Season of gifts!

Season of gifts!! Wish everyone gets what's wished!

Between land and sky

Shot at the beautiful Changburi Resort & Spa, Ko Chang Island, again. I have in fact made a few images at the same spot although each time a different composition and pose. It is nice to be there, either a nap by the pool or taking pictures, good privacy.
This image was taken with a Hasselblad H3D39, HC 50-110mm zoom, back-light, so I use a bron-color mobile to power a ring-flash to get this image, to avoid loosing detail on the model.

Season's Greeting

Wish everyone a most wonderful holiday season, memorable Christmas, joyful and fruitful 2010.

Cheers!

Face

One of the most difficult object to shoot is face, woman or man. The difficulty, to me, is the focus. There is always something about a face that is interesting, and the photographer is drawn to it. It can be the eyes, nose, lips, a small spot on face, or just the skin..........

Human eyes got the capacity of instantly pick up the point of focus, wherever it is.

The Head Turner

Head turning is one of the exclusive behavior of human being. Many would argue that many animals also can turn their heads, no, not like man.
Head turning as of man is a gesture, conveys ones feeling, intention, and often as a hint. On a woman, it is sexy.
Shot with a Hasselblad H3D-39 with HC 100/2.2.

Simple portrait

Shot with Hasselblad H3D-50 with HC 100/2.2, a straight forward portrait made on Juliana. It is part of the purpose to try the new H3D-50 as well as making a stock image for some work as well as using different lighting on Juliana, which I shot her a few times wiht different setting and requests from clients.

Changburi Resort & Spa

No, this is not an advertising, although I do not hesitate to suggest that it is a great choice of vocation destination for anyone goes to Ko Chang Island, off east coast of Thailand.
I have shot in this beautiful hideaway resort and spa for too many times, and of course, wonderful times. Also by the fact the I know the owner personally, which did help when you find spots to shoot pictures, around or even away from the resort. In fact, a camera is a nice social tools, of course base on what you shoot, but in general you get above averaged assistance when you are in the process of making good images.
Ko Chang is to me a location to spend time, rather than make time. As a report island, it seems the clock here is not running as precise as in the cities, particularly those cities in the industrial countries, where the time for a cup of coffee, tea, meal or many things will be in a swift mode..... not in Ko Chang, people come here want to feel the time, enjoy the slow, being still - and by the way another suggestion is to go to Chiangmai, the northern tourist hub of Thailand, where people proud of being slow and harness it as a local culture. Think about it!
This image, taken at the newly finished spa of Changburi Resort, lovely Elona from Russia, with Hasselblad H3D-39 and HC 100/2.2.

Position of the camera

A jewelry shot made on Elona, at Changburi Resort and Spa, Ko Chang, Thailand, one of the spot I repeatedly visit for photography.
To get the right angle in order to portrait Elona in a longing, desiring mood, I train the Hasselblad H3D39, mounted with HC 50-100mm lower to almost the level of the water, so I can tilt the camera up for this angle to make such expression realistic. Can I take the picture from a higher angle, of course, but not with the same result.
A bron-color mobile powerpack was ued to cast a highlight on the side of Elona, creating the soft shadow to enhance the pictorial essence.
In photography, you need to get the picture, not just take the picture. In this picture, the camera is dangerously low to the surface of water, may be just an inch above water, with the little wave inside the small pool, I need to adjust myself constant to make sure I maintained reasonably low enough, and to press the shutter. It takes what it takes for a good image, and the photographer just need to decide to take it.

Web publishing and press quality

Digital evolution puts everything in numbers. Many relevant materials are quantitative, from pitch of a screen, resolution of printing, resolution human eye can perceive, resolving power of an optical system, megapixels of a censor can register, how fast bits can be generated, calculated, and transfer.........

