Casio Data Projectors for Photographers on the Go.

A word about the Secrets of Video Production for Photographers events and the data projectors I use to show my Powerpoint  presentations and editing demonstrations.  Some projectors were provided by the hosts, but I was lucky enough to have the compact Casio data projector XJ-S57 as a backup which on select occasions I had to call into service.

While Powerpoints don’t take a lot of processing, it takes quite a bit of processing power on the projectors part to show the Final Cut Studio editing demonstrations I do at a high resolution.  The XJ-S57 handles my FCS demonstrations with ease.

The XJ-S57 is amazingly bright for its size and size is important when traveling.  It is small enough to conveniently fit in with the rest of the precious camera equipment as carry on.  It saved me several times when  there were problems with the rented projectors at the venues.

Casio also has a new green XJ-A series of Eco-Friendly compact data projectors  with a Solid-State light source.  These new projectors use a mercury free laser-LED hybrid light source that is more ecologically friendly with better color.  They are also more economical as the light source lasts much longer and for anyone who ever replaced a bulb in one of these projectors, they know it can easily cost $400 or more.

The new projectors also allow for quick startup/shutdown, which makes them easier to use than other projectors.  Of course, they have maintained the slim design that makes them so convenient.

Photography of healthy lifestyles

As a California photographer, I have great weather for healthy lifestyle images all year round.  I especially love the summer months for surf and turf images when I get either rich blue skies or dramatic cloud filled backgrounds.

California surfer showing healthy lifestyle

Combining great locations with my lighting style allows for some stunning advertising or editorial photography.  Casting of models and/or locations is easy for California photographers and clients in the place where the healthy lifestyle trend was started.  Being on the west coast means wide sandy beaches, vast deserts and majestic mountains for striking images.

Corporate imaging here is great too!  New facilities in open green areas are ideal for portraying the new face of greener corporations.

Photo hint:  Even when shooting at golden hour be ready to use supplemental lighting techniques like strobes or reflectors.  You might find the perfect shot is towards the sun which can add real life to an image as well as extra depth.  Photography is a craft.  Photographed with Canon camera and strobe.

Advertising photography- dramatic lighting of a Ryan PT22 classic airplane

Classic Ryan PT22

Until then for you photo enthusiasts, I used a Canon 5d, along with a chimera soft box and Canon 580 EX strobes, with rechargeable batteries to stay green, connected by pocket wizards, again rechargeable. The sun was in and out all afternoon so this combination allowed me to move quickly and light the face beautifully just as the sun came out of the clouds. Location photography is an art in itself, so remember it is about the craft not the equipment.

Will there be enough wilderness?

This weekend I taught a backcountry navigation class. I have been a photography educator and outdoor instructor for many years. Over the years, I have taught nature photography, people photography, backcountry navigation, and backpacking classes to teenagers through senior citizens. I presently instruct for Wilderness Outings and before that for A16 outfitters whose motto is “Leave only foot prints, take only memories” and in my case “take only pictures”. I love teaching about how to enjoy the great wilderness areas of the world in a safe comfortable way. It’s great to see people learn about how best to photograph places few ever get to experience so they can share their vision with others. The recent navigation class teaches them how to find their way in the backcountry using USGS topo maps and compasses.

Discussing geographic features.

Working from map to field.

Is it little wonder as a professional photographer much of my present work is people portraits in their environment on location. Some of my advertising photography and video requires the control I have shooting in my studio but it is hard to beat the spontaneity that often happens on location. As I teach in my outdoor classes, it is good to approach a project with a plan and know what you are doing but also stay open to new ideas. I was recently photographing a V.P. at Comerica Bank for a magazine cover and feature story. The V.P. had a great suggestion for a very graphic location just a block away from the original location but hidden from anyone who did not know it was there. I have developed a very portable lighting kit for just such opportunities. We actually did three very nice variations around that spot. It’s great to get your subject involved; the images are much more engaging to the viewer. Pictures of the V.P. will follow after the magazine has had the chance to publish them first.

I grew up spending my weekends and summers wandering the Sonoran Deserts and Rocky Mountains. My entertainment, as a teenager, was hiking with friends and photographing them. Little did I know, I was honing my skills for what I would partly do as a professional photographer and educator. I now see how very fragile earth is compared to what we can do to her. In a future blog, I will discuss how I work at protecting the environment while operation a photography studio.