kimberly_smith___anchorage

November 2, 2006

Michael:

In my opinion, the top photo is also the better one. Her chin was further down, giving your model a more attractive jawline. Her eyes were also closer to the camera in the top photo, making them appear larger, an much more attractive. Her hair was also smoother and more full in the top photo.

Now for the things I did not like. Her hand either needs to be in the photo or completely out of it. One finger looks strange and distracts from the face. I also would have have chosen a less distracting background, even if it is appropriately out of focus. The lighting on her face was fairly even, which may not necessarily be the best on certain facial shapes. Also, if her entire upper body was leaning towards the camera, she may appear to be encouraging the viewer to look. As it is now, she appears to be uncomfortable and afraid. The wrinkles between the eyebrows accent the feeling.

Just my two cents.

Kimberly

October 1, 2006

Hello Lauren,

It could be the weight of the camera and hog lens around your neck all evening. Or it could also be from holding hunching your shoulders up to support the camera. This could cause some major problems with the neck muscles and upper cervical vertibrae. Spoken from the voice of experience. Not only ask an optomitrist, ask a chiropractor.

Just my two cents-

Kimberly

July 18, 2006

Don't wear a button down shirt unless you have a cami underneath. During the last wedding, while photographing the groomsmen, I noticed that the smiles got a lot bigger. To my dismay, I realized the two middle buttons unbuttoned. I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide...

July 18, 2006

Hello Eddie,

It's hard for me to imagine being stuck no further west of Florida my entire life!

To me the most beautiful spot that I would love to spend 9 days at would be the Stikine River. (That's near Wrangell, Alaska and the river goes up into Canada). Fly to Wrangell, and hire someone to take you up the river, stay in one of the National Forest Cabins, and slowly meander down the river. It's breathtaking! There's also natural hot springs at one point. Mountains, glaciers, rapids, wildlife, the entire thing. I wish I could live there.

On a more practical note, Glacier National Park was pretty impressive. There is a lot more people there than the Stikine, but for someone born and raised around mountains I was struck by the beauty.

It all depends on what you love. Do you love desert and mosquitos, or mountains and mosquitos? Just wrap yourself in 100% deet, and die a little earlier, and visit your once-in-a-lifetime place.

Kimberly

June 27, 2006

Gary,

What to do with the photos? Well, some great insight from my mother-in-law:

"What if your house burns down, and all the photos of your children, etc. are burned up? Won't you be thankful that you sent all the family and friends photos through the years?"

A couple weeks ago my mother (mothers are great fans) decided to make cards for thank you notes to people that helped out at my grandpa'a funeral. Guess whose pictures she used?

So, for the new year, make a nice collage of your photos and send it to your family and friends. Guess who will see all your photos? Lots of people. Great personal advertisement. People would rather purchase a great photo from someone they know (or know of) than someone off the internet they've never heard about.

So what to do with the photos? Share them! I have never heard a single word of complaint from anyone for sending a picture.

Have fun, and enjoy getting back into your hobby.

Kimberly

June 27, 2006

Jay,

Just to give my two cents, I'll tell you that grizzlies stink. So if you hear some noise in the bushes and smell something that threatens your smeller....

Actually, the only people I know that have used "bear spray" used them for self-defence against people.

I know a couple people that were mauled by grizzlies. They both had guns. Keep in mind that bears can, and do run very fast, even when shot.

A 44 is good, a slug in a shotgun is good, but prevention is better. Don't run, jog, smell like fish, or irritate them. And if one gets "in your way", curl up in the fetal position and play dead. Seriously. You may be lucky enough to only get bit once or twice.

On a lighter note, enjoy Seward and the rest of our beautiful state!

Kimberly

May 20, 2006

Dave,

I have no idea about NY, but here in Anchorage, there is a website that contains the entire city in aerial photographs. In fact, I can see my bedroom window. I can't think of the search to use, but it has to do with borough (county) property lines and maintained streets. And I know for a fact that the majority of the city is private property. Hmm...

But, it was not for sale, anyone could look at it... makes you wonder, doesn't it?

May 20, 2006

Hi Jim,

I had the same idea as you...go get a BA or a BFA in Photography. I enrolled at the university (first time of schooling since high school). Well, to be honest, it will probably take you $50,000 minimum to be taught what you could learn on your own by a trip to the library and 20-50 rolls of film, plus a season as an assistant or with family as guinea pigs.

I am not continuing college. It has it's place, but when I was taught the parts of the camera (ie. lens, body) during the third class, I decided that college was not the place for me to succeed as a professional photographer. (Workshops are a different matter entirely). But, I do not aspire to teach art or photography at a college or high school level. I am a photographer part-time and a wife and mother full-time. Thus a degree will not get me anywhere. My pictures will however...

