robynw ™: Hobbies

Photography: Back from Albuquerque

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:30:12 GMT

I'll add more to this post later, but this so far has been the most popular photo in my stream from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Click it to see comments and a larger size. Enjoy! :)

Photography: Show Postcard Available

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:16:33 GMT

Visit this link to check out the info about the show at Cafe Vega via the show postcard.

Photography: Check out a photo reception featuring one of my photos!

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:47:14 GMT

One of my photos will be on display until November at Cafe vega in Seattle. The opening reception is October 12, and the show features one photo from 20 different Flickr people. Here's the info - try to make it out! Sales benefit Northwest Harvest.

When:

Friday, October 12, 2007, 7:00 PM 20071013T020000Z

Where:

Cafe Vega
1918 E Yesler Way
Seattle, WA 98122
206-322-0807

Info/Map

Description:

Join us in viewing and celebrating the first Seattle Flickr photo at Cafe Vega!

Meet the photographers, see how others choose and present their photos, get inspired to do your own thing!

Photography: Photo included in Jacksonville, FL travel guide

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 23:37:05 GMT

One of my photos has been selected and included in Schmap's Jacksonville, Florida travel guide. You can check it out here.

Photography: How NOT to Photoshop

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:23:58 GMT

Just a gentle reminder to photographers out there - if you are photoshopping a model's body, please don't forget the lower half!

I'll link to the photo for now, but I'll save a copy in case it gets pulled. Fair warning: if you are easily offended, this photo is a lingerie ad, albeit a very tame one.

Photo located here - again, may be of NSFW caliber. Scroll to the girl in black on the center of the page and check out those legs.

Photography: Another news publication

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:05:24 GMT

Here's another story that my photos were published with, this time relating to Lindsay Davenport and her recent return to tennis wins. :)

More shots of me modeling

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:41:28 GMT

Th a set from my friend Danny, who is well known for his jumping shots - I've done some modeling for him a few times now - here's a set of some of the results.

Latest photos: Bryan Peterson workshop

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:36:15 GMT

Check out my latest photos from an excellent workshop I attended.

My Blurb photography book has been published

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:13:46 GMT

I don't have a copy yet, but I should have one within a few weeks. In the meantime, check out the result of testing otu the Blurb service.

p h o t o j o ...

By r o b y n m w i ...

Book Preview

Photography: More shots of me modeling

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:30:21 GMT

Here's some shots of me at the F-Stop Studio in Pioneer Square, Seattle.

Photography: Photos Published in Schmap Seattle travel guide

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:47:55 GMT

Two more additions of my photos to Schmap's collection:

Bellevue Botanical Garden
www.schmap.com/seattle/sights_parks/p=36424/i=36424_10.jpg

Bellevue Botanical Garden
www.schmap.com/seattle/sights_parks/p=36424/i=36424_11.jpg

Photography: Paris photo published in Schmap travel guides

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:04:59 GMT

Here's another addition to Schmap, this time for a park in Paris.

Photography: Hampton Court photo included in London travel guide

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:35:44 GMT

Here's a very new publication in Schmap (of a photo from many years ago, before I got some skillz...okay, I have no skillz).

Hampton Court Palace

Kinda exciting to have a new addition to the collection.

Photography: Photos published for Grand Slam Tennis Tours

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 20:10:13 GMT

One of my other publications was much more exciting - although this tour compnay didn't properly put credit in their brochure, I did the photos for the Miami (formerly NASDAQ 100) Sony Ericsson tennis tournament. You can view them by requesting the brochure here for that event. I also went to the French Open (aka Roland Garros) with them. Coincidentally, I wouldn't recommend them as the best tennis tour people, but you'll have to message me for details if you care why.

I hope to be doing lots more tennis photography soon. I've sold many of my tennis photos from this event and others through stock photography sites like Shutterstock, so it was a very rewarding experience. This was all done in Spring of 2006.