It is hard to say if we are finally at the pinnacle of digital image, or are we nearing it. It seemed the difference between tools is fast becomes meaningless, at least for the mass market. Today, there are professional producing jaw dropping quality images took by the state of the art instrument cost tens of thousands dollars that were minimized in a common web gallery, yes, with higher quality of original image it is more flexible for different purpose. At the same time, digital artists found a new venue to explore their ceativity, using the simpliest tool that cost a small fraction of investment of those professional, also capable of exhibiting seemingly high quality on the mass media, the WWW.

But does this means the quality is no longer a pursuit? Hardly not. Quality is a state of self-commitment, and something one needs to build the next break through.

Image for example, this one taken with Phase One P45 on Contax 645, mounted with Carl Zeiss Sonnar 210/4, capturing great detail of the model and those hairy waterdrops in the background, someting you need a large image to display such detail, on common web screen, it easily pass as another otherwise common image.
And the detail here.

Dynamic range

In photography term, dynamic range usually regarded a description of a ratio between the smallest and largest possible values of a changeable quantity, the light. It is also about the picture or the image itself. How to make a still image looks lively, is always a challenge; or for that matter, how to make a death image looks sad, happy image looks happy, food looks delicious.....Of course, it is subjective to what the photographer wants to express.

This image, taken on a young Russian model, Kate, with Phase One P45+ on Contax 645, mounted with the mihty Apo-Makro-Planar 120/4, is to cpature the youth yet complicated mood of a lady, still and motion at the same time.

Night Ride

Took in southern Thailand, a sighting ball cruise on a small river. I was having a dinner on a restaurant on the river side, with a Canon 1Ds II mounted with EF 50/1.2L, and an EX580II flash.

Modern technology push the shadow noise to minimum, the 1Ds II is a cemera of yesterday technology, but yesterday does not always means inferior. What if you need the noise? Of course, noise is something you can add in post process. But as a photographer, you need to work on what you need to work on, with whatever tool available on hand. With the shoe mounted flash to illuminate the boat while keeping the distant tress reasonablly dark enough, while still showing the minite detail, I override the E-TTL on the flash and go manual, something I also prefer to do when I use the artificial light.

Lotus

Lotus is one of the most photographed object, and I am among those who loves lotus. One of the few creatures with beautiful features in all phases of its life, from birth, full blossom, and death.

Taken with Canon 1Ds II, and TS-E 90mm lens, I saw the lotus pond, and within this tight composition saw the lotus in different stage of life, and snap away with this shot.

Clarity and Noise

Digital capture development moved toward more mega pixels, perhaps reaching (or inching) toward giga pixels, dynamic range, clarity, poor light performance, it never went back.

But an image is much more than just the absolute number of pixels, dynamic range, color depth, shdow noise, accuracy, sharpness, focus.......

Image to human started from imagination, how brain interpret the world in front of the eyes, or sometimes beyond what eyes can see. Then began the hand started to picture what's inside our mind, on sand, soil, rocks..... eventually on the bamboo, wood, animal bones, fabrics, papers.....

Paintng was never about sharpness, accurate color, clarity...... it could be, it does not has to be. So why picture should be? Capture with Phase One P45+ on Contax 645, Carl Zeiss Planar 80/2.

Dark & Brightness

This is a jewelry shot made on a lovely model, however lovely, I somehow made the shot from her back, leaving a touch of her lovely profile, made with Phase One P45+ on Contax 645, with Apo-Makro-Planar 120/4.
There is a defined intimacy between woman and jewelry, on their skin, that makes those jewelry shiny, and make the one wearing it beautiful, and sexy.
You can't define brightness without darkness, and vice versa.

The view

Took from my room, this is a rahter common view everyday in the morning, where morning sun cast its light on the thin curtain, the plants on the balcony moves with the breeze can be seen thru the curtain.

As a photographer, or for the matter that anyone with a camera on hand, it is to find the picture, not to wait for the picture. Taken with Sigma DP-2.

Portrait of a leaf

Shadow is everyday experience, it co-exist with light, and it balances the light. This image, took with one of favorite compact camera, Contax TV-S, shot in a small town outside Toronto, Canada, while I was meeting there.