I've looked at your website, and I think your photos are quite nice and interesting. Yes, they need more work, but so do mine. :-)

My humble suggestion is to internship with another photographer whose work you admire part time, and work part time to pay for your previous schooling. Nothing has value unless you give of yourself.

Just my two cents,

Kimberly

May 20, 2006

Oops! I didn't know I was signed in as my husband...

May 1, 2006

Hi Thomas!

Thanks for the info. I just figured that a week ago, after occasionally finding the same "glitch" that made my heart drop to my toes.

I wonder where the lens release button will be on the next camera that comes out....

-Kimberly

May 1, 2006

Balaji,

I like your website, and am glad you are considering returning back to Alaska. I've only driven by Mt. McKinley a few dozen times, and never visited the park, so I do not have much info on that aspect itself. But I DO have a 2.5 year old daughter. :-)

My husband and I both love photography along with backpack hiking and the like. Our daughter always comes with us. We just make sure that she has things to do, her camera, books, and plenty of snacks and water. She loves it, as long as she gets her nap, and we aren't in any hurry (ie frequent stops, which is great for setting up and taking pictures).

There is no reason why you couldn't go out and take some "serious" photography time in the early morning when the family is all warm and asleep in the RV. :-)

My last suggestion is to not plan everything to the minute. Enjoy your time in nature with your family.

Have a great time!

Kimberly

April 3, 2006

Kimberly Smith - Anchorage, Alaska

March 11, 2006

Wow!

Thanks for all the input! I know, everyone is expecting that film, especially 120, etc. to be dead in the next decade. By then, everyone will have huge computer screens framed and mounted on walls, so there would be no need for printing either. Oh, well, guess we'll just deal with it when it comes to that. :-)

I decided that 645 is definately out (I used vertical format most of the time), so if I go medium format, I'll probably go with 6x6, preferably Hasselblad. I finally found a store in Anchorage that had some med. format stuff, and it is NOT as heavy as I expected! There's something very cool about holding a Hasselblad rig.

Kirk, I love the comment about getting Bill McIntosh results. :-) And David, thanks for the info on the automatic focusing. I never thought about the speed or depth of field of Medium Format. So many things are different than 35mm. Mark, wow, I love your work! Hopefully someday I will be half as good as you. Renting equipment where I live is not an option, so everything I use, I have to own. But thanks for the suggestion of the H1. When I get my studio set up in a couple of years, I would like to experiment with 8x10 or larger, but my husband would burst a blood vessel if I left it set up in the living room. :-) Is there much difference in the amount of light needed for medium/large format versus 35mm?

Robert, I'm not old enough to have lighting mastered perfectly. I still couldn't tell you the perfect exposure without a meter yet. :-)

Yup, it's going to hurt to have to wait, but for once in my life, I think I won't be stubborn and hard headed. I'll keep my gear I have now. Then use it to pay for my next new, well, used tool. So I can get a camera, two or more lenses, and a STRONG tripod or camera stand. I still am not determined on whether to go for a prism or wlvf.

Thanks you all for the helpful advice and opinions. I appreciate it!

Thanks again,

Kimberly

March 10, 2006

As I was reading a few posts about some pn folks planning a photo

shoot, I started getting the "poor me's". Here I am way up in

Alaska, it's still dark and cold, and EVERYBODY lives on the east

coast or the midwest. :-)

So, I got to thinking about those of us in Anchorage area. Would

anyone want to get together one day this spring? I'm not thinking of

a week long hike to the middle of nowhere, I know that's the best

place for photos, but somewhere pretty much everyone could access,

and is worth a roll or two? Then we could go get a bite to eat and

talk about the day.

Is anyone interested in doing that?

Thanks,

Kimberly

March 9, 2006

After searching many, many previous posts, my question still has not

been answered. So if it has, please forgive me.

I currently use a Minolta Maxxum 7 (35mm) and Minolta 7D. They work

great, but after looking at MF quality, I can't stand to look at my

own prints now. It's just not the same! I know that the camera does

not take the picture, but that's a different subject

altogether...

What I am aspiring to become is a location portrait photographer that

specializes in large prints. Similar to William McIntosh's work.

(You know the kind where you buy only one very large custom framed

print, and don't quibble about how many are scanned on CD's to email

to everyone and how many 4x6's are included in the package.) Yup,

it's a small niche market, but I'm priviledged enough to not need a

second income.

Now, what system would best fit my needs? Although I have all the

capabilities of fast auto everything, I'm constantly using all manual

(To my husband's annoyance.) :-)

I am currently looking at the Mamiya 645 AFD, simply because I may

get a digital back in several (or maybe 15) years when I can afford

it, and IF the digital quality is competetive with contrast, tone,

etc. The only thing with the 645 AFD is that it is a pain to use

manual focus lenses. The manual focus lenses may be needed for

faster flash sync speeds (leaf shutter in lens).

