#sonyshots

[seatosomert]

APPLYING NEW SKILLS TO OLD IMAGES.

12th March 2021.

Lockdown during the Pandemic has limited the opportunities to get out and shoot all the things we would normally.

If you’re like me and hankering to get out and shoot street photography and portraits, but still can’t due to lockdown measures, why not reflect on what you would like to improve upon with your editing skills?

It does 2 things for you...The obvious practising of your editing skills, but it also allows you to review and reflect on your lighting used and your composition.

You can look at your old images that you’ve forgotten about in your hard drive with a fresh perspective.

This not only allows you to also apply new editing skills you may not have had back in the day and to bring about a completely new look to your images, but it also allows you to think about what you’d do better next time. What you’d do to add light, or take it away. How you might have used a modifier to shape the light, or positioned your subject nearer to a light coloured wall etc etc.

I shoot that many images that often many won’t see the light of day. I pick a hand full of my fave images from a shoot and do quick edit or tweak on them, then post them to my IG account. I’ll get some printed also. Then i leave the rest with the intention of going back to them in a few weeks. A few weeks turns into months and a few months turn into years.

By going back to old images and revamping them, not only do you get to apply new skills you may have learned since you took them, but you also get to see just how far you have come in your art from a year or two before. It can be pretty satisfying.

The way i work is for my client work I’ll edit on the Mac through Lightroom CC or LR Classic.

However, for my own personal project work, I’ll use Lightroom Mobile. It’s that good as a mobile app now that I can do pretty much anything i might want to do on the mobile app, as it’s very rare i need to actually fix an image. Also, because the images are for me only, I’m not bothered about them being absolutely perfect for the pixel peeper. It takes the pressure off of me.

The images here have all been take in the last 2 years and I’ve tweaked them applying a couple of techniques i wasn’t using 2 years ago when i shot the images.

Give it a go guys and as usual, if you have any questions about anything I have discussed here, please comment and I’ll get back to you.

All the best and see you soon.

Regards,

Neil.

[thepandaphotographerr]

Wake Up #america This is Gordy, He was a full time teacher for over 30 years and the man saved every single dime and still in up #homeless in Portland, Oregon - So I’d asked you this, are you next? Body: Sony E-mount A7R Lens: Sony FE G OSS 90mm Macro Settings: ISO 160/ 90mm / F8/ 1/1000 @godoxlighting T600s x(2) Edited: Lightroom/ NikCollection Website: ThePandaPhotographer.com Under the law of intellectual property for photographers and filmmakers, these images are copyrighted by the @thepandaphotographer and 646Studios. Person(s) must ask the copyright owner for permission to use for non-promotional purposes #listentothis #thepandaphotographer #realportrait #sony90mmmacro #teachergram #documentary #stories #sonyalpha #photograph #realmoments #godox #godoxad200 #streetportrait #portraitphotography #sonyalpha #sonyshots #teachersofinstagram #oregonexplored #through_the_travel_lens #invisiblepeople #awesome pix #homelesspeople #portland #blackphotographers #blackphotographer (PDX Life) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoiG_VUJNoh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[fethishoot]

#milan #italia #photooftheday #photograper #instagood #shotonsony #photogallery #instaphotooftheday #photoofinstagram #phography #photographer_day #intamood #phots #instadily #sonyhomies #nightphotograpy #sonyshots #photographyisart #instatraveller #ilovetravelling #travellerslife #instravel #igtraveller #dreamdestination #dreamplaces #discoverworld #travelfar #letsgetlost (at Milano City) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHhrip6hAlF/?igshid=vxj355i47a13

[tjtaligato]

Does this feel like this came from The Lord of the Rings? . . Sometimes landscape works better than portraits . . . . . . . . #pixelandlens #pmphotoassignments #exploreab #yegviews #edmontonphotographers #landscapesofthenorth #yeggers_ #edmontonian #landscape_obsessions #landscape_gf #landscapes_obsessions #landscapes_hunters #lakelouisecanada #mountainclimb #rockymountaineer #landscapestyle #landscapestyle_gf #sonyphotoshoot #sonyphotos #sonyshots #sonycaptures (at Edmonton, Alberta) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA-3NLlgwe7/?igshid=1nvacndcpwz13

[ingabau]

