Camera Labs

Friends of mine signed a partnership agreement (not sure if that's the proper term, just a quick translation from Dutch), and they celebrated with a party, kinda like a wedding reception. I was invited, or hired I should say, to take photos, and I did, a total of 638 of them. Don't normally shoot that much, but I guess the sharpshooter in me had taken a day off, and I just fired away.

Over the next couple of days/weeks I'll be uploading my favorite shots to my Flickr, and share them here with you.

WARNING! There'll be quite a bunch of black and white shots (the lighting had too many different colors most of the time) and most of them will have a decent amount of noise (lighting was... not ideal). I like noise, I like B/W. If any of you feel like commenting on the noise (other than liking it as well), feel free to do so, but please know I like the photos this way, and I won't change my preference for noisy shots.
Oh, and there might be some with motion blur as well.

So, first one:



f/1.4 | 1/40sec. | ISO 3200 | 35mm




f/1.4 | 1/15 sec. | ISO 3200 | 35mm

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

f1.4 @ ISO3200 and you only managed 1/15 sec! Must have been really dark there!

I like both of these shots, you've captured great moments for those people. I think your camera has struggled a bit though.

The noise in #1 is fine for me and a B&W conversion is the best way to go.

The burring doesn't really work though in #2, although it does add some energy to the shot. Does your camera go to ISO6400? - maybe that setting would degrade the image too much though.

In this situation I would trade noise for sharpness by shooting raw and dropping the exposure compensation to increase shutter speed. I'd also shoot in continuous mode in the hope I'd catch the subjects momentarily motionless. I would then increase the exposure in software and reduce noise.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/53061745@N02/

Panasonic G3: 9-18mm, 14mm, 20mm, 45mm

Thanks for the comment kimchi! Yes, my camera does go up to ISO 6400, and while I have shot at that sensitivity before, I tend to stay away from it. The A700 from Sony isn't well-known for it's high ISO performance and those shot at 6400 are usually of bad quality (even for those who like noise like myself). ISO 5000 is usually my upper limit, and I had to use that later during the evening.

I always shoot RAW and dropping EC to -1 did occur to me. The second photo is one of the few that ended up motion blurred though, so most of time underexposing wasn't required. I shot in M-mode for almost all shots later that evening (keeping shutter speed at around 1/40th, slightly underexposed) and it worked quite well, despite all the dancing.

I didn't shoot in continuous mode though, so that's something to remember for next time I shoot one of these low-light parties! Thanks!

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

the moments were spot on and the photos are ok, but to be honest, if I hired you and this was what I'd get I wouldn't pay a dime.. You really should've gone with a flash.

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Always aim higher- Beyond the limit

Journey of light - my blog!
www.anelfoto.blogspot.com

Don't have a flash anymore Anel, sold it a couple of weeks ago!

Thanks for your comment though! You've made me realize I don't want to do commercial photography, it just doesn't go with my style. The couple like my photos, they like my style, and they were happy with the photos. But you're right, it's not a very commercial photographic style.
I must add that these are two of my favorites from the night, not like many of the other shots I took that night, some might have been more commercial.

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

Interesting approach, it's like you made the photographs look like ones that would come from an old camera many many years ago, the noise and blur. I personally don't care for the second, with all that noise, the blur and the B&W, it's hard to make out anything. The first one is decent though. Perhaps you could post some more pics from the shoot? Thanks!

-Evan

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-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams

Thanks Evan! I've been trying to get some vintage look into my photos, so I'm happy you've seen some of it in the snaps.

Here's another one:



EXIF: f/1.4 | 1/100sec. | ISO 3200 | 35mm

- Bjorn -[/img]

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

I really like these Bjorn, I love the 'look' of the images you've gone for, and really pulled it off. I particularly like the first one, its just a "feel good" photo.

I like what you've said as well about not wanting to go commercial. Photography would be the dullest thing in the world if you shot what we had to shoot rather than what we want to shoot.

Keep it up, I cant wait to see what you can do with a Leica

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

I like the general style of the photos. On pic 1, to me that was a slight miss, as I think it would be better if the lady was in focus more than the guy, as you just have to look at her expression and it doesn't feel right to be OOF. Of course that is easy to say after the event, and I probably would have done worse in the situation! #2 has its charms if that level of blur is used in moderation in a set. I do like #3 and the application of the focus.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Personally, I love these photos and given the type of ceremony the couple have undertaken, I think they would be very happy with them. It's refreshing to see noise, b&w, grain, OOF, and real emotion all combined in one. I say well done!

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Canon - Manfrotto - Pocketwizard - Sekonic - Westcott - Hoya - Singh Ray - Epson

http://chrismckayphotography.com

Thanks you all!

@Jeremy: can't wait to see what I'll do with a Leica either! Haha!
@Popo: I couldn't agree more, her face should have been in focus. But this is a moment that lasted a mere second. As I prepared for the shot, I couldn't see her face, so I focused on his. Then she turned round and I hit the shutter. And with this kind of light, you can't stop down to enlarge your DoF.

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

The couple at the beginning of the night:



EXIF: f/1.4 | 1/500sec. | ISO 1600 | 35mm

- Bjorn -

_________________
Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

that last one is my fav so far.

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Amateur, always learning!

My website:- www.neildavison.co.uk

Exams are over, time to continue editing!



EXIF: f/1.4 | 1/50sec. | ISO 1600 | 35mm

- Bjorn -

_________________
Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

And two more:



EXIF: f/1.7 | 1/60sec. | ISO 2000 | 35mm





EXIF: f/1.4 | 1/10sec. | ISO 1600 | 85mm

(Why a shot of legs? The two people in the back (daughter of groom + her boyfriend) were posing for a snap (taken by someone else, not me), and the groom jumped in to be in the shot as well. Quick moment, 85mm, no changing lenses, no jumping back 20 feet or so, just snap. Kinda liked the result).

- Bjorn -

_________________
Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux