Thoughts on the Canon 6D

January 3, 2013February 1, 2013 bill Leave a comment

I noted in a post a bit back that I’d purchased a Canon 6D to replace my reliable T2i. The camera arrived right after I settled into a bit of a holiday break. I of course played with it during the time, but didn’t get a chance to use it in a shoot with a model until last week. First I found that I was able to shoot in dimmer light that I otherwise would have. We shot using just the natural light and as we got into the late afternoon with the setting sun and thickening clouds from rain moving in I was able to shoot well past where I would have stopped with the T2i. Autofocus worked dimmer than I’d ever gotten it to with the T2i.

The good news is that my primary reason for the purchase, better high ISO noise performance looks to have paid off. The noise at high ISO on the 6D is much less noticeable. Here are two examples, the first from a photo of Keira taken with the T2i back during July and the second a photo of Melissa taken with the 6D last week. Both were photographed at ISO 1600. Click on either one to see a larger version of the image. Both of these are zoomed in extremely close to make the noise more visible, but they are zoomed in to the same ratio. Also no processing other than to balance the exposure between the two to make them better comparable. In other words I feel these are as close as I can get to direct comparison without taking a photo with each camera at the same time.

Canon T2i at 1600 ISO

Canon 6D at 1600 ISO

It’s clear how much less noise there is in the photo on the right under similar lighting conditions. This continues into higher ISO quite nicely. Here is a photo of Melissa taken late in the day at ISO 5000, a value I wouldn’t even think to attempt on my T2i.

The image quality and color when paired with my 24-105 lens has been great. It’s noticeably better than the T2i in every way. Coming from the T2i it’s like a revelation and I think that some of technical limitations I’d hit the last year doing outdoor work (especially in wooded locations), light painting, and when working with just natural light will better let me focus on just working. I’ve briefly used both the Canon 5D Mark III and Mark II a few times, but never owned either nor used either for my day to day camera so I can’t compare the 6D to either directly. . I made this upgrade specifically for the better sensor quality and better ISO performance and both are definitely noticeably better. I think the move is worth it if, like me, you are shooting with an older model and looking for the better quality images and less noise at high ISO, but felt couldn’t justify the cost of the Mark III for your needs. If I made my living with a camera, I’d likely have gone the Mark III route, but I feel for me, serious about photography, but not making a living with it, the 6D fits the nice sweet spot between what I pay and the performance I want.

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I’m still playing with Wi-Fi and the GPS options and will report more on them later. I’m particularly interested in setting up a wireless tethered type workflow using the Wi-Fi wireless features when working. I’m still adjusting to the camera so I’ll add a new post when I’ve had a chance to work with it a bit more. I’d hoped to give it a try outside, but the weather has not been cooperative the last couple of weeks as it’s been very winter around here. As I have some more shoots over the next few weeks and months, I’ll continue to post some more thoughts and observations.

A few good links to some people more familiarly with the Mark II, Mark III, and Nikon D600 (the rough Nikon equivalent of the 6D) and therefore can compare them:

Canon 6D real-world review (and brief comparison to 5D Mark III and Fuji XE-1)
Canon EOS 6D Review: Beautiful Full-Frame Stills, Crummy Full-Frame Video – note I think this one is a little harsh on the camera as the only issue they note is with video compared to Mk III
REVIEW: Canon 6D–Part I: Confessions of a D600 & 5D Mark III Fanboy

Light Painting with Keira and Angela

November 8, 2012November 1, 2012 bill Leave a comment

During the summer days I love working in the mountains. If you’ve not experienced it, it can be hard to believe the difference a couple thousand of feet in elevation can make. The downside of that can be when shooting late or at night you can get into some cool temperatures even in the summer months, especially for the model standing around nude. But during these summer days I took advantage of the warmth and a nice isolated area I’d discovered to try my hand at some outdoor light painting. I’d started with light painting earlier this year in a couple shoots. Here I wanted to take the concept outdoors and see what I could work out. Both shoots were interesting that they had some complications and were not smooth coordinating schedules, but both worked nicely and I’m happy with the results.

First with Keira and I already shared photos from the daytime part of that shoot. Afterward we waited out the late mid-summer sunset and tried some light painting. A few nice results below:

Also had a similar experience with Angela. She and I had tried to work out a time that worked for both of us when suddenly we were able to work out a time to collaborate. I met her in Asheville and we again headed up into the mountains. The weather threatened enough that we at shifted our location to be neared the car in case the lightning that flashed around us turned into an actual storm, which it never did. I was happy with the work and felt a little better control and understanding of what I was doing this time. The shift had a nice benefit in that it located a wonderful bank I was able to pose her against including the photos below.

