Seattle Central Creative Academy: Photography Assignment (Fill Light)

April 25, 2012 by 4 Comments

Tobacco-smoked meat; it’s what’s for dinner.  This is my “still-life food” shot for an anti-smoking advertisement.  Originally I sought to make the meat look like a heart hooked and strung-up over a smoking ashtray, but the meat just looks like meat.  Next time, I’ll get a realistic-looking heart and blacken it a little more to show the ill-fated effects of smoking cigarettes.

Window light was the light source to camera left and an off-camera Canon 580EX II Speedlite bouncing off a silver reflector was the fill at camera right.

Location: CK Studio, Bainbridge Island, WA

Camera/Lens Specifics: Canon 5D Mark II with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens

100mm, 1/10 sec at ƒ/6.3, ISO 100, tripod mount.

Post: Adobe LR3 & PS5

Filed Under: Art, Bainbridge Island, Cameron Karsten, Commercial Photography, Education, Food, How To, Photo Shoot, Photography, Product Shoot, SCCC, Seattle, Still life, Washington Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Seattle Central Creative Academy: Photography Assignment (Stop Motion)

April 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment

There were numerous things that went wrong with this shoot, which I did not become aware of until after during the hours upon hours of editing.  To say it before I present to you these pieces: I don’t like them.  In fact, I loathe them.  Then why this post, you might ask?

First off, it is a visual record.  Having rediscovered my love of fire, unleashing the pyromaniac youth within, stored memories from the times after school alighting pine needles with a magnifying glass to more explosive encounters involving cans of highly flammable RAID and a stack of wood set next to my mother’s house, I love fire.  So, why not shoot it?

Secondly, I want these images to rest upon this web layout as a stage of photographic development.  With this rekindled love of flame, I now have the desire to master the quickest, most intense flash of heat through the lens, and elegantly incorporate it’s fluid speed into my work creating a uniqueness and individuality.

Thirdly, using fire during work makes work so much more exciting.

So I present the first two shots involving TRESemme and fire.  Again, these images are not worthy of due credit or professionalism, therefore I would never finalize them for a client and expect a pat on the back with a fat check.  They’re merely a recording of the road to fire I am just now beginning.

The first one was shot with the bottles on a white background.  These have too many reflections in the cans to represent the product accurately.  Then when shooting the flames I discovered the speed at which they release.  I sprayed the hairspray over a lighter, which singed all knuckle-hairs instantaneously, and witnessed these flames all but vanished on the sensor before the white background.  So I switched it out for black and added a mass of strobes and hot lights.  When I went to composite the images in PS5, I realized the task at hand to mask the black background flames with the white background cans was near impossible for a realistic, sellable product.  Plus, for stop motion, the flames are not frozen, even at 1/1000th of a second!

This next image is an improvement considering the background, but the rest is just an attempt to experiment and learn after staring at a computer screen for 5 hours.  I’m displeased with how both of these turned out, but the learning curve was steep and that’s all that matters right now.

Location: SCCA, Seattle, WA

Camera/Lens Specifics: Canon 5D Mark II with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens

variety of settings, ISO 100, tripod mount.

Post: Adobe LR3 & PS5

Filed Under: Art, Bainbridge Island, Cameron Karsten, Commercial Photography, Education, Fire, How To, Photo Shoot, Photography, Product Shoot, SCCC, Seattle, Washington Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Seattle Central Creative Academy: Photography Assignment (High Key Product)

April 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment

High Key photography is a classic product set-up: bright subject, with few shadows and nice highlights.  To go with au naturel consumerism, Tom’s of Maine toothpaste came into play.

The idea was to showcase the “Crystal Clean” result after using Tom’s.  Somewhat pleased, I don’t feel totally successful with the project.  The crystal in my model’s hand appears too large and the actual toothbrush on the right feels unnatural due to the lack of the bottom of the brush.  In the end, the photographer decides about his/her image, while the audience decides on their individual experience.

Location: SCCA Studios, Seattle, WA

Camera/Lens Specifics: Canon 5D Mark II with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens

variety of settings, ISO 100.

