Home Made Snoot

I recently did a post, where I featured a few images taken using a snoot on my light source, thinking back on it, I thought perhaps some of you do not know what a snoot is……….I only heard of it about six months ago (it might have been longer, but I didn’t know WHAT it was lol), and I had used one a few times for rim lighting and even back lighting, but never for such directional lighting.

A Snoot was used here for highlights or Rim lighting, for her hair and feathers

So what is a Snoot?

Snoots

In photography, a snoot is a tube or similar object that fits over a studio light or portable flash and allows the photographer to control the direction and radius of the light beam. These may be conical, cylindrical, or rectangular in shape. Snoots can isolate a subject when using a flash. They help by stopping “light spill”, or when lighting falls in a larger footprint than intended.

-Wikipedia

Some have been making Snoots out of Pringles can over a Speedlight; great idea, as it also has a reflective inside and I might jump up to one of those next time too.But My Snoot used in the above shots, is just a cylinder of cardboard, placed over a continuous light….

Basic Continuous Light

Cardboard Snoot

shot without the snoot

shot with the snoot

Final edited shot

I have to admit I love the directional effect and it gives a fabulous mood. I find I am using it more and more.

~ Julz

P.S. I have just purchased some studio equipment and was given a free snoot…….make sure it actually fits your model speedlight or standard light properly……..I didn’t double check I assumed if it fits the 900 model speedlight it would fit my 910 speedlight………..guess what it does not! Colour me stupid for not double checking.

P.P.S. Sorry some of the images are a little blurry, I took them in a rush to write the post and didn’t take my mind in set up etc as I normally do, apologies

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Pale Green

Cee’s CFFC this month is concentrating on colours, I love colour, however I must admit I am not a fan of Pale Green, in fact I really could not find an image featuring pale green……..it is in the background of some of these images, so that might be as good as it gets!

I have a tendency to make all my colours pop……..pale green really doesn’t work in pop. However I did find this one image of soft pale green against the darker green background.

Til next week, happy snapping…

~ Julz

The Dapper Rabbit Series

As most of you are probably aware of the concept series I have been working on for most of the year featuring my Dapper Rabbit………I was calling him Edward Hyde, but Dapper Rabbit seems to have stuck🙂, anyway this series is almost run it’s course, but I thought I would show a few more images I have done. I think I am going to go back and re edit them all once I finish shooting, as from start to finish they appear slightly different, as my skills and editing have improved and changed over time.

These were all shot on our weekend away in Beechworth a few weeks ago, mostly at the Mayday Hills Asylum, and some surrounding areas.

You can see some of the other images here and here. There is still a few more images to complete in this series and I am hoping to have a short story written up to go with it. If nothing else I have invested a year of my life and that of my Husband (who is the rabbit) into this project and I want to print it off as a coffee table book……just for us. It has been such a learning curve for me, well both of us really and so many other people have jumped on board and made it become a reality. It’s been humbling and yet empowering to have what started as a crazy idea turn into such a momentous episode in our life. I would not call it life changing, as nothing as really changed; no money, fame or notoriety…………ok well maybe a little notoriety hehehe. But in a small way it has changed me. I know I can do this……take a single thought and turn it into a series of artwork. Sure it is not to everyone’s taste and who cares. Taking a little walk on the dark side can be fun. I have plans for next year, something even bigger, Moth is on board already and plans are under way for my next BIG project and this one is BIG. Sssh……..it’s all a secret and will let you all in on it soon.

~ Julz

PS Artistry…

I have been playing again, this time with some content by itKuPilli a collection called Prelude. As you can see, very, very different from my normal artwork.

Whimsical Angel

Pretty much all the images and some of the overlays are from this collection with a few other bits and pieces thrown in as well. It’s good to experiment and try new things.All done in Photoshop.

I have been trying to move away from the dark and creepy (just a tad) and try a more painterly approach to some whimsical artwork. I could almost see this as a phone case or notebook cover…….what do you think?

~ Julz

Another 52 Week Challenge – Week 8

This week’s 52 week challenge by the Girl that Dreams Awake is Pink; soft pinks, hot pink, flowers, skies and little pink tutus fill my gallery today.

Bromeliad

Week 6 – Props

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out everyone else’s post for this week.

~ Julz

Tuesday’s Textures & PS Artistry…

Sometimes I just play, this started out as something very, very different for another project, but my Muse had other ideas. Completely useless for what I originally wanted, but I love the finished image……..Mr. Percival? Anyone familiar with Storm Boy? I have not really played with water in this way before, interesting.

Gone Fishing

~ Julz

 

Weekly Photo Challenge – Quest

This week WPC sends us on a mission to find a Quest with our camera, personally I was on a quest this weekend to find a suitable Canola field to shoot my ‘scarecrow’.

I love the sweeping panorama of gold under the threatening skies. This was shot about 1 hour from Melbourne on a Spring day, late in the afternoon. My Model was suitable attired as an Australian ‘Scarecrow’, can’t go past an old Dryz-a-bone overcoat. I almost put an Akubra hat on as well, but the straw hat seemed a better fit.

