HDR Photography

LC Xmas Meeting 2010-1, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

Finally, one of the rarer few photos I am proud of. Took this at a company conference at Port Stephens. I wanted to do a HDR on it. I've stocked up quite a few HDR photos but haven't tried doing one until now. Finally got around getting a software recommended by Ben called Dynamic-Photo HDR 4.7 and it's awesome!

I am a bit worried about the quality when blown up though. My boss wants to blow it up and put it in the office. Hopefully it works. I took the 3 shots freehanded so there may be some blurness when zoomed in.

Anyway, more HDR to come!

Cleaning the 7D sensor...

Taken at Port Stephens, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

... It's like performing open heart surgery!! I got some cheapo swabs from Hong Kong and tried my first had at cleaning the sensor. What a nerve wrecking job. I basically moved the dust around. The liquid on the swab left marks and I had to use something else to clean it. The sensor is still not entirely good yet. I think I'll have to go the digital camera warehouse soon to get the proper sensor cleaning kit with fitting swabs and better liquid to clean it with. Sigh...

BTW, the blower method of cleaning the sensor don't really work if you had stubborn dust... not even the rocket :(

Peter & Melissa's Photo Shoot

Peter & Melissa, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

2 Months back I got an opportunity to help out a friend and photography mentor to be his assistant and second photographer. My first paid gig! I was excited but also nervous at the same time. I don't think I've got the skills yet, but I went and helped anyway. Holding a reflector or diffuser can't be that hard ;)

Anyway, I got back my RAW photos and looked at it on the screen for the first time. 300+ shots of my own and only 1 is "somewhat" ok to keep. I was a little disappointed. Although I have to remind myself that I'm there to learn and that he has taken all the directed and official shots. I was supposed to take interactions. But even those seemed bad :(

I am very keen to see how Chi's photos turned out and what the end product is. Hopefully at least 1 or 2 of mine gets into the delivered stuff...

What did I learn that day? I learnt to use a reflector, a diffuser and off camera flash. I know that these are basics, but at least I get to practice it on that day. Also confirmed that the hardest part of the gig is not technique but the ability to engage with the client and get the right poses that brings out the best in them without it looking too posed or fake. Chi was pretty good at directing.

I guess there is only one way to improve, and that is through practice... Anyone care to be my guinea pig subjects? :P

Taking lots of photos...

Harrison - Kyla - Kaelynn's 1st Birthday-12, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

I've had a holiday back in Singapore and over the past month I have had a great time taking photos. Let's see... I took:

1. Mikaela's 2nd Birthday
2. Desmond's Bachelor party
3. Desmond's pre-wedding outdoor shoot
4. Desmond's wedding
5. Callum's 1st Birthday
6. Chi's job to do a couple's outdoor shoot (First paid gig!!)
7. Harry, Kyla and Kaelynn's 1st Birthday

Wow 7 great photography treats! Hence the photo :P

I learnt heaps and will try to post learnings so I don't forget them soon.

Panasonic Lumix GF1

Desmond and Estella's Party-47, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

Tried out Desmond's micro four thirds camera at his wedding bachelor and hens night party at Singapore Power House - Dragonfly. I initially wanted to bring all my gear to try out concert photography but was convinced not to as it's too bulky :-P

Good thing too. Got to try out a new camera. The series wasn't that bad. ISO suffered a bit. Although the camera can go to 3200, 1600 is the max I would go at it. Also without a flashgun, I felt a little handicapped. I used the built in flash in some occasions.

Portrait Experiments

Portraits-4, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

I just decided one day to experiment with my 'O Ring flash attachment in combination with the f/1.4 50mm prime lens with a fish eye attachment on the front. My idea was to get the "Lie to Me" TV series show's portrait shots effect. You know the ones on the wall of the Lightman Group's office. They had white light and the face was very illuminated.

So... The general idea was (based on memory now):
1. O Ring attachment strapped onto my 430ex Flash gun on the camera
2. Fish eye attachment on the prime lens brings the lens to an approximate 40mm mark
3. f/1.4 becomes unusable with this attachment. I set AV to f/2.0 (f/2.2 is better on controlling the "blurness")
4. EV -1
5. Flash set to +0.5 (... I think... or at 0... this is to compensate for the flash going through mirrors and getting absorbed)

This set up is overall quite effective for close up portraits. Not sure if it'll work as well for half body or full body. I don't think so, unless there was a softbox to boost light. Also depends if done in studio or using natural light through window.

Another brainwave was to use my iPad's studio light settings... I got an app the emulates a softbox :-P Will post if I successfully pull if off with iPad as the side-light source...

Conference Event Photography

ProcessDays 2010-44, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

My biggest nemesis. Taking indoor events are my greatest struggle. I did ProcessDays 2010 this year as a back up photographer and I was somewhat happy with myself. However, the colors were still off and in some cases the lights weren't as good as well.

This shot was my favourite. I borrowed the pro photographer's light box on the left and I used an "assistant" holding a diffused flash on the top right and I fired of the shot remotely. I later used lightroom to make it B&W.

A few lessons learnt during and after the event (thanks Chi!):
1. I like to use AV set to -2 when flash is diffused and bounced off a card at an angle forward. This is for places where ceilings are too high.
2. Chi suggested to bounce off walls. Seemed to be better on the shadows made. Will try next time.
3. Learnt something about the light boxes too. The pro photographer was using a grid looking attachment on the front. Apparently with that it makes a punchier portrait.
4. Multiple colors in the venue does crazy things to the white balance :(
5. Set drive mode to high and always take at least 3 to avoid blinking and funny gestures of the people.

I'll keep trying...