mgk1966

<p>Thanks Joe. The angled shots always are a challenge for me. I can't seem to find the right angle I guess. Unless I'm really far away, the keystoning seems more pronounced. Plus there are a lot of issues with neighboring houses being under construction, etc.</p>

 

<p>Thanks for the comments Michael. I thought I had posted a response yesterday but it didn't seem to go through.</p>

<p>Yes, I did use an off-camera flash for the exteriors, but I supplemented (maybe too much) with an on-camera flash. I'll try that indoors as well.</p>

<p>Thanks all for the variety of responses. Yeah, I'm a tall guy, so maybe crouching to the midpoint of the room would help.</p>

<p>The client requested a variety of photos for the web site and brochures. I'm not sure which ones she picks, so maybe I should cull out the ones that aren't as strong.</p>

<p>The quad copter sounds awesome. I thought about getting one of those for outdoor weddings, but that could only end in disaster.</p>

<p>Hi,<br>

I am a wedding and event photographer, but a friend of mine in real estate has me do interior/exterior shots of new residences. I was wondering if anyone with knowledge of this area could help me with a critique of my photos. </p>

<p>She wants me to take the pictures on nice, sunny days. That presents some challenges when the units face north, or when there is extreme sunlight shining in the windows (which do not have blinds). </p>

<p>Here is an example of that. The sky is blue only in the rear photos:</p>

<p><a href="http://kuehlphoto.smugmug.com/RealEstate/Autumn-Creek-Yorkville">http://kuehlphoto.smugmug.com/RealEstate/Autumn-Creek-Yorkville</a></p>

<p>I use a D700 with either a 24-70 or 17-35. I try to get most of my exposure from natural light, but supplement with a flash bounced behind me or overhead. </p>

<p>Also, she has asked me to start doing exteriors at dusk. Here is the first set I did, with some fill from an off-camera speedlight.</p>

<p><a href="http://kuehlphoto.smugmug.com/RealEstate/Edgewater-Evening-Shots">http://kuehlphoto.smugmug.com/RealEstate/Edgewater-Evening-Shots</a></p>

<p>Thanks in advance.<br />Matt</p>

<p>I like the idea of this one...The tone, the viewpoint of a far away observer of quiet moment just before the big day. I like the unusual aspect too. The problem for me is I don't really know what is going on until I look at it for a bit. The focus seems to be much more on the makeup artist, who is in full silhouette, than the bride, who is obscured. The other way around could have been magical.</p>

<p>Thanks. I will adjust the image sizes. Sounds like that should help.</p>

Hello,

 

I'm having some problems with my web site, www.kuehlphoto.com. For most people, the home page and galleries take only 2-10

seconds to open. But for some, including me, it can take over 30 seconds just to load the static home page, from a system where

everything else opens fine. Is there anybody that might have some insight as to why this is? Thanks very much in advance.

 

Matt

<p>Thanks Sheldon & John.<br>

I actually had the .NEF directory and the catalogs on an external USB drive until recently. I moved it to the C: drive to try to help the speed issue, but that obviously didn't work.<br>

So if the task manager doesn't show I'm using the full 3GB RAM, would any more actually help?<br>

Thanks again,<br />Matt</p>

<p>Hi,<br>

I was wondering if someone with more expertise than me could help me figure out why LR 3 runs slow on my machine. It takes me about 8-12 seconds to render a preview, and then there is a lag in processing every time I do an action. Since I process about 1200 images per wedding, this is not acceptable for me. Here are my computer specs:<br>

LR v3.4.1<br>

3 GB RAM<br>

Windows 7, 64-bit<br>

AMD Turion Dual-Core 2.1 GHZ<br>

Laptop connected via HDMI to HP LP2475w Monitor 1920x1200<br>

ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics<br>

I'm keeping my working files and catalogs on the C: drive. At the beginning of processing, I click "Render 1:1 Previews" and let it go. I have no other applications running. Windows Task Manager shows<br>

If this is an inadequate system, please let me know what the minimum I need to purchase to get the program running smoothly.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance,<br />Matt</p>

<p>Thanks for the HM! I didn't realize the results were posted until just now. Congrats to the winners and other HM's. Great shots. <br>

This one was shot with a D700 and a Sigma 50mm 1.4. 1/50 at f2.0. I have a pair of SB-800's stage left and right triggered by Pocket Wizards to light up a very dark restaurant. It was sort of a happy accident in that I wouldn't normally shoot such fast moving action up close with a fixed focal length and wide aperture. I was set up for another shot and this happened so fast I just had to go with what I had in hand. Luckily everything came together.<br>