Or I could go with all manual, dinosaur bones type MF. Well, great,

but portraiture frequently involves children. They tend to be

quicker than rocks (I know, I have one of my own). Auto focus MAY be

needed, right? Also, will I be able to buy modern components for it

years down the road?

Then to make it a bit more complicated, I will need to sell my 35mm

and digital equipment to pay for my MF gear. Which is why I'm trying

to find a system that I can afford.

As for selling 35mm gear to pay for MF, why is that such a problem?

I could always us a cheap 35mm P&S, and I hate taking snapshots

anyway...

Thanks for any insight onto my dilemma. I appreciate it!

Thanks again,

Kimberly

March 8, 2006

Thank you for all your help!

I get it, don't sell the negatives except for a hefty price! :-)

The more I think about it, I will probably do a combination of digital and B&W. My husband and I currently process and enlarge our own B&W, and then scan it in if we want. I haven't been very happy with the black tone from digital images, which is why I'll probably use some B&W.

Thanks for telling me what you each sell, and what actors are looking for. Basically, B&W negatives (if they are for sale), low-resolution CD for cast and crew and proofing, and contact prints/proofs are extra. Any prints, the photographer orders them. Thank you! I don't like the idea of handing over my hi-resolution files...which brings up another subject. With the 35mm negatives, is there any way to get a non-digital "copy" of them? I have heard of printing on those clear plasticky sheets, but has anyone tried it?

Also, is it common for the actor's name and agent to be on the front of the print? The director mentioned that, but I have never heard of it before. I thought the information was attached to the back of picture, not on the front of the picture. But, again, what do I know?

Thanks again,

Kimberly

March 7, 2006

I have been asked to create the headshots for several theatre

students at the local university. The director, for some reason,

wants them to be done in black and white film and printed via the old

fashioned method (darkroom and enlargers), and also buy the

negatives. That's fine, I can do that. But, it seems as though the

majority of actors today are getting hi-res files on CD's from their

photographers. Has anyone had current experience with this? I have

heard of getting negatives printed from digital files. Has anyone

done that? For the sake of efficiency, I'd rather do either film or

digital, not a combo of both.

I would appreciate any help or direction.

Thanks,

Kimberly

February 14, 2006

Hello Aaron,

My husband and I looked into the same thing a while back. (Although we are not high school students). :-) I'm glad that you're taking the initiative to organize a program, and are networking for help. That's an important skill you won't find in a textbook.

Is there a dark room available at the school? If not, either make a small one, or see if anyone in your town would be willing to help out by using theirs. If you find someone that has one, they more than likely will be there when you use it. There's nothing like having a knowledgable person next to you when you're learning.

What is the purpose of the photography program? Is it the complete aspect of photography, or is it just how to use the program mode and then photoshop? No, I'm not trying to be harsh or rude, but no matter how determined we are at the beginning, those crutches just jump out at us.

The best way to learn, in my opinion, is to use a very basic manual camera and 400 speed black and white film. I personally would stick with one system. You already have Nikon cameras. Great. Now have them cleaned by someone that knows what they are doing. In fact, try to have the whole class attend the cleaning, so they can see what is in the camera, and how it works.

So you want to take pictures indoors and outdoors. You could go with off camera flash, but that's a very steep learning curve. Another idea is to learn how to shoot ISO 400 speed film at ISO 800 or even 1600, then develop it appropriately.

Go to your local library, not necessarily the school library. Read as much as you can about photography in general, and darkroom instructions. WRITE DOWN THE NAME AND AUTHOR of books you found most helpful. These would be great additions to your class. The books will give you an idea of a starting point, especially with your lists of what you need.

I don't know what state you live in, but in Alaska you need at least 10 people to a class to recieve funding for extra-curricular activities. Check out the laws and read the fine print.

And, another thing. Write the proposal down, then make sure you have your English teacher, and another mentor proof-read it. Then have someone totally unassociated with your project read it. You want to impress who you are asking!

Sorry if I wrote an essay to answer your question, but I think you have a great idea. You may be interested in sports photography, but you have to start at the beginning. Carpenters don't learn by building a mansion by themselves. You have to start with the scrap lumber and some nails.

Good luck!

Kimberly

February 10, 2006

Hi Elaine!

I'm exited for you. This will be a great experience! When I had my baby, I did NOT want any photos, but I am so thankful that my mother-in-law had at least a little disposable camera nearby. The photos are priceless.

