Mu-43.com - Micro Four Thirds User Group
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Small Things!
This was an interesting project. Very small, highly detailed and meticulously painted miniatures from the Games Workshop range. The images were to be used to promote the painting and build skills, and showing the detail was paramount.
Lighting tiny objects is subject to the same general needs as any other object. We want to show it’s shape, form and texture. Which means carefully using key and accent lighting to develop the image as we see fit. The biggest fly in the ointment is trying to scale down the light sources to match the subject. In this instance, it wasn’t really an issue, as speedlights are quite possibly the ideal size for these models, although the smallest models may have an issue. A bare speedlight will still give a low contrast (soft) light on a small item, due to the perceived size of the source in relation to the model.
To create a harder light, you could do one of two things.
A) Move the speedlight further away. Although this means it’s more difficult to control exactly where the light affects the model, and is likely to just flood the scenario.
B) Mask off the front of the speedlight, creating a small aperture for the light to come through.
I chose to mask as required, which was just card and masking tape.
The above image was lit with three speedlights. The brand isn’t important, as they were just three manual capable speedlights I dug out of a drawer, and would be triggered by a radio setup.
Lets start with the keylight. The speedlight was set to fire at 1/64th through a small reflector with a diffuser panel (*cough* Lumiquest Ultrasoft *cough*). The speedlight was simply placed on one of those little plastic speedlight foot thingies immediate frame left, and with the added height of the reflector, made it pretty much ideal.
Frame right, but much deeper into the scene, I placed a bare speedlight to give texture along the tail and in particular, bring the highest rider out of the shadows. This was firing...27Dec 15, 2017 -
2 weeks in Chicago
I spent the first two weeks of November on a work trip in Chicago. It was cold and rainy most days, and even snowed 1 day, but there were a couple clear days in there. I had a lot of fun running around town via Google maps trying to find stuff to shoot, most of which I had to do in the evening after work.
Anyway, just wanted to share a few pics from the trip. Such a beautiful city.
E-M1ii + 12-40pro (high-res mode)
Pen-F + 25pro (OOC monochrome jpg)8Nov 18, 2017 -
Panasonic and Leica go Motorbicycling. G85, 8-18 and a story of neglect
In the spirit of
@speedy and some content for the Panasonic board, here is a bit of a tale, for better or worse. A word of warning as I begin this thread - there's a fair chance it contains more motorcycling theme than MFT, and almost certainly ends up a pure, waffling, nonsensical ramble. I'm just going to write it , I will not edit it and it will be whatever eventuates, lol. There will, of course, be pictures. Good luck to us all.
"Neglect!"
The call rings loudly in deep sonorous tones, like the fateful portentous tolling of an ancient bell and my head hangs in shame at the word, unable to mount a defence against the accusation levelled both against, and by, my most pitiful self.
Yea, verily, it is a cold, hard Truth. ( A brief aside: Whether or not there is a warm, soft truth, or even indeed how temperature fluctuations and/or random viscosity values effect such Truths, is a mystery best to be tackled another time, perhaps). I have neglected several loved ones. Over many months. I've known it, and so too most likely do they.
Above: G85/8-18mmPL. 8mm @ F/5
You see, its been nearly 11 months since my Trusty Piece of British Iron- more colloquially known round here as "Triumph"- vanished into the dim recesses of my shed, and into the even more dimly illuminated recesses of my mind. Oh sure, I glimpse it occasionally lurking down the back there, a pleading glint in the elliptical eye of its headlights and I turn away hurriedly. Next time, old girl, next time.
And then there's the G85. She's a jealous type if I know anything about the thought processes of camera's - which of course I don't, but really who does? Ever tried to decipher the focus proclivities of an Eos M? Sheesh! Err, anyway, lets just go with the decidedly unpoetic license here. Right, so, if missing out on the trip to Sydney for the PenF wasn't bad enough, salted wounds most surely...11Nov 20, 2017 -
The Streets Of Perth
A few of the 2-3 day work trips I've made to Perth (Western Australia) over the last couple of years...
Mostly taken with the OMD EM1 and PL 15mm, some with the 40-150mm Pro10Dec 7, 2017 -
Asian Bridal Brochure Image
Part of my work includes bridal brochure photography for some of the hotel groups, including the Marriott hotel group. This particular session came about after a discussion with their Events and Conferencing Manager at the Preston Marriott. They had a healthy number of wedding bookings, but there seemed an obvious lack of engagement with the Asian community. A review of their wedding marketing images quickly revealed why. There were no Asian* bridal images displayed anywhere.
It's difficult to engage a target customer if they cannot see an established relationship with similar clients.
When organising a bridal brochure shoot, I visit the venue beforehand, looking for locations that are unique to that particular venue. If a bride likes a particular image within the venue's brochure, and would like something similar in her own album, then she's already started her journey to booking that hotel.
I've often found the hotel tend to focus on areas that have always been popular with wedding photographers, not realising they have locations dotted around their hotel that are hidden gems. Unusual staircases, quiet corners with unusual chairs and a nice standard lamp, or the really ornate columns found in the reception area. They all make wonderful, and unique imagery that can only be found at that particular venue.
In this case, it's a beautiful room that has a lovely large bay window at one end, allowing a nice wash of light through. That end of the room is utilised for the ceremony, and it has a really nice ethereal feel to it. At the other end of the room, the walls are decorated in a nice deep red, with lovely warm lighting and long padded benches along the wall. It gets little natural light, although there is some from a glass doorway through to the bar area. Of course, there's a lot more natural light coming from the half of the room that is utilised for the ceremony, due to the aforementioned bay window.
The above image, although...8Dec 6, 2017 -
Eastern Oregon
We are very fortunate to live in this beautiful state, but I don’t think the eastern part gets enough love. I hope that those of you who haven’t had a chance to visit Oregon gets some enjoyment out of my snaps. I’d like to point out that this is just a very small area of Eastern Oregon. Drive another 50 miles in any direction and you will see something completely different but equally as beautiful.
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