Comments on: from the hip … http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-the-hip photography by Neil van Niekerk Tue, 22 May 2012 16:45:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Neil vN http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/#comment-26832 Neil vN Sun, 21 Aug 2011 02:48:39 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/?p=195#comment-26832 <blockquote>I used the black foamie thing to block light from hitting people directly behind me. Also, keep in mind that "shooting from the hip" is a turn of phrase. I meant it as not holding the camera to your eye all the time. It doesn't necessarily mean I have the camera glued to my hip. For example, with this image below, the perspective should tell you I had the camera around chest-height. So read the article in that context, and not as a literal "always with the camera at my hip". Neil vN</blockquote> <img src="http://neilvn.com/tangents/images/weddings/from-the-hip/Monica-Tim-3619.jpg">

I used the black foamie thing to block light from hitting people directly behind me.

Also, keep in mind that “shooting from the hip” is a turn of phrase. I meant it as not holding the camera to your eye all the time. It doesn’t necessarily mean I have the camera glued to my hip.

For example, with this image below, the perspective should tell you I had the camera around chest-height.

So read the article in that context, and not as a literal “always with the camera at my hip”.

Neil vN

]]> By: Sportymonk http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/#comment-26831 Sportymonk Sun, 21 Aug 2011 02:40:46 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/?p=195#comment-26831 I hate to be dense but I am back to the first question, if the camera is waist high, how can you possible not have the flash go into people's eyes. I am 5'10" +1/2 (that's important you know) and it would seem that unless the open side of the BFT was down (not an option) then the flash would be in my eyes. What am I missing? I hate to be dense but I am back to the first question, if the camera is waist high, how can you possible not have the flash go into people’s eyes. I am 5’10″ +1/2 (that’s important you know) and it would seem that unless the open side of the BFT was down (not an option) then the flash would be in my eyes. What am I missing?

]]> By: Neil http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/#comment-1869 Neil Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:56:55 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/?p=195#comment-1869 <blockquote>Hi there Daniel ... Thank you for the compliment. The EXIF data for that shot says the Canon 16-35mm f2.8 II was set to 16mm. Neil vN</blockquote>

Hi there Daniel …

Thank you for the compliment.
The EXIF data for that shot says the Canon 16-35mm f2.8 II was set to 16mm.

Neil vN

]]> By: Daneil Sullivan http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/#comment-1875 Daneil Sullivan Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:01:01 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/?p=195#comment-1875 Hi Neil, As always, beautiful! Even though this post is about focus and composure, i can't help but gawk at the beautiful lighting! Thanks for the inspiration. Can you tell me how wide your lens was for the second photo? Hi Neil,
As always, beautiful! Even though this post is about focus and composure, i can’t help but gawk at the beautiful lighting! Thanks for the inspiration. Can you tell me how wide your lens was for the second photo?

]]> By: Neil http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/#comment-1870 Neil Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:57:46 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/?p=195#comment-1870 <blockquote>Jonas ... Sorry, I am out of ideas on this one. best of luck Neil vN</blockquote>

Jonas …

Sorry, I am out of ideas on this one.

best of luck

Neil vN

]]> By: Jonas http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/#comment-1860 Jonas Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:47:19 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/?p=195#comment-1860 Hi Neil I checked it, but I had the camera in one shot focus mode like most of the time. Could it be a mallfunction of the camera cause I searched the manual for it and they don't mention how to turn it on anywhere ... Greetings Hi Neil
I checked it, but I had the camera in one shot focus mode like most of the time.
Could it be a mallfunction of the camera cause I searched the manual for it and they don’t mention how to turn it on anywhere …
Greetings

]]> By: Neil http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/#comment-1867 Neil Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:25:42 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/?p=195#comment-1867 <blockquote>Jonas ... You probably have your camera in Servo mode. Neil vN</blockquote>

Jonas …

You probably have your camera in Servo mode.

Neil vN

]]> By: Jonas http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/#comment-1871 Jonas Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:27:52 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/?p=195#comment-1871 Cool stuff! I tried what you said here, today, but in manual mode my Speedlite doesn't seem toe fire the infrared beam... Do you know why that is? I use an EOS 40D with an EX 580II on top. Greetz Jonas Cool stuff!
I tried what you said here, today, but in manual mode my Speedlite doesn’t seem toe fire the infrared beam…
Do you know why that is?
I use an EOS 40D with an EX 580II on top.
Greetz Jonas

]]> By: Neil http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/#comment-1851 Neil Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:09:58 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/?p=195#comment-1851 <a href="http://oneperfectmoment.com/images/johanna-aaron/Johanna-Aaron-0757-900.jpg"><img src="http://oneperfectmoment.com/images/johanna-aaron/Johanna-Aaron-0757.jpg" alt="" /></a> <blockquote>If however, you were referring to this image, the sky is that deep blue simply because I had the sun to my back and had everyone in full sunlight. Neil vN </blockquote>

If however, you were referring to this image, the sky is that deep blue simply because I had the sun to my back and had everyone in full sunlight.

Neil vN

]]> By: Neil http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/08/30/from-the-hip/#comment-1868 Neil Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:07:13 +0000 http://planetneil.com/tangents/?p=195#comment-1868 <a href="http://oneperfectmoment.com/images/johanna-aaron/Johanna-Aaron-1037-900.jpg"><img src="http://oneperfectmoment.com/images/johanna-aaron/Johanna-Aaron-1037.jpg" alt="" /></a> <blockquote>Joost ... I think it is this image you are referring to? In this instance, the flash is just very subtle fill-flash, of around -2EV or -3EV flash exposure compensation. Therefore my exposure is pretty much only ambient light, and that is how I metered. The flash didn't figure much. I therefore had to base my exposure on the couple. (In this instance I used the histogram method while metering off the bride's dress.) This meant that the sky simply is the color it is. I made NO attempt to control it or darken it, whether: 1. in post-production, or 2. by having my basic exposure such that the sky is well exposed and then having to expose correctly for my couple by using stronger flash. This second option is usually the best way to control how deep you want the sky to be ... but it rarely looks good doing to with direct flash, and would need a fairly strong flash unit with a softbox to look good. Neil vN</blockquote>

Joost …

I think it is this image you are referring to?
In this instance, the flash is just very subtle fill-flash, of around -2EV or -3EV flash exposure compensation. Therefore my exposure is pretty much only ambient light, and that is how I metered. The flash didn’t figure much.

I therefore had to base my exposure on the couple. (In this instance I used the histogram method while metering off the bride’s dress.)

This meant that the sky simply is the color it is. I made NO attempt to control it or darken it, whether:
1. in post-production, or
2. by having my basic exposure such that the sky is well exposed and then having to expose correctly for my couple by using stronger flash.

This second option is usually the best way to control how deep you want the sky to be … but it rarely looks good doing to with direct flash, and would need a fairly strong flash unit with a softbox to look good.

Neil vN

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