Kelley Photography

Daffodils

2008-04-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

This weeks post comes to you from my newly built desktop studio. My wife brought home some vibrantly yellow daffodils a couple days ago and wanted to photograph them. So with a little ingenuity, I put together a cool fairly cheap to make little setup. I don't think you can really tell this wasn't taken in a full studio environment.

Now my next project, to put together a food photography kit. My instructor showed his in class monday and its a great idea. Its basically a large box filled with super cheap placemats, silverware, plates, fake flowers, etc. Everything you need to create the appearance of a high end plate of food in just a couple minutes.

Dale Chihuly

2008-04-11T15:50:00.000-07:00

I know what this looks like, but it isn't. You aren't looking some horrible tentacled creature from the deeps here to devour us all. Or maybe thats a little too melodramatic to assume? This is actually a Dale Chihuly glass chandelier from Sacramento's EPA building. Dale Chihuly is a world famous glass blower. He's well known for his sculptures which, in my opinion, are not particularly attractive. I guess I don't get it. Still, it might not be attractive, but it is interesting.

To get this I ended up laying on my back with my camera in the elevator lobby of a government building. Thankfully the building closed about three hours before hand, so I didn't get a lot of strange looks. I like the way the light shines through the tendrils while leaving the center dark. I think its reminiscent of the Egg from aliens or some lovecraftian creation. Like I said, interesting.

Spring Skies

2008-04-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

According to my teacher, April and May are the only time of the year you get clouds like this. I don't know if that's true, but since he's usually pretty on the ball I thought I'd better get out there and shoot. The only problem is time, I don't have any. So I decided to start taking my camera with me when I walk the dog. I live near a creek and some fields, so I there are things to photograph.

All in all I'm quite pleased with my first walk. True to form, the clouds were wonderfully cooperative and the field was thick and lush and full of wildflowers. That oak tree is actually one I used to climb when I was younger. I actually live around the corner from the park my friends and I used to hang out in when we had nowhere better to be.

I wish the building on the right wasn't there, the original photo had a much bigger field of view, but the blah post office ruined the mood if I left it in. So you get a hint of it at the edge, and hopefully it doesn't steal too much of the attention from that beautiful oak.

Also for those of you who are interested, this shot is another for my series of pathways.

Muir Beach

2008-03-29T12:52:00.001-07:00

I haven't done a panorama in quite some time (scroll the photo to the right to see the whole image), but the vista of Muir Beach and the feeling that you're on the edge of the world as you gaze out over the pacific demands something more than an 8X10. This shot was actually taken with our little point and shoot camera and some stitching software which just goes to show that it doesn't take the most expensive equiment to make a memorable photo.

This is actually taken from the hills surrounding the cove, there is a set of stairs which is pretty much murder to walk up. They obviously weren't planned or spaced to make it easy for people to walk up, just to prevent people from falling off the mountain. Still, I think it was worth the aching calves, don't you?

If you'll note in the bottom left corner are two small yellow flowers. They grew on this hill side all alone, I found the little spot charming.

City Hall

2008-03-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

This week its architectural time! I'm not really hot on architectural photography. I know a lot of people love the lines and structures, but for me their just buildings. That being said, taking classes is about expanding your horizons and trying new things. Sacramento's City Hall shines a lovely golden hue as the sun sets. I took a couple shots from the front, but it was this shot from the side that captured the character of the building. The highlights and shadows from the columns and stonework really bring out the little details.

The Bouquet

2008-03-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

Anyone want to catch that bouquet? I know its a little strange sounding, but that's actually a bridal gown and bouquet. I recently had the opportunity to shoot for a wedding magazine. I'm in competition with 8-10 other photographers (including my very talented wife) for the cover as well as trying to get shots for the inside articles.

The reason its a black dress and bouquet is the lead articles are about alternative colors for dresses and not using traditional flowers. So Cristina and I worked to set up a full shoot. We booked a model, found a location, and got a bridal boutique and florist to loan us the gown and flowers. Just organizing it was quite an experience and one I think we did quite well on.

This is one of the shots I took specifically for the flowers article, I love the textures of the dress with the unusual bouquet. I've got more shots of the bridge and the gowns, but I'll save those to post till the magazine comes out. If either Cristina or I make it, you'll hear about it!

P.S. I posted for last week as well so take a look at Grilling!

