West Coast choppers

I just got word that West Coast Choppers(Jesse James) will be stopping by on their way back from Daytona. They will have a tent set up and a truckload of merchandise to sell

Got bored today

Was very cold and no photos to edit so I had time to play in photoshop. In this first I combined a photo of emgee with some stock photos of stock exchange. I also used some fairy wing brushesand this next one I used a stock photo of an old polaroid and an ashtray and added photos of emgee run through Alien skin Exposure 2 the B&W polaroid effect. The table is from Alien skin Eye candy texturesI guess I have too much time on my hands to read Tutorials. If amyone is interested in the process let me know

New modeling site

I just created a new modeling site, Gulf Coast Models just for the Southern states of Al. Ar. Ga. Fl. La. Ms. SC Tn. and Tx. I always felt that Americas other coast got overlooked on the big modeling sites. This way at least there is a chance we can work together without having to wade through members from NY and Cali. So if you read this, are a model, photographer, mua, etc and  from one of those states feel free to check it out and join

New modeling site

I created a new modeling site just for the Gulf coast states of Tx.,La.,Ms., al., and Fl. This way models, MUA’s and photographers from these states can interact and network together. So many times on the other modeling sites the east and west coasts dominate the site. Well now we can have a place of our own. It is free to join

Gulf Coast Modeling

9-11

9-11 7 years ago today. Where were you at 7:46 CST. I was working as the maintenance supervisor for a large nursing home. I was walking the hall when a nurse called from one of the rooms that a plane had crashed into the world trade center. We watched the TV there for a few minutes before going to the TV lounge. It was there that I saw the 2nd plane crash and knew the world had changed FOREVER. As a war vet and proud American it sickened me and outraged me.  I remembered a line from one of my favorite movies, Last of the Mohicans, when Cora Monroe says ” I have seen the face of war, but never so on women and children. It was then I knew that this new enemy had no respect for life, or honor. They should be hunted down like animals. We were cursed by the world for our tactics in Viet Nam and accused of being baby killers but this act was dispicable. At least the Japanese targeted a military installation. My Christian beliefs tell me to forgive my enemies, but it does not say I must forget
9-11 Never forget

Dauphin Island shoot

Not sure if it is going to come through, seems that Gustav caused the sand the cover the road and some power is out. there is also damage to the beach house stairs. I hope not, but we may have to reschedule Here is a link to the photos and discussion over on Southern Models forum

Rain

Once again it ia raining all over the south. Fay is causing havoc with the gulf coast. Always seems to be feast or famine in the south. There are many things from the south that those of northern birth do not expeience. ham and red eye gravy, 110% humidity, mosquitos the size of B1 bombers and of course GRITS. Now as much as I like the ground corn breakfast variety I am talking about GRITS, that is Girls Raised In The South. There is just something about these girls their northern sisters do not have,  a genteel manner with a big streak of toughness. Here are few of my favorite GRITS

Carolyn

Fefe

MaLynda

Mary Jane

Nelwyn

Mikina

Nikki

Red

I know I will catch flack about this but it is just how I feel and my opinion. Find you a southern girl and find out for yourself

Where are we headed?

As photographers where are we headed, or I should say where is photography headed?. I was asked on a forum whether my shooting had changed with digital and Photoshop. Quite frankly no. The young guy said he shot with a concept in his mind of the manipulations he could do in PS. Then I got to thinking that in some ways I do. I have shot photos to use in my art and with a concept in mind, and I shoot HDR and for panoramos. But, I think the prevailing sentiment these days is to shoot the photo and then FIX it in PS. I still try to get the best exposure possible. I still use Polarizers and Graduated Neutral density filters. I still use a handheld lightmeter and can still shoot the sunny 16 rule if all else fails. It makes me wonder that if you took these new digital age photographers fancy cameras with full auto features and photoshop away from them, and gave them an old manual camera with no lightmeter, then had them send the photos off for developing what would the outcome be?. Now I am not advocating the return to the old days, I love the 5D and CS3, but what I am saying is LEARN the craft. It is not a 30 minute course. No one grabs an airplane and becomes an instant pilot. You don’t become a craftsman overnight. It takes time and experience. I get tickled at the number of newbies that get a digi cam and then ask what they need to do to shoot weddings. I have used a camera since I was 14 and owned my own since 17 and I still don’t know anything. I just get lucky every once in awhile.

