Model Photo Shoot

Recently, I'm so eager to shoot portrait. I dont know why, but what is on my mind is shooting portrait has big challenge especially for lighting (duh, is that what all photography all about?), gestures, and what need to be focus are other point to be considered. Post production is another thing to consider seriously, which I still learning them (using Photoshop and Lightroom).

Anyway, enjoy the pictures on above. More tk...

Tele View #1

Tele View #1
Originally uploaded by Rudy Suyanto

After almost 3 months, at last I have time to post pro this picture. Shoot this picture on Tele, under strong sunset which almost blinding me.
Go there for 3 days and 2 nights, and successfully taking a small bunch amount of quality pictures. I cant complain more on this, but the weather is not on our side at that time. 3 days, and only 1 days we get a nice weather. The rest? Rainy all the day. No luck!

All by myself

Well, after I have tripod, I try to self shooting myself by my own (only 1 person). And you know, what did I conclude? So damn hard to AF. Period. Before I have tripod, I thought I would have more time and freedom to photograph myself and what I meant by myself is my own self, one person only. But hell, that's hard. Any suggestion to make my life easier to tackle this problem? In my thought right now is to invest in wireless trigger Yong Nuo RF-602 which can be wireless flash trigger also (it will be like killing two birds with one stone :) ).

Anyway, if everything is going smoothly, I will have photo session shot with my GF. Hopefully it will be overcast (slightly)... 

More tk...

Confuse and hurrah

The title is so provoking. O yeah, I know, I know and I need to clear it out that the title is two subjects and not connected to each other. OK, let's move on. I'm on confuse state now. I really don't know what can I do now and where to move and to which path. It's more on the passion rather than gear. Although the gear is kind of enough right now (2 zooms, and 1 prime lens), but the vision, the craft, the passion within were not enough to move on. I don't know why, I don't know how, and also I don't know what -- the worst question in my mind and in myself right now. I'm confuse, but I believe I will get back up. It only this time, I'm flat (like a flat tire), exhausted, no passion to move on, nothing, null etc etc.

However, I believe this will gonna end soon, I just feel this is my break, a short break for me, myself. Once all the things is done and passed, I sure to move on. Everybody should do that too, I believe. OK, now the hurrah, I already have tripod right now. Yay! After two years of thinking and undecided matter!!! Yes, I'm stupid... thank you for reminding me. More tk...

Post pro can be the most cumbersome ever work in this planet, if...

Well, having couple photoshots few weeks ago, resulting around 7-8 gigs of RAW images in the my HDD. I'm excited but also frustrated with this condition. First, happy due to my collection of model photoshots increased (yeah!), but on the other hands, I have to post pro selected photos which is kind of hard to chew. My PC (which now I called him "An Old Dog") with only a lame specs, 2.4 single core processor, with 1.5 gigs of RAM. Running Adobe Lightroom 3.0, it really craw and exhausted like an old dog. Even post pro one picture can wasting around half and hour or even more. :(

Currently considering to update my PC to multicore processors (preferably 4 cores, and 2-4 gigs of RAM), but not cost a little money (for my pocket). I have to replace almost all of my peripherals cause it is an old dog (er.. old ones, i mean ancient). Tripod will be my 2nd list to buy. This is the oldest item I want to buy, before I want to buy my 70-200 f/4 lens, which never happened and keep on my list for a long time. However, this time, PC and tripod will be my first priority above other else. Wish me, reader. Wish me can have side income to make those items in the list become reality... x(-_-)x

Recent B/W photos

It's been a while that I didnt upload any photo. Actually, I kind of shoot a numbers of photos, but not posted here. I post them to flickr. ;)

So enjoy it (click for enlarge version on flickr) :)

All of this shoots are being taken around my house, except "the stair". Hope you enjoy it as i am when taking it. More tk...

B/W images

Black & White photos are the oldest kind of photography. Some person didn't like it at all, because they said world are full of colors, why bother to take gray shades? Well, in one perspective, they are right. On the other hand, they may not see the real challenges of taking B&W photos.

From what I learn and understand, B&W need someone to see the quality of light to ensure the photo taken will be perfect. Yes, seeing the right moment and light quality is not easy, but if someone see a lot of quality images (with perfect lighting) will surely know which and what light will give the best quality in their photos.

I always have special interest in B&W landscape photography. Maybe it's because the first time I sucked into this hobbies is from Ansel Adam website -- master of B&W fine art landscaper. His true understanding of lighting and perfect understanding of composition, produced many outstanding images while he still alive.

These are my B&W images while I having photo hunting 3 days and 2 nights at Danau Toba. I never meant this is the best example of B&W, only the images what I learn about B&W.

