Month: March 2015

Cross Culture experience is similar to a night at the Opera.

by Stanley Learystorytelling / visual storytelling
 
Fuji X-E2, FUJINON XF 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/10, 1/20

Here is a photo of my wife Dorie, a 1991 graduate of The Citadel and opera stand-out Morris Robinson. We were able to go backstage after seeing Rigoletto due to an invitation by Morris and meet some of the cast.

Fuji X-E2, FUJINON XF 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/10, 1/25

Here Dorie is with Todd Thomas, who played the lead role of Rigoletto.

The opera Rigoletto was sung entirely in Italian with subtitles in English above the stage. I quickly realized that the opera was similar to my overseas coverages when working in a language I did not speak.

The first few minutes are difficult because I am not quite getting the story due to the translation taking a while.

You find yourself relying more and more on the acting and the music to help bring you into the moment’s mood. However, I also rely heavily on body language and visual cues when I am shooting overseas.

When people look at my photos, the photos don’t have audio or text for the most part. So if the opera relied heavily on the words to tell the story, I was more or less not getting it very well. Hard to read subtitles and pay attention to the actions simultaneously.

Opera helped remind me of what words and pictures need each other. The visuals will often do a much better job telling the story; other times, the words must carry the heavy load of the storytelling.

Neither one alone did a great job without the other.

I recommend going to an opera for visual storytellers, especially if you don’t know the language. It forces you to see how much visuals can do, the limits, and how important words are to the complete package.

Little bit of red better than a lot

by Stanley LearyPhotography
 
Fuji X-E2, FUJINON XF 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/8, 1/320

Just a dash of red in this otherwise very monochromatic photo gives it the pop necessary to grab your attention.

Notice how the same black & white photo doesn’t have the same POP as the color photo.

Fuji X-E2, FUJINON XF 18-55mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/8, 1/320

Red is one of the colors that draw the most attention in a scene. Stop signs are red for this reason, like on this school bus–your eye will see it in a location. Also, this is why the lights are red on the bus. Same as the tail lights of a car. You want them to be red when you hit the brakes so that those following will be alerted.

The lesson is simple when there is just a splash of red in the photo, you will draw your eye to that area of the photograph. If you don’t want that to happen, don’t include it in the image.

Lovin’ Nikon D750 @ High ISO

by Stanley LearyPhotography
 
Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 5000, ƒ/5, 1/250

I have been looking through my photos from the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference shot on my Nikon D750. I was shocked at the quality of the images.

The EXPEED 4 Image-Processing Engine and 24.3 MP FX-format CMOS sensor are a significant jump over my Nikon D4.

Years ago, when ADOBE improved the main processing software engine for PhotoShop, you could go back to older files and get better results due to the software improvements.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/8, 1/40

I think this happened with the new Nikon processor and sensor. While at first, I thought the images were sharper and cleaner due to the 24 MP versus the 16 MP, I think it has more to do with the chip quality for dynamic range and the new processor combination.

The pixel distance from each other is at a pitch of 7.3 microns on the Nikon D4 and 5.97 microns on the Nikon D750. This spacing improves clarity and definition. Rich and smooth tonal gradations. Dramatic character and texture.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 8000, ƒ/5.6, 1/30

Size Matters

It is essential to look at the photos in size you would be using–not zoomed in to 1:1.

So when I compare the images as I will most likely use them, there is an important notice of quality with the Nikon D750. When you go to 1:1, there is still an advantage.

I recommend looking at images of the sizes you usually use for comparison. For example, zooming into a 1:1 will have you cropped tight, comparing a 24 MP to a 16 MP.

If you are comparing Nikon cameras, unless you need 11 fps or 36 MP, buy the Nikon D750.

Southwestern Photojournalism Conference wraps up in Fort Worth, Texas.

by Stanley LearyNikon D750
 
Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/100

The past few days, I had a lot of fun at the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference and student practicum in Fort Worth, Texas. The time started right with me helping a student at Leddy’s. M.L. Leddy is a legend in the handmade boot and saddle industry. Since 1922 they have provided “made by hand” products for discriminating customers worldwide.

The student’s assignment on Thursday night was to capture an environmental portrait.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/200

Ana Cláudia D’ Carlos holding the Sony camera, is talking to Jody, the model at Leddy’s. Ana is from Brazil and came to the conference through the School of Photographic Communications at the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 1600, ƒ/5.6, 1/250

Kaylee Kaybay Walding found this street photographer in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, for her environmental portrait.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 1600, ƒ/5.6, 1/250

The one thing all the students were initially struggling with was their fear of people. Getting them to talk to people to find a subject was difficult, but as the deadline to stop approached, they were overcoming that fear.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 10000, ƒ/8, 1/250

On the far right and left front of the photo are Justin and Ashley Veneman. They are photographers in Memphis, Tennessee, helping the students learn how to set their cameras as others looked on.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/8, 1/50

I have blogged a few times about Dave Black. After we introduced ourselves, the instructor, Dave, asked to speak to everyone for just a minute. “I want to see everyone’s portfolio that is here this weekend. No matter how long it takes. So come and see me,” Dave said to the group.

Dave lived up to that promise and stayed up to 2:00 am the first day and 3:00 am the second day sitting on this couch reviewing portfolios. He encouraged people to gather around so they could hear his comments and learn from each other.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/4.8, 1/250

Here is Dave Black reviewing Susanne Childer’s work. Everyone around them is Susanne’s class from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/4.5, 1/25–off camera flash with the Neewer T850 triggered with the Neewer radio remote

One speaker we love to have back over and over again at Southwestern Photojournalism Conference is Dave Black. He is always prepared with great content and always delivers in an entertaining way.

Here are some of Dave’s many expressions in just a few minutes. We were laughing and crying with Dave.

Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/200
Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/125
Nikon D750, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/100

Put on your calendar February 26 – 28, 2016, for the conference, and if you are a student, be sure and attend the student practicum that precedes the event on February 25 – 26.