Dan's blog about Photography and things

Author Series: Tony Horwitz and Geraldine Brooks

2012-01-22T15:43:00.017-05:00

I've been shooting the "Author Series" for the Hay Adams Hotel in DC Since spring of 2011. They invite well known authors like Toni Morrison and David McCullough to a lunch at the hotel where they would have a book signing and a presentation about their book they've released. It is usually followed by a Q&A session where attendees can ask questions directly to the authors.

Canon 50mm 1.2L, Canon 5D MKII.

The meals are specifically prepared by Chef Peter Schaffrath with full intention of incorporating the elements of the theme of the day which would be the theme of the book. For instance, for this series the book "Caleb's Crossing"was set in the 1600's in Martha's Vinards. So the chef did some research to come up with a modern version of something that would've been prepared around that geographical location and during that time period. Pretty cool.

The Hay Adams Hotel take pride in their literary heritage. This hotel is built on the foundation of the mansion where John Hay and Henry Adams resided around the turn of the century. The house was well known by intellectuals of the time like Mark Twain and artists alike to be a gathering place for a lively disscussion that included books and authors.

Canon 24mm 3.5L TSE, Canon 5D MKII

Kay Enokido, the President of the Hay Adams, is the mastermind behind the Author's Series. She has also established the hotel as one of the "Best Hotels In The World" for many years. Its no wonder that a slew of celebrities like Brad Pitt have stayed there. I almost hit Senator Kerry by mistake with my tripod coming out of the elevator one day.

Canon 135mm 2.0L, Canon 5D MKII

Husband and wife authors, Geraldine Brooks and Tony Horwits was being interviewed by Washington Post's Ron Charles after the lunch. Their books "Caleb's Crossing" and "Midnight Rising" was the topic.

The room is wonderfully lit with natural light coming in from the wall of windows that faces out to the White House. The 135 2.0L was perfect. The lens is so sharp in focus and out of focus areas are like butter. With the full frame sensor of the 5D MKII, It worked like a dream.

Canon 35mm 1.4L, Canon 5D MKII

I'm always looking for a split moment that makes for an interesting picture. Her gesture and expression only lasted a fraction of a second but that short window allowed an interesting photo.

Canon 135mm 2.0L, Canon 5D MKII.
Tony Horwitz having a laugh before the lunch with Ron Charles.

I guess the 'straiten up and look at the camera' photos are necessary in life, much like root canals. And Just like a root canals, I will only do it if its absolutely necessary. It looks to me when people line up for those photos, it resembles preparing one selves from a firing squad. I come only in peace.

I always believe in letting people do what they do. That way we get to see how they are as a person. After all, isn't that what makes us... US?

Canon 50mm 1.2L, Canon 5D MKII.

Geraldine Brooks during the book signing.

I always like shooting through people and using them to compose within the composition. I always think its more interesting when there are "layers" in the photograph. This kind of over-the-shoulder shots gives the impression that you are peeking through the crowd. One of my goal when I shoot an assignment like this is to give it some feeling of experiencing the event as opposed to just showing the event.

Canon 135mm 2.0L, Canon 5D MKII

Canon 35mm 1.4L, Canon 5D MKII

I thought both authors were very likable and genuine people. I appreciated the way that he didn't seem to have too much fluff about him. He has his no-nonsense shirt sleeves rolled up ready to work, and as he was signing the books he seemed truly happy doing it. They both are Pulitzer Prize winning writers and the humbleness that they both have was very welcoming and admirable.

Shooting Film More

2012-01-14T11:31:00.003-05:00

Now and then I like to take my film cameras out for a spin. These mechanical cameras have to be 'exercised' or they can crap out on you. Its like that with Stradivarius violins. You have to play them or they feel that they have no purpose and crap out. I'm serious.

When I had a mediocre scanner awhile back, I wasn't too happy with the image quality so I shot very little film. But couple of years ago, I got the Epson V750 with the wet mount tray, and boy am I happy with the results.

But I don't use the messy wet stuff. I just use a high-grade plate of glass to sandwich the film so it remains completely flat. I've done some tests and anything bigger than 35mm you'll have problems with getting unsharp scans due to film curvature. Even with the dedicated film holder, the film does not completely flatten. Sure, you get more contrast and dynamic range if you do the true wet mount, but wetting and drying negatives each time you scan doesn't jive with me too much. Call me lazy.

Hasselblad 500 CM, 80 2.8 CF. Kodak Portra 400

After a commercial assignment in DC, I just walked around the area with the Hassy and grabbed some shots. I've missed the loud 'cluck' of the mirror and the real effort of cranking the advance lever after each shot. The reflections from the building windows were bouncing all over the place here. I was waiting forever for somebody to peek out of the door but it didn't happen.

Hasselblad 500 CM, 80 2.8 CF. Kodak Portra 400

I was liking how the light was reflecting off the metal bars of the building. I tinted a bit in LightRoom. One of the things that I really like about the Hassy is the square format. Since both height and width are same it allows you to really play with the tilt to compose in the frame. I'm not saying that you can't tilt on a rectangular format, I do it regularly, but the square lends itself to it a bit more.