While I am ranting, just how many pixels are enough? If you listen to the camera manufacturers or the so called experts or the Jo Blow on the forums it is the largest that the camera makers have. With the majority of digital photos never making it off the computer why do you need 24 MP? If all you want is 4×6’s with the occasional 8×10 then any decent 4 MP camera will suffice. If they never get past the computer or the internet then the MP’s don’t mean as much as the quality of lens and camera. OK then you are wondering what I use. I use an 8 MP 20D and see no reason to upgrade it just because there are newer and bigger. I also use the 12 MP 5D because it is the cheapest FF camera Canon makes. I also bought it used. When I do upgrade it is usually to another used camera. I did a lot of superb Photography with a 4 MP Canon G2 P&S before I ever owned a DSLR. My niece still uses it and is quite happy. I miss it and am thinking of getting a G6 to replace it because there are three newer models than it. I still have and use my Canon A2 I bought used back in the mid 90’s. It still works and takes amazing photos. Don’t get caught up in the MP race. learn to use what you have to it’s fullest, you just may find it does all you need. A good car racing friend once said ” It’s not what’s between the gears, but what’s between the ears” a great photographer can take outstanding photos with a simple pinhole camera, but a mediocre photographer can take crappy photos with even a $5,000 Canon 1DsMKIII.

I am constantly amazed at how many people believe the tool is more important than the craftsman. I have had people look at my photos and say ” you must have a really great camera” that is akin to telling a chef he must have a great oven or a master carpenter a great hammer or Leonardo a great set of brushes. Come on give me a break.

Every where you look people have digicams, expensive DSLR’s or even camera phones but no one gives a hoot about learning to use it. I treid to run an online phohotography course and it fell apart after just 3 weeks.

I have even heard so called pros say ” aw I can fix it in Photoshop”

I am also amazed at how gearheads want to make everything so technical. I had one look at one of my photos and come up with this elaborate studio lighting scheme.

In actuality. I do not have a studio and my most elaborate lighting is with a few hotshoe flashes and some umbrellas. This particular photo was in the open doorway of an old barn. The door is facing south. The light coming from the door is the fill and a Vivitar 5600 flash mounted on a flash bracket is the main. If I remember right I had the camera on Av mode and exposed for the ambient light. At this close range I probably set the flash to 1/16th power. That is what i ususally use when up close. I had a homemade flash diffuser on it. My point is you do not need elaborate lighting to make winning photos. This photo is a showcase image on Model Brigade

Networking

I get asked many times how I find so many models to shoot in such a rural and small town area. I reply the standard Model Brigade and Model Mayhem and even Myspace but a few days ago I got asked just how I get them to shoot with me? This got me to thinking, what do I have others do not. Certainly not equipment, mine is good but not the latest greatest, talent, I am ok but not on the level of Birdsong, or Rosen, location, not anywhere like the beach or the desert. So what is it? I think it is an intangible thing. Personality, charisma, charm, or whatever you call it. Some say it is silver tongued. I got a young photographer friend up in Conneticut that asks me to show him how I do it. it is not something that can be teached or learned, you have it or you don’t. it may come from my Scotch/Irish heritage, a touch of the blarney. I find it easy to talk to models and even women that have never modeled and to put them at ease. I also have a 6th sense to zero in on potential models. Sure i don’t shoot some of the highly regarded internet models but this is a fun hobby to me. I make my real living in other ways.
I can offer some advice. They won’t shoot with you if they have never heard of you. Just starting a page on one of the modeling sites will not help. You have to network, post in the forums, put out notices, get in the chat rooms, search for new models in you area, this goes for models also. interact and get noticed.
When I started this last August I realized there was a catch 22. You need images to get models, you need models to make images. I was lucky to find a young model from Dallas to shoot, but you can try local colleges art/drama schools, post a notice where they hang out, or run an ad in the school paper. Try with some friends. Offer photos in exchange for them posing. Then work your way up in talent. Learn to take constructive criticism. Analyze your photos and techniques to see what works and what doesn’t.
There is a wealth of knowledge on the internet that i did not have access to when I first started out. Use the resources available. But most of all SHOOT

Delete It

Hello Photography world

Welcome to my little corner of the internet photography world. My name is Rickey and I am a photographer from Louisiana. I have been at this well over 35 years and professionaly since 2002. This blog is about model photography and photography in general. I also have a modeling gallery blog at Southern Imaging Portfolio. There I will be posting some of my favorite photos and some from recent shoots. here I will be talking photography, flash, lights and model photography. Where to find models, TFCD, ettiquete and general do’s and don’ts.