Post: Adobe LR3 & PS5

Filed Under: Art, Bainbridge Island, Cameron Karsten, Commercial Photography, Education, How To, Photo Shoot, Photography, Product Shoot, SCCC, Seattle, Still life, Sustainability, Washington Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Photo Essay: Wood – A Story from the Olympic Peninsula (Pt. II)

April 5, 2012 by 1 Comment

As I continue to drive out into the Olympic Peninsula, camera bags full and surf gear packed, I slowly observe the culture of a timber industry unfolding before my eyes.  It is a people’s livelihood, their subsistence within the forest, bringing shelters over families heads and food to their hungry tables.  And for the blue collar, it is not a wealthy industry.  They are the cutters, sawers, operators, drivers and haulers of a civilization taking over the wild places.

With video files and the numerous still images of the cold cloudy spring passing over the Northwest wilderness, this project is evolving into an unbiased perspective of Man vs. Nature, and how the two can equally subsist; prosper side by side and thrive within one another.

Below is the second essay of imagery and visual thoughts from a story of wood deep within the Olympic Peninsula.

Filed Under: Art, Bainbridge Island, Cameron Karsten, Community, Education, Environment, Olympic National Park, Photo Essay, Photography, Sustainability, Washington Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Seattle Central Creative Academy: Photography Assignment (Dark Glass)

April 4, 2012 by 1 Comment

While on break, I had three weeks to come up with a composition for dark glass.  When I was young, my grandfather gave me this old Kahlua bottle, and for years I burnt a candle in the crown.  So, with the ambience of candlelight, I created an evening scenario with the added smooth tasting digestif White Russian.

I shot the bottle, and from there worked around the composition.  And since it was an old bottle, the label was long removed.  Therefore, I took today’s bottle, captured the label, and masked it within PS5, shot the tumbler with the White Russian, added reflections and a tabletop, brushed in the smoke and took my archived image of a wood stove fireplace to fill the background.  The text was selected from the label and fit within the frame.  Complicated but well-worth the time, as well as multiple White Russians consumed throughout the process.

Location: CK Studios, Bainbridge Island, WA

Camera/Lens Specifics: Canon 5D Mark II with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens

variety of settings, ISO 100, tripod mount.

Post: Adobe LR3 & PS5

Filed Under: Art, Bainbridge Island, Cameron Karsten, Commercial Photography, Education, How To, Photo Shoot, Photography, Product Shoot, SCCC, Seattle, Still life, Washington Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Photo Essay: Wood – a Story from the Olympic Peninsula (Pt. I)

March 25, 2012 by 2 Comments

Wood; a precious commodity.  Cut, sawed, shaped, nailed, lacquered, stained.  Occasionally it’s replanted, and years later, generations gone, money is made again.  Wood is money.  The forests are for sale, for their resources, for their lands, for their habitat.  The following images are the start of a multimedia project telling the tale of wood, from origin to combustion, and the phases of transition in-between.  How does it effect us?  How does it feed us?  How is the life under our feet and that above our heads impacted today, tomorrow and those generations ahead?

Filed Under: Art, Bainbridge Island, Cameron Karsten, Community, Education, Environment, Olympic National Park, Photo Essay, Photography, Sustainability, Washington Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Photo Essay: Odin Brewery (Seattle, Wa) Pt. II

March 21, 2012 by 3 Comments

As a brewer you’re also a janitor. Hygiene and cleanliness within the brewery is mandatory. One live bacteria cell in the wrong liquids with throw off a batch, creating skunky flavors that will make you never want a fresh pint again. So, after each boil, after each process from the mash tun to lauter tun, to kettle and whirlpool, to the last stages of the fermenter and into the keg, each component needs to be cleaned once, twice and three times more to assure the waters are neutral and all ingredients are fresh without stray additives. Drains throughout the brewery are necessary so hoses can be laid while insides and outsides of the equipment are washed clean. Common cleaning agents besides hot water are bleach, iodine and caustic acid.  According to Nick Heppenstall, head brewer at Odin Brewery in Seattle, Washington, “A brewer is just a beer-loving janitor.”