If they are extremely modest people, you may want to move blankets, towels, etc, so certain areas are covered. Otherwise, well, every new mother is different.

This is probably one of my favorite "birth pictures". Thankfully it was a fairly easy home water birth and there was absolutely no trama, tearing, cutting, bruising, etc. I can see why black and white could be more flattering. :-) My other favorite photo is my husband holding our baby in his hands and counting her toes.

Good luck, and have a good time!

Kimberly<div></div>

February 9, 2006

Hi Amy!

Here's my answer...my amateur answer anyhow. I found that slide film can be very unforgiving with exposures, so for me, I prefer film for shooting people, especially fast moving people!

One disadvantage of slide film is the printing process. If you are wanting them to be printed, look into the cost and method of printing slide film. One or two frames are no problem, but printing out 100 proofs of slides can be expensive or very time consuming, compared to film.

Also, I found that slide film makes people's skin look unnatural...but that could have been a problem on my end, not the slide's!

Why don't you shoot a small variety and see for yourself? Everyone has different opinions on the matter. Some people love grain in black and white, even processing it so it is exaggerated. Others, like myself, loath grain. Some photographers like the psycadelic look for portraits, some don't.

Have fun finding your answer!

Kimberly

January 22, 2006

Dale,

I'm an aweful blinker myself. Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with the flash...it's the shutter! Whenever I hear the shutter, my eyes will close. The only way I can get over it, is to focus on relaxing and KEEPING MY EYES OPEN. It took my husband about 6 rolls of film, and all evening to get me to understand that the camera is not going to hurt me...especially with the results. :-)

Maybe try a huge telephoto lens, and a remote shutter. Then sneak the shots in. But, for all I know you could already be doing this.

Good luck!

Kimberly

January 13, 2006

Hi Jenn,

I'm starting out too. My only suggestion is pick one system, and don't change cameras too often. I have a Minolta system, and just got the 7D. I feel like most of the time I'm learning how to use the controls, and the picture is the last priority. Sigh. Definately have two cameras, and if both are digital, I would still have a film camera close by. Always have a few extra charged batteries, and memory cards. My problem is that I'm used to the battery life and simplicity of the metal dinosaur XD-11. :-)

As for being limited on space, digital takes up a lot of space too, I found out. Nice (big) monitor, extra hard drive(s), CD storage, etc.

Good luck and have fun learning!

Kimberly

January 12, 2006

I would agree with all the advice given. Make sure you have extra warm clothes IN the car with you. Also, if you are driving around a bit, keep in mind that between Anchorage and Fairbanks, it can be a long distance between gas stations, especially at night.

Personally, I would rent a 4X4 vehicle, you never know if you will need it. But, it all depends on how you drive.

Keep in mind that Mt. Augustine erupted a couple times yesterday, it may quit or follow its previous pattern of activity over several weeks to months. Information is at www.avo.alaska.edu

Have a wonderful time!

Kimberly

December 16, 2005

Hi Kelci,

I'm kind-of in the same situation you are in. There are sure a lot of options out there right now. And, when you ask a group of photographers what lighting to get, then you get a lot of different answers...so back to square one. From what you have said about yourself, you are interested in senior photos. That would eliminate the need for lighting 10+ people. Right? Mainly close portraits with a few full body shots thrown in. I have heard good things about Alien Bees for those of us starting out in "studio" work. Also, Lumedyne...but I'm still trying to figure out all the confusing systems, and what goes with what... :-)

Aso for wattage, well, I think every company has their own method of measuring light. My uneducated opinion is to go with a brand that quite a few people use, (that way inevitable questions could be answered later on), that have lots of options with attachments, etc. and then get the highest power possible. There are natural density filters and gels to put over the monolights, and you can always put them further away, or closer, depending on what you want.

If I'm incorrect, someone please tell me.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! My marriage has been the best years of my life! Good luck on your grad school, too. My husband graduated from graduate school two years ago, and his outlet was photography during the misery of studying neurology and all those tedious classes. :-) It's amazing the time that can be found when a test is coming up!

Good luck and have a great day,

Kim

December 12, 2005

Alan,

Also be aware that velvet will stretch, meaning you will get puckers and uneven nap, unless it is very carefully pinned or basted beforehand. I know some seamstresses have had success with a special foot on their sewing machine that allows the material to be moved evenly. (the fabric on the underside is slightly gathered more than the top fabric on a sewing machine). Also, once you iron or sew a seam on velvet, it will show permenantly, so make sure to get it right the first time!

As for taking it to the local cleaners, most cleaners are used to mend or alter ready-to-wear clothing. If you are not really up to attacking the job yourself, I would suggest someone with previous successful experience, such as a bridal shop. (Although there isn't very much velvet in bridal these days!)

Good luck,

Kim

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