I added the Canon 50mm f/1.4 to my camera bag

A couple of weeks ago I decided that my upcoming forced ‘downtime’ from photography (due to surgery) was a good time to send my main camera/lens combination back to Canon for some needed maintenance. The USB port on the 5D mark II had stopped working and the 24-105 f/4L had been in constant use for 4 years and was feeling its age.

The absence of this gear (while it was at Canon for a few weeks) left me at a loss when it came time to get back to work. This gave me the perfect opportunity to add a 50mm f/1.4 lens to pair with my backup 5D. I picked up the lens from my local Picureline store and spent some time playing around with it in the house. Using the lens I was immediately reminded of how great it felt back in the film days to have a ‘standard’ lens attached to a 35mm SLR. And since my normal day-to-day lens is a bit slow at f/4, it was fun to shoot with glass that was 3 f/stops faster.

Today’s image is one I took of Nicole as she was hanging out watching TV at the house. What is really cool about the shot it that it was taken handheld with the only light in the room coming from the TV. F/1.4 to the rescue!

I will be using this 5D/50mm combination in the studio tomorrow as I (finally) get back to doing to real photography work. I look forward to using the new glass in the future as an alternative to my 24-105.

Canon 5D, Canon 50 f/1.4 lens – 1/6 second, f/1.4, ISO 1600

Laughing Julie

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/125 second, f/5.6, ISO 100


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I’m back in the saddle again…

After taking nearly a week off of work for a needed surgery (Yuk!), I’m back at it. Thankfully I will be able to spend the next few days taking it relatively easy by editing images. I purposely waited to do the processing of the photos from the Movie Theater Audience photo shoot earlier in the month knowing that I would have some “less than 100%” time this week to spend sitting and editing.

This past week has once again emphasized to me how blessed I am to have a job that offers me the freedom to do what I do. I was able to take the time off of work while still receiving income from my photo sales. God truly smiled on me when he led me into this career nearly five years ago.

Now if I can only get the post-surgery pain far enough behind me to get back to being behind the camera creating images.

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/125 second, f/5, ISO 100


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3rd Annual “Studio Lighting Photowalk” Behind-the-Scenes Video

Jeremy Hall has put together a great behind-the-scenes video from last week’s Photowalking Utah Studio Lighting Event. This was the third year that we were able to host this event and I am pleased to say that each year it has gotten bigger & better. Thanks again to everyone who helped make the event a success!


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Print Gallery at Photocamp Utah

Note from Rich: While I’m on the mend from surgery, Nicole Young will be cross posting her blogs from NicolesyBlog.com here. With the meds I’m on, we probably don’t want to see what I would post anyway 🙂

Photocamp Print Gallery

This year at Photocamp Utah we are going to do something new … if you are attending the event not only will you be able to participate in classes to learn about photography – you will also get to share your own photographs with everyone else! There will be a print gallery for all registered attendees to contribute to where we will be displaying your work.

If you are going to be at Photocamp and want to participate then the great news is that it’s free! You will, of course, have to print and matte your image on your own (no framing, btw, so it shouldn’t be too pricey).¬†I’m definitely going to bring something to the event. Since most of my work is created, shared and licensed through a computer and the internet then I rarely print my work and this is a great excuse to finally print something out.

Here are the requirements:

1. Print requirement: You can only bring one print … you are allowed to put more than one image on that one print (like a collage) or just select one print and make it big (up to 11×14). I would recommend picking only one of your very best images that really represents your style of photography to share.

2.

Size Requirement: The largest total size allowed will be 11″ x 14″. It’s highly recommended that you attach it to a piece of matte board no more than 1/16″ thick. No frames are allowed, btw … the display setup can only support a your photo attached to a matte board, so if you bring in a framed print then we won’t be able to display it for you.

3.

Networking is okay! You are also encouraged to put your name and website info somewhere on your work so we can find out more about you. Just try to keep it simple and classy … and try not to turn your image into an advertisement. 😉

4.

What NOT to do: I already mentioned a few of these, but they are worth repeating – no frames, image/matte no bigger than 11×14, and don’t use the image as an opportunity to advertise. We want to keep a “gallery” feel to the setup.

There is more information listed at the Photocamp Utah website, and if you have any questions please join in the discussion in the Flickr group here.


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Behind-the-Scenes: Medical Facility Portraits

Note from Rich: While I’m on the mend from surgery, Nicole Young will be cross posting her blogs from NicolesyBlog.com here. With the meds I’m on, we probably don’t want to see what I would post anyway 🙂

Medical Facility Headshots

Last week I went to a local medical facility with Rich Legg to photograph portraits of health professionals. The setup was fairly simple – we had two lights, each with softboxes, on either side at approximately a 45-degree angle. The images were for their profiles on the medical facility’s website, but instead of shooting traditional head-shots of we went with more of a “stocky, lifestyle” setup and one of the other staff members was kind enough to pose as the patient.

