Timothy Hughes professional blog

Newspaper cover: Heartbreak Motels

2008-07-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

I recently photographed an interesting story for Isthmus which brought me to some rather dangerous motels at night. It was one of the most exciting assignments I have worked on and the story written by Nathan Comp is gritty and keen.

Milwaukee Fashion Week :: October 3-6

2008-07-09T17:55:00.000-07:00

A friend just wrote and sent me a link to a new website and event happening in October: Milwaukee Fashion Week. It looks like it has some promising events, runway shows and after parties. According to the site, Ford Models is the exclusive agency for the events. Milwaukee Fashion Week promoters are currently looking for midwest fashion designers, submission information can be found on the website. fashionbythelake.com

Fashion shoot with Hanna

2008-06-30T09:39:00.000-07:00

I was in Milwaukee over the weekend and worked with a great emerging model named Hanna. She did fantastic and I hope she visits my studio for another photo shoot soon.

Newspaper cover

2008-06-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

I shot a photo assignment back in May of the Epic Systems Verona Campus. It was a pretty amazing place and the newspaper issue came out this week with eight of my photos. Art director: Carolyn Fath.

Call for entries: Luerzers Archive Vol. 4-2008

2008-06-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Creative Team!
We are about to start production of the forthcoming issue of Luerzer's Archive, Vol.4-2008. As is the case with each new issue, we are keen to discover brand new print campaigns and TV commercials from around the world.

You want to be part of the selection process? Please upload your latest ads, TV and posters at our website luerzersarchive.com click on the link luerzersarchive.com/submissions and follow the process specifications.

To save time, and to avoid us having to bother you again, you are kindly requested to upload both credits and the high-res files.

DEADLINE for submissions: 25nd June 2008

If you require further information, please feel free to contact us.

Best wishes,

Luerzer's Archive

Lürzer´s Archive
Editorial Office
Keinergasse 29/22
1030 Vienna
AUSTRIA
phone +43-1-208 14 59
email: office@luerzersarchive.com

Assignment: Vegas wedding

2008-06-17T17:51:00.001-07:00

Prints from the wedding can be purchased from my Printroom account here.

Lake Delton Overflows its Banks

2008-06-10T14:53:00.000-07:00

Flash floods in southern Wisconsin caused Lake Delton to overflow its banks and nearly all the water drained into the nearby Wisconsin River. It was a sad site, but I hope they are able to refill the lake within a reasonable amount of time. Images can be licensed through my PhotoShelter account here.

Milwaukee Art Museum needs volunteers

2008-06-09T09:49:00.000-07:00

We need your help!!

Volunteer for Lakefront Festival of the Arts and receive:
A free MAM T-shirt
Admission to the Lakefront Festival of the Arts & Art Museum
(including our new Gilbert and George exhibition)
AND
An Individual Level Art Museum Membership (valued at $55)
so you can enjoy the Museum all year long!

Lakefront Festival of the Arts is the Museum’s biggest membership sales weekend, and we need fun, outgoing, and charismatic people to help sell memberships at the festival gates.
Last year we sold 370 memberships!

The membership sales process is very simple but does require attention to detail and enthusiasm.

Shifts are approximately 3 hours long, and you will be paired with another volunteer at all times.

Feel free to ask friends and family who may be interested as well!

Festival dates and times:
Friday, June 20th 12am-8pm
Saturday, June 21st 10am-7pm
Sunday, June 22nd 10am-5pm

If you are interested, please contact Membership Associate Kristin Nelson for more details
at (414)224-3254 or kristin.nelson@mam.org.
Thank you in advance for your consideration!

Portfolio shoot with KJ Lynn

2008-06-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

KJ and I did a shoot at my studio Friday. My friend Ken Udell assisted me. I'm pretty happy with the lighting and look on these.

Mad Rollin' Dolls vs. Mile High Club (Denver)

2008-06-01T21:54:00.000-07:00

Photos from May 31, 2008 bout. Used 3 strobes for lighting this time. The rest of the shots from the bout can be seen here.