🌿 Travelling can be quite expensive in this day and age. We are surrounded with information and do not know which way to look as travel agencies and websites are all competing for our attention. However our western culture has gotten in our heads with the hardworking motto of: "If you work all year you can take a break for two weeks." But when did we get so tied down to this way of living? 🌻 • 🌵 It might be exciting to be working towards a goal - maybe it's that amazing trip to Bali you have been planning for six months every day after work or a cruise around the Mediterranean sea with your family. However, if you have a wandering soul, that might not be enough for you. In time you will start resenting your workplace, your colleagues and even your family for letting you go down this path of monotony. 🌷 I've always been of a similar mind - a wanderlust soul trapped in a cage of societal rules we have to follow. You need change - start travelling on the weekends as well. 😊 Day trips are an excellent choice for those that want to be on the road 24/7 but can't. Plus, it'll make time fly by quicker until that big trip that you'll have in a few months. ⛰️ • 🌹 Explore your hometown or surrounding nature with new eyes - if tourists can come every year to explore our countries, why can't we? 💚 • 🌼 What is a town or place nearby that you have wanted to visit for a while now but just didn't see the point in it? 👇 Comment down below, let's get to know each other! 😄 • • • • • • • • • #canonslovenija #slovenialovers #slovenianblogger #slovenianphotographer #sloveniangirl #zbiljskojezero #zbilje #zbiljelake #igslovenia #igslovenija #sonyalpha #sonya7ii #sonyalphafemale #sonyshots #shotonsony #ingabau #theblondebibliophile #ifeelslovenia #myway #itsculturetime #femmetravel #femmetraveler #dametraveler #shewhowanders #sheisnotlost #agameoftones #visuallyobsessed #visualthrillers #visualscollective (at Zbiljsko Jezero) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvBaCtEFzAf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1n00r3ss5lvlq

[kathleenkreken-blog]

Jostedalsbreen ❤ #glacier #beautyofnature #visitnorway #ilovenorway #visitsognogfjordane #sognogfjordane #tourist #touristspot #view #traveler #summer2017 #nature #naturelover #view #bestofnature #bestofscandinavia #storyofnorway #Norway2day #breen #norwaynature #aimhigh #instapic #ig_captures #sonyshots #business #soaring #successing #freeanytime #vacation #entrepreneur #mompreneuer

[ivyjustine-blog1]

Carnival joy 🤡#carnival **** **** **** **** **** #sundayfunday #carnie #carnielife #brightlights #suffolk #longisland #newyork #sony #sonyshots #sonyrx100 #nofilter #photography #photog #myshots #photograph (at New York, New York)

[seatosomert]

Its been a while.....

Hey there. So yes, it's been a while since I last posted.

So what have I been doing?

Quite a bit actually. Covid 19 restrictions have taken their toll on everyone l varying degrees.

I have been determined however to continue create images whilst sticking to the law and Covid regs.

It would have been easier to have given in and just done as little as possible. I can't though. Its not within my character.

I've always had a sense of adventure and get up and go. My Dad was the same at one time and he rubbed off on me.

So I've continued to train, despite one or two physical set backs with little injuries and stuff here and there.

I've learned to jump rope. Explorer the lesser walked areas of my neighbourhood and local woodlands and trails.

I bought a modestly priced mountain bike and started up with that again.

I'm currently learning to speed read and enhance retention of information.

I bought a second hand electric guitar and was gifted an amp for it so I'm learning that too.

I've started to write a short book.

Coached a lad at work with his photography.

Had one trip to the Lake District in the summer (when restrictions allowed) with my beautiful wife for our wedding anniversary. Got some great images whilst up there too.

I had a trip to London with my youngest lad and took an adrenaline filled trip on the Thames Rocket boat in July. I highly recommend that by the way. It was awesome!

I sat some exams at work (and failed them by a few percent) but hey, I gave it a go and learned some new shit in the process.

I bought a new camera, the Fujifilm XE3 and learned how to create my own film simulation recipes.

Connected with professional photographers at the top of their game.

I've mentored others to help them realise and start using their full potential.

I've started learning how to create my own podcast (watch this space for that guys) which will be looking at adventurers and photographers.

I've helped my son with his home schooling during the school closures.

Taught both of my sons some Photography skills. Gotten back into Bushcraft after a year or two lay off, so I'm getting into the outdoors.

And after almost a full year of no business activity, I shot a wedding just a few days ago and I'm just in the editing phase to finish them off.

Finally, I just agreed to coach a guy with his Photography for a few months as a business client.

In and amongst all this, I've found quality time with my wife and boys. Had a little time to myself to meditate, do some yoga and get out into nature where restrictions have allowed.

I have a full time job also! When I review this year, yes I want to moan about the impact of Covid on my extended family relationships, my business and it's restrictions on my personal projects (that have mostly gone onto the back burner). Yet I have to say that on reflection, in light of all the obstacles and challenges that have been in the way, I've done a lot. I mean A LOT!

Its when I reflect in this way, right now that I am actually quite proud of myself for doing the best that I could. For not giving up.

For supporting others and for loving my family and close friends in the little ways I know I have.

2020 has been unprecedented and has been challenging to say the least. Yet I feel I can finish this year and head into the next, satisfied in the knowledge that I did my best. It was not easy. But the effort was sure worth it.

