A Tradition Unlike Any Other - Hooters Swimsuit Contest (Slide Show Added)

[tlbradford]

Not the Masters...just my local Hooters Bikini Contest.  Third year I have taken photos trying to learn my camera under horrible lighting conditions.  I'll post a link when I get done with editing, but here is a little preview.

90% shot handheld with Canon 50D, Sigma 50mm f/1.4, iso 1600, and edited in Lightroom 3.

***Please no dirty comments*** but critique on my photos is welcomed.

[Wazukie]

I think its actually a pretty good photo.  I like the shadows, I think they actually enhance the contours. Great job.

[Hornseeker]

yeah... contours.... thats it.... contours....

Considering lighting conditions, I think you done real good TBrad....

[JimmyHoffa]

Yeah, what they said.  I think catching the reflected purple light off the hair was a good call.  Need an assistant 

[boonerboy]

more?........you know......so we can critique your photos.   

[rasbo]

very good looks like she might be married

[runamuk]

As someone who likes the female figure as a subject for painting and sketching I like how you capture light and shadow and shapes under what really are not very good conditions.  I actually find most of your photos inspiring....truth is the girls are wearing far too many clothes for what I typically paint or sketch    I think one thing you could do to really expand is to go to black and white for the artistic representation ...black and white nude photography is artistically my absolute favorite genre of photography.  there how is that

[tlbradford]

I have a lot of photos that I will process in B and W that had a harsh spotlight almost directly overhead.  I hope you like them, when you see them.  I can't afford the child support to do nude photos.  ;-)

[runamuk]

I have a lot of photos that I will process in B and W that had a harsh spotlight almost directly overhead.  I hope you like them, when you see them.  I can't afford the child support to do nude photos.  ;-)

well cant wait to see the black and white even if they are wearing clothes  and from an art standpoint there is a difference between porn and nudes but there are lots of people who will never get it  totally understand...and like I said I really look forward to the black and white I like your past photos....

[PlateauNDN]

Very nice picture! That's a tradition worth passing down to the next generation!

[millertime89]

i know a couple of the girls that work out there.. I had a nice front and center table last year but i didn't make it out for this years contest.. it was definitely an educational  experience I didn't realize a Hunt-WA member was one of the photographers!

And like you said, the lighting in there is atrocious to say the least.. 

[tlbradford]

David, last year was a lot better in my opinion.  The girls had a little cute outfits or dresses, then did the bikini thing.  This year they changed bikinis and just kept marching them out there.  I think the girls had more attitude last year as well, and had fun more fun with it.  So, you didn't miss much.

[Decker]

What setting was this shot taken on AV, M, Program, etc? What f/stop? It appears your metering-mode is set to evaluative, as the back-ground is exposed properly, which really helps the colors on the models hair to pop. In this type of light setting (which is what I specialize in shooting) I often use partial and spot metering - both of which will take center of the frame into account for exposure, to make sure the subject receives the emphasis for proper exposure. This being said, the background would most likely get under-exposed a touch.

If I was processing this shot in Lightroom I would consider lowering the 'Lights' slider - Directly below the Tone Curve (not talking about the model's) Graph. This would help bring the brighter portions of the shot into line with the rest of the properly exposed areas. If you aren't shooting in RAW format, I would suggest starting immediately as you have Lightroom to process RAW photos. The exposure/blacks/color range you have to manipulate in a RAW photo is SO much broader, it's rediculous.

If you have any questions about any of these terms, let me know, not sure what your experience entails.

All that being said, I really like the composition and focus. If you want to see some of my low light shots, you can visit my business page at www.theTAGurit.com. Be sure to click on the photos tab on the left, then all photos, and pick an album from one of the many night clubs I shoot - MarQuee Lounge, Northern Quest, etc.

Working in the field I do, I really respect your stance on the nude photography. I have to really watch what's on my camera when I come home and show my wife what work was like. A+ work, both on the photo and the respect for your wife.

[tlbradford]

Thanks Decker.  I will check the settings and your site when I get back to the computer.  I used Av and M, but most were Av because they walked through a huge variety of light.  F-stop was usually 1.4 but I tried some at 2.0 to see if they would be a little sharper.  I haven't compared them
Yet.  Metering was spot and partial.  I used an outer focus point, if that makes a difference?

Everything was shot in Raw, and I would love to email you some files to see how you would process if you wouldn't mind.  Your pp is awesome and very artistic. 

[tlbradford]

On the metering?  Will it meter the center focus area, even if an outer focus point is used?  And if yes, is there a way to change that.  At the end of the runway there was a downlight that hit their stomach (center of the focus screen) and their face would be in shadow (my outer focus point).  This would explain a lot of underexposed faces I ended up with.

