New website up!

So I decided to pull the trigger and get my own domain and move from WordPress.com to my own hosted wordpress. I’m pretty happy so far.

So please update your bookmarks and links to http://photo.bryanbui.com

Thanks!

ZaZa Gallery Canvas Wrap Review

So a few weeks back I had contacted ZaZa Gallery (@ZaZaGallery) about their canvas wraps. Looking at their website the prices are in between some of the other sites I have seen. For a 16×20″ canvas wrap with a 1.5″ stretch bar thickness the price runs in at $94 and the standard 3/4″ thickness is $68.

Just so you know, this is the first canvas wrap print I’ve ever gotten and ZaZa Gallery was nice enough to provide me with one at no cost to review their product. So I cannot compare this to any other canvas print.

So on with the product review.

After a bit of a wait, I come home to this pretty large box below:

Package arrives!

Having an idea of how large the canvas itself really is, it was nice to see that it was pretty well packaged. Taking it in and opening up the box, I was right. Lots of pop corn foam protecting the canvas from box damage.

Well Packaged

And then beyond the foam they bubble wrapped the print on top of a plastic wrap. These guys are thorough!! So far so good and I’m happy to see how the Shipping and Handling was done.

Bubble wrap within the pop corn

Even more protection. Plastic wrap for the canvas

Now to get the canvas out in the open. Beautiful!! All I can say. I’m very happy with how it turned out. The colors are much more saturated than the original, but I like it. Remember when doing any of your prints on canvas, the colors will saturate. So compensate for this by lowering the saturation a bit. I was also impressed by the details that were preserved. I had submitted the image at 300 dpi and blown it up to 16″x20″ to fit the frame size. A little bit of sharpening (and a bit more), and sent it in. Easy as that.

First look at the Canvas Warp, not bad!

The canvas itself was secured to the frame very well. It may seem like overkill with the number of staples used, but it’s better than having canvas pull out. You don’t see any bubbling or any part of the canvas curling up anywhere on the back. To me it looks like it was well stretched.

Secure and enough staples to hold the wrap

The corners are nice and tight and again the staples seem to be holding it in the right places.

Nice and tight with enough staples in the right places

Nice and tight corner

Overall I think that this product from ZaZa Gallery (@ZaZaGallery) is really great. As long as you know how images will print on canvas and compensate for this, then you’ll be happy with your results. I do wish they had put on the mounting cables for me, but that’s not a big deal to do myself.

Two thumbs up and thank you ZaZa Gallery (@ZaZaGallery)

Available light or flash photography?

Have you heard someone say they only shoot available light? Or that they’re a strobist? What does that mean? Is one better than another? The first guy must be a really great photographer because he only uses available light… right? In my opinion (IMO), NO!

Lets define these two first and then I will proceed.

1. Available Light
Someone who shoots with ONLY available light & no additional lighting equipment. Usually using the sunlight or existing lights in the room. For example, the images below were shot using only sun light coming in through a window:

2. Strobist
Someone who uses 1 or more flashes (strobes) to control how he/she wants to light the photo. Additional equipment may include things you would find in a studio, such as umbrellas, light boxes, odd shaped things that look like giant salad bowls. This examples below use off camera flashes (or strobes) to create the light that I intended:

So which one do you like better? Well they’re different images and they convey different feelings. It really all depends on what type of feel you want to gain out of the image that dictates what kind of lighting you can use or want to use.

So who is better? Neither! A photographer should be able to know how use available light AND strobes if possible. Really, what difference does it make as long as the images turn out the way he/she wants them to, the moment is not lost, and the end result is an amazing image that is timeless.

The difficult part is balancing the two, knowing when to use strobes and available light. Some situations allow a photographer to use what’s there and need no help, but others may be impossible to capture without the help of some additional lighting.

Here’s an example of how to use both, allowing us to capture this moment.

It was the middle of the day and very bright outside. Without the flash our subjects would be very dark or the background would be very very bright and blown out (no details just all white). Letting the strobe assist us, we’re able to keep some of the details in the background and get all the details of our subjects.

