Kim St. Dennis Photography

Just for information purposes, Im going to post this. Its from Zenfolio Support and can be found on the web via google.

Here are the specific  instructions on how to make changes with GoDaddy:
1. Login to your GoDaddy account
2. Select 'My Account'
3. Select 'Manage Domains'
4. Click on the domain you would like to edit (ie 'yourdomainname.com')
5. Find a link that reads 'Total DNS Control' and click it

The following instructions assume you want www.yourdomainname.com to point to your Zenfolio home page. If you want to use a different name, e.g. photos.yourdomainname.com, you need to replace 'www' with 'photos' in the instructions below.
6. Find a section called 'CNAMES (Aliases)'. If you see any existing CNAME records for 'www', remove them (only do this if you want the full domain to point at Zenfolio!)
7. Click on 'Add New CNAME Record'
8. In the 'Enter an Alias Name' field, enter ‘www’
9. In the 'Points To Host Name' field, enter 'zenfolio.com'
10. Click OK, and then OK once again to save changes

If you also want yourdomainname.com (without 'www') to go to your Zenfolio page, you need to make more configuration changes:
11. Find a section called 'A (Host)'. If you see any existing A records for '@', remove all of them.
12. Click on 'Add New A Record'
13. In the 'Host Name' field, enter '@'
14. In the 'Points to Ip Address' field, enter your zenfolio IP address.
15. Click OK, and then OK once again to save changes

It usually takes up to 24 hours for the changes to propagate. After 24 hours, login to your Zenfolio account and under Preferences enter the new domain name exactly like you set it up in steps 6-10 above, i.e. www.usethelight.com

Its been a few days since my last post. Ok, maybe even a week or more. It was Halloween and ive been working on PP more than not. Lots to do.

As of late Ive realized that I need new strobe triggers. Oh the conundrums that ensue. The long short of it is that there is no one trigger that does it all. This kinda sucks and makes it tough (if you dont want the novella, this really is my conclusion, sans buying a new set of triggers).

Source: pocketwizard.com

As most photogs will tell you Pocket Wizards are the defacto standard. They are super well built, never fail, and extremely expensive ($200 per device). Their most recent release is the mini TT1 and TT5.

These PWs (from here on out) are able to do highspeed sync and achieve TTL (through the lens) flash control for your specific speed light be they Canon or Nikon. Alas, the TT1s for Canon dont work with Nikon and vice-versa. Also, they dont control the output of any other type of speed light, mono block, or head& pack system. They can however achieve highspeed sync (HSS from here on out). Which is a major upsell. For us Nikon folks we can sync around 250 - 320 now. The Canon folks get 200 or so.Also, the devices can be controled with a pc/mac via usb. Also a nice feature but a little over kill for me.


Next contender is the Radio popper (RP from here on). There are two new lines from them, the  JrX and the PX. The PX system can achieve the HSS as the PWs can and costs about the same with a longer range and no usb support. It canot control any dflash output that Im aware of (this is all a bit confusing and requires a good deal of reaserch). There is some tests you can find on the web where the RP can do about 10x the distance that the PWs can do. I think it was 30' for PW and 300' for the RPs.

Source: radiopoppers.com
The JrX system is very reasonable at $350 for 3 receivers and 1 transmitter, can control Paul Bluff mono blocks as well as most modern speed lights with some DIY work. It has 3 groups of which you can control each groups power indivuadly. The major down side... No HSS. The max sync speed being 1/250th.


 There is a third option from Paul Bluff, but Im vague on the details as its release date is a carrot dangling on a rope. Its been moved around a lot. The thing I do know is that it will be able to control Bluff's mono blocks, but thats about it.

So whats a guy to do? Be lazy and control the lights from the cameras hot shoe or have the added ability of HSS for a lot more money? Its a tough call and a confusing one at that.

So, Im looking into filters. The first thought is dont put cheap glass in front of expensive glass! I dont. I regularly use my singh ray and B+W filters for minimal effects and would much rather have things done in camera than in post. I know it goes either way, but for me its just easier in camera. I guess there is something to be said for having some restrictions placed on what I can do and that forcing creativity?

