Been photographing the Phoenix Airport Hilton lately after their eight million dollar remodel. There are some photos it can be a little more difficult to make sexy but lighting and awareness can make them stand out.
Take, for example, a boardroom photo. Here’s a utilitarian room with office chairs around a large table. We looked at a number of angles and one of the things I thought set the room apart was the fact that A – it had a window and B – there were palm trees outside the window. The wonderful thing about collaboration is that some of my best ideas come from other people!.
Mike Manginelli has been heading up the photography project from the hotel side. We discuss each photo, the use, how they want to present it to potential clients then we set up the shot. Mike said, “Hey what if the photo was taken from here?” As soon as I set the camera in place I was all over it. Once that decision is made…
Then it’s time to make the room shine from a lighting standpoint. I work with multiple images for different exposures of different areas. Inside in shadow. Inside room lighting. Outside daylight needs a totally different exposure from indoors. And then some additional accent lighting which adds that ‘certain something’…
Here’s the base exposure. Curtains are closed so I can control the glare on the tabletop to allow the wood and grain to show and not be blown out from the reflection.
Added a flash exposure to highlight detail and throw some light into the shadow area under the table.
Curtains were opened to obtain exterior view. Flash added to curtains to not have trouble blending inside/outside from flair around window. A little of the reflection was allowed on the tabletop.
Final boardroom image with a Curves Layer to open up shadows just a bit.
Layers Palette from boardroom photo showing various Layers and how the Masks were applied.
A handy feature on my Lumix GH4 is the built in WIFI that talks to my Ipad (or Iphone or Android) via ‘Image App’ (free download from Panasonic) so I can control the camera without touching it. All controls including shutter release and bracketing are available on the phone or tablet. When shooting multiple exposures, making adjustments to the camera, like exposure changes, firing the shutter, etc. makes it much easier to blend the images together in post production when the camera is mounted on a tripod. I used the 7-14mm f4.0 lens for this. There is no distortion in the lines on this lens. It’s one of my favorites for architecture work requiring a wide angle view.
The scene looks like it was taken from the pages of a Louis L’Amour novel.
A Western set awaits as the Arizona PPA put on it’s annual ‘Fall Fest’ and you just might want to put this on your calendar. AZPPA board member Bruce Roscoe has put together an event you won’t want to miss. He has contacts with lots of actors from Westerns who have period costumes to go with the setting at Canyon Creek Ranch in Black Canyon City, Arizona.
Bruce asked me to get together with some of the actors to give you a preview of what’s in store. With the trusty Lumix GH4 in hand and a video fluid head atop my tripod we endeavored to give you a taste of the event.
Promo for AZPPA ‘Fall Fest’ video shot with the GH4 and edited in Adobe Premiere Pro
Check out the video and if you’d like more information you can ride on over to the AZPPA web site link for more information pardner…
I will be one of about 5 instructors that will be on hand to share ideas about shooting, lighting, posing on this all day event. There will be lighting equipment from FJ Westcott to try out and work with.
Looks like it’s gonna’ be a blast!
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – Watching the video will be your first step and you’ll be one of the first to see what’s coming. Sign up early as this will surely sell out.
PPS – The beginning part of the video was accomplished by using the Time Lapse feature in the camera. Camera was hand held with an image being made every 2 seconds as we drove down the road.
We want them to do everything, but when they can do most everything everyone would like them to do we complain that they are hard to operate. Let’s face it cameras have become mini-computers with powerful processors and a myriad of options. Some can get quite confusing until explained in-depth. How to get the the most out of your camera now involves more than just reading the GH4 manual.
You can also download the advanced GH4 Manual which will get you more information on the capabilities of the GH4 which is still pretty dry stuff.
Or, you can read and refer to ‘The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4’The Unofficial Quintessential Guide’ by Brian Matsumoto and Carol F Roulard from Rocky Nook Books and get some down-to-earth easily understandable information on how to get the most out of this powerful computer also known as a camera.
I’ve been using the GH4 for quite a while and I thought I had a good handle on most of the features and capabilities. After a quick cruise through the book I was surprised to learn of some available features because I never even thought to look for them or glossed over the value of them. Having things spelled out simply, from a photographer’s point of view vs an engineer’s or manual writers point of view, makes figuring out – and using – camera features much easier.
Matsumoto and Roulard write in an easy conversational style yet impart all the goodies we need to know. For example, many photographers are frustrated when menu commands are greyed out because they are not available. The authors tell how to avoid frustration and tell you why… They also share how to use the Quick Menus to the fullest capabilities which speeds use in the field when you don’t have time to scroll through (or remember where) menu items are.
