Using natural light

A couple of posts ago I promised to find some photographers who shot exclusively with natural light. Well, not only did I find a few, but I also found some good tips on how to use natural light effectively for portraits.

I found Marmalade Photography, and they prove you can do a lot with natural light:


I also found Lauri Baker organic imagery, who does some fabulous black and whites.

I found Audrey Woulard, who can do some amazing things with light! Proof:


And then I found Beth Lofgren Photography, where Beth from Tennessee captures very natural-looking (and naturally lit!) scenes... and gracefully! See:

I am encouraged.

I think I can get away with this if I learn to always stay very aware of where the light is coming from, and how much is coming from where. I also wouldn't be opposed to acquiring (or creating home-made) a couple of reflectors to take along every once in a while.

It also seems to be all about placing your subject in the ideal location -- which isn't always possible, especially with candids, but it's something to think about when choosing my own seat at an event, or when wandering around, wondering where to stand. Stand in the place where the light will work for you and for your photos!

I see lots and lots of practice in my future!

Note: No photos in this post are mine; see corresponding links!

Experiment: Desaturation, Part II

So, I have had a dry spell for the past week, but I'm hoping to get out and shoot a bunch this weekend -- our weather is finally getting awesome.

But, I've been browsing forums and websites lately, lusting after the 24LII and drooling over images people have taken with it. So I turned to my 85mm, hands-down the best portrait lens in my [teeny tiny] kit, at the mo to satisfy my desire for delicious, fast prime goodness.

Here's a shot I took of the mister as he was watching Lost on the PC with headphones, too eager to wait til I was ready to join him (we started from the beginning and just finished the first season).

It was at ISO 800 with my 85mm, f/2. In Lightroom, I desaturated it by about -50, upped the contrast a bit, and applied noise reduction and some vignetting:

I'm not sure if it works at all. Desaturation is my love of the moment, so I think I like it, but I'm not sure if it's universally appealing.

Also, as a side note, it looks noisier here on the web than it does in LR. Probably has something to do with the JPEG conversion. I read recently that you should save your files as .tiff after your edit them (and are converting from RAW) because that will introduce the least amount of artifacts? Or it will save as much image quality as possible? Something like that. But from my understanding, you can't post .tiff files on the web -- only .jpg will do for that. So there's no way to avoid JPEGs if I want to continue sharing on this site (which I do!).

Unfortunately, I've been dying to experiment with wide angles and low shots (no idea where I got the idea for that), but I don't have any lenses for that! Daaamn! The lust after full frame and the 24L continues.

Come onnn, Feb. 9

Canon is supposed to make some announcements on February 9 about new DSLRs coming out this year and new lenses/upgrades.

I cannot wait.

First I thought I definitely wanted a 135L. Then I thought I wanted the 16-35L. Then I thought I wanted the 35L. Then yesterday, I was sure that I had decided on the 85 f/1.8. I decided to write this post because tonight, I seem to be wandering back over to the 135L camp.

I have a growing prime lens addiction, and I really want to see what a Canon "L" can do. I think my dilemma might be between quality and useful focal length. I was pretty sure about the 85 1.8 because it seems like the right next prime focal length for my kit; I think the 85 would be a nice prime for street portraits. However, I have read more good things about the 135L image quality than I can remember. And that little "L" is taunting me. I wonder what it can do for me?

My goal in the future might be to have the 35 / 85 / 135 combination. (Putting aside for a moment the fact that I've already "messed" that up with the 50 ;) ha!) Another consideration: If I stay with crop bodies, is that the best trio for me, or would it be better on full frame? If I stay with crop, could I do the 35 / 50 / 85?

Oh my.

Well, here's a shot I took on the street with the trusty 50:































I like this shot. However, it's about a 2/3 crop from the original photo, maybe 3/5. An 85mm focal length would have gotten me closer right out of the camera, right? Should I care that I can't afford the 85L? Should I go ahead and invest in primes that I can afford, figure out what focal lengths are most useful to me, then upgrade them to Ls as I get the money?

I'm too tired from that to even talk about camera bodies. 60D? Fast-forward thirteen days, please.