5.4.12 - The Big Step

After a 5-year tenure at a regional bank, I've decided to pursue my photography career full-time. I know there's not much money in it, but it's something I love to do. I have faith that if I do what I'm passionate about, true happiness will come. Day 1.

4.17.12 - How to Complain about my Work

When a picture is posted in a public forum like Facebook or Model Mayhem, some criticism is likely to be heard. I'm open to hearing it and I'm open to learning ways to improve my photography.

However, it is important for me to distinguish between a  person's personal opinion and constructive criticism. To an untrained eye, one could say, "she looks fat in that photo and her pose is awkward." A person with years of experience may say, "the lighting and saturation can be improved with simple techniques; here's what to look for."

The common trait among everyone who has criticized or offered opinions is this:
     No One is Asking Me What I'm Trying To Do.

With anything in life, it's important to ask the artist if their final product was intentional or mistaken. Maybe I wanted a fat person leaning over a balcony in an awkward pose and I achieved the look that I was looking for. Perhaps the lighting was dimmed on purpose.

There are particular rules to photography that need to be followed for particular reasons. For instance: Composition, Exposure, Focus. I prefer to listen to industry leaders and experts than I do Joe Blow off the street (sounds snobby, yes; so what). Experts are considered experts for a reason and I embrace the advice they give me. If you tell me there's something wrong without offering a solution you are simply wasting my time.

Photoshop.
The biggest piece of advice that's given to me is 'USE PHOTOSHOP."

No.

Stop telling me that my photos need to be photoshopped and retouched. For those ready to challenge, allow me to start, "I do use Photoshop." But I use it sparingly - adjusting exposure, contrast and very subtle touch-ups. I will NOT use it to make someone's arm skinnier or face smaller. I don't want my models to look like magazine mannequins. If you want smaller arms, then lift weights. I will try my best to capture you in your best light but I'm also an advocate of embracing your natural form.

I don't care what the industry is asking for. It's the INDUSTRY that is giving people the false hopes and desires to look a certain way. It's digital plastic surgery and I don't want to contribute much to its growing trend.

-Virak

4.8.12 - Tania and Drustva Photo Session

Lesson Learned #1: GET A MAKE-UP ARTIST! I was referred to artist, Ammara Rana by Tania and she did an AMAZING job and it made a HUGE difference to the way the photos came out. I plan on using her again.

Lesson Learned #2: Be aware of TIME. I woke up at 6am for a head start, but we really didn't get started until about 10am. The make-up for each model took over an hour to complete (per model). Yes, it was worth the wait but it limited the shooting I wanted to do originally. Better planning and communication a must.

Tania had completed her make-up and hair as Drustva was preparing for her shoot. We used that time to take some impromptu shots using window light (right) and it exceeded my expectations. The lens used was a 85mm, 1.8 USM lens on a Canon T3i. I stood on a chair and pointed the camera downward, asking Tania to lift her chin and look at me. I blurred the necklace as I didn't want it to be the focal point and we were left with a classic portrait.

Drustva's make-up was completed and again an impromptu shot was taken using window light and remote flash (430exII). I'm amazed that the best photos were taken indoors without planning and very little photoshop was used (only increased contrast and saturation by 10 stops).







Taking shots from the Georgetown bridge was a challenge as traffic was at a high during mid-afternoon. Harsh lighting and the lack of a diffuser led to over-exposed images. I cropped the photo to highlight Tania's face and less of the image. In hindsight, I like both photos.

The angle she tilts her head emphasizes her strong jaw line well but you would never know judging from the photo on the right.

Next to the bridge we found stairs.. beautiful stairs highlighted by rich Spring foliage. I still want to stray away from wedding photography but the location begged for a photo. We took several with Tania. I wanted to use Drustva in this shot, but her business-casual outfit would have stood out differently.



Lesson Learned #3: Shoot one model at a time.
Notice that most of this blog is about Tania? Drustva was a great help focusing the reflector light but her job was to be there as a model; not an assistant. Although greatly appreciated, I felt that the time invested doing her make-up was not well-used. We left this location hoping to find a more business-oriented area but we came across more foliage and vines... I couldn't resist shooting more.

Lesson Learned #4: Take Time to Compose
Notice anything wrong with this photo? It's one of my favorites but I can't even use it. Yup... It's OUT OF FOCUS!!! To the untrained eye you may think it's a lovely photo... Beautiful background, foreground and model... great posing, dress and make-up... No cropping or photoshop was done with this photo... but it's OUT OF FOCUS!!

Images are different from the small LCD monitor on the back of the camera compared to the larger screen of a laptop. I was in such a hurry trying to take as many photos as I could with the time that I had that I ended up wasting an otherwise breath-taking shot.

Had it been in focus, this would have been one of my "money-shots" and it would have looked beautiful printed on paper. Hmph.

