Scale Models Photography - X-Rite Color Checker

Yukikaze, 1:700
43mm, 1s, f/16, ISO100

Slightly different topic from my usual landscapes and concert photos this time. I mentioned the other day that my trip to Poland was a combination of different objectives. One of them was Polish Scale Ship Modellers' Convention in Tczew.

Being modeller myself and a photographer at the same time I had to take a chance to shoot some good quality pictures of some of the models exhibited. I actually waited till exhibition was over and had a session in  a... kitchen.

Using just one fluorescent light covered with white A4 sheet of paper to diffuse light . As a background I used relatively large piece of white backside of wall calendar. The setup could not be simpler. Light source was positioned around 30 cm above of the model.

Gdynia, Baltic Sea Behind The Scene Snaps, Cont'd

Dębki Beach, Poland

Following up with the post from yesterday featuring Baltic Sea shots, I have received pictures of myself from Basia Kramczyńska from Gdynia, Poland, who snapped me on few occasions while I was fiddling with the camera.

All pictures (except two) in this post - courtesy of Basia Kramczyńska.

Even those few shots show that I love low angle and vertical framing. 16mm on full frame in vertical mode and shot from very low level produce really nice pictures.

Few Days by the Sea in Poland

Dębki Beach, Poland
16mm, 2.5s, f16, ISO 50

Lots of kilometres last longer weekend. Just came back from Polish seaside having on the clock over 2'500 new kilometres. Took me one day longer as I had small issue with the car and had to service it before hitting the road back to Vienna.

Nothing major, but could be very major if not fixed on time. 

I attended Polish Scale Ship Modellers’ Forum Convention in Tczew, about 30 km south of Gdansk. Being there I had to take the opportunity to take some shots by the sea. Especially being land locked all the time here in Vienna.

Dębki Beach, Poland
27mm, 4s, f16, ISO 50

Unfortunately I have not had much time to move around but tried to make the best from what I could. On Saturday afternoon we went all the way to the north to hit open sea - to Dębki to shoot sunset. For the following day we planned sunrise in Gdynia and trip to Hel peninsula. So the plan was tight. Distances are not dramatically big but when I saw what was happening on the roads I knew I would not be able to do very much. It is middle of the holiday season and tourists with their cars simply flood everything and everywhere.

Aha, I forgot to mention, I travelled with my friend’s sister and her friend who both have lived in Gdynia for years and knew the places and are very keen on photography. I very much appreciated their help and tried to show them some of my tips and tricks in return.

Coming back to day 1, that is Dębki beach (coordinates 54.833486, 18.062457).

Shooting Panoramas

I have recently watched video tutorial by Gavin Hoey about shooting panoramas and thought I would give them a try. Up to now I was not really into panoramas, sort of left them for later. He made it look so easy, and now having been inspired by Gavin I headed towards Vienna city centre, its old town and started to shoot...

Vienna Hofburg Panorama stitched from 7 vertical images

You need extremely wide and interesting building or structure. What could be better than Hofburg and Parliament, perhaps Schönbrunn but I will shoot it the other day...
I was after specific oval distorted effect to bring some extra visual impact. I stood in front of the central point of the structure and looked from left to right. It was supposed to be almost 180 degrees panorama. You need series of images that overlap by at least 30%. More overlapping areas will help to generate better and smoother panorama.

7 vertical images used for panorama

Elvis Lives!

Elvis (Chris Kaye)
1/160s, f/2.8, ISO 3200, 50mm

Elvis' You Were Always on Mind performed by Chris Kaye at the end of the show simply blew me away, knocked me down, I almost shivered. I was standing by the stage with my camera ready but for first few moments I simply could not shoot... mentally. I simply wanted to listen and enjoy the atmosphere. The sound, the voice... Elvis was there and singing! Stunning moment.