A small forest next to the hotel I stayed, I have the Contax in my pocket, take a walk in the woods, the sunlight penerated the foliage, onto a rock full of moss, and I saw the shadow of the leaf, grab the Contax, made this picture.

Shutter speed

Today's digital capture gives the photographers much more flexible control with their tools. In particular, the state of the art digital camera, especially the Japanese major DSLR offerings, capable of allowing photographer use higher ISO setting to make use of available light, or more dramatic control of mixing lights, that otherwise very difficult for those days shooting with film.
This one, shot for AinoSofia, with Canon 1Ds III with EF 85/1.2L. The capability of more flexible ISO value setting provides more control on the aperture and shutter speed need to capture the image envisioned. This one, with the shutter speed just enough to freeze the main subject while leaving trails of motions on clothing, and the depth of field needed for the ambient space.

Shadow

Shadow is everyday and everyone's experience. It gave the sense of direction, hint of dimension, and of curse the mood. This shot, made with Canon 1Ds III with my favorite EF 50/1.2L, is a good example. Without the shadow, the model's pose will look very unnatural, and lack of balance. It is part of the picture.

Camera matters, or is it?

I have the opportunity in my professional image work use a large number of cameras and lenses and digital backs, most of which I own in one time or another, most still with me. I am not a collector, but I do like to try new tools.

From the cameras I use, quite rare with film now, almost all digital, from small and compact 4 million pixels digital camera like Contax TV-S, Sigma DP-1 and DP-2, Canon G9/G10, Leica M8 and M9, Canon 1Ds II and 1Ds III, Nikon D3X, Phase One P25, P45+ and P65+, Sinar eMotion 75LV on Hy6 and quite many lenses, and Hasselblad H3D system + lenses. Is there any particular camera produce the best image? No, I don't think so. I think the quality of the image is photographer's sole responsibility, nor any particular client specific requests the highest resolution cameras, not even the higher paid customer get to use higher cost cameras, no they do not mater, it is about the image, not the camera. it is basically what I think will work, then I use it.

Today's media has a huge appetite for unlimited images, quite often it is web-base and does not require the best possible camera, but rather, outstanding concept the image present, and hopeflly, catch higher attention.

This image as an example, for its image size, I could have used just any camera to get the look, but I use Phase One P45+ on Contax 645, with Vario-Sonnar 45-90mm for this shot, why? I simply like the feel of holding a Contax camera.

Sheeeee

I have in several previous post surround the subject of bringing motion into a still image, this one, shot with Canon 1Ds III and EF 85/1.2L, is the same approach although different execution.

I asked Kate, a Russian model in this picture, to put her finger closer to her lip as she is "sheeeeeing:. And I hope, it adds some story to otherwise a boring picture.

Black and White in Color

The phtography as we knew it developed from the monochrom silver halide base film, then color, and quite many chemical based materials in between. Then the digital, a physical base photography, with devices made from CCD and CMOS base, promote this media to a unprecedented popularity. Erwin Puts has covered this with lots of quality essays in his blog, highly recommended to read.
Anyway, here I am talking about photography as a classical art, the photographer gets to do what he wants, regardless the media. But is there any particular way to shoot black and white film? Different from color negative? And many even go as far as different ways in shooting negative and slide. Now, with the digital device, arguments flying over internet with volumes challenges the largest hard drives.
I don't think it matters. This image, made on Sandra, with Sinar eMotion 75LV on Hy6, Schneider 80/2.8 AFD lens, is one example.