Grilling

2008-03-07T15:00:00.000-08:00

This shot was taken in the kitchen at Scott's Seafood. My photo instructor invited me along on an ad shoot for the restaurant and I certainly couldn't say no to that. So we're there looking around for shots, the place is packed, and bold as brass he just walks back into the kitchen and starts shooting dishes as they're ready. Then he chats up some of the cooks and shows them the photos he's taking to get them involved. It was a lesson on its own, both that if you act like you're supposed to be there then no one will question you, and if you get the people around you involved then they're more likely to help you.

This shot is of the grill with a barely seen skirt steak being done rare. They've got a spray bottle full of oil which they use to sear the meat. They spray it right on the grill and it flares up 2 feet high. Very cool to watch!

Climbing the Ladder

2008-02-29T12:22:00.001-08:00

1/250" at f6.7. ISO 100
February 26th, 2008

In my current product and advertising class, one of the portfolio assignments is fashion photography. So, our group got together, Cristina set us up at her office (a high end bath and kitchen appliances showroom), Heather brought in a model, I put together a lighting setup andoff we went. The models name is Morgan Beckham and she was great to work with, she will hopefully joining us on our next shoot as well!

I'm particularly pleased with the this photo, I like the contrast of the black urn and tub, the rich dark wood, and the vibrant blue of her dress. I love the way the curves of her body echo the curves of the urn. She's giving a great look to the camera and what do you know... its another red head. This is a good month for red heads.

Golden

2008-02-22T15:58:00.001-08:00

1/100" at f4. ISO 200
February 17th, 2008

Meet Lago, my favorite 7 year old career change guide dog. This past weekend we took a trip up to Tahoe where there are snow drifts up to my head. Lago, being a golden retriever, loves to hop up into them and play around in the snow. His favorite thing to do is to play catch with snowballs, which generally just means having snow explode all over when he slams his jaws shut on them.

I think this picture really shows his personality, a little bit of a dopey grin, flecked with snow that he's been gleefully playing in, focused one hundred percent on playing fetch. This dog is one of the most obsessive fetch players I've ever seen.

Oh, and one more little point of interest, Lago's my friend for another good reason, red heads gotta stick together!

First Job!

2008-02-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

1/30" at f11. ISO 1600
February 2nd, 2008

A week ago, I got my first real photography job through my product and advertising class. Now I'm only a photographer as a hobby, I'm not trying to build a career out of it, but this was still pretty cool. I were working for the visitors bureau to take promotional shots of a couple local museums. This is one of my favorite shots of the days.

My first assignment was the Crocker Art Museum, they don't normally allow photography. So just as a little bonus to the day, I got a media badge and special access. The thing on the wall is a giant aluminum parabolic disc that all the kids like to look at. The lighting in the museum is terrible, but it gave me this great shot of a little boy in darkness.

My second assignment was the Towe Auto Museum. Its basically a giant warehouse full of classic cars. This particular car is a 1940 Lincoln Zephyr that's been hidden away for years. When the owner died, his granddaughter found it in storage and loaned it to the museum for display.

1/30" at f3.5. ISO 1600
February 2nd, 2008

Isolation

2008-02-01T14:34:00.001-08:00

1/250" at f11. ISO 400
October 28th, 2007

I'm always into trying new things, especially ones that don't have a high likelihood of killing me (skydiving, bungie jumping, croc wrestling). In January, I thought I'd take advantage of the large snow storms we've been getting and try cross country skiing and snow shoeing. I can say without a doubt that I prefer the snowshoeing. Cross country skiing just seemed to be too much work for too little fun.

At any rate, I called up my old friend Cari who loves to hike, and off we went to the mountains to try and break a trail through the snow. Except we aren't crazy, so instead we took a trip to a ski resort of 80 kilometers of trails. We mostly stayed on the trails, though a few times, like a picture above, I wanted to capture a sense of isolation. We slogged out through snow that ranged from ankle to thigh deep to get to a half frozen creek running through the forest. It was beautiful out there, and I'll definitely be going back!

Character

2008-01-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

1/60" at f5.6. ISO 1600
October 28th, 2007

I haven't had much of a chance to get out and shoot in the past couple weeks, a trip to the Sacramento railroad museum and thats about it. So, this is a shot from my grandmother's birthday. My grandparents have been married for more than 50 years, and they're still totally in love with each other.

I think sometimes the hands give a real clue as to a persons life. Soft and smooth, weathered and callused, scarred or twisted, they tell you a whole lot about how a person lived. My grandfathers hands are strong and well worn. They belong to a man who has lived a long and interesting life. He's worn his ring for so long that its fitted perfectly to his fingers, just like his marriage, a perfect fit.