Thank you all for your continued support on this Feed. Just by following and viewing you help to drive me on and if even a tiny bit of my rambling gives you all a little enjoyment, information or images you enjoy browsing, then my job is done.

Enjoy the rest of Christmas and have a most wonderful and prosperous New Year.

I'll try not to leave it as long to post next time.

Much love.

Neil 😊❤️

[thepandaphotographerr]

Lincoln sit and waits for that golden hours moment on Campus. Amazing sun rise in Wisconsin Body: Sony A-mount 77ii Lens: Sigma Art Lens 18-35 f/1.8 Settings: ISO 100 / 18mm/ F5 / 1/100 Tripod: Manfrotto 190go Edited: Lightroom/ NikCollection Website: ThePandaPhotographer.com Under the law of intellectual property for photographers and filmmakers, these images are copyrighted by the @thepandaphotographer and 646Studios. Person(s) must ask the copyright owner for permission to use for non-promotional purposes #incredible_shot #thepandaphotographer #madisonwi #lincoln #wisconsinphotographer #midwestmoment #lincolnmemorial #sigma1835 #sigmalens #snapshot #skyphotography #beautiful_world #uwmadison #campuslife #sunrise_sunset_photogroup #sonyalpha #sonyshots #sunsetphotography #remarkable #through_the_travel_lens #manfrotto #awesomepix #buyart #discoverwisconsin #blackphotographers #blackphotographer (UW Madison) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl4KzSjpYwM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[vuela-dora-blog]

Amnemonemomne . . . . . . #ocean #oceancreatures #pacificocean #anemone #lowtidepool #outdoors #blue #sonyalpha #sonya5000 #sonyshots #50mm #findingnemo #reference (at Santa Barbara, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsRc0SeAE2I/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1b5tzk15dwwje

[loreazen]

Photo:Luna by LG REALTY GROUP INC. http://flic.kr/p/SiZswB

[kokiemolie]

A beautiful end to a beautiful day ❤ Love knows no limit, don't stop this love thing on Valentines.. Keep it going, 24/7 #365 #valentine #love #sunsets #tuesday #nature #photographer #photography #skies #blue #clouds #sonyxperia #sonyshots #shotsbykokie #lovely (at Roodepoort, Gauteng)

[and-rew-and-you]

Srsly tho, when can @jackielakeb3rg and I go back to #Paris? The place has an atmosphere of romance that I need in my #everydaylife. Can’t wait to pop out there next year too see @sergio.elizarraras and Suzanne! #eurotrip round 2! . . . . #parisadventure #felipepantone #pantoneabroad #paristown #cityoflights #peakdesign #findyourpeak #eiffeltower #romance #bnwphotography #bnwpic #sonyshot #cybershot #rx100v #ultradynamism #travelphotography #mansome #mcm #kleenkanteen #adventurephotos #picoftheday

[dalupo-blog]

Schafe trinken aus einem Wassergraben; Im Hintergrund unser Hausberg die Ehrenbürg, in Franken besser bekannt als das Walberla; . . Sheep drink from a moat; In the background our local mountain the Ehrenbürg, better known in Franconia as the Walberla; . . #landscape #sheep #franconianswitzerland #fotografieren #landschaft #franconia #visitbavaria #visitfranconia #frankentourismus #forchheimerleben #forchheimshots #forchheimshots19 #ftbamberg #sonyshots #cfv #gooutside #wanderlust #nature #sky #mountain #holiday #spendmyholiday #germanroamers #sheep #shepherd #schafe #schäfer #dabuidlmacha @frankenjuracom @ft_bamberg @franken.medien @br_franken @germanytourism @frankentourismus (hier: Forchheim Reuth) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoBlIhLDta2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6kz0rt6jp9aw

[ivyjustine-blog1]

Check out that Mozzarepa! #streetfair #tbt #reflections #sony #sonya7rii #sonyshots (at New York, New York)

[seatosomert]

Lighting.

So what do all these images here have in common?

Please indulge me and take a few minutes to study them.

What do you think now you've studied them?

The answer is that they've all been shot using auxiliary lighting. In other words I've used a light source in addition to the natural ambient light available.

Now, this post isn't going to be about what kit to use. There are plenty of other people out there producing all kinds of videos with different opinions. Some are brand affiliated, some are not.

So I'll leave that to those guys who are already doing a great job of it.

I want to talk to you about utilising available light and portable light sources, what I personally use and why.

Forgive me but I won't say if one thing is better than another etc. Every situation is different and you all have different shooting styles and have varying levels of desire as to the amount of kit that you want to carry.

What I will say is that in EVERY image here I have used a Speedlight, or several speedlites.