Tibetan Kids

A snap shot on 2 kids smiling to me and my camera, a Leica M8 mounted with Summilux-M 35/1.4 ASPH, I quickly press the shutter.
It was inside the Tsebang temple, Lhasa, Tibet. Today, it is hard to see the tension between the mainland Han people and the local Tibetan, probably no longer due to those army camp in the city, rather, lots of RMB, and perhaps the tourists, like me, among those hundreds of thousand each year shift their focus on to the reality.
It is a hard argument. The Chinese involvement in Tibet without doubt cause the exile of Dalai Lama, himself a controversial figure, and seemed to be a likeable person portrait from the Western press. But it is a question if the Tibetan people will have a chance for better life such as today if it is ruled by Dalai Lama, perhaps not because of where he comes, but more on those secrecy in the power transition. Yes, we can see Dalai Lama a victim, but when you look at Tibet today and yesterday and how the people lived there, I am not so sure if the people is the victim.

Black & White

Shoot during a vocation in Phuket, Thailand, with one of my favorite compact digital camera, Contax TV-S, a beautifully made camera that you want to carry with you everywhere.
I spotted a floating feather on the pond near the hotel lobby, the shadow of the roof on the pond forming an area of shade while the feather reflected the bright light, creating a nice contrast. I snap this picture.

The Window

Window must be one of the greatest invention in human development. It introduces us a view, light, and source of breath. Sometimes, I am not sure what I will choose between a door and window? May be a window is more important? When you are in a room, door is an exit, but window is like hope......
Took this image in a restaurant in Chiangmai, Thailand, while having some Pu-er tea with my German friend, saw the pottery vase standing by the window, shaded and shaped nicely by the light from the garden, so I told myself, "What a picture", took my Contax 645 with Phase One P45+, Carl Zeiss Apo-Makro-Planar 120/4.

The Pose

Pose is something that has to come as a nature, you can or you can't, at least this is what I thought. Anna, a beautiful Polish model, beautiful, and good model figure, but terribly lack of confidence. But as a model, she still make a model pose easily, something a profession. I shot many different models, some can pose a lot, but those can pose a lot does not always capable posing something similar, it is about each own body, comfort and many thing else. It is as lucky for a model to meet a good photographer as photographer to meet a good model. Shot on Bangkok RCA Street, Canon 1Ds II and EF 35/1.4L.

More Motion in Still

A recent shot made for Mercedes CLC, with a Russian model, Olga. It was a rather straight forward shoot, to portrait the model with a character similar to the car, hopefully. Here again I ask the model to swing her hair so that it create a motion that otherwise difficult to get, even by a blower.
Color is rather simple, with the nice blond hair the high light. Shot with Phase One P65+ on Fuji GX645AF, HC 50-110.

Motion in still

I have touched this subject often, becasue I shot it often. Not that I don't like static shots, often I just found motion in a still image deliver extra vibe, brings more life into the image, although this is a subjective opint of view.

This image, shot by using Canon 1Ds III with one of my favorite lens, EF 50/1.2L captured the motion in a classic portrait. The hair movement is just enough to display the color of the hair, and the skin, and of course the sexy Wolford swimsuit, agasint the mono tone background, make this image attractive, hopefully.
Again here I use a normal lens to capture the image, to keep myself relatively close to the subject.

Level with the subect

This is a shot made on one of my favorite model, the Canadian model Jenna. Fair skin, and light blond, I have my model lie herself on a table of white reflective top, and a large reflector to bathe her in light to get this image, soft, and comfortable. I have the back of Jenna slight over exposed so that Jeena is merged into the light, to further give the image a little more dream like.
Camera angle in this shot is important, too lower, the perspective will likely becomes unnatural, too high, the intimacy between the model and photographer will be taken away. So I level the camera as Jenna, made this shot. Using Canon 1Ds III and EF 85/1.2L.

Reflection

This is an image took in Xinjiang, China. Lake Bosten, also regarded as the largest fresh water lake in China, large, expanded to the end of sight. I took this picture while taking a tourist type boat ride, due to its commercial nature, the boatman was hurry to finish the route, to save his time, as well as to get possible extra ride, something similar in all over China, that people is always hurry on something, can't wait to make extra income.
On Lake Bosten, this means you are on a boat that is far from still, and the remedy was to make sure my camera was set to ISO value that enable me to take shoot with reasonable sharpness. Took by using a Nikon D3X, with the AF-S VR 70-200/2.8G IF-ED, I was able to get f/7.0 at 1/400s while setting the image at 86mm focal length, at ISO 320.
An otherwise regular view, I quickly snap the image before the ripple from our boat disturb the stillness, and the reflection.

