1/128 pointed down on table high camera left
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS USM @ 185mm | 1/300 ƒ/8 ISO 800

Setup shot here

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My favorite photo of 2009

50 days later I reached the end of the project with a simple tomato that I was going to use for lunch that day.

I dunno if favorite is the right word as I have many but if I had to pick one to sum up my participation in online social media it would have to be the photo simply titled Tomato

On April 10, 2009 I embarked on a photographic journey with other Twitter photographers to make a photo everyday for 50 days with a 50mm lens. Those that know me know that I can never leave anything stock, so I put a twist on this project and attempted to also record my journey into off camera lighting (aka Strobist) providing setup shots of my work along the way.

What I like about this photo is how the tomato just separates itself from the rest of the photo. You can definitely see the curvature of the tomato as it breaks free from the organic shaped background light. The reflection of the tomato and background light off the table came off pretty well also. I only wished the blend between the table and background could have been more creamier.

What surprised me was the responses it generated as well as becoming one my first photos inGetty Images. This really shows the power of social media as I thought I was the only one looking at my photos. So to everyone out there in Flickr/Twitter/Blogger land thanks for hanging out with me!

All this from a tomato.

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The Girl now with more bokeh!

The Girl wanted a more High School Musical (read: grown up) photo so she turned her body towards the softbox and looked right at me. Either she is watching way too much TV or she is eavesdropping on me while I work.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/128 softbox camera left | Triggered via 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS USM @ 200mm | 1/25 ƒ/2.8 ISO 1600

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The Bokeh Girl

"Yes Daddy, I know about the light."

On the drive home tonight The Girl was looking out the window and commented on how nice it would be to take a picture outside. I looked at her through the rearview mirror and asked if she was serious. She said that she was and that she wanted to try out a lot of new poses she had been working on during the day.

As soon as we pulled into the driveway we went at it. Since I had no clue what she wanted to do, I kept the setup pretty simple with a single softbox off to the left and drew an imaginary box on the driveway and told her to try to stay within it to which she said "Yes Daddy, I know about the light".

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/128 softbox camera left | Triggered via 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS USM @ 200mm | 1/20 ƒ/2.8 ISO 1600

No setup video/photo tonight. Had to get them out of the cold and start dinner.

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I am...

Holding a camera.

You know the most time consuming part of this photo was not the flash or locking in focus at ƒ/1.4 but timing the AF light on the G2 to come on at the moment the self timer went off on the Mark III. I'm all counting up to 10 and everything.

Yes that's how I do my self portraits, I just put the camera on 10 sec timer. Lame I know.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/128 CTO softbox camera left | 550EX 1/32 softbox camera right | Triggered 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/300 ƒ/1.4 ISO100


[flickr video=4224789162 secret=a4d051ea7c w=500 h=284]

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The Toy House

This morning I was given this toy gingerbread home. As soon as I took delivery, the bank foreclosed it. Dang...

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Der 430EX

Received an email today about my thoughts on the Canon 430EX and how I liked it compared to my other flashes. I really like the 430EX. It's small enough to be tossed in my Domke, strong enough to take the abuse I dish out on it. Only thing I wished it did was rotate a full 180° in both directions (it's limited to 90° on the right).

Good little flash that gets the cold shoulder for some reason.

Strobist info: 430EX 1/128 CTO snoot/grid camera right | Triggered 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/100 ƒ/1.4 ISO400


[flickr video=4217483142 secret=e82e118db3 w=500 h=284]

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

What did you get?

After cleaning up the sea of discarded gift wrapping paper and cardboard boxes there was just one present left under the tree and it had my name on it.

I had no idea what it was and judging by the size of the box I thought possibly some Pro-B heads or maybe a bunch of light stands? Or maybe a very carefully wrapped Canon EF 85mm ƒ/1.2L USM!

As I pulled back the wrapper my eyes grew bigger, my imagination grew wilder. What could it be in here? Then I saw it and flash backs of my childhood years of getting my mom a coffee maker, Isotoner gloves & slippers hit my cerebral cortex like a Mickey Mouse train out of control.

I guess I should take the hint and get to cleaning now.

Strobist info: 550EX 1/128 softbox above camera left | 430EX 1/16 camera right to light dining room | 580EX II 1/128 on camera bounced behind against white door and to trigger

Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/300 ƒ/1.4 ISO100

Setup shot here

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Santa Was Here!

So according to The Girl, Santa arrived around 3AM to deliver all the gifts and eat the milk & cookies that were left out for him. She was very happy to receive a Thank You card from Santa. The Girl said Santa has good manors.

I'm not so sure about the timing but from what I can tell Santa is a strobist. :D

Merry Christmas everyone!

