Hosting some meet ups in my neck of the woods for my good friend Andre. Thought I would share a few that I took with the S2.
And for those who prefer landscape shots 🙂
Well done David. One of these days I will come to south Florida and come see you and your models rather than go to the Everglades. It’s no wonder you didn’t come to on the workshop – why go chasing beauty when it will come to you!
Mark, just give me a heads up when you’re headed down and I’ll arrange for some fun shooting. Just make sure to bring your new zoom lens along so I can try it out 🙂
It looks like you guys had a great workshop. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t in the cards for me to join you this time.
Kipper,
I suggest you offer to lead a Farkas experience called “Fashion Models” this November.
No, “Fun in the sun” sounds like a better title. Why November? Because we will have enough CS lenses by then.JackDavid, thank you for the offer. I will take you up on it. However, I won’t be bringing the zoom cause I haven’t bought it yet. David was able to get a demo from Kelsey for the workshop but they are still scarce.
Please feel free to make us jealous with some more of your photo shoots.:D
Mark
Jack, I sure hope those CS lenses show up before November. Got my 70mm and am waiting patiently for the 120mm. Those are pretty much the only ones I use with lights.
Mark, most of the time I shoot my Nikon D4 for this kind of stuff even though I like the images from the S2 better. I started this shoot down by the surf with the Leica and got a bit nervous with the splashing waves…unlike Jack 🙂 So I switched to the Nikon and sure enough…the camera took a hit. While it was drying out I switched back to the Leica and moved back a bit to drier ground.
Here’s the last shot with the Nikon before it got swamped. As you can see I get pretty low and close to the water. Hope I don’t get censured for posting an off brand image 🙂
David,
The S can take waves better than your lights. Where are your lights placed?
As I have reported, I have had waves wash over my S2 multiple times while on a wave runner photographing sailboats up close. Absolutely no issue. But your lights must have been behind you where?JackJack, I keep the battery pack well behind me on a towel or sheet. I’ll typically look to see where the wet sand stops, past where the waves have reached and put it there. Despite having done this countless times I am still occasionally surprised just how fast the tide can come in and how far a mini rogue wave can wash past where others have stopped. One of these days i’ll get smart and put my battery packs in some kind of waterproof container. The other trick is to suspend the battery pack from the light stand using a bungee cord. This works well as long as it’s not one of the big, really heavy packs. I don’t much care if the light stands get wet. I’ve dedicated a few of them for beach use. They’re corroded and ugly but still get the job done. One other trick I’ve learned from my friend Andre is to extend the lowest leg of my tripod at least one hands width to minimize the amount of sand that gets in the legs. I then extend the legs from the top down for better support. But the real key to getting good shots for this type of work is to get really, really low. For me this means wearing a bathing suit, peeling off my shirt and laying in the sand/surf. At least I don’t have to worry about getting sand in my hair 🙂
Thanks David,
I recommend a small cooler chest with a carrying handle in the middle. Easy to transport the battery pack and protect it from water.Given you are lying on the sand, I would definitely use the water resistant S2 versus the Nikon. The water shedding lens coating is a big help on the S lenses. Does Nikon have that?
JackUsing a cooler to transport the battery pack is a good idea. All of my Nikon lenses are classified by Nikon as weather resistant and I’ve read that means they have special coatings applied to the front and rear elements. More than that I really don’t know. Being a boater and living in Florida has given me a healthy respect for just how corrosive salt water is. Maybe I’d be braver if it were fresh water but the idea of my S2 getting sloshed with ocean water makes me cringe. When I got back from the beach after the Nikon took a dunking I sponged if off with fresh water and patted it dry.
Here’s one from a shoot away from the water. Used my Hasselblad 110/2 for this shot…a lens I like quite a bit. I know it was stopped down…I’m guessing f/5.6 or f/8 but there’s no exif data to confirm that. But I think the colors are nice.
Very colorful.
Regarding salt water, when we get together in November, I will loan you my gear to shoot in the surf. But don’t change lenses when you are lying in waves. Your idea to wash everything off with fresh water makes sense. Dried salt on the lens is worse than dust.
JackDavid K;4554 wrote: Jack, I keep the battery pack well behind me on a towel or sheet. I’ll typically look to see where the wet sand stops, past where the waves have reached and put it there. Despite having done this countless times I am still occasionally surprised just how fast the tide can come in and how far a mini rogue wave can wash past where others have stopped. One of these days i’ll get smart and put my battery packs in some kind of waterproof container. The other trick is to suspend the battery pack from the light stand using a bungee cord. This works well as long as it’s not one of the big, really heavy packs. I don’t much care if the light stands get wet. I’ve dedicated a few of them for beach use. They’re corroded and ugly but still get the job done. One other trick I’ve learned from my friend Andre is to extend the lowest leg of my tripod at least one hands width to minimize the amount of sand that gets in the legs. I then extend the legs from the top down for better support. But the real key to getting good shots for this type of work is to get really, really low. For me this means wearing a bathing suit, peeling off my shirt and laying in the sand/surf. At least I don’t have to worry about getting sand in my hair 🙂
Amazing photos David! Recently I heard about the priolite which is very cool since the battery is built in, maybe great for these situations
melantye,
I hadn’t heard of the Priolites but I do like the concept. If I didn’t already have a substantial investment in Broncolor lighting I’d certainly look at them more closely.
Nice system
http://www.priolite.com/en/products/details-priolite/items/id-01-0500-02-priolite-mbx-500.htmlBut the question would be how much issue you have with power cords dragging through the sand? A mono bloc cures that, but if a mono bloc falls over you probably lose your mono bloc at $1,600 each.
However if that is not a worry, and if there was no legacy issue, a lithium mono bloc is an elegant solution. I followed its introduction with interest.
JackDavid,
I stand corrected on salt water spray.
This blog:
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog
Explains why they do not insure their lenses when renters “abuse” equipment in salt water.Also warns about certain kinds of color dust used in color bomb runs.
Never had heard about that.Jackvery good David !
Nicely done!
I’d use the S2 near sand and water with little trepidation Can’t treat these tools as being too precious … but changing lenses needs to be done with great care as the S sensor attracts dust like an over zealous magnet.
Jack, great idea to put the strobe generator in a cooler when near water! My main portable strobe is a Hensel Porty 1200 Lithium which is sealed … but I don’t fly with that one.
We’ll be in Florida early-mid November … I have most all of the CS lenses 35, 70, 120, 180 and the H to S adapter for the Hasselblad HTS/1.5 plus HC 100/2.2 … hint, hint … LOL!
– Marc
Marc,
I hope that hint was aimed at me. Would love to do some shooting together and I can arrange for some pretty young models if that appeals to you 🙂 I’m in the Jupiter area near Roger…about 15mins north of the West Palm Beach airport.
BTW, I took Jack’s advice and picked up a soft sided but waterproof cooler at Costco.
David
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