Wisconsin State Capitol - May 28, 2008

2008-05-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

This Wisconsin State Capitol photograph is available for licensing here.

'50s style portraits of Jessica and Eden

2008-05-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Jessica wanted some vintage styled photos so we did a portrait session at a retro diner. It was a lot of fun and turned out really well.

American Photo announces Images of the Year Competition 2008

2008-05-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

The annual American PHOTO Images of the Year event is an international competition that is a definitive showcase of the very best of contemporary photography. This juried photo contest offers unmatched exposure to both established and emerging photographers in a wide range of fields, from documentary/photojournalism to cutting-edge commercial work and will provide an unprecedented opportunity for peer review of your work by professional photographers, museum curators, art critics and influential editors. Winners will be selected on the basis of originality and the overall quality of concept execution. http://iotycontest.com

Madison Skyline, May 22, 2008

2008-05-16T07:05:00.000-07:00

Image can be licensed through my PhotoShelter account here.

Equipment Journal: From CF card to final output

2008-05-07T12:33:00.000-07:00

• SanDisk Ultra II CompactFlash cards in 1 to 2 GB versions. I've found the read/write speed to be perfectly adequate for the work I do. When my friend and I shoot sports we use 8 or 16 GB Extreme IV cards which need a faster write speed while using a motor drive. Personally, I'd rather have my photos spread out on three or four cards rather than just one in case something happens to one of the cards (like an accidental erase, loss, or malfunction).

• Canon EOS 5D. I have serious admiration and respect for my D-SLR body. That fact that these are down to two grand amazes me. I have had work published with it using ISO 3200 and under. 3200 ISO with no visible grain on tabloid-sized newsprint, a feat absolutely not possible with film. I've owned the body for over two years and am still awed by some of the advanced technology that goes into these things. I would buy a backup 5D in a heartbeat if I felt I needed one.

I often scale images down 75% to deliver to clients, as that is a more practical size for most print needs (other than magazines or large prints). The EOS 5D and the Canon 1Ds Mark II were really the first digital SLRs released that meet and exceed the quality of 35mm film. The copy I have is dependable, lightweight, and has intuitive controls which can be switched rapidly. When my focus lock beeps and the shutter clicks, I know damn well that I got my shot.

My 5D has very few shortcomings, but a faster sync-speed (I've gotten between 1/120 and 1/200 depending on the rest of the chain) would be helpful in future models. I also tend to get a slight red shift in the color balance on skintones when converting from RAW to Adobe RGB color mode. I'm able to easily fix the issue in post, but I do consider it a minor annoyance. It very well could just be my copy's auto white balance is off. A larger, brighter lcd screen would be nice and I'm sure the 5D successor will be updated with such. A water resistant body would be extremely practical as well.

• 16-35mm f/2.8L. This is the wide angle glass I use use for architecture, landscape/travel, and large group photos. I'm happy with the copy I have although it can suffer from chromatic aberration and slight edge softness. It is also quite heavy which I consider a disadvantage. Others will call it an advantage due to excellent build-quality. I consider wide angle (and extreme telephoto) both sort of necessary evils. By nature I tend to dislike zoom lenses: they are relatively slow glass, clunky, and often times offer barrel/pincushion distortion at the focal-length extremes.

• Canon 35mm f/2.0 EF. This is my "crappiest" lens. Wide open it suffers from a multitude of minor optical problems on a full-frame sensor. Nevertheless I love the lens for reportage, band promo photos, group shots, exteriors and environmental portraits. This lens is super lightweight and has a nice low profile. I enjoy hiking with this one sometimes. The f/1.4 L version is a remarkable lens if you have the money.

• Canon 50mm f/1.4 EF. This is my baby, my workhorse. I don't shoot her below f/2.0, I don't ever really need to. From f/2.0 on this lens really shines. Fast focus lock, tack-sharp, bright viewfinder and good color clarity. I can hand hold this down to 1/60 sec. and still get a sharp image which is key in low-light venues. A very useful focal length, my 50 is often my walk-around lens. Not a good choice for copy work-suffers from barrel distortion.