Strobist info: 430EX 1/64 snoot/grid camera right | 550EX 1/128 snoot CTO behind letter | Triggered by 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS USM @ 148mm | 1/25 ƒ/2.8 ISO200

Sorry no setup video/photo, it was pretty late... maybe not 3 but still.

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Santa's Rocket

I do believe it is physically impossible for Santa to carry all the toys for all the little boys and girls around the world in his sled. What I think the elves do is launch some low orbiting rockets filled with toys at strategic locations around the globe.

As Santa runs lows on supplies he meets up with one of the rockets, loads up and continues onwards.

If I were to be an evil villain I'd aim for these low orbiting rockets. If I were an evil villain that it.

Strobist info: 430EX 1/64 CTO snoot/grid camera right | 550EX 1/64 CTB snoot camera left | Triggered 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS USM @95mm | 1/60 ƒ/2.8 ISO400


[flickr video=4212365178 secret=66f10242dc w=500 h=284]

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

The LONG letter

I was told this morning that I would be receiving a long letter. I later found out that long was the size of the paper and not necessarily the content.

I did sneak a peak and saw lots of XOXOs

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Meet Skynet

Quick post tonight. The HDD came in so a quick R&R and now I'm in the process of doing a Time Machine restore.

I sorta like how the Mac mini looks like without the cover, very terminator ish. I decided to play off that look with the key coming in red, followed by highlighting the corners in blue. What I found was that the one side of the stack facing the camera was really dark so I illuminated that side with a CTO speedlight.

I only wished that when you restore from a backup it would also restore all the updates that were done prior, bummer.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/128 behind monitor | 550EX 1/64 snoot upper camera right | 430EX 1/16 snoot/grid camera left | Triggered 580EX II on camera

Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/20 ƒ/3.5 ISO100


[flickr video=4207571067 secret=92704a90a5 w=500 h=284]

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

More street

See I really like streets. So random isn't it? Maybe I'll start a set of just streets.

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35mm

Just a photo of my 35mm lens. Apologies for such uninteresting photos as of late. Not really doing a 365 but more of a daily thing (not sure what the difference is) and just trying to come up with something other than shooting some pocket change on the counter or a lens really is challenging.

I'll try harder.

No video of me in the setup since I'm in my jammies. It's not that type of video :D

Strobist info: 430EX 1/16 snoot/grid camera left | Triggered 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.2L USM | 1/300 ƒ/1.2 ISO400


[flickr video=4205749864 secret=d6d7f0aa53 w=500 h=284]

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

D'OH!

Today I thought I'd go all vintage and shoot with my first digital camera, a Sony Mavica FD83. At the end of the day I was ready to import the photos in when I discovered I have no way to get the photos from the 3.5" floppy to my computer!

In a world where we put the blame on others, I could blame the original iMac for this one.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/32 softbox camera left | 430EX 1/64 background | Triggered 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/300 ƒ/5 ISO100


[flickr video=4202896438 secret=686799f7c9 w=500 h=284]

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

Middle of the street

Don't know why but I'm just fascinated at photos of streets. Color or black & white, it just doesn't matter. If it's a photo of a street I'll stare at it for a long long time.

Yep just the street.

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PC Repair

Last night on the way to bed I heard this really nasty sound coming from the server room (aka the room you sleep in if you visit). 'Twas the computer's HDD grinding it's last death song. I figured there was really nothing I could do at that point so I just powered down the whole system.

This morning I went to the local computer/electronic store [cough]Fry's[/cough] but they didn't carry the older PATA 2.5" HDD so I ended up going to my favorite place online Newegg :D

So a new drive is in transit. Until it gets here all the TV's are basically off since all the media is stored on the various HDDs attached to the server. Good thing the only thing on that damaged drive is the OS and a quick Time Machine restore should bring everything back to working order.

Now where did I put my Boxee nfo...

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/128 softbox camera right | Triggered 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/300 ƒ/1.4 ISO100


[flickr video=4198520751 secret=01e3fb6838 w=500 h=284]

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

What?

We were goofing around taking pictures before bedtime and The Girl just became fascinated with something on her PJ. She wouldn't share but needless to say she didn't feel like taking pictures after discovering whatever it was...

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/128 softbox camera right | 550EX 1/128 softbox camera left | Triggered 580EX II on camera

Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/300 ƒ/1.4 ISO100

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

Me Too

So while setting up for some product work last night The Girl said she wanted her picture taken. Normally she avoids the camera but I think it had something to do with the "house" that I made using the styrofoam that got her attention.

Knowing I wouldn't be able to start till she got her picture I said for her to climb up on the table and slide right on in, which she happily did. I disabled the 550 in the rear and eyeballed the softbox camera right at 1/64 (you really gotta <3 on camera flash ctrl). The styrofoam sheets (left & top) provided fill. With a quick "cheese" we where done.

