Introducing Senior Photography

This has been a delightful week.







I had the singular joy of photographing my great friend Tom and Jane VanderZee's twin seniors, and presenting the photos to them.

Tom and I have known each other since we were 12, and to be able to tell stories to his kids about those long ago days - stories that they had never heard - was so much fun... I think that Nick and Lauren have a better appreciation for their dad now.

So what's this about adding Seniors to our products?

I've seen so many Senior photographers adding gimmicks and presentation ploys to get business at the expense of providing good photography. We simply take great photos that make our clients look their very best.

No, I don't do buttons, fancy posters, big books and such. Just great photos that will bring back the pride that their parents feel each time that they look at the beautiful portrait displayed on the wall. And we don't forget the cool photos that the seniors will be proud to hand out to their friends.

More next time!

The Cardinal

In the gentle town of Sterling in Northern NY is the famous Sterling Renaissance Faire, where, as I have posted before, my son Douglass has jousted this summer with the New Riders of the Golden Age.

My purpose in attending the faire this particular day was to photograph the jousters only. I left family behind so that I could pay attention to the task at hand.

When you set on a photographic task, you are sometimes blind to other opportunities. Happily, this was NOT hte case today. Sir William Dudley had just completed outfitting his horse Marcus in his gleaming armor when the Cardinal came to visit. To the left is the result, which I call "The Blessing".

Busy Summer!

The centerpiece of Central New York's summer is the Sterling Renaissance Festival, held in the tiny village of Sterling NY, right near the shore of Lake Ontario.

My reasons for visiting were entirely family related, as my son Doug is performing as a jouster twice daily, putting his competitors in mortal peril twice daily.

This is him, having just ridden out to greet the cheering crowd as they are chanting Doug-Lass Doug-Lass. Although the ground combat is choreographed, the jousts are not. The one that wins the joust is truly the victor. Unlike other shows, the lances that these combatents use are NOT designed to break. The sword strikes are not held back. This is full contact battle, reminiscent of those days of yore...

Also at the faire are comedians, musicians, jesters and wenches, and a fair number of ruffians and scoundrels. Don Juan and Miguel, with the lovely Esmeralda, is the longest running show, now in their 20'th year of laughter, whip and swordplay.

Baltimore Pyrate Invasion

Harrrrgh, Matey's, Landlubbers and you scurvy little bilge rats!

We've just reached land after a mighty good time at Fells Point in Baltimore Harbor, site of the 3'rd anual Pyrate Invasion (and Pub Crawl).

The lovely lady to the left is Ma'am Marie, one of the best dressed ladies (and a comely wench to boot).

Those who came in costume were invited to board Baltimore's own "Clipper City" tall ship, then sail into and storm the Broad Street dock. With so many pirates in the ship, the doors could not open, so when we made the dock, we had to jump the gunwales.

Hundreds of spectators were on the dock - and we gave them quite a show - but as to storming the port, it wasn't quite the "storm " we intended. The organizers had left a space on the end of the dock for us to land on, but no path through the crowd to run. Had we "stormed" as intended, many a young lass or laddie would have met the briny deep and Davey Jones!

Photo of Casino, PPSNYS Conference

My new web site is up, www.paynefamilyphotographers.com, and I am delighted with it. Ellen Chesler of Lake Effects Web Design, www.lake-effects.net, has done a wonderful job. Please visit, and tell me how you like it!

I don't recall being so jazzed about the future of photography and life in general.

Conferences can do this to you, especially if the speakers are the great ones. The conference was the PPSNYS or Professional Photographers Society of New York State (www.ppsny.com) and was non stop info, beginning to end

Helen Yancy for example, one of the greatest teachers of Corel Painter that exists. www.helenyancy.com, and Suzette Allen, the perkiest photoshop guru of all time. Read her tutorials on www.shootsmarter.com.

When you leave their presentation, your head hurts, both because there was SO much information, and because you want to know so very much more. Their enthusiasm about their craft makes it even better.

Also, Suzette is selling her materials, in part, to finance her ministry www.shineforhim.com. Visit the site. It is far more eloquent than I.

One of the neat features of this conference was the Early Bird speakers, usually members who had expertise in a particular aspect of the business. I attended Steve Chesler's talk about intelligent marketing using the web. Wonderful Eye opener.

How do you like the photo of the Casino in Niagara Falls? This was across the street from our hotel. Cool, Huh!

The next several posts, I'm going to be recounting some of the last weddings I've done, and some of the helpful discoveries I've made. No, I haven't found anything new, just new to me. Maybe the photographers and brides who see this might take something positive from it.

Until next time!

Monroe

www.paynefamilyphotographers.com

New Family Member, and New Affiliation

This is Izzy.

Probably short for Isabel, but she was named by my 5 year old Grandson...

There is nothing quite as wonderful as a curious puppy, and the puppy smell - there is nothing quite so calming and peaceful.

My business is weddings and portraits, but I so rarely get to practice on the very cutest subjects, puppys.

On another subject, Mindy and I have joined a volunteer organization of professional photographers called "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep", whose purpose is to provide photographic services to families who have lost a baby. This tragedy happens from time to time, and families are usually so stricken with greif that the idea of photography is not on their mind.

Later on, the family has nothing to remember this life, that was lost before it even had a chance to begin. A mother develops a bond and love for the baby before it is born, and what we provide is a remembrance of what is good and wonderful about the time that they did have.

Yes, it's hard. The enormity of the loss hits home every time. The family may not want photos until years later, but they exist, done in a careful and loving way. It is what we can do.

For more information, the organization's web site is www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org.

