The other day, thanks to Hunt's, I found an excellent deal on a used D70. I snapped it up as I have been wanting an infrared digital camera for ages.

I did a lot of research on the conversion process, and auto focus calibration. Although I could send my camera in for an extra $200 to have someone else convert it, I figured that my experience repairing laptops gave me enough capability to do it myself. I bought the visible-light filter and cracked open that camera to convert it.

I'm proud to say that the conversion has been successful I now have a camera that will shoot color infrared. I'm so psyched. This is a great way to start the summer season. I can't wait to go out and see what I get!

The conversion process went relatively smoothly. The infrared filter on the camera didn't come off so easily as I had expected, so I got a bit worried. Also, all the cables were super sensitive and I didn't insert them back into their places correctly. There were three cables I had to disconnect, and I messed up each one, in just about every combination possible. Very frustrating, and gave me a minor heart attack the first time when I saw the LCD screen uncontrollably blinking!! But, I didn't let it worry me too much, and I went back in... again... and again... and again... as I kept fixing this and that. hehe.

I also had to adjust the auto focus, as infrared focuses on another plane than visible light. I had a bit of a problem doing that because I couldn't get enough torque to turn the focus adjustment knob. I managed to turn it a little, so at least it's a little better, but not perfect. But, it's not too off.

In the end..... I have a working infrared digital SLR!! Wooo!

I redeveloped my photography website!

KMGallery

I redeveloped it from scratch. I chose a brand new template scheme, and then built it from the ground up with the latest version of Drupal.

I even went through all of my photographs and picked only the best I had. As such, I reduced the amount of photos that are up there. In fact, I'm limiting myself to only 9 photos per category. I had a lot of photos that I thought were only half way decent that were showing the techniques I was trying.... but I should avoid that.

I also felt constrained to put up photos which were more consumerish so that they would sell. But, I'm going to make a more sharp divide between my store and my gallery. I'm also going to rearrange the cafepress store so that it is organized by product type, not image. I still have links to purchase an image through deviantART, though... but I will also additionally provide extra photos in my deviantART store that won't be in my gallery.

The latest version of Drupal, utilizing a new technique for adding images, will make it a lot easier for me to upload and remove photos at whim. That way I should hopefully have it updated more often.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with where it's going. But I can pretty much guarantee I'll have a huge urge to redesign it again in about 3 months

This is also why, as some of you may have noticed, I have uploaded a slew of images. I am making sure that what I have up on my website is also available for sale as a print.

I attended the workshop, selflessly organized, hosted and taught by

His timing was not more perfect, as I had just set up a mediocre studio space and had my first test shoot with it when he first announced his intentions for holding a workshop. After my test shoot, I certainly believed I could use more guidance and eagerly signed up for his workshop.

It was a great learning expirience, and I got to meet a whole bunch of very nice people!

One week before the shoot, I was given a substantial amount of studio photography equipment all for free. I'm still flabbergasted. I have it set up in my little studio space and look at it with awe.

I was given a Norman P2000D powerpack and four LH2000 lampheads, four stands, four umbrellas and carrying cases. Unbelievable.

Unfortunately, the lampheads don't have reflectors, and actually produce glare quite similar to the effect the sun causes. I looked up reflectors for them, and they're $45 a pop - plus shipping. Thats far above my budget, so I'm going to have to figure out some sort of home made solution.

Also...... the light they emit is TREMENDOUS. On just 400 w/s, I have to set my apeture to around f/18. Yeesh. Now I definately do have to clean my sensor!

Here's to hoping it all works out!

I've gotten a bit back into event photography. Which is interesting to ponder if the promise I made to my previous wedding photographer employer actually applies...

She said to me, in order to be hired, I had to agree that I would not do wedding photography within a 50 mile radius of her. Given that a 100 miles pretty much encompases all of Rhode Island, that puts me in quite a quandry! I agreed to signing a contract to that effect considering I expected to work with her for several years.

Well! I worked what... three weeks? if that? And did one wedding before we competed to see who could fire/quit from whom. She never did have me sign that contract, BTW.

I wonder if she'll come back to haunt me one day...

At any rate, I've done two more events - a baptism and wedding. I've completely enjoyed them both, and I eagerly await the chance to shoot another event.

I was just a second shooter at this recent wedding for a photographer who is just starting out, along with a novice DJ and two novice videographers. Talk about having the pressure relieved when everyone is of equal expirience to you In fact, I think the other photographer and I were the most expirienced people there! haha!

I was hired to assist in shooting the reception, and volunteered to attend the ceremony and formals so I could take infrared shots of it. I loved the shots I got, but as far as infrared goes, I think I'm just going to have to shift to full manual. I've now shot at quite a variety of lighting conditions and perhaps I'll be able to compensate properly now that I've mentally logged how much actual infrared there is in particular lighting environments.

You'll see from my most recent images that I did a photoshoot It was my first "real" model-like photoshoot.

Man! It was amazing! And I'm so surprised that the photos came out so well!

I was so worried. I thought my lighting set up sucked! I had to appologize to poor Claudia for my ghetto-like studio space, but we made due!

The lighting was just so simple... I hung a 2'x3' peice of foam core board on the ceiling at an angle that faced the center of the room, and bounced my SB-600 off it while it was sitting on a spare tripod. It worked amazingly well! The background was either my white wall, or the black seemless.

Claudia Cardozo is one of my web design clients. I have been wanting to get my feet wet in model photography, while she needed promotional images for herself. I offered to shoot her, and she accepted!

She's now very happy with the results! She said she never thought she'd have such nice photos of herself. And that made me think.... this is the prime of her life, she looks great and is doing great things. I can see her looking back 10... 20 years from now and appreciating these photos.

And that.... that makes me feel really good