This shot was part of a stock photo shoot for Getty Images. It just happens to be an image I really like– something about his expression and the fact the hamster was looking at the camera too.

Some have asked if this and some of my other photos are “HDR” And the answer is no, and it is not a filter or plug-in. Usually it just requires a lot of work to get the image where I like it and each image is unique. I will say I do make use of the High Pass filter for sharpening most of my photos as it’s a really versatile tool. I will say some images lend themselves more this particular “look”. This image felt very slightly strange Norman Rockwell to me and I wanted to exaggerate that feel.

For you Strobist fans: This was shot with a Vivitar 283 (with the variable power control) using a shoot through umbrella to the left. Triggered with a Pocket Wizard. Lots of white walls provided fill.

Philip Nealey is an Omaha Nebraska based commercial  Photographer  and Photoshop expert.  See more work at nealeyphoto.com or his blog at unsharpmasked.com

Posted via email from Philip Nealey

Posted via email from Philip Nealey

Here is another corporate portrait done in a similar style (and an alternative) to the last two I posted. For several reasons, we opted to shoot the portraits on a neutral color and composite them in Photoshop with the backgrounds in post production. While its not always the best way to handle it, there are several advantages. For example  a certain location may not be available because of weather or scheduling conflicts. And as you can see from the photos below you have way more flexibility and control over the final image.

Posted via email from Philip Nealey

Posted via email from Philip Nealey

Posted via email from Philip Nealey

I have recently been working on updating my portfolio of food photography. My focus while shooting stock photography over the past several years has been people and lifestyle, but really enjoy shooting food (I enjoy food in general), and have included it in my stock photography. For over eight years, I was business partners with a very well respected food photographer in Chicago. We worked closely with many great clients including McDonald’s. My main job was working with him doing retouching and digital imaging. Food photography is a collaborative process from the styling to the post-production, I learned a lot from him and while observing some of the best food stylists in the business at work. I am very exited to be working in this area again both behind the camera and the computer. So here’s a pancake shot for you.

FYI: The food in this shot is edible– sort-of. The pancakes are sprayed with a substance that stops the syrup from soaking into them so I didn’t eat them. It is also true that motor oil has been used (yum) as syrup because it evidently does not soak into the pancakes, but I have never seen it used personally. Currently the trend is toward more “natural” styling so some techniques are not in favor anymore. The use of Freon to freeze ice cream nice and solid is now frowned upon– for obvious reasons (this I have seen done). For this shot the syrup is made from colored corn syrup, which is what most “pancake syrup” is made with anyway — It’s just a bit thicker so it flows slower… and it’s real butter too.

Philip Nealey is an Omaha Nebraska based commercial Photographer and Photoshop expert specializing in food, people and lifestyle.

Posted via email from Philip Nealey

When I was setting up for the corporate portrait session from the last post, my little girl was in the studio and wanted to be my assistant. She was very diligent helping me set up, and used a couple of her stuffed animals for stand-ins, then came over to the camera and I let her take a few shots. She also modeled a bit for me (she is already an old pro).  I asked her to sit down one last time without her props, and she happily obliged. This shot was on the monitor in Adobe Lightroom when my client came in– he liked it so much he asked if he could use my “test” shot for a web site.

Posted via email from Philip Nealey