Light and the beautiful

A shot made recently, the Mercedez CRC anda beautiful Russian model, Olga. The model was lit by a studio light, while the highlight on her face was painted by the car's headlamp. Made with the new Phase One P65+ processed with the recently released Capture Pro 5, a small crop from a large original capture shows the minute detail of the image.

The skin

Woman's skin often is the symnonyn of soft, warm, and perhas smell? It is all what a car will need to have. A car, in most cases, built from rigid steel, cole metal, and mostly run on petro, the reason usually man look at the car also looks for something to comfort? Or just a bad excuse?

This one, again the shot made on Alfa Romeo Brera, with Taylor, Canon 1Ds III + EF 50/1.2L.

Perspective

Shooting a beautiful model with car is always a fun work. Challenge is the the car and model each calls for attention and you need a good balance between them.

Shot with Canon 1Ds III + EF 50/1.2L, I stop down to f/11 to allow enough depth of field for me so I did not have to use either a TS-E lens or on a technical camera that is slower to work with, although most certainly uou get superior result. Another choice could be using the Hasselblad's unique HTS 1.5 on their H3D camera, which I have it with me on the shoot, byt somehow did not use it. Anyway, the 50/1.2 Canon proved time after time a great lens, a lens I use whenever I could.

I have the model, Taylor, lean her back to the car so I can shoot in an angle with her flection cleray viisble, and I frame the picture with the alloy wheel much closer to the viewer and the Alfa logo clearly visible, but not over taking the attention of Taylor.

Color

Color photography becomes a more flexible tool in digital capture, although it may not contribute to better image, which is the photographer's job rathern than the tool's job, without question it is more convenint, especailly in tethered captured, the photographer sees the result in almost real time.

It is never easier to become a photographer in this digital era for many photographers, but it is also ever more challenging for many.

Leica M9, big camera in a small package

A Leica M camera in life is a lot bigger than its physical presence, and an M9 justify this saying in ways it never did. Depend on whose making the calculation, some said a DSLR of 6 million pixels comparable to the 135mm film DSLR, some said you need 10 million pixels DSLR to do that. Few would argue that at 18 mega pixels, full frame 24X36mm sensor, will meet or surpass the medium format in film day. Small format, big picture finally came realized?

Whatever it is, few would doubt at 18 million pixels, full frame sensor, a Leica M9 is anything less than those legendary M predecessor. Picture quality? yes (on most counts)! Historical signicance? May be not. Those M made the history were in a time Leica hardly has any serious competitor, today, Leica usually trails. It might introduce a camera to saty at top, briefly, before atop by usually another Japanese camera, from camera makers whose product development path a lot faster than Leica. Or from another league, the medium format digital backs with price decline quickly to be a threat to Leica.

But why should we bother on historic making? A Leica is a Leica, people loves Leica not because it is a Leica; people loves Leica because Leica being itself, and makes people likes it. Hardly any other camera in history has such consistency in looks, phylosophy and craftmanship as Leica, and coax so many love from wide range of users. I have already owned a M8, love it, and it is not a perfect camera, but then I never ask for a perfect camera. An M8 in specification sheet seemed far behind Leica M9, but I would not hesitate to use M8 today, and certainly would not hesitate to use an M9.

And how good M9 is? Very goog, very very good, for what it is. A small camera, straight forward, it makes you shoot picture, rather than confused between hundred other custom features the camera ccan offer. Pixel to pixel, the M9 is easily as good as the other cameras I also use, such as Canon EOS 1Ds III or Nikon D3X, but is it better? May be not, but may be not worse either. M9 is a diferent camera, as those M camera in the history, they are just different.

