Monthly Archives: October 2012

What is that flash thingie for?

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Michael Willems

You know when you buy a speedlight, you get the little foot thingie? Yes, check the flash bag – it’s in there. So what is it for? First, you can simply mount the flash on that foot and then set … Continue reading →

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Posted in Gear | 5 Comments

Flash Meter

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Michael Willems

If you want to do “studio type” shooting, set your flash power manually. On strobes you have to do it that way; on speedlights you can. Then use a flash meter. How? Here’s how. Set your camera to the desired settings. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Gear, Technique | Tagged | 3 Comments

Video (2)

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Michael Willems

Another note about video. Last night I shot an event: a Bat Mitzvah party – here’s a sample of the beautiful Bat Mitzvah girl: The event was also filmed by a videographer. And that’s something I admire. One reason people … Continue reading →

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Posted in Digital Darkroom, Technique | Tagged , | Leave a comment

JVC Video Action Cam – short review

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Michael Willems

Those of you who know me know that I do not do a lot of video. Stills, mainly! Why? Because video takes rather too long for my liking to produce. Hours just to load, edit, convert, and so on, even for relatively … Continue reading →

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Posted in Digital Darkroom, Gear, Michael's Quick Judgment | 2 Comments

Ratios

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Michael Willems

Say you do a shoot. Say, you set up lights, have a model or setting, and spend a few hours shooting, and you end up with 300 images. The question? How many are good when a pro is shooting? The … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Technique | Leave a comment

Exposure Exposé

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Michael Willems

So how do you expose a shot like this (yesterday, on my car): You will remember that your built-in light meter gives you an exposure based on an “18% gray scene” – the same reflectivity a gray card gives you. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Light, Technique | Leave a comment

Opportunity Knocks

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Michael Willems

Opportunity abounds this season – in many ways! You can have me teach you – at Vistek Mississauga, at Sheridan College, and in the form of workshops (A Toronto Photo Club tonight; Las Vegas in November) or of private or … Continue reading →

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Posted in Learning, Picture of the day | 1 Comment

Wide Angle Pic of the Day

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Michael Willems

Taken in Haastrecht, the Netherlands, late August 2012. The wide angle makes nature “wrap around” the subject. Look at the waterlilies and how they seem to all aim at the windmill. The use of framing (by way of the branches) … Continue reading →

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All you need is a little…

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Michael Willems

…a little flash, that is. Often, at least for the photo, that is enough, like in the image above. Here, colleague Kristof positioned the couple in the tall grass. But to get the shot, I needed a little flash to … Continue reading →

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Posted in Picture of the day, Technique | 1 Comment

Portraits can be.. simple.

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Michael Willems

Take a studio portrait like this, of my son Daniel last night: A studio shot.. but taken without a studio in, oh, one minute. Here’s how: Camera on manual; 1/125th sec, f/8.0, 400 ISO. (These settings are to ensure that … Continue reading →

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Posted in Picture of the day, Technique | Leave a comment