Below is my absolute favorite shot I took at Roland Garros:

Photography: Photos Published at dubster.com

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:34:00 GMT

This is old, but I figure I should start collecting the links to some of this stuff because I don't even know where my photos end up sometimes. This isn't exactly an achievement either, but I think it is hilarious. Dubster runs a site where people submit photos that utilize perspective to make it appear as though toy cars are the same size and parked with actual cars.

Here's published photo #1 and published photo #2, both using the much loved Oscar Meyer Weinermobile on a Seattle Center roller coaster.

Oh yeah, as an aside, I have a Lego Space Shuttle Orbiter ready to go for more photos. Anyone want to help? ;)

Photography: Macaws at the Cougar Mountain Zoo

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:32:27 GMT

So I got a few other animals (cranes, llamas or alpacas, etc), but my primary goal was to get the macaws captured in photos sicne they are not in cages. I used my 28-300 L IS, and it worked great for this - I was really close to the birds anyway. The zoo is TINY _ spent about an hour there even though I was taking bunches of photos.

Photography: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:18:28 GMT

My next trip was to the DR for a wedding. The Punta Cana area is just resorts - if you are looking for local things to do, go somewhere else. The beach is of course beautiful, but it isn't exactly my style as a photog. I stayed at the Riu Palace, and feel free to contact me if you want a review. I've been to a few resorts and this one is about average. I ended up taking pics of my friends mostly, and not that many because I had to leave earlier than expected.

Photography: Mumbai, India

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:26:14 GMT

I was in Mumbai for work for almost a week. With the exception of being messed up on Malarone (malaria prevention medicine) and stressed, it was a great trip. I did not think I'd like India at all - but I really loved photographing Mumbai.

About a year ago, I read the book Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by Suketu Mehta. The author stated that the people weren't all that friendly, but I found otherwise. I ventured out of the hotel by myself and wandered around - and I found plenty of people who wanted to have their photo taken. Of course, I was often photographed also - that was one of the weirder things about being there - people STARE. A LOT. But it wasn't unfriendly all the time, it was more just curiousity.

I was working nights, so photo opps were a bit limited until I stopped sleeping. I wish I had another chance to go back and work some more on my people shots (a definite weakness of mine) and with the lighting (and during a cooler time of the year).

[Photography] Selling your photos to Shutterstock

Wed, 09 May 2007 00:09:14 GMT

First, let's get this over with - if you want to sign up for Shutterstock, feel free to use my referral.

The biggest problem people seem to have with Shutterstock is that it takes 10 approved images to start selling, and the approval process can be very difficult. The reviewers reject a LOT of photos - sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it does not. I saw this bit of advice after I had joined, but it can benefit you - the priority should be to get your account started, not to try to show off your best work. With that in mind, you should take shots of boring stuff - walls, textures, etc. Check out my gallery here to see a few examples of this - easiest approvals I have ever gotten.

I can't help much with subjects - I don't shoot stock specifically, and have never taken a class in it. There are rejections based on subject matter, so try to think of things that might fit in ads, posters, etc. It seems like the most successful people in stock are designing their shots. Also, if the topic is well-covered (flowers) you might need some really stunning shots to make the cut. That said, I still have some pointers.

ISO 100 is a very good way to start a good quality photo. SS rejects a lot of images because of digital noise, which is the colorful speckles you see on your high ISO (800, 1600...) photos. It isn't equivalent to film grain, it is just a nasty effect of the electronics. Having a good camera can help, but won't eliminate this problem. I still see plenty of noise on images I take with my 5D, and supposedly the 5D has a good reputation regarding noise ( and I can say it is better than my XT). If you still have noise, or a noise rejection, software can help you out. I personally use Noise Ninja, and have no complaints about it - but it won't save a really noisy photo. I have gotten ISO 400 images past the reviewers by using this software. Another one that gets recommended is Neat Image, but I haven't used it. I believe they both allow you to import and create camera profiles so noise is removed more effectively. I do not know how well these programs compare to Photoshop, etc.