About landscape

This is an image took in Bayanbulak, central Xinjiang, China. I use a Nikon D3 mounted with AF-S VR 70-200/2.8G IF-ED on tripod to get this night image. The D3 is well known its ability to capture low noise images, which in this image deliver the strength it was known for. However, the subject remains to be the image itself, the landscape.
What are the elements of landscape image? Quite many, and most landscape photographer can spread a long list, the light, the shadow, the near, middle and distance land features, the tress, the rocks, the ocean, the lake, the mountain........they are all right! Indeed, there is no right or wrong in photography, what's difference is the approach of each individual.
Back on this image, I have a composition of large portion of image focus on night sky, the lower mountain range forms the horizon, what I tried to express is the expanse of the mountain, and the sky is the reference in describing the size of mountain, and because of the large seemingly emptiness in the picture, I position the picture with the curve of mountain off the center, to increase the imapct of image. But what else?
Loneliness perhaps? Not that I was lonely, but to short human life, the mountain seemed lonely. The mountain stands there, slowly evolving, what seemed to be a freezing mount to mountain in fact also mirroring countless generation changes of human beings.

Composition

A subject quite subjective. It is more or less a taste of photographer, a model, chmestry of the day for the fnal result.

Shot with a Canon 1Ds III with EF 50/1.2L, I moved myself closer to the model to make this close up picture, while asking her to pose herself within the frame, sometimes there is luck as well.

Question of nudity

A recent jewelry shot, this is certainly not the one released to public, but a picture I asked the model to pose for me, as my own work. Here the barrier of nudity is crossed. Nudity, one of the most debated subject in photography, regardless those who debates in favor of the subject or against it, most photographers have in one time or another, seldom or often, tocuhed this subject.

This image, shot with Nikon D3X with AF-D Nikkor 50/1.4, was in fact taken in a shorter distance I would usually do. As I often argued, I believe the particular focal length will case its distinctive sense of dimension to the subject being photogrpahed. In this case, I birng the viewer closer to the subject, a nude subject, but rather than simply raising imtimacy, the subject posed something for the viewer to feel than to watch, at least it is what I hope.

White Balance

Coming to digital capture, besides the other technical parameters the camera system is able to produce, the white balance is one of the powerful tools, you can make a picture cold, warm, and of course natural. And also to make an indoor shot simulating the look of an outdoor, without the use of much bothered lighting set up, snoot and gels, such as this one, a simple front lighting using a Bron-color Para 220FB, in the back to flooding the white wall as a large reflector.
Canon 1Ds III with EF 85/1.2L.

Counting pixels

This shot, made on beautiful Juliana, using the Hasselblad H3D-II 50, a 50 million pixels digital back, with the HC 100/2.2. resolving astonishing detail.
Is more pixels means better picture, not always, but often yes - provided the increase of pixels not made on compromising the dynamic range and noise level of the sensor. But does the client always need a bigger file for printing on virtually the same print advertising? Not really! But why more pixels welcome?
More details - it may not all resolved on the final print, but it is there, and because it is there, it allows the control over image more flexible. Retouch ?? Yes, it makes the retouch work a lot easier and faster, provided a fast enough compute to digest those pixels, but yes, it gives a much wider range of photo retouching, something photographer always try to avoid, something most photographers surrender to such needs.

Anna

A shot on this beautiful Polish model, Anna, using Canon 1Ds II with EF 35/1.4L. I have Anna lied on the cushions and stretch herself to make the display on the picture, although still considered much covered, but still with uncanny sexiness.

Smells

A recent work for a custom jwlelry manufacturer and wholesaler. Just the jewelry itself is beautiful, to match it with another beauty object - the model, is another challenge. Most of the jewelry shots I made before, as countless others, were to have model wears the jewelry, nothing wrong, if fact, perfectly makes sense.

But I want to try something else! Human, after millions years of development and evolution, create the senses that is far beyond other animals. True, we as human cannot see as far an as sharp as an eagle, but we have eyes to appreciate those fine art objects; our ears may not captured those distant sounds as many animal does, but we can share the same sorrow and happiness of the music from great musicians; we can't not smell like those harriers, but we can smell beauty!

