Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Versatility Vol. 3 (Desert Beauty)

As I round out this three part series regarding the Canon 35mm F/1.4L USM I cant help but look back at it with smiles. In case you missed the other two posts they are Here and Here. I suppose this would be the time where I get super technical and tell you all the short coming of such an expensive piece of glass. If thats what you wanted, I hate to disappoint. All I can truly say about this lens is that it's incredible and a pleasure to use. I really don't have anything bad to say about it. Whats not to love about an ultra fast F/1.4 aperture, solid metal construction, weather sealed, lighting fast autofocus, lightweight package? Sorry tech junkies, I'm all about real world photos, not boring lab sharpness tests and distortion charts. My sunday morning was spending shooting portraits of two absolutely stunning women in the desert area of Gates Pass, west of Tucson. Having had this shoot planned about a week in advance I had quite a bit of time to think about how I wanted them to look. When you can pre visualize what you want your end product to look like, you'll find you get a higher percentage of keepers. I've work with Lola before at the V so I knew what to expect when it came to shooting her (she's really pretty). She had informed me she would be bringing a friend along for the shoot, how could I say no? When you meet someone for the first time and shoot them in the same session it can be challenging. That was just the case with one of the models Leila, although my concerns were squashed immediately as we started working together. She is a natural and has this aura about her that I think clearly shows in the photos. I've been to gates pass multiple times for multiple things and I can honestly say this was one of the best. What happens when you let go and just be yourself? When you feed off all the elements surround you? When you get "In the Zone". I feel very confident in this group of photos. Could it be because I had a very expensive lens hanging off the front of my camera? I wouldn't sell myself so short considering all the factors that go into shooting on location (natural lighting, angle of sun, wind, temp, clouds as natural softbox, creepers lurking?, you get the idea) but it certainly helps. I strongly urge you to challenge me and let me know what you think, as I'm curious to know.

All photos taken with the Canon 35mm F/1.4L USM mounted on a Canon T2i body

The legendary Canon 35mm F/1.4L USM
The only thing better than spending a weekend with this stunning lens would be spending a weekend with a stunning woman


Introducing Lola  and Leila
1/400s,  F/8.0,  ISO 200

Double the fun
1/2000s,  F/2.0,  ISO 100

1/2000s,  F/2.0,  ISO 100


Sexy Wind
1/2000s,  F/2.2,  ISO 100


1/3200s, F/2.2,  ISO 100


South Western Feel
1/2000s,  F/1.8,  ISO 100


I feel the strong and structured concrete is a stark contrast to the woman
1/3200s,  F/1.8,  ISO 100


1/2000s,  F/2.2,  ISO 100

1/2000s,  F/2.2,  ISO 100

B&W Portraits are my personal favorites
1/2000s,  F/2.2,  ISO 100


1/2000s,  F/2.2,  ISO 100

Are your eyes fooling you from the heat?
1/4000s,  F/2.5,  ISO 100

Desert Beauty
1/400s,  F/8.0,  ISO 100

She's a natural
1/1600,  F/2.5,  ISO 100


1/2000s,  F/2.2,  ISO 100

1/4000s,  F/2.0,  ISO 100
I love the texture in this shot
1/4000s,  F/1.4,  ISO 100

Multiple factors combined to make this photo a winner
1/4000s,  F/2.0,  ISO 100

This photo is a product of knowledge, high risk, high reward, timing, and precision execution
1/2000s,  F/2.2,  ISO 100 

Le Chao gets in on the action. Numero Uno
1/640s,  F/5.6,  ISO 100


Versatility Vol. 2

Having a large aperture is a good place to start but often isn't enough when you want to get quality street photos at night. One must take into account the issues of focusing. You're either going the route of autofocus or manual focus. Shitty lenses have slow autofocus in very dark conditions and they tend to hunt for focus often resulting in missed shots. The higher end lenses have quick and snappy autofocus even in horrible conditions. Considering I almost exclusively shoot my night time street photos in manual focus, it's always nice to try out a lens with lighting fast autofocus like the Canon 35mm F/1.4L USM. Photos taken at F/1.4 are a little soft, but totally useable in my opinion. Using this bad boy a few times at night, it was quite obvious I had a clear winner mounted to the front of my camera. Yet another victory for this multi purpose lens in a very unforgiving place that slows down for no one. My next post will be able my experience working with two stunning ladies in the arid desert west of Tucson. Stay tuned, you're not gonna wanna miss that one.

All photos in this post taken with the Canon 35mm F/1.4L USM mounted on a Canon T2i body

Posted up outside of Sky Bar
1/40s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

1/40s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

4th Ave tunnel
1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200


1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

Damn right
1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

Tickets this way
1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

Fin
1/80s, F/2.8, ISO 3200

Versatility Vol. 1

It's been a few long days and I'm finally able to sit down and post my latest work. As stated in my last post I had the weekend to spend with the Canon 35mm F/1.4L USM lens. I must say I am extremely impressed with the way the lens handled the various lighting and situations I put it through. Saturday night I worked wedding anniversary party. The location was fairly dim so the maximum F/1.4 aperture was really useful. Overall the event went really well and I met some cool people in the process. I feel like the different variety and amount of solid photos showcases the potential available. I am splitting up the photos in a three part review. This post consists of random photos and shots from the wedding anniversary. My next post will highlight how this beautiful hunk of metal and glass handled the streets at night.

All Photos in this post taken with the Canon 35mm F/1.4L USM on a Canon T2i body



Corona on cinco
1/2500th, F/1.4, ISO 400

Match cake?
1/320s, F/1.4, ISO 1600

Corn tossing
1/500s, F/5.0, ISO 1600

My cousin's kid. AJ
1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 800

He was watching ninja turtles. Just my style
1/250s, F/1.4, ISO 800
1/60s, F/1.4, ISO 1600

My drink is on the far left. Fireball on the rocks
1/80s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

Pretty lady
1/200s, F/7.1, ISO 400

Married
1/60s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

1/60s, F/1.4, ISO 3200

Shots
1/60s, F/2.8, ISO 3200

Fin
1/60s, F/1.4, ISO 3200




Friday, May 3, 2013

Shadow of a Shooter

It's Friday evening and that only means one thing, time to shoot shoot shoot. As I begin to enjoy the weekend I am certainly excited because I'll be using a lens that has been legendary for some time now. I'm of course talking about the Canon 35mm F/1.4L USM. Without revealing too much, I can certainly say in the short amount of time I've used this lens, it's a very nice piece of glass and metal designed for pros and serious amateurs. I will publish a full post and review with photos next week. For the time being enjoy the photos I was able to get last night while out in the streets. Let me know what you think

All photos shot at F/1.4 unless otherwise stated

Le Benz

Gotta look out for

1/80s,  F/2.0, ISO 3200 

1/80s, F/2.0, ISO 3200

1/80s, F/2.0, ISO 3200








$900



Personal fave