bjcarlton

As some others have suggested, work up a portfolio of clothed models first. Use your friends. Learn lighting and posing. With that portfolio in hand, you now have some credibility when you approach someone for doing nudes. In fact, people you've photographed clothed now have a reason to trust you, and might be willing in some later session to pose nude themselves, assuming you haven't come across as creepy while photographing them. One suggestion I've seen elsewhere is that, in addition to the above, you collect some nude images of the sort you would like to take, and show them to the potential models, with the explanation that you are learning nude photography, and want to replicate these images. That, too, can be reassuring. I would also suggest that you cultivate a female friend willing to act as your assistant. Tell your prospective model that that's how you'll be working. That way, she'll know that it's not going to be a one-on-one, just-trust-me situation. The fact you are working with an assistant is a strong statement that your interest is photography, not messing around. And if you really want to impress potential models that you're serious about the nude as an art form, photograph some men, too. (A worthwhile challenge for a straight photographer, and a way for you to test your true motives.)

<p>I found Colormunki very helpful in getting my printed output to match my monitor. One result of using it was that I, like one of the other commenters, dimmed my screen quite a bit.</p>

<p>I think he was joking, Jeff.</p>

<p>That shadow looks too wide to be from the pop-up, which is very close to the lens axis. Could it be a reflection from the window glass? I realize that the shadow still appears when the main light is turned away from the subject, but what if it's turned off entirely? In other words, could it be getting reflected by the window glass even though turned away from the subject?</p>

<p>Had the same thing happen to my 24-105 F/4L. That said, I had it repaired and was back in business. Wasn't cheap, but it wasn't worth getting a new lens over either.</p>

<p>I have both a 70-200 f/4 L non-IS, and a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II. I got the f/4 about 10 years ago to cover running events, and have taken tens of thousands of images with it. I'm very happy with the results. I got the f/2.8 just a few months ago. I've used each on crop sensor and on full frame bodies. I can't discern a difference in viewfinder brightness, at least in actual use (I haven't done any formal experimenting). I can't discern a difference in image quality in any of the shooting I've done with the two lenses. I like the bokeh on each. I don't notice any particular difference in focusing, and, as I said, I've used the f/4 extensively for shooting runners, occasionally in dim light. For really dim light shooting, I really like the f/2.8 IS. It works as advertised. But the lens weighs a ton. I would not want to carry it around very long. If you have no need for IS, I say go for the f/4. (OTOH, if you really want to impress other photographers, go for the f/2.8. I get lots of comments from people when I use it.)</p>

<p>Actually, she is obligated to you. She promised you publicity if you'd shoot her for free. You detrimentally relied on that promise (i.e., you provided the service), and now she's reneged.<br> That said, the stakes are so small here that it's probably best just to forget it.</p>

<p>Well, parse it out. "The use of the copyrights . . . will not be sold to or granted to [anyone] other than Company and Vendor." In plain English, no one but the Company and the Vendor can "use" the copyright. If a third party's sale of prints is a "use" of the copyright, then you're out of luck. The question for your lawyer to answer is what constitutes a "use." </p>

<p>Though perhaps a bit of a long shot, some local prosecution agencies have consumer protection units that can be of help, particularly if she has engaged in a pattern of such behavior. Years ago I managed to extract a print (from a triathlon) I'd ordered from a photographer that way; he'd blown me off for months. I found out where he was based, and called the local city attorney's office's consumer protection unit. Turns out he had been doing this to a lot of people, so I was able to just sit back and let the public prosecutor do the rest of the work.</p>

<p>What happens if you stop down and shoot, say, the sky?</p>