Captured with Nikon D3X with AF-D Nikkor 50/1.4.

Dress in flowers, again!

Shot from the same series of floral art for a floral artist. Aida, a natural Chinese model, did an excellent job, posing herself inside the beautifully crafted dress - floral Kimono.

In order to concentrate on the dress and facial expression, I simply use a large softbox place from an angle atop the model for the shot, to make picture simple.

Shot with Canon 1Ds III with EF 85/1.2L.

The Portrait

This is a shot made recently for one of my client in beauty and skin care clinic, we need a model with not just a beautiful face, but with a good inner spirit. Daniela, a mix of Brazilian and Japanese, became the face of the brand.
When choosing the lens to shoot, I was considering between either using the Zeiss Planar 80/2. or Apo-Makro-Planar 120/4 or the Planar 140/2.8, all excellent lenses to match the Phase One P45+ on Contax 645; and I settled with 140/2.8. The 140mm focal length will increase the sense of distance between the viewer and the model, adding a little more touch of beauty beyond touch, but also adds a little mystery. on the contrary, choosing a sorter focal length, for example 80mm, will make the model more friendly, more within reach. So why 140mm?
Reason one is I have already shot one Caucasian model, Jenna from Canada, last year that I was using the shorter length approach, and almost one year later, I want to introduce a different feels. Second, the beauty of Daniela looks to me to be naturally more reachable, so I can afford using a longer focal length. And I think I got what I want.

Dress in flowers

A recent work for a floral artist, more conceptual than practical, but no doubt beautiful. A Russian model, Yulia posed for this work, I made the capture using Canon 1Ds III with EF 85/1.2L.
A still capture will have trouble displaying the type of green and flowers for the dress so I ask the model to spin herself in order to create some blurring image while capture her face in reasonable sharpness, and may be out of luck, I got the shot I want.

Tibetan Girl

Taken in Tibet, this little village girl is the typical Tibetan girl, nature, a little shy but not afraid to stare into the lens. Shot with Leica M8, with Summilux-M 35/1.4 Asph.
I made this picture in a small village about 100km from Lhasa. It was a warm late summer afternoon.

White Balance

Taken with Canon 1Ds 3 and my favorite EF lens (one of many), the sharp 50/1.2L. Made with available light in a warehouse, I tune the white balance in Capture One Pro, for this final image. White balance is a powerful tool, not only that it gives natural look but also an alternative way to introduce the image in the photographer's own way.

The Move

Still image is a moment of non-stop motion, as how we see the world involves. And from our everyday experience, when we see the still image, in fact we all expect what the next move will be, and it is the fun of producing still image.
This shot, made very recently for a magazine fashion insert, incorporate with BridgeStone, the location was the tire cache warehouse, a lovely model from Russia. Using Canon 1Ds3 and EF 50/1.2L, I place the light behind me, a Profoto flash to flood the warehouse so it reflects back to the model with a more natural and even light, but still enough to pain the high light on the model's skin.
What I captured was not an image, it was a moment of her movements.

Color

A fashion image took for Kloset, using Canon 1Ds Mk3, EF 85/1.2L, the focus of course is to highlight the dress. The lovely model, Dasha has a fair skin and nice blond hair, I use the light, a Bron-color Para 220 with Pluso G powered by a Nano A4, burn the skin and hair while keep the vibrant color of the dress the center of focus of this picture.

Eye Contact

Taken in Krabi, Thailand, with Canon 1Ds2 and EF 24-70/2.8L. I made this picture with myself in the pool, the model on the rim of the pool, so I can get myself to able shoot with an angle a little lower than the level of the ground the model was lying.
Why? Because human eyes are very sensitive, we are able to sense something we know subconsciously, without our brain telling ourselves. In this picture, because I am able to level the camera on lower than horizon, the model will appear to be larger than life, and have a larger impact.