• Canon 85mm f/1.8 EF. Excellent portrait lens. Razor sharp from edge-to-edge, beautiful bokeh, lightweight design, fast glass. For photographing people-this is the first lens I'll grab every time if I have enough working space. I prefer to shoot handheld as much as possible and wouldn't even attempt a full-day fashion shoot with a 70-200mm f/2.8. Since much of my location work is done in low-light venues, fast glass is absolutely necessary. Color saturation, image clarity and bokeh on the f/1.8 is not nearly as nice as the f/1.2L which happens to be one of Canon's finest lenses.

• Photo filters and fittings. I use circular polarizers outdoors quite a bit, they can really make a blue sky and clouds pop. My lens diameters range from 52mm to 77mm. I own a Hoya 58mm circular polarizing filter and a Hoya 77mm circ. polarizing filter and a B+W neutral density filter. I am relatively happy with the optics of the filters although if I had to do it over again I'd have gone with B+W slim mount, thin ring, multi-coated filters. They are expensive as hell, but aren't going to vignette your wide-angle photos. To affix my 58mm diameter filter to my 52mm diameter lens I use a step up ring which works perfectly.

On very rare occasions I use a rectangular Cokin P mount, 2-stop graduated neutral density filter and filter holder. It takes some time and patience to set up, but really keeps a landscapes dynamic range in check and perfectly darkens skies. The Photographer's Guide To Filters by Lee Frost is the best book I've found on the subject.

• Kenko three extension tube set. I ordered this kit for around 100 bucks from eBay from a respected seller in Hong Kong. There is no glass in extension tubes so optics are not affected. These work as they are supposed to for macro work.

• Opteka remote shutter release cord. I recently picked one of these up for $20 and I'm very happy with it so far. The connector shorted two weeks after purchase. Will not be ordering a new one.

• AlienBees AB1600 strobe. I have a bunch of these and use them with various modifiers: softbox, beauty dish, umbrellas, gels, bounced, etc. In a pinch I've used just the reflector dish and modeling light. I like my Bees but they are not perfect. Build quality is average, but it's well-documented that Buff has unparalleled customer service. Though I own one, I really can't recommend the Paul Buff softboxes, spend the extra money and go with Chimera or Photoflex. I do recommend the Paul Buff beauty dish, it works beautifully. I trigger my strobes with either 4-channel remote triggers or hardwired with the sync cord.

• DIY battery pack. On location I use a battery pack I constructed myself to power the strobes. I get nearly 400 flash bursts from one battery charge which suits me perfectly. Mine uses a 150W power inverter and I would increase that to a 300W inverter if I was building another one.

• Impact 10' air-cushioned heavy duty light stands. They work well with heavy softboxes and have a wide footprint for stability indoors or out. I've heard of the knobs breaking on them, but mine seem solid. For light-duty work I use a Smith Victor RS75 Raven stand which is compact and lightweight. I also use several Bogen Superclamps for mounting lights or gear to ceiling trussing, rails, or light stands.

• Canon SpeedLite 550EX flash. Dependable, works well as far as on-camera flashes go. I'm not crazy about using them as a primary light source unless I really have to. Tip: do not leave your AAs in the battery compartment of your flash during storage. Eventually the batteries will drain and leak acid all over your expensive flash. Sadly, I know this from personal experience. After I'm finished using my 550EX I simply remove the batteries and rubber band them together to keep them all in one place. Be sure to check out strobist for more useful flash/lighting information than one person can possibly consume in a lifetime.

• Lowel Tota-Light (750 W) and Paterson Interfit 1000w variable-powered quartz hotlights. Continuous lighting works great under certain circumstances. However, once the light is diffused (such as through an umbrella or bounced) it's very tough to get enough light on the model or sitter. Even with multiple hotlights you can expect to shoot at 400 ISO or worse. The Tota is very light/compact and works very well for simple location shoots. The umbrella mount on it only works with a rather small Lowel umbrella.

