The Munchkin's Notebook

I like doing still life photos now and then, because it can be relaxing yet challenging to get an interesting photo.  My inspiration for this still life was autumn season, even though the weather begs to differ right now.  Really it is the end of September and we been having strings of 90-degree days.   For this shoot the set up was simple. I used a black backdrop laid across my kitchen table. The back drop was propped up in the back by a cardboard box.   I placed a speed light with a small soft box on a light stand to the camera’s right pointed down at the gourds, basket, and straw. The flash was set to a 25mm zoom and 1/16 to 1/8 power. I also had a gold reflector on the camera’s left to reflect some light back into the image to ensure some definition and separation from the background and to give the image some warmth. (See image to left.) I used a 18-55 mm lens.   I was shooting at ISO 100 at a focal length of 18mm with an aperture of   F8. ...

On September 8 th   I hosted a meet up of the Dayton-Columbus-Cincinnati Cosplay Photoshoot group at Whetstone Pond in Columbus.   Whetstone Pond is located next to the Park of Roses in Columbus.     We had 14 cosplayers and 3 photographers attend, so it was a very busy shoot. I worked with 11 cosplayers of which 6 were in groups of two.   I shot a total of   227 frames in three hours. Of the 292 frames I edited 146 images and delivered 83 final images. I shot the whole meet using a light from a single bare off camera speed light on a light stand. I shot with a bare speed light to compensate for the sun. I shot using ISO 200.   My aperture and shutter speed varied throughout the shoot, due to the changing lighting conditions due to the drifting clouds.   My aperture ranged between F5 and F14 with the most common being F8.   My shutter speed varied from 1/40s to 1/250s with the most common speed being 1/250s.   Finally, my fo...

I attended my second Matsuricon , and I’m still not sure how to rate the overall convention. The check in process was smooth except for the confusion over the photography badges again.   I’m starting to think they need to better train their volunteers who check people in so there is less confusion about photography badges. (A photography badge is needed if you are charging for one-on-one sessions.)    This year I had 11 sessions booked, but had to cancel one, because I ended up getting sick.   The convention center felt like it was the same temperature inside as it was outside; and I do not due well in heat.   I had to cancel my last session of the convention because I was just feeling ill and it is not fair to the cosplayer if I cannot provide my best during a session.     I also attended the cosplay fashion show and shot during that.   I have two comments on the fashion show, first it needed to be longer with more cosplayers, second the cospla...