Thursday, February 23, 2012

Kauffman Center

Finally did a photo safari to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts today as it was lovely out.... decided black and white was the way to go. All taken with the Nikon D3 and 14-24mm lens. ASA 200... F22 throughout. Multiple exposures for each shot.



The east side looking west. I'll be heading back when things green up.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Amber


One of my favorite subjects is Amber who is getting ready for the Miss United States Missouri Pageant at the beginning of April. Like all really good models she is able to go from sultry to pixyish in a moment... offering me a variety of looks... lighting and shutter release is almost all I have to do.
The black dress and the blue dress shots were all done with one light in a pan reflector covered with translucent white, rip-stop nylon and a silver reflector below her position bouncing light upward. Background was medium gray paper roll. F-stop varied between F16 and F22 throughout the shoot. Nikon D3 with 105mm lens throughout.


Sometimes called "glamour lighting" this light is fired point-blank at the face at a little less than a 45 degree angle and the reflected light fills in from below.
One of these or the many others we took will be her headshot for the competition and an entry in the Miss Photogenic contest.
Three lights were used in the last set-up. The pan reflector, a light overhead bounced from a silvered umbrella and a direct flash on the background which was changes to white. The above shot I did not use the background light as I wanted a more monochromatic image to highlight her eyes an lips.
Amber was called "Barbie" in high school.... but I think she's more like a porcelain ballerina.... she's also got moxie.... which helps in this endeavor :)

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Just Them

Hyper took a road trip to another part of blogger land to meet up with Donna of "Just Me"http://donna-justme.blogspot.com/ online fame and her husband Cliff. They live just west of Wellington, Missouri on sizable acreage above the Missouri River Valley. It's a beautiful place with critters and nice hospitality. Below, the couple outside on a marvelous day.

For a brief time it was dueling cameras as we both wanted photos for a blog entry or two....

But then we got to talk tractors.... Cliff's second love.
Below, the Oliver 1855 which Cliff completely restored.... it's huge....

Iris kept an eye on me..... as is advisable.

Cliff had a number of tractors.... some in storage for friend and family and some for restoration.... he sold two of them on Craig's List the day after I visited.
Iris' official portrait.
I got an official tour of the property.... lots of rolling hills and stands of trees.



A very rare picture of Hyper with Donna..... Bloggers United For Mutual Topic Acquisition. This picture was taken by Cliff.... as are the ones of Donna on her blog... which is: http://donna-justme.blogspot.com/

The famous tractor picture.... which shows the restored Oliver.....


The super-secret blogger area (above) where "Just Me" is created....
The herd.
Jody the cow....affectionate and big brown eyes....


Tree line in the distance is the Missouri River bank.... when the Mighty Mo floods the waters come right up to the base of this hill.



The garden... a panorama with dog.. of what will be bursting with veggies this summer.... (possibly not ALL of it.... Cliff likes to plow :) )

A great afternoon in good company..... Cliff even gave me some bootlaces when I had a blow-out... I'm for sure going back this summer when all is leafed out.....

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

1st Day of School

August 29th, 1994 The Kid (Kelly) got ready for her first day at St. Regis..... shoes, Mom fixing hair, pose with younger dad with dorky glasses and then off to meet Miss Lupercio and Kelly's fellow students....
Nikon F4, T-Max 400, flash.. used to do all my own processing (cheaper). Scans from 35mm negative.

I think she was Table 3, but don't quote me on that. Kelly is now approaching her 23rd birthday on March 10th....and is a Graduate Student at George Washington University...

Friday, February 3, 2012

Fannie's Barn Knob Noster

A few more shots from 1990 down in Knob Noster.... A very old barn, since burned, that made use of whole trees in its construction.... rather rustic though. Beautiful countryside on a rainy day. All black and white, T-Max 400.. digital tinting in most of the barn pix.