Monday, November 16, 2009

say cheese

Two long tables had been joined together for a chili cookoff. These are the kinds of competitions a person can really sink his teeth into! It is critical to take small portions, especially if you want to taste as many varieties as possible. Instead of serving one bowl, I carefully grabbed a bowl AND a cup in the same hand... that way would spend less time waiting in line. As they were making announcements and presenting the judges, I wondered if the shredded cheddar would come out okay in a photo. I went in for a macro (using a new light ring that I made myself), and I heard some people making fun of me for taking pictures of cheese.

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Pfft! (muttering) People.

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You know, that these are probably going to be the very people who get in a jam and need a free photographer at a moment's notice to produce "professional" looking prints and have them turned around overnight. (And I would be the guy with a camera who says yes.) They should never make fun of a guy who takes pictures of cheese? I mean, what if he really IS crazy?!!!

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I think people are difficult. What I mean is, that even though I love people (I really do), it's harder to get a good photo of them, than say a bumblebee or a flower or whatever.

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I practiced this weekend. I set up a spot with four flashes. One was a few feet to the left of the subjects, and aimed to the wall behind them. One was at the end of a stick that I held high to my left. On the right, I had a flash unit covered with tissue paper for soft fill-in. All of this was triggered by my camera's little flip-up flash, and I had wax paper in front of that, for a softening effect. I was happy with the results, but I did not have them sign model release forms, and I don't want any trouble with the stuff I publish on the blog.

9 comments:

imac said...

lol, cheese man lol.
Go get em Craver.

You have just signed yourself away as a nutty pro photographer,---Join the club.My friend.

Gaelyn said...

I Like the Cheese! Could have been used for a mystery photo.

I'm bummed not see any of these fantastic people pics. You could ask for their permission next time. ;-)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Ah you do have troubles don't you my friend ... first they think you are crazy for taking pictures of chees (who wouldn't :) ) and then the models wont let you use their photographs ... What a life!! You going to have to change over to insects, they are MUCH more amicable.

Craver Vii said...

Oh, I don't have any delusions about being a pro just yet, Imac. I'm just saying that we hope to capture images with a little finesse for special occasions. There is no way I could do this to pay the bills, but I keep practicing, learning, and being inspired to stretch from good folks like you. :-)

I intend to start asking people for their permission, Gaelyn. I have already printed forms, but I don't know yet whether it would stick, since I am using a pseudonym.

Oh, I wasn't restricted by these models, Joan; I just didn't ask yet. But you are so right. The last two or three weeks, I have encountered a few people who don't behave as well as bugs. Fortunately, my "models" from this weekend, are some of the nicer people one could know.

Wendy said...

Cheese!!
This post made me laugh, lol :P That's very interesting that you're experimenting with portraits, I would love to see your work (if you get permission, that is) I bet you're very good at it.

PS, yay for chili comps!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Craver: I'm going to guess it is Cheddar. Neat 'What Is It' today but you shouldn't have given the cheese hint.

mommanator said...

say chhese and you take pics of cheese! lol! such irony

Craver Vii said...

Oh, that chili was soooo good! Leeloo's mum, I think I will include a few release forms in my camera bag, and try to get permission first from now on. It would be less awkward that way.

You now what Fishing Guy? I have seriously considered doing a "what is it" post, but with an award. The only award I have created so far is the "Stinking Blogger Award." You'll find it at the bottom of my sidebar. When I created it, I thought it could be funny, but that kind of power must only be used for good, and I was afraid of what might happen if it fell into the wrong hands.

And yes... it was cheddar.

You betcha, Mommanator! Irony, plus ten other vitamins and minerals served here regularly.

Anonymous said...

yep, got to be careful not to make fun of the photographer, you could end up on his bad side, or he could a take a photo of yours.