Yes, life does go on in Japan.
The quake was scary, the tsunami more so, nuclear fears have people freaked out but down here in Miyazaki life goes on as normal... basically.

So I did a shoot today. Not my greatest work but hey I got to use a studio space for free and had a free if not totally willing model to boot.

So the Bossman over at Miyazaki Camera has said he would lend me the store’s space to shoot in,
the other day I though I better take him up on the offer.
I wanted to try to reproduce a look that I am seeing with make up adds around now using octoboxes without baffles instead of beauty dishes.
I took about 175 shots of which I like about 3 but I will post a few more



First shot where she started to relax a little, I have the 180cm octobox over my right shoulder(and about 250cm up) and a strip box to her right. Profoto d1 500 air with the hotshoe remote. Not the greatest shot but working it a little



I liked that I was getting an innocent look,



She is at work and in her work clothes which might have been stifling I think.

Then I switched it up to a white background, which had footprints all over it, my reply was to go high key


I wanted all full body shot, this only is 3/4 but I was still playing with light levels




Oddish crop and pose but I liked the expression she gave me here



not really a b&w but I like the different look



I got her to open her collar and loose the ribbon, that was after an older man told her to drop everything. Love those countryside “geegees” This is a Raul effect with the high key and the white vignette, this also looks like I payed with it in PP as well




This looks totally PP’ed, maybe not over the top though. Remember I was trying to recreate a makeup ad look.



Straight out of the camera shot





Another one out of camera, cute but not remarkable




Now she actually liked this and found in interesting. Closer to that makeup ad look




This crop I suppose is closest to what I was working on, I have a lot more to learn with the editing (thanks Master Editor Raul for some tips and hints) The catch light in the eyes matches the ones in the magazine and poster ads so I am overall happy.

Actually out and shooting today at lunch.

Still playing with fake IR

Still with the red filter this is at f/10 and 1/60 ISO 200 @112mm
Still is not getting much woods effect but the overall B&W is pretty good



Seagull, I frightened it to fly, huge wash out in the details.



My wife playing around, she has that “ghost” look but that is about it



This looks a little better in terms of the woods effect, but it just seems to make the trees appear snowy



Last chance for glory here. The palm should be reflecting the most I think. So anyway it is a nice b&w if you like that sort of look but little in terms of approaching a good IR.
I will have to get the sensor replaced. After the new D700 comes out or a better D3

Fish anyone????
A challenge of Nikon versus Canon at f/2.8






The local tuna/ fish auction.

Good chance to shoot and a great chance to test out the new nikkor 24- 70mm f/2.8 clear enough lens I think. Later I switched to the 80 - 20mm f/2.8 and Raul pulled out something that resembles an actual canon!

Again this is a trip with Raul so it was a canon versus nikon event.



Yes no on camera flash or even speed light on a sync cord thus blown out fish, very bad man








Yes, those are hammer head sharks in a basket don’t ask what they are for...



My best stop motion of the day but still lacks something I think




Feeding time, these birds hang out until lunch is served



The Master at work





My new desktop image

There is the distinct ghostly look about him but it is not great and the sky is dead. Not exactly the best look.

However straight out of camera is this:

Again the red is cool but seriously odd. Thus technically a desaturation of only the red channels should be enough



Sadly no as there are the orange and magenta wavelengths as well



So here it is with the orange, magenta and red “off” and the blue and green “maxed” this should be as close technically as I can go to IR, not great as the subject is not overly IR reflective.



Not true IR but it does make for a nice B&W

I like the movement implied by the sheet



Now that I see it here there is again there are still chromatic issues, but still it works







I like the make up, also the twist of the sheet





This is just cool I think, I would have worked it differently though



Might be too much for some but I liked the over all effect...






My favourite of what she sent over










Not a fan of this crop but I have not though of a better one.





Tried blue but to me it seemed that warm worked better