Taking a break

As the most fervent photographer in the family, you commonly are expected to serve as… well, the family photographer.

That meant I took the camera and a few primes to the annual Christmas party with the in-laws. As I like very much to shoot family candids in an unobtrusive way, I switched to ISO 1600 or 3200 and processed the RAW images into black & white.

Here’s a few ‘inbetweens’ from the evening, as various things around struck my eyes while lurking for the perfect headshot.

(The family pictures are just that… and for their eyes only!)

Gear notes: D700, 24/2.8, 50/1.8

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Across the road

A few quick impressions, shot while taking a short break during a  slippery drive on a foggy winter morning…

  
Gear notes: D300, 18-70DX

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Animals to the rescue

This is another period with a lot of work, and as a result way too little time to go out and shoot new material… And so, for your pleasure and entertainment, I will serve you a few pictures from my recent passage through the Antwerp Zoo.

Taking a nap on a sunny afternoon

Step-by-step

High and dry
 Who will clean up this mess?

Gear notes: D700, 70-300VR

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Three flavors

After the recent Shooting Day in Antwerp’s Central Station, we moved on to the Zoo that lies just beside it.

The animals did not inspire me much that day, but an old array of stables – that our tour guide sneaked us through – caught my attention. The result: three very different post-processing approaches based on almost identical shots.

A ‘classic’ 3-shot HDR (exposure fusion)

No HDR, no Photoshop either: just Lightroom sliders!
  One more pure Lightroom rendition

Gear notes: D700, 24-120/4VR (I’m getting very fond of this lens)

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A long and beautiful day

‘t Was a mighty cold day on the streets, but a heartwarming one in our Help-Portrait studios in Herentals!

Great hosts from the CAW Kempen, a wonderful MUA team, and a lot of hard-working, inspired and at times crazy photographers were ‘open for business’ for a whole Saturday, taking pictures of people that for once got to take their rightful place under our spotlights. All pictures shot remain solely for the eyes of the models-for-a-day, so I cannot share these many images of joy, excitement and gratitude.

Heavy snowfall and icy winds made it hard at times for our guests to make it to our shooting are. The resulting less busy moments of the day were quickly turned into opportunities to serve as each other’s models, demonstrate lighting setups, discuss composition or share post-processing tips. So here comes a small selection of portraits I shot from fellow H-P photographers:

Robbie came all the way from Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands 

Lander discovered new ways to use gaffer tape 

Michel posed for a Dutch school painting…

…but then accidently looked into the book! 

And, to end in beauty, one of the hosting CAW’s staff members:

All in all a fun-filled and most rewarding day, more than worth our effort (and the slow and slippery trek back home). I can’t wait to spend more good times with this bunch of fantastic friends!

Gear notes: D700, 24-70/2.8G, 85/1.8D

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Countdown!

In three days, the Help-Portrait movement will one more time burst into action all over the world.

Help-Portrait was formed as a non-profit organization in 2009 by Nashville-based celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart. The underlying idea is that a photographer has the unique ability to help someone smile, laugh and return their dignity. Help-Portrait volunteers reach out to those that normally would not have the opportunity, energy, means or guts to have their portrait taken – and keep it! More than anything else, it’s about opening up and giving attention to those so often passed over and so easily overlooked in our society.

In December 2009, more than 41,000 portraits were given by 3400 photographers and over 5000 volunteers were involved.  Help-Portrait became a global movement in 543 locations in 42 countries. The rapid growth of this organization is a perfect example of social media use for good as people share ideas and stories through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogging.

Last year, Belgium was represented by a team in Turnhout. I had the pleasure of being part of it, you can read more about that event here and here on this blog.

For this year, the 2009 ‘veterans’ have split up and will bring their experience to two sites: Hasselt (looking to become a very big meet-up, with over 10 photographers) and Herentals (a more modest setup with ‘only’ 8 shooters, including yours truly).

Time now to start packing photo and lighting gear (a full studio set for myself, and some strobist stuff for others to borrow if needed). I have such wonderful memories of last year’s event that I am more than excited to go out again…!

Gear notes: n/a

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