Your tripod is a light source

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I know it sounds a bit funny, but it's brilliant. David Hobby A.K.A. Strobist was featured on the latest Lightsource podcast. He was saying that he uses a tripod when he needs to light a very large space, so he locks the camera down and uses shutter speed to raise the ambient light. This is not a new concept, but the way David equates the tripod with a large light source is great. 

Farrah in 9.5 weeks

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mk_04202008.jpg This is why you need to good cameras.

This was our last look, it was getting late, and we lost natural light in the studio. So, we had to set up a KinoFlo Diva Light for Daryon (Makeup Artist). This shot was unplanned, and actually off-set. I had the 5D rigged to a ringflash and couldn't use it... so I grabbed a RebelXT. Not a bad result, but check out the fringing (Chromatic Aberration) under the chin. Just proves... two cameras is a must.

Tethered Shooting

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Just as soon as I make the switch and proclaim my allegiance, Apple releases Aperture 2.0. After downloading (and messing around with) a trial version, I've decided to stay with Lightroom. BUT... I have found a reason to use Aperture 2... tethered shooting. A2 makes tethered shooting a breeze... and A2 also allows the use of a fullscreen second monitor (which clients seem to dig). So after all the deciding, looks like I'm going to be using Aperture 2 for shooting, and Lightroom for processing. 

Switching from Aperture to Lightroom

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Yes Apple, I am sorry. I love you but... I've switched from Aperture to Adobe Lightroom.  I really wanted to stay with Aperture, but there were a few things that I couldn't ignore.

  1. Aperture was a bit sluggish on my MBP... specially the responsiveness of the crop and rotate tool.
  2. Aperture did not have a vignetting tool. Too many trips to Photoshop
  3. I've been using DXO optics pro, and they provide a Lightroom plugin for easy roundtripping
  4. Presets. I really like the developing preset feature in Lightroom, especially being able to share them.
  5. Prefer Adobe Camera Raw for image processing. Really love the clarity feature. Lightroom uses Adobe Camera Raw engine.
  6. Lightroom print module has been giving me better results with color profiles with my Epson R1800 (which has been a small nightmare to get a decent print)
  7. More efficient roundtripping to Photoshop

Here is an example of some Lightroom processing 

Processed in Lightroomfam_20030628_0266.jpg Originalfam_20030628_0266-2.jpg 
There are some features of Aperture that I do miss, but overall I'm groovin' on Lightroom.