Saturday, February 16, 2008

Natalie allowing her father a photo

Taken with a Nikon D80.

* Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250) [+]
* Aperture: f/1.4 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 200 [+]

Strobist info: SB-800 into 43" Wescott umbrella camera right and above slightly.

This took a bit of coaxing for her not to turn her head and cover her face. See! If only she let me photograph her more I could have results like this. One can tell this was fairly low light looking at her pupils. I got just a bit of light spill over onto the other side of her face and with Adobe Lightroom I lifted the shadows some. Shot at an aperture of f/1.4 created a razor thin range of focus with both eyes only being in focus and everything else fading out.

Natalie's normal reaction to being photographed

Taken shortly after http://www.flickr.com/photos/christensen_carl/2270294062/

Achoo!


Achoo!, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Danielle


Danielle, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Danielle on Brent's Birthday. She had just got up to help us sing and wake up Brent.

Brent and Corduroy


Brent and Corduroy, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

For his birthday, he got a build-a-bear that we named Corduroy.

Good morning and Happy Birthday Brent!

Brent's Birthday Cake


Brent's Birthday Cake, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Here is Brent's Birthday cake for his eighth birthday. German Chocolate cake.

Remembering the past


Remembering the past, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Taken in February of 2006 with my old Sony CD MAVICA. Touched up with today's Adobe Lightroom.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Professional Brent


Professional Brent, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Taken with a Nikon D80.

* Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250) [+]
* Aperture: f/2.8 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 250 [+]

Strobist Info: SB-800 at M 1/2 at camera right into 43" umbrella. SB-600 M behind and above shooting down for hair light. One 4' strip light (2 bulbs - 40 watts each at 5000k) camera left for some small highlight and eye catch light.

Brent had his hair fixed nice before we went to church and looked so nice in his sweater and tie.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Abigail - Sepia


Abigail - Sepia, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Taken with a Nikon D80.

* Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250) [+]
* Aperture: f/2.8 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 200 [+]

Becky's mom, sister, niece and nephew (Debbie, Terri, Abigail and Ethan) visited for the weekend. Sabbath morning before going to church I photographed Abigail with/and our children. She was very cooperative and intrigued with the picture taking process.

Strobist info: At camera right, SB-800 at M 1/2 into 43" Umbrella reflected to throw the swath of light slightly in front of her. Large silver reflective sheet at camera left angled to reflect light onto her right side (our left) for fill. SB-600 at M 1/2 10 feet behind and above aimed at her hair for hair light. Fluorescent 5000k Strip lights (2 bulbs in each. Each 4' long, 40watt.) One camera left, one camera right, to give enough light for camera to focus and provide some faint rim lighting.

Processing: Adobe Lightroom for cropping, sepia conversion and added vignette.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Pine Reaching for Sky


Pine Reaching for Sky, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

In the midst of the summer heat, the blue sky made a nice contrast against the green spruce and grass. Circular polarizer used.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Danielle with brown background


Danielle with brown background, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Similar to the other photo of Brent with an aperture of f/6.3 with a bit greater DOF

Monday, February 4, 2008

Follow me with your eyes


Follow me with your eyes, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Sabbath morning, while getting setup to photograph Becky and I, I had Brent sit in for a shot. I used the infrared remote and had him follow me with his eyes while I moved around.

Friday, February 1, 2008

Gazing at who knows?


Gazing at who knows?, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Captured in a moment when he looked off at the umbrella.

Taken with a Nikon D80.

* Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250) [+]
* Aperture: f/1.4 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 100 [+]

Strobist info: SB-800 on TTL into 43" Wescott umbrella at camera left and above. SB-600 TTL -0.7EV Behind and above Brent hitting hair for hair light. Fluorescent 5000k Strip lights with 2 bulbs in each one / 4' long. One on each side of him for some side light. 2x3' white posterboard for fill camera right.

So I setup my second flash the SB-800 tonight and tried some shots of Brent. While I really liked the detail in some shot at f/8.0 This pose that I shot at f/1.4 I ended up liking the best. A more creamy/dreamy soft focus shot where only his eyes are in good focus.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Summer storms in Minnesota


Summer storms in Minnesota, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

The summer of 2007. Beautiful weather. Rainbow splayed across the sky. Vibrant, warm yellow light bathed across the scenery. I can't wait for summer again.

His promise ...


His promise ..., originally uploaded by carlcmc.

A remembrance from a summer rainshower. Beautiful morning sun with dark rain clouds in the sky. We were blessed even with a double rainbow. It is a bit more evident in other pictures, but you can see a portion of it in the middle of the picture.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Pleasant Smiles


Pleasant Smiles, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Pleasant Smiles

Taken with a Nikon D80.
* Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250) [+]
* Aperture: f/2.8 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 320 [+]
Strobist info: 2 5000k Fluorescent strip lights with 2 bulbs each, 4' long. One on either side of him. SB-600 at 1/2 into umbrella camera right and above.
Brent is as always, a patient model

Brent in profile


Brent in profile, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Brent in profile

Taken with a Nikon D80.
* Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250) [+]
* Aperture: f/2.8 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 400 [+]

Strobist info: 2 5000k Fluorescent strip lights with 2 bulbs each, 4' long. One on either side of him.

I photographed a few with some fill light from my SB-600 into an umbrella to light the side of his face close to us, but I like this effect better.