For many situations it’s very difficult to work with strobes because of fast action, constant movement or venue restrictions, but a photographer who doesn’t know how to use one or dismisses the concept all together is not one I would want to work with. A well rounded photographer should know how to work with both “available light” and strobes.

To me, my strobes ARE “available light.” They’re available to me in my bag right next to me. So if you ever look for a photographer, look at their work, because in the end that is what ultimately counts. Just make sure that he/she can work with out a strobe as much as with a strobe.

The camera or the photographer?

It’s been a while since I’ve last posted, but I’ve been pretty busy moving into my new condo and some other projects. I know, it’s about time, so on with my post!

With the price of Digital SLRs so low and with so many people enjoying the flexibility they provide, I find myself wondering to myself “What amazing images I could create if I had that lens too or that higher end model.” And then I remember that “first comes the photographer, then comes the equipment.” It helps me focus on improving my skills until I reach the limits of my equipment, not the other way around.

So many people caught up with the hype of all the new equipment, new lenses, new this or new that, higher mega pixels, HD video, what’s cool or what’s not, that they forget about what really creates all of those awesome images they see floating around the internet. It’s the artistic vision behind the camera.

It doesn’t take much to remind myself this by browsing flickr. How many people have purchased a dSLR and then post of all these mediocre images, then you look at all these iPhone images on http://www.thebestcamera.com/. There are so many amazing captures and it required nothing more than an iPhone.

Don’t get me wrong, many people just getting started with dSLRs are just learning, as I did not too long ago, but the point I’m making is that before everyone gets all caught up in equipment, they should ask themselves if they have taken what they have to it’s fullest potential.

For example, look at the two images below. Can you tell which of the following was taken with an iPhone?

If you guessed the iPhone image was the 2nd one, you were wrong. I took the top one with an iPhone and the second one with my dSLR. It’s all about how you capture and compose your image that makes it great. I remind myself this partly because I can’t afford all the nice equipment I would like, but also because I have seen how much my images have improved over time by learning to use what I have to its fullest potential.

So if you’re still learning and want to spend all this money on all this new equipment, stop, read, learn and expand on your skills before you spend that money. You’ll be surprised at what you can do when you’re forced to make things work.

Michi of Belle Sofianna Special Events and Wedding Planning

Michi of Belle Sofianna Special Events and Wedding Planning, originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

You may have seen the first of these shots in my 365 Project Update post. This shoot was something that Michi of Belle Sofianna events and I had discussed. I finally got some time in to do some post work and narrowing down the images that I liked.

If you remember I had said this shot didn’t go as I had planed or as smoothly.

First off we were running a bit late, the sun was setting and by the time I started setting up it had already dropped below the hillsides. I had about 5-10 minutes of visible light to start taking pictures. I had hoped to capture some of the sunset in the pictures, but of all the images, I liked the one’s at night better. Next time I will show up a lot earlier and prep a little bit more.

Next, I forgot my wireless triggers, so I was very limited on where I can take my camera having only a 6′ off shoe mount cord. Thank god I brought it with me though or else all the time Michi spend doing her make up and getting ready would have gone to waste.

Once I got the ball rolling the shoot was quick and smooth. It wasn’t hard to make the images look great, Michi is beautiful and has great poses, and no I’m not only saying that because she’s my girlfriend.

Another difficulty I had was getting the light stands to stay put in the uneven grounds, make sure you bring sand bags or weights to keep these things stable. It’s very easy to tip over especially outdoors and on a windy day it’s nearly impossible to keep up.

Anyways, here are the rest of the images I’ve selected:

So which one is your favorite?
1 (the top one), 2, 3 or 4?

Comments about the lighting and post work would be appreciated also.

Week 4 Project 365 REcap

28/365 – Taking some time., originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

So this past weekend I was in Mammoth with no internet, and didn’t post up my 365 shot until yesterday (Tuesday). I’m starting to feel short of ideas and not sure what other types of shots I can take. I’m starting to get lazy and sometimes find myself just snapping a shot with my iPhone in case I’m too lazy to pull out the dSLR later to set up a shot.

