Monthly Archives: March 2013

Lenses distort?

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Michael Willems

A wide lens, if you aim it upward, will give you converging verticals at the top: If you do not want this, go into Lightroom’s “Lens Corrections”: This gives you a corrected view, from which you then crop the excess: … Continue reading →

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Posted in Digital Darkroom, Learning | 2 Comments

The Outer Limits of Flash

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Michael Willems

When using flash, as you know, I very often use just one off-camera speedlight in an umbrella, like this: But as you have read here before, there will often be limits to what you can do in practice. These limits … Continue reading →

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Posted in Gear, Learning | Tagged | Leave a comment

What is wrong here?

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Michael Willems

Look at this picture – a demo shot I made during a recent course, to show what not to do. Can you see what is wrong here? Yes, her eyes and face are all shadowy. Becuase I aimed my on-camera … Continue reading →

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Posted in Gear, Light, Technique | Leave a comment

Light

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Michael Willems

I shot a few pictures featuring light, Monday night. Light can be depressing. Light can show as bright, in courtyards that to us look pitch black. Just turn up the ISO, lower the f-number, and slow down the shutter speed: … Continue reading →

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Posted in Composition, Light, Picture of the day | Leave a comment

Rhonda

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Michael Willems

Here, from Friday’s workshop, is a photo of Rhonda: Wonderful smile, truly! So that photo is good before we even start – how can you fail with a subject like that? And yet, we have to get the focus and exposure right. Especially exposure … Continue reading →

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Shampooey Goodness™

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Michael Willems

You have heard the term “hair light”? It’s the Shampooey Goodness™ look that makes hair look alive and wonderful. That is why we use it in portraits. In yesterday’s flash course, I shot a few images of one of the … Continue reading →

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Posted in Gear, Light, Picture of the day | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Umbrella or softbox?

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Michael Willems

Umbrella or softbox? That’s the question. Whether t’is nobler in the mind to… never mind. But the question is valid: when you want to diffuse light, like in a portrait, which one do you use? An umbrella: Is light and small and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Gear, Learning, Light | Leave a comment

To Alter, Or not To Alter…

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Michael Willems

Sorry, Bard: Whether ’tis Nobler in the mind to suffer / The Slings and Arrows of outrageous underexposure and other errors / Or to take Arms against a Sea of photographic problems, And by using Lightroom, to end them… I … Continue reading →

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Posted in Digital Darkroom | Leave a comment

Question Of The Day

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Michael Willems

A reader asks: “A lot of the bars/venues I’ve been to have been showered in red spot light and it has horrible effect on my photos. Is there anything I can do, maybe in lightroom to lessen the effect, or … Continue reading →

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Posted in Technique | 2 Comments

Focus – A Baker’s Dozen Tips

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Michael Willems

Following up from the last two posts, I shall share few more tips – a baker’s dozen, i.e. thirteen more tips – on obtaining sharp focus exactly where you want it. Of course you know the basics, right? Select the … Continue reading →

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Posted in Gear, Technique | 2 Comments