• Slik Able 340DX AMT tripod with 3-way quick release pan tilt head. There are plenty of tripods that are better than this one. However, for me, this tripod fits the bill perfectly. It's lightweight/compact (a recurring theme with my gear) and inexpensive. At times I wish it went taller and had a bubble level-but I'm willing to sacrifice those features for the fact that it's so damn toteable. It's made of an aluminum, magnesium, titanium alloy and weighs in at 3.5 lb. A Bogen with pistol grip weighs easily twice that-which adds up on a full day hike or multi-location shoot. For me, a tripod is just something to set my camera on and nothing more.

• Adobe Photoshop CS3. I've kept my machine up to date with software updates to both the OS and Adobe updates. Everything is running very smoothly now and I'm happy to be using the latest-generation software. No question about it; Photoshop is the ultimate in imaging/retouching software. All of the controls in Camera RAW mode are a godsend. The healing brush tools are extremely useful for digital photography.

• Apple G5 tower dual 1.8 gHz, 2.5 GB RAM. A very solid, stable machine. Retouching 13 megapixel, 16 bit images is not a problem and most operations happen in realtime. I use various external hard drives ranging from 80GB to 400GB that are USB 2.0 or FireWire based. I use Time Machine software (free with the OS) to back up my system, but manage/back up my "Photos" folder by hand.

• Dell 2005FPW UltraSharp 20" LCD monitor. I love this thing. It's got a very consistent, profiled color and is extremely vivid and sharp. I can't see myself needing a monitor over 22" ever.

• Epson Photo R1800 printer. I have a love/hate relationship with my R1800. When it has full tanks of ink (eight), and I have the right paper on hand, and I need a print quickly–I'm happy to have it around. Drawbacks: the thing is constantly out of one or two cartridges of pigment. The tank capacity is not nearly large enough. Replacement ink is over 100 bucks and I don't even want to know what the cost basis is per print. If I'm out of yellow pigment the drivers won't allow me to print a text document in b/w because of the company's faithful commitment to the consumer. Black and white prints on the R1800 pretty much suck so I typically just print them sepia toned which works well. My printer occasionally suffers from some unwanted color casts (which need to be corrected in post). Needless to say, I still do much of my printing for clients at the photo lab.

In summary, I like my equipment reliable, affordable, lightweight, and durable. I don't beat on my gear which is one reason I don't need heavy-duty stuff. I generally like to use natural light or minimal lighting setups with 1-3 lights.

I prefer using prime glass and I know my gear extremely well. I read my camera manual from cover to cover. When it's time to shoot I make a conscious decision on the spot as to focal length, filter selection, lighting, ISO, aperture, shutter speed and focus point. Once the technical decisions are made, then it's time to compose the photo and capture "the decisive moment" as Henri Cartier-Bresson put it.

Portraits for Chad

2008-05-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

I met up with Chad on Monday at the studio where we discussed some places to shoot and he decided on what to wear. These images were all taken within walking distance of the studio and I think there are some fantastic locations in the area. Chad commission me to shoot some updated, editorial-style photos for personal networking sites like myspace and facebook. We worked for two hours and I'll be delivering 100 tack-sharp, web-optimized photos to him on CD.

Assignment: Fashion Week runway photos

2008-04-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

Madison Fashion Week was a fantastic production last night. Everyone really worked together to create an impressive runway show. I was lucky enough to shoot the event for the promotor and the images turned out nicely. The entire set is online at here

Print portfolio information for aspiring models

2008-04-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

The standard print portfolio size for modeling is 9"x12". When setting up shoots with photographers remember to request 9"x12" high-resolution RGB .jpg files on CD for your book! If you don't ask specifically for that size and resolution you will not likely get images you can use for your print portfolio.

9"x12" prints are available online from Adoramapix. [link] The price is $2.99 per print and shipping is $5 regardless of how many you buy. It's easiest and cheapest to place a big order all at once since you can just upload everything in one sitting and pay for shipping once. Prints should arrive to your door in around seven days so order prints well in advance of your interviews. I can also create archival inkjet prints for your book with my Epson R1800 at the rate of $10 each.