Days like these, I find myself browsing through Flickr for inspiration. There’s lots of it! I sometimes feel that there are so many photographers out there, so why do I push on to create the same type of images someone else does? The short answer: I’m not. The images are similar, maybe the same technique, but from what I’ve seen is that there is no two images alike. The lighting will be slightly different, the composition, the exposure, the post processing. These are all minute details, but they help make the image what it is, how the photographer/artist imagined it in his/her head.

Because of this, I continue to perfect my skill and broaden my style. I see myself more than just someone who snaps pictures with any old dSLR, but an artist, a photographer, someone who is trying to capture not only what they see through the viewfinder, but to develop an image that is seen in my head.

Through this project, I’m learning to see things differently, broadening my style, my vision and the way I perceive things. It really is an eye opener.

Here are the catch up images from the last few days:

27/365 – As we depart, we will remember you Mammoth and will see you again., originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

26/365 – Great snow after an amazing storm., originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

25/365 – Full moon, and the freaks are out., originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

24/365 – It’s okay to anchor yourself down from time to time., originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

23/365 – Sitting, Waiting, Thinking., originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

365 Project Update

14/365 – Looking to the ground or the sky?, originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

So far I’ve been able to take a picture every day. Some days when I’m just too busy or too lazy, I’ll use my iPhone. So far I’m pretty happy with the results and it’s getting me to really tune my composition and lighting skills.

So far I’ve made it 16 days, today being day 17. I have noticed that some days I can churn out an idea for a picture really quick, while other days it takes me much longer to get the lighting and composition the way I want it to. I’m not sure how I’m going to do this for another 349 days. It’s gonna be tough trying to come up with different concepts, but I’m up for the challenge. It’ll be interesting to see where it goes and I hope to print a book when the project is complete. I know it will turn out sick.

I’m starting to feel like I’m limited by some of the tools I have to create the images I want. But I figure that it’s just another challenge. If I can create the images I see in my mind w/ the limited tools I have, I can create even greater images when I can finally afford the tools that I would like. We will see.

You can follow the progress of the project at my Flickr site. I appreciate any comments or constructive criticism for any photo.

Here are a few of my favorites:

2/365 – Business on my mind., originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

This is one of the earlier photo’s that I took. It seems to be the one that everyone likes the most also. Mostly for the concept, and then some appreciate the lighting of it. I really like both, one of my best executed shots.

5/365 – Lost in Beauty., originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

This was from a shoot with Michi at some trails by my house. This was the first time doing a location shoot and It didn’t go as smooth as I had liked and some of the pictures didn’t come out as I had expected. It definitely was a learning experience. Bring a flashlight, double check all equipment before heading out, and have a helping hand. I had forgotten my wireless flash triggers, but I was lucky enough to have brought my off shoe mount cord (6 feet long). The pictures turned out pretty good, I really like this one, but next time I will definitely do things different.

First image used in the public forum!!

Theme: A tribute to our fallen Soldiers, originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

A few weeks back, I got an e-mail saying that one of my photos was short-listed for inclusion in the tenth edition of our
Schmap San Diego Guide, to be published late January 2010.

I had no idea what Schmaps was before I got this e-mail, but it’s basically an integration of maps, photos and place reviews. You can use an online version (mobile version also available) or a desktop version which you can “Plan trips, take virtual tours and custom print your own full-color travel guides with our PC and Mac compatible Schmap 2.0 desktop mapping application.”

Even though they’re not as popular or my image doesn’t stand out, it feels good that someone out there thinks my image belongs in the public forum. It’s a huge motivator beyond hearing comments such as “hey that’s a dope picture” or “nice!.”

As I develop my skills, I hope more people appreciate and enjoy the work that I do. Until then, enjoy the journey that I take.

You can see the web version here:

http://www.schmap.com/sandiego/sights_peninsula/p=35623/i=35623_25.jpg

I’ll be working on some more landscaping images (among other projects) that I plan on printing/selling. Thats in the future at some time, until then, keep your eyes posted on my flickr and 365 project (update post coming soon).

Project365 Day 2 and 3. Business on my mind and tied up.

