LeggNet's Digital Capture

Jazz Game Panorama with a Digital Elph

2009-11-06T10:47:00.001-07:00

I fell into some free tickets to last night's Utah Jazz game versus the San Antonio Spurs (thanks Shawn & Wes). Apart from the camera on my Android phone, the only one I had with me was my little red Digital Elph (Canon SD780). During the game I was playing around with the camera and decided to shoot some images to later stitch together as a panorama.

For the image featured today, I quickly captured three shots of the arena from my upper bowl seat. I didn't do anything special to line them up, just simply shot them handheld. The camera was set on Program mode. To stitch them I selected the three captures in Lightroom and selected "Merge to Panorama in Photoshop". That was it, apart from some selective dodge/burn and a final crop.

This is the first time I have used Photoshop's panorama function since CS2. I've got to say that I'm impressed with how well it worked. Considering the limitations of the lighting and camera, the image quality isn't too bad. I'm going to have to put together a "real" panorama with my 5D Mark II sometime and see the feature's true capability.

To view the full-resolution version of the image, click here.

Canon Powershot SD780IS - 1/40 second, f/3.2, ISO 200

Reminder: Lensbaby Photowalk this Saturday

2009-11-05T08:21:00.002-07:00

Have you ever seen a photographer shooting with a little bendy lens on their camera? Maybe you even were bold enough to ask them what it was and you heard the name Lensbaby. Now is your chance to get to use one.

The Lensbaby is a special effect SLR lens that creates a unique out-of-focus area (bokeh) with a focus area that can be moved throughout the image. The above image on Nicolesy was taken using a Lensbaby.

Photowalking Utah, in conjunction with Lensbaby and Pictureline, is hosting a Lensbaby Photowalk on November 7th in Salt Lake City. At the event we will have over 20 samples of the product (Canon, Nikon & Olympus mount) for participants to use.

The outing will be led by Pictureline's own Nick Gilson. Here is the schedule:

November 7th, 2009 - Pictureline SLC, 305 W 700 South

1:15 - 1:30 pm Meet at Pictureline (Salt Lake CIty)
1:30 - 2:00 pm Lensbaby orientation and how-to session
2:00 - 3:30 pm Photowalk starting/ending at Pictureline
4:00 - 5:30 pm Optional Dinner at Charlie Chow's (255 E. 400 South)

As always, these events are free of charge for photographers to participate in. We can't take any responsibility though if you fall in love with the Lensbaby and end up buying one :)

If you are planning on attending (or have any questions), please head over to the Photowalking Utah Flickr group by clicking here and let us know.

I'm really excited about this event and hope to see many of you there.

The Blues

2009-11-04T09:32:00.001-07:00

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens - 1/160 second, f/5.0, ISO 100

My Interview on TWiP

2009-11-04T09:02:00.002-07:00

I have been a fan of the podcast This Week in Photography (TWiP) since it first came out. The weekly show is a roundtable type of format with the hosts discussing the current news, trends and equipment in photography.

I was privileged to meet the show's host Frederick Van last month while attending Photoshop World in Las Vegas. While talking to him about photography and more pointedly my work in the microstock industry, Frederick asked if I would like to be interviewed for TWiP. I immediately accepted his offer.

The long-form interview has been posted today on Frederick's blog and will be included in this week's episode of the podcast. In the discussion we talk about the microstock industry, iStockphoto, my background, my workflow and Photowalking Utah.

It's always great to be able to share my story and I thank Frederick and TWiP for the opportunity.

On the web: Direct Link to Interview

The Newly Updated MiniCards by Moo.com

2009-11-03T09:49:00.002-07:00

I've been a customer of Moo business cards since I first heard about their Flickr MiniCards in 2006. I was initially impressed with the ability I had to print samples of my Flickr photos on the back of the cards and ordered a set.

I became a bigger fan of the company in 2008 when they became the official supplier of business cards for iStockphoto Exclusive Artists. As a member of the group, I receive a free set of cards each year and much like the Flickr cards, these also feature samples of my photography (up to 50 separate images) on the backs of the cards.

While attending Photoshop World last month in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to chat with the nice people from Moo. It was great to see the faces behind the product. In the course of our discussion, I was told to keep a lookout for a redesign that would be coming soon.