I’m very happy with the final products and look forward to returning in a few weeks with Rich to do some more photography. (BTW … thanks, Rich, for the behind-the-scenes photo!)


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Goofy Nicolesy

Note from Rich: While I’m on the mend from surgery, Nicole Young will be cross posting her blogs from NicolesyBlog.com here. With the meds I’m on, we probably don’t want to see what I would post anyway 🙂

Goofy NicolesyImage © Scott Jarvie (used with permission)

A friend of mine (and amazing Utah wedding photographer) Scott Jarvie came up with a really cool idea using a RayFlash and a fisheye lens that he is calling the “Jarvie Window”. He walked around a recent Photowalking Utah event and took a bunch of photos (click here to see several others on his Flickr stream).

Here’s another really cool image, same setup, from another photographer at the event (thanks Jeremy!). I have a feeling that there will be a lot more of these in the future. 😉


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Welcome to the World

I had a special guest in the studio yesterday morning for her first ever photo session. In spite of the fact that baby Jael slept through the entire event, we were still able to create some very nice images.

On an unrelated note, since I began this blog in 2005 I have taken very few breaks. It is my goal to put up a post at least five days a week, and most weeks I accomplish this. With that being said, tomorrow I am having to take care of a little health issue so I will be taking a few days off from blogging.

See y’all next week 🙂

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/160 second, f/8, ISO 100

Welcome to the World

I had a special guest in the studio yesterday morning for her first ever photo session. In spite of the fact that baby Jael slept through the entire event, we were still able to create some very nice images.

On an unrelated note, since I began this blog in 2005 I have taken very few breaks. It is my goal to put up a post at least five days a week, and most weeks I accomplish this. With that being said, tomorrow I am having to take care of a little health issue so I will be taking a few days off from blogging.

See y’all next week 🙂

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/160 second, f/8, ISO 100


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Shooting on the Fly

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/160 second, f/6.3, ISO 100

Shooting on the Fly

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/160 second, f/6.3, ISO 100


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R-O-C-K in the USA

I just got back from spending some time setting up for tomorrow’s Photowalking Utah event. The event theme is studio lighting and will feature nine different lighting setups for the participants to try. The setup I am doing features a trampoline. Here is one of my test shots from tonight. Pretty cool, eh?

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/160 second, f/6.3, ISO 100

Last Night’s Studio Lighting Clinic: WOW!


Image courtesy of Jeremy Hall

Last night’s Photowalking Utah mini-clinic at the Salt Lake City Library was a huge success. I am constantly blown away by the popularity of these events and last night set a new high-water mark for attendance. Over 170 photographers attended the evening’s discussion about Studio Lighting.

The mid-winter studio lighting photowalk has constantly been one of the most popular events since the group’s beginning in 2007. I believe that it is the unfamiliarity that many amateur photographers have working with studio lighting that draws them to this event. Beginning in 2009, a mini-clinic with lighting/model instruction was held a few days before the Saturday photowalk to help familiarize the attendees with techniques that can be used when shooting with the lights.

Yesterday’s event featured myself and two other photographers demonstrating techniques of working with a model and lights. Huge thanks go out to Dav.d Daniels and David Terry. These guys shared their knowledge and techniques to the eager audience in ways that were both education and humorous.

Based on last night’s attendance, I believe it will be safe to say that there will be around 200 photographers at tomorrow’s outing photographing the dozen+ models in the nine studio setups. It promises to be an exciting day.

Lastly, more HUGE thanks to our friends at Pictureline (and especially Nick, Jacob & Amy at the Draper location). They were kind enough to loan us the ProFoto lighting kit that was used in last night’s demonstration. This same kit can be rented from the Draper location (801.572.2200) at a very reasonable day rate.

Have a great weekend. I can’t wait to see many of you at tomorrow’s photowalk. I’ll be the guy hanging out by the trampoline studio setup 🙂

p.s. For those interested, here is the lighting setup that was used as a starting point for last night’s demonstration:

PWU Lighting Diagram Feb 2010

R-O-C-K in the USA

I just got back from spending some time setting up for tomorrow’s Photowalking Utah event. The event theme is studio lighting and will feature nine different lighting setups for the participants to try. The setup I am doing features a trampoline. Here is one of my test shots from tonight. Pretty cool, eh?

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/160 second, f/6.3, ISO 100


LeggNet’s Digital Capture
© Rich Legg, Inc. All rights reserved.


Last Night’s Studio Lighting Clinic: WOW!