Hasselblad 500 CM, 80 2.8 CF. Kodak Portra 400

I was almost surprised to see this street almost devoid of cars. I don't know about you, but I don't like cars in my shots, unless the subject itself is the car.

Hasselblad 500 CM, 80 2.8 CF. Kodak Portra 400

It was a very slow Sunday. I waited for someone to walk by for good 10 minutes till this person walked in the frame. I wanted to play with the diagonal lines on the sidewalk with the vertical lines of the building.

Hasselblad 500 CM, 80 2.8 CF. Kodak Portra 400

A nice day to just stroll around with your trusty old companion. My other film cameras are now jealous.

Arena Stage Architectural

2011-12-14T16:51:00.008-05:00

Shot the Arena Stage few days ago. I have the deepest respect for both architecture and architects. In some sense, I think photography and architecture are somewhat similar to each each other in the fact that we both have to be very familiar with technical knowledge along with artistic.

I've met the Media Director Kirstin Franko of the Arena Stage, a while back while scouting for a photo shoot for the Design Army. She was very helpful then and very helpful now when I wanted to shoot the theater for my portfolio.

Canon 5d MK II, 24 3.5L TSE II

This building has huge wooden pillars that sits up along the perimeter of the windows. I find it interesting that in this building, you can't find too many right angles. The structure is mostly made out of concrete and glass but the addition of wooden posts and the lack of 90 degree angles give it more organic feel to such modern structure.

Canon 5d MKII, 24 3.5L TSE II

Because of the wall of windows, the light plays a very important role in how the people interact with the space.

Canon 5D MK II, 24 3.5L TSE II

Fuji X-100

Canon 5D MK II, 24 3.5L TSE II

Fuji x-100

This shoot was very different from how I usually work, which is hand held with open apertures. When the subject IS the architecture, then having elements that distorts how the structure looks can be distracting. So this is where the tilt shift lens comes in. I love the new 24mm 3.5L TSE II. Very sharp at all apertures, easy to work with and built rugged. With this lens, its like a pocket sized view camera.

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Shooting the Hay Adams Hotel with 2 guns.

2011-12-02T14:13:00.003-05:00

I've had the privilege of shooting the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington DC. I've shot a number of their "Author Series" in the past and I was hired to shoot some of their interiors recently.

24 3.5L TSE II, 5D MKII

I love this hotel! It was built around the turn of the century (1913 I think?) and it is just a wonderful place. It is considered to be one of the best hotels in the United states. It has won many awards and their attention to detail is remarkable.

One of the best asset to this hotel is the view. How is the front lawn of the White House for a spactacular view? No sudden moves, because the secret service guys on top of the roof will "take note" of you if you linger around too long with a lot of equipment.

50 1.2L, 5D MKII

The suites are immaculate. Plush bedding, steam pressed drapes, carved ceiling panels... Top notch.

24 3.5L TSE II, 5D MKII

Used the Canon 24mm TSE for this project. Great lens. For this kind of work, you can't beat it. TSE stands for "Tilt and Shift". Normal lens have fixed lens position with exception of the glass elements moving forward and backwards for focusing.

The tilt and shift lens allows the elements to move (tilting and shifting) so you can manipulate the image striking the sensor. What that does is it allows for perspective correction. One of the correction that this lens is capable of doing is the 'vertical line issue' when shooting interiors or architecture.

With a regular lens when you tilt up on the camera, the vertical lines starts to converge, especially more noticeable on wide angle lens. So, then don't tilt up right? Well, the problem is that when you try to frame the shot, sometimes you have to include what's a bit higher (or lower). I wanted to include the ceiling and the lamp, so the tse lens allowed me to "shift" the image up without the camera being tilted up, making the vertical lines vertical.

24 3.5L TSE II

Sturdy tripod is a must in this application. With deep depth of field with natural light your shutter speed will be very slow so to get sharp pictures, you'll need a tripod, use mirror lock, and use self timer (2sec). I never liked using the remote. My motto is, 'use as little equipment as you can' for the job.

Fuji x-100. Hand held

Since I knew that I was going to be bogged down with tripods and worrying about tilts and shifts, I brought my fuji x-100 as the 'spontaneous' camera. The thing is so small that it fits in my belt pack pouch. I just leave the tripod set up and walk around the room shooting hand held with the x-100. The big sensor with excellent optics gives top notch image quality.

Fuji x-100

This shot was made from my arms stretched standing next to the bed. I can't imagine setting up the tripod on top of the bed! It looks like it took 2 hours to make the thing. So shooting with two cameras of very different attributes gave me the flexibility to go for pictures that I couldn't have if I only had one.

Childhood Memories... By Bessa R3M

2011-11-19T13:16:00.004-05:00

I can't believe that I used to live here about 30 years ago. Brunswick, a very small town on the border of Virginia and Maryland.