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The People have Spoken: Survey Results

For those of you who missed it, I ran a brief survey last month requesting some reader input into the type of content that people would like to see more of and less of on this blog.  I thought it was time to be accountable and share the results.

The truth is, the results were largely a confirmation of my suspicions based on watching my Google stats, but it was fun to get the answers, and some readers shared some killer ideas with me for future posts:

87.9% of you were very interested in more Lighting Articles.  That is cool, because I really enjoy writing these kinds of posts.

Software tutorials and Do-it-yourself articles generally have a good audience where all respondents had some level of interest in these kinds of articles.  Software and equipment reviews, interestingly enough, did not have as much popularity.  It tells me that you readers are a bunch of practical people who like to do things, not so much interested in shopping for new products.  You want to learn how to use what you already have.

Book reviews are the least popular topic I have been covering on the blog.  Message received.

Most of you like the travel related images and articles, but they do not have the popularity of the practical articles.

The written responses to my question of the type of articles you would like to see more of were largely the same flavour.  More requests for specific kinds of tutorials as well as some requests for more outdoor photography tutorials.  Again, message received, loud and clear.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to the survey. Rest assured that I will do my best to bring you the kinds of articles you want.

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Getting Dramatic with Black & White Portraiture

Lately I have been finding my photographic tastes running more and more to black & white in my portrait photography.  It just seems that the images I like the best, lately, have more power when I produce them in B&W.

 (Doug Pruden)

It is should not surprise me that I am trending towards this style, especially since one of my photographic heroes is Yousuf Karsh.  His dramatic style has produced some of the most iconic portraits of famous people I have ever seen.  I never tire of his work and find it inspiring.

Not that my work even approaches that of Mr. Karsh.  I still have a long way to go in that regard.  I still find that the black & white treatment allows for us to see the contours of the face and the power in the eyes more so than colour.  Karsh’s work, of course, goes beyond mere lighting and technique.  He managed to capture something of the spirit of his subject, allowing us to feel that we know more about that person after having viewed their portrait.  I would love to be able to produce those kinds of images in my work.

The portrait above is of Susie, a local squash professional here in Calgary.  Originally from England, she has made a name for herself by becoming one of the top ranking squash players in Canada, as well as being a well respected teaching professional.  For this image I was trying to capture the intensity of her formidable squash playing.  How did I do?

This image was taken using a Nikon D300 at ISO 400.  Shutter speed was 1/250s and aperture was f/7.1 using a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 lens at 70mm.  Two gridded speed lights at 1/16 power were used behind her on either side and the main light was a firefly beauty light fixture on a SB900 speed light using iTTL.  Post processing was done in Aperture 3.2, onOne’s Perfect Portrait, and Nik’s Silver Efex was used for black & white conversion.

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Wednesday Travel Pic: Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Canada

Sitting like a fairytale castle in the middle of Banff National Park, Canada, is the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.  Originally constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railway as a tourist resort hotel in 1887/88, it was reconstructed in its current Scottish Baronial style in 1911.  Reputed to be haunted, the hotel is a popular tourist destination in Banff National park and a national icon.

 (Doug Pruden)

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

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