It’s been a while since I’ve made an entry here at FormerAirline.com. I could give you some excuses but I just think I’ve been lazy.

Back at the start of the month I had the idea I should employ the services of a model to expand my skill set. I made an inquiry as to where to acquire one at my usual haunt at RangeFinderForum.com and they pointed me to ModelMayhem.com. Within a day or two of joining a model named Maile and I set a time for a shoot.

Since she was an inexperienced model, and me an inexperienced photographer when it comes to these things, I think we were well matched. Although, looking back at the work, I think I still have much to learn when it comes to photographing a model. One of the elements to that is I need more equipment. At least a decent reflector.

I haven’t made any progress since that weekend I signed up at the site. Personally I think it’s a very outdated site with all the sophistication of MySpace circa 2005.

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August 2010... The ULTIMATE Wedding!

This past weekend I proposed to my girlfriend of two years. We had talked about getting married and last Saturday we went to look at rings. Well, Kelly saw one she fell in love with that fit her pefectly. Seeing how excited she was, I realized I had to propose that night. So while she studied in the bedroom I prepared a nice meal, set up the table and the wine, and when the time was right I asked her to marry me. She nearly knocked over the table shouting YES!YES!YES! We’re planning for August of 2010. This gives me plenty of time to make ultra-romantic photos.

Last night my girlfriend had her best friend over and there was much consumption of wine, girly haircutting, and photo taking. I decided I wanted to try out some lighting techniques that evening and set up an area in the living room for a photo shoot… which basically entailed pinning up a floral bed sheet.

I loaded the Hasselblad with Kodak Tri-X 320, a supposed “old school” type film. Is it? Well, judging from the results I can’t tell if the photos were taken in 2008 or 1968. It has a certain quality to it.

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I don’t get much photography experience outside the realm of Numismatics. Luckily there’s the internet. Meetup.com directed me to a group in OC that allows photographers to come together and shoot some young models. Both the models and the photographers get to gain a lot of experience from the event.

I took my new Hasselblad 500c/m but results won’t be forthcoming today… it’s Sunday and I can’t get them processed. BUT I did take a few shots on the digital camera, my Canon 40D.

Since all this occured this afternoon I haven’t spent much time on the images post-shoot. I did get rid of an occasinal blemish, and on the last shot I did haphazardly edit out some blurry onlookers in the background.

I still have a lot to learn when it comes to this, especially when it comes to directing the model.

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EDIT:I got back some results from the Hasselblad. So-so, and a little disappointing. The images below aren’t necessarily good, but at least they’re clear and sharp. There’s a learning curve to the camera I guess. I did not expect mirror-slap, at least that’s what I think it was. A certain doubling that occurred occasionally. The camera was difficult to focus as well, i got a lot of softness. That may be due to the quick nature of the shoot, the model would turn to various photographers at a quick rate… come to think of it the model may have started to turn their heads once they heard to mirror slap up but not for the exposure itself (which would explain some blurry heads).

However with some more experience with it it should produce some great stuff (with the aid of a strobe and using the mirror lock-up). This’ll be my artsy-fartsy camera.

I’m still struggling with the negative film though. Everyone says “Overexpose it! Overexpose it!” that may be well and good but I’m having a hell of a time scanning it (I used Fuji 160s and Portra 160vc.. try to guess which is which). Slides are no problem though. In this case it’s Provia.

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