2/365 – Business on my mind., originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

So I started this project called Project 365. The whole idea behind it is to take a picture every day for a whole year, 365 days. I’m doing it to become a better photographer. The more you do something, the better you get. I’m looking to improve not just my knowledge of the tools I use, but to improve the eyes that look through the lens. I have thought about it for some time now, but decided to stop my procrastination and just do it. So I started with a picture from my iPhone. And then this one as you see above. I am giving myself no restrictions in terms of content or tools to take these pictures. Whether it’s a self portrait, a random picture, with my iPhone or my dSLR, I am allowing myself to make it a part of the project. I know if I restrict myself too much, I may be tempted to quit the project early.

I have lots of ideas floating around in my head for different shoots, this was one of them. Lately I’ve always had some form of business or doing more on my mind. And that is exactly what I’ve been doing… More. From community service, to taking my work more seriously to making my hobbies more than just hobbies. If you just look at me, you wouldn’t know this, that’s because I’m chill, laid back and always casual.

I’m tired of potential, I’m on the hunt for execution and results. So I created the image above. It is from day 2 of the project. It represents the inner business man, go getter in me..

Then today I took my 3rd photo of the project.

The story behind this one?

I used to play the piano, for 8 years to be exact, and quit when I was a sophmore in highschool. I wish I stuck with it, because I can’t remember any song.

So from time to time I’ll have to urge to pick it up again, but I’m usually tied up with other things to do. Things such as T.V., work, other hobbies, and most recently photography and editing the photos I have taken. It’s frustrating sometimes because I really want to relearn. I’ve thought about hiring a teacher, but that’s more of a luxury right now that I cannot afford. One day I will. It is not on the top of my list, so it really can wait.

The latest song I’m trying to learn is “How to Save a Life” by The Fray. I’ve got parts of it down, but still a lot to learn. I’ll finish it, just not right now.

Strobist:
430ex in a beauty dish camera right (triggered by Cactus v4)
580ex ii with omni-bounce camera left (behind towards the left of subject) and triggered with Cactus v4.

Lighting diagram:

And stop motion video of my set-up

Hopefully I keep up with this project. I will periodically post shots here throughout the project, along with all the other projects I want to complete. So stay posted!

You can also see my posts daily on my Flickr account.

OPENSESSION Last Show of the 2009!

OPENSESSION 12/28/2009 – Jammin on the ivory keys, originally uploaded by BBuiPhoto.

So I finally got myself to go with JRA to his radio show, OpenSession , at KUCI in Irvine, CA. It’s on Monday nights from 10PM – Midnight. Catch him live via webcam at http://stickam.com/opensession. It’s been a while since I’ve joined him and Chuck at the show, mainly because I would usually drive from Irvine to SD Monday mornings and I’m just over going back. Sure glad I went this time.

There were no guests this week, but it was still fun just chillin in the studio/station. Always good to hear new music and catch up with some friends.

OpenSession plays underground hip hop and from time to time has guest spots featuring musical talents in the industry. JRA (host) usually posts up a play list of songs he played throughout the night, which can be seen here. He also has a freestyle session where him and a couple fellow members spit a few bars for fun, nothing too serious. It’s a real chill show so make sure you check it out sometime. His latest guests were BP & Odds

Check out the photo set on Flickr to see the rest.

It was a little different from previous times I’ve shot here. For one I had just gotten my Cactus V4 wireless flash triggers in, so it gave me a lot more flexibility with how I wanted to light my subjects. I also brought in my DIY Beauty dish (one example) that I used to give the pictures a more dramatic look that I was going for.

A couple pictures I took of Chuck on the Ivory keys next to a wall of vinyl. The one posted above was lit with a 430ex inside the piano, and the second one in the beauty dish lighting up chuck, the keys and a bit of the vinyl.

A few of the other shots I did inside the studio were with the two speedlite strobes (flashes) bouncing off the ceiling from opposite corners. This helped light up the whole room a lot w/o having to use full power or blow out any spots in the areas immediately next to the flashes.

The pictures turned out a lot more interesting than I had expected (since I was trying new things out), and I’m really pleased with the results. I did a little bit of Photoshop adjustments, but not much.

If you missed the link above, check out the photo set on Flickr to see the rest.