Versatility is an important virtue of a working photographer. Think Swiss Army knife; flexible enough to handle any situation. Sure, you can specialize in certain areas like nature, fashion, or weddings.  Yet, the ability to step outside of your comfort zone and shoot a variety of jobs can be a productive way to further develop your skill set. This was certainly the case on a recent job I shot in uptown Manhattan. The objective was to highlight the work of a New York based Feng Shui designer. Here's how I handled it photographically.

It's All About the Light

I used my 580EXII flash off camera on a light stand. While a sync cord could work, I find the whole process much easier as a wireless setup. To accomplish this, I used the Pocket Wizard Flex and Mini. This allowed me to move my light anywhere in the room and not have to worry if the wires would reach. In most cases, the flash was pointed straight up. I find this to provide fairly even light. Another major benefit of these particular Pocket Wizards is the ability to use TTL technology wirelessly. As such, I was able to set the flash to TTL, and simply adjust the output of light as needed. For some shots, I cut the flash output to -2 or -3, while other areas in the apartment required a bit more light.

My Gitzo Does Wood Floors

Indoors or out, a sturdy tripod is an absolute necessity if you want cactus-sharp photos. To create an atmosphere, or mood, you only want to turn on some of the light fixtures.  As such, exposure times can be around 1/15 or slower. This is way too long to hand hold even with IS or VR lenses. A monopod would not work in this instance either. 

I found an inexpensive and convenient way to carry the tripod and light stand together.  Just throw them in a camping chair bag, and you are good to go.  They even have a shoulder strap making for super easy transport.

Photo left: Notice how the wall fixture is lit while the lamp is off.  This directional lighting aided on creating an atmosphere in the photo.  Then, to add more color to the scene, I turned on the hall light which was a regular Tungsten bulb. This shows as a warm yellow color, and constrasted nicely with the cool tones of the wall paint.

Camera settings: 17mm, f8, 2.5 seconds, ISO 200, ETTL -2, tripod.  

 Sweat the Small Stuff

An electric wire here, a dust bunny there, and you have a sloppy photo. Be observant of the details and fix them before pressing the shutter. Sure, you could remove it in Photoshop, but that would require a substantial addition of retouching time. Is that something you're prepared to bill your client for? Getting it right in the camera is beneficial for everyone involved.  In the example below, the arrow points to a distracting wire.  After I noticed it, we made a very quick correction by simply hiding it behind the chair (no Photoshop necessary). 

Camera and Lens

I shot the entire job with one lens, the Canon 17-40mm.  It was mounted on a Canon 40D.  I manually exposed every photo, used autofocus, and shot in RAW.  To make sure I had sufficient depth of field, my aperture was always between f8 and f11. 

Pictured above: Having multiple sources of light with different color temperatures can be an effective way to add more depth to your interior photos.  For this image, I just flipped on the hallway light to accentuate the painting on the wall.  Camera settings: 17mm, f8, 1/4, ISO 200, Flash -1, tripod.

The next time someone asks you to  do something different from your normal gig, consider giving it a try.  You never know what the opportunity could lead to.  If you're unsure of how you'll handle it, do the necessary research and planning.  You'll end up being a better photographer for it. 

Also, check back in a few days for a piece by piece look at the gear I use for wireless off-camera flash. 

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This is entry #5 in my ongoing series of Photoshop help.  In this episode, I go over the steps used to process my image "Earthbound Stars".  This particular technique will not work with every subject, but I encourage you to try it on some of your own photos.  To catch up on earlier episodes of Photoshop help, click here.

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Weary road travelers park here to close their eyes for a few minutes. It's the typical rest stop with poor restroom facilities, overpriced vending machines, and an oversized map that says "you are here". I never was very good at reading those maps so I took a quick walk around the parking area with my camera. Right before me were intense sunbeams filtering through the trees. It was still early, and the light mixed with the morning mist nicely. The scene would require a tripod, and I questioned if it would even be worth the effort. I mean, could I really make something beautiful at a pit stop? I remembered the quote by Ernst Haas who said "what we see is what we are". I trotted back to the car for my Gitzo.

Before even looking through the viewfinder, I knew this would be a tricky exposure due to the extreme contrast between the shadows and highlights.  My first order of business was to use a small aperture to create a star burst effect with the sun. At f22 this was taken care of. Since the aperture was so small I had to use a slow shutter speed of 1.3 seconds.  My ISO was at 100. This exposure allowed me to show detail in the foliage. Next, I needed to use a 2 stop grad ND filter to balance the bottom portion of the image. I actually let this part of the photo run slightly hot (overexposed) in order to accentuate the sunbeams hitting the ground. This is not something I would ordinarily do, but rules are meant to be broken on occasion.

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The sun was rising over the Machias River and I strolled from our cabin into the dewy grass.  It was our last morning in Maine and I took a deep breath to savor the crisp New England air.  Sunlight streamed through the trees from its low angle in the sky.  I watched as the forest floor was transformed into a glowing field of flora.  The contrast was brilliant and the plants took on the appearance of twinkling stars in the night sky.  I knew this magical light was fleeting so I quickly set up my tripod, and used a wide angle lens to frame this shot.  Camera settings: 17-40mm lens at 40mm, f8, 1/20, ISO 100, Canon 40D.  Upon arriving home, I converted the image to B&W in Photoshop, and selected the Infrared preset filter.  

I also found this fitting quote,  "I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars."  - Og Mandino

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I recently learned about an extraordinary organization called PhotoPhilanthropy.  Their mission is to promote, support, and connect photographers with charitable organizations around the world.  Their website features a convenient tool that lets you search for volunteer photography opportunities in your area.  If you want to use your photography skills to give back to the local community while building your portfolio, this is an excellent way to do it.  If you work with a group that's considered a charitable organization (501c3), you can even submit a photo essay here.  For inspiration, check out last year's entries.  Take a few minutes to navigate their website and see how photography can make a difference one photo at a time. 

Here in New York, myself and a few other staffers at NYIP have been volunteering with "Rehabilitation Through Photography".  We made a short video which really shows the joy photography brings the group.  You can watch it here. 

If you get involved with a program in your area, I'd love to hear about it.  Please share it here, or with the community on Facebook.

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In this new video, I discuss how to use an external flash to illuminate a macro subject, while underexposing the background with the camera settings.  Special thanks to Sue for filming this on a hot and sunny afternon.  As always, your input is appreciated.  If you have any questions or ideas for a future episode, drop us a note.

Thanks for watching!

In recent news, there's talk about banning Hula Hooping on Fremont Street in Vegas.  Seriously, here's the  article. 

People usually fear what they can't understand so I'm guessing the lawmakers are simply not educated as to the finer points of Hooping. Perhaps they should watch the film I made with Ted Fisher, Linda Goldman, and Maya Mumma. 

Here it is: "Hoop Springs Eternal"

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The irony of this scene stopped me in my tracks.  Here's Citibank, about to open a new location in Midtown Manhattan after receiving billions of dollars in bailout money.  Meanwhile, a young man uses a tattered suitcase as a pillow on the hard city streets.  I have a feeling he'll be asked to leave quite soon, as this reality check has the potential to put a major damper on their grand opening festivities.

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This is part 4 in my ongoing series of Photoshop Help screencasts.  In this episode, I show you how to create a vignette in less than 2 minutes.  Try it out on one of your images and see what a big impact it can make.  If you have suggestions for future episodes please tell me about it in the comments or on FB.  Thanks!

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