I’m going back in to read the book even more in-depth because I’m sure I’m still missing some of the powerful features in the GH4.
The Unofficial Quintessential Guide
If you own the Lumix GH4 and want to get the most out of it I’d recommend getting this Guide.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – As a bonus, you save 35% on Rocky Nook Books by using the Coupon Code BOBCOATES
Jazz singer Vivian Sessoms entertained at Sound Bites Grill the other night and here’s her image for the SBG ‘Wall of Fame’.
Vivian Sessoms in art treatment for the ‘Wall of Fame’
I was testing the new Lumix G7 side by side with the Lumix GH4. Both cameras used the same lens and same settings. ISO 3200 f2.8 1/60th sec. It shows me they are comparable and the G7 would make a great back up for the GH4. Price makes this a cool camera for those on a budget. The G7 does miss out on a few pro features on handling, like having to remove a tripod plate to get to the battery and SD card compartment. It also has smaller batteries and is built on a plastic body. But, image quality looks to be on a par. And, at half the price of the GH4 depending on your workload you might be willing to put up with a few non-pro features!
Here’s a sample of a couple stage captures from each camera with the same settings.
This image was captured with the Lumix G7.
Captured with the GH4.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – If you are ordering gear from Amazon it helps to support this web site and the info shared if you buy through any link on successful photographer. TIA!
There are two new inductees into the Sound Bites Grill ‘Wall of Fame’.
The RD Olson Blues Band played last week and rocked (blued??) the house. High energy blues from this five piece band had people squirming in their chairs and out on the dance floor. My wife Holly and I really enjoyed the music along with the rest of the patrons.
R.D. Olson Blues Band
Images of the band members were captured with the Lumix GH4 and the 35-100mm Lumix Vario f2.8 lens. This camera and lens combo gives me the density range to capture the highlights of the LED lighting and the deep shadows that come with stage spotlights. In addition, the 200mm lens (35mm equivalent) allows me to isolate the individual performers without disturbing Sound Bites guests as I photograph the live performance.
After downloading the images I select each performer and move them to a master file for compositing of the group for the art piece. Shadows and Inner Glows using Adobe Photoshop on layers help to give the individuals depth in the image. Multiple photographs of textures are added and Blend Modes altered to add the color and painterly effects.
RD was also selected by Sound Bites to also be featured as a single artist in addition to being on the ‘Wall of Fame’ as part of the band.
“When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not.” Georgia O’Keeffe
In the desert southwest the smallest of flowers dot the landscape at certain times of year. I agree with Georgia that sharing the world that many pass by is a cool thing… These particular flowers can easily go by unnoticed because of tiny size. These flowers are about the size of my thumbnail.
Tiny desert flower bloom
To capture a flower this size takes a little thought and manipulation. This was captured with the Lumix GH4 and 35-100mm 2.8 Vario lens with 26 mm of extension tubes from Neewer Technologies (get two sets they are very inexpensive and you can magnify even more using the technique below). When you have that much extension Depth of Field is extremely shallow. In order to get the buds and the first flower in total focus to share the miniscule detail I added a tripod and the technique of focus stacking. I focused on the bud in the foreground and made an exposure, changed focus to the bud a little further into the image followed by multiple captures across the surface of the flower. These exposures were taken into Adobe Photoshop and blended together using Photo Merge. When this process is used Photoshop will stack the images and blend together the sharpest parts of the image giving an increased DOF.
For infrared conversion of my cameras I use LifePixel. Infrared allows you to put an older camera to use and opens up a new time time of day for productive image creation.
Fotopro tripods are well worth checking out. You can learn about the ones I use and recommend by clicking on the Fotopro Tripods link at the top of this page. If you want to see what other tripods might fit your needs check out the Fotopro.com website. Check back with me before you buy as a Fotopro Ambassador I’m able to get you discounted pricing including complementary continental USA shipping for my followers that you won’t find through retail outlets.
Learn Photoshop in a fun environment. Aaron Nace applies the right amount of fun with easy to understand and follow tutorials. Actions and brushes are included with lessons!
Lightning, waterdroplets, sound, time-lapse, HDR sequences, smiles and much more control for your camera!
Cameras Get Smarter -
A High Speed Smart Camera Remote
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Platypod has become a great resource for being creative in getting your camera gear easily into unusual places. As an Platypod Pro I get to work/play with the gear even before it comes out. Head over to Platypod, subscribe to the newsletter and you will get special discounts reserved only for subscribers.
