ShutterClass studio progress continues

It’s been almost 3 weeks since the last update, and quite a bit has happened (always busy, as you all know!!). We had quite a bit of rain in Melbourne recently, and combined with the heat it was a perfect recipe for really testing out the plaster and cyc curve stability! Guess what – cyc curves hate humidity! We had a little cracking and some lifting, we we’ve had to spend some time working on repairs already! On the plus side, repairs turned out to be pretty easy, and the end result is much more stable. Hopefully the heat and humidity predicted over the coming months will prove it’s a better result. And then we have winter cold to look forward to…

The studio has been quite busy lately, which has slowed down completion of the construction – today is the last day of a 3-day fashion/portfolio shoot. We’ve had around 20 people onsite every day, with lots of models coming and going as they attend their session. It’s been relatively smooth, although a small incident with a courier van driving into our front doors, and a modelling lamp exploding meant we had our fair share of excitement!

As we rapidly head towards Christmas, the studio will be closed from 23/12 to 4/1. In that time I’ll be getting organised and planning out the workshops I plan to run in January – at this stage there’ll be a couple of basic lighting workshops, along with some “play” workshops. I’m considering short sessions on using laser/sound triggers, paint/powder/water shoots, and maybe timelapse and lightpainting. I’ve also got a couple of shoots of my own I need to get organised, but more about those once I get the details sorted!!

Next update will probably be early in the new year – until then, I hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas, and a memorable new year!

Studio build progressing well, first shoots done!

It’s been almost a month since the last update, and what a busy 3 or so weeks it has been. Floors are in and complete, we now have 2.5 cycs (the corner cyc 3 is still a work in progress, but the main half of it is functional). The portrait walls are done and came up really well with the chosen colours, but there are still more coats of paint required on the cyc curves (masonite is a resilient product, but pretty ordinary to get filled and painted). The biggest challenge has simply been time and the weather – hot humid conditions has not been ideal for plastering, sanding and painting, but we are getting there. We’ve encountered some cracks in some of the plaster and may need to revisit that if time permits.

First shoots happened today in the studios, and they appear to have been successful – got some positive feedback, and hopefully we’ll see people back in the studios in future. It was great to get back in the studio and work with other shooters – while I like nothing better than having a great shoot myself, I also get right into helping others solve their challenges, particularly when it works out and they are getting the results they want!

Did some light testing as well, initial tests to see what the cyc looks like under strobe – seems to produce workable results so far. As mentioned above, the cracking may be an issue depending on light angle, but in most cases it is not even visible (so perhaps I worry too much about it being perfect?). Here’s a candid shot of me taking a look, shot by the wonderful and supportive Morgana (of Morgana Creely Photography. Model is the ever talented Martin (of Martin Creely Photography) who’s also a great sport and event shooter too! Go check them both out!

More images to come, as the build wraps up! Thanks everyone for your support so far – feel free to check out the ShutterClass site, and drop past the studio or keep an eye on the upcoming workshops (announced via the ShutterClass Facebook page)

Update on new news

It’s been almost a month since my announcements about exiting things happening in my photography space (if you want to refresh your memory, here’s the original new news!).

So, where are we at? Well, we’re behind schedule by about 8 days due to some delays in getting the floor sorted – old warehouse floors are apparently not ideal for resurfacing, particularly with so much old oil in play. We had to go with plan B, and lay an entire new floor over the top, which cost a heap of time that we hadn’t planned on. We’re still aiming for a 15/11 open, but the run to the finish line is going to be crazy!

Signage has now been installed – if you drive past us on Huntingdale Road (just north of the train station), look out for the ShutterClass warehouse at the end of the shopping strip (on the left, heading towards Dandenong Rd/Princes Hwy).

Cyc construction should start Saturday if the rest of this week works out – that means the floor laying has to finish tomorrow, sanding must happen Weds and then sealing can happen Thurs/Fri. If we don’t make those deadlines, the 15th is looking shaky!

