bent focus

This weekend I decided to rent the Canon 24MM Tilt-Shift lens. I’d never used one before (always thinking it was an “architectural photographer’s lens”), but a few weeks ago I was assisting a staff photographer for [a prominent regional publication] who was in town shooting details for an upcoming article. He used this lens for about 75% of his shots (mostly tabletop) – so, I was REALLY interested in experimenting to see what it could do (besides building exteriors)!

Renting is actually a GREAT option for learning a new piece of equipment before you go out and drop your own, hard-earned dough on a $1,200 lens

A good friend of mine is an extremely talented artist who makes these purses, boxes and jewelry, and I had an opportunity to grab a few quick tabletop shots on Saturday afternoon…

These were shot hand-held, using available light (good, ol’ late afternoon sunshine) under a shaded tent area.

Oh, and please check out (if you haven’t already, by now) Angela’s amazing work here! 

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“…This is about GIVING pictures- not TAKING THEM… it’s about… connecting…sharing – and most of all serving for the pure sake of serving – it’s about helping people see the beauty of who they are…”

~ Jeremy Cowart

There’s a group being organized for anyone in the Dallas area who’s interested in working together on this amazing project…

http://community.help-portrait.com/group/dallastx

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If there’s anyway possible for you to use headphones, and turn your volume up one or two notches above whatever, initially, feels “too loud” when you watch this – it would only make it *that* much more ah–may–zing.

Watch…

YouTube – Imogen Heap – “Just For Now”.

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Today has been a BEAUTIFUL afternoon, so I decided to do a bit of urban exploration around the Cedars. I LOVE this part of Dallas. It’s been broken and beaten, but lives to tell a story… I don’t know – it’s just so rich, VISUALLY. A very welcome change from the rest of souless, homogenized DFW.

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she could possibly be one of the most creative, talented musicians ever. i love her music, and can’t WAIT for this new album…I started following her on twitter not too long ago, and just discovered that she ALSO has this vBlog on YouTube.I love seeing behind the scenes into the creative process for other artists/mediums.great stuff! and she couldn’t be anymore beautifully quirky and charming

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One Light DVD Pre-Sale is here.

A few years ago (Hmm. What’s it been? Maybe 2/3 years now. Wow!) I drove 781 miles from Dallas to Atlanta in a single day to attend Zack Arias’ One Light Workshop, and I can honestly say that was the single most important thing I’ve done for myself as a photographer and artist since beginning this excursion.

I really hope to go again at some point; it certainly seems as though the workshop has continually evolved and improved each time Zack so generously shares his knowledge of both the technical and the business side of photography.

I’m quite certain the same level of care and well thought-out, detailed information has gone into the making of this DVD set, and any amateur/aspiring professional photographer who’s looking for a way to take their work to the next level should seriously consider adding these videos to their collection.

I know I will! (Come ONNNN stimulus check! One half is already spent. The other half is, without hesitation, going to this DVD.)

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I just watched (and saved a recording of) this show on Ovation (my new favorite channel, btw).

Anyway. Gregory makes AMAZING images – from the light to the composition to the story he’s telling in his photos. Although, as noted by Strobist on his recent post discussing the same clip, I did find it interesting that he works with a Director of Photographer on his these technical photo shoots productions. And, seemingly, a VERY talented DP at that.

It really makes me wonder how much of the image-making process he’s involved in?

As a minimalist photographer – I ALSO wonder what it would be like to shoot like this; on a sound stage with a cast of people and a boat-load of staff and equipment. I mean, what photographer in their right mind wouldn’t love the opportunity to give it a go! But wow… I don’t think I’d even know where to start, and hell – I’d probably be looking around for a talented DP to help me figure out where to begin.

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Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

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I’ve been in the process of designing (and redesigning and modifying and redesigning and trying to find someone who can actually make it WORK and redesigning more) a new site for bent focus for awhile* now.

The new website is still under construction, but I thought I’d go ahead and redirect to a WordPress blog for now. I’m no web guru, but I think this will serve its purpose until I can get the real deal up and going.

Sorry for all of the site-shifting the last several months while I’ve been trying to figure out how to make this happen! Please bare with me just a little longer – hopefully it will be worth the wait!

* 653 days… give or take.

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