Checklist before going to shot photo

Sometimes, I just forget everything (maybe lazy, or maybe too excited to shoot photo) before I taking any shots. And after shooting half way, I just realize that I select different WB or Picture Style or profile etc.
Below are steps that (I) need to check before going to shot:
1. Is the camera ON?
2. Is the focus on manual or auto? This is what I do most, having set to manual and just realize that the focus isnt working.
3. Check the Picture Style or profile, and check if I modify the setting. It's the best idea to have non calibrated Picture Style before shot, especially shooting outdoor. Although you think it's easy to correct WB if you shoot RAW, but make it a habit will make your life easier in long run.
4. Check the metering, what metering did you use? I use Matrix/Evaluative all the time, but in some case, I change to Spot. Make it a habit to set it to Evaluative.
5. Check is your memory card inside? It's better to now allowing taking any shots if no memory card exist (I believe you can seek the configuration in every DSLR camera). Better to take preventive rather than you cry and realize that what you already done are not recorded at all and just wasting your time.
6. Check your metering compensation, is it 0 or you already shifted it to other than 0. This should be the best practice before taking any shots, IMO.
7. Checking batteries to ensure you are not having half powered battery in the middle of a venue and run dry before the venue end. Shame on you!

I will add more if I can think of others. I'm exhausted right now. More tk...

Quick tip for removing color cast using Photoshop

Actually, it is not just Photoshop, any graphic manipulating enabled software can do this, as long as it can use Level adjustment.

Steps are:
1. Open up your picture/photo.
2. Add Level adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels...)
3. Change the upper Channel to Red and drag/pinch the most left(shadow) and right(highlight) arrow sliders so they are placed where the information begins in the histogram view of the dialog.
4. Do it for the rest of the channel Green and Blue. Voila, your picture will be color corrected.


Originally appear on Layers magazine online.

Burning Passion

Originally uploaded by Rudy Suyanto
I really like to shot model these days. I dont know if that is related to the fact that I just bought a speedlight. Past times, model are not my passion at all, nah, I kind of not enjoying to shot them. However, it's different nowadays. Most of my shots are model + landscape environmental portrait, style that I idolize from Joe McNally. I love his style, though not many persons are enjoying this style.

Holiday on Lake Toba

Whoa... just returned from my holiday on Danau Toba (Lake Toba). It's so beautiful. And they right to say that 'Indonesia is dangerously beautiful'. :D

Anyway, I shot couple pictures, not much, enjoy.

Shot several strobist shots, and a small amount of landscape. The first one is shot in the pier, while waiting for the ferry to come.

Next assignment

I have two shots in my mind. One is still life, and the other is glass shot. Now I dont have the tools yet, and still thinking about how to light them with just one light. Is it possible? Gotta try that. And, oh, maybe I can include them into exhibition later?

Having sore throat recently. Maybe just a little overexcited talking to my buddies and besides having snacks also. Hehe...

More on later...

Green-Green-Green

Green-Green-Green
Originally uploaded by Rudy Suyanto

Ahh, just read strobist 102 and it mentioned about shooting a pic with only 1 flash. David also mention about using glass as the background fill light (which he call as light bending -- er, sort of avatar the legend of aang).

Holy Man (Are you sure) -- reupload

Holy Man (Are you sure) -- reupload
Originally uploaded by Rudy Suyanto

Shoot on Cemara Asri, Medan, Indonesia.

This is the first time I use strobist style in my entire shoot. I bought new 580exII, and just bought a new china wireless non ttl trigger before this photoshoot session. Gels and velcro one-wrap are just arrive yesterday. All are still totally new, never shot using strobist style at all. Only couple on camera flash. Lack of lighting knowledge or whatsoever. Read strobist 101 and some 102 early chapters.

Lightwork #00

This is my first blog entry about my strobist adventure. Lightwork title may seem vague, but I just want to call it that way, because strobist involving many lighting work, experiment and learning to look behavior of light.

I'm no expert. I just learning around 1 week. Hopefully I will continue this blog as I'm learning through the way become a better strobist.

Currently just have 1 speedlite. I use canon -- everyone talk canon lighting system is worse than nikon CLS, that's what I read from other blog -- but I dont have the riches and gold like others, so I just bear with my Canon system. Already having gels, and china wireless trigger, but no TTL capability. Yes, I shoot manual, maybe I jump too fast. But, now I kind of comfort being all manual. I use manual also for my camera (if I dont need for quick shot. Another favorite mode is AV/Aperture priority).

Feel free to discuss something. Hope you and I can learn a lot. More tk.