Tripod

The Carnival

A few months ago it was the Carnival season in North Texas. I went out one evening with my trusty D300 and tripod. The intent was to do some motion photographs, ya know, blurred images of the ferris wheels and such. I got those alright but found it an interesting experience to spend time with the folks working the booths.

2396520885 cde14d0d0d t The Carnival

The carnies were friendly, curious and very willing to talk about their lives. There was a run-a-way and a fella who had a master’s degree in business running a snack stand. He said he’d had it with the pressures of ‘the real world’.

I can relate.

Shooting tethered in the studio

Although I have had the equipment to do it I have only recently started to shoot tethered while working the the studio, I like it.

My equipment/software list:

  • Nikon D700
  • Lens as needed
  • Dell 13″ StudioXPS
  • 500 gb external HD
  • 15′ USB cable
  • Gitzo 1258 Tripod
  • ProLine GMS80A Conductor Sheet Music Stand
  • Nikon Camera Control Pro 2
    • * Just bought TetherPro
  • And of course the studio light gear

So here is the basic setup: Simple and useful.

 

IMG 3079EDITweb 300x200 Shooting tethered in the studio

Tethered setup overview

The above image is from a catalog shoot I did for Jane Burch, see “The Transformation” article.

 

Tethered shooting allows me to view the images in real time on a 13 inch calibrated monitor, allows me to zoom into the images to check focus and detail.

 

RKD 0750 300x194 Shooting tethered in the studio
13 inch image view

I rarely show the monitor to the model, unless I need to show them something specific – good or bad. I do, however, encourage the client, in this case the MUA, to review and comment as the photographs are taken to ensure they are getting what they want and need.

 

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Client reviewing images as

I don’t know if it’s the same with Canon equipment but Nikon software places the images onto the computer’s hard-drive not the CF card. I do not edit, much, on the laptop so I have the download directory on an external hard-drive for easy transfer to my desktop editing machine.

 

RKD 0647 pp 1024x662 Shooting tethered in the studio

A final image

While this setup isn’t exactly ‘high end’ it works well for my needs.

 

A specials thanks to Tom Thompson for the behind the scenes shots.

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