True to their word, I received an email last month telling me about an update to their popular MiniCards product. While retaining all the features that customers like me loved about the original product, they added some new options. I was happy to take advantage of an offer to try out the cards with a free set.

When ordering my complimentary set of the updated cards, I immediately noticed some changes in the ordering process. There were now options to upload images for both sides of the card (previously only one side could feature a custom image) and many more layout choices. I opted to buck the trend of putting images on the back of my set and instead put a simple text design of RICH.LEGG.PHOTOGRAPHER.

I received the cards in about 10 days and have to say I am pleased with the product. In addition to the cards, the presentation box is equally impressive.

Note that, true to their name, the MiniCards are smaller than a typical business card. In the sample image above I have placed one of my iStock cards for size comparison.

If you are a photographer of any level and would like to have custom business cards incorporating samples of your images, I would suggest ponying up the $20 and giving Moo a try. Their product is top-notch and after meeting them in Vegas I've got to say - they are really nice people too!

On the web: Moo.com

* Other than the free set of cards, I have received no compensation for writing this review

The Mad Pianist - Behind the Scenes

2009-11-02T10:10:00.005-07:00

I get ideas for my photo shoots from many sources, and one of those is to simply listen (or in this case, read). A few weeks back I received a text from one of my frequent models, Andrew. It was short and simple: "How about a crazy piano player photo??". Knowing that Andrew is an extremely talented musician and very creative, my immediate response was "Sure!".

Last week we got together for the shoot. We used the grand piano at a local church and went to work creating the images. What made this shoot different than my regular work was that it was Andrew, not me, that had the pre-visualized images in mind and I simply followed his direction. He had coordinated his wardrobe design and hair styling for the session.

I did however add a bit to the shoot for some shots I envisioned (with some input from friend Ann Torrence). In addition to Andrew as the pianist, I had another of my regular models Kati join in for a few shots portraying a sultry singer.

On the technical side, lighting was accomplished mainly using two softboxes - one large octabox (as seen in the behind-the-scenes image) and a smaller one to use for hair light and accents. Managing the light on the background proved to be the largest hurdle and made me realize that I really need to ad a grid to one of my octaboxes.

Since these images are a bit of a departure from my normal style, I am not sure how well they will sell as stock images. But they were a lot of fun to create.

Player

2009-10-31T01:43:00.000-06:00

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens - 1/60 second, f/4, ISO 100

The Entertainer

2009-10-30T01:12:00.001-06:00

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

Looking Up II

2009-10-29T01:22:00.000-06:00

Canon 5D Mark II, Lensbaby Composer - 1/640 second, f/4, ISO 100

Goodness, Gracious...

2009-10-28T08:52:00.001-06:00

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

Reminder: Food Photography Mini-Clinic this Thursday

2009-10-27T16:26:00.001-06:00

Note from Rich: Today I'm re-posting the Food Photography Mini-Clinic announcement as a reminder for this week's event. I hope to see many of you there.

The date has been set for the next photography Mini-Clinic at the Salt Lake City main library. Just in time for taking pictures of your fabulous holiday dinners, the subject is Food Photography. Since I am not much of a food photographer, I am teaming up with my good friend (and awesome food shooter) Nicole Young for this clinic.

In the free 90 minute session, participants will learn techniques for capturing great food images using natural light, strobes and hot-lights. Our good friends at my favorite camera store, Pictureline, will be providing lighting equipment for us to use in the clinic.

Here are the details:

Date: Thursday October 29th, 2009
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Location: SLC Main Library - 210 E 400 South, Conf. room #4, 4th floor
Cost: Free!

I am pleased to be able to offer these clinics free-of-charge as a part of Photowalking Utah. Without the support of the Salt Lake City Library and Pictureline, I would not be able to do so. Please help me in thanking the great folks at these organizations for helping the local photographic community.

If you are planning on attending, please head over to the Flickr Discussion and let everyone know. I hope to see you at the clinic.

(Images © Nicole S. Young)

Guest Post on Photofocus.com

2009-10-26T19:16:00.002-06:00

I've written another guest blog post over at Photofocus.com. Be sure to stop by and check it out (link).

