Yesterday was the day of the Galway Strobist Meetup, organised by John Mac and yours truly. I made a decision to run with just the 2 head Elinchrom Ranger Quadra kit. I had intended bringing the 2 EL-Adaptors and using a range of modifiers with them. Except one of them was missing (I found it under a camera bad this evening).
After driving around and around for ages, I eventually got parking a distance away from our meetup location. I’d nearly had enough by then, carting a fully laden camera bag (with laptop), the kit, a stands bag and softboxes up with me. Next time, I’ll have someone wait at the door!
Anyhow got up to the room. Nicer than I remembered, but still a little lacking in locations. John Mac commandeered one of the better locations and went to work with Zoe. I on the other hand went with new girl Kaila, who came via Folio 32. The quadras worked well, but I was really missing my grids, beauty dish and that second EL Adaptor.
I borrowed a small softbox (one that happens to spring clip onto the Quadra’s reflector) and got a working clamshell setup going.
Later I also went with a shoot through umbrella and did a whole bunch of single light shots. I was happy enough with my work overall, but next time, I’ll bring completely different stuff.. and mix in speedlights!
I was going to go out into the depths of the countryside last night and shoot a star movement timelapse. Instead I set the camera up down the back of the apartment complex green (in the wild grass). I figured I would do a test run first.
Here’s the result of shooting 13″ exposures at ISO800 (f5.6) on my 40D. I could’ve used the 5D with the 24 @ f2.8 with a lower ISO, but I was loathe to leave it out there just in case.
With help from John Beardsworth on Twitter, I was able to muck around and make the process of stacking these images to create a timelapse into an action.
The process is straightforward: First run File>Automate>Load files into Stack. Select the files. Next my action selects the layers, converts to a Smart Object, then chooses Layers>Smart Objects>Stack Mode>Maximum, resulting in a star trail image.
Following on from a most excellent blog post by Melissa Rodwell on Promoting your Photography Business, I’ve uploaded a headshot/beauty postcard to be done with Sim2000 Imaging. I do intend doing a specifically music related one also, and an even simpler one with less images specifically for headshots. This version is more mini portfolio than anything else.
Anyhow here’s the one thats just gone to print. The top part is the glossy side, while the back is matt. This is proofed from within the Sim software, hence the proof watermarks!
While I will use these for promo, it’s also a test of the service with Sim2000. They have a cool selection of marketing materials and do low print runs if needed. Considering the small print run (from 50+ on cards), they’re reasonable value. I’m keen to get the CD holders, which are next on the list.
Update: The cards are actually glossy on both sides and look great. Go Sim!
On the way home from the failed kayak session, I bumped into Delo Collier. Delo looks after Galway Civic Trust and was using a shot of mine, of a local heron, in the new ‘Galway City Waterways Walks’. I’ve perused it and it’s quite interesting. It might make a photo project of its own.
Speaking of water I also went down to Ballyloughane and ran a short timelapse this evening.
After such a bad experience the other day, I was dreading going back into the water today. I even got a different boat, but alas, once I was on the water I froze. I couldn’t do it. I don’t often bottle at things, but I had to get out. Chris has agreed to take me out separately so I can get the hang of paddling properly. I’m still up for it, but I really couldn’t face it today.
I dragged Cyn and Matthew down to Rosshill at sunset to shoot some timelapse. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t notice a large hair bang smack in the middle of the sensor. It’s a pain because as good as Lightroom is with batch spotting, it doesn’t work when batched across moving cloud images. I ended up cropping in..
Click the image for a half size version of the 720 Version in MP4 format.
2nd kayak class was a series of disaster that left me a little sore and dispirited. I had serious issues with the boat and ended up loosing the feeling in my legs for a while. I got on okay with the sweep strokes, and did okay with the sideways strokes (it’s just normal paddling I’m struggling with!). In the end I came out of the boat rather unexpectedly and found myself standing on a rock at the edge of the canal, with my head just above water. I had the guys drag the boat back, and I managed to climb up the wall of the canal onto the path.
I’d truly had enough by then and didn’t go back in. Still I’ll go back on Monday again!
For the film course I did a while back, we created a docu short called ‘Fine Tuning’ featuring local instrument maker Paul Doyle. I bumped into the instructor recently and enquired if he would enter it for the upcoming Film Fleadh. Now entering isn’t a guarantee of getting in, so I was pleased to hear today that our little film was accepted for the Way Out West category. Unfortunately I’ll be in England when it’s being shown, but I’m delighted none the less. The Way Out West screening is happening Thursday morning, July 9th from 10am to 12pm for those interested.
Unfortunately I’m not allowed put this film online, as the rules stipulate that the copyright of the film remains with Galway Film Centre, the group that run the class.
I’m stiff as a board after my first Kayaking lesson. It started badly, with my boat turning out to be too small for my weight and creating serious buoyancy issues. I went in thinking that I was going to get wet, and so I guess I wasn’t surprised when I went in when trying to get out of the boat!
Anyway, things went better with the new boat. For a while anyway. We were warned about 2 things on the river: Swans and Rowers. Within seconds of starting we met a Swan swimming with her cygnets. Great position if you were looking for a photo op, but not if you wanted to stay safe. So we all pulled in. Once the ‘danger’ had passed, one of the University teams rowed by.. I suppose it was apt that we met them immediately after being warned. We paddled down to the left and then under one of the bridges, which turned out to be a dead end.
Despite getting this far I still couldn’t get the hang of paddling comfortably (except backways), and after one hard turn, managed to capsize! Too funny. Anyway, the instructor, Jamie, and my mate Chris did a standard rescue and I ended up back in the boat. It’s all Chris’ fault I was there so it was funny he had to do the rescue.
Jamie did empty a lot of water our of the boat, but still left a fair amount in. I found it even harder to control with the water sloshing about. I struggled up the river and even with Chris encouraging me along, there was too much water in the boat to control it with my lack of experience. I finally managed to get back to dry land, empty the water and get back in again… much better.
I paddled about for a bit, did my official capsize and hopped out of the water… Phew! I was glad to get out. In spite of it being a major fail mostly, I had a ball and am looking forward to Wednesday’s lesson already. If the stiffness subsides
