#835. Time to Go

Taken a couple of weeks ago. My daughter Emma and some friends about to leave for the Orchestra Banquet.

Title: "Time to Go" Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm L zoom
Shot data: 1/125s f/6.3 at 45.0mm iso100
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Portrait Professional

#639. Theatrical Christmas

A couple of times a month I take photos for Clear Creek Community Theater in Webster, Texas. Last night I took head shots and some publicity stills for "Miracle on 34th Street". These shots always come early in the process, before everyone has their costumes and before the set is complete, but I still enjoy doing them. As a general rule actors are fun to work with: they know how to be expressive and they're always "on". :-)

Title: "Theatrical Christmas"


Shot data: 1/50s f/10.0 at 32.0mm iso200
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105mm f/2.8
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin
Light: Alien Bee 1600 placed high center with 2X4 Softbox remote fired by Pocket Wizard

#620. A Salute

Taken last night at a local church. I recently volunteered my humble photography skills at the church I attend in Houston. I have since been asked to take photos a couple of times. Last night the request was to pop out on the stage and take a few quick snaps of the congregation holding a sign congratulating their overseas sister church on their one year anniversary. It was a fairly simple assignment and I initially thought the thanks I received were unearned. After I thought about it a while though I gave myself a little more credit for the job I did. First of all, there is pressure. I volunteered so there was no money or contract involved but I still felt pressure to deliver a usable photograph. I've taken more than a few unusable photos in my day so my concern was certainly warranted. I had a brief conversation with the program director in which I persuaded him to give me full house lights for the shot. I was shooting at ISO 1600 as it was and I really didn't want to go any higher than that which would have been necessary at less than full house lights. Even at ISO 1600 I was underexposed but I knew the photos would end up being usable because I was shooting in Camera RAW which allows for exposure adjustments in post-processing. I arrived at the church early and determined the placement of the banner. I had to make a lens selection and a camera selection. I had to take my shots (about 10 I think) in about 6 seconds so the service could continue with as little interruption as possible. And I had to process the photos when I got home. I didn't end up with a work of fine art but the photo is, I think, usable for the church's intended purpose and, in retrospect, I feel that I can give myself a little credit for that! :-)

Title: "A Salute"


Shot data: 1/40s f/4.0 at 24.0mm iso1600
Camera / Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / Canon 24-105 L zoom
Post-processing: Adobe Camera Raw > Photoshop CS4 > Topaz Adjust plugin