The industry-standard portfolio is the Scuba available for $45 (phone them for shipping prices). [link] Ten pages should be enough, as each page is double-sided and can hold two prints. Itoya makes a budget portfolio for around $10. It's available from the University Bookstore or from Masco Art Supplies both in downtown Madison. If you're even considering visiting agencies in a major city, get the Scuba. One of the best articles written on the subject of creating your book is by Dan Hood on the ModelMayhem forums. [link] Dan gives excellent insight as to which shots to keep in your book and which shots to avoid.

Newmodels.com is also a great resource for information on the industry. [link] The site owner is a respected industry insider named Roger Talley who penned an informative book on the subject titled The Professional's Guide to Modeling.

Call for entries: IPA Lucie Awards

2008-04-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Call for Entries - Pilsner Urquell International Photography Awards 2008! Will You Be the Next Photographer of the Year?

Join the ranks of Massimo Mastrorillo, Gerd Ludwig, Jim Fiscus, Timothy White and Chris Frazer Smith and be crowned The International Photographer of the Year 2008. And for you non-professional shutterbugs, think about your career launching as the Discovery of the Year 2008. Aside from cash and cool prizes, winning translates into an incredible amount of exposure, especially if you accept the Lucie Award statue during our gala affair attended by some of the most important decision makers in photography.

Visit www.photoawards.com to get started...

Madison Fashion Week: April 23-25

2008-04-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be one of the house photographers at the runway show at Madison Avenue on Saturday the 26th. Hope to see some of you there! Here is the schedule of events.

Wednesday, April 23
5:30-6:30 pm PANEL DISCUSSION: Careers in Fashion: Cardinal Bar, 418 E. Wilson St.

Thursday, April 24
6 pm WORKSHOP: Model Boot Camp: Johnny O’s, 620 University Ave.

Friday, April 25
6 pm WORKSHOP: Runway Ready Hair: Headlines Salon, 6803 University Ave.
8 pm SHOW: Bond Night – Martini’s & Menswear: Majestic Theater, 115 King St.
9 pm PARTY: Fashion Fridays: Cardinal Bar, 418 E. Wilson St.

Saturday, April 26
1 pm SHOW: Bubbly & Baubles Accessories Show: Crave Restaurant & Lounge, 201 W. Gorham St.
3 pm WORKSHOP: Celebrity Styling: Crave Restaurant & Lounge, 201 W. Gorham St.
9 pm SHOW: Womenswear Runway w/ Menswear Spotlight: Madison Avenue Nightclub, 624 University Ave.
11pm PARTY: Upgrade Saturdays: Madison Avenue Nightclub, 624 University Ave.
12 pm AWARDS: Model Competition Winners Announced: Madison Avenue Nightclub, 624 University Ave.

Web: www.madisonfashionweek.com

D-SLR camera body reviews

2008-04-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

It’s important to think of the D-SLR kit as a system. The photos are only going to be as good as the lens and body permit. If you go buy a Canon Rebel, I personally do not recommend the kit lens. It is a $100 lens and you get what you pay for. Just budget for the camera and lens/es when choosing your system. For purposes of this review, I will be reviewing the camera body primarily. You’ll need to decide what lens will suit your own shooting style. I recommend glass that is f/2.8 or better. Yes, it’s expensive. But, there are deals to be found and a good, fast lens is key.

Do not buy into the megapixel race. It is far from the most important factor when buying a camera. Retailers would have you believe it is. Generally, the more pixels you cram into a small sensor the more noise you get. So an 8 or 10 megapixel sensor on a compact camera is overkill.

The Lumix, Sony and Pentax have shake-reduction technology built into the bodies. This is very useful, but those lenses for those camera are not as fast as I like. Canon and Nikon make lenses with stabilization.