Credit here goes to the b&g for making the moment happen. This could have easily been a snapshot of a couple staring blankly at the camera with a more reserved couple. That's the hard part about being a primarily candid shooter - you have to rely partly on the charisma of your subject, which you have little control over.</p>

<p>I'm having two problems with inconsistency:</p>

<p>First, the remotes (set to manual) occasionally do not flash. I find this happens most often when I have gone a few minutes without shooting, as if they have gone to sleep and need to wake up. <br>

Things also get screwed up when I go from master to normal mode on the SB-900, and then back to master. PW tells me that I should never switch over to normal, because it's meant to be in master all the time. Kind of unfortunate, because for wedding work, sometimes I don't want the remotes to fire, and need to turn them off quickly.<br>

The other problem I seem to have, which I can't explain is that the TTL metering for the master flash in the hot shoe varies wildly sometimes. I don't know why there would be a correlation, but when I remove the mini, my TTL metering is as expected.<br>

My batteries have been good for the most part, but I'll make sure they are always full.<br>

<br />Thanks,<br />Matt</p>

 

<p>I must have gotten lucky when they first came out. Check B&H every day, because I think they come and go quickly.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Has anybody had a chance to use the Pocketwizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 for Nikon yet? I have been using them for about a month and have had some reliability issues. I was wondering if anybody had any similar experience. I haven't heard back from support on my inquiry.<br>

<br />Thanks,<br />Matt</p>

<p>Thanks for the mention Pete. I'm not going to repost the pictures, but I'll give you the names of the ones I like.<br>

Under 3 years: Benjamin Tapper (sunwashed bride walking down the aisle). Great expression, a genuine moment. Nice modern toning. Tasteful use of sunwash. <br>

Alexandru Tunschi (gorgeous bride). Title does not lie. Nice color and composition. Side note - unusual wedding band. Where is she from?<br>

Over 3 years:<br>

Chris Linscott (last light). Nice romantic moment. Great mood. Would we have seen more reflection in the pond if you panned back?<br>

Victoria Sprung. Nice sense of motion around a still couple. </p>

 

<p>Nikon D700, 50mm f/1.4 @ 2.0. 1/50th with moderate fill flash and external strobe.</p><div></div>

<p>The 35mm f/2 is a nice little lens for $300. How about you pair it with the 24 and have your cake and eat it too?</p>

<p>Nikon D700 w/ Sigma 50mm 1.4 @ 2.0 w/ remote strobes.</p><div></div>

<p>D700 w/ Sigma 50mm 2.8 macro. SB-900 and demb diffuser for lighting.</p><div></div>

Awesome! Thank you both for the detailed help.

 

Matt

<p>Does anybody have a good method for shooting portraits with a high-key backdrop and portable lighting? I have a number of backdrops that I use on location with speedlights and umbrellas, but the white cloth one always gives me troubles. I have a hard time blowing it out and not contaminating the subject. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.<br>

<br />Thanks,<br />Matt</p>

<p>Hello,<br>

I brought my Nikon 85mm f1.4 in to a well respected but sometimes expensive authorized repair shop. Once in a while, the autofocus catches and it won't focus until I play with it a bit. The guy said something to the extent of I need to fix the "focus shift". Cost is $250. Does this sound reasonable, and is there a less expensive place where I can send it in?<br>

<br />Thanks,<br>

Matt</p>

<p>Nikon D700, 24-70 at f/4.0, 1600, 1/30th </p><div></div>

<p>It actually was APS that gave me the estimate. They are telling me that everything needs to be done and I can't do any of it separately for various reasons. I went ahead and gave them the go-ahead because they can get it done within a week. I have several weddings coming up and saving money by shipping it out would have been offset by the expense of renting.</p>

<p>Thank you. I got some more information from them today. Turns out they want to replace the autofocus motor, the zoom mechanism, zoom ring and the aperture mechanism. I have no idea why all that needs to be done when it was just having trouble autofocusing.</p>

<p>I have a Nikon 17-35 f/2.8 lens that I use extensively for weddings. The other day the autofocus went out. I took it in to get fixed at an authorized repair shop and they said it needed a new motor among other things. The estimate was $650 US. Does that sound reasonable? Is there anything else I can do besides get a new one?<br>

<br />Thanks.</p>