Article and Photos Submitted

This past week, an assiciate of mine Steve Chesler (www.cheslerphoto.com) and I completed an article for Life in the Finger Lakes magazine.

It was an exhilarating experience, and I hope it will be well received by the readers.

The article is intended as a public relations item for our organization, the Professional Photographers' Society of New York State, Finger Lakes section. Our organization exists for the advancement and education of its members. The finger Lakes section also has the reputation of being the friendliest section in the state, one I won't dispute.

Frankly, I am delighted at the opportunity of being published is this quality magazine, whose photography is in the same ball park as Arizona Highways, Country and even (dare I say) National Geographic.

By all means, check out the web site, www.lifeinthefingerlakes.com. Even the web site is seriously classy.

And while you are checking out web sites, visit my new site at www.paynefamilyphotographers.com. I am, of course, delighted with it, and wish to pass on my kudos to Ellen Chesler od Lake Effects Web Design, who has used her considerable skill in creating a very professional, classy site.

Tamron Glass vs Canon Glass

I'd like to recount a little experiment I did last year which opened a few eyes, including my own.

I was attending the PPSNYS Workshop at Hobart & William Smith college, and looking for the best lens to upgrade to. I had been doing acceptable work using my Canon 10D and 20D fitted with consumer lenses, but wanted to make that step to a "professional" quality lens.

One of the instructors saw me poring over a Canon brochure, and got out his pen and circled two lenses, saying these are the two you need.

OK.

One of my strengths (or failings, depending on your point of view) is never taking advice at face value. I had to test his pronouncement.

At workshops of this kind, are always vendors who will do almost anything to get attendees to take some of their wares home. Such was the case here. Hahn Photographic from Rochester NY had both the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Lens, selling for around $1,200 (which the instructor had pointed out), and the Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS, selling for about $400.

The issue I have is "crispness" of image over the full frame, while maintaining perfect color rendition. I had never been completely satisfied with the images I'd taken, although my clients are delighted. My own worst critic, you know...

I set up a variety of tests in a variety of conditions, high and low light, close-up and distance, portrait settings, etc.

So what did I find?

I could recount the specifics of all of the tests, but the overall result was, I couldn't identify any difference between the lenses. Except for weight. The Canon is very, very heavy compared to the Tamron.

I should add, we're not necessarily testing identical products here. The Canon lens was designed for film cameras, and the Tamron di lens was intended for digital cameras with the smaller sensor. Please take my observations as just that, observations from a consumer of professional quality products.

Now, lest you think I have thrown over Canon lenses, this is NOT the case.

This past November, I photographed a wedding in Northern Virginia, and rented the same Canon lens that I tested against the Tamron. Here is where test results can be misleading, and where i would encourage you to do your own research.

My daughter, who is also my partner, was using the 20D with the Tamron lens, and I was using my new 30D with the Canon L Lens, which I rented from www.lensprotogo.com. I was, frankly, AMAZED at the responsiveness and accuracy of the autofocus on the Canon lens. Fast and as the Brit's say, "spot on".

I want to add a quick note about lensprotogo.com. Paul, who runs the business, is about the most attentive and responsive person I've ever had the pleasure of working with. He specializes in Canon professional quality lenses for rent, and I HEARTILY recommend his business to you if you want to test drive a lens, or use a specialty lens for a project.

Anyway, enough of the commercial.

Here is the bottom line. Both the Canon and Tamron are excellent, versatile lenses that will get you top quality results. The Canon's advantage, becides the quality of the glass, is in the exceptionally responsive autofocus, while the Tamron's advantage is in the lack of weight. Manually focused, I think the Tamron can hold its own against the Canon.

Please don't think I'm a lens pro. NOT the case. I'm a professional photographer who likes to make intelligent decisions.

Visit us at www.paynefamilyphotographers.com. Talk to you soon!

All Things Camera

All things Camera.

That's a big subject, and one I can't possibly hope to cover in depth, but I have some small experience with the little beasties and their vagueries that might be of use.

I use Canons. In the beginning - back when I was young and foolish, my Dad gave me a Canonet, which was, in its day, a high end point and shoot basic camera. This was the first camera that was "mine" - well, other than some junky instamatics and an old Brownie. The Canonet worked well for nearly 30 years of intermittant use and neglect, always coming through when it was needed. Then it died.

You like that? Just when you expected a really gruesome death scene, all you get is "it died"...

Shortly after the demise of the treasured Canonet, I happened into my Dad's darkroom. It had been probably 10 years since he had done any real work there, but the chemical smell was as pungent as if it was yesterday. Everything came flooding back. My love for the craft, the time I spent there in the dark while Dad was developing Ektachrome for clients, all the black and white photos I did for the school yearbook.... I wanted to recaptiure a bit of the good memories.

So I bought a camera. A decent one, though not top of the line, a Canon EOS Elan. What an absolutely delightful camera! I must have run through a thousand frames that first month, getting to know the little beastie, and the single thing that impressed me most was the lack of bad habits. Put the little dial on "P" (for professional).... (that's a joke...) and it would, most of the time, capture a very acceptable image.

In time, I started doing weddings for friends, then bought a second Elan as a backup. About this time, my daughter Mindy started to show a better than passing interest in Photography, and so we two would do the weddings.

Now, since 1999, we are a "real business", doing weddings, portraits and events, virtual tours, and just about anything that involves capturing an image.

Life is good.

So what about "All Things Camera?" It's a shameless hook, one that will hopefully lure you back from time to time to talk about Cameras and photography and all that good stuff. We capture memories for sharing, you and I, and everyone who clicks the shutter.