Location Portrait Assignment from NEA

Last Friday I was contacted by the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. and asked to photograph Mr. Lester Mason Jr. , a life-long resident of Phenix City and a retired educator, for the cover story of the next issue of their monthly magazine. We quickly agreed on terms and I was then told that the deadline was October 8th! Why do so many large organizations wait until the last minute to schedule photography? It happens frequently with corporate groups that have events at Callaway Gardens- makes me feel better about my own procrastination. Nothing had been set up with Mr. Mason; I called him and we discussed his various civic activities and it became clear to me that his heart belongs to the children of the Phenix-Russell Boys and Girls Club, a hugely successful enterprise that he started in 1967. So I quickly scheduled a shoot at the club on Monday (my day off), and my son Gabe and I loaded lots of gear from my studio into my van and spent four hours at the club, photographing Mr. Mason in five different situations, most of them involving lots of rambunctious kids- Gabe and I were exhausted afterwards! After editing and adjusting the files, I over-nighted a DVD to NEA headquarters. My contact there sent me an email within an hour of the DVD's arrival: "Kenny, the portraits of Lester Mason are amazing. We LOVE them! Thanks for the great images."

Location photography can be challenging in a creative, organizational and physical sense , and adding a tight deadline adds extra stress, but there are sometimes big payoffs; Mr. Mason is 78 years old and a wonderful man, an inspiration. It was an honor to work with him and I am better for the experience.

Honor your elders, recognize our leaders, and Keep Shootin',
Kenny

You're Invited

Photograph by Kevin Kelly

(click to enlarge)

Hello Everyone. Please join us this Friday at the Photography Center for the closing reception for the Summer Show 2008, an exhibit of my students' best work from 2007-08.

Friday, September 19, 7:30-10:00. Wine, coffee and scrumptious mini-deserts by Mark Testa.

Be there or be square, and

Keep Shootin',

Kenny

The PhotoShow Live, September 4, CSU EBTC Auditorium

No, this photo doesn't show the PhotoShow audience erupting into spontaneous applause; only the results of a live photo shoot just before intermission. We rolled the large softbox (from the Rankin Arts Center's studio) out from stage right and using this one light (White Lightning 600ws Flash) my associate, Nicole, shot me with the audience clapping in the background. Nicole used a slow shutter speed (1/8 sec.) to illuminate the audience using the auditorium's overhead lighting. The slow shutter also allowed the light from the projector to provide rim lighting on yours truly and blur the clapping hands. We were able to show the results to the audience when they returned from intermission.

My thanks to our enthusiastic audience-approximately 90 photographers attended and we had a great time. All attendees got discount vouchers for upcoming classes. BTW, it appears that every class we are offering this Fall will run! Thanks to all area photographers who support our program.

Keep learning and Keep shootin',

Kenny

I'm Back, or "What I did on my Summer Vacation"

Actually, it wasn't a vacation, but another long summer of family portraiture at Callaway Gardens. I created 44 family portraits during the 9 weeks of Summer Family Adventure, in most cases with the able assistance of my associate, Nicole. We try to encourage our family groups to interact in fun ways, rather than pose formally and it usually works well, as in this children's portrait at Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden. If you have never been, check it out- it's the best place I have ever found for portraits-lots of beautiful plantings, picket fences, porches, chairs and benches for posing, and best of all lots of perfect natural light. This particular spot was chosen to include the giant sunflowers and other color in the sunlit background and I used off-camera fill flash.

Having been away for a while I wonder if any of you still check in from time to time, so here's a test: the next person to post a comment will receive a free one-hour lesson at the Photography Center or a studio sitting.

New post soon.

Have a great fall and

Keep shootin'

Kenny

Forgotten Coast Weekend Workshop in October

Greetings, Everyone.

My wife, Brenda, and I are excited to announce our fall photography workshop in Apalachicola, Florida. Brenda is putting her event planning experience to work and I will be leading the workshop. We promise lots of opportunities for photography, seafood and fun in historic, picturesque Apalachicola. Contact me or Brenda for details.

kgp@kennygray.com

brenda@kennygray.com

This workshop will be widely advertised in the region and we are accepting only twelve participants, so register right away and get a gas rebate and room discount.

Take care and keep shootin’.
Kenny

Welcome, Robin.

This Fall, Robin Trimarchi,
award-winning
photo-journalist for the
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
will join our teaching staff at
the CSU Rankin Arts Center.







Robin will be teaching Family Photojournalism: On Assignment and Introduction to Sports Photography.

Robin has a new blog filled with some of her best pictures and great tips for improving your photography-check it out.

Use sunscreen, read Robin's blog
but above all,
Keep shootin',
Kenny

Evolution of A Baby Portrait

The original 17 megapixel capture (Raw, 1/125 sec., f/8). Three adults assisting: My associate, Nicole blowing bubbles toward Talia, her mother, Sophia standing next to me talking to her, a student of mine, Tanya, spotting Talia to keep her safe. Photographed in the Rankin Arts Center's studio, two lights, black velvet backdrop. Notice that my main light, a 4x6' softbox, is positioned far around to the right (short lighting) to create three-dimensionality and to backlight the bubbles.

The image has now been cropped and I have adjusted contrast using Levels. I have also imported bubbles from another shot, resized and enhanced them, and retouched her pampers to appear solid white.





Cropped tighter now, scratch removed from her cheek, eyes enhanced.





I tried out a sepia/selective tint, decided I didn't like it.




I tried a watercolor filter. You may have to enlarge the image to see it (just click on it). Decided I didn't like it, either.


Here is the final portrait. I have added a Photoshop filter called Accented Edges, on a separate layer, adjusted opacity, and then created a rough, painterly edge. This portrait would look great printed on watercolor paper.

Good equipment, outstanding crew, beautiful happy baby, Photoshop, lots of patience in the studio and on the computer= Talia with Bubbles! See more of Talia here.

Love those babies, and

Keep Shootin'
Kenny