LightStamp

Following Those Magic Paths

2008-12-17T12:04:00.000-08:00

It's amazing the way things work. December 1st we shot the Bluebird first Monday as always and the amount of talent we saw was humbling. For me, sitting there and shooting (doing what I love) artists performing (doing what they love) is a super treat!!

That Monday we met Andrea and Cindy for the first time after they performed and suggested they come into the studio for a shoot which they agreed to. They were such a hoot to work with in the studio! Born models by any standard.

The end result is we got to meet them and their producer. We both have wonderful additional pictures for our portfolios. We went to see them again and took more photos at 3rd and Lindsley and got to meet many of the fine Canadian friends and one amazing young lady rocker from France.

Who knows where this road will lead but the last couple of weeks have been amazing and quite unexpected. We've gotten to shoot some amazing artists and make some amazing friends that had we not been photographers, we probably never would've met.

I love this work! ;-)

Vision and Web Sites

2008-11-18T12:57:00.001-08:00

I've recently been examing just what my vision is. All my friends and fellow photogs agree my work has a certain look but figuring out what that look is in any quantitative repeatable way is tough! After looking over the thousands of shots and selecting the ones I really like, there does appear to be a common pattern.
My shots tend to frame the subject, whether that subject is a person, an animal, an object or nature, as if it was a fine portrait. Attention to light, contrast, bokeh, and the general portrait effect is evident in much of my work. I tend to be on the underexposed side of things. Low light in many of my shots. Almost a Rembrandt or Vermeer type of exposure appeals to me.
This has led Karan and I to redefine the various sites and their purposes. I am using the Harry Simpson Photography site to showcase my vision. Karan will use her Karan Simpson Photography site to showcase her vision which includes lighter, children portraiture. We will maintain the Mimosa Arts site as a starting place for both of our visions. A place where clients may come to check proofs from shoots, buy prints etc. More of an umbrella for our individual efforts.
We've got great equipment, a great studio, and lot's of want to make this work. Thanks for all your support.

-Harry

Wedding Report Two

2008-07-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

Karan and I took the Alien Bees ab800 with Octogon softbox this time for the set up shots in the sanctuary.
I used my new 85mm f/1.8 to hopefully get a few more shots in the low light that are really hard to get as folks are moving up and down the aisle. I've still got to really look back and see whether this worked well.
The trusty 70-200 f/4L IS worked like a charm once again.
Karan pretty much ignored the no flash rule before the actual ceremony.
The reception went well using the 85mm f/1.8 and bouncing the flash ala Neil Van Niekerk and his excellent Planet Neil site. Used the c folded black art foam to act as a sheild for the flash bounce.

Captivated By The Light Seminar

2008-05-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

Attended Ed Pierce's Captivated By The Light Seminar last night at the Embassy Suites Airport Motel in Nashville. I'd paid all of $20 after the Wescott code discount and it was time well spent.
The 6:30-7:30PM "Trade Show" was a little hokey with tables set up outside the conference room with stuff on them. It was so crowded in that small hallway I went on into the conference room to try to get a decent seat.
Ed had mostly always on lights in front illuminating a bust. He used these lights to demo his "targets" for setting exposure and white balance which worked extremely well. He showed the method of reading the three "tones" in the histogram to calc correct exposure. At the break I bought the 14" target and will test it out in the next few weeks and report back on it's effectiveness.

Always on Lighting
He really was promoting the relatively affordable Fernell tungston or theatre lighting. Google search for "Theatre lighting".
Also talked fondly of the TD5 Spider Lights and the Daylight balanced flourescents.

PhotoVision
Offered all attendees a $35 yearly subscription to PhotoVision which produces photo DVDs (6 a year) and sends these DVDs out to PhotoVision members.

Scrims and reflectors
He uses unbleached muslim reflectors instead of the bright white ones saying he gets the softer light that way.
Also recommends the flat black panel to hold over the subject outside to block out vertical light which is always going to be very harsh. He also uses anything else such as awnings and trees etc to block direct overhead light.