It wasn't till I started editing the photos of the products did I see the snapshot of her.

My princess.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/64 softbox camera right | Triggered 580EX II on camera

Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L USM @200mm |
1/300 ƒ/5 ISO400

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

Rum Balls

Tonight I did some work for a local baker. There were a total of 6 different balls each requiring their own shot so that text could be added later. I took a group shot of 5 of balls for today's photos.

Setup was pretty quick with a softbox providing the key light and styrofoam sheets doing the bounce/fill work. I originally had another softbox instead of the styrofoam but even at it's lowest setting the light was coming in a bit too hot. The fill gave just enough for it to work.

Sometimes it's not about all the flancy things you can do with the camera but just doing the same shot over and over again. It's all about repeatability with product work.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/128 softbox camera right | 550EX1/64 background | Triggered 580EX II on camera

Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8L USM @200mm |
1/300 ƒ/2.8 ISO400


[flickr video=4191515827 secret=18b173b8b7 w=500 h=284]

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

Brush Your Teeth

So it's Bleach night and here I'm thinking I should shoot something today. And for whatever reason I decided to shoot some toothbrushes. So I gathered a few of them and placed them in a cup and shot it with a diffused flash as the background.

Now it's time to watch some anime.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/64 softbox camera left | 430EX 1/32 softbox camera right | 550EX1/64 background | Triggered 580EX II on camera

Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 50mm ƒ/1.2L USM | 1/300 ƒ/8 ISO400

[flickr video=4189011149 secret=79d50ff682 w=500 h=284]

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

The Product

Tonight photo is a full on shot of a chocolate show piece. No flancy bokeh or some really thin DOF. Just a full on photo so that there is a record of the piece as requested.

I know what you're gonna say, it's a little crooked. Unfortunately, the piece wasn't exactly straight so its a compromise. Ya feel me?

So setup was pretty straight forward. A softbox camera right provided the key and another camera left provided fill. Background duties was done by another speedlite.

Gotta make that C.R.E.A.M.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/16 softbox camera right | 430EX 1/32 softbox camera left | 550EX 1/4 background | Triggered by 580EX II on camera

Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 L IS USM @ 200mm | 1/300 ƒ/8 ISO400


[flickr video=4187190630 secret=2309ce2556 w=500 h=284]

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

I don't do chores

I guess asking a princess to vacuum the playroom was asking too much?

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/8 softbox above camera right | 550EX 1/8 softbox above camera left | Triggered via 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/300 ƒ/8 ISO800


[flickr video=4183511518 secret=437b852f93 w=500 h=281]

*Talk about backwards. In the video the text is incorrect: 550EX is aimed at the right not left and the 580EX II is aimed at the left not right

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Wish Wish

Lighting things from the back gives it some separation from the background. As an added bonus if the thing you're lighting translucent enough you end up lighting the front as well.

Strobist info: 430EX II 1/64 Blue Gel snoot/grid behind subject camera left | Triggered by 580EX II on camera

Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 L IS USM @ 200mm | 1/100 ƒ/2.8 ISO800


[flickr video=4180068841 secret=b55edd82fd w=500 h=284]

*video mentions a 550EX but that was a copy/paste error. Only 2 speedlites where used. 580EX II on camera as trigger and a 430EX snoot/grid.

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Trios

Saw these little tea cups stacked together and thought they would make an interesting photo.

The photo is lit by a speedlite in a softbox camera left and the white background is made possible by another speedlite pointed directly at the wall. In order to provide some balance to the side of the cups not lit by the softbox I placed a styrofoam sheet to bounce the light right back.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/32 softbox camera left | 550EX 1/4 pointed at wall | Triggered by 580EX II on camera

Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 L IS USM @ 200mm | 1/300 ƒ/8 ISO400


[flickr video=4177428821 secret=d3100572b0 w=500 h=281]


Setup photo here.

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West Side

Did some walking around today and saw this sign. Really liked the clean design of it.

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Orange Juice

Fresh squeezed vitamin c, can't go wrong with some delicious orange juice in the morning. So before I downed the glass of OJ I decided to take a picture of it.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/64 softbox camera right | 550EX 1/32 pointed at background | Triggered via 580EX II

Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 L IS USM @ 150mm | 1/300 ƒ/3.5 ISO400

[flickr video=4175836510 secret=136981ac91 w=500 h=281]

Follow me on Twitter: @joeyjoeyjoey

Pocket production

I'm truly amazed with what has happened within the last few years with cellphones. Back in the days all you had besides calling people was playing snake but now you can make photos with your cell phone and best of all you can post process then upload your photos all without using a traditional computer.

