Some images from Loes

Today some images shot during a workshop with Loes.
Including one with the very cheap Petri 50mm shot wide open with just the modeling lights (last shot in the range)

Loes Mei 3-492-Edit

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Mini review Petri 50mm 1.7

In the series of old lenses to have fun with today the Petri 50mm 1.7
I can’t find a lot about this lens except that it’s probably from the 70’s-80’s.

 

During Queensday we went out and bought a whole bag of camera gear for 5.00 including a Pentax SuperME camera including some film, which I’m now also shooting but will share that later next month. Also in the bag was a Petri 50mm 1.7 lens which (with the proper adaptor) fits my SonyA99, now the main advantage of the A99 is the peaking option when using M focus lenses.

 

Because we bought the whole bag for 5.00 what can you expect…. well let’s say it’s nowhere near my best lens in the M mount but it’s pretty fun to play with, loads of flare and washed out colors.
So after some DxO and Alien skin film looks I came up with these 😀

 

Would I recommend you buying the lens?
No, unless you want the washed out look when there is just a bit of sun, however it also depends on what you pay, for anything below 10.00 it’s always fun to experiment with and play around with looks after wards. I love the way the old lenses are “steering” me towards a certain look in DxO and Alien Skin, with the good lenses you are presented almost perfect images so there is a lot to play with but it’s always….. well almost perfect if you know what I mean. With these kind of lenses you actually do get reasonably sharp images but the contrast is absolutely horrendous so you start playing a bit more, this does boost the fun I have, so below 10.00 go and get it, above that no way.

Kermis Emmeloord Mei 4 50mm 1.7 Pentri_-4-Edit

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Nadine results Book signing and demos

Last week we did some book signing sessions due to the release of my Dutch Book “the Magic of the small strobe : from dark to light”, and because I don’t believe in just doing the signings I asked Nadine to join me for some demos. Today some images from the session we did at CameraTools in Apeldoorn.

Cameratools strobist april 26-127-Edit

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It’s all about expression

Now a lot of people often ask for the magic ingredient for a photoshoot.
Well in al reality I would not know THE magic combination, and that’s a good thing otherwise all photos would look alike 😀
However when we look at a successful photo a few things are very important for me.

 

1. Styling
When you shoot a model in jeans and a tank top you better be a lighting wizard, because there’s nothing going on.
A little bit of styling goes a long way and will lift your shoot to the next level.

 
2. Expression
Now this is where it gets tricky, some models just don’t have the expression you want, they can be beautiful but if they appear on the image like they are waiting for the next buss, well it doesn’t make a nice image right? So when I scout my models I will always let them “scream”, “Look intense” etc. and if I go like “WOW” that will be the model I’ll be working with.

 

Today some images shot with Marie during a small flash demo last week during my book signing demos at CameraNu at Urk where we were working with some expressions. And let’s be honest…. this is much better than just a pretty face 🙂

CameraNu strobist april 25-229-Edit

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