Monday, December 29, 2008

A rose lives in a dream world

From our trip to Florida in the summer of 2008. Taken at the Harry P. Leu Gardens

Sunday, December 28, 2008

A Source of Joy...


A Source of Joy..., originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

I would hazard a guess here that Danielle was happy with this present.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

4x6 christmas card - Family photo

Here is our family photo for our Christmas Card. As you start sending out Christmas Cards, it seems it is easy to wonder 'now wait, did we send them one or not'. If not, it was an oversight! Here it is online.

Taken with a Nikon D80.

* Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200) [+]
* Aperture: f/8 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 250 [+]

Strobist info: SB-900 into 60" reflected umbrella camera right and above. SB-800 in 43" shoot through umbrella camera left and above. SB-600 at 10' and behind shooting down with wide angle diffuser flipped down for hair light.

Spring Fields


Spring Fields, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

After recent days of sub zero weather, the warm up to around 35 degrees in late December makes the temperature feel like this outside.

A Spring Path


A Spring Path, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

In the spring, we went for a Sabbath walk with friends. The perception of a tunnel is always intriguing.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Becky's Apple Pie for Christmas Dinner

Becky baked a couple of apple pies for Christmas. They smelled so good and I was so hungry it was hard to just photograph them and not eat them a day ahead.

Strobist info: SB-900 into 60" reflected umbrella slight camera right and above. SB-800 into 45" reflected umbrella camera left at almost 90 degrees perpendicular to pie. SB-600 through white 43" shoot through umbrella behind and to the right for rim lighting.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Guest Book


Guest Book, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

2008 Wedding of Edward Christensen and Katherine Rueda © Carl M. Christensen

Guest Book


Guest Book, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

2008 Wedding of Edward Christensen and Katherine Rueda © Carl M. Christensen

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Natalie


Natalie, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

Taken with a Nikon D80.

* Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200) [+]
* Aperture: f/4 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 250 [+]

Strobist info: Ambient exposed for dark. SB-900 into 60" reflected white umbrella with backing on at camera right and above. SB-800 in 43" shoot through 90 degrees to her with white posterboard acting as a gobo for the camera. SB-600 at 10' above and behind with wide angle diffuser. White 2'x3' posterboard at waist level for reflected fill to lift shadows under chin.

Sabbath afternoon I wanted to photograph the family. So after a nice meal, we cleared out the livingroom. The 60" umbrella is so big that it is nice to setup in the living room with the high ceilings. This was the final one chosen for Natalie. I photographed some with her glasses on, but while I was able to keep the main lights from causing a reflection, the posterboard underneath kept on coming in. I really wanted it, so I had her take her glasses off. This was the best of maybe 20. I love her very gentle smile. I specifically aimed for no teeth in her smile.

Danielle


Danielle, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

# Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200) [+]
# Aperture: f/4 [+]
# Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
# ISO Speed: 250 [+]

Strobist info: Ambient exposed for dark. SB-900 into 60" reflected white umbrella with backing on at camera right and above. SB-800 in 43" shoot through 90 degrees to her with white posterboard acting as a gobo for the camera. SB-600 at 10' above and behind with wide angle diffuser. White 2'x3' posterboard at waist level for reflected fill to lift shadows under chin.

Sabbath afternoon I wanted to photograph the family. So after a nice meal, we cleared out the livingroom. The 60" umbrella is so big that it is nice to setup in the living room with the high ceilings. This was the final one chosen for Danielle. This was the best of maybe 30. It is still very challenging to get a smile from Danielle that is natural with her eyes open.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

What did you have for breakfast?

This is what I fixed for breakfast about 2 years ago. Apple Butterbraid bread with brown sugar glazed raisons on top. Fruit medley smoothie.

Savor the memories of summer while there is snow on the ground

Christmas Lights Bokeh


Christmas Lights Bokeh, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

A comparison of bokeh. Taken with my Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 AF-D lens. Focal point is very close--essential at minimum focusing distance. Compare with the bokeh obtained from the earlier photo in the series obtained with my Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at:

www.flickr.com/photos/christensen_carl/3095971747/

Christmas Lights Bokeh


Christmas Lights Bokeh, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

Strobist info: Ambient of Christmas lights exposed as seen. SB-900 into 60" white satin umbrella with black backing above me. SB-800 with 1/4 CTO handhelf and behind and below.

A comparison of bokeh. Taken with my Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 AF-D lens. Focal point is moderately close at about 3-4'. Compare with the bokeh obtained from the earlier photo in the series obtained with my Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens at:

www.flickr.com/photos/christensen_carl/3095971747/

Christmas Lights Bokeh


Christmas Lights Bokeh, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

A comparison of bokeh. This shot is taken with my Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens. Taken at 200mm f/5.6. While it is quite possible to produce bokeh with this lens, note the pinched and flattened effect that is particularly noticable in the upper and lower left and upper right corners.

compare to the following which were both taken with my Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 AF-D lens

1) www.flickr.com/photos/christensen_carl/3095975291/

2) www.flickr.com/photos/christensen_carl/3095977651/

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Joel


Joel, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

Becky, the children and I went to Centerville, Ia for the weekend. It was her father's 60th birthday (Keith). We stayed with Tony and Krista. I brought back my gear and setup in their basement. It was my first try of my SB-900 and 60" umbrella. A chair made for a handy prop. I covered the concrete wall with black fabric.

I had the pose, the light and exposure correct. But without Becky behind me to get the smile, the photo wouldn't have been as good!

Taken with a Nikon D80.

* Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200) [+]
* Aperture: f/4 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 100 [+]

Strobist info: Ambient exposed for black. Main light of SB-900 into 60" white umbrella with black backing camera left. SB-800 shoot through white satin 43" umbrella camera right as fill. SB-600 wide angle diffuser setting up high and slightly right and behind for hair light. Pop up flash used in commander mode with M 1/32 contributing a hair bit of on axis fill light. For a total of a 4 light setup.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Venito Jr.


Venito Jr., originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

Posting a photo from August that I shot at Ed and Katherine's wedding

Pedro


Pedro, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

Dad and Mom gave us Pedro to take care of awhile ago since they don't have a place for their dogs after moving. Pedro always looks suitably humble and manages to shiver (for attention I think!) even if it is 80 degrees out. With it being in the low single digits, he is doing even more shivering. I got home before Becky and I was trying to photograph Jupiter in the sky. She called for me to come downstairs. I came down and here is Pedro with a little sweater. All I could say was something like "I can't believe this".

Sigh, at least it was only $3. *sigh* Oh and then I got asked to photograph poor pathetic Pedro. Well, with his fancy dressing now, maybe Jon won't call him 'ucky' anymore! :-)


Taken with a Nikon D80.

* Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200) [+]
* Aperture: f/2 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 100 [+]

Strobist info: Ambient of 2 strip fluorescent banks exposed -3 ev (each bank - 2 bulbs, 40 watt, 4' long , 5k temp). SB-800 into white satin 43" shoot through umbrella camera left and a bit above. SB-600 bare behind right for rim light.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Early Spring Skies


Early Spring Skies, originally uploaded by Carl's Photography.

View On Black