It's Beginning to look a lot like...Time to get Holiday Shots!

Good Morning and Welcome to another Terrific Tuesday!

Yes, it is getting close to that time of the year, the chill is in the air, powdery stuff coming down in some northern states (Sorry, I live in Texas!), and with that comes the time to start taking images that we have to wait several seasons to take.

So, it is nice and cold, get out there anyway and take some images!  With the weather changing almost daily, we will have opportunities to take images of snow, different types of landscapes, ice sculptures, loved one in the snow, snow fights, etc...  This is the time of the year to go bananas and get outside to see the challenges that the season might present to us.  Don't forget the Christmas lights, decorations, as some people like to indulge in the planning, preparation and setting up of decorating lights, but remember if you take images of personal properties, ask for permission.  Once you get the permission, go ahead and take the images and share them with the owner, there you go, a Christmas gift that they will enjoy!  This week is also Thanksgiving, a time for reflection for some, football for others, but always picture opportunities for photographers, have at it and have some fun!

Before you go out, there are some things that you need to remember:

1.  Check your camera, read the manual and check the temperature limits!  Some cameras are sensitive and will not work efficiently on certain lower temperatures.
2.  Protect your equipment from the cold and the moisture.
3.  Protect yourself from the cold and moisture.
4.  Check weather forecast, check your vehicle, always be safe!
5.  Have fun, fun, fun!

So go ahead and start taking images out there in the cold weather, show us the beautiful areas that surround and inspire your wonderful winter wonderland images.

Take the images while you can, every season is going to be different.  As a photographer we are challenged and inspired to practice, and doing it in the snow provide different challenges.

Have fun and until next time, this is your Tuesday Ambassador wishing you a great Thanksgiving and a fantastic holiday season!

Got the Camera! What's Next?

Hello Everyone, welcome to another Terrific Tuesday! 

Last week I talked a little about buying a new camera, including some stuff that everyone should be aware when doing it.  As I was reading my own blog I realized that the requirements from the school when it pertains to the equipment needed might have changed in the last few years.  True enough, there have been some changes since I started, so this blog is going to be like a continuation from last week.

Having a camera with video capabilities is now a requirement that starts with your first photography class!  So, if you haven't done so yet, plan ahead and know that down the line there is a class called Time-Based Media where you will not be able to complete the class without meeting that requirement.

Done.  Good!  But what is down the road in your studies, you might be wondering.

PH 136 (Lighting) - You will need a tungsten light kit with at least two lights with a minimum of 500 watts each.  Sounds like a lot, and it is, they are very bright.  Shop around and get a good set, you will be using it several times throughout the rest of your studies!  Now that you have the lights, you will also need a light meter, and again there are several models to choose from, just be sure that it measures ambient light as well as flash lighting and can be set for reflective readings.  If you buy one that is not ready for recording and measuring flash or strobe lighting, you will need to get one for the Studio Photography class!  Prices vary, but these two items will run about $600 for both of them, again depending what you go with, and as always...research!

PH 212 (Studio Photography) - This was the class that I considered being the one that I spent the most time and money.  You will need at least (yes, I said at least) a 2-light strobe kit capable of 320ws - 500ws for each monolight.  I said at least because after the class, you might find out that you need more than two, I currently have 6!  BE AWARE, when shopping for the sets, go to reputable source such as B & H Photography.  You might find sets out there on other sites that would announce a 3-light set 600ws for a specific price.  If you do not research, you could be in trouble because for some sites that means 3 lights at 200ws each for a total of 600ws, remember the requirement is 320-500 EACH!  Of course, now that you have the lights, you will also need some light modifiers, background, background support system, a table and other requirements.  All in all expect to budget over 1K for the equipment.  Don't be cheap, get the equipment that you need now that will help you and stay with you later on.

PH 226 (Printing) - This is another class that has some explicit requirements for equipment.  You are going to need a ColorMunki (a what?), a printer with 6+ inkwells and used for photos as well as 20-25 Photo Paper, hopefully from the same company as the printer.  You are going to use the ColorMunki to calibrate your monitor as well as using it to create profiles for the paper you use.  The requirement states the amount of sheets, but let me tell you, I used almost three times that amount during the class!  If you like printing your images, you will love this class, if you do not like printing your images, you will still love this class!

Epson Stylus Photo 1400

ColorMunki with case

So there, now you know what to expect if you are in your first or second year.  Of course there are other things that are not completely photography oriented that you might need.  If you do not have web camera, get ready to get one for COM 1010 (Speech).

Want to see what's out there?  You can start with this link to B&H Photo:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Want to check out some strobes?  Check the Alien Bees:

http://www.paulcbuff.com/alienbees.php

That will be all for now, if you have any other type of equipment that you didn't realize you needed for any of your classes and found out when the class started, drop me a line, it could save some headaches to someone down the line!

Until later then, this is your Tuesday Ambassador wishing you a great day!

Photographing a Fashion Concept

I just finished Figure/Fashion Photography, PH435. It was most definitely the hardest class I have faced in my career at AIPOD. It was also one of the best classes for me in my career at AIPOD. Why, you ask? I am a good portrait and wedding photographer. I am great with lighting my subjects to highlight their faces and expressions, and capturing emotions and images that tell their stories. I have rarely had to create the story or concept I was photographing. I also have never been into photographing fashion. I didn’t know how to make the images about the clothing and not the model. For the first three weeks of class I kept hearing, “they look like portraits,” from my professor.

By the third week of class I was ready to throw in the towel, but my professor kept encouraging me and talking me through ideas. Then I ran into problems with models. At the end of week four I still didn’t believe I was going to be successful in this class or with my final project. Finally the beginning of week five I was able to do the shoot I wanted and needed for my project. It pushed me so far out of my comfort zone.

So to bring you into this fantasy that I was trying to create, let me describe the project. Using tulle of multiple colors I would create couture fashion that looked like lighthouses. I challenge each of your to come up with a concept totally beyond normal and try to create images that show your concept. As I was encouraged by my professor, think of things that you are really interested in or love. (I love the water and lighthouses and playing with light.) Then think of a new and different way to illustrate it. I did it through fashion, you may want to do it using a different concept. This project whet my appetite to do more creative work. My prof encouraged me to work on this for a year. I plan to. I wonder what my images will look like next year!

Here’s some of my lighthouses. Which says lighthouse fashion to you the most?