Model: Canon EOS 5D (body only)
Price: $2100
Megapixels: 12.8
Lens: n/a
Lens mount: Canon EF
Crop factor: none
Notes: This is the camera I use and love. It uses a full-frame sensor which is the same size as a 35mm film negative. There is no crop factor, but you need to use high-quality lenses since the edge of the frame can get soft [focus] or darkened (vignetting). The wide ISO range goes from 50-3200. I have shot images at 3200 ISO that have been published and have an acceptable amount of noise. I’m sure the successor to this will be coming out soon and should be considered.

Model: Nikon D80
Price: around $720 (body only)
Megapixels: 10.2
Lens: n/a
Lens mount: Nikkor
Crop factor: 1.5x
Notes: This is a very nice camera body. Nikon also makes excellent glass so you’ll have a wide-array of lenses to choose from. The kit lens Nikon includes with the package is pretty good from what I hear.

Model: Canon Rebel XTi (EOS 400D)
Price: around $500 (body only)
Megapixels: 10.1
Lens: n/a
Mount: Canon EF
Crop factor: 1.6x
Notes: 10 megapixels is more than most people probably need. It takes a fast computer to work on the files in Photoshop. Nevertheless, it’s a great bargain and there are a ton of great Canon lenses to chose from. The kit lens is not worthy in my opinion. Go for either a high-quality zoom or a few fast prime (fixed focal-length) lenses. It’s old school, but that’s how I like to shoot whenever possible. The Canon 50mm lenses work fantastic (particularly on the 1.6x bodies for portraits).

Model: Pentax K20D
Price: around $1100 body only
Megapixels: 14.6
Lens mount: Pentax K-mount
Crop factor: 1.5x
Notes: shake reduction (built into the body), weather resistant body, dust removal system.

Model: Leica M8 (body only)
Price: $5500
Megapixels: 10.3
Lens mount: Leica M
Crop factor: 1.33x
Notes: This is a beautiful, compact machine. It’s not a D-SLR at all, but is actually a digital rangefinder. This style camera is much more difficult to use than a D-SLR and is for specialized usage, by photographers with discriminating taste. I have a technolust for this camera. High ISO not as good as some of its competitors. A fast 50mm lens is going to set you back at least $3200 and a 35mm f/1.4 $3900 but trust me, you'll want both.

Model: Nikon D300 DX
Price: $1300 (body only)
Megapixels: 12.3
Lens: n/a
Lens mount: Nikkor
Crop factor: 1.5
Notes: Magnesium alloy body, professional feature set. Very solid construction for the price. Self-cleaning sensor.

Model: Pentax K10D
Price: $775 body only
Megapixels: 10
Kit Lens: 18-55mm
Lens mount: Pentax K-mount
Crop factor: 1.5x
Notes: shake reduction, weather resistant body.

Model: Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 (body only)
Price: $570
Megapixels: 10
Lens mount: Sony Alpha, Minolta A-type
Crop factor: 1.5x
Notes: shake reduction, availability of Zeiss 24-120mm zoom

Dairyland Dolls team photo

2008-04-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I snapped a few team pics for the Dairyland Dolls who are the league's traveling team. One 640 w/s strobe on full power through large softbox. Canon 5D body with 16-35mm lens at f/9.0.

An older shot.

2008-04-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

Some photos are just waiting to be taken. This is one of those times at the Inferno NIghtclub. I set my point-and-shoot on the counter and snapped this one in 2005. The vignetting and reflections were naturally occurring without the use of Photoshop. Since I could set the camera down I was able to use ISO 50 or 100 (my camera didn't record it in the EXIF data??).

Updated site...

2008-04-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

Well it took me long enough. Just about a year for me to design my site like it should have been in the first place-with four photo sections. I won't go into the boring details about learning Flash and getting the thing functional, but it's a huge learning-curve and major pain in the neck.

Here's an image that nearly made it into the slideshow. Heck, it still might someday. It's Jenny Knoxville (on the left) jamming against a Minnesota Roller Girl up at the Roy Wilkinson Auditorium in Minneapolis. More of my Mad Rolllin' Dolls photos can be found on my Flicker Set.