Local Press Photographers Day: Part Five - the results.

Here is a small selection from the pictures I made on that Friday. I've left out ones with kids in, even though I could have picked out a few as personal likes. In these paranoid times, it's probably safest, although I do wonder whether the paranoia now will become something to regret in 20 years time...

"Billy Turner", the  shop assistant in the BBC's1935 

Grocers. 1/125th, f5.6, ISO1000. Nothing fancy, just 

bounced SB900 flash off a white ceiling. Higher 

ISO gives the flash some help, and 1/125th stops 

too much flouro ambient colouring the picture.

More after the break!

A visitor listens to voices from the 30's on a period
telephone. Same settings, but with the SB900 bouncing
more from the wall camera-left. Getting visitors in your
shot can be tricky, but if approached in the right way they
sometimes will agree to be photographed.

Brian Sharpe, a family friend of survivor Arthur

Appleyard, with Arthur's diary, in front of a painting of

HMS Jervis Bay in her last action. 1/100th, f5.6,

ISO1600. No useful ambient to speak of, so higher ISO

and a remote SB900 is bouncing off a back wall, in a

juggling act between lighting the subject and not

reflecting (too much) off the background. The shutter

speed is at 1/100th because I'm hanging onto a

heavy camera/lens with one hand. With people milling

about, I can't even consider a light stand...

The family of Sidney Ambrose Peters, who served 

aboard from 1929 and who was lost with the ship, with 

the model of the Jervis Bay in her days as a liner. 

Same settings,but with the SB900 held VERY high, 

pointed at the family to minimise glare from the glass 

case they are behind. I couldn't quite lose all the 

reflections, but it'll do...

Staff at the new Normas Cafe, at the Healthy Living

Centre. The counter area was dull, so this colourful

corner, with its sign, was a better background. Now

1/80th, f5.6. ISO800, a more typical setting, and 

there is some useful window light adding to the scene.

A jaunty tilt keeps everything in-frame and adds some

interest.

Norman Williams and Chris Prebble check the labels of
their latest brews to sample. An absolute b*****d of a

venue to light as it has a ceiling that just sucks up

anything you throw at it! 1/40th, f5.6, ISO1600. Trying

everything here: higher ISO, bounce flash and a lower

shutter speed to blend whatever ambient I can use. I

recall this as one that needed a bit more help in

Lightroom, too.

Ken Stevens pours another pint. Now down at 1/30th,
but the bounce surface, a false ceiling above the barrels,

is a bit more co-operative, so this low speed is just to 

brighten the background as the SB900 lights him. The 

flash is actually dialled down a bit to balance out, by 

about a stop, I think.

And that's my day, folks. They aren't always like this but many of them are just as busy. The best you can do is to do your best in the time you have. I can look at these and think "if only..", but ultimately you 

have to go with what you've got. A bit more time is the biggest bonus. If you want good, creative, interesting pictures, give your photographer some "thinking and set-up time"!

And in case you do wonder, after reading these last few posts - 

Yes, I still love this job!