~ Julz

Mondays…..

Another Monday…I really dislike Mondays, it’s nothing personal – it’s just that it usually signals the end of the weekend; and I LIKE my weekends. I mean they could call it anything, but it would mean the same thing, rose by any other name; still means back to work! Sorry just a bit of a rant.

We finally had a little bit of nice weather on Saturday, but the clouds closed in cancelling yet another Astro shoot, again. Honestly we are so wet down here in Victoria I don’t think we really need any more rain. I’m lucky, no flooding unlike many others around the State. WOW it sounds like I’m complaining a lot today……..many apologies. Anyway we spent a bit of time on Saturday doing some shopping for the Studio, a bit…..wow I am so naughty, but more on that later. Then we went out in search of Canola Fields, I had a burning desire to do a concept shoot.

I just love a scarecrow in a field……..yes that is my poor long suffering husband again, what can I say, he works cheap hahaha.

Spent Sunday cleaning and tidying up in the Studio, such a mess, stuff everywhere! Then I bought myself a pretty bunch of roses and started playing with them a bit.

Well at least it’s a short week this week, Friday is a Public Holiday and we are off to visit Alowyn Gardens again, we went last year and it was spectacular….can’t wait to do it again, I am hoping that this year I have not missed the wisteria.

Til next time, have fun and happy snapping…

~Julz

 

 

A Ranunculus Study

I had to share Desley’s stunning ranunculus study shots from our studio session a few weeks ago……………oh my how gorgeous they are

musings of a frequent flying scientist

Julie and I spent a long, exhausting and utterly brilliant day in her studio playing with all sorts of wonderful photography-related thingies.

These Ranunculus flowers were going to be deconstructed. Actually we did chop one up but it wasn’t pleasant, so instead here are some macro shots of these gorgeous and intricate flowers.

We had them on black perspex which gives a mirrored effect.

And again, I tried to go as close and detailed as possible to get those little hairs and textures. I love this little hobby of mine🙂

And a few more, just for fun.

Many more shots to come from this long day in the studio!! Head on over to her post that I’ve linked above for some sneak peeks!!

x desleyjane

View original post

Share Your World – Week 38

With your answers, please remember we are in the SYW world which may not always match our reality.

Are you a hugger or a non-hugger? 

What is your least favorite Candy?

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “fun”?

List of Favorite Smells: What smells do you love? Whether it’s vanilla scented candles or the smell of coffee in the morning or the smell of a fresh spring rain…make a list of all the things you love for a little aromatherapy.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up? 

Stranded

Are you a hugger or a non-hugger? I’m not really a hugger, I’m not really that much of a touchy feely person. I will hug people I am fond of, but just a quick hug and that’s about it. My Hubby complains that I’m not more affectionate, but it’s just not in my nature, I guess. There is one exception, babies and my fur kids. I will happily hold and cuddle a baby or my animals for ages…….I have no idea why they are any different from normal people?

What is your least favorite Candy? Aniseed or anything that gets stuck to you teeth, you know the kind that rips out fillings? Ouch, pass on those. I love chocolate, and jellybeans and fruit jubes……..yummo.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “fun”? Mmmm a bit of a tough one, some things I will endure to get a great photograph, but they are often not fun, I love to laugh, so if I’m laughing I’m generally having fun. A good book, a good Movie, they can also be fun. Playing on the deck with my animals in Sunshine, that is fun. Talking over coffee with a friend is great fun, dinner with friends can be lots of fun, board games with the family…….loads of fun (especially if you add a few drinks!). Playing in the studio with my still life images..definitely, playing on the PC with pretty picture – absolutely.

List of Favorite Smells: Coffee………..that smell will wake me out of a coma, love the smell of fresh coffee. Vanilla……..I love the smell of vanilla, it is calming and relaxing and makes me feel ‘home’, as does lavender. I really enjoy the strong, tart smell of citrus, tangy and sweet. Baked cookies…….yummmmmmm. I detest perfume, yup I’ve said it, I hate perfume I am yet to find one that I think smells really good, in fact I have been known to spend days in bed with a migraine after being stuck in an elevator with one of those women who insist on wearing a bottle a day, especially of something like Opium, honestly who ever invented that perfume needs to be shot! But I rant🙂 . I love the smell just after summer rain, when everything is washed clean and the dust has settled back to the ground.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up? 

I’m not grateful for anything in particular this week, just life in general. When you almost loose it you are grateful for every day you get, I suppose.Saturday is supposed to warm(ish) and sunny, with no rain until later in the evening, so we are hoping to get out and shoot some canola fields. I had another spark of inspiration, thanks to a friend (you know who you are), so I have some ideas for a small little concept shoot in mind. Just need to find the right field!

Well that’s it for this week, I hope you all have a brilliant weekend…safe travels and happy snapping…

~ Julz