So what's a Speedlight? It's not a daft question guys. For years I called them Flash guns. It's a term I picked up from my Dad when he started teaching me to use a 35mm film SLR 27 years ago.

The correct term these days is speedlite and in fact it's a more accurate name for its actual use.

It is essentially a high powered light source that is quick (speedy) to use. That's it.

Now there is lots of technical stuff out there about Guide Numbers (GN) etc, which determine a speedlites power at a given aperture and ISO etc. It's very technical and if I am honest until about five years ago I never fully understood all that stuff until I paid to attend a course with the late, great Andrew Appleton.

You don't really need to know all that to be fair.

What I really benefitted from learning about speedlites is just how convenient they are, how to modify the light from them and how to improvise with objects and materials around you.

I always carry a mini speedlite with me for Sony cameras or a full size one if I'm carrying my Canon DSLR.

The mini one for the Sony's is almost half the size of the Full size one for my Canon and so it's ultra portable, only takes two AA batteries that you can buy pretty much anywhere and it's fairly powerful for its size, giving just over half the power of its full size sibling.

I carry only the one for my hobby Photography.

I like to travel light. So being able to utilise what there is around me is super important. I don't want to be carrying large softboxes or lighting stands when I'm walking around London shooting street, and not do I want to stand out with mahoosive full size speedlite attached to my camera.

I knew many years ago when I started out learning about this amazing hobby of Photography that the more I could learn about light, how it behaves, how to modify it and how to actually see what the light is doing, the more skilled I would become at getting the type of images that I was previsualising in my head.

The speedlites I use all come with a little stand so they can sit on most surfaces on their own. Two of the four that I own can transmit wirelessly to the other Speedlights, and trigger them to fire at the same time, even though they are different brands.

That's super useful to me.

In the wedding shots here, the shot with the guy holding the beer with his wife almost looking on with a little disapproval at his antics, I used two speedlites with shoot through umbrellas hidden in the trees. I had a speedlite on camera also which fired and triggered the other two simultaneously.

I went to that trouble because it was a wedding.

Same with the indoor cake cutting and first dance shots on the other wedding. I used three speedlites here.

But instead of using softboxes or umbrellas I popped the Speedlights on their little included feet/stands and angled the heads accordingly to utilise the reflective surfaces around them to give a flattering light that would also provide fine detail in the finished images. This allowed me to move around the whole area of the dance floor as I shot and I was confident that the lighting was going to work wherever I was within a certain area.

The karaoke shot was very similar. I used three Speedlights, one on camera 2 off camera on their little stands.

The single model shots were using large softboxes on lighting stands with Speedlights.

With the exception of two of these images.

The guy was shot with one speedlite bounced off of a wall behind me and the one of the lady with the white knitted top on (my wife actually) was a single speedlite again, bounced off of a white cotton bed sheet would you believe?

I am always experimenting with light. I love to try new things and I'll often limit the kit I carry or use for a shot to push myself to operate outside of my comfort zone by having to improvise and often very quickly. Especially with events such as weddings. Everything just happens around you at weddings but it's my job to stay switched on to what's happening and get the all important shots that you have just one chance to get right.

I love it. It's why even though I have scaled down my wedding photography as I move more towards B2B Photography, I'll always shoot a few weddings a year as it keeps my skill levels really high.

They're the most challenging work I do.

I don't just use Speedlights. I have access to a studio that a friend runs and I also have my own studio lights that run from mains or a portable battery pack.

They are only used for specific types of work where I need more power than Speedlights can give and where I want to totally control all the light.

I also have some continuous LED lighting which I mainly use for video, but one of them in particular is made by a great UK lighting brand, is circular and very portable and allows me to adjust the colour temperature (I can change the light colour basically) and it has variable power. It's also runs from AA batteries. It also has lighting special effects like police lights, television flickering lights and fire light. It can also be used as a strobe and so will act the same way as a Speedlight but doesn't need a recharge time between each shot like Speedlights do.

If you have been shooting natural light only and you're wanting to develop into an All Light photographer, consider some of the options here, but also get yourself a 5 in 1 pop up reflector. They're super versatile and easy to carry.

I took time out to really study light and how to reflect, shape, diffuse and cut down light. That was the single most important aspect of Photography that I've ever learned and I continue to learn as new options become available and there are some outstanding photographers out there who really know how to manipulate light to their advantage and produce amazing art.

That's it for now guys.

Hopefully this post has given you food for thought.

If you have any questions, do the usual and fire me a comment or message and I'll answer them where I can.

Keep at learning and practising guys. Your time, consistency and determination will reward you ten fold if you do.

Lastly, consider liking if you did like this post, giving me some constructive and helpful feedback if you didn't and don't forget to follow my Tumblr feed for more posts and content.

Enjoy the UK weather if you're here right now and speak soon.

Kind regards,

Neil.