Jeff Carouth :: Beta

DJ Rob Photo Shoot

Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 02.52

On Sunday I met with a College Station based DJ for a portrait session. The goal was to get some usable photos for his website as he is currently using a stock photo and some photos that he would like to replace. He is also looking at adding a gallery section so he needs shots. We met on campus to do a little work in Spence Park and on top of the Koldus parking structure around sunset to give us some interesting light to work with.

The first segment of the shoot was in the park on a bridge.

We then moved to the roof of the parking garage. (Side note: you cannot drive to the top of the garage without leasing a spot up there. At least they have elevators.)

All in all I am satisfied with the results. If I can remember, I'll update when the shots have been incorporated in his website.

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• photography
• hobbies

Wait, a Lamborghini Diablo?

Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 00.21

As soon as Carl mentioned he had a contact which could potentially produce a Lamborghini for us to shoot the organizing of our photo shoot began. After some "scheduling turmoil" we ended up having a few moments with the Lamborghini Diablo owned by a Texas A&M Aerospace Engineering professor. I conned my little sister, Becky, into volunteering to be our model for the shoot and at about 4:40pm the shooting began.

Here are the results...

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• photography
• hobbies

Ashley: Black Background and Cheesy Portraits

Thu Feb 14, 2008 at 14.06

Last night Michael Cummings, Ben Bailey, and I had a chance to arrange for Ashley to join us in Michael's photography studio located in historic downtown Bryan. This is the same girl that battled the cold forty degree wind on the roof of a parking garage on Texas A&M west campus. For nostalgia's sake here are two shots that I captured from our first meeting.

For more photos from that shoot check out Michael's photo set.

This time we put her in front of a black background and used a single Alien Bee 800 in a softbox as the light source. Here are the results of this segment of the shoot...

The setup for these shots more-or-less matches this shot. Michael added in the light you see on camera right fired into the umbrella.

I did learn that in choosing a background and lighting for a particular subject, it is very important to give consideration to the clothing they are wearing. For example, in this shoot Ashely is wearing black pants which disappear in several of the shots because the lack of separation from the background which, correct me if I am wrong, could have been provided with a rim light. I added that to my list of things to not forget for the next shoot.

I also learned that I should trust my instincts and use a reflector so that we don't lose her left eye in some of the poses. I do like the shadows, but I think the loss of the eye could be fixed without compromising all of the "drama" the shadows provide.

After the black background segment we headed into a different room and set up what I can only describe as cheesy senior-portrait-like photos where Ashley is laying on a white cloth. We were trying to blow out the background completely while maintaining the subject. I think I got close to the goal, but I do need a little work on the exposure. Here is what made it to the "final cut"

All said it was a productive shoot and I learned a little more about lighting in a studio and also worked on interaction with a model.

• Tagged:
• photography
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My Studio: It VANISHED!

Tue Jan 08, 2008 at 00.49

My short lived portrait career is now seemingly at a close for the time being. After returning to College Station I put up a backdrop (really a maroon fleece blanket my mom made that is doubling as a slipcover for this god-awful chair in my lifing room) and began experimenting with lighting and such for portraits -- more specifically self portraits. However I have recently acquired a new roommate and she will be taking over the last room in my apartment meaning my studio will not get put together.

I do, however, have the plans to make some do-it-yourself studio equipment (background stand, light stands, and diffuser for lights) out of pvc pipe and some clamp on light fixtures which I will be diving into soon (note: posts to follow), but I'll just have to find a different place to put the stuff. I'll probably end up storing it when not in use in my rapidly retreating empty space in my closet.

Anyway, I leave you with the last photo taken in my studio before the background was taken down...

• Tagged:
• photography
• hobbies
• life

My Entrance Into the World of Photography

Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 11.31

Well, I've done it; I've gone out and bought myself a shiny new digital SLR camera. I decided on the entry level D40x from Nikon (yes Cannon fans, I said Nikon) and I currently have both the kit lens (18-55mm AF-S f/3.5-5.6G II) and a telephoto lens (55-200mm AF-S f/4-5.6G).

I received the camera via FedEX on December 24, 2007 and since then I have been shooting tons of photos learning the ins-and-outs of the menu system, as well as getting used to not using a point-and-shoot on "auto" mode. It will be a new experience for me, but it is something I really enjoy and hope to be able to shoot a few events for people in the future.

Currently, there is an extra room in my apartment that I have been using as a makeshift studio for self portraits. I'm going to be making some muslin backgrounds -- thanks to this article -- and then work on some studio technique.

The only problem I can foresee is subjects. I'll have to go find some willing "models" in college station that will help me get better at studio photography. I can probably make use of the studio in the ENDS department, but they have direct light which I don't know if I should be learning how to use at the moment.

Anyway, this post has been littered with photos that I've taken over the past few days. They are all hosted on my flickr photo stream, so check them out when you get a chance (clicking any of the images in the post will take you to that photo on my flickr account).

• Tagged:
• photography
• hobbies
• life

Bonfire: The Memorial - Two Thumbs Way UP

Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 02.03

If you ever venture into the great state of Texas and have opportunity to visit Aggieland (College Station) I highly recommend visiting the Bonfire Memorial. The design of the memorial is a bit abstract for any non-Aggie -- afterall, from the outside looking in you can't understand it, from the inside looking out you can't explain it -- but I will try to capture the essence of the memorial here.

Bonfire is a tradition dating back to 1907 but no longer burns on campus after the tradegy that took place on November 18, 1999. The stack, for the third time in it's history, collapsed killing eleven students and one former student and injuring twenty seven more. This would spell doom for a university-sanctioned bonfire.

In rememberance of the fallen Aggies a memorial has been constructed on the site where bonfire once burned. The very center of the memorial is the spot where center pole stood. The basic construction of the memorial is a ring -- a spirit ring -- to symbolize the unending spirit that unites all Aggies, past, present, and future. A "history walk" leads from the entrance of the memorial to the spirit ring and consists of 89 stones and 89 lights, each representing a year that bonfire burned on campus. The missing stone from 1909 to 1999 is for the year 1963 when President John F Kennedy was assasinated. Bonfire was built, but never burned out of respect for the late President. The spirit ring consists of 27 granite blocks connection 12 portals, representing an Aggie that was injured and a lost Aggie respectively. The blocks are left blank in rememberance of all Aggies that were injured over the 90 years that bonfire burned on campus. Inside the twelve portals, however, are carved into bronze the faces, names, and warm memories of the twelve fallen Aggies. From personal experience I can tell you that once you visit this memorial and read the twelve portals you will feel as if you knew each of the fallen and they will stay with you for the rest of your life. Standing in the portal you are said to be filling the hole in the spirit ring created by the missing Aggie. You can look from center pole through each portal and your line-of-sight will be directed at the hometown of the portal's respective person.

The designers and builders of this memorial did an excellent job. These twelve will never be forgotten.

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• photography
• texas a&m
• aggies
• college station