Sunday, February 27, 2011

Portrait utilizing PocketWizard Flex and Mini in High Speed Sync

Another portrait from the Portrait Photography Groups Santee, SC Shoot-out weekend. This photo was created using a single Canon 580EXII Speedlight (Camera left) and triggered with PocketWizard Flex and Mini Combo. Using the Pocketwizard Optimized High Speed Sync capabilities I was able to shoot with my Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM lens wide open @ Iso 100, f2.8, 1/800.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

More Portrait Photography using Highspeed Sync with Pocket Wizard Flex and Mini


PPG Santee, SC Shootout Weekend
Originally uploaded by ghholt
Here another shoot using the PocketWizard Flex and Mini utilizing Highspeed sync. There are no additional steps to shooting in Highspeed sync with the Flex and Mini. The Flex and Mini give you more flash power using less batteries. Just leave your flash in ETTL and the PocketWizards will take care of the rest.
 This portrait was shot in Elorre, SC with the Portrait Photography Group during the Santee, SC Shoot-out weekend. Forty photographers and about 20 models gathered for two days of portrait photography , education and socializing.

More Portrait Photography using Highspeed Sync with Pocket Wizard Flex and Mini


Santee, SC Shoot-Out Weekend
Originally uploaded by ghholt
Here another shoot using the PocketWizard Flex and Mini utilizing Highspeed sync. There are no additional steps to shooting in Highspeed sync with the Flex and Mini. The Flex and Mini give you more flash power using less batteries.  Just leave your flash in ETTL and the PocketWizards will take care of the rest.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Portrait Photography using Highspeed Sync with Pocket Wizard Flex and Mini

I photographed these sisters during the Portrait Photography Groups Shoot-out Weekend in Santee, SC. This photo was shot at 11:45 am using my Canon 5d MKII with an EF 24-70mm f2.8L lens and two bare Canon 580EXII flashes positioned right and left of camera. The flashes were triggered using the PocketWizard Flex and Mini combo. My camera was set to Aperture Priority and the flashes to ETTL. The image was captured @ Iso100 f2.8 1/8000.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Shoot-out weekend in Eloree, SC with the Portrait Photography Group.

This is another portrait from the weekends shoot-out in Eloree, SC with the Portrait Photography Group. A lot of planning went into this weekends shoot buy Lori Jill. It took a great deal of work by Lori and the rest of the organizers to make this event such a success. The weather could have been better! The weekend was full of shooting, teaching, editing and socializing. There were some incredible images captured. Mike Newcomer won a $500 software collection from Nik Software for his entry in the photo contest.

Shoot-Out Weekend Santee, SC


Shoot-Out Weekend Santee, SC
Originally uploaded by ghholt
Still recovering and editing photo's from the "Weekend Shoot-Out" with the portrait Photography Group Charlotte. About 40 members of the PPG spent 2 days shooting a wide variety of portraits. In Studio and on Location in Santee/Eloree, SC. This was an awesome weekend shooting and parting with fellow photog's!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Lone Star Barbecue & Mercantile Photo Shoot 2/19/2011

So how cool of a location is this to shoot at? Thirty some members of the Portrait Phtography Group will be meeting at the Lone Star Barbecue & Mercantile Saturday morning to shoot Senior's and Couples portraits. The Lone Star Restaurant and General Store is comprised of four wood framed buildings that served as the country store and commissaries during the late 1800's. Zeaglar's Store was in operation as a post office and mercantile until 1997.We will be shooting at the location for about two hours than we will be heading to the Whitten Inn to shoot in the banquette room until about 8pm when we will finish the days with some light painting and instruction led by Mike Newcommer. After a day of shooting we will gather for a small Lounge party. Then we will start shooting again Sunday morning from 9-5pm. Looking forward to building my portfolio with an assortment of portraits. It going to be a fun creative weekend in Santee, SC.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Can't wait for the Santee, SC Shoot out this weekeand!


