Barbican Strawberry Drink Shot.

Disclaimer: All product in this post is trade marked by their own company. We have no association with them. Product were captured as hobby.

EOS60D, F/5.6, 1/125s, ISO-400, 24-70L @ 68mm + 580EXII + YN565EX & others

The Barbican is now officially one of my favorite soft drink. There are multitude of flavors but strawberry is my favorite.


Here how I shot the picture:

Every thing was set up in our back room. Particularly small but ample for photographing the Barbican. The full setup can be seen below.

2 light and 1 fill card was used in this project. The main light is YN565EX attached with a 34" umbrella. It was set to camera right and feathered so that no light spill on the back ground. The 2nd light is the back light. The back light is made using 580EXII attached with the Rogue Flash Bender in softbox mode. It is placed behind the back drop and was elevated by the box as can be seen below.

The backdrop was made using ordinary black paper sheet. I think it cost me only RM1.50/piece. The middle section of the backdrop was cut out to only let light in and only highlight the bottles as can be seen below.

The final lighting is the fill. You can use another flash but I don't have anymore speed light. The only alternative is to bounce the main light. The fill will show some details in the left side of the picture. The fill consist only of a RM2.90 white cardboard with an iron board to stand it upright. The effect of the fill can be seen below.

Oh ya. There is one more light source. Forgot about this one. This light is used to highlight the label 'BARBICAN'. As I have said before, no more speed light. Fill card? That will bounce light to the whole scene. I want only the label to be lighted. Flashlight is the only alternative here. With a cardboard funnel, the flashlight becomes a snoot. 

Now to trigger everything (except the flash light that is). Since 60D has an on-board commander via the popup flash, I used that. Both 580EXII and YN565EX was set to manual and dialed down to 1/64th power. The 60D is set to F/5.6, 1/250s (its sync speed) and ISO-100. At this setup, the light from the flash light could not be seen. I could dialed down the speed but then I would have to dial both speed light. Instead, I dialed up the ISO to ISO-400 which will enable the sensor to pickup some light from the flashlight but not the ambient. 

There is another problem. When using the popup flash as means of triggering other speed light, there is a hint of unwanted highlight which I have circled red on the left bottom picture. I've checked the settings and the popup is only used to trigger and not to fill. To resolve this, I use my hand to bounce the popup flash to the wall so that the speed light can be triggered. Wallah, it works.

Grapes on a vine ...

EOS 60D, F/3.2, 1/250s, ISO-400, 24-70L @ 70mm + 580EXII + DIY softbox

A day out to test and learn how to use the small DIY softbox made a week ago. The whole Malaysian community in Chiba (almost) had decided to go for budougari (grape picking in Japanese). This is the time for me to let out the DIY softbox from the closet. The grapes as a bunch is still smaller than the front panel of the DIY softbox.

The first on brunch grapes pictured above was actually not yet ripe. There were still the protective sheet around it. Making use of the DIY softbox placed to the right of the camera and very close to the protective sheet will make the whole rig as a huge softbox (compared to the grape). The light was all around the grapes as can be seen from the picture on top. This is one more how to use the DIY softbox in my lists. You could actually use a bare speedlite but still the outcome will not be the same... maybe...

Here is two more photos of the grapes but with only the DIY softbox. There were no protective sheet around the  grape but still quite a soft light.

The first picture was taken at 1/250s to make the background darker than the subject being taken. By carefully adjusting the flash and DIY softbox, the light spill is controlled from entering the background. Since the grape is it self is dark in color, the dark background does give some feeling to the picture. 

EOS 60D, F/5.6, 1/250s, ISO-100, 24-70L @ 70mm + 580EXII + DIY softbox

The second one was composed so that the background greenery could be pictured as well. Thus the shutter speed is drop down compared to the first picture at 1/60s. It does compliment the picture in MHO. 

EOS 60D, F/2.8, 1/60s, ISO-100, 24-70L @ 70mm + 580EXII + DIY softbox

Now I'm hungry... Hmmm. Where did I put the grapes...

Photography: The Beginning...

It is almost 11 month since I have started a new hobby: Photography... So far how does it feel? Marvelous... Still a lot to learn as you can see from my old post... and yes, I am also new at blogging...

So how does it began? Well, I used to and still am in love with electronics. I was interested in electronics since I was in lower school. Trying out some small electronics project and all. Then later on in life, I could say my work is my play. Hehehe... But still, when your work is your play, your spouse will always say you are working... That kind of hit the sour spot. Yes, I admit, with electronics, it is quite hard to get your family interested in it.