Bejeweled

2008-01-11T22:14:00.001-08:00

1/350" at f5.6. ISO 100
December 29th, 2007

Since last week's photo was of thousands of leaves and colors, I thought I'd choose something simple in contrast. The dew drops hanging from the bare winter branches were like tiny jewels growing as fruit. To capture them, I got in close and tried to separate the droplets from the surrounding branches.

Once I got it home, I liked the shot, but the reflection in the water and the appearance of crystal still didn't stand out enough, so I went with black and white. Then I over processed it to give it some grain and tried for more of a film feel instead of digital.

Pathways

2008-01-04T23:23:00.000-08:00

1/4" at f8. ISO 100
December 29th, 2007

This is one of the last photos I took in 2007. Cristina and I got up at 6am and left for a cold, foggy hike at the Consumnes River Preserve to try our hand at some early morning landscapes. Granted, with the fog we got none of the sunrise we'd been hoping for, but none the less found an excellent atmosphere waiting for us.

With our cameras wrapped in plastic grocery bags and our boots squelching in the deep mud we both agreed that we felt like real photographers. That is to say, enduring miserable conditions while hungry and tired in hopes of getting that elusive perfect picture.

I love ethereal quality of this photo, like you're just down the way from Narnia or a fairy ring. Its actually one of the first of a new collection of photos I'm taking. Several of the books I've read suggest that a great way to push yourself creatively is to choose a project. It could be anything from tree bark to groups of three, whatever strikes your interest creatively. Make it your mission to seek out and photograph these things.

Personally I love photographs with pathways. I like the impression that you could just walk right into them. So I've decided to try that on for size. I'm going to actively seek out interesting pathways of all kinds, real or metaphor, whatever catches my eye. Six months or a year from now, we'll see what I have.

Perspective

2007-12-28T11:05:00.000-08:00

1/1250" at f5.6. ISO 400
June 30th, 2007

There is an old story about six blind men who were asked to touch an elephant and guess what it was. Each placed his hands upon a different part of the elephant and described what they were touching.

The blind man who felt a leg said the elephant is like a pillar; the one who felt the trunk said the elephant is like a tree branch; the one who felt the ear said the elephant is like a hand fan; the one who felt the belly said the elephant is like a wall; the one who felt the tusk said the elephant is like a solid pipe; and the one who felt the tail said the elephant is like a rope;

If you don't like your photograph, then change your perspective, you might get an entirely new view of the scene.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-22T12:32:00.001-08:00

1/125" at f5.6. ISO 100
November 27th, 2007

This is a shot I took for photography class with the intent of using it for extra credit. One of our options was to use a studio or product photography shot, so I thought I'd try and create an ad for Baileys Minis. My idea was to include a tagline along the lines of "What's better than leaving milk and cookies for Santa?"

I brought in a bunch of Christmas decorations and picked out a couple of them to put in the shot. The cookies themselves were baked by my wife a day or two before, delicious! I'm pretty happy with how the shoot turned out in the end.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Photorealistic

2007-12-14T18:48:00.001-08:00

1/125" at f8. ISO 100
October 25th, 2007

Usually I like to keep my photos as I shot them. When I work with them, I'll adjust them for better color and sharpness, but generally I like to keep them realistic without all the artistic filters available in photoshop. Still, sometimes while playing I come across an effect that, in the words of my photo teacher, really blows my skirt up. Yes, he really does say that all the time.

The combination of settings I used while working with the details of this water tower created the look of a painting for me. The separation between each leaf and all the grain in the wood look real and unreal at the same time. The picture is actually of a little gold panning thing for kids out in Calvares County. You can buy a bag of sand and minerals and pan for gold. Each bag is guaranteed to have something interesting in it, just $5.00!

The Teacups

2007-12-07T17:40:00.000-08:00

1/25' at f4.5. ISO 100
December 3rd, 2007

Cristina and I took a vacation to Disneyland this past weekend. Disneyland at Christmas time is always a lot of fun. There's less people, they've got the whole park decorated, they have a huge tree, and all the fun of a normal disney trip.

One of my favorite rides growing up was the teacups. Now I have to admit, these days I'm a little too big for them (not in maturity, in leg room), but its still fun to go on them. So it was only fitting that I used them to capture the spirit of disneyland. Its a whirlwind of sights and colors with a big grin thrown in for good measure. Most of all its about fun and just letting yourself be a kid again!

The Bay Bridge

2007-12-07T16:09:00.001-08:00

1/400' at f4. ISO 100
November 18th, 2006

I was out of town last week, so this week its double posting. The above picture was taken from Coit Tower in San Francisco. The golden gate bridge is one of the most iconic views of the city, most people see it and instantly know its San Francisco. Growing up, I always liked the Bay Bridge better. I drove over it every week or two with my family going into the city, so its always been the first thing I think of when I picture San Francisco.

