Day 31 - Orchid

Some more still life to round off the month:

Strobist info: I started with just diffuse window light coming from behind and left to give a reasonable back-light.  I then added in some flash from a Sigma 530 DG Super with the Lumiquest Softbox III on a stand coming from the right of the flower to pick out the form and texture of the petals.  As usual, flash triggered using Cactus V4.

I'm fairly pleased with the lighting, but there's something about the composition that niggles me.  Maybe too much space at the top?  I'm not sure.

Day 30 - Two Snaps

I took the girls out for a walk along the canel, looking for photo ideas along the way.  I ended up with a few that I was pleased with and thought I'd share a couple of them with you.

First up is Spa Mill, taken with the Sigma 10-20.  I like the shadows on this, giving a nice balance with the branches of the same trees at the top of the frame.

The second is another photo of Jessica, taken using diffuse ambient light.  I know I might be biased, but I think those eyes are stunning.

Day 29 - Beancounter

I received another toy to try out today - Lumiquest Softbox III.  Rather than pin anyone down for a portrait I thought I'd see how the slight unwieldy attachment coped with a more challenging assignment of candid shots of the monsters children.

This was taken with the ambient underexposed by about 2 stops and with the softbox on a YN460-II flash held close in front of Jessica's face, fired using a Cactus V4.  The light is certainly soft, with no harsh shadows and no burnt highlights on the coins.  It's also directional enough to give a bit of shape in the shadow around Jessica's cheek.

Day 28 - Night Bus

Today was the first day I haven't managed to pick up my SLR this year.  I don't feel too bad about it because a) I took a picture on my phone (terrible quality, interesting technique and result), and b) I was attending a talk by the fantastic Martin Parr.  If you've never come across his work, shame on you.  Take a look!

Day 27 - Flashing

I finally managed to acquire the correct range of DIY crafty things (A4 neoprene sheet and sticky back Velcro) to make myself a snoot, so I tried it out with a few self-portrait comparisons.  All these use the same flash position but different modifiers.  I was really surprised at how effectively the improvised snoot narrows the beam.  It's ridiculous as a self-portrait, but does give me a guide to how I might use it more creatively.

Day 26 - Steel and Glass

I was trying to look for patterns and lines in the buildings today.  Not sure if this is a bit rubbish or whether its just not something that interests me very much.  It certainly felt more like a grabbed snapshot than something I'd created.  Anyhow, its all about trying different things I suppose.  Behold the snap...

Day 25 - Garlic

Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion family Alliaceae.  This you can learn from Wikipedia.

What that page doesn't tell you is how to create a masterful low-key still life of aforementioned close relative of the onion, shallot, leek and chive, so I had to figure that out on my own.  I'll let you decide whether I've come anywhere close.

Strobist - YN460-II with a paper snoot attached with some velcro on lowest power close camera right.  Sigma 530 DG Super at 1/32 power into a reflective umbrella camera left.