Erin

2009-10-26T10:12:00.001-06:00

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200 f/4L with 1.4x extender - 1/1000 second, f/5.6, ISO 400

ModoPocket

2009-10-23T17:51:00.001-06:00

Watch for my review of the Manfrotto ModoPocket mini-tripod coming soon on PhotoFocus.com.

Archite Continental

2009-10-22T13:08:00.002-06:00

Canon Powershot G11 - 1/60 second, f/5, ISO 400

My Powershot G11 Makes a Visit to the Studio

2009-10-21T09:18:00.001-06:00

Last night while over at the studio doing a bit of organization, I took Elisabeth away from her homework for a few minutes to do a couple test shots with the G11. As I have previously said, one reason I like the G series of point-n-shoot cameras from Canon is the dedicated hot shoe. In addition to its ability to sync with my Speedlight flashes, it can easily work with my studio lighting.

For this shot, I set up a few softboxes and then simply eyeballed the exposure using the G11's histogram. It took a couple shots before I landed on the settings used for this image.

I have got to say that I continue to be impressed by the capabilities of this little camera. Look for a more detailed write-up about it soon.

Canon Powershot G11 - 1/200 second, f/8, ISO 80

Unending Faith

2009-10-21T07:42:00.001-06:00

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

Behind Closed Doors

2009-10-20T10:40:00.001-06:00

Canon Powershot G11 - 1/160 second, f/4.5, ISO 500

TV Time - Senior Citizen Stock Photo Shoot

2009-10-19T13:18:00.001-06:00

One of my most popular stock photo themes this year has been the series I did in August featuring active senior citizens. This past Saturday I revisited the subject with another photo shoot at a local assisted living facility. Today's image is a quick sample from the session. Mary and Gary (the models in this image) were FANTASTIC (all caps definitely warranted!) to work with. They truly blessed my life with their eagerness to help and great senses of humor.

On the technical side, this image is my tried-and-true television setup consisting of a 14x14" softbox placed in front of the couple. I would have liked to have removed the picture frame from the top-right corner, but I was moving fast and it was bolted to the wall. I will probably eliminate it from the final stock image in editing.

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

Save the Date: Scott Bourne Speaking at Pictureline 11.17.09

2009-10-16T10:00:00.002-06:00

Earlier this month at Photoshop World, I was involved in a conversation with Scott Bourne and Nicole Young about a possible event featuring Scott in Salt Lake City. I am pleased to announce that we have finalized the details and are now taking sign-ups.

The event is scheduled for the evening of November 17th at Pictureline in Salt Lake City. The two hour session will begin with a short presentation (by me) on "Giving Back" before handing the microphone over to Scott for the remainder of the time. Scott will be showing his work and talking on the subject of "Previsualization". In addition, he will be giving a gear demo and displaying examples of his stunning wildlife photography.

Here are the details from the registration page at Pictureline.com:

"Scott Bourne is a digital media pioneer and has been involved in photography for more than three decades. He’s the author of four photo books including, 88 Secrets to Selling & Publishing Your Photography, Captivating Wildlife, with David Middleton, 88 Secrets to Photoshop for Photographers, and 88 Secrets to Wildlife Photography with Rod Barbee. Scott’s also authored three photography-related titles for Lynda.com.

His website, www.photofocus.com, is a widely used resource in the photographic industry.

Scott has led workshops and seminars for, Palm Beach Photographic Center, Cooperative Communicators of America, WPPA, The Professional Photographers of America, Seattle Art Center, and Olympic Mountain School of Photography. He holds the designation Apple Certified Professional Trainer (T3) for Apple’s Aperture. He’s also previously held the designation Certified Adobe Photoshop Instructor.

Scott is a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), the National Association of Photoshop Professionals and the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA.) To see Scott’s bird portfolio or his general wildlife portfolio go to http://www.avianstock.com or http://www.photodiary.com.

Come to pictureline and listen to Scott's presentation on pre-visualization and the impact that it has had on his life in the photo world. We are thrilled to have him speaking to us and look forward to having the great Salt Lake photo community in attendance. Reserve your seat today and receive a gift card of equal value when you attend the seminar."

