Paul has been shooting a lot of commercial work since I came to Chicago. On Friday, he shot a rock musician Greg. Paul pulled out some of his classic photographic stuff. An 8x10 camera with a 4x5 adapter. He shot type 55 film on the large format camera and then later shot with a Polaroid Land camera.
I have been trying so hard to create the mood look. As you can see in the test shot, he can do it so easily. Or he makes it look easy, it is not. All I can say is that I have learnt how important it is the ability to use black cuts to make sure the fall off on the face is great. When I was in Singapore, I was using it a bit, but I never realized how important it is. Shin was telling me that all the students in Columbia use cuts and nets to modify light. I don't know wether to laugh or cry. To laugh because I am learning so much, or to cry because I am learning this at the age of 40 and after working for 6 years professionally. All I can say is that I am spending a lot of money just on pieces of black fabric, white fabric and netting and tools to help hold them up.
Looking on the bright side of things, better learning these things late than never. As I switch over to commercial work, what I learn here will be invaluable to getting it right in camera. The other thing is that the equipment that I buy for modifying light will last the rest of my career, unlike the cameras, computers and monitors which will cost many times more and last all of 3 short years, if that long!!
The rest of the rock shoot was also great! Paul used an old weathered door and a piece of rusty metal as props. He tried shooting with his Kinoflo fluorescent lights. He shot with a fish-eye camera outdoors while hand-holding led lights. I have no idea what those shots look light but I cannot wait to see the end results.
I have a feeling that I have only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Paul is capable of.
Just a little side note. Betty, my assistant, uses the Canon 350D as her main camera. I use the 5D as my main camera and the 350D as my recreational camera. Paul uses the 1DS MK II for commercial work and the 5D as his recreational camera. What more can I say? ;)
3 comments:
dude u need to smile more haha...classic hengheng shot. *i should be sleeping*
Hey Heng,
you are doing good -learning new stuff all the time. Don't beat yourself up just because you are learning new stuff this "late". It's never too late.
Most people don't bother to learn and improve.
I had a thought once... If a person improves on just one thing a day. He can improve himself in 365 ways in a year and 1825 ways in 5 years! (and 5 years isn't really THAT long) That's better than the person who realises that he's losing to the competition and decides to take a leap of improvement in a short moment.
What I'm saying is: You're doing good! Keep the love!
And yea, I agree with "ead".
Smile dude!
Dan
Hi Guys,
I will try to smile more. I am happier than I used to be, but I can do with a bit more sleep. :)
Dan, as lazy as I am, I am always learning new things. It never stops for me. I guess that is why I love what I do. It is never the same and there are new things daily.
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