Hollywood Lighting Session
Originally uploaded by ghholt
I am totally psyched for this weekends shoot in Santee, SC with the Portrait Photography Group. We will be shooting for about 20 hours we have 20+ models scheduled for a wide range of photo shoots. We will be shooting Kids, Couples, High Fashion, Hollywood lighting, light painting and more! You can't beat the price of this meet-up, $150 gets you a room for Saturday night 5 meals and about 20 hours worth of shooting!

Shoot Out Weekend in Santee SC - $150 total cost

Here we go again! Another weekend get-away trip just for us, portrait photographers.
Santee, SC is just a bleep on the map, and about 2.5 hours from Charlotte. This is not meant to be a fancy vacation, but rather a weekend of like-minded photographers working together and having a little fun. I have a few favors "owed" to me at this hotel, so I am able to offer this Meetup at a pretty affordable rate.
I've been discussing this a little on the ideas thread and for those of you who already know what it's all about, and have been pestering me to schedule it, I hope to see your RSVP's first. Ok, I'm just teasing a few insiders! (You know who you are.....Larry.... oh, did I say that out loud again?!? :)
OK, on the serious side, this will be two days packed full of photographic fun. It is open to everyone, no matter what your skill levels are. We will begin shooting on Saturday morning in a very little historical southern town, called Elloree, at about 9:30 Saturday morning, and we will be finishing up around dinner time Sunday evening.
I have arranged for the hotel restaurant to provide us with lunch and dinner on Saturday, and a hot breakfast, lunch and dinner on Sunday too. That's 5 meals in the price of this Meetup! I have also included your room, with 2 double beds (so bring who you like), and a little portrait photographer's party Saturday night in the lounge (with one complimentary house drink or beer). If you wish to bring a friend or spouse the additional cost is $50, to include them in the meals and portrait party.
As for the photography for the weekend:
The last time we did one of these trips, I had several models lined up and more than enough "shooting" time for anyone to feel as though they "got their money's worth". I plan to do the same for this trip (although we won't be at the beach :(
It is still cold so I wanted to line up a location that we could have free access for both days to an open area for shooting. We will have access to the hotel's 200+ capacity banquet room, and have several background and lighting areas set-up. There will also be an "editing cafe" for you to plug in your computer and work in Photoshop or Lightroom as you please. I will have one or two extra computers set-up, with PS & LR installed as well. This is for any of you that work on a desk top and can not bring your computer with you. The hotel does have wi-fi. It also has mini frigs, microwaves, and coffee pots in the rooms. It is located directly off of I95, but there is not much else located around the area, not that I am anticipating going anywhere else.
My plans are to line up models, some "pros" and some not, make-up artist (for some added fun), a family black-n-white relationship portrait session, dancers, and hopefully a little light painting Saturday night for some added fun. We will be having dinner at 6:00pm Sunday and a small portrait contest, with prizes (if you wish to enter), and hope to be finished by 8:00pm.
The hotel check-in on Saturday is at 2:00pm, so we will shoot and then have lunch and break for check-in. Check-out is at 12:00 on Sunday, however, if you are bringing family and need earlier or later times on these please contact me through email, so I can give you the added cost.
The cost of this trip is $150, per photographic person, and $50 extra for "non-photographic" people (please let me know if there are children because I will discuss that with you separately). I need $75 deposit from you now (RSVP to this Meetup) to reserve your spot, and RSVPs will be limited, and the other $75 by Feb. 12th. plus any added attendees will need to be paid by the 12th (this is for the catering part of the event). I will send you a separate invoice for any added family members. In order to RSVP, all you need to do is pay the $75 now.
I will work diligently to get sponsors and some great prizes for this event, and maybe a "special" speaker. You surely don't want to miss out on this chance to have fun, while practicing your photography, with a great group of people!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Another Photo from last nights Hollywood Lighting session


Margaret
Originally uploaded by ghholt
This is one more photo of my wife Margaret at last nights Hollywood Lighting Session. This photo was lit with four 100 watt CLF's in a homemade snoot.
Looking forward to this weekend's two day shoot with the Portrait Photography Group in Santee, SC. We have 20 models and about 21 hour worth of shooting scheduled. There are still about 10 spots available for this shoot. For $150 you get your room, 5 meals and over 20 hours of shooting!