There is a $10 cost for the event, but as a great gesture of support Pictureline will be giving each attendee a $10 Pictureline Gift Card.

Space is limited, so I recommend signing up early. To view the registration page and reserve your seat, CLICK HERE.

I hope to see a great group of photographers on the 17th!

Canon G11: Applebee's at ISO 3200

2009-10-15T10:44:00.002-06:00

In yesterday's post, I wrote that the #1 reason for my upgrade from the Canon G7 to the G11 was the improved low-light performance of this little point-and-shoot camera. Last night after band practice a group of us stopped at Applebee's for some half price appetizers (after 9:00 pm M-TH!!!). Here's a shot I took in the parking lot. This is an unedited JPG at ISO 3200 (full resolution available here). I've got to say that my initial impressions are quite favorable.

I've had a few people ask why I opted for this camera (the G11) rather than going for the Canon S90 with the same sensor, a more compact form factor and faster lens. The simple reason for me is that the G-series has a dedicated hotshoe which allows me to use my Speedlight flashes and PocketWizards.

A detailed "My Thoughts..." post about the G11 will be coming in the next week or so.

Canon G11 - 1/30 second, f/4.5, ISO 3200

Upgrade time: My Canon G7 makes way for the G11

2009-10-14T15:31:00.003-06:00

My 3 year old point-and-shoot camera, a Canon G7, stepped aside today. The replacement: a Canon Powershot G11. I've only had the G11 for a couple hours and am still getting to know the camera. Since the biggest reason for the upgrade was the improvement in low-light/high ISO shooting I thought I'd share a quick sample.

The above image was one of the very first I took with the camera. It was shot with existing light at ISO 800. While the 100% crop sample of the eye shows a bit of digital noise, the image is quite usable. When contrasted with the nearly unusable results from the G7 at ISO's greater than 400 (and even 400 was pushing it), the G11 passes with flying colors.

I will be playing around with this new camera over the coming days/weeks and will post back here with my impressions later on.

Canon G11 - 1/60 second, f/4.5, ISO 800

Save the Date: Old Greek Town (Salt Lake City) Photowalk

2009-10-13T13:38:00.001-06:00

By Nicole S. Young

Photographer Ann Torrence on a recent Salt Lake City Photowalk. (image © Nicole Young)

The next Photowalking Utah event will be a walk around the Old Greek Town area of downtown Salt Lake City on October 17 @ 6:00 pm led by Nicole Young (that's me!). The Old Greek Town area is just Southwest of "The Gateway" shopping district along the Trax line on 200 South.

This will be an evening photowalk to catch the "golden hour" of the day, and we will be photographing urban decay, older buildings, your fellow photographers, etc.

The event is free of charge and open to all photographers, regardless of skill level. We frequently have people bring point and shoots, SLRs, and even camera phones.

Location: Old Greek Town Trax Station (550 W. 200 South)
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Cost: Free!

Parking in this are is limited so consider riding Trax to the photowalk. I will be riding from the Sandy station at 4:44 pm to the Arena station, and walking to our meeting location.

For those planning on attending please join in on the Flickr discussion group. Hope to see you there!

View Larger Map

Things are Looking Up

2009-10-12T20:07:00.001-06:00

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 f/4L lens - 1/50 second, f/14, ISO 100

Dancing Through the "To Edit" List

2009-10-09T11:12:00.001-06:00

I'm spending today wrapping up the image editing of last month's ballroom dancing photo shoot for my stock photo portfolio. As I type this, I have no less than six other shoots on my "To Edit" list. I spend the majority of my worktime sitting at the computer editing/uploading/keywording images. That is one of the biggest things I have come to realize in the two plus years that I have been shooting full-time for iStockphoto. Years ago as a child when I dreamed of a career as a professional photographer it never occurred that this is what it would entail - sitting at a computer for hours on end.

My switch to Lightroom from Bridge this past summer has helped to speed up my editing workflow, but I still edit each image individually creating on average 5-6 layers in Photoshop before uploading.

Please don't get me wrong though. I love being a photographer and with that the time spent in Photoshop. I would not want to change my job for anything in the world. I truly love what I do and feel blessed to be able to make a career of it.

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