Kendall Taul just can't stand the wait

Kendall was in the studio this week (www.jbphotosource.com) and Joanne and I did his senior pics...he's a 2011 Marion County High School (Kentucky) senior. Altho his proof book won't be finished until another few days, he wants a sneek peak.

Here you go, Kendall. This kid is first-class. Joanne and I have know him like...well...forever. Yes, he's Beverly's son.

Here's the track shot larger so you can see the Photoshop CS4-applied "wind" filter. Click on the pic and it'll get even larger for you. There are five studio lights at work here, and I left the senior ring in color. This image would make a great locker poster, which we offer.

Old Fort Harrod

Speaking of John Curry... .

Here are some pics he had me take this summer at the Fort Harrod State Park Settlement and Raid event he organized this summer. The dates for this year's event have just been announced: June 18 and 19, 2011 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. For more information, go to www.oldfortharrod.org/.

You'll see these pics and many more used in upcoming state and regional advertising to publicize the event.

In case you photo buffs are curious:

•  The top images of multiple natives...I used a slew of slaved Nikon flashes to fill in shadows that were everywhere. I just thought the image would look much better with even lighting throughout.
• The pipe-smoking pioneer woman...the natural light is coming from the right...she is shaded by an awning with the flag slightly backlight. I used spot metering in the trusty Nikon D3 to nail the exposure.
• The Shawnee squatting in a tree is all natural lighting...that's actually early morning light bouncing off the fort walls that's creating the wonderful light. I used my unerring Sekonic L-758 DR in incident mode to determine the exposure, which was so tricky that I didn't trust the Nikon D3 in spot meter mode.
• The tomahawk-throwing woodsman...it took several runs to determine that an exposure of F5/shutter speed 500 @ asa200 was spot-on.
• The Colonial soldier with musket...easy. Just depress the shutter release button halfway to lock the focus on the gun's lock, recompose, then finish depressing the shutter release button...perfect.

(All photos copyright John Bramel)

John Curry on the Green River

John Curry is quite a guy.

He is one of Kentucky's best-known living historians and reenactors, a book author, National Muzzelloading Rifle Association representative and magazine columnist, 18th Century longhunter expert, outstanding outdoorsman and survivalist, and many other things--and a friend of mine.

John calls upon me for all his photo projects. I shot this picture--and a ton of others--on an outing this winter on the upper Green River. We're either in Adair County or Casey County, Kentucky--we're so deep in the backwoods I'm not sure where. The photos were produced for upcoming magazine articles and inclusion in an upcoming book, all about 18th Century longhunters and their explorations into the upper Green River region.


Yes. It's cold. The temp was running about 32 degrees F, the snow blowing and wind howling, and the Nikons kept functioning flawlessly. This image was shot with the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 12-24 mm f4 G ED lens, which never comes off the Nikon D300 body.


Usually when I shoot projects with John I have to use fill-flash to get under the wide brim of that hat. On this day--bright overcast--the snow covering made for perfect fill light. By the way...I was dressed in modern clothing and packing about 25 pounds of camera gear in my always-present "thinktank" (thinktankphoto.com) gear.

Sarah and Robbie's "save-the-date"

Ten years ago if you'd told me I'd be doing wedding announcement photos by having my bride and groom jump into a lake...no way.


We're doing more and more of this kind of stuff in the studio--or outside the studio, as in this case--and I love it. The digital files created can be used for all types of things, such as this save-the-date, which I designed and did the layout for Sarah.


In case you didn't notice: These are two beautiful kids. I think Robbie has a real "Tarzan" look when he's wet, and Sarah is, of course, a stunner. Can't wait to shoot their wedding. I'll post some of those pics when I do.


The overall "jump" shot, Joanne took that one. I was shooting the couple jumping as they came straight at me. Joanne's "side" view worked better for the layout. I captured the water level view by nearly breaking my back laying with camera--yes--at water level, shooting with my Nikon D3 and Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8.


The shoot was done in late fall. Sarah recently mailed the "save-the-dates." I didn't want to post pics before Sarah got the exclusive with her mailings.

Here we go!

Okay...here we go.

This will be a spot where you can: Keep up with some of the stuff I've photographed, whether it be in the studio or elsewhere; keep up with studio promotions, happenings, etc.; see ramblings I've sent into cyberspace for whatever reason; learn about photography products I've found that I think others might also like; and even sometimes offer tips and instructions.

I promise to keep it interesting.

Want to participate by commenting or asking questions? That would make it even more interesting.