(Source: Lee filters)
Presently Im looking into softening filters like Lee filters black net 2 filter. Heres the reference example. I guess its essentially tulle (tool) and originally made for movie cameras to soften the lens. But, then the argument of why not just do it in Photoshop comes in (slap yourself a la Zack). That perticular filter runs $75.00. I guess this means a DIY tulleproject should be coming down the pipes. Ill post more when I start doing research.

Heres the link to the product on the Lee site

For my notes as much as anyones. A taste of Richard Avado. 

I have been moving more towards  conceptual style shoots. Meaning shoots where a theme is present and things are more stylized. Seeing Avadons work, just makes it seem that much more worthwhile to persue this avenue.

Remember when discussions would break out about weither a cover of a magazine was photoshoped or not? Now, Photoshop is so commonplace we dont give it a second thought. Its just assumed any photo or image you see has been somehow edited by an Adobe application. Amazing. That brings us to an amazing photographer and his achievements. Im talking about Dean Collins.

David Hobby has written about him a few times and I'm just now getting around to his videos and concepts. Let me say, hes amazing. I started to watch a video exerp from his lecture on 3 dimentional contrast and fell into thought on the cross hatching I was forced to learn in Drawing I. What a phenomenal concept. The masters painted light as they saw it fit and Collins teaches us how to shape light like a master. Hats off.

This post I began on Sept 29,2009 -
I belong to the Strobist Los Angeles group. Stobists are all about off camera flash and usually are aspiring Pros or Pros allready. They are all DIYers and enjoy sharing their methods whenever possible. They also take some damn good photos.

I suppose you would say that I am community oriented and I like to be a contributor to the functions of the organizations Im belong to. So I took it upon myself with Michael Kang's help to put on a strobist meet. Ive been to many of their socials and a few meets for shooting. But I figured it would be fun to do and I like putting things together like this.

Well its been an interesting ride. I find that lots of people show interest, but not as many sign up...

A week later...

Well, it happened, I learned lessons, and met some nice folks. I personally wouldn't call it a success. Why? Out of our 6 models only 3 showed. One additionall model came as a curtisy to one of the photogs. Oh, there were to many shooters for the space. Just slightly. 10 came, 8 would have been much better. On the other side, the place was nice and the MUAs great as well as the stylist. So I can say it was a good learning experience.

Andreas of ANM Photography
I personally didnt shoot much. Too many people with the same shot. My buddy Gerald set up his lights on one set and got them perfect to his and my specifications. We walked away for a moment, came back, and they were changed. Made for a different shot all together. Live and lern right?

While most people are selling off home items to pay bills, Ive decided thats useless and am going to sell off home items to buy new nikon glass. I to buy anything decent I might have to sell my right arm as well.

First off I need to get a 105macro 2.8D. They run about 400 used. Its to repay the 105 2.0DC lens I have. Which I might add, I love. Oh is it creamy!

Ok, next up is a mid range zoom. Now that ive been spoiled by the 80-200 2.8D, my 60 macro, and the 105 2.0DC, I need a good mid range that is just as sharp as those lenses. Im looking at the 28-70 2.8D. Nevermind that its nicknamed "the beast" and cost 1k used. its one of the sharpest midranges Nikon makes only to be topped by its replacement the 24-70 2.8G. That one is 1500$ easy.

And this doesnt even cover the D700 and the new monitor. Dang I need a money tree.

So, time to start rummaging through the closet and see what I can ebay to pay for all this wonderfull ness....

Sunday Steve and I did  a shoot with Stephanie, an aspiring model. After a little warm up, she communicated amazingly with the camera.
 
We were scheduled for a 9.30 shoot, but didnt get our act together till 11am. Additionally, this was our first time shooting at this specific location... Downtown, more specifically the warehouse / artist's district. A nice place till the crack dealers (and smokers) show up around 11.00am. Needless to say we left at least one spot due to crack heads and the dope man.

The nice part (other than Stephanie's modeling) was that our buddy Gerald showed up to hang out. He rarely ventures west of Vermont Blvd (fear of yuppies I think), so it was cool to get out to his neck of the woods.

