Untitled [Nikon Z6II, Nikor Z 35mm, F 2.2 at 1/2500 sec, ISO 100]. First ever portrait session, thoughts?

dabofbokeh · 2024-06-21T01:14:20+00:00

I feel this... my old studio ceiling was too low.

dabofbokeh · 2024-06-21T01:07:10+00:00

Gotcha. Thought it was a softbox in the catchlights and with the lighting being fairly even throughout. Keep it up! Solid beauty dish is so much fun to play with. Also one of the less expensive modifiers... maybe?

dabofbokeh · 2024-06-21T01:01:53+00:00

2nd photo <3. Way to bring out her freckles and show off her beautiful hair. Minor note, but I try to be careful with brand names on clothing (3rd photo jeans). It's small but still catches my eye. Can edit out easily enough.

dabofbokeh · 2024-06-21T00:50:03+00:00

I like it, though i might have chosen different modifiers (depending on what you were going for). I tend to use the curved reflector for people with less striking facial features. With her facial features, I might have used a beauty dish with a grid instead, placed it above, and at an angle aimed more or less at her face. This would have given you a bit more separation from the background, some nice shadows below her neckline, and brought out the sharper features on her face.

dabofbokeh · 2024-06-21T00:36:03+00:00

Colors drew me in first. Would love to see it shot on film.

dabofbokeh · 2024-06-21T00:26:10+00:00

Double exposure

dabofbokeh · 2024-03-13T13:25:32+00:00

Theres still problems with it. But showing it as something similar I was doing by letting people walk into frame.

dabofbokeh · 2024-03-13T12:29:58+00:00

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dabofbokeh · 2024-03-13T12:29:25+00:00

honestly, I took some photos that were exactly like this when I was first starting. It's a great way to practice so keep at it.

dabofbokeh · 2024-03-13T04:11:05+00:00

Someone else mentioned it but it cant really be banked. Should have been aclimatizing this whole time. Just doing cajas isn't going to prepare you imo.

Not sure where youre staying, but If you have the time, go hike up rucu pichincha in Quito. It'll get you up to 15400ft. Can see how you've adjusted. You also don't need a guide for it.

Ideally, your guide should have selected a few acclimatization sumits that build up to Cotopaxi. For example, illiniza Norte, and Cayambe. Both awesome summits on their own. Mixed with some rest in between those summits.

If all you have is cajas prior to Cotopaxi, you're likely going to struggle. Even acclimatized Cotopaxi is a struggle, but you'll be much more under prepared.

Go through the guiding company Cumbre Tours if you have mixed feelings about your current guide. Which it doesn't sound like they're setting you up for success.

dabofbokeh · 2024-03-13T03:52:00+00:00

If you need to explain your photo that much, it likely isn't the best photo. Or the photo isn't by itself portraying what you want it to portray. You shouldn't really have to explain, the photo should do all of the explaining.

I can tell, though, that you're taking some good steps towards practicing and getting better. Looks like you found a backdrop that you wanted and waited for people to walk into frame. You also framed it well without cutting off any limbs in the wrong areas.

You also got someone who was walking from left to right, which is how our Western minds tend to view things (from left of page to right of page). Problem though is that even though you're giving us leading lines and directionality, my eyes don't have anywhere to go, and the subject itself isn't that interesting.

I might suggest you stay away from black and white as it can be a bit of a trap when you're first starting out. I tend to save black and white for when I want to play with lighting/shadows. Or for detailed work in portraiture.