Lightroom fan
Ed is a huge Lightroom fan saying that it really can help with workflow.

Now I lay Me Down to Sleep
Showed a very moving video of a worthwhile cause in which photographers volunteer to donate their services to the families of terminally ill patients usually children. The photographer is called to a loca hospital to photograph the last moments and sometimes even the moments after a life passing.
All in all it was a great seminar and Ed was very good at holding my attention which is no easy task.

Wedding Report

2008-04-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

Well here it is Monday and we survived yet another wedding shoot!!
Here's a recap:
The wedding shoot went fairly well.
Freakout
Karan's rental lens decided to start working 5 minutes before leaving for the church. It had failed to autofocus right before rehearsal!
Bride Prep Shots
Karan got to the church around 12 noon to shoot the bride prep photos.
Posed Shots
I rolled in around 3 with a late lunch for Karan and helped set up the lightstand in the sanctuary for the group shots pre ceremony. Used an 8 ft lightstand with a SB800 shooting through an umbrella from camera left side of subjects. I was on the right with a SB600 shooting through a white reflector handheld high. Karan basically dialed in the correct light and then it was a matter of posing the folks. This is where a detailed shoot list is big!
Pre Ceremony Candids
Took candids of guests and the sanctuary before the service.
The Service
Then during the service used the 70-200 f/4L IS for the closeup of the vows shots. Used a 24-105 f/4L IS for the wider shots of the all the bridal party - bridesmaids and groomsmen. Set the ISO at 800 and pretty much was able to shoot most shots around 1/60 sec which with IS is pretty acceptable.
The shots of the bride and groom leaving (walking up a dark aisle) were totally not usable. Probably should've shoot with either the 50mm f/1.8 or the manual focus 50mm f/1.4. Ideally a flash would've been the preferred method with the 24-105 f/4L IS but flash wasn't allowed. Next time - test the faster lenses to make sure I can get the shot. Shot many of the shots on Manual to get just a little more shutter speed than AE thinks it needs.
Reception
Lighted gym converted to massive recption - lighting actually pretty good but did use flash bounced off walls and even the high white gym ceiling. Helped a little since I basically kept my ISO up at 800.
Outdoor couple leaving
I set the camera to AI Servo focus to catch the fast movement as the couple dodged birdseed. It was late afternoon and the probably could've benefited from an even faster shutter speed via higher ISO or even used the 50mm f/1.8 to get faster shutter speeds. The camera was set to Fast shutter to get the 6.5/sec frame rate. Also used this for the dancing shots.
All in all
Karan shot about 1000 frames and I shot around 450 frames. I've finished processing most of mine and will place them in a shared folder on our network for her to add to her pro site gallery for this event. From here guests can enter a password and look at and purchase any variety of prints directly from the site. Karan will probably be processing for another couple of weeks and then will compile a coffee table book of about 150 photos for the couple.
Weddings are tiring....;-)

Wedding Photography Lighting

2008-04-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

It's been months since Karan and I have shot a wedding. I make my money writing software for the most part. This past week I've really obsessed over lighting. I remember the last wedding I felt like I could get by without flash and then needed it and wasn't at all happy with the results.
So I've considered off cam strobes on lightstands, Fong Lightshpere, Better Bounce Card, just bouncing off and available surface and rasing the ISO so it'd be sensitive to whatever light output I might have. I've tested and shot all week long but nothing will prepare me like the actual venue.
Welp this afternoon is the rehearsal and I should be able to report back with some answers in my next post. Stay tuned.....

Aperture Chart

2008-04-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

When thinking about the amount of light a lens can let in, this chart has been really helpful to me.

Welcome

2008-04-11T14:09:00.000-07:00

I've had several blogs over the years before this one. With my evolution in the field of photography, I decided to start again with the blogging just to somehow document my journey. My memory totally sucks - think it had to do with my college daze...

Here we go then.

Harry