Lack of updates and Helicopter Girls

IMG_3509comiccover, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

At this point, I don't know if anyone is actually reading this blog. For the one or two of you that do, I apologize for the lack up updates. With Headless Critic Films gearing up for production on Y-Me, The Punk War, and NOSTALGIA, my life has been busy.
The big news is that my Helicopter Girls shoot is going great. I have received 22 applicants, cleared the use of the helicopter, and talked with Breelaun about the evening wear. Now all I have to do is pick the models who will make my dream come true. As an added bonus, I will get to integrate the Vogue Military Issue designs into this shoot.
This morning, I wanted to stretch my old artistic muscle, and came up with four comic book covers. You can see them all on my flickr page.
Have a four day weekend next week, and that is when I get to pick the models!

Danielle Pt 2

IMG_1259, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

More photos of Danielle from the shoot with www.tonned.com.
I have a feeling this is the start of a wonderful photographer/model relationship. I have said many times, she was a pleasure to work with, and she has some great ideas for the next couple of shoots!
On the tech side, I wanted to get a dynamic workout feel from the shoot. I waited until she had been "working out" for about 30 minutes, then I lied down and shot.
I have more photos of Danielle in her set on my flickr page.

Art vs Reality Pt 1

IMG_5931, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

Which is better, art vs reality.
As I have mentioned on this blog before, not every picture looks good, even if you have everything going for you. With photoediting, you can change a photo into something better.
In this case, I was unhappy with the lighting, and wanted to change it. My daughter said the pictures were fine as is.

So, where do you draw the line? Is there a point where you edit too much and it looks as you are trying to cover your deficiencies? Or, is the start reality make it edgy enough?

Art vs Reality Pt 2

IMG_5931, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

So, this is the question. Does this photo look better or worse this way?

Bad photos into good photos.

danielle2, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

There are bad photos. Lack of adequate lighting, bad equipment, poor framing, funny faces from the model, all can contribute to lackluster photos. Some are so bad, you are embarrassed to show them even in private.

Then came computer aided photo editing, and the world changed.

Bad photos can suddenly become good photos.

This photo, and a few others, were not the best. The lighting was poor and I was using someone else camera. However, I got inspired late one night, tried a few new techniques. Then voila! I turned photos I was embarrassed to post into ones I am proud of.

Thank god Danielle is a great subject.
You can see this and more edited photos at my flickr page!

Inspired: Megan Fox Photos by Craig Mcdean

Photography Craig Mcdean for Interview Magazine

While checking my mail this morning, I found a series of photos featuring Megan Fox in a short
black wig for a fantastic photo shoot. They got a anatomically featured mannequin with the same hairstyle, and had Megan Fox pose in a series of interesting, and seductive, photos.
Needless to say, what he has done is so simple, but so cool at the same time. At some point I will do a shoot like this.
Check out the shoot, and the video at Interview Magazine.
However, I have two other dream shoots coming up, Helicopter Girls and the Military Issue inspired photos from Vogue (see previous blog entry). Neat thing is, I get to combine the both of them into one shoot!

Danielle Video Introduction

DIGI0017, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

As promised, more pictures of the lovely Danielle. In addition, an intro video with her and the man that found her, Breelaun.
So with out further ado, Danielle.
You can see more of her pictures in her photo set on the DVJ Photo flickr page.

Hyperarm and other artwork

IMG_5328comic, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

Taking a series of bad photos and trying to make them into something cool can be a challenge. While this series of D's photos are popular (girl in a bikini photo never goes wrong), I did not like the lighting and the location of these photos, so I tried a few things, and this is just one of the results.
Combine this with my love of comics, and we have the cover of a somewhat decent comic idea. Or an online comic with lots of photo edits!
You can see this and other artwork on my flickr page!

New Model: Danielle

IMG_1185edit, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

Today, I got a chance to work with another brand new model.
This is Danielle.
She was born in Singapore, but raised here in Maryland. She is very physically fit (as you will see later on), and has a natural beauty and poise that made things real easy. She was discovered by Breelaun, a model, personal trainer, and clothing designer I met through Model Mayhem (# 320532).
I can't wait to work with her and Breelaun again.
I only have a few promotional pictures on my flickr page. I hope to have more of her up by the end of the week.

The Benefits of a Smile

summer 081, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

In many of the pictures you see, be they on flickr or Vogue, it may seem as if hardly any model smiles. Whether they don't want to smile, are instructed not to smile, or you are supposed to smile with your eyes, tight lips are the order of the day.
My photographs are no different. Majority of the shots you will see on flickr will be serious or irritated.
However, Ann (my cohort and companion for 17 years) says that you need smiles to keep the photos from blurring together.
With Summer, as this was her first "official" shoot, we needed her to relax. What you don't see is that CZ is behind her, making her giggle and helping her relax. Her antics brought fourth this beaming smile for all to enjoy.
As I continue to progress, I hope you will see more grins, and it encourages others to smile for the camera.

You can see more Summer picks in her flickr set.

Funky 80s Pop Art

IMG_7104art, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

I love pop art from the 80's. Everything from Nagel to Warhol redux, the 80's gave us pastels, funky lighting, bizarre costumes, and some of the most indelible statements of the "FU" decade.
Here is my contribution. From a good photo of M, and some accidental editing, I created something that would be right at home at Sam Goody.
To see M's photo gallery, visit my flickr page.

Beauty and Art

IMG_5817art2, originally uploaded by DVJ Photo.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So is art. When you combine the two together, magic can happen.
New to MAGIX products, I spend an hour or so trying out new techniques and features on the photo editor. Some work really well, and some come out like crap. The crap ones go away, but I keep the cool ones. From there, I try to re-create what I have done with similar photos. In this case, I was successful.
So, please enjoy the combination of beauty and art in these photo-edited shots.
You can see more, and learn what functions I used on these photos on my Flickr Page.