Ashley 2 Ways

Not to knock any of the models I've worked with lately, but Ashley, and the next model coming up, Dilenia, were absolutely extraordinary to work with. Every angle was amazing, they knew exactly how to hit the light, had a real knowledge of how to move and pose, took direction easily, and even though I took fewer photos than usual because almost every shot was good, and you just don't need to shoot a lot when that happens...editing their sets was pretty tough (editing, as in choosing the selects/keepers). It's always nice to work with people when everything lines up without much effort. Not that I mind effort, otherwise I wouldn't do this, but you know what I mean.

This set is in two parts. First part, crazy feather set. Part the second, more everyday, catalog, portrait, GAP ad type stuff. One black and white, done with Silver Efex Pro, which I adore, and one shot, props courtesy of a very necessary lunch run to McDonald's.

Without further ado:

The Neverending Cavalcade of Retouching Photos, Pt 2

This is model Majesta. Concept for this shoot was a demon doll, voodoo doll, primal, mouth staked shut, insane and escaping through the forest, terrified and terrorized, but kinda liking it. Second look, obviously just a nice little portrait.

The Neverending Cavalcade of Retouching Photos, Pt 1

This is actually more from the shoot with Kai, who graces the blog a few posts ago.

Life As I Know It Resumes - Retouching Continues

Next set of retouched images. This is Jaclyn. For a larger view, click the image, for an even larger and considerably better view than that, click this link...please click the link, blogger resizes to max 1600px and it fucks images up: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/violadeity/JacklynCollage.jpg

Just Photos Today - Retouching Consumes My Life

At long last, I finished retouching the photoshoots with Kai and Nateasha...only 4 more models to go from december.

I just happened to throw this collage together today, so, here it is, for your consumption.

I am a Lying Liar, and I Lied (to parody Al Franken)

So...I definitely underestimated my winter break plans. I've been running around like a crazy person, and I'm tired and burnt out. I may or may not update this properly. 

But in the meantime, more placation. From a photoshoot for Makeup Artist Sy Clark - who is amazing in every way - this is model Nateasha.  These two images were her picks from the shoot, all retouched and prettified.  Concept was sort of in the direction of Bret Michaels circa the last time he was relevant...with a bit of pirate.

Merry Christmas - Overwhelmed

I am completely overwhelmed at the moment.

Winter break has been anything but, so far. This week involved 7 photoshoots scheduled in 3 days...thank the lord 2 of them were a bust.  I don't know if that's what "real" photographers do, but I'm a) pretty sure it's not, and b) i'm pretty sure that if it is they have teams of people to deal with it.  December has been my heaviest month of photography, probably ever, if not its a close second to my final month of my photo degree program. I have an entire column of folders on my desktop full of images to sort through, correct, and god forbid retouch. A rough count tells me I've shot about 2500 frames this month...which is essentially my normal amount for about 40% of a given year.  This is good and bad...it means I'm finally taking this more seriously. It also means I have to figure out how to balance taking this more seriously with being a productive member of society without losing my sanity. I'd just gotten used to working full time and waking up at 5am every day too.  I've decided I'm taking a break from non-paying work until toward the end of January.  Between work, my current load of images to worry about, and performances of a crazy piece of music with a friend's string quartet, it's just a bit much.  Not to mention wanting to get back on the diet band wagon in January. But enough personal bullshit.

No photos to share this post, just venting.

There should be a ton of photos forthcoming though, given I still have to update about my last 2 shoots, have done 6 beauty shoots, and a catalog/advertising/product line shoot.

I promise, over winter break, I'll update this thing for real

After the last photoshoot, I went with a photographer friend of mine to shoot boxing at the Silver Nugget, just for shits and giggles. I didn't get anything spectacular, I don't think, but there were a handful of decent shots.  It's WAAAAAY harder than I would have thought. Of course, we were shooting ringside, and not from a platform with a long lens, so perhaps it was the proximity. It moves so fast, and getting the timing takes some work. It sucks when you see the impact in the viewfinder, and know 100% that you therefore do not have the shot. Ah well, it was a learning experience, and it was fun. Next time I'm hoping to do a little better, and really nail a few shots.

Here's my first two edited images from the set:

Continuing on the Theme of "I'm too busy for this shit, here's something to tide you over"...

Having a full time job is continuing to kick my ass.

Having two photoshoots with a delightful makeup artist, while lovely, has compounded this. I'm always tired after a photoshoot anyway, and having one after a long day, and as part of a long day, does not help.

Without further ado, here is something to tide you over until I have the time, patience, and focus to write a proper blog about the Zachary shoot from early November, the Mimi Miller hair shoot,  2 Sy Clark shoots, and my first experience photographing boxing.

excuses, excuses, excuses

Instead of continuing with an update on the last shoot, I have even less conversation and even more action.

As I'm in the middle of changing computers, apple has seen it fit to make the standard firewire ports a different shape in the last 5 years, and my latest shoot was a paying client, we'll see an update to the last post in a another week or two, and shots from the most recent set upcoming this week.  For now, a taster. This is essentially unretouched beyond basic raw conversion and, if I recall correctly, 3 skin blemishes. More to come from this set as well as the last, as fast as I can crank them out.