Still a bunch of challenges to sort out as well – lighting in the makeup/change area is still to be determined, it has to be the right colour, otherwise makeup will be put on under one colour light, only to be shot in something different – egads!! Other simple things are still outstanding as well (waiting on the landlord) – taps in the kitchen, a vanity in the shower/change room, a few leaks to be plugged in the roof (nothing like a massive weekend of rain to discover all those holes – 14 buckets scattered around the floor!).

But overall it’s looking quite positive and getting very exciting – it’s a great space, it has surprisingly nice ambient light and a really good feel to it (for a large open warehouse!). It will be awesome when the floors are shiny and the cycs are done, then it will look like the real deal.

We’ve been doing timelapse of the construction as we go, so there will be videos and some photos in a couple of weeks (we’ll be posting them to coincide with the launch). No date determined yet for the launch party, but it’s likely to be early in the new year since no-one has free time in December with the crazy holiday period.

Touch wood no other major hurdles are encountered, and hopefully the train will stay on the tracks.

Some announcements!! New News!!

It’s been probably the most hectic 2 or so weeks I’ve had in a long time – for those who know me, “busy” is a word I throw around a lot, almost to the point of abuse!! And I’m sure my friends no longer believe me when I say I’m busier than ever before!! But I am!! Seriously!! No, really, please believe me…. please?

OK, here’s the reason I have actually been really busy, and the news is very exciting – I have some announcements to make!! Hopefully some of you out there will be as excited as I am!! So, without further ado:

First up, the workshop pilot website is official and operational now!! Go and check it out at http://www.shutterclass.com. It’s rough at the moment, but the intention is simple – if you are a photographer and you want to host a workshop to impart some of that amazing knowledge on an unsuspecting public, ShutterClass can help. The website is designed to sort out some of the annoying logistics, like managing attendees and getting payments in!! And the best part? It’s free during the pilot period while I try and iron out the bugs! Particularly useful for those of you that already run workshops, let ShutterClass sort out the registration hassles for you!
What would a new workshop website be without some content? So I’m going to hold some workshops of my own. The first one is the “Relaxed Studio Lighting” workshop, aimed at (mostly new) photographers who would like a chance to get into a studio and experiment with some lights without stress or pressure!! We’ll have a couple of models along, talk about basic lighting concepts, and maybe work through a couple of concepts. If you are interested in attending these workshops (first one November 20), just head over to http://www.shutterclass.com and register!! They’re not expensive either, so get along and give it a shot!!
Of course, with a new workshop website, and some workshops to run, I really needed somewhere to hold them! So what better way to launch the website and the workshops by also announcing that I’m opening a studio!! Yes, a studio, as in a full-on space for taking awesome images!!
ShutterClass Studios will be 3 or 4 large cycloramas (including one corner cyc), portrait walls, and a construction/wet area, along with portable makeup tables, shower/change facilities and roller-door access that can accommodate cars/motorbikes as well!! It’s all located conveniently in Huntingdale Road Oakleigh (walking distance from Huntingdale Train Station). Studio hire rates are still to be determined but they are going to be quite reasonable so even you new shooters and students can get a look in!! Keep your eye on the http://www.ShutterClass.com website for more details over the next 4 or so weeks.

That’s about it for news at this stage (phew, more than enough I think!!). There’s also a Facebook page and other bits and bobs, but these will all be cleaned up and linked together over the coming weeks!!
For now, I’m keen to hear from people who would be interested in running up a workshop through http://www.shutterclass.com (and you don’t have to be in Victoria to use the site!!). I’d love to chat to anyone who wants to know more about the studios, or wants to book them even!! They’re not built yet, but you’ll see some progress updates over the coming weeks. They’ll officially open in the middle of November, but there’s a chance for some early viewing/bookings before then!!

Righto, onwards and upwards!! Like I said, I’m “busy” 😉

Canola time of year

Ever since I started shooting (oh so many years ago), I’ve always wanted to do a shoot in a canola field. But every year, around September/October, something thwarts my grand canola plans! Canola, for those who don’t know, gives us those amazing fields of yellow that stretch forever. The problem with canola is the longevity, the best tone of yellow is in the first week or two of the bloom, and then it dulls off and thins out after that. Here’s an example of only average canola, taken today near Werribee (between Geelong and Melbourne) – this batch is now a few weeks old, and the coverage is thinning out. Plus, when it gets older, it’s also really tall and less suitable for models or fashion work.