[tlbradford]

OK I played with the lights under the split tone graph.  I had never messed with that before.  I also removed all vignetting.  Thanks for the suggestions.  This was quickly done to see what you were talking about.  I hate processing photos, but it sure makes a big difference in the final product.  Your albums were great.  I'll have to quiz you on your specifics for that type of setting. 

Photo Settings
Shooting Mode   Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )   1/200
Av( Aperture Value )   1.4
Metering Mode   Center-Weighted Average Metering
Exposure Compensation   0
ISO Speed   1600
Auto ISO Speed   OFF
Lens   50mm
Focal Length   50.0mm
Image Size   4752x3168
Image Quality   RAW
Flash   Off
FE lock   OFF
White Balance Mode   Auto
AF Mode   AI Servo AF

[tlbradford]

Runamuk...here is some B/W nude photography I did last month. 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/998850/0#lastmessage

[Decker]

OK I played with the lights under the split tone graph.  I had never messed with that before.  I also removed all vignetting.  Thanks for the suggestions.  This was quickly done to see what you were talking about.  I hate processing photos, but it sure makes a big difference in the final product.  Your albums were great.  I'll have to quiz you on your specifics for that type of setting. 

Photo Settings
Shooting Mode   Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )   1/200
Av( Aperture Value )   1.4
Metering Mode   Center-Weighted Average Metering
Exposure Compensation   0
ISO Speed   1600
Auto ISO Speed   OFF
Lens   50mm
Focal Length   50.0mm
Image Size   4752x3168
Image Quality   RAW
Flash   Off
FE lock   OFF
White Balance Mode   Auto
AF Mode   AI Servo AF

Changing the auto-focus point to an outside point shouldn't change the central metering for partial or spot. It is VERY possible, if using spot-metering, that the exposure could have locked onto her arm and set the exposure based on that - spot can be very picky due to its extremely small metering area and is avoided by a lot of pro model photographers because of that.

If you are changing the auto-focus point (I believe the 50D has 9?) to lock the focus on her eyes, I would recommend using the center auto-focus single point only. This will save you massive amounts of time composing shots because won't have to around changing the focus point. The idea is to lock the focus (and exposure) by depressing the shutter release halfway and then recomposing the image before finishing the shot. This will do two important things at the same time 1. focus what you want as the subject of the image (typically eyes with models or wildlife, which can be especially difficult to get right with a f/1.4 lens) and 2. the exposure will lock in based on the light of the spot you focused. So if you focus the model's eyes, they will not only be in focus but her face will be exposed properly. So in short you use center auto-focus point and 1. press halfway when eyes are in center focus point (setting focus and exposure) then (while still holding halfway) recompose the image and finish shooting the pic. About the only time I ever use a different auto-focus point is for my ultra-wide 10-22mm - this is because the distortion affect of the lens and if you recompose after locking the center point in, chances are the subject will be out of focus.

I noticed you used AI servo for this shot, which is good for a moving subject, but note that the above focus maneuver will not work as you can't LOCK the focus in.

Feel free to send me a few of the pics, I'd love to play with em. Thanks for the compliments, BTW.

Makphoto10@gmail.com

[washelkhntr]

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/998850/0#lastmessage
[/quote]

Those pics are great! I have always been a fan of black and white photos.

[Decker]

Runamuk...here is some B/W nude photography I did last month. 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/998850/0#lastmessage

Now that's quite a good series. Well done.

[runamuk]

Runamuk...here is some B/W nude photography I did last month. 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/998850/0#lastmessage

awesome thanks for sharing those.....

[quadrafire]

Runamuk...here is some B/W nude photography I did last month. 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/998850/0#lastmessage

That is awsome! New born photos always amaze me. Thanks for sharing

[tlbradford]

Finally got some time to finish these up for now.  I'm going to play with some different PP down the road, but I wanted to get them out the door. 

I haven't gone through and eliminated photos that are similar, or not up to snuff, so I apologize for the length of the slideshow.

Decker an email is on its way with some RAW photos.

After doing this for 3 years I have an understanding on why a lot of fashion models are not so nice.  It is really more fun to photograph girls that have attitude and fun with the camera, even if they aren't the prettiest.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlbradford2009/sets/72157626583972160/show/

[teal101]

I graduated with #12

[tlbradford]

I graduated with #12

I know I graduated waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy before any of these girls.   

[Decker]

Finally got some time to finish these up for now.  I'm going to play with some different PP down the road, but I wanted to get them out the door. 

I haven't gone through and eliminated photos that are similar, or not up to snuff, so I apologize for the length of the slideshow.

Decker an email is on its way with some RAW photos.

After doing this for 3 years I have an understanding on why a lot of fashion models are not so nice.  It is really more fun to photograph girls that have attitude and fun with the camera, even if they aren't the prettiest.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlbradford2009/sets/72157626583972160/show/

Got it tl...I'll email back to you when I have a chance to do some edits. (aka, when I'm not chasing bears  )