Boredom


Boredom, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Boredom

Taken with a Nikon D80.
* Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250) [+]
* Aperture: f/2.8 [+]
* Focal Length: 85 mm [+]
* ISO Speed: 400 [+]

Strobist info: 2 5000k 4' strip light with 2 bulbs in each one used at 3 and 9 oclock from camera in line with him. Although, the effect from the one on camera left isn't really visible in this shot like it is in others that I will post.

I haven't uploaded any in awhile. I moved my photography site to our former TV room. Brent was a bit tired after all the photos I was shooting.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Just Another Sunny Day in Minnesota

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/10
Focal Length: 31 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Filter: Circular polarizer

I'm posting this in the middle of winter, remembering back to those beautiful days of spring. This was a beautiful Sabbath afternoon. The grass was green and lush. We had a wonderful blue sky overhead. The air held the beginnings of warmth that spring brings.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

And now, for something completely different


Brent's toybox - Snakes!, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/1.4
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Lighting info: 2 2-bulb 40 watt 5000k 48" strip lights. One camera left for more direct reflection, and one camera right for slight diffuse reflection and lighting of the animals. SB-600 at 1/32 inside the box with CTO 1/2 gel. GOBO to block the light on left from hitting lens.

There was a comment about trying to photograph a child's toy and for a challenge I set this up to see what results I could get.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Winter Sunset chasing over the horizon

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/1.4
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 400

This was handheld (while the other shot http://www.flickr.com/photos/christensen_carl/2167705342/in/photostream/ ) was on the tripod for 30 secs.

The sky was still lit vibrantly even after the sun had went down for Sabbath.

30 seconds of pastel night colors


30 seconds of pastel night colors, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Friday evening, the colors of the sky were beautiful. I'll upload some that I took just as the sun was setting. This one was taken about 2 hours after sunset at 6:30. It was fairly dark out. This is a 30 second exposure. The pastel colors beautiful.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 30 sec (30)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Friday, January 4, 2008

Natalie - Begining of January


Natalie - Begining of January, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 250
Lighting info: SB-600 at 1/4 triggered via CLS into 43" umbrella high above and slightly to the left. 2 2-Bulb 48" 40watt 5000k strip lights. One camera left and slightly behind her and one camera right and slightly behind her. 2x3' white posterboard held in lap for diffuse reflection to lift some shadows.

After I photographed Becky the other day ( here )I tried some slightly different arrangements and settled on this one of her.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Remembrance of Spring


Remembrance of Spring, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture: f/10
Focal Length: 20 mm
ISO Speed: 400

I photographed this one early spring evening. The grass was green and buds had just morphed into small leaves on the trees. Feels good to remember that time and the smell of things now that we are in the midst of sub zero weather with snow on the ground.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Becky - head and shoulders


Becky - head and shoulders, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 320
Strobist: SB-600 at 1/2 power into 43" wescott white satin umbrella. At 10 oclock from her (camera left and behind) up high pointed down for soft hair light. 2 strip lights each containing 2 40 watt 48" 5000k full spectrum fluorescent bulbs at approximately 7 oclock and 5 oclock. 6' foot tall V card made out of white 1 1/2" foam board at camera right and slight back from her.

Shot at 1/60th to keep color temp matched due to 60hz power frequency. With the 85 mm lens this actually I think introduced some lens shake.

Processing: Adobe Lightroom only. Blemish, curves, levels etc.

So, while Becky was at work, I went to Menards and picked up the lights and foam board. After school board meeting tonight, I set up things and photographed her a few times. I love this technique. The catchlights make interesting appearances in the eyes.

Becky - Close crop headshot


Becky - Close crop headshot, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 320
Strobist: SB-600 at 1/2 power into 43" wescott white satin umbrella. At 10 oclock from her (camera left and behind) up high pointed down for soft hair light. 2 strip lights each containing 2 40 watt 48" 5000k full spectrum fluorescent bulbs at approximately 7 oclock and 5 oclock. 6' foot tall V card made out of white 1 1/2" foam board at camera right and slight back from her.

Shot at 1/60th to keep color temp matched due to 60hz power frequency. With the 85 mm lens this actually I think introduced some lens shake.

Processing: Adobe Lightroom only. Blemish, curves, levels etc.

So, while Becky was at work, I went to Menards and picked up the lights and foam board. After school board meeting tonight, I set up things and photographed her a few times. I love this technique. The catchlights make interesting appearances in the eyes.

Monday, December 31, 2007

Christmas Wreath


Christmas Wreath, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I was given this as a gift by one of my patients. Carrie, my sister, requested that I take a picture and post it so she can see. As you can see, my children have already been eating away a portion of the candy! There go the teeth!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

sam and jody


sam and jody, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Sam and his fiance Jody spent the weekend with us with Mom and Dad as well.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Natalie Sabbath Morning


Natalie Sabbath Morning, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

10 minutes before leaving for church, I had Natalie sit down for a few photos. Becky had curled her hair gently, and I thought it looked beautiful. She is growing up.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Strobist info: SB-600 at manual 1/1 triggered via Nikon CLS into white satin 43" umbrella at camera left at 7-8 oclock position (camera at 6). 2x3' white poster board at 3 oclock at 45 degree angle for fill and hair light. Light ratio determined by moving umbrella back until it wasn't overexposed. Goal was bright shining clean face.