“Belgium was a poor country and they wanted to get drunk, so they used whatever was cheap to make alcohol. And it was whatever happened to be down the street. So, you know, who knows what kind of sugar it was. It probably was more beet-based because there’s not a lot of sugarcane in Europe.”

“I love the regional aspect of craft brewing. Anywhere you have people who love craft beer, you’ll have craft breweries. Take Texas for example.  Austin is full of people who love craft beer and it’s also full of craft breweries. Dallas on the other hand doesn’t have that passion for craft beer, hence no craft breweries.”

Filed Under: Art, Bainbridge Island, Cameron Karsten, Commercial Photography, Education, Food, Photo Essay, Photo Shoot, Photography, Product Shoot, Seattle, Washington Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Photo Essay: Odin Brewery (Seattle, Wa) Pt. I

March 20, 2012 by 70 Comments

A brewer is a chef. It takes knowledge of your ingredients and skills with your equipment to create a fabulous feast. Same goes for beer brewing. You must know your tools, your ingredients, and the science behind their reactions and interactions. Nick Heppenstall, head brewer of Odin Brewery in Seattle, Washington has perfected this science into a tasty art-form of craftsman beers.

With a background in biochemistry, Nick heads up the recipes for all beers coming out of Odin Brewery. His mission is to brew a beer that pairs perfectly with the right kinds of food, and to do this, the beer must have the right density levels of water to sugars, a balanced pH level of acids, and a comfortable temperature with the right carbonation.

“Consistency is my first priority. I believe in keeping things simple. If I can do something simple and good, it’s easier for me to make it better.”

Water, grains and the essential hop flowers are key ingredients to crafting a fine brew; three ingredients combined into a myriad of concoctions to intensify certain aspects of flavor.  Next add nutmeg, orange peel, extra sugar, or a compound called amylase to discover sweet palettes, higher alcohol percentage or a drier taste.

“My experience in microbiology has been absolutely valuable to my understanding of brewing beer. Anyone who want’s to brew good beer should study microbiology.”

“Beer Fest is a great movie, but I prefer Strange Brew!”

Filed Under: Art, Bainbridge Island, Cameron Karsten, Commercial Photography, Education, Environmental Portrait, Food, Photo Essay, Photo Shoot, Photography, Seattle, Washington Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Seattle Central Creative Academy: Photography Assignment (George Hurrell Heavy-Set)

March 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

A George Hurrell-inspired photography assignment creating a classy black and white 1920’s film noir/glamour shot.  Involved set construction, props, wardrobe and some serious lighting skills.  Here is my mortician with a new patient waiting behind the walls.

Location: SCCA Studios, Seattle, WA

Model: William O’Donnell

Camera/Lens Specifics: Canon 5D Mark II with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens

70mm, 1/100 sec at ƒ/7.1, ISO 100, tripod mount.

Post: Adobe LR3 & PS5

Filed Under: Art, Cameron Karsten, Commercial Photography, Education, Environmental Portrait, How To, Photo Shoot, Photography, SCCC, Seattle, Washington Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Seattle Central Creative Academy: Photography Assignment (Clear Glass)

March 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment

To light this image of Stranahan Colorado Whiskey I used a giant soft box and placed two Profoto lights inside facing each other to blow out the background.  With two large black cards left and right of the bottle, the edges became defined.  Then with one Speedlite below and slightly in front of the bottle, which rests on plexi glass, I fired it to highlight the label.  One final softbox was placed directly behind the camera and raised to hit the bottle at a 45 degree angle.

There were four exposures composited in PS5: bottle, label, cap and pour.  To wrap it all up in post, the image was masked with a white background.

Location: SCCA Studios, Seattle, WA

Camera/Lens Specifics: Canon 5D Mark II with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens

100mm, 1/160 sec at ƒ/22, ISO 100, tripod mount.

Post: Adobe LR3 & PS5

Filed Under: Art, Cameron Karsten, Commercial Photography, Education, Food, How To, Photo Shoot, Photography, Product Shoot, SCCC, Seattle, Still life, Washington Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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