New Personal Project - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

04/11/2011 10:15:33 PM · #1

Sometimes when you start to earning a paycheck with your camera you forget why you like to take photos. At the urging of a friend I've decided to start a personal project to make using the camera fun and creative again for myself. I've decided to recruit some of the kids that I photograph in sporting events and put together 100 creative sports portraits over the course of the next year or so. Last night I did my first session. These are quick less then 30 minute shoots at no charge to the athletes and their parents and they get one digital file for signing the release for me to use in my portfolio and advertising. I didn't realize it would be so fun to get creative again without getting paid. Anyway here are two from the session last night.

In a way it's my own personal "Digital Photo Challenge"

I encourage each of you to start a personal long goal project and remember why you love using the camera.

Louis

Nikon D800

04/11/2011 10:57:38 PM · #2

Those are great. I'd be interested in the light setup, especially for the second one. I want to get into portable light.

Message edited by author 2011-04-11 22:58:47.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

04/11/2011 11:04:51 PM · #3

Originally posted by Louis:

Those are great. I'd be interested in the light setup, especially for the second one. I want to get into portable light.

Louis thanks. These are both shot with two SB900's with CTO gels on them and one SB28 also with a CTO Gel. Manual power varied depending on ambient and effect I was looking for and fired with Alien Bee Cybersyncs. Thanks for looking.

Matt

Louis

Nikon D800

04/11/2011 11:11:31 PM · #4

Cool thanks, I was wondering if they were SB or AB (or similar). Great work.

MQuinn

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital Zoom

04/11/2011 11:12:17 PM · #5

Very cool Matt! I just have to do something... More poor camera has basically been hibernating with the long winter and crazy work hours. Great shots BTW!

ScooterMcNutty

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/11/2011 11:15:07 PM · #6

this is really cool! thanks for letting us know. great shots!

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/12/2011 12:27:30 AM · #7

Very nice work Matt!

R.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

04/12/2011 12:35:58 AM · #8

Thanks everyone, I'll update this now and then when I add new ones to the set. I'm hoping to hit every sport I cover over the next year. And I'm hoping to learn a lot about myself and try some new things with lighting and posing along the way in my journey.

Matt

spiritualspatula

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/12/2011 02:36:37 AM · #9

I like the shots so far Matt. They've got a nice flair added to them. It's also nice to see you do this, because perhaps the biggest reason I haven't entirely given much thought to doing much professional work is because I didn't want to get to the point where I wasn't doing things I wanted, or enjoyed, but you've shown that it is possible to do both, as well.

04/12/2011 01:47:24 PM · #10

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Don't get me wrong I LOVE what I do, I couldn't imagine what I'd do if I wasn't shooting sports like I am now. It's a thrill every time I go. But I realized I was doing less and less of what I used to do just for me. With some prodding I'm going to do a lot more of it. It's easy to get burned out and lose sight of why you enjoyed something when it becomes more than just a hobby. I want to make sure i don't have that happen to me, likely another reason I'll never do it full time.

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/13/2011 12:18:40 AM · #11

Tonight I didn't have the sky gods with me, nothing but blue skies and sunshine. So I did what I could do. The parent was happy and the kid was thrilled. I'm happy with them, just didn't knock it out of the park(pun intended) as I had hoped too.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

04/13/2011 12:23:13 AM · #12

two thumbs up, dude!

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/13/2011 12:31:39 AM · #13

I don't know about the sky gods; The clear blue sky works well for a young kid with high hopes. Plus you made it work with the uniform color. For me, it works.

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

04/13/2011 12:33:13 AM · #14

I think they're awesome like this!

tanguera

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

04/13/2011 12:53:40 AM · #15

Variety is the spice of life.

dswann

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/13/2011 01:47:30 AM · #16

Awesome work Matt! Great start on the personal project. It'll be interesting to see how it progresses.

MQuinn

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital Zoom

04/13/2011 01:52:13 AM · #17

Again! Fantastic shots!

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

04/13/2011 08:01:32 AM · #18

Thanks, this will be the last ones for a week or so, time to go back to work using the camera for a bit, but over the next year I hope to make it to 100 Portraits and am going to try and make a mosaic with them into an advertising campaign of sorts.

Matt

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/13/2011 08:25:49 AM · #19

Originally posted by MattO:

seriously???

i wish i could make my photos look like that... you have high standards.

Message edited by author 2011-04-13 08:26:15.

colorcarnival

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

Olympus 45mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital

04/13/2011 08:27:56 AM · #20

you need to post the shot of the second boy that you did in black and white. I really like that one.

04/13/2011 09:01:10 AM · #21

Originally posted by mike_311:

Originally posted by MattO:
Tonight I didn't have the sky gods with me, nothing but blue skies and sunshine. So I did what I could do. The parent was happy and the kid was thrilled. I'm happy with them, just didn't knock it out of the park(pun intended) as I had hoped too.

seriously???

i wish i could make my photos look like that... you have high standards.

When I go to do one of these sessions I have an image in my mind that I want to create, when I don't achieve that image in some way(in this case I wanted big white puffy clouds in the sky as well) I don't think I have done what I set out to do. I'm happy with the images, they just aren't at the level I set, but it was something I couldn't control.

Michelle I wasn't happy with that background on that image, but posted it for the dad, he and I are old friends from HS and I shot that after the session was over just as a Candid, but his dad saw it and liked it.

04/17/2011 09:06:05 PM · #22

Tonight I added one more to the set.

04/26/2011 11:40:08 PM · #23

Tonight the rain let up long enough to get a session in. I was expecting clouds and lower light, and ended up with blazing sunshine.

onepurplerose

Nikon D3s

04/26/2011 11:44:58 PM · #24

You have some great images!