When you live in a famous place, you probably take the touristy famous things for granted. I didn't go to fisherman's wharf or ride a cable car till years after I'd moved away. Instead I identify with all the little details in this photograph. The sailboats on the water, the style of the buildings, even the type of tree in the foreground. All the small things that make up a city.

Discarded

2007-11-26T14:08:00.001-08:00

1/3' at f5.6. ISO 100
November 10th, 2007

Last week I promised something from the inside of Railtown's workshop. This workshop is a building that contains all the original tools and machinery used in 1897. The folks who maintain this park have allowed it to fall into a controlled disrepair. So they make sure its not falling down, but otherwise its allowed to age naturally.

I chose this shot to showcase the sense of decay present in the building. The metal is rusted and covered in cobwebs. The dust has built up over time, covering everything in layers of greasy grit. Rather then show the whole workshop, I thought this close up gave the impression of a place fallen into disuse.

Railtown 1897

2007-11-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

1/8" at f16. ISO 100
November 10th, 2007

Todays shot is a little unusual. Its not some of my best work from a composition or lighting standpoint, but its something I really wanted to share. If you scroll, you'll see its an almost 360 panorama taken of a train yard.

This past week, we took a field trip to a place called Jamestown. Jamestown has a railroad museum that features quite a few old steam engines and a workshop that has been allowed to sit mostly untouched for the past hundred years. As you can see, they have all kinds of trains. One of them has been used in quite a few movies including Back to the Future 2.

Railtown is also home to one of America's last operating authentic roundhouses. This shot was taken in the center on the rotating center track. I love that it has these trains from different eras all the way around to a rotting railcar in the back.

Check back next week for something from the inside of workshop where tourists normally don't get to go!

Freckles

2007-11-09T10:58:00.001-08:00

1/60" at f8. ISO 100
July 29th, 2007

Meet my neighbor's daughter on a trip to the park feeding the ducks. I'm not a huge fan of freckles. I'm a red head, so I was doubly glad to escape having them. But in Katy's case I make an exception. They give her face a lot of character. With that in mind I wanted to really emphasize her freckles, so I toned down the color and increased the contrast in this photo. I think the end result is quite striking.

This past week I endured (alright, I asked for) a critique of my portfolio from my photography instructor. I respect his opinion, though I was prepared for the worst because he can get pretty intense about photography. He gave very good feedback, and he didn't hold back on the criticism. So as a result, I'm trying to apply some of his suggestions and be more critical of my work.

That being said, if you have any thoughts about any photos posted, feel free to share! Criticism is welcome just as much as adoring praise. Of course, I only give cookies to the people with adoring praise.

Plugh

2007-11-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

1/30" at f4. ISO 1600
October 25th, 2007

You are in a twisty maze of passageways, all different. Actually this cave, the California Caverns, was pretty straightforward in the parts we went through. The atmosphere of this cave feels like something out of disneyland. Parts of it are so beautiful that you expect to round a corner and come across some wee diamond miners.

Its very hard to take pictures in a cave, you generally aren't allowed to bring in a tripod, and the low light makes shooting hand held almost impossible. If I was a professional on a job, then I'd have assistants with a lighting setup. But as a tourist, I get to make due with the bare minimum. The guides were kind enough to allow me to take a collapsible monopod (its like a tripod but with only one leg) to give a little bit more stability. Most of the pictures were still blurred, but I came out with a couple real gems.

Next spring I want to go on a 5 hours cave crawl tour through this cave. The trip includes slogging through waste deep mud and ends with a raft trip across an underground lake.

Alas

2007-10-26T12:47:00.001-07:00

1/60" at f13. ISO 100 with a strobe
October 23rd, 2007

I love getting into the Halloween spirit. So my choice this week is fitting for the season. The skull is a decoration I grabbed off the mantle on the way out the door. Add in some low lighting and a rose I claimed from someone else's shoot and I got a nice ominous picture.

I tried this shot from all different angles and found that side lighting created a moody kind of gothic look. The positioning of the rose and skull was Cristina's idea. She has informed me that from now on she should be my art director. I promptly agreed since she has a much better sensibility for organizing a scene then I do.

Elizabeth

2007-10-19T09:42:00.001-07:00

1/250" at f10. ISO 100 with a strobe
October 16th, 2007

I didn't expect to be doing another studio shoot quite this soon. But I also didn't expect to get a shot like this. Kind of funny since I went in prepared with a shot list and a couple lighting setups in mind.

