Here is a SOOC image from the photoshoot. Still need to process the image to clean up background and adjust the color slightly.

Unfortunately I have been very inactively for way too long. I really want to get things going so that I can get a lot more comfortable working with models as well as get faster at setting up the lights and really capturing the shot I want. So I’m hoping once the new year begins I can really get on the ball and get some projects off the ground.

With that being said I was fortunate enough to be able to get a photoshoot in with Anna last weekend. She wanted to make a poster and decided on a sexy Santa costume. We experimented with many different poses, but she seemed to like ones like the photo to the left. I think she looks very hot! It took us a little while to get going but once we did it was a blast. We got some very funny shots, but also got some keepers.

We decided to go with a high key setup. For the main light I finally got to use my new Elinchrom D-Lite4 with a 4′ octa softbox. I would love to get a couple more of these lights because I like the controls and the results it produces.

After I get done processing the photos I’ll put up a gallery. There are still a couple ideas I have for some other photos I want to do with Anna. So hopefully you will be seeing a lot more galleries of her coming up.

*UPDATE* Added a gallery in the portraits section for the finished photos.

The bluebonnets are in full bloom and are very popular for photos!

It is a beautiful time of year in Texas. The Bluebonnets have started to bloom and everyone is loving them. This past weekend I had a little extra time so I was able to stop on the side of the road and take some pictures. It was hard to get a shot of the field because people were eagerly trying to get photos of themselves or their family in the bluebonnets. I think I got a few good ones. I want to go back and try to take some more or find other fields. When I tried to go back to the one I that I already got, I was surprised at home many people were lined up on the side of the road. Apparently it became a very popular for people and photographers a like. I saw a lot of people out there taking senior photos, portraits, etc.

Unfortunately for me mother nature makes her own plans. Of course once my work week was over a cold front had to move in. That eliminated my plans to go shooting. That is the one problem about wanting to do outdoor shoots. You are at the mercy of the elements. It isn’t bad enough that it was cold and cloudy, but it also started to rain. I’m just hopeful the cold didn’t hurt the Blue Bonnets. I’m hoping that it will warm back up and the fields will be just as beautiful as they were last week.

The forecast shows next weekend should be back to sunny and gorgeous weather. I’m hoping I can get some good photos then. If anyone wants to join just let me know. We can make a whole day of it!

The link to the gallery:
http://www.fedilphotography.com/gallery.php?id=38

I’ve set aside a couple days on the trip to just head out and take some landscape pictures. I’m hoping to really capture the beauty of the mountains and the area. It’s been snowing a lot up there so hopefully I can get some great winter shots. Unfortunately I don’t have any models lined up to do any shoots out there or that would really make the trip that much better! In any case it should be a fun trip and I hope to come back with a lot of photos for the landscape section of my portfolio. If anyone knows of any good areas to get some shots please feel free to email me and let me know.

The moon turned orange after it was completely in the Earth's shadow. View is from Dallas, TX

Tonight I had the opportunity to witness a very special treat. There was a total lunar eclipse. Although they aren’t that rare, for one to occur during the winter solstice is. The last time one occurred was said to be on December 21, 1638. It was a beautiful event. I also used this opportunity to expand upon my photography. With my camera and tripod in hand, I headed up to the roof of my apartment complex and setup for the night.

The eclipse began close to 1am. The whole event lasted till about 4am in the morning. Unfortunately there were clouds that effected the quality of the images. I think overall they were pretty good. I could have used a little more zoom on my lens, but it did the job.

I shot the pics with a Canon 5D Mark II with the EF 70-200mm L lens. The shots were a little difficult because the moon was almost directly overhead. Luckily I was able to use a fast enough shutter speed in the beginning to take the pics by hand. Once the sun was completely blocked from the moon there wasn’t much light. I was forced to use a tripod and my remote shutter release to capture the moon going orange. It was well worth it.

I want to eventually do something artistic with the composition of the pics, but in the mean time I posted the pics on my personal blog (Fedil’s Blog). They are pretty much straight from the camera. The only processing done was to crop them. I hope you enjoy!!!