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robertfarnham

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Posts posted by robertfarnham

    Rating Portraits

    in Portraits & Fashion

    Posted

    <p>Barry, you're impressed with Jock Sturges because his published work is incredibly complex and leaves the viewer thinking like you..."I'm not sure what that says about me." It's art. Very rare. I have never seen anything that comes close to it.<br>

    As for spot colour, fake blur, and any other PS action that is overdone, or done to death, I'm generally against it. Unless the client is paying me to do it - then I grit my teeth and do it, just like the whore I am :-)<br>

    You won't see it in any work I show other people.</p>

    Rating Portraits

    in Portraits & Fashion

    Posted

    <p>Barry, you're impressed with Jock Sturges because his published work is incredibly complex and leaves the viewer thinking like you..."I'm not sure what that says about me." It's art. Very rare. I have never seen anything that comes close to it.<br>

    As for spot colour, fake blur, and any other PS action that is overdone, or done to death, I'm generally against it. Unless the client is paying me to do it - then I grit my teeth and do it, just like the whore I am :-)<br>

    You won't see it in any work I show other people.</p>

    MacBook Display is killing me. Are Cinema displays the solution?

    in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing

    Posted

    <p>Good morning. <br>

    I bought a MacBook Pro a little over a year ago and have lived with this issue since. The display is far too "sensitive" when it comes to contrast and dynamic range. The whites completely blow out when they shouldn't and the blacks are very black when they should be shades of grey. There are no subtlties on this screen.<br>

    My work is mostly in black and white, and frankly, I'm very frustrated. <br>

    I understand that laptop monitors suck, generally, and I need an external display. My question is to those who own or have used a 20" Apple cinema display...<br>

    Is the cinema worth buying? Will I still have issues with contrast? Should I just pull out my old CRT and use it? Do I need to mortgage my house to get an Eizo if i want an LCD screen that will please me? <br>

    Thanks for any info you can give me. <br>

    ..Robert</p>

    <p> </p>

    New to Nude...Advice Plz

    in Portraits & Fashion

    Posted

    Hi Michael, do you have a tripod? If yes, you can use it along with available light - lamps, windows, skylights,

    flashlights etc - to create a lot of interesting images of her. That way you can experiment with private indoor settings

    rather than risking the outdoors.

    <br><br>

    She doesn't want to look static...so open up your shutter for a second or two and let her move through the frame.

    <br><br>

    Maybe I should back up. Are you looking to shoot a glamour shot or an art nude? There's a big difference form a

    photographer perspective. When I shoot glamour I have to focus on her face - get the right smile the right eye

    contact etc. When I shoot art/figure nudes I look at the entire frame and the shapes in it. Very different shooting

    experiences with very different results. Personally I prefer shooting the figure nude because the photo becomes

    about the form and flow and shape and not about the woman. Glamour nudes are about the woman and the aura

    she can present. It's very difficult for models to pull off glamour nudes well, and as a photographer, you're relying on

    her 100% once you have your setting/framing and light figured out.

    <br><br>

    You say her favourite features are neck/back/butt...you can do a lot with those parts with only the light from a lamp

    or a window.

    <br><br>

    Good luck!

    Focus magazine subscription

    in Casual Photo Conversations

    Posted

    That's me, though my address just changed last week. Maybe the border guards are rabid lovers of fine art photography...but that's an entirely separate issue. I've heard of other magazines that have issues with cross border shipping - so much so that they have hired Canadian distributors. Can't recall which mags, but it was a while ago. <br>

    Thanks for checking. I'll keep my eyes open for April.

    Focus magazine subscription

    in Casual Photo Conversations

    Posted

    David, will you check your subscription list to see if I'm on it? I understand that mags get lost/stolen on occasion,

    and I understand that you've had distribution issues that you feel have been rectified. Sh@t happens. I'm a poster

    boy

    for Sh@t happens. Right now, as a first step, I just want to know if I'm on the list. Thanks.

    Focus magazine subscription

    in Casual Photo Conversations

    Posted

    For me, it's been well over a year and nothing nada zilch zip zero in my mailbox. <br><br>

     

    I forwarded a copy of my Paypal payment to the big black hole in NYC and wasn't acknowledged. All the excuses

    about e-mail problems don't fly with me. Like, seriously, use Hotmail for christsake, if you're having that many

    problems. This isn't 1995. These types of tech issues don't exist any more. It's just bad customer service,

    plain and simple. Have someone on the other end with a computer plugging in canned responses - it can be a five

    year old - it's not that difficult or expensive. Really. It's not.