Almost three years back, I went abroad to continue my studies. My wife had to take unpaid leave from work for three years. At first she was OK with not working and all. But as life goes on, she became board to the bones. She started to bake and also blog. You can read her blog by clicking at the fnf-simple-life link at the PAGES section or just click here. Its in Malay (Malaysian Language). 

Her early entry pictures was taken with a point and shoot (P&S) camera. I shoot it by the way. She was not satisfied with the pictures. She kept comparing the photos with the photos of other blogs whom uses DSLR. She kept nagging at me to buy one. But as always, I said the P&S is enough. Nagging after nagging, at last I could not say no anymore. I bought a Canon DSLR. Why Canon?... Well that is also another loooooooooong story. Maybe in another entry... Since then I love the DSLR and also photography. With photography, I can enjoy my self in the hobby as well as let my wife and children do what they want to do. I just shoot them... in a photography sense...  

My wife still nags but about me buying expensive photographic equipment hehehe...

OK. I did not took the picture above. A friend of mine with his DSLR did. Its me from the back. Hehehe

Nice three wheeler...

EOS 60D, F/8, 1/125s, ISO-200, 24-70L @ 54mm

Driving back from the embassy, we were fortunate to see a three wheeler which seen from the front seems to be a motorcycle but seen from the back seems to be a car. How fast does this three wheeler goes to need for it a spoiler at the back? Hmmm.

The picture was taken from inside the car through the side mirror. This is a time when a zoom lens is useful since you cannot move during driving. (Unless you drive forward or backward ;P);

Trail...

EOS 60D, F/5, 25s, ISO-100, 24-70L @  35mm + flash light

Just another ordinary night. I thought to my self "why not try a night shot". The first idea was to take a picture of my son's flower pot (can be seen partially here) with a background of stars. Unfortunately it does not work out. Did not have a wider lens. 24mm on a crop sensor is still not enough.

Thus a detour. Trying to do a simple lighting technique using flash light (not to be confuse with a speed light). The idea is to have a subject (in this case an ointment) lighted up and other object being under exposed. All lights is turned off and just the light from the flash light is used to light up the scene. The flash light is set so that it bounce the light of a corner of the room. First, I set the shutter speed so that the ambient light is underexpose by two stops. Second, I use the same flash light to try to paint some light on the subject. It seems that the flash light left behind some light painting trail. Although not going to plan, the picture seems interesting. To me anyway.

I should have taken a picture of my self doing so. Oh well, maybe next time.

RX-78-2

EOS 60D, F/2.8, 1/160s, ISO-100, 24-70L @ 35mm

Smaller than the one shown on anime. Equal to almost 5 story building. Hmmm. Wish I can ride it hehehe.

The Horse In Red

EOS 60D, F/2.8, 1/125s, ISO-400, 24-70L @ 45mm

It Bring Back The Child In Me

EOS 60D, F/2.8, 1/100s, ISO-400, 24-70L @ 45mm

This character is one of my favorites. I do have a lot of favorite characters. Hehehe.

Glass and steal?

EOS 60D, F/8, 1/250s, ISO-100, 24-70 @ 48mm

The future transport is here....

Land? No...

EOS 60D, F/4, 1/640s, ISO-100, 24-70 @ 51mm

By sea is another way to get around Tokyo.... Much nicer way...

Look What The Waves Brought In... 2

EOS 60D, F/4.0, 1/100s, ISO-100, 24-70 @ 70mm

I guess the bird was unlucky... Or the bird is shredding its feather...

Look What The Waves Brought In... 1

EOS 60D, F/4, 1/200s, ISO-100, 24-70 @ 70mm

You just cant predict what the waves will bring... some will benefit and others will not...

Wind Flower Bird ;P

EOS 60D, F/2.8, 1/320s, ISO-400, 24-70 @ 68mm

One of a bird species that were captured on camera but not exhibited in Ueno Zoo. Hehehehe.

MTBs

EOS 60D, F/2.8, 1/100s, ISO-400, 24-70 @ 68mm

Wonderful outdoor...

In the woods

EOS 60D, F/4, 1/400s, ISO-400, 24-70 @ 57mm

BBQ in the woods. Some of the participant came riding MTB ... around 30km from where we live... I guess it pays to have a n expensive MTB.

Sushi - Ebi Cheese (Shrimp)

EOS 60D, F/5.6, 1/100s, ISO-800, 24-70 @ 24mm

Sushi rice topped with shrimp and cheese. One of my favorite sushi. Only 105en/plate.

Sushi - Salmon Cheese

EOS 60D, F/5.6, 1/125s, ISO-1600, 24-70 @ 24mm

Sushi rice topped with salmon and cheese. Only 105en/plate. Have a bite and you want more... I do anyway...