I've been starting to do this lately. Finally had to blow off the dust on my Adobe Photoshop skills to do the website anyway, I thought I'd get off my lazy bum and do more of these "sequence" photos in my collection.
I've always wondered about these type of photos. You know, the ones that has a few or at least 2 photos in one, telling a story? I've always wondered how they are done. I think the hard answer more often than not is that it is most likely photoshop-ed... Something that takes longer than an average 3-5mins on post processing a photo. That is why I try to avoid it :P
Another point to note as well is that this is an effect that can be achieved only in the digital age. Although one can argue that we can use mutli-exposures on file to get a story... but I think the feel of the photo is different then.
Yet another thing that has been "floating" in my mind is twittering... Or is it Tweeting? Should I add that to my "things to do" for brokenvasephotos? Will anyone really "follow" my tweets? What should I tweet about? What I had for breakfast... :P Just kidding. I think my lazy bone in me says I won't keep that one up to date. Facebook's wall is good enough micro-blogging for me.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Sequence shots
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Lots of gear coming from eBay!!
I think it's no secret for people who know us as a family, we buy almost everything on eBay. I just ordered a whole bunch of stuff for my first "official" shoot on the 5th of March. Thanks Peter and Janice for signing up!
Right, gear check from eBay:
- Light stand
- Flash gun mount with umbrella
- Softbox attachment
- 4 bulb adapter
- Lighting stand bag
- Studio background stands
- 2 muslin background cloths
- Business cards! (yes! from eBay...)
Note: a little about this featured photo. I took this of Kat posing after our photo shoot with Desmond and Estella. She was supposed to be my assistant (eating chips!). Taken with the Pentax K1000 on ISO400 35mm film. Still love my dad's old camera!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Photo got featured
http://www.akemiphotography.com.au/2011/01/13/announcement-akemi-photography-session-fees-donated-to-flood-relief/
Other encouragements were that we have now 26 "likings" in facebook! This means that I can have my own personalised facebook link instead of the ugly long one. The new one is facebook.com/brokenvasephotos. Who would've known that you need 25 "likes" to get a chance to choose a personalised link?
The website received a really good response and I think I'll fill up my 7 free sessions very soon. This would keep me busy till June I think. It's all FREE though -.-" but that's part of learning. Paying with time to learn the art of the business - well worth it I reckon...
Monday, February 7, 2011
Free Sessions!
Well, now the word is out. I think... I have "officially" launched brokenVase photos. So what does this mean? Well if I do my math right, I am prepared to run at close to zero cost on the first year. That means I'm in "gain experience" mode. That means I am GIVING SESSIONS FOR FREE!!! At least for the first half year. So...
- If 52/2=26months;
- That is 26 weekends / a further 2 = 13 weekend sessions
- Minus some personal weekend time with family... say 5
- Leaves? 7 FREE SESSIONS (Half-day pass) up for grabs!!
I've got roughly 3-4 sessions allocated already (I think) so that leaves a few more slots! Any one interested in taking family portraits, baby portraits or functions? Let me know... All you pay is the cost to print photos, canvases or frames if you want them (we can negotiate getting the DVD source files).
Check out the "Services" section on the site for more details.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Biting the Bullet
Let's see... After about 3 years since getting back into SLR and getting into digital my passion for this hobby has finally pushed through above my other hobbies to turn into a somewhat serious thing. My family has been complaining that I've been spending too much time on the computer the past week after work. Why? I've decided to finally do something about recovering my cost to the expensive camera gear. I've decided through great encouragement by my wife Kat to, as they say... "turn pro"
So, I've...
1. Registered a few more domain names.
2. Setup brokenvasephotos.com
3. Got a smug mug power account
4. Hacked away for the past week at a website design
5. Loaded all my portfolio
6. Designed my branding the business card
:) Now there's only marketing left to do... That's next!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
What makes up a modern day photographer?
I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Especially when "turning pro" is something I have been toying in my mind more so in the last month. I've been inspired by the people around me and following quite a few good photographers on Facebook. Sparks have been flying in my head when it comes to marketing, business plans, web design, branding etc, etc... some things that excite me and caused a few nostalgic veins to tingle.
So what really makes up a modern day photographer? With the advent of modern day technology and the information age. How as this "diluted" the once exclusive trade? Being a consultant during my "office hours", it is often an occupational hazard to try and "analyse" this and to do a proper feasibility assessment on my decision. So the first thing that has been lingering in my head is regarding what makes up this photographer that we know these days? And I am not talking about the truly famous ones. I am talking about the part-time students, the stay-home mums, the wannabe IT geeks. How did they "turned-pro"?
First up let's look at my guesses of key characteristics. By percentages?"
20% Good gear
30% Creative eye to see and set the frame
10% Post production creativity
10% Charisma and knowledge on how the "work" the subject
10% Technical knowledge on gear and light
20% Guts & commitment to chase a dream and stick to it!
Are the ratings right?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Great Brisbane Flood Jan 2011
I couldn't resist on the 12th of Jan 2011 when the Brisbane was about to meet of have already met one of its worse flood in 35 years to get out with my camera to take the event. We were told to stay at home where possible, and not add to the load of the traffic and may accidentally become a victim that need saving. But I wanted/needed to try out my journalistic photography instincts and decided to come out to the safest possible site to take some photos.
Even at a relatively "safe" edge of the flood, you can already see the devastation this flood is causing. Many ask, "seeing this what do you feel?" To me honest, I haven't felt the enormity and emotions of it yet. Maybe because I live quite far from "ground zero" but I am sure it will hit over the next few weeks the gravity of the situation. I will be a dilemma to take photos or not. But I hope that I can capture this historical event, its emotions and heroics as they unfold.