Discovery is all fueled up and set for a 1:36 AM ET launch. NASA says there is an eighty percent chance of the launch going forward, but there are rain showers in the area.
Week two: food. Specifically, David Hobby (author of Strobist) says, "photograph a gastronomic subject so well that it will cause me to go off the wagon." Here's how you take photos of food.
First, I started off the day the assignment was announced by taking a photo of my lunch on top of my dresser.
Then I contacted my aspiring chef friend Elizabeth and asked if I could take some photos to liven up her blog. First up, scones.
Finally, peach brown betty. This is the photo I submitted for the assignment.
Konstantin was going to take a photo for a chef in our cafe at work, but the chef worked two jobs and couldn't meet with us. But he did give Konstantin a recipe for a steak tip plantain sandwich. We literally spent an hour taking photos of this thing, and we were very happy with the outcome.
So, what won? Three peppers in a cast-iron pan. It's a great photo, but it's not exactly gonna make someone "go off the wagon." In fact, none of the finalists really fit that bill, either. I feel like we somehow lost our chance by following the directions. Oh, well.
Right now, we're in the middle of assignment three. Expect a post in a few days.
Strobist is a blog about off-camera flash, a technique that gives photographers a lot of flexibility and control. It can be difficult to master because besides the technical side of things, learning the art of lighting just requires a lot of hands-on experience.
Enter Boot Camp Two, a series of assignments to help photographers improve their off-camera flash skills. Week one's assignment was to take a headshot. I've been teaming with my coworker and fellow photo club member Konstantin. This is Konstantin helping me get familiar with my rented camera before I shot the Holley wedding in March.
Konstantin and I went to a parking garage in Boston to photograph a headshot of his sister in front of Boston buildings. After we had some trouble with the high wall around the top level, he chose this photo as his entry for assignment one.
My subject was Rachel. Not too creative, I know, but she was in need of a more professional headshot for publications and such. We went to the MIT brain building, which has a multitude of potential headshot backgrounds. I settled on a simple one, the floor.
For the curious, David announced the finalists and winner for assignment one about a month ago. Right now we're in the middle of the third assignment. I'll give an update on assignment two soon.
In reverse order, our first couple of vacation weeks were spent with my side - where Marlee met her cousin who is closest in age - just four days! Here is documentation of their first meeting:
There are really so many good shots of them . . . here are a few
Stargazing . . .
"You stay here, I'll take care of this one"
And one last shot to remember her by . . .
P.S. Thanks to D. for making that delicious blueberry puree.
