Tag Archive for: photography

Wibi Soerjadi live at the “Concert gebouw”

I’ve been shooting most of the material for Wibi for quite some years now, but one of the highlights is always the Christmas concerts in Amsterdam.
The “Concert gebouw” is not only an awesome ambience but it also has some amazing challenges due to the lighting which is very very dim, so it’s always a good time to test your camera to the limits.

 

I shot these images with the Sony A99 and all images went through DxO Optics 10 for Prime noise killing, and I have to say…. wow this combination rocks.
Normally I don’t shoot at the top ISO of the A99 so I only tested DxO Optics 10 in settings up to 6400, but it can handle the higher ISOs very well I can now confirm.

 

Now one of the things when taking photos is location and angle, and with most live concerts it’s not allowed to shoot the whole concert or even change your location. One of the privileges I have during Wibi’s concerts is that I can walk around and pretty much shoot from every location or angle I want, although I don’t want to disturb the audience and Wibi of course. This means that (as you can see) I also sometimes end up right on the stage next to Wibi, which is a very cool experience so close to the performing artist, but also terrifying because I’m in the spotlights with him, now you know why I always wear black 😀

 

Today some of the images I shot during the concert.
If you’re ever in the opportunity to visit one of his concerts make sure you do.
More information on Wibi see http://www.soerjadi.com

Wibi Soerjadi Concert Gebouw  390 - December 26 2014_DxO_DxOFP

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Tethertools cable example

Loads of people ask me why they should use the Tethertools cables instead of standard USB cables that are often 10-20% cheaper.

 

I’ve shot for years with standard USB cables and normally it would work, but especially with longer runs and when the files got bigger it happened a lot that sometimes it felt like the buffer was “stuck” if you would leave the camera for a few seconds (10-20) it would often work again but it was not smooth.

 
When I switched to Tethertools I never experienced this stuck buffer anymore. Lightroom still sometimes just drops the connection but this a problem some people have experienced since version 5.x and is easily solved by restarting the tethering option.

 

A better tethering solution is Capture One which is literally build for Tethering and RAW conversion (use AMBDOORHOF for a cool discount on buying Capture One).

 

So why is the Tethertools cable better…
Because images tell everything, here is a shot with a normal standard USB cable and the Tethertools Orange cable, I think it’s pretty obvious.

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For European customers visit www.tethertools.eu for US customers www.tethertools.com

Small flash and the sun

Tip:
Small flash is often regarded as “not powerful enough” but this is not true. Compared to the big strobes it might look that way however with the small flash system you can use something called HSS (High-Speed-Sync) and that makes it possible to shoot on much higher shutter speeds than with for example studio strobes or battery powered solutions.

Nadine buiten Oktober 31 2014  28 - October 31 2014

 

There are limitations.
Because the strobe “strobes” you will find that the light output is much less, but this is often countered by the higher-shutterspeed, but also recycling is much slower.You can of course add 2 strobes together for 1 stop more (add 2 more for another stop).

 

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The bigger fight

TIP:
yesterday I heard a very good motto:
“It’s not how big the man is in a fight, it’s how big the fight is inside the man”

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This is without a doubt a motto for almost everything but especially photography, often I hear people say “I can never do that”, or “I don’t have the gear for that”, but most of all “You shoot everything correct, I don’t”

 
Well let me first make a confession…. I shoot just as much junk as all of you, only I probably don’t show it, for me photography is a matter of going on till I get the shot.

 
Yesterday we did a session in Emmeloord I call “Fashion in Emmeloord” well ok not very creative, the model was surprised we were done in 10 minutes per locations, I told her very simply that if I get the shot I’m after I will continue for a few frames and then try a different angle or composition and continue to the next, there is no need to push through. I will use a maximum of 1-2 shots per location for my own portfolio so why shoot 10 killer shots while I can switch location.

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