In order to see noise, you probably have to look at your image full size. Really. Inspect all of it. Your camera is probably full of dust, like mine is, and you need to clone out some dust spots. Look for anything that doesn't look right, and make sure your image is in focus - another major reason for rejection. A tripod will seriously help - as much as I dislike them, tripods have their purpose and most "real" photogs won't shoot anything without them. If you are looking to buy one, I always hear to buy the best you can afford - usually in the $1000 range. This will get you a tripod that can get shots very near to the ground and had a ball head (probably sold seperately), not the pan and tilt. All that said, I have a $100 Slik tripod that does okay.

Don't be discouraged by rejections - there are forums on SS you can use to ask questions, and plenty of people can help. Just don't take it personally, and realize that the process is a bit subjective - not all rejections make perfect sense. I guarantee that if you get a bunch of rejections, you will become a better photographer.

Also, try to keep adding to your gallery - your sales will drop if you don't. If you can refer people, or photobuyers, you can make additional money (but most will likely come from your photos).

I'll add more to this of I think any helpful hints I forgot. Below are the links that SS supplies you with.

Submit Photos to Shutterstock and make $$$!

Download unlimited stock photos!

Submit Footage Clips to Shutterstock and make $$$!

[Photography] Oregon's Columbia River Valley

Sat, 05 May 2007 02:28:19 GMT

I recently did a workshop in the Hood River, Oregon area that was focused on travel photogrpahy. I actually plan to review the workshop and what we did, but not right now - a small parakeet is camping on my keyboard demanding attention.

The photo set is pretty big - I am still adding to it - and there are a few photos I really like...

[Photography] Seattle Style TV Party

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:24:53 GMT

I'm off on a photography trip this weekend, but I did a shoot for Seattle Style TV over the weekend.

View the set

Some favorite photos:

[Photography] Seattle model / fashion shoot

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:52:15 GMT

I had a great opportunity today to work with some Seattle models in a fashion shoot. Yeah, I should have been working on my paper...but I wasn't. I haven't processed 95% of the photos yet but I did put up some quick example shots. I also got myself some modeling work, so stay tuned for that. Here are the three models I worked with:

[Photography] Finishing Florida with the botanical gardens

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:38:40 GMT

An update on the homework situation - all the hw is done. The paper is not. The deadline is Tuesday. I'm working on it though...

Anyway, Florida, with the exception of tests, was great. I hit up the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens as my last stop. Below are some photos, click on them to see the rest of the set:

[Photography] Bats peed on me

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 03:06:39 GMT

Passed my exams today. I have tomorrow free to go nuts photographings shit.

Didn't get much today, but I did catch the UF bat house doing its nightly evacuation - it empties at dusk as that is the start of bat feeding time. It is apparently also the start of bat defecation and urination time, as the crowd got covered and the field just stunk. I also almost stepped on a gator in the dark as I got a night shot of the meditation center. Guess I'll never be a wildlife photographer.

Check out the bats:

[Photography] Florida is a wonderful place

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 02:40:34 GMT

Man, if I didn't have little puffers back at home, I'd be tempted to stay. :)

So in between studying and procrastinating, I had time to hit up my usual haunts (UF campus, UF's Florida Museum of Natural History) and take some photos. I should compare them all from my previous trips.

Anyway, check them out here, I have to get back to studying.

[Photography] The other side of the camera

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 05:27:48 GMT

Earlier today I did my first real modeling job, for a photography project focused on changing moods. I did some digging around on flickr to get good modeling info, but really didn't turn much up. I'd say the hardest thing was planning clothing. This would be a point that I would work further with the photogrpaher on - getting a vision of what he/she expects. These shots were more portraits, so clothing was not as important.

I felt nearly as comfortable in front of the camera as I do behind it - that didn't seem to be any big problem.