Image courtesy of Jeremy Hall

Last night’s Photowalking Utah mini-clinic at the Salt Lake City Library was a huge success. I am constantly blown away by the popularity of these events and last night set a new high-water mark for attendance. Over 170 photographers attended the evening’s discussion about Studio Lighting.

The mid-winter studio lighting photowalk has constantly been one of the most popular events since the group’s beginning in 2007. I believe that it is the unfamiliarity that many amateur photographers have working with studio lighting that draws them to this event. Beginning in 2009, a mini-clinic with lighting/model instruction was held a few days before the Saturday photowalk to help familiarize the attendees with techniques that can be used when shooting with the lights.

Yesterday’s event featured myself and two other photographers demonstrating techniques of working with a model and lights. Huge thanks go out to Dav.d Daniels and David Terry. These guys shared their knowledge and techniques to the eager audience in ways that were both education and humorous.

Based on last night’s attendance, I believe it will be safe to say that there will be around 200 photographers at tomorrow’s outing photographing the dozen+ models in the nine studio setups. It promises to be an exciting day.

Lastly, more HUGE thanks to our friends at Pictureline (and especially Nick, Jacob & Amy at the Draper location). They were kind enough to loan us the ProFoto lighting kit that was used in last night’s demonstration. This same kit can be rented from the Draper location (801.572.2200) at a very reasonable day rate.

Have a great weekend. I can’t wait to see many of you at tomorrow’s photowalk. I’ll be the guy hanging out by the trampoline studio setup 🙂

p.s. For those interested, here is the lighting setup that was used as a starting point for last night’s demonstration:

PWU Lighting Diagram Feb 2010


LeggNet’s Digital Capture
© Rich Legg, Inc. All rights reserved.


Image in Use: Tyson Chicken

Julie’s mom spotted her lovely daughter selling chicken in a web ad recently. Nice find!


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© Rich Legg, Inc. All rights reserved.


Focus

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200 f/4L with 1.4x extender – 1/2500 second, f/5.6, ISO 400


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It’s a Riddle

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/125 second, f/8, ISO 100

It’s a Riddle

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/125 second, f/8, ISO 100


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Behind the Scenes – The Movie Pirate

Here’s a behind-the-scenes shot taken by Nicole at Saturday’s movie theater shoot. The Movie Pirate image I was shooting was a great suggestion by Jeremy Hall to include in the set of audience pictures.

Behind the Scenes – The Movie Pirate

Here’s a behind-the-scenes shot taken by Nicole at Saturday’s movie theater shoot. The Movie Pirate image I was shooting was a great suggestion by Jeremy Hall to include in the set of audience pictures.


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Theater Audience Photo Shoot: Thank You Everyone!

I’m back in the office after a busy morning with the movie theater photo shoot in Salt Lake City. We had over 90 people participate in it and after a quick look at the images I can say I am extremely pleased with what we created.

I will write a more detailed blog post about the outing in the coming days but I wanted to make a quick one today to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated. From the check-in team to the lighting guys to the prop team to the audience members and everyone else, you all went above and beyond in making today a success.

Please accept a sincere thank you. I absolutely could not do what I do without help from great people like you!

Now go and have a great weekend 🙂


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Milestone

Canon 5D, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/320 second, f/4, ISO 100


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Eyelash Salon Photo Shoot

I spent this afternoon capturing images for my stock photo portfolio in an eyelash salon. My desire in creating stock images is to capture real people in normal situations, and photographing a model getting eyelash extensions fit nicely with this goal.

I used my typical location lighting setup consisting of numerous softbox equipped monolights. Even though I brought along four lights, the combination of natural window light and small shooting space meant that I only used two of the lights. For the sample shot above, I have a 36″ octabox just to the left of the camera and a 48″ octabox placed to the right and away from the camera providing fill light. The window light is coming from behind the camera.

I’ve got a dozen or so images from today’s session to edit and add to my portfolio. It will be interesting to see how much demand there is for eyelash extension photos.

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/125 second, f/9, ISO 10

TV Time

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens – 1/125 second, f/4.5, ISO 100

Intensity

in⋅ten⋅si⋅ty [in-ten-si-tee]
–noun, plural -ties.

1.the quality or condition of being intense.
2.great energy, strength, concentration, vehemence, etc., as of activity, thought, or feeling: He went at the job with great intensity.
3.a high or extreme degree, as of cold or heat.
4.the degree or extent to which something is intense.
5.a high degree of emotional excitement; depth of feeling: The poem lacked intensity and left me unmoved.
6.the strength or sharpness of a color due esp. to its degree of freedom from admixture with its complementary color.
7.Physics. magnitude, as of energy or a force per unit of area, volume, time, etc.

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200 f/4L lens – 1/160 second, f/5, ISO 100


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