I was invited to to shot The Elvis Show and the Blue Moon Band & Countryside Singers in Gerasdorf by Vienna. Definitely something different for my metal roots but on the other hand when you hear Elvis' songs all of a sudden you realize that you know them all, you must have heard them here an there for ages.
I can simply say Elvis lives!
Absolutely awesome event and can recommend any future shows like that. I think next one should take place in October or November. I hope I will be invited again :)

Electric Wizard LIVE @ ((Szene))

((Szene)) from above
1/30s, f/2.8, ISO 6400

Last night I photographed for Catapult Promotions Electric Wizard gig at Vienna ((Szene)). English band formed in 1993 in Dorset. They were supported by Kadvar (Germany) and Iron Heel from Vienna. Electric Wizard are often referred to as the "heaviest band in the universe". I really enjoyed the show. Decent heavy rhythmic music took me back all the way to 70s. The way musicians were dressed with their bottom wide long jeans and shoes intensified the past feeling. It was like trip back to the past. Great show shortly speaking.

Photography wise, very tough. Guys apparently wanted to keep the mood quite dark to match their music. I had to adjust to the conditions with very little light and almost all the time backlit shots. On the positive side last night I had full stage access which allowed me to look for different angles and I wanted to make the most of it.

JBModel.eu Site Upgrade

K.u.K Huszar Class JBModel Set
Built by Katarzyna Manikowska

Heavy day(s).
Since I had no chance to go out and shoot, let me share few pictures of JBModel models and give some background.

I spent basically the whole day yesterday and working today updating, upgrading customizing my web shop - JBModel.eu. Shop installation is peanuts but when it comes to customization it is a nightmare.
Then when I thought all is fine I realized payment module does not work properly. After tons of cigarettes I found the root cause - firewall was blocking cURL communication. Now all is fine, I hope at least. Orders start to arrive through new interface and hope they keep coming :) Thank you my dear modeller friends!

SMS Planet. JBModel Set
Built by Jim Baumann

I have also initiated major restock as after summer holidays, they are half way through, modellers' world be quite active again.
We (me and few friends) are working on new sets that should be available for autumn period which should be quite busy.
Starting from October JBModel will attend Scale Model Challenge in Eindhoven, Holland. Then 2 two weeks later C4-Open, Malmo, Sweden and again 2 weeks later - Scale Model World in Telford, UK. Lots of driving to a location, return trip, fast restock and hit the road to new location. Might as well happen we will attend some other modelling events in between. Perhaps even in September. I got some hints about Fields of Glory (polish - Pola Chwały) event in Niepołomice, Poland. Typically such events are full of modellers and history enthusiasts. It can be fantastic photography opportunity just as well. So two in one :-)

Moon Chasing and Infrared

Setting Moon Over Schneeberg
400mm, 1/2s, f/11, ISO 100 

Today we had full moon.
On top of that moon set and sunrise occurred almost at the same time. If you check it upfront, it is great photo opportunity. However I was not very lucky today. Starting with the weather, it was good, way too good! No single clouds, absolutely clear sky around full horizon. When I drugged myself out of bed at 3 a.m. and looked through the window and saw fantastically bright moon and the sky... well, I knew it would not be my great photo day. In such cases we have to try the best from what we get. Few days before I planned to get to Hohe Wand, 50 km south of Vienna. There is one spot with panorama tower where you have good 360 degrees view. Moon was setting just above Schneeberg tops. 4-5 minutes later sun was supposed to rise in exactly opposite direction. I needed full panorama view.

I Crossed My Rubicon

Yesterday I crossed my Rubicon.
There is no way back now, passed point of no return.
I had to say good bye to many long time office friends.
From today August 1st, 2012 I am fully on the other side - better or worse(?)...
and 200% committed to my businesses - Jerzy Bin Photography and JBModel.eu - scale modelling shop and now also starting my own models production under my brand.

20+ years working with companies and 16 years in one corporation across many countries taught me a lot and made me think a lot about the future and where I wanted to be. Especially last 1-2 years. Some like this type of work some prefer freedom. Over centuries people fought for freedom, actually even today as we see, not knowing what is really in front of them.
I feel something similar, I know I have to do it but I also do not know how it is going to end. But I strongly believe I will succeed.
It is like Marty McFly and then his father kept saying: If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything! I believe in it.