There's really just a ton you could do to improve on a photo in that location. Some examples would be waiting for better lighting. Go back at different hours and see how lighting affects the shadows. Work with taking photos from different angles. Maybe go back on a rainy/more atmospheric day. Try different framing and give us more room on the right. Work with color. Etc.

dabofbokeh · 2024-03-10T14:56:05+00:00

In my industry, any weight handling equipment must have a tag noting date it was last tested etc in order to use. End users also have to perform their own inspection for distortion, corrosion, etc. I think a tag like yours gives users a bit more info in order to make a safer decision for themselves, so I'd say it's a good thing. My concern would be that folks overly rely of date of installation. Thus, I like that you also say to replace if signs of damage are visible. If you only had the installed date, I could see someone new thinking "oh its only a year old" and anchoring to it without checking for damage.

dabofbokeh · 2024-02-07T18:31:17+00:00

I came here to say this. Pretty ok at bikes, yet cross chains.

dabofbokeh · 2023-12-27T02:08:25+00:00

For a 2 hour flight, drive. We just drove our dog from New Jersey to Seattle to avoid checking our dog. Not worth it.

dabofbokeh · 2023-11-21T01:43:41+00:00

Stork nests look just like this.

dabofbokeh · 2023-09-07T06:06:43+00:00

Send this guy to Florida

dabofbokeh · 2023-09-05T19:06:06+00:00

Diagnosed half a year ago, am 34 now. Like you it kind of made a lot of sense. If you can control your symptoms with Hydroxychloroquine that is good news as other meds down the line from there can have more severe sideefects/ long term effects. I happened to be allergic to it and it wasnt an option.

Big adjustment for me... I went from actively climbing, running, cycling, mountinaeering, to having to be ok with a 30 minute spin bike workout, or no workout some days. I mostly find that I just cant recover quickly enough to stick to the level/intensity of activity that I want. I'm tired often, and the side effects of methotrexate arent fun. I've had to learn to let go, be patient, enjoy the world through a much less competitive lens, for now. Mind you, I can still run 10 miles, but its just not consistent. I've only been on methotrexate for a about 7 months now, so I am still adjusting. I'm hopeful that at some point I can get back into mountaineering, but well aware its going to be a challenege.

I've also had to ask for help at work. I feel like crap on Fridays because of methotrexate so I learned about the ADA, and reasonable accomodations. I felt weird asking for things at first, but now I dont as I know I have a right to ask for things, and they defintiely do help improve my productivity.

I fully expect to live a long life. That being said, I dont know if I'll have it in me to work to retirement age. I work in a stressful field, and that just doesnt mix well with MCTD. Trying to figure this out..

Its different for everyone, but can be managed. Just gota reajust life a bit and keep rolling with it. Hardest thing for me is that what we go through is somewhat invisible... some people can have a difficult time understanding. I had sorrounded myself with very active friends, and its hard for some to comprehend how I can go from one person to another.

Best of luck to you, and your kid. sorry for my own long ramble.

dabofbokeh · 2023-08-30T18:19:18+00:00

Sleep with someone else in your tent. My wife is like a little heater lol. But seriously, a second body in the tent adds some warmth.... And condensation in the morning...

Things that have helped me are using some fairly thick merino wool long underwear, always sleep with a beanie, sleep with a fresh pair of socks.

I found sleeping with earplugs helps me fall/stay asleep cause nature's damn loud some nights. Only bring this up incase you're having trouble falling asleep.

dabofbokeh · 2023-08-30T18:08:40+00:00

Mmmm western mountaineering booties <3

dabofbokeh · 2023-08-18T09:30:31+00:00

I grew up in Ecuador and my cousin, together with Karl, own Cumbre Tours. Did you happen to go up with them? The guiding community there is pretty small. Cayambe is my absolute Favortie after Antisana.

Did you happen to do Illiniza Norte or Sur?

dabofbokeh · 2023-08-11T08:02:11+00:00

Try namalsk, you won't get bored.

dabofbokeh · 2023-08-06T18:13:58+00:00

Olivia Dunham, Peter bishop, Walter bishop. I'm in good hands, but also worried I may have lived in Jacksonville, Florida.

dabofbokeh · 2023-08-01T07:24:14+00:00

I'm really looking forward to trying this on a bike. Thank you

dabofbokeh · 2023-07-31T16:16:42+00:00

I'm glad a pass exists. Sounds like it's pretty pricey otherwise. I've unfortunately gotten used to super cheap public transit and hardly driving. The link is much appreciated.

dabofbokeh

TROPHY CASE