headshots

The thing that intrigues me the most about taking headshots is the challenge it presents. You have just ONE photo to capture a persons story, their personality, and character. In say something like a wedding, you have the entire day, various events, several settings and props which ultimately gives you a good number of images to tell the story; where as in a headshot you've just got one. While in a headshot session you may take many photographs however, all you really have to work with is the subjects face for the most part. The photos below were taken at work of some new hires within a 30min period. I plan on purchasing Peter Hurley's Art Behind The Headshot dvd later this year and following up this post with some new learning and discoveries. 

*shoot notes

Shot this in the corner of a fairly large room with white walls. Behind me is a decent sized window, but not floor to ceiling. I used an flash that was pointed directly up for a fill light. To the right of the subject is the corner wall and to the left is a white piece of foam core. Directly in front of the subject is a white table which I used to help fill in any "under" shadows.

-w

the three laws of performance

Recently at work we were given "The Three Laws of Performance" by Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan. I enjoy reading and try to read everyday so I got cracking on it right away since we had to have had it finished in 3-4 weeks for a meeting.

I didnt really find the book to be terribly interesting, it was just alright. I've read a decent amount of self development books and many of them go over similar things and I feel like I've come to the point where when I read a self development book and there are one or two take aways I'm good. The take away this time was something they described as "The Default Future", and that is what ones future would be like if you just like things be, keep doing what you're doing and letting things happen.

We started the meeting by listing of everything that, isnt necessarily "wrong", but isnt exactly what we would like it to be, and what we think it can be. After that we discussed, should we stay on this path, where does it lead us. We ended the meeting by breaking up into groups and talking about what we want to see happen that changes the default future into what we want things to be like.

This really made me think about what my "default future" is; if I keep on doing what I'm doing where would I end up? Now I think I like the direction I'm heading in, however, I feel that there are two major things I need to work one. The first is revisiting my vision and goals, my plan. Theres a quote, while I cant remember exactly whos it by, it goes something like, if you dont know where you want to go, any path will take you there. I certainly know where I want to go, but havent not visited my vision and goals for a while that path has become blurred and should I stick to this "default" path, I think it may get me to where I want to go, but in a much longer time frame than whats desirable. This bring me to the second thing, time. Lately, I feel like I havent been able to make the time to really focus in and work in my path in life and this is something I definitely need to get a move on. Most of the time these days, I feel like I've almost got a default schedule going on, which is fine for the most part, but I really need to take some time to plan and rethink things.

What I want to see and what I will be actioning is freeing up time, yes even just an hour here and there every week to get clear on things and start doing it. As a whole it seems like a big task but broken down and over time its really not that hard. There is lots to do, but I look forward to and I am excited for it all.

-w.

Image from http://stevezaffron.presskit247.com/images/SiteImages/Site532/three_laws_cover.jpg

porteau cove

A few weeks ago we went to Porteau Cove to have a BBQ as well as to shoot some stars after. I dont have any pictures of the BBQ but what I can say is that we made some killer Japadog inspired burgers with the key ingredients being seaweed and Japanese mayo. 

We finished eating just as the sun set and we packed up the food and brought out the cameras and tripods. I've never had a serious attempt at photographing stars before so I didnt really know what to expect, however what came definitely took me by surprise. As the night grew darker more and more stars came out until the sky was just littered with them. It also helped that there was a meteor shower going on that night and if you look carefully in some of my pictures you can see their streaks, not to be confused with the airplanes though. It was my first time seeing anything quite like that, you could see the milky way with your bare eyes. The whole experience was simply amazing and seeing something like that made me feel so small and insignificant. After we were done taking pictures we just layed on some benches for about half an hour to admire the spectacular sight. I look forward to our next star gazing experience!