Simply amazing what can be done with phones now.

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Sugar

I asked why is our sugar brown and not white and was told that the sugar we use is not bleached like the other kind of sugar. I just nodded in agreement.

Whatever the case may be, I just downloaded the Ustream app for the iPhone and for the giggles of it broadcasted me shooting a bowl of sugar. Nothing too exciting but if you want to check it out click here.

For tonight's shot I just wanted to light the sugar from behind and bounce whatever light I could back. So I set a softbox above and behind the bowl and placed a reflector camera left. Afterwards I used some of the sugar in my tea.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/64 softbox above and behind subject | 550EX 1/4 pointed at wall | Triggered via 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/300 ƒ/8 ISO800

Setup shot here

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@ustream + iPhone 3G = video

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

Just installed the Ustream on the iPhone 3G and now I have the ability to record videos! For fun I gaffer taped the iPhone to a light stand and did a live stream of me taking the Sugar photo. I later edited the video down because I forgot to turn it off. Whoopise.

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Toy Camera

I've been tossing around the idea of picking up a toy camera. You know the one with the terribly soft lens. Figured I could load it up with film, toss it in my bag and make pictures of things I found interesting on my walks.

Then today, while waiting to pick up The Girl from school it started to rain. I looked down at the pavement and saw a leaf, floating in the water. I thought to myself, "Man what a perfect opportunity to use a plastic camera and get that funky effect happening!" Then I remembered I do have a cheap, crappy camera with a soft lens... my iPhone.

I got down on my knees to compose the photo and let go of the virtual shutter. As I looked at my photo I knew that I didn't need to buy a crappy camera, I had one all along. Plus I didn't have to wait for the film to develop.

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What about me?

So The Girl saw Mouse Girl's photo on the blog then looked at me and said, "Hey, where's my picture?" She then gave a pout. So what am I suppose to do right?

Setup is the same as the other photo. I just reminded them to stay behind the tape :D

Setup shot on Twitpic

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The holidays are here!

And you know what that means, time to take those holiday photos. If you're one of the many here that are lucky enough to have your own camera, instead of driving down to the mall for photos you can simply snap a few in the comfort of your own home.

So after breakfast I explained to the girls that we could dress up and be silly in front of the camera (they bought it hook, line and sinker). I know my girls and they can't sit still for a second so I would have to arrange the sitting area large enough so that they could move back and forth but still allow the light to do it's thing.

I started off by placing a speedlite camera left in a soft box for key and another softbox behind them camera right for hair light. In order to augment the lighting system as well as their movements I placed a sheet of full length styrofoam in front of them and also another one to the right of them to bounce the light back.

I then made a game of it and told them they could move anywhere they wanted so long as they were behind the black line (gaffer tape) and away we went.

Both of them did well and we have some really silly out takes as well. The photo posted is of my youngest Mouse Girl who I told not to smile, so I got this instead...

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/128 softbox camera left | 550EX 1/64 softbox camera right | Triggered via 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 L IS USM | 1/60 ƒ/2.8 ISO800

Setup shot on Twitpic

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Take 3 before bedtime

I caught a cold the other day, so in an effort to get well I decided to eat 3 brownies. I have no idea how this photo is gonna come out because I can hardly see straight now. I think it's working as I'm getting really sleepy now...

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/64 Softbox camera left | 550EX 1/16 pointed at wall | Triggered by 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 L IS USM | 1/300 ƒ/8 ISO800

Setup shot before I pass out...

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No Logos

No logos in stock work because well, it's not stock then now is it. So when you're out there armed with your camera making photos to send to your agent make sure you either a) avoid logos entirely or b) edit them out in post.

In this photo there was a logo prominently displayed in the photograph. I used the cloning feature in Aperture to remove it. Now all we're left with is a photo of a man ready to cross the street.

So remember when you're out there shooting for stock make sure you take care of those logos.

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Stopping for directions

Six months ago I started my journey into stock photography and I'm still trying to develop that sixth sense in knowing what photos groups want to license.

Not really sure if I should pad up my inventory with conceptual photos or more environmental type ones. It's a learning process that's for sure and hopefully I'll find that groove so I can produce some good photos.

If you're doing stock work hit me up in the comments as to what you're finding that's working for you.

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Ding

Can you say bored? I knew you could.

Strobist info: 580EX II 1/128 softbox camera right | 430EX 1/64 on floor camera right | 550EX 1/128 on floor camera right | Triggered via 580EX II on camera
Camera info: Canon EOS 1D Mark III | EF 35mm ƒ/1.4L USM | 1/25 ƒ/1.4 ISO100

Setup shot here

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