All posts filed under: Pentax 645D

Akita Kanto Matsuri – Competitive lantern balancing

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There’s something amazing about the fact that the people of Akita have taken the simple act of carrying a paper lantern and made it into a competitive event. Carrying one lantern. Easy. Carrying fifty. Tricky. Balancing those fifty lanterns on your head. Unbelievable. Doing it at night. Ridiculous. A big thanks to Anton, a great kiwi guy I met on the street and press-ganged into holding my off-camera flash for the night shots. Couldn’t have got this last shot without you mate. Another big thanks to Ian who let me crash on his floor when all the hotels were full. (If you want to see a Japanese festival, book accommodation early or you’ll be begging for floor space!)

Akita Kanto Matsuri – Kid Portraits

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Digital Discovery #1 The LCD screen on the back of the camera is a great way to interact with the people you are meeting. Take one shot of a kid, and then show the image to the whole group. You then have 10 kids who want their photo taken. Digital Discovery #2 Having a whole group of kids wanting you to take their photo could be a problem my old camera. As it cost about $1.50 each time I pressed the shutter I had to be quite selective with the shots I was taking. (You can’t even fake taking a photo with the 67II as the shutter is so loud.) With digital I could happily shoot everyone (and delete images later). I handed out business cards to the parents of these kids, so if you are one of their parents please contact me so that I can mail you the digital file or prints. この子供さん達のご両親で、写真を希望される方は連絡ください。

Akita Kanto Matsuri

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I flew from Naha to Haneda, then jumped on the Shinkansen to Akita. There are cheaper way to travel (as I would learn later in my trip) but I needed to get to Akita before the festival got going in the evening. I dumped my big bag at the hotel then rushed out to try and get some shots of people preparing for the festival. Akita Kanto Matsuri is a lantern festival so I wanted a shot of a local, preferably in traditional dress, and with lanterns. Dripping with sweat, I made my way around the back alleys until I found just what I was looking for.  Kids, lanterns, and beautiful golden light. So here it is, one of the first images from my trip.

Off camera flash

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Quick test to see if I could trigger my old hammerhead flash with a PocketWizard. In this shot fellow photographer Pete Leong is actually working as both model and assistant. He is holding the flash with his outstretched right arm and pointing it back at his face.

Location shoot: Horse riding in Okinawa

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There are huge differences between shooting in the studio and shooting on location. Above all, it’s the degree of control. In the studio you can easily adjust the direction, quality and strength of light. You can make micro adjustment to the model’s poses, and then shoot, check and reshoot until you get it right. Yesterday was a wonderful example of having to relinquish control. With heavy clouds, sporadic rain, and several large horses, you have to work with what the conditions and the equine models will give you. Luckily things all came together. The overcast skies produced a nice even light, and the horses were kind enough not to throw Liz off their backs, or knock me (and the camera) into the water. Huge thanks must go to Liz Craig for modeling, Kim Clay for makeup, Pete Leong and Eboh Ajeroh for assisting, and above all Eve Carey, Makoto, Sly and Sky of Mihara Horse Club.

Studio shoot: Nikki (blue)

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Here’s a quick shot  from my latest studio shoot. Eboh and I were helping Nikki update the images in her porfolio. This image was lit from the front with a softbox that included a blue gel filter. Another softbox with an orange gel was angled from the side. The colored gels create an interesting look. Reminds me of the lighting in some of the C.S.I. crime labs. Model: Nakita Nedd Lighting: Eboh Ajeroh Makeup: Kim Clay