Boston Fashion Week (week Sept 19)

Last Friday, I had the chance to shoot for Asian Boston Magazine at a Boston Fashion Week event, hosted by Synergy. The event was held in the South End, inside this beautiful eglise (where the acoustics were phenomenal). 

The event was a good test for my skills, equipment and overall mental readiness. Overall, I think the photos came out ok, but I also know where I need more work on. For example, lighting. 

Getting to the event a head of time allowed me to scope out for the best location to shoot. Ideally, the best photos for fashion are the ones where the photographer is right in front of the runway. However, b/c the catwalk was raised up on stage, I knew I was not tall enough to take these photos - Note to self, maybe nxt time bring a mono-pod? Instead, I found a good location on the stairwell, and that was where I stayed throughout the night.

My photos from that night were a mixed bags of things; Some had the complete darkness behind them, and some had the white curtains. It is debatable as to which one "looks right". My modeling friend tells me that the ones with the pitch black background is more adequate. I looked at the Fall 2008/Winter 2009 Channel fashion shoots, and it looks like the best shots are the ones where the entire model is in frame (as this was a concern of mine, b/c I worried that I did not get enough close up of each piece).

The evening also gave me a good chance to meet other local photographers and fashion enthusiast around Boston. It made me think - what is it that I want to capture, moving forward? 

See pictures from the fashion show

So it's been almost two months since my last posting. Since then, I've been tied up with weddings (3 in one week), and vacation in Alberta, Canada. Surely some experiences have been gained.

Whenever I attend weddings, I love taking photos. But at the same time, I feel intimidated by the photographers that are actually hired for the event - I don't want to get in their way. On the other hand, a photo op is a photo op, so I click away. There's just something about shooting the moment of an event - capturing people's very expression that exemplifies what's happening, without using words to describe what is going on, that really gets to me. Although weddings can somewhat be slow - where you know what is going to happen, there are the tiniest minute things that can be captured.

As I look back to my photographs, I wonder which is my area of specialty; is it portraitures or landscape. I really enjoyed shooting the Canadian Rockies. For this trip, I used a Canon 24-105, L series. This is a wide-zoom lens, which was perfect for the occasion (heavy, albeit). I kept most of my shots at f4.5... except for shooting waterfalls, which I tried to go as high as f11. Honestly, I didn't see much of a huge difference.

Usually, I shoot with my EF18-55. Already, you can see that some of the details shot from the 24-105 softened up. Honestly, I haven't decided how I feel about that. I like sharp details. Further, when I picked up the 24-105, I was comparing it to the 28 135. I found several websites that were good at comparing the difference:

http://www.tawbaware.com/canon_lens_test.htm
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/24vs28.shtml

Shooting flowers and plants is a lot of fun:
http://picasaweb.google.com/vienne.cheung/PlantsAndAnimalsAlbertaCanada

I am so tempted to go back and figure out what each plant name is - However after searching for a good 45 min, I realized this task is rather hard! Maybe I'm not searching right...

My latest work
http://picasaweb.google.com/vienne.cheung/CanadianRockiesAlbertaCanada

http://picasaweb.google.com/vienne.cheung/MountainsLakesAndRiversAlbertaCanada

http://picasaweb.google.com/vienne.cheung/TheCityEdmontonCalgary

It's been a while since my last posting. Since then, I've been involved with traveling (Dominican Republic), Non Profit Fundrasising Gala Event, Bridal Shower (2 of them), and other family gatherings. Plenty of pictures have been taken, and various lessons have been learned. Interestingly, I feel like I am taking fewer shots each time.

When I'm shooting less, I don't pay attention to those could be interesting photo opportunities. Let me elaborate...In my mind, there are two types of photographs: Those that are "general" - where people anywhere can comprehend, or Personal shots. Personal shots need not to be in a gallery. They are fun, intimate, and cannot always be shared with the wider audience. Sometimes, I feel like I should get a G9 for personal shots. But then again, do I really want to walk around with two cameras?

Tomorrow is Independence Day. I'm not sure how many years I've tried to captured fireworks with my camera. They never come out the way it is in my mind! Maybe these tips will help:
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-photograph-fireworks/

Key take-a-way:
ISO 100
Turn Flash off
Try f8 or f16
Shutterspeed is up in the air

I shall try again.

Cape Cod

This weekend, I visited Cape Cod.
Maybe it's the change of direction that I'm trying to go into, but for once, I didn't go too crazy with the photos. Perhaps my concept of photos have begin to morph; before I used to think that taking photos was a way to capture the moment, story, documentary... However, with the number of technology available today, the art of "capturing" becomes a commodity. Rather than telling a story with multiple photos, why not do it with just one? Furthermore, as an artists, why not enhance the meaning, express how you feel within the photograph itself?

I guess there is a time and place for everything, and it really depends on what I'm trying to do. After some thinking, I ask mysef; Do I want to just take a pretty picture, or do I want to go in a direction that brings out my unique view?

There's no fun taking postcard photos - everyne can do this. Once I get the basic technique (and maybe get a nicer lens), the expression may begin. I'm still some ways from going to this level. But this weekend, I tried. Sometimes I wish I had 2 cameras; my dslr, and another point and shoot for just group shots or something. (*Sigh, I wish my hobby made things more simple, rather than more complicated with the extra baggages!)

In my mind, it's like writing an essay. Most of the time, the professor provides a subject to write about. After awhile, you discover your own voice to write about topics of all sort - sort of like a blog... a photo blog...hehe..

http://picasaweb.google.com/vienne.cheung/CapeCod

Tonight, the girls and I went to Boston Billiards. The dim setting made it perfect to take a few shots. I noticed that 1/60 has been perfect for getting the "right" mood. To demonstrate...

with the flash, 1/60, at f/ 3.5, iso 800

with the flash, 1/250, at f/ 3.5, iso 800

Total mood killer!

Due to bad weather, work and final exams, I didn't get to do much shooting this week. Instead, I shot at my auntie's 60th birthday party.

Banquet halls can be hard conditions to shoot at. I used ISO 1600 (which ofcourse left those grainy details..yuck). Binks tells me that with LightHouse, I can turn up the noise reduction, bring the picture to Photoshop and sharpen it.

Since I was using my EF 18-55 (my baby lens, as I like to call it), I couldn't decrease the F-Stop lower than 5.6. I also used my flash as well.

So it really depended on what I wanted to capture. If I wanted to focus on one area, I shot at 250 (leaving the background black). If I wanted to capture the entire scene, I shot at 60 (but no lower than that). However, @ F60, it also yielded a yellow tint - I think that is the lowest I'll go. F100 seemed to be the best setting. The pic of my little nephew is taken at ISO 1600, F5.6, 100.

L Lens

Not sure which to get ...

EF 70 - 300 IS F4.15 - 5.6
EF 70 - 200 F4 L version
EF 70 - 200 F4 IS Image Stabilizer L Lens
17-40 L