I haven't seen the results yet, but I'll post a few when I do. I'm hoping to learn from the results to see what I could do better. I found that next time I might bring a mirror in order to play with facial expressions, as I didn't really think much while the shoot was going. But switching make up and clothes I had a chance to play in the bathroom mirror.

I was asked back and am also getting in touch with other photogs that asked me to model in the recent past.

[Photography] Shooting a fashion show

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:43:35 GMT

I did some photography at a high school fashion show last night, but am still working on the photos. Things I learned: a long fast lens is useful. A 1 GB CF card is too small. My external flash eats batteries. High school kids (and younger) don't like to stop to show off what they are wearing.

There will probably be a delay in getting the photos all up (about 200 more to sort through) - some assclown stole my work laptop today and I am setting up another to use while I get another one, and recovering data.

Fuck you, laptop thieves. I hope you get caught, and fired (assuming you are come cracked-out employee).

Update: the set is here, and this is a sample:

[Photography] Gators win again...

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 19:25:06 GMT

Nothing special here, just some shots from the Seattle Gator gathering, watching the championship basketball game.

Photos

[Photography] Some random self portrait work

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:53:52 GMT

I realized I haven't taken many photos of myself recently, so I did some quick snaps on ye olde Canon Digital Rebel XT. I'll have to set some better ones up in the future with a tripod and the 5D and maybe some props (vinyl catsuit, anyone?)

Anyway, here's the linky links for a few:

about to be eclipsed

it has been a long week

me again

[Photography] March Flickr Meetup

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:45:59 GMT

So a bunch of Seattle flickr folks get together to have some food and beers. This month, we met up early and went to Elysian Fields for the booze. The pre-meetup was in the Pioneer Square area. Check out my photos here.

The weather should start to get less rainy soon, but I have a freaking hectic next few months planned - first I have to pass my final exams for my second MS degree, which involves a trip to Florida and also means I have to write a paper and finish a bunch of homework. Then, I have a weekend photography trip planned in Oregon, then a likely work trip to India, then a wedding to go to in the Dominican Republic. By then, it'll be summer!

[Photography] Music and Dance - Children of the Revolution

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:42:14 GMT

Spent some time this past weekend getting some concert style shots of the world music group Children of the Revolution.

I wrapped up the photos into 3 sets, and I am still working on two of them.

The best shots so far are in this set.

[Photography] Spring Flowers

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:31:09 GMT

I grabbed some flowers and did some photography based on what I learned yesterday at Belltown Pizza. More tulips, and some roses...

[Photography] Fun to eat and photograph!

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:26:10 GMT

Mmm...a visit to Cupcake Royale (a Seattle must-do) resulted in some tasty treats and a few nice photos. My favorite cupcakery!

[Photography] One of my photos was chosen as the 'Karma Photo of the Day'

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 20:27:34 GMT

Check it out here (Sunday, March 11 selection).

[Photography] Tulips and Pizza

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:27:40 GMT

This is more about the tulips than the pizza, but I'm pretty proud of these shots I made at Belltown Pizza. At the very least, check out my favorite shot.

[Photography] Seattle Center at night

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:26:17 GMT

Here's some photos of Seattle Center at night - Seattle Center is where the Space Needle and a bunch of other crap lives. I took a few pictures of the popular fountain (it runs to music) at night.

[Photography] Seattle - Outside and in the Rain

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:14:56 GMT

Adam and I visited the new Sculpture Park and wandered around seattle while it rained. I'd suggest visiting the park when it is not raining, and when they don't lock you out of their buildings. Here's the photo set.

[Photography] Seattle Flash Makeout

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:54:18 GMT

There's another Seattle Flash Makeout event coming up (see my myspace friends for more info), so I figured I'd share a few photos from the first one I went to. Maybe I'll be able to get out there for St Patrick's Day for more photos.

[Photography] SoulFood Books

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 05:46:38 GMT

Who knew? Open Mic night at SoulFood Books.

[Photography] Redmond at Night

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 05:45:29 GMT

Check out my new set - Redmond at night.