Lucky Hell

From the editorial mini series collaboration with Lucky Hell & Anu Hämäläinen.

Setting priorities

I occasionally write short reviews of equipment to my blog as I am also really interested about the technical aspects of photography. How new cameras, lights and gadgets work. Are they effective and comfortable to use. What can be done with them and how they will drive the photography further and make the life of photographers easier. Product reviews seem to be also the most popular posts in my blog if measured by number of views. It is refreshing to get and test new cameras, lenses and light modifiers and find new inspiration and ways of doing photos through them but it is good to keep in mind that they are just equipment. All the innovations and enhancement in new equipment makes the working easier but they don't mean automatically better photos.

If you are into editorial portrait, fashion or beauty photography where production value (= team & location in addition of photographer) matter more than for example with street photography, don't invest just on new lens or light. Invest money on getting professional models, make-up artists and stylists to work towards your vision. That will usually show much more on the end results, than using new one stop faster lens. I have seen so much talented and jaw dropping work done with cheapest dSRLs with kit-lenses that I often wonder why semi-intelligent people (including me) are panicking to immediately upgrade photography gear to recently introduced new versions. Even after writing this I have to admit that this has been already exciting year what comes to new photography product & software announcements. I feel truly sorry for all of you who are struggling with acute G.A.S (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).
 
You can buy more pixels or faster lenses but not talent. Don't forget the 10 000 hours rule, so keep on taking photos to really improve. Keep on taking photos that are out of your comfort zone. Try to edit things differently with whatever software you are using. Try using just the natural ambient light if you are flash photographer and vice verse. I am also trying to follow this by doing the lighting & retouching differently and to learn more about video editing. It is sometimes difficult as hell but rewarding when things will go right. Maybe by that way I one day learn to take good photos.

I chose the picture for this entry as it was taken few years ago with ancient 6 megapixel Nikon D70s and SB-600 flash + reflector. Combination worth of around 400€. It also has good summer vibe with my friend in the lake drinking cola. For this shoot extra money was not used for professional make-up artist or things like that, it all went for grilling accessories. Summer is here again, keep your mind focused on that. Summer is good. Grilling is even better.

Lady Laverna & the Ravishing Shangri-La Rubies

Promo photo for Lady Laverna I took around January.

Before and after by Herstyler & Gaya

From makeover shoot last year for Gaya cosmetics & HerStyler

Yacht workshop

Co-arranged this sailing themed portrait photography workshop with Tapiola cameraclub. We did portraits using ambient light with diffusion fabric/reflector to open shadows and then same with flashes. Two professional models & make-up artist and sunny weather. Good combination for successful day.

Nobody fell to the water during day and only item that sea claimed was cheap radio trigger :)  More photos & one video after link.

Mia

I don't that often like to use wide angle lenses for portrait/fashion, but I think for this photo focal lenght choice (14-24) worked well. This was also the first outdoor shoot this year when it didn't get cold because of really sunny & warm weather. Summer is great.

Layer pizza

Example of not that well organized layer structure. After finishing retouched image you don't always have time or energy to start reorganizing and renaming the layers. Putting them into groups, adding explanations or color codes describing what the layers are in image and deleting unneeded layers. Deleting duplicated base layers/merged layers and textures that are not used in final image can save lots of hard drive space. Keeping files tidy and compact will also make them faster to open & save. Saving time & hard drive space is saving money.

Poorly structured file can be called as layer pizza. Layer pizza = totally or semi-randomly lied out layer structure without proper layer names. Interpreting it later is like decoding DNA structure.

I have also heard stories that some people use Photoshop without layers...

Dia de los Muertos

Finally had opportunity to create Dia de los Muertos themed photos. Aiju was great choice as model and she had some authentic Mexican props to suit the theme (figure and candle to keep the bad spirits away). Flower arrangements in hair was done by Anu and they are combination of real & fake flowers.

As for the lighting, gridded beauty dish served as main light, while some of photos below were done just using the candle light.