In the end the loation turned out to be a hit for me. Stephanie and I walked around a bit and found some nice nooks and crannies to hide and shoot in.


Thanks Stephanie, Steve and Gerald for a nice shoot.

I shoot with a Nikon D300. I purchased it soon after it was released not only for its laundry list of features, but also because my father owned one and wanted me to learn it and show him the tricks I could find. Within months of my D300 purchase the D700, a full frame version of the 300 was released. I was slightly bothered by this...

The D700 of course was 1K more than the D300, but could be found for less than that. Needless to say, Im sure Nikon chased away more than a few users with this swift move. With that said, I recently read that the D700 has a better sensor in it than a leaf aptus 75s, Hasselblad H3DII 50, and the Canon 1Ds mkIII (1Ds has slightly better color depth, but way less low light ability). Mind you it has 1/2 the MP, but honestly more MP is only good for 2 things, cropping and ahem, compensation.

So, 2 years on of ownership and my disgruntlement with Nikon might have to be put aside simple to get that amazing sensor in my gear line up. It Still sits about 800 more than my D300, but its full frame (so what?) and has better color depth than my D300. Canon still takes the cake with color depth. If I could just figure out how to put canons sensor in my nikon body...

site for DxO sensor tests:
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/DxOMark-Sensor/Camera-rankings

So, I go biweekly to a bar in Hollywood called Birds Cafe just east of Gower on Franklin. An art photographer friend and I sit and chat about the goings on in life. Inevitably, we always meet someone of interest, be it a make up artist, stylist, potential model, adult performer, etc. (great crowd there!) Its a good time and is filled with immersive conversation and lots of Hollywood's finest eye candy.

However, when we meet these people there, I am at a loss as I dont have printed business cards for my photography work. So, that being a small part of the driving force, I ran out and had some moo cards printed up. Only a test pack of 50, as another friend pointed out, they are quite pricey. A set of 500 cards can be had for 50.00 or less depending on your needs. Plus, I know a printer (I know a guy, who knows a guy, who...). In the mean time though these moo.com cards will work wonderfully. I get them in a week or so. Just in time for my next trip to Birds.

Over in southern Santa Monica at the world cafe (across the street for the coffee bean there on main) they are having a Blurb.com meet up. Register and get more info here.

About a year and a half ago when I start to put my lighting kit together, I came across a hidden gem. photocamel.com. Oddly enough, I rarely see it in google searches and frankly dont recall how I came across the site. With that said, its a massive wealth of information that has assisted me on more than one occasion.

 At photocamel youll find some knowledgeable and helpful folks like Benji www.sonshinestudios.com, who has laid out the basics for posing the family of four as well as the basic posing techniques. Another great resource from photocamel is Frank Doorhof, www.frankdoorhof.com. His work is an inspiration for me. His blog (although really more of a forum than a blog) is another worthwhile read. Frank's tips and thoughts are are a good tool to have in any photographer's arsenal. So hit the links above and have a good look through all the info photocamel and its users have to offer.

Wow that was filled with links!

Well, I have another blog I work on. Although lately Ive been way to busy to post to it. Lets hope I can get to this one more.

 I was able to finally decide on a domain name after registering 10 or so. It eventaually came down to photographysd.com . My last name being St. Dennis makes for trouble with both memories and association. For instance, at the grocery store, I am almost never refered to as Mr. St. Dennis when they look to tell me about the wonderful savings the store has given me. Its always Mr. Denis or Mr. Kim. Its a pain. Additionally, people who are familiar with the name refer to it as St. Denis which is the origional French spelling.

 Just a side note, Im not French. As the story goes, I inherited the name from a man who adopted my father years ago, Jim St. Dennis. It was his ancestor who to escape a debt, added an extra "n" in the 18th century or so. As a kid I was always told it was english. 

So, photographysd.com it is. now that the domain has been chosen I can move on with things. Thank god. Incidentally, as far as Im told, most browsers default to ".com" when a url is entered into the address bar. Thus making the best domains those that end with ".com".