Keira and the Falls

September 5, 2012August 30, 2012 bill Leave a comment

Working with models that are travelling through the area always requires some flexibility. Plans change due to everything from the weather to cancelations to transportation problems. In spite of the best efforts of all involved sometimes things fall through. A little luck always helps though. Keira Grant and I had a shoot scheduled in late July, but her plans got thrown into chaos by some transport problems. Luckily I had a few shoots already scheduled in Asheville the same time she was near the city and we were able to connect. First part of the shoot we worked around a waterfall that I’d found earlier in the summer. I love this location, so much that I kind of worry about overusing it. The distance should help with that though and this is only the second time I worked there. As always Keira does wonderful work.

Spring Keira Part One

April 22, 2012July 12, 2012 bill Leave a comment

So in a year without winter it decides to get cold for my two outdoor shoots I’d scheduled for today and tomorrow. Right now it’s in the mid forties right now and raining where it’s been in the 70’s most of the month. My shoot today with Nyxon changed to indoor and I’ve rescheduled my shoot tomorrow with April to be indoor too. Getting itchy to get back outside though so hopefully May will be more cooperative. That’s no guarantee though as cool days are possible even into summer.

Tonight a few images from my shoot in late March with Keira Grant. These are from earlier in the day before we went outside and playing with some erotic concepts before the outdoor part of the shoot which went perfectly. Some shots form that coming soon.

Best Five Photos of 2011

December 31, 2011September 13, 2012 bill Leave a comment

The end of the year just invites reflection. So on the last day of 2011 I’m going to look back at what I feel are five of my best photos of the year. Notice the subtle shift from the title there? Instead of just picking five photos, I decided to pick a few categories and pick the best photo in each one along with a little of the background behind the photo. Fun thing is that since this is my blog I can be completely arbitrary and pick what I want. As Mel Brooks said, “It’s good to be the king.”

My Best Photo of the Year

It came on a shoot in June, but this photo of Katlyn Lacoste I think has to be my best photo this year. I thought so enough that I made it the cover of my eBook. It’s not just me as 500px highlighted it in their “Fresh photos” the day I posted it to the site. Everything just comes together amazingly with a great location, a wonderful model, and an amazing pose. There were a number of great images taken here that day, but this one still stands out to me.

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Best Processed Photo

I normally don’t believe in a lot of processing. I try to get the photo right in the camera. Of course I’ll clean up blemishes, tweak lighting, and other things, but normally I feel the longer I spend on a photo in Lightroom or Photoshop, the worse the photo was. This one is an exception. I documented the shoot before, but loved playing with the multiple exposure concept with Melissa Troutt and feel this is the best photo. I love the effect of the model photographing herself and want to play with the multiple exposure concept more in the future.

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Best Photo from Biggest Experiment

Most interesting experiment I did this year came when I did a shoot with Keira Grant, Hannah Perez, and Melissa Troutt back in late June. Working with three models at once was an interesting experience. It was very draining and required a lot of focus and work. The results were wonderful, and I definitely want to try it again someday. There were a lot of photos I could have picked to put here, but over time I’ve come to feel this photo best captures the idea of exploring the relationships between women. What I think appeals to me also comes in other ways you can interpret the photo. Why’s Melissa trying to pull away? Why is Keria trying to stop her while Hannah appears indifferent? So many ways you can answer those questions and each gives such a different story.

Best Erotic Nude

I haven’t shot much erotic over the last year, but I think it’ll be something I focus on more going into 2012. Something about the erotic is appealing to me again as it hadn’t for the last bit. I did one erotic themed shoot this year. I have a bit of a poor track record on my shoots with two models with an intent to explore erotic ideas. Seems like almost every one has something weird happen. A model doesn’t show, we get kicked out of a place, etc. Shoots with no erotic plans always go smoothly. This one went wonderfully though so maybe my curse is broken. Again a number I considered here, but in the end I think it’s the eye contact between the models that brings me back to this one. It feels like we’re peering in just as they lose control.

Best Boudoir

The latest photo here, shot on December 23 with Brynn Cook. I really love the intimacy of this photo. It feels like the viewer is looking over at the model after waking in the morning. I also feel the lack of nudity works as a strength since it gives it more of an intimate and less sexual feel. I left in the cluttered background precisely because I feel it supports the casual feeling.

Two Bonus Photos

Okay I lied about five photos. Here are two photos that really don’t fit in the theme, but I still want to highlight. See above quote about the king.

Best Rediscovered Photo

Reason this one is down here it that I didn’t take it in 2011. In fact I rediscovered it when I was sorting images for my eBook. It’s a wonderful image I shot back in 2008 with a model I’d met on a trip to Raleigh the month before. I think this might be the first image (or at least one of the first images) that I really nailed the lighting exactly the way I wanted it. Again perfect lighting, wonderful model, and just an amazing expression on her face.

My Favorite Photo As I took It

Because it had been a long, hot day and this was very cold and refreshing.

Hope everyone had a great 2011. Here’s to a even better 2012 (picture me raising the glass above).