2 years ago I found the best canola fields around, out towards Lal Lal, but I didn’t have any models with me (must have left them at home on the charger!). So I dutifully noted the date in my diary, and committed to coming back the following year. Last year I went back to the same fields (with model!), only to discover canola was not on the menu (I think wheat was though!!).

The fields in the photo above were a surprise – In 15+ years of driving between Melbourne and Geelong, I’ve never seen those fields used for anything useful, particularly not something bright and distracting like canola! Drivers have been taken by surprise too, lots of people stopping to take photos, or drifting all over the road as they crane their necks to get a better look!!

Booking it in my diary again, perhaps next year I’ll get a chance to take a model to a canola field and get the shot that’s been in my head for over 3 years now!!

(BTW, image taken on my new iPhone, 1/2700 @ f2.8, I’m pleased!!)

A Canon 7D at 1000fps?

7D 1000 fps from Oton Bačar on Vimeo.

For the film dabblers out there, wouldn’t it be nice to get access to those super expensive high speed cameras (such as those from Vision Research) and make some super slo-mo film?? Budget a bit tight?? No problem – using a plugin called Twixtor for After Effects, it’s possible to slow down the output from a Canon 7D to be “virtually” 1000fps.

Compared to the price of the real cameras (even for hire), these results are nothing short of astounding!!

Be still, my beating heart

Making Future Magic: iPad light painting from Dentsu London on Vimeo.

I like all things tech – no point denying it really!! If you know me, you know I have a pretty good grasp of the geeky things that surround us!! But this video takes the cake – combining the iPad, some great stop-motion photography, a bit of tech in the software design, and wrap it all up in a video – I think I had palpitations!!

Watch the video, marvel at how art, science and technology can create beautiful things together!!

Editing for dough, or show?

I’ve been pondering editing lately – I’m behind in my editing, there’s a queue of people who are good natured enough not to harass me about it (although if they were paying clients I suspect it would be different!), and I find myself wondering why I can’t seem to get through the backlog! While people have heard me use (Vincent Laforet’s?) “Photoshop is not a verb” quote on many occasions, it turns out it is even in Adobe’s Trademark guidelines document – “The Photoshop trademark must never be used as a common verb or as a noun…”. Well, there you go then, all you photoshoppers!!

Makeup Trial FTW

I get asked quite frequently for advice and assistance, particularly with newcomers on the scene – not sure why, there are plenty of quality shooters out there more qualified than I am to be giving advice (although I suspect they are also a bucket-load more expensive than me too!!).

Oh Canon, what are you up to?

So, Canon Expo rolls around once every 5 years, and we’ve come to expect a blend of awesome new tech that might be released soon, awesome new tech that is unlikely to be released soon, and awesome new tech that is completely fanciful and will probably never see the light of day, soon or otherwise!!

If you follow news on Gizmodo, then you will have seen these already, but I wanted to stick all the links in one place for easy reference:

How about a 120MP camera, probably to be used for medical imaging;
How about a 120MP sensor that will do wonders for low light
120MP too much? How about a 50MP camera that sees things our eyes can’t!
All good and well seeing things our eyes can’t, what we really need is an 50MP omnidirectional camera that can see all around!
And finally, who needs a Red One when you can feast your eyes on Canon’s own 4K concept camera (and this one falls squarely in the “probably won’t see the light of day in this design” category!)

Notice anything missing?? How about a new 1Ds Mk IV??? C’mon Canon, Nikon has been kicking your butt all over the park – don’t get me wrong, 120MP medical and astronomy sensors are definitely cool, but a new 60D is not that interesting to me, and I don’t see much use for the 7D or the 7D Studio. Time to update the 1Ds Canon, surely?

Of course, I wouldn’t say no to some new lenses, although they would work better on the full-frame body I don’t yet have!!