    <br> <br>

    And all the pass the buck excuses about the mail service...again, please spare us..this ain't the pony

    express...I received a MacBookPro from Shanghai in a day and a half (that's in a country called "China", btw), I

    think the USPS can get a mag out to an exotic, out of the way location like "Canada" quite easily - they just

    need to actually get their hands on it to be able to get it here. (All this time I thought Newfoundland was in

    the western hemisphere, but tonight I have read that it's actually in Europe. And that getting stuff to Europe

    takes an unusually long time. Fascinating. I heard they have mail delivery there, too, even though they don't

    speak American...and that planes fly there almost every day.)

    <br><br>

    Now, OK, $60 isn't a big deal to me. I'm just sad not to receive a magazine that will put Jock Sturges on the

    cover.

    <br><br>

    David, you're obviously better at designing a magazine than at business. Hire someone to do it for you. I hear

    there are a lot of ex-Bear Stearns employees who need work in NYC. If the magazine is as successful as you say,

    just hire someone to run it for you. Stick to obsessing over the print process.

    <br> <br>

    As of 10:34 tonight, July 2nd, 2008. I don't give a flying f#ck. Keep my money. Buy yourself something pretty.

    Or a book that can teach you about customer service. (I bet Amazon can deliver via USPS in about three days...)

    <br><br>

    Enjoy your July 4th. I know I could use a holiday.

    <br> <br>

    ..Robert

    Nude category problem

    in PhotoNet Site Help

    Posted

    Ellis, I think that category is a great idea, but difficult to fit as a link on the Critique forum page :-)<BR><BR>

    As a peruser of (and occansional poster to) the nude forum. I don't have any problems scanning down the list of thumbnails picking out the photos worth looking at. It's not such a bother. The art pops out at me. The nudie shots fade into the background, unless the strength of the model is exceptional, when all I can say is, "I wish she'd find herself a better photographer."

    Help with flash

    in Lighting Equipment

    Posted

    Sometimes I like to work with only one light and an umbrella. I find it very easy to move around and can concentrate on dealing with the model. <br>

    A few suggestions:<br>

    Experiment with light to model distance; experiment with the height of the light - move it from down at floor level to up high over her head; shine differnt parts of the light reflecting off the umbrella on her - the penumbra (edges of the glow) gives a different qualty than a straight on reflection; try Rembrandt, butterfly and any other style you can make up; play play play...and keep her fully engaged in the process - pay very close attention to the shadows the light throws on her face and make her move slightly to improve them - she'll take this as you ensuring she'll look her best and she'll give you more.

    <br>Don't blow out your highlights and shoot RAW. <br>Hope this helps!!Good luck, and post some of the results.

    Nikon SB-80DX Quality Check

    in Lighting Equipment

    Posted

    For what it's worth...<BR>Mine doesn't wobble in my D100 shoe...is the plastic on the foot worn from being shoved in and pulled out a lot? That might be the cause. And the battery door on mine is attached to the body of the flash with a thin piece of plastic, assuming because it won't get lost that way. It has worked so far, though I would describe it as a thread. I've had other flashes where the door comes completely off so I look at this as an improvement.

    AlienBees

    in Lighting Equipment

    Posted

    Hi Melissa, the B400s in the Digibee package should be just fine for you. These are great lights as far as I'm concerned. They give you an entry point into studio lighting without a huge cost. I have two B800s, which I have used for just about every one of the photos in my portfolio. Order one of the softboxes with your kit - you won't regret it. <br><br> If you have a good eye for photography you're a step ahead of most people. Get your lights and play with them as much as you can. <br> <br> A great place to learn is right here iin this forum - there are some "Weekly lighting themes" that you should search for and read through.

    speedlites for studio work?

    in Lighting Equipment

    Posted

    If you're really serious about shooting portraits, why not get strobes? Speedlites are fine, but limited, in my opinion. I tried the multi-flash setup but quickly moved into using Alien Bees, which provide more power and flexibility and actually cost less than the Nikon flashes I was using. Fully manual shooting using modeling lights gives you infinitely more control and is much more satisfying. Just my 2 cents.

    Newton's Rings and Epson V750 Pro Scanner

    in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing

    Posted

    I use a 4990 and was tormented with NRs for a while until I made my own 8x10 film holer.<BR>I found a piece of cardboard that was about the thickness of the plastic film holders, cut a hole that is a little smaller than the film sheet and another cut that mimics the shape of the film holders upper end - the end that sits closest to the lid hinge - you need to do this or the scanner won't recognize the new cardboard film holder. <BR> I tape down the corners of the film to stretch it horizontal as much as possible. The film is held over the glass quite nicely and I haven't had a NR problem since.

    8x10 starter

    in Large Format

    Posted

    I have a Cambo 8x10, which I think is an SCX - they're all similar. With a 355 Symmar attached it weighs in at 26 pounds. <BR>I am not taking it into the field...ever! I actually am in the market for a monster sized tripod to handle the weight. <BR>

    It does have all movements and gears and toys that I need. Ebay purchase price for the camera was about U$600.

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