I used the 35mm wide angle for images 3 and 4. It allowed me to be right in amongst the action and have a good depth of field even at a large aperture. This was another instance that I would have struggled to shoot wih film. I had to use ISO 1000 and shoot quite a number of frames to get the images.
Last year I watched the Hanks / Spielberg mini-series “The Pacific” that was based on the experiences of American Marines in the Pacific Theater. The series focused on three men, one of which was Eugene B. Sledge, a young Marine who witnessed the horrors of Peleliu and Okinawa. These secret notes Sledge made during combat would later become the book “With the Old Breed” which was then adapted to become the mini-series “The Pacific.” I just started Sledge’s book. I’m not sure it’s going to be one I enjoy, and I should probably avoid reading it before going to bed. It is however an important account of war, particularly for those who have connections with Okinawa. Glancing through the pages I see maps with names I recognize. The Ishikawa Isthmus is where I live, Sugar Loaf Hill is beside Main Place shopping center and the landing beaches are where I dive. The elderly residents of this island lived through the Battle of Okinawa, for the rest of us its important to be aware of what …
Starting this month I shall be holding some weekend photography workshops on Okinawa. I’ll be starting off with “Photography 101” courses for beginners, and then later will be offering more advanced classes including studio work and night photography. I’ll be teaching most of the courses, but I also intend to bring in specialists in their particular field from mainland Japan. (Light Painter Trevor Williams is already on board as one of the visiting instructors, see his work in action on Japanese News!) So here’s the info on the first class PHOTOGRAPHY 101 Weekend Workshop April 23 & 24 2011 Who is the course for? The beginner or novice photographer who has a digital SLR and wishes to progress beyond the green fully auto mode. People who want to take better photographs of their friends and family rather than point, shoot and hope for the best. What do I need to bring? Your digital SLR camera, lens, your camera manual, memory card, battery and charger. If you have a digital compact rather than a …
Another shot from the recent shoot with Ursula. Again the hair light behind the model was able to accentuate the jaw.
Took Bear for a wander along the beach and over the coral as the tide was low. For those who live near the ocean this tide forecast website is really useful.
In a previous post I talked about some books that discussed working as a professional photographer. One bit of information that was repeated in all the books was that as a professional you have to treat the photography business as a business. This means that as well as taking pictures, you need to have clear ideas about goals, marketing, clients, income, expenditure and taxes. How to organize your taxes will vary between individuals. Every country has different regulations, and if you get things wrong you may find yourself either paying more money than necessary getting an unexpected bill for unpaid taxes. (Try and cheat the system and you may find yourself following a similar path to Al Capone or Wesley Snipes.) Obviously, you need to keep records of both expenditure and income. As a photographer this includes my major photography purchases ( bodies, lenses, lights, computers) expendables ( film, processing, ink, paper), maintenance of gear, insurance, marketing (website hosting, updates, exhibitions, mailings), communication (internet, phone), transportation (flights, hotels, trains) and various other expenses. In my …
A couple of shots of Ursula channeling the spirit of Grace Jones (I am aware that Ms. Jones is not actually dead). It became clear in this shoot why Profoto describe their equipment as light shaping tools. By using a zoom reflector with a grid for the hair light (positioned behind the model) I could shape the light until it created the highlights on the neck and jaw. (Of course you can do this with any lighting brand, Profoto just have the cleverest tagline.)
Having sold off a few of the lenses I wasn’t using regularly, I just acquired the 35mm wide angle for my 645D. After really regretting not having this lens at the Okayama Hadaka Matsuri it had become a priority purchase. Although not a super wide angle (it’s field of view on the 645D is equivalent to around 27mm on a FF 35mm camera), it does allow you to be quite creative. Normally you don’t use wide angles for fashion or portraits, as they can easily have a House of Mirrors effect on people. Occasionally, however, they can be used to good effect to accentuate a model’s physique. I shot the above image with a new lighting set up, and a Panton chair I got for 75% off on Amazon Japan. More info on the lights in a future blog. Big thanks to Ursula for modeling in this shot.
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 