Photo Journey

Product: box of onions

Sophie has this box of onions in the kitchen. I find it a very attractive box. For a while I've had this image in my mind. I photographed it tonight...

It took me 16 shots to get it right. Ended up lighting it with an SB800 in a softbox (60x80cm) from the left, and a large white reflector from the right. Click on the image to see a larger image.

Event: National Plastics Convention

Wouldn't want you to get the impression from my blog that all I do is buy equipment and play... I do occassionally do some serious work. Like today. I drove all the way to Steenwijk to photograph the National Plastics Convention for Media Business Press.

I have done a number of projects for them over the years. My pictures get published in their magazines and on their website. But today was probably the hardest project ever. The room, a nice and very comfortable theatre, was so dark! And the stage was high and empty. To take good shots of the speakers you had to go on stage - or photograph them from below (never a good idea). Light also came at a premium. Found myself resorting to high ISO's (like 3200) quite a bit! Makes me wish I had the D700... Still, I managed to shoot some 300 pictures that were well-exposed and well-framed.

The event gave me the fun opportunity to play with two new gadgets.
- I bought the LumiQuest Pro-Max system - which comes with three inserts and a softbox cover. I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not sure this always is better than an Omnibounce - but in some cases I could clearly see all the light falling forward (the Omnibounce pushes it everywhere).
- I rented the new Nikon 12-24mm/f2.8 for the wide angle shots. Wow - is that a great lens or what! Sharp through and through - and so little distortion. I gotta get that lens! The price ticket on it is 1400 euro's. Agonizing choice - when do I get it?

Here is a bit of an overview... Click on the image for a large sample.

Above: Congres organizers Suzanne en Marleen enjoying a fun moment

Trendwatcher Adjiedj Bakas presented 5 trends he sees for the Plastics Industry. As a photographer I always try to listen and learn, even though often it is clear I am not familiar with the industry. But this talk had me on the edge of my seat! Fantastic presentation also!

Day presenter Helga van Praag (RTL weather women). Sometimes these celebrities treat you like crap, but she was very nice and responsive. I understand of course that celebrities have no reason to trust photographers in this day and age - but I endeavor to respect them and show them from their best side.

Kunststof editor-in-chief and friend Wim Danhof

Product: working with a light table

Here are some shots I took with a light table today. A light table is a simple white table that you use to photograph products on. You can light from above - but also from underneath, pushing the shadows away.

As usual, click on the image for a larger view. The first image shows my set up. As you can tell, mucho professional :-)...

And here are some images I made with this set up today.

Event: Dance Party

Some images from a party I photographed tonite.

HDR: sun in trees

Shot a series of images of the sun coming through the trees when I was in the Black Forest (Germany) near Freudenstadt. Combined them into an HDR image. It's my best attempt yet. Click for larger image.

Dutch Heaven Meet & Greet

Attended the Dutch Heaven Meet & Greet meeting today. Was lots of fun. Dutch Heaven is a web-based community of pretty women (models) and the men who want to photograph them. Actually, that's not fair: there are also women-photographers. And stylists and make up artists.

I wasn't sure what to expect. I haven't had many good experiences on Dutch Heaven yet. But this event was fun and I made good connections.

The point of the day wasn't really to shoot, rather to make connections. But I did get the following shots from some lovely ladies who were willing to pose.