The general positioning was one I'd seen in a book recently, but I wanted to make it my own. I positioned an overhead strobe to give a soft spotlight and asked Elizabeth to wear her favorite brimmed beanie to add a sense of 'her' into the photo. The size and shape of the hat changed her profile really nicely.

The results were exactly what I hoped for. Its like she's looking up into a light from the heavens. I also think the hint of nudity gives it an element of purity and freedom. And yes, it is just suggested nudity, that's my sister-in-law up there so keep it clean.

Storm a-Brewin'

2007-10-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

1/125" at f8. ISO 200
September 22nd, 2007

Alright, back to a regular posting schedule. Recently, my wife and I wanted to spend a day out, and after finding that it was going to be rainy all over California, chose Mercer Caverns as our destination.

I like to visit caves whenever I get the chance, they're fascinating and beautiful, and best of all there's no water falling from above (except there usually is). On our way there, we hit the little town called Murphys that we didn't even know existed. It had some good wine tasting and a classic car show that day.

We decided to have lunch there after visiting the cave (look for a picture in a future post) and found everything from quaint little churches to mardi gras mannequins. The town library happened to catch my eye.

On a normal day, I'm sure it looks welcoming, the shape and the two picture windows kind of look like a happy face. But that day, the rolling storm clouds above and the quality of light gave the whole thing an ominous feeling. If we weren't in California I'd be looking for the wicked witch flying overhead.

Jenna Lee Mercer

2007-10-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

1/60" at f11. ISO 100 with a strobe
October 2nd, 2007

This week I got my first chance to shoot a model in a studio setup. Her name is Jenna Lee Mercer and she and her boyfriend came in with their 4 month old puppy. I was warned that working with animals is difficult, but the little guy was sleepy and just sat there with Jenna and looked cute. The model on the other hand moved around a lot and looked cute, which is much more helpful in creating a variety of shots.

This is certainly not something I want to do professionally, but I think I can guarantee this won't be the last studio shoot posted here.

Primal Look

2007-09-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

1/320" at f5. ISO 800
June 30th, 2007

I'm currently exhausted and ready to crash, so todays photo is a quick pick from one of the first outings with my camera. Its not the cleanest shot I've ever taken, but it has a lot of power. When I look into his eyes, I can tell his attention was just as keenly focused on me.

Fire in the Sky

2007-09-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

2" at f20. ISO 100
July 6th, 2007

I'm not a morning person, but this was worth the grumbles (and the near death experience of twisty mountain roads in the dark while drinking free starbucks). Cristina and I got up at 3 am and drove for two hours to catch the sunrise in the Sierra's. As the sun climbed over the peaks, the entire sky burned.

Solace

2007-09-14T12:40:00.001-07:00

1/25 at f5.6. ISO 800
July 21th, 2007

Choosing a photo for this week was difficult. The book I'm reading right now has me in a very melancholy bittersweet mood, and I want a picture that reflects that mood. But, since my first reaction to someone hurting isn't to pull out my camera, I don't take very many sad pictures.

When I look at this I get a sense of loss and longing. I see a woman missing someone from a hundred miles away, taking comfort from a puppy who doesn't understand.

Reunited

2007-09-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

1/250 at f5.6. ISO 200
July 28th, 2007

What I find interesting about this photo is the different response it evokes in each person. Being unable to see their facial expressions means you have to read the body language and decide for yourself who these people are.

Is it two lovers coming together after a long absence? Or maybe a sad sweet goodbye of two old friends? Does the ring mean they're married? Does the watch say its time to go?

I like to stay positive in my outlook. For me, its two people being reunited.

What do you see?

Summer Days

2007-08-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

1/320 at f7.1. ISO 300
July 28th, 2007

Photography as a hobby can be very expensive. For example, I love taking photos with a telephoto lens but they run in the mid-hundreds for even a decent low end one. Instead I borrow a lens from a friend whenever I can.

When I heard my home town was having a photo contest with a $500 prize, I grabbed my camera and got out there to shoot some winners! (Like I really need a reason to go out and shoot.) The goal was to take pictures showcasing how beautiful Elk Grove is, so I headed down to the little lake at the park and waited for some kids to show up and feed the ducks.

See the ducks? Me neither. They're behind the big wooden pole on the right. I got the kid part though! This photo took me back to the days when feeding the ducks made for a full schedule. I didn't win the prize, but I made a connection with my subject, and thats worth just as much.

Fatherhood

2007-08-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

1/100 at f7.1. ISO 200
March 24th, 2007

Empire Mine Cottage

2007-08-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

1/80 at f8. ISO 400
August 15th, 2007