Our final location was steps away from our previous spot. Tania's enthusiasm for the camera naturally led her to the front of the camera. It was important for me to divide the time between the two ladies. Several shots of Drustva were taken but only a handful came out focused and pleasing.







The next time I do a photoshoot I plan on designating a full 8-hours to the shoot. It's not as easy as people think. Afterwards I was thoroughly exhausted and hungry - and so were the rest.

Here are the major take-aways:
- Clear out the entire day to shoot and add time for unexpected challenges (could even be weather).
- Shoot one model at a time. This reduces the amount of time for the make-up artist and maximizes the amount of time for the model and photographer.
- Take time to compose. The models did their part on posing and switching techniques practiced. Had I slowed down with the shutter, I would have had more photos to add to this portfolio.

4.1.12 - A Trip to Photo Heaven

The Photo Superstore that has pretty much everything you need.

3.26.12 - Photoshoot Preperations (Drustva and Tania)

I'm an idiot.

For the past two weeks I've been preparing for a photoshoot with friends, Tania and Drustva. Tania reached out to me after seeing my shoot for the Agua da Ilha clothing line with Azuka Bom. We met for happy hour and dinner and discuss doing a shoot for them. The tentative date was Sunday April 8th. For whatever reason I thought it was yesterday, March 25th.

This shoot is a particularly important one for me. In the past, we've thrown up the lights, pointed a camera at a "model" and began shooting. This time I am making the effort to prepare and study for the shoot. So much has gone into the planning process:
- Design: "What are we shooting?"
- Purpose: "Why are we doing it and what are the photos being used for?"
- Location: "Where are we shooting?"
- People: "Who are we shooting? Who is doing make-up and hair? Who is supplying materials? Who is helping?"
- Schedules: "Do our schedules match up and is it convenient for everyone involved?"
- Weather: "um... *crosses fingers and prays*"

Design
We decided to do a "Day and Night" shoot; a spinoff of the traditional "Alter-ego shoots." The photos will reflect what we, as people, do during the day and what we do at night.
Drustva will play the part of a business woman by day, and a drug-user at night.
Tania will play a (fun-loving happy person) by day, and a crazy, psycho ex-girlfriend at night.

Purpose
I want the photos to convey a certain emotion when viewed. As said in Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, "False face doth hide what the false hearth doth know." These photos will be used to simply dislay artistic works. If anything, I want the practice and experience of doing formal photoshoots.

Location
My backyard in Alexandria, VA. It's that simple. I've done scouting in other areas but this just makes the most sense.

People and Schedules
Getting people to arrive at the same location at the same time can present a challenge. I commissioned a 1981 Volkswagon Van to be used in the shoot from Andrew. If Andrew did not show up on time, we would not be able to start. I'm also depending on a make-up artist that Tania is introducing to me the morning of. Otherwise I will still use what I have; even if it's just me.

Weather
No matter what happens I will make something happen. If it rains, I will take pictures of the rain or we will move the shoot indoors. If it's cold, we'll embrace it. If it's hot, we'll bring a fan. Either way, this process has presented me challenges that I welcome and embrace.

The greatest part about this photoshoot is that it has a clear, concise deadline. Because I have an idea of what the final image should look like, it's dictating my actions. I feel like I am taking a crash-course in exposure, lighting, and other things relevant to the shoot. I love the fact that it allows me to FOCUS on what I need to focus on and only that.

-Virak

3.22.12 - My Photographic Mind.

"Give me a canvas, not a coloring book."
I love photography. I enjoy every click of the shutter and every moment captured. I hesitate, however, to call myself a "photographer."

What exists more than my love for photography is my appreciation for it. So much work, effort and thought is placed into every photo. Endless lessons are to be learned; from shutter speeds, aperture settings, understanding light/lighting to posing, positioning, composition, etc, etc, etc. I am humbled by the great works of the photographers I study. How can I dare share this title with those who have spent countless hours studying and practicing their craft? The title must be earned.
Therefore, I devote a minimum of 2 hours per day studying this craft. From day-long visits to the local bookstore to overnight study sessions on YouTube not a day goes by without me learning something new. I look for ANY opportunity to shoot (and I love to shoot people specifically). I've been taking photos since 2006, but discovered my passion for photography in 2009 with the purchase of a Panasonic DMC-FZ50. In 2010 I graduated to DSLR usage (Canon) and am still learning how to use it!

"I have passion for photography art."
I will credit myself, however, with being an artist. I love and embrace all forms of it: dance, music, poetry, and of course the visual arts. With time, I trust that it will reflect in my photos.

Event photography to me is about "capturing the moment." There is value in that and there are many many many event photographers out there. But there is something special to me about "creating the moment." I have visions that I want to produce and photography is allowing me to share the images I have on my mind. The focus for me is artistic photos and it's something I'm working towards doing more of. The photos I post are not always up to my standard. I post them anyway to see my progress as I continue to grow in this field.

One day in the (near) future I will be able to call myself a photographer.

-Virak