Hey anonymous, thanks for the compliment, how about loggin' in..? Yes I am Swedish (bestemor min er fra Nordnorge så jeg snakker litt norsk å :) ) but I write to you in English in case anyone else is wondering about my equipment.
On the latest tattoo pic I used the Canon EOS 350D. It's my new camera (the cheapest I could find) so it's the only pic I have on here by that one. In all my years I have used different cameras, mostly Canon though but I have used both digital and analogue cameras. What I'm trying to say is IT DOESN'T MATTER what camera I (or anyone else I guess) use. Almost all my photos go through Photoshop editing anyway. What matters more, technically speaking, is what lens you have (the pic above was taken with a f1.4/50mm). A VERY good lens (the f1.4/50mm is quite cheap) is often more expensive than the camera itself. But what lens you should use depends on what camera you have (compatibility) and what pics you wanna take (portraits, landscape, sport etc). My experience tells me that is you want the best you should look for a lens with an L (i.e: f/2.8L).
I will show you a pic I took with the Canon EOS 1Ds - it costed my school 80.000 SEK when they bought it (and +20.000 for the lens, f2.8/24-70mm) and a pic I took with my old (RIP) camera Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel) that costed me 7.300 SEK including the lens (also a zoom, can't remember the mm but quite crappy sharpness as it often is with zoom lenses). http://trollkatt.com/portraits/4.jpg http://trollkatt.com/goth/11.jpg Can you see which pic is taken by which camera?
Hi! thank god both of you spoke about it in english to understand it, I'm very interested as well in these things. I have my 350D since 2 weeks ago and I'm very happy with it as well :D But I'm still using the lens 18-55, the ones that came with the camera :/
I'm used to take pics with natural lights but not with studio lights. Do you have any recomendation about studio lights? how many lights you prefer to work with, watts,etc?
This studio shot about tattoes is great.
I'm trying to buy as well some backgrounds on the net, in europe, but the only ones i find are in USA and the sipping costs are higher than the background itself awww
Ah, 18-55, that's the one I got with my 300D as well. The camera is great but the lens is crap. If you're thinking about getting a new camera - then don't, just get a new lens. :) I have tons of photos taken with the 18-55 so of course you can use it but I'm telling you, if you switch lens someday you will notice the difference right away!
About studio lights, I don't know. I'm not so good at brands and stuff but so far everything I've tested has been good. How many lights I use depends on the motif. I can show you some examples. The pic above is taken with two lights; one spot to lit the backdrop and one bouncer to lit the model. OK, and some examples:
One flash -with a white parasol if I remember correct- (follow the shadows to see where it's placed). Location shot
One flash bouncer hung in ceiling (she's looking at it). Jsut some stray lights on backdrop
Lights on backdrop (can't remember if I used 1 or 2) and two lights on model (follow the shadows by her boots)
Bouncer in front of model, flash with parasol (is it called parasols?) from behind, coming over her shoulder. Studio shot
Same effect as the previous one. All lights (err... just the sun) natural. Not even a reflex screen
Building lamp (don't know the correct English so I just translate it directly from Swedish ;) ) in front of model. Location shot nighttime
Sundown light and reflex screen in gold.
I looked at my gallery and I really can't remember how most of my shots were taken. But if you follow the shadows you can figure it out on yourselves. :)
About the backdrops - if you are creative you can paint the backdrop and when you are tired of it just paint it again. Makes interesting pattern as well, and noone will have the same.
Last I wanna say, I'm not an expert on technical stuff, I can just speak from my own experience.
You are so kind!! My name it's Helen but i still dont have a journal account! ;D thanks so much for being so open and sharing these details, sometimes if you ask other artists they hide the information as it were an universal secret in hands of few wise men :PPP by the way, I let a message on your guestbook ( and a private one) ;)
Thanks. :) Yeah well I have no secrets. Other than I use to rather call myself a Photoshop retoucher than a photographer. My original photos are crap before they go through PS. ;D
Yes I am Swedish (bestemor min er fra Nordnorge så jeg snakker litt norsk å :) ) but I write to you in English in case anyone else is wondering about my equipment.
On the latest tattoo pic I used the Canon EOS 350D. It's my new camera (the cheapest I could find) so it's the only pic I have on here by that one. In all my years I have used different cameras, mostly Canon though but I have used both digital and analogue cameras. What I'm trying to say is IT DOESN'T MATTER what camera I (or anyone else I guess) use. Almost all my photos go through Photoshop editing anyway. What matters more, technically speaking, is what lens you have (the pic above was taken with a f1.4/50mm). A VERY good lens (the f1.4/50mm is quite cheap) is often more expensive than the camera itself. But what lens you should use depends on what camera you have (compatibility) and what pics you wanna take (portraits, landscape, sport etc). My experience tells me that is you want the best you should look for a lens with an L (i.e: f/2.8L).
I will show you a pic I took with the Canon EOS 1Ds - it costed my school 80.000 SEK when they bought it (and +20.000 for the lens, f2.8/24-70mm) and a pic I took with my old (RIP) camera Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel) that costed me 7.300 SEK including the lens (also a zoom, can't remember the mm but quite crappy sharpness as it often is with zoom lenses).
http://trollkatt.com/portraits/4.jpg
http://trollkatt.com/goth/11.jpg
Can you see which pic is taken by which camera?
Reply
I'm used to take pics with natural lights but not with studio lights. Do you have any recomendation about studio lights? how many lights you prefer to work with, watts,etc?
This studio shot about tattoes is great.
I'm trying to buy as well some backgrounds on the net, in europe, but the only ones i find are in USA and the sipping costs are higher than the background itself awww
Reply
Ah, 18-55, that's the one I got with my 300D as well. The camera is great but the lens is crap. If you're thinking about getting a new camera - then don't, just get a new lens. :) I have tons of photos taken with the 18-55 so of course you can use it but I'm telling you, if you switch lens someday you will notice the difference right away!
About studio lights, I don't know. I'm not so good at brands and stuff but so far everything I've tested has been good.
How many lights I use depends on the motif. I can show you some examples. The pic above is taken with two lights; one spot to lit the backdrop and one bouncer to lit the model. OK, and some examples:
One flash -with a white parasol if I remember correct- (follow the shadows to see where it's placed). Location shot
One flash bouncer hung in ceiling (she's looking at it). Jsut some stray lights on backdrop
Lights on backdrop (can't remember if I used 1 or 2) and two lights on model (follow the shadows by her boots)
Bouncer in front of model, flash with parasol (is it called parasols?) from behind, coming over her shoulder. Studio shot
Same effect as the previous one. All lights (err... just the sun) natural. Not even a reflex screen
Building lamp (don't know the correct English so I just translate it directly from Swedish ;) ) in front of model. Location shot nighttime
Sundown light and reflex screen in gold.
I looked at my gallery and I really can't remember how most of my shots were taken. But if you follow the shadows you can figure it out on yourselves. :)
About the backdrops - if you are creative you can paint the backdrop and when you are tired of it just paint it again. Makes interesting pattern as well, and noone will have the same.
Last I wanna say, I'm not an expert on technical stuff, I can just speak from my own experience.
Reply
thanks so much for being so open and sharing these details, sometimes if you ask other artists they hide the information as it were an universal secret in hands of few wise men :PPP by the way, I let a message on your guestbook ( and a private one) ;)
Reply
Yeah well I have no secrets. Other than I use to rather call myself a Photoshop retoucher than a photographer. My original photos are crap before they go through PS. ;D
Now go get a LJ account. ;)
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