Ken “Skindog” Collins at the “Hook” near Santa Cruz

Jeff Flindt– Senior Staff Photog for Surfing Magazine, sent me an email last Thursday that he was here is Santa Cruz to get the south swell that was coming in–and indeed he did as you can see here.  BTW the guys on these waves are big wave legends. I talked to Jeff a couple of times a over the weekend,  just between shoots–he is totally dedicated to getting the shots and works for it. “Gotta go get in the water!” As he hung up and grabbed his gear to get these shots. Also of note when he called he was at Ano Nuevo near a seal breading area and  a favorite snacking spot for the Great White sharks. Yes Jeff is dedicated to his craft!

To get more insight in his approach,  be sure to check out my show with Jeff here. 

Jason “Ratboy” Collins at the “Hook” near Santa Cruz

Ps: Managed to get out yesterday to catch passel of waves with my son Ian–we were both stoked to surf into the late afternoon, that’s what it’s all about…

 Click to Watch

We had a wonderful time visiting Bambi Cantrell at her studio in Benicia last week. Winding our way through the sleepy artist town on the edge of the San Francisco Bay, we came upon her studio in a converted 19th century armory. Bambi greeted us with a smile and gave us a tour; I was immediately struck by her warm and welcoming personality and by this perfect environment for photography—immense ceilings, windows opening to the bay, tons of light and life.

Bambi is a total pro and when we were rolling she gave direct, spot on and immediately usable tips: How she identifies the key light in a room using her hand. How she puts her subjects at ease with her easy and playful approach. Her of course, anti-nerd reminder, “You have to know and f-stop from a bus stop but at the end of the day, cameras don’t take pictures, people do. At the end of the day, expression beats perfection”

Click to tune in and catch her great tips. Here’s a small sample of what you’ll see:

We’ll be shooting an episode covering fashion photography, a fascinating world, and one quite different than those we’ve covered to date.

RC Rivera has an intriguing portfolio and sent me a sample of his work with note about his lighting:

“Katherine”

“When I was starting out I thought the more complex the lighting, the better the shot. Now I think that getting a great photo using the most simple setup is actually more difficult but also more rewarding.  This model was shot in my studio with using just one soft box. Shooting from just below eye level is great for beauty shots, but too low can be very unflattering. Katherine was a great sport—my studio was unheated and it was in the middle of the winter. You can tell she’s a professional because she doesn’t even look chilly.”

We’ll be picking his brains, how he approaches a shoot, other lighting tips, etc. Let me know your questions and a may include them if you stay on the right track, guys Stay tuned for this episode coming your way on MSPS soon.