Posts Tagged ‘technology’

Fireworks Photo Tips

Fireworks show in Falls Church, Virginia ©TimeLine Media
Fireworks show in Falls Church, Virginia ©TimeLine Media

Falls Church, Virginia

If you follow any photography blogs, they probably have a post of ‘Fireworks Photo Tips’ this week. Obviously, this site is focused on photos, so here is my take! Firstly, I enjoy watching fireworks shows. Since it is both an audio, and visual experience, I do not want to spend the entire night concentrating on photos. Thus, I make my setup flexible for me to both capture images while enjoying the show live. As can be seen in the following photo, this is my setup:

DSLR set up for a fireworks show ©TimeLine Media
DSLR set up for a fireworks show ©TimeLine Media

At this time, I mounted the camera on a tripod with a 24mm wide-angle lens. Additionally, I installed a remote release so that I could open the shutter without having my hand on the camera. This is the small cord coming out of the left of the camera body. For camera settings, I have the shutter speed set on ‘bulb’. When you have the camera in this mode, you can control when the shutter opens and closes by pressing on the remote release.

With this in mind, I point the camera in the direction of where I think the fireworks will be exploding overhead. With the wide angle lens, there is a good chance that I will get the fireworks in the frame. Moreover, in your post-processing application, you can crop to a nice composition later. Since the backgrounds are dark and the subjects are just streaks of light, these files can handle a lot of cropping.

When I see the firework shot into the sky, I press the remote to open the shutter. Soon after the brightest flash, I close the shutter again to capture the full explosion. You will likely have to spot check during the show to see a result. However, don’t take too long! Adjust your timing quickly so you can go back to watching the show at the same time. Happy 4th!

Fireworks photo tips from a previous year's July 4 show ©TimeLine Media
Fireworks photo tips from a previous year's July 4 show ©TimeLine Media
Fireworks photo tips from a previous year’s July 4 show ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Quarantine 2 – Video Conferencing

Quarantine 2 - Video - conference call screen shot from my setup ©TimeLine Media
Screen capture from a Zoom conference call

Home Office Setup

Since we are weeks into this quarantine – video conferences have replaced in person meetings. To be sure this is not my favorite way to network and meet business contacts. However, the current state of our world has forced this style of communication for everyone.

While the advances in technology have made the webcam an adequate conduit for this communication, I am a photographer. Thus, I want to have the best picture quality! Of course I would look better myself, but it would also help my business profile. If my little box looked the best out of all of the boxes in the meeting, it would stick with some people that I know how to make a good looking image online. Moreover, it would show how much I care about how I project myself online, and how professional I can make my clients look. To this end, I looked at how I could use my professional cameras to stream online. My lenses and lighting could then be used to elevate the look from my studio.

Quarantine 2 - Video - overview of lighting setup with laptop, camera, and lighting ©TimeLine Media
Video conference lighting setup

Quarantine 2 – Video Setup

As an overview, my laptop is positioned next to my camera on a tripod. The lens is set to a 50mm focal length. If you are using a smart phone for your calls, I would select a portrait style mode to zoom in closer to your face. Seeing that this is the most important thing to see in the video, fill your frame up with your face! The microphone captures a nice clean audio from me sitting about a foot and a half away from the camera. The background of my shot is 10 feet away from where I am sitting. With the difference in distance, the background is blurred out nicely. As long as there is some difference between you and the background, you can have this same effect.

Camera tethered for video streaming with shotgun microphone
Camera tethered for video streaming with shotgun microphone

Once you have the camera set, the HDMI cable comes out of the camera and into a video capture card. For this setup, I used the Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2. From here the audio and video is transferred by USB to my laptop. From here, you can choose your USB connection as your webcam in Zoom, Skype, Facebook Messenger, whatever program you would like to use. Both your audio and video will be sent through.

HDMI to USB capture card
HDMI to USB capture card

Lighting Setup

Similar to the separation of your face from the background, the lighting setup follows. I have a very cheap shop lamp with an LED bulb to my right. It is shining into an umbrella that softens the shadows but still gives dimension. With the bright light only about a foot from my face, the exposure is set for my face with the background becoming dark. This makes for a nice dark background. As a matter of fact, this is a good way to hide a messy work room 🙂

Shop Light firing into an umbrella
Shop Light firing into an umbrella

Again this may be overkill for most video conferences. However, I want to be remembered as a photographer. With this setup, it makes it easier to make an impression as someone that produces professional images! Please let me know if you have any suggestions, or questions. I am very knew to this, but am pleased with the results so far!

Quarantine 2 - Video post results ©TimeLine Media
Quarantine 2 – Video post results ©TimeLine Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Casting a Wider Net – TEDxTysons

Casting a Wider Net - TEDxTysons salon at Booz Allen Hamilton headquarters ©TimeLine Media

Booz Allen Hamilton Headquarters

Last week, I photographed the newest TEDxTysons salon event – Casting a Wider <Dot> Net. On this occasion, the venue was spot on for talks around technology and the impact it is having today. The Booz Allen Hamilton headquarters is in the middle of the growing Tysons, Virginia neighborhood – the Boro. Also it is impossible to miss the high technology companies in the surrounding office buildings.

Casting a Wider Net - TEDxTysons salon at Booz Allen Hamilton headquarters ©TimeLine Media
Casting a Wider Net - TEDxTysons salon at Booz Allen Hamilton headquarters ©TimeLine Media

Speakers

The technology expo was setup in the auditorium reception area when guests started to arrive. It set the scene for discussions on developments that may be part of daily life sooner or later. In contrast, the talks went in depth to higher level thoughts on technology and its impact or our life today.

Tulani Elisa - host of TEDxTysons salon ©TimeLine Media
Tulani Elisa – host of TEDxTysons salon ©TimeLine Media
Jenifer Joy Madden speaking at TEDxTysons ©TimeLine Media
Jenifer Joy Madden speaking at TEDxTysons ©TimeLine Media
Kerel Fryar speaking at TEDxTysons ©TimeLine Media
Kerel Fryar speaking at TEDxTysons ©TimeLine Media
Evan Barba speaking at TEDxTysons ©TimeLine Media
Evan Barba speaking at TEDxTysons ©TimeLine Media
Kymberly Deloatche speaking at TEDxTysons ©TimeLine Media
Kymberly Deloatche speaking at TEDxTysons ©TimeLine Media

Casting a Wider <Dot> Net

In order to capture the photos, I had to stretch my stealthy skills. In fact this venue may have the lowest noise floor of any TEDxTysons event so far! Please check out their website for all the photos and to hear the talks.

Speakers, host, & organizers of TEDxTysons salon at Booz Allen Hamilton ©TimeLIne Media
Speakers, host, & organizers of TEDxTysons salon at Booz Allen Hamilton ©TimeLIne Media

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

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