I plotted out my path (I live at A and work at B). According to this it’s a 19.6 mile round-trip.

The weather is really nice for it, but more than that, I enjoyed being in the neighborhoods and on the streets that I usually just drive through.

I encourage everyone reading this to try it.

Let me know if you need my address.

I’ve written this as part of my just-for-photographer series where I go into the details behind making the pictures. Just so’s ya know.

For the last few months I’ve been frustrated with my portraiture. Not because I’m an artiste. It’s not that–I checked.

It’s because I got bored. what’s new.

So, I’ve begun building-in short, deliberate, and sometimes random-for-the-sake-of-it directional changes to my philosophy of portraiture.

To illustrate, I’ll use some of the pictures I did with Kristin this past weekend.

In the first picture, I wanted a natural feel. I walked around a bit in my front yard until I found a nice background (that my extension cord could reach).  After I did I began exposing for the background; however, this would have put her face in the shadows, so I used one strobe on camera right to put the focus back on her. As a side note, the dynamic range of cameras is much more limited than our eyes, so often extra things need to be added to make it appears “normal.” The Sun was high but mainly being blocked by the oak tree. After I got a nice, long depth of field I began playing with the strobe power to get an even balance between ambient and strobed light, but all the while I was trying to keep it from looking “lit.”

I used a 70-200 zoom because the higher focal lengths compress the lines of the image to create a more pleasing feel. My aperture was f/8. This helped me show enough background without making it sharp and distracting but also allowed me to keep Kristin sharply in focus from front to back.

The off-camera light was an Alien Bee AB800 at a power just above 1/32. I was happy to shoot at this low of a power because it gave me an almost non-existent recycle time meaning I didn’t have to wait for the flash to catch up between pictures.

These next shots were all made at the same location (but different from the first). I used natural light only, which was largely diffused by the large white walls bouncing indirect sunlight.

This image was my all-time favorite of the day. In spite of all that stuff up there about planning and having a vision in my mind, I happened to catch her in an in between moment. And of course, it came out so great.

These last two images are really more of outtakes than anything else. I saw this huge hole in the road (it was probably six feet deep in the center, but it was also muddy), and my first thought was whatifyou…?? but she quickly shot me a look of no. So, I hopped in instead. Taking pictures either in or of a big hole. It had to be worth something.

Then we found these guys walking by. They were going to a party. There names were Josh and Michael. Or Brian and Tim. Or something.

ta-daaah.

But now I’m back.

I recently went with my friend Que in search of, uhmmm, uh–it’s a secret.  Just know we went ‘in search.’  And it was fun.  There’s gonna be a part two to this in the somewhat near future.

Here are a few from it.

We also found the India House hostile off Canal Street.  I had no idea it was there.  We went in and had a quick look around.

And look, they’re Finnish.

This shoot took place up and down Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.  Toward the end of the night we migrated toward the Magazine area.

“That’s absolutely rid–no…that’s, no.  Just, no.  …what were you thinking.” I don’t remember what was happening here, but I think it went like her saying these words.
Really, this is one of my favorites from the whole shoot.  Not an out-take at all.  But it was kind of getting lost in the first post, and it was too good for that.This was us using the natural slither of strong, directional light from the Sun.  It was about a head too short.  If you go back to Tuesday’s post, you can see the headshot that corresponds to this awkward hold it-hold! it pose.Isaac was a street preacher setting up in the neutral ground.  He let us pose with his podium.“Pop” actually ‘found’ us.  We had just finished using a location and were moving on when he chased after us.  Take a picture with me? I instantly agreed, looked back and realized I probably should have asked McKenzie first.  Oops.  But she was totally cool with it, as always.

By the way, Pop left us with strict instructions to post this on Facebook.  Look for it.

Got a fav? Lemme know, I’m stuck. Good.

we had lots

of fun.

lots.

all that

tomorrow.

In a few months there’s gonna be a wedding. it’s gonna be on the beach. an awesome beach. I’ll keep you posted!

Second.  Sam and I went to scout a new location.  And we played around with some flash in the dark.

This episode takes place in an abandoned theatre, and we did all those things you always wanted to do when you were 16, like sneak into the projection room, climb over the concession counter, and knock down ceiling tiles with a big round thing.  Okay, the big round thing was just because it was there.

Normally, other than the obligatory smashing of glass things, we don’t change or take anything.  But this time we couldn’t help it. We acquired a few souvenir movie rolls of film.

In a word, this weekend was, in typical Urban Exploring fashion…

SMASHING!

We flew over the city. Keith showed me what it felt like to stall. I secretly wanted to scream out: “DO IT AGAIN!” But I kept all that to a minimum. Then Keith let me fly, and we both agreed that was way better than taking pictures. Not even kidding.

We’re gonna do this again. So, if you want to get in on this, let me know. But I think there’s probably going to be a 4-person max.

Technical aspects of shooting from a plane: 1) The propellor shot was at 1/8000, as high as I could go. 2) I taped my camera into my hand but not the lens. Next time I will tape the lens.

Yes, it’s necessary. Trust me.

P.S. The second-to-last picture is of my house.  I live in the first one on the right as you drive into the turning circle.