Related Images:

September Shoot with Keira

October 29, 2011July 12, 2012 bill Leave a comment

As September turns to October here, outdoor shoots become a bit more rare. It’s not that the weather isn’t still warm, it’s that it becomes unpredictable. Cool days become more common, the streams and waterfalls become colder, and damp, rainy days become more common. As October passes by I usually try to work in a few last shoots as the weather allows and this October I was fortunate that the weather cooperated on three shoots. First up I shot with Keira Grant on the last day of September on a bit chilly, but very workable day. Just to show how varied the weather can be this time of year the same area saw snow flurries the next night.

We started a bit later than I’d hoped because of a delay on my part, but the weather cooperated and we had great light for the shoot. Keira and I worked in an area I’ve shot several times over the last couple of years. While it’s one of my favorites, I feel that I’m going to take a break from shooting there for a while. I think I’ve shot there too many times in the last two years and feel some time away will let me come back with fresher eyes perhaps late next year.

The best feature of this area is a wonderful waterfall along with a huge rock formation that provides many nooks and crevices for shooting which Keria took full advantage of. An unexpected find was a tree that had fallen over during the summer and provided a new location. It made for along and productive day of shooting. My only disappointment came in the amazingly low water levels. The streams around falls were lower than I’ve ever seen it in the three years I’ve been going there for hiking and photography. Still some wonderful stuff and some examples below.

An Outdoor Experiment in Three Parts–Keira Grant, Hannah Perez, and Melissa Troutt

July 8, 2011January 6, 2014 bill 1 Comment

After working with Keria Grant in mid May we discussed shooting again when she came back through the area in late June. As we finalized the date for the next shoot, I developed the idea of pairing her with another model in an outdoor setting. I’d taken two models on an outdoor shoot before with Melissa and Katlyn last fall with wonderful results, but felt I’d been too cautious and reserved in directing the shoot and not gotten all I could have out of such great models. I got some great images from that shoot, but always felt that I could have done more and if I’d been a bit more daring I could have gotten even better images.

I’ve mentioned my plans to experiment more this summer and as part of that plan I began to consider adding a third model to the shoot. I’ve worked with two models several times, but never three. I knew that adding another model would make things more difficult, but liked the additional possibilities it would add.

After lining up Melissa Troutt for the second model I also brought in a third model that I’ve worked with before in Hannah Perez. The biggest challenge I face getting ready for the shoot came in finding the correct location. I wanted a scenic outdoor location, but also needed a private one so three nude models could work for several hours without being concerned about onlookers. Several possible locations wouldn’t work due to storm damage or just not meeting my needs. I ended up deciding to use on one of the first locations that I scouted for the shoot back in early June while on another shoot.

The weather forecast the morning of the shoot was just a bit menacing, but the rain held off and we had an amazing shoot. Working with three talented models turned out to be a wonderful experience and almost every photo is great. In fact the most difficult task in editing these images came in picking the best photos out of the those taken. I honestly can say that I’ve not found myself with a greater ratio of great photos at the end of a shoot than this one.

Overall a lot of time and energy went into getting this shoot together and it’s not something I’d do every day in spite of the enjoyment and success. It surprised me how much mental energy it took to direct the shoot and keep things moving. This still was one of the most enjoyable shoots that I’ve ever done and worth all the effort put into it and I think the photos speak to that.

Seeing with New Eyes and Shooting with Keira

May 22, 2011September 13, 2012 bill 1 Comment

One of the most enjoyable parts of meeting and working with new models is getting to experience the familiar through new eyes. My shoot on Wednesday with Keira Grant offered an example of that. I’ve been shooting outdoor nudes pretty often for over a year now and maybe have gotten just a bit used to the scenery. It struck me though how much Keria kept commenting on how beautiful and green things were while we were driving and shooting. This is probably the best time to see that beautiful green since it’s been warm enough for the foliage to be out in force, but we are not yet into the main part of summer where the heat and lesser rain brings brown back to the land. It’s this time of year that pulled me out there to shoot, but I see it so often that it helps me appreciate it more with someone seeing some of these places for the first time.

I worked with Keira near the same location Melissa and I worked at a few days before. Contradicting my last post, the morning weather was not as warm as I expected so Keira and I did some indoor work first hoping the weather would improve. The dreariness and chill lingered though and in fact would not go away at all Wednesday. Still in spite of the weather it could have been worse (like the day before when it was cooler and raining) When we arrived the rise in water levels since Saturday shocked me. The previous few days had seen a lot of rain and I expected some rise, but the amount caught me by surprise. In fact water covered the majority of the spots that Melissa had posed on or I had stood on during that shoot and the current was dangerously strong in many places I had waded with no concerns just a few days before. I’ve mentioned before how I enjoy the way the woods subtly change over time, but change this dramatic in such a short time felt out of place and a bit jarring.

Even with many of the locations I’d planned to shoot not usable because of the water rise, we found a great spot brought about by that same change as these things often balance out. Overall we produced some great work, a few of which can be seen here and I look forward to the next time I’m able to work with Keira.

No images from shoot with either Melissa or Keira ready to post so the photo above comes from a shoot with Charlie Kristine from earlier in the month.