http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Ceardach&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Ceardach en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:49:41 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/13101673/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/13101673/ Sat, 26 May 2007 13:49:57 PDT
I did a lot of research on the conversion process, and auto focus calibration. Although I could send my camera in for an extra $200 to have someone else convert it, I figured that my experience repairing laptops gave me enough capability to do it myself. I bought the visible-light filter and cracked open that camera to convert it.

I'm proud to say that the conversion has been successful I now have a camera that will shoot color infrared. I'm so psyched. This is a great way to start the summer season. I can't wait to go out and see what I get!

The conversion process went relatively smoothly. The infrared filter on the camera didn't come off so easily as I had expected, so I got a bit worried. Also, all the cables were super sensitive and I didn't insert them back into their places correctly. There were three cables I had to disconnect, and I messed up each one, in just about every combination possible. Very frustrating, and gave me a minor heart attack the first time when I saw the LCD screen uncontrollably blinking!! But, I didn't let it worry me too much, and I went back in... again... and again... and again... as I kept fixing this and that. hehe.

I also had to adjust the auto focus, as infrared focuses on another plane than visible light. I had a bit of a problem doing that because I couldn't get enough torque to turn the focus adjustment knob. I managed to turn it a little, so at least it's a little better, but not perfect. But, it's not too off.

In the end..... I have a working infrared digital SLR!! Wooo!

]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/12238116/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/12238116/ Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:40:32 PDT
KMGallery

I redeveloped it from scratch. I chose a brand new template scheme, and then built it from the ground up with the latest version of Drupal.

I even went through all of my photographs and picked only the best I had. As such, I reduced the amount of photos that are up there. In fact, I'm limiting myself to only 9 photos per category. I had a lot of photos that I thought were only half way decent that were showing the techniques I was trying.... but I should avoid that.

I also felt constrained to put up photos which were more consumerish so that they would sell. But, I'm going to make a more sharp divide between my store and my gallery. I'm also going to rearrange the cafepress store so that it is organized by product type, not image. I still have links to purchase an image through deviantART, though... but I will also additionally provide extra photos in my deviantART store that won't be in my gallery.

The latest version of Drupal, utilizing a new technique for adding images, will make it a lot easier for me to upload and remove photos at whim. That way I should hopefully have it updated more often.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with where it's going. But I can pretty much guarantee I'll have a huge urge to redesign it again in about 3 months

This is also why, as some of you may have noticed, I have uploaded a slew of images. I am making sure that what I have up on my website is also available for sale as a print.

]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/10281168/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/10281168/ Wed, 04 Oct 2006 11:05:50 PDT

His timing was not more perfect, as I had just set up a mediocre studio space and had my first test shoot with it when he first announced his intentions for holding a workshop. After my test shoot, I certainly believed I could use more guidance and eagerly signed up for his workshop.

It was a great learning expirience, and I got to meet a whole bunch of very nice people!

One week before the shoot, I was given a substantial amount of studio photography equipment all for free. I'm still flabbergasted. I have it set up in my little studio space and look at it with awe.

I was given a Norman P2000D powerpack and four LH2000 lampheads, four stands, four umbrellas and carrying cases. Unbelievable.

Unfortunately, the lampheads don't have reflectors, and actually produce glare quite similar to the effect the sun causes. I looked up reflectors for them, and they're $45 a pop - plus shipping. Thats far above my budget, so I'm going to have to figure out some sort of home made solution.

Also...... the light they emit is TREMENDOUS. On just 400 w/s, I have to set my apeture to around f/18. Yeesh. Now I definately do have to clean my sensor!

Here's to hoping it all works out!

]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/9695618/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/9695618/ Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:38:59 PDT
She said to me, in order to be hired, I had to agree that I would not do wedding photography within a 50 mile radius of her. Given that a 100 miles pretty much encompases all of Rhode Island, that puts me in quite a quandry! I agreed to signing a contract to that effect considering I expected to work with her for several years.

Well! I worked what... three weeks? if that? And did one wedding before we competed to see who could fire/quit from whom. She never did have me sign that contract, BTW.

I wonder if she'll come back to haunt me one day...

At any rate, I've done two more events - a baptism and wedding. I've completely enjoyed them both, and I eagerly await the chance to shoot another event.

I was just a second shooter at this recent wedding for a photographer who is just starting out, along with a novice DJ and two novice videographers. Talk about having the pressure relieved when everyone is of equal expirience to you In fact, I think the other photographer and I were the most expirienced people there! haha!

