Greetings,

This week’s video includes a few pictures from last week’s gallery, so they are included again. And in this video, you’ll see me working with Violet. She’s easy to work with, ready for anything I toss at her. Those are the easier models to create art with.

In this video, you hear a lot more of my explanation of where I’m pitting the lighting and why. Communicating with the model, assuming they have had some experience, helps them know what angles should work with the lighting I’m washing over them.

And I get to say many of the things they told us not to say in sensitivity class when I worked. Like chest out, belly in, and you can play with your nipples if you want. It is all part of the direction. You may hear me say ‘stay’ from time to time. As I’m shooting, I can see on a little screen in the eye viewer what the last shot looked like with the flash. I’m looking to see how the light is as it goes across the model’s abs and hair. I can then make adjustments. Or say ‘stay’!

I’ve been playing around with some AI images with Midjourny. I don’t ever expect to do any original art with it, although some of my fellow photographers have done some fantastic things with it. My friend, John Farrar, in Brighton, has blown me away with his creations. I use it to make some good backgrounds to use in future images. I’ve created a lot of Steam Punk backgrounds and some abandoned buildings. I’ll include a couple in the gallery to give you an example. I can add them, blur them, and blend them into backgrounds very well. One of the images this week has Marcela on what looks like a street at night. I told the AI to create a street at night, with lights, using a lens at f1.2. It gives me four rough options to choose from, and I can pick any of the four to have the computer give me another variation OR give me larger versions of certain ones. It is cool, and I can make backgrounds as needed on the fly pretty much. I still love doing the main art, editing the model myself, however.

This a reminder to your photographers out there. If you just picked up a camera and aren’t sure which end to point at the subject, or if you’ve been doing this for 50 years, come take a class with me. The 1on1 classes are customized to fit your needs. I’m sure we can find the front of the camera or pass on a few new techniques to an old timer. Just let me know; I’m open for classes any time. After May, it is harder since we are hiding in our summer bunker, but still doable. Check it out.

Stay open-minded and curious, my friends!

Dave

And if you’d like to give me any feedback on these Museletters, feel free! I love to hear from you all! - Contact form