Hollywood Lighting Session with the Portrait Photography Group Charlotte


Hollywood Lighting Session
Originally uploaded by ghholt
This is a rare photo of my wife Margaret. Margaret modeled for our Hollywood Light Session last night. Fifteen members of the Portrait Photography Group-Charlotte met and photographed three models using DIY continuous lighting.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Belmont,NC Children Photography


Belmont Children Photography
Originally uploaded by ghholt
This was a great photo shoot with these sisters. This photo shoot was held in Belmont, NC.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

High Dynamic Range Photography

This was a three exposure HDR taken of the Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse in Maine. The photo was captured using an Canon 40d with an 18-35mm lens. The image was post processed using Photomatix and Photoshop CS5.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Indoor Pet Photography


Pandora With Her Lion Cut
Originally uploaded by ghholt
Pandora my 17 1/2 year old Tortie Point Himalayan with her new Lion Cut was lit using two Speedlights.
Strobist Info:
Single 580EX II @ 1/4 bounced from 42" Convertible Umbrella camera Left. Single 430EX II @ 1/4 shot through 30" Umbrella Camera Right. Triggered with CyberSync.



Thursday, February 10, 2011

Black and White Photo Conversions

Trying some new B/W conversion techniques on some files from the Mooresville Barn shoot with the Portrait Photography Group of Charlotte this past summer.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Spent a wonderful morning with Elli the lioness


Suzie's Pride 1-1-2011 6
Originally uploaded by ghholt
I had the wonderful opportunity to spend the morning at Suzie's Pride in Rockwell, NC.
Suzie's Pride Inc. is a Sanctuary and Rescue for big cats. They are a no-kill, no-breed facility for unwanted, abused and neglected big cats from private owners, commercial entities, zoos and other sanctuaries. They provide cats with a place to live out their days in a compassionate respectful environment; we give them proper care enabling them to have a good quality of life. 

Elli the lioness will be one year old on February 26, 2011.  Elli has grown so much in the few months that I have had the pleasure of knowing her and the rest of the Big Cat's at Suzie's Pride. Bill and Charlotte Cook the owners of the Pride have so much love for these big cat's they have rescued.
Being a cat lover all my life it was such a joy to be able to interact with Elli. I would never have thought I would be this close to a lion, but to actually touch pet and play with a lion was mind blowing experience. I look forward to a long relationship with Bill, Charlotte and their Pride!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Fitness Photography With MMA Wrestlers

This is another Black and White rendering of a photo from yesterdays Fitness Photography session. Help in Charlotte, NC.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Friday, February 4, 2011

First Place Winning Photograph Featured in the Charlotte Observer


First Place Winner Events
Originally uploaded by ghholt
MY first place winning photograph from the Danial Stowe Botanical Gardens was featured in a slideshow on the Charlotte Observer.com website.

Fitness Photography


Tremayne Brooker
Originally uploaded by ghholt
This weekend I will be focusing on Fitness Portraiture. I will be photographing two MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) wrestlers. Be looking for a lot of hard edgy light and dramatic shadows in these portraits.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Black and White Photo Conversion

Trying a few black and white photo conversion techniques on a few photo's from the Hollywood Light Studio session on January 27, 2011.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Photography of the Great Falls Mill Ruins

The Richmond Mill was chartered in 1833 and was the seventh cotton mill chartered in North Carolina. It operated until 1865 when it was burned by Sherman’s troops. It was rebuilt in 1869 and renamed Great Falls Mill. It burned again in 1972.
Mike Newcomer and I ventured down to Rockingham, NC to photograph the ruins of the Great Falls Mill. All the Kudzu that covers the remaining ruins was dead so we were able to access the ruins and photograph the remaining structures and falls.