I was hired to assist in shooting the reception, and volunteered to attend the ceremony and formals so I could take infrared shots of it. I loved the shots I got, but as far as infrared goes, I think I'm just going to have to shift to full manual. I've now shot at quite a variety of lighting conditions and perhaps I'll be able to compensate properly now that I've mentally logged how much actual infrared there is in particular lighting environments. ]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/9092007/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/9092007/ Fri, 16 Jun 2006 23:23:55 PDT It was my first "real" model-like photoshoot.

Man! It was amazing! And I'm so surprised that the photos came out so well!

I was so worried. I thought my lighting set up sucked! I had to appologize to poor Claudia for my ghetto-like studio space, but we made due!

The lighting was just so simple... I hung a 2'x3' peice of foam core board on the ceiling at an angle that faced the center of the room, and bounced my SB-600 off it while it was sitting on a spare tripod. It worked amazingly well! The background was either my white wall, or the black seemless.

Claudia Cardozo is one of my web design clients. I have been wanting to get my feet wet in model photography, while she needed promotional images for herself. I offered to shoot her, and she accepted!

She's now very happy with the results! She said she never thought she'd have such nice photos of herself. And that made me think.... this is the prime of her life, she looks great and is doing great things. I can see her looking back 10... 20 years from now and appreciating these photos.

And that.... that makes me feel really good ]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/8877080/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/8877080/ Thu, 25 May 2006 18:52:18 PDT
So, I left.

In more optimistic news, my flame for photography has turned into a bon fire. I picked up the F100 and have a slew of ideas for black and white and infrared photography.

I am also almost done with setting up my studio. The room is all cleaned out, and I just need to get a boom, backdrop and bracket to hold the backdrop. I've already joined ModelMayhem.com and will soon join OneModelPlace.com so I can hook up with models and get crackin' on a bunch of other ideas that I have.

I'm pretty excited! I'm going to try to make an effort to do something at least every weekend. ]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/8586120/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/8586120/ Tue, 25 Apr 2006 20:45:39 PDT
I photographed a costume ball in a really awesome museum. Just look at the photos - those whale bones were incredible!

This was my first time really photographing an event, and it was an awesome opportunity considering the incredible space. I was very lucky to have attended. I must also give out congrats to my friend who is president of the organization that prepared the whole thing. She really created a great expirience for everyone.


In other news, photography will now take up 50% of my time. I got a job as a wedding photographer's assistant! She's an incredible artistic photographer, so this will be quite a fun expirience. She's also very sweet and kind, so I can see me working with her for a long time.

There has been discussion about how this job is just a "stepping" ground to becoming a wedding photographer myself. Erm. I'm not sure I want to be the lead photographer, really.

I tried running my own web design business, and ya know what? It's hard! It's very stressful and money is so undependable. I want to focus more on my art and creating things than worrying about business and advertising and meeting my rent payment.

Maybe I'll change my mind when I'm 30, too. The current assistant is quitting because, as she says, "I'm 30. It's time for me to have my own bussiness and stop being an assistant." Weelll... Sure, I suppose maybe in 5 years I'll change my mind. But at the moment... thinking about being her assistant for a long long time to come doesn't sound so bad.

As an assistant, I'll be a second shooter, after first making sure she's all set and has everything she needs. Then after shooting, I get to help a lot with the processing photos, even do all the darkroom work, and assemble albums. Should be fun! I'm looking forward to it. ]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/7194503/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/7194503/ Thu, 01 Dec 2005 12:56:33 PST
I'll do more photography soon, hopefully. I certainly haven't stopped thinking about it. I keep going to B&H Photo and drooling over the lenses. If only I had $500!!!

Although, I did manage to update my photography website at KMGallery.net. ]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/6549712/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/6549712/ Sat, 24 Sep 2005 14:57:35 PDT odd. My photography is all over the place. It seems to have no rhyme or reason.

I'm expiramenting with everything under the sun. I guess that means lots and lots of randomness....

]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/5954604/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/5954604/ Sat, 16 Jul 2005 21:22:40 PDT
I'm obsessed. Driven.

Photography is new to me, but art in general is not. I've been an artist of all sorts since I was very young. My favorit has been painting, but due to severe time constraints and lack of funds, I just haven't been painting in almost two years.

I miss it. But, I don't think I missed painting persay... I think I missed the textures, the colors, the perception, the capture, the creating.

Photography is giving me that much needed outlet. ]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/5939572/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/5939572/ Fri, 15 Jul 2005 06:06:49 PDT
I'm going to try uploading more now, and also providing higher quality versions. ]]> ~Ceardach http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/5926138/ http://Ceardach.deviantart.com/journal/5926138/ Wed, 13 Jul 2005 18:41:16 PDT
But my last three additions have not shown up on my gallery. ggrr. This has made me very sad. Are they just to get lost in the ether? ]]> ~Ceardach