Tag: photography

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Fashion Technology

My Paris Partner

I knew I had a noticeable camera for covering Paris Fashion Week Couture when the hotel staff told me to be careful walking around the city with a camera like this. The warning: Do not let that camera out of your sight. I took it to heart. The funny matter of the situation. At many events i got asked, “Are you a photographer?” I could have been in the photographers pit. I gained respect over my other colleagues carrying an iPhone. There is still credibility having a DSLR.  

Felt good on my shoulder 

The Canon EOS 750D feels and looks like a good professional camera at an entry level point.  I managed to get some fast shots sitting front row. At 6fps combined with 24.2 pixels, I did not worry. 

  • Perfect in a Low Light Setting
  • I got the pics

The Auto Focus was reliable. I used the control dial a bit depending on the lighting situation  never sure whether to use the screen or view finder for a shot. I noticed I got better shots with using the viewfinder. The common critical thread about the viewfinder for this model is the viewfinder only covers 95%, not 100%. It means the user has to be careful when framing a shot or prepare for a surprise reviewing the images later.

Simple TouchScreen 

  • Paris
  • Canon EOS 750D

The simple to use touchscreen  flips making it easy for me to use the HD video feature. I produce walking video commentaries on the streets of the French Capital while dashing to a show. I mix producing both videos and  pictures but need something light to carry around on the run.  If the quality is good enough for streaming online immediately, I am happy.  The 750D matched those needs. 

  • A runway shot
  • Fashion Designers

I did not use the WiFi Connection for my tablet. There is a Canon app for controlling the camera remotely.

As a creative device The EOS 750D has good merit. There is no need to spend an arm and leg to go to the next level. There are enough goodies to stay in the content production game. 

Please forgive me.  I made this video in August. 

Categories
Feature

Here We Come Gorgeous

Excitement is in the air.  Or should we say on a lake. The next Black and Paper fashion production will take place in Northern Italy, at Lake Garda. Preparing the details, the team cannot help but feel excited.   A location of spectacular scenery that inspires  our imagination.  

Lake Garda 

The collaboration born from a discussion at the ITB Berlin.   We said “Yes” after the first 2 minutes of chatting.

Categories
Technology

A review of the SX 740 HS Powershot

I used the Canon Powershot SX 740 HS camera during Pitti Uomo in Florence and in Milan for Menswear Week.  I found it hand and practical for my needs because the best feature was I could slip it into my pocket on the run.  There are many other features to this solid point and shoot including, a zoom lens and top video recording quality.  It is made for being on the go.

I am not a photographer.  I appreciate their work.  It is an art form and skill set I value.   

Stay Tuned, I will have more after Milan Fashion Week.

Categories
Technology

Small but GREAT

A Good Camera 

As a person who is not a photographer but I take pictures at many events like fashion weeks, film festivals, and trade shows. I attended Pitti Uomo and Milan Fashion Week Men recently. Two events where I needed to make a lot of images and videos.

I wanted an SLR camera with many capabilities: external mic, able to shoot in all lighting conditions. Imagine my surprise seeing a point and shoot in the mail.

For YouTube

I got the SX740 HS point and shoot from Canon for a test. At first I was not sure if the camera would fit my needs. I wanted to send it back. To my surprise, the little image maker device worked well, easy to use, and convenient. 4K video feature is excellent, fantastic picture quality. I would say any YouTubber content producer would be happy to have this as their main production camera. It captures details. The flip 3.0” LCD screen is good for selfie lovers. I placed the camera on a tripod, then flipped up the screen for one man production.

The sound quality was my biggest concern because of the loud background noises. Normally I use an external microphone during interviews and commentaries. I made my first video commentary from Pitti Uomo using the Canon SX740 HS The sound quality was fine, good for YouTube and other social media channels.

I liked the portable aspect of the camera. I just popped the camera in and out of my jacket pocket at a moments notice. As I said, I am far from a professional photographer. My strategy for taking pictures, point a shoot, hope I get the right light and composition. I was not afraid to play with the camera control dial. I switched form one setting to another, experimenting with speed and opening.

Shooting in close quarter, I did not use the 40x optical zoom but not as much as I would have liked. I shot a few model on the runway pics without problems.

I did not use the built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth features that enable connection to mobile devices. I do not carry a smartphone.

Overall 

Canon has built a powerful camera in a small package. I am not just saying that. Check out other reviews as well.

Categories
Technology

Filmmaker Ambition

Sorry about the background noise.  If you need more information go to the second video.

Overview.

Specs 

In this video I offer a few tech specs on the GH5.

 

Categories
Feature Interview Travel

L’Homme Couture 2

Part 2 of the Black and Paper interview with photographer Brice Hardelin on his exhibition L’Homme Couture: A Photographic Odyssey. 

Brice and I had a good time talking about his work over a glass of white wine. His career is going forward in many directions. He had just completed a well received  male firemen calendar. He gave me a tour of his collection displayed on the wall of the hotel before continuing our interview.

How did the W Hotel in Paris become involved in this project?

My agent called to ask if I wanted to be a part of Paris Artist. It is an association of 150 artists in the city.   The Paris Artist asked if I wanted to exhibit at the hotel.  I organized a meeting. I liked the style of the W.  It is young, dynamic.  When the association asked the hotel who they wanted, the team chose me.  I know my pictures are provocative but the W Hotel was supportive of my work. There was no censorship.

What do you think of the artistic state of the world?

There are lots of things.  It is too Politically Correct.   It is more and more commercial and boring.  .  If you look at the big fashion magazines there are only places for big names and ads.  There is no space for new people. And for the big brands would stay away from images like these on the wall in front of you.  For them it is going too far. For me it is not far enough.

Is there a lack of freedom?

No! None! There is no freedom at all because they want the same pictures for their clients.  I have nothing against it because they have beautiful products but when you are a person with a different vision who likes to mix things like an African Mask with a Cartier Necklace no magazine  would publish it.

What do you think Instagram Photographers who are no considered professionals? 

I understand the platform but I have a problem with the business they are doing because they are making people think they are famous.   For me they are holiday, vacation pictures.  It is nothing! (Laughing)  It is reality television. On Instagram everyone wants to know what you are doing for lunch but no one really cares.  A person sitting on the toilet then the viewer goes to another image of another person sitting on the toilet! MEANINGLESS!   What is the purpose of having 50.000 followers and none of them can buy the product!   I use it of course like everyone else.

I am an old fashion photographer. I like prints Internet in a way is the death of photography.  I  No one wants real pictures.  They want one picture after another, quantity over quality.

What is your next project?

The exhibition runs until January. I have an exhibition in Belgium, then, I am looking for an editor for a book of my work.  I have editorials but I am thinking about a shoot in Africa.

L’Homme Couture is on display at the W Hotel  Paris until January 3rd 2018.

Categories
Fashion Feature

L’Homme Couture in Paris

Part 1 of The Black and Paper  interview with photographer Brice Hardelin at the W Hotel Paris.

What is the L’Homme Couture Exhibition?

The ideal started with an editorial I did 4 years ago men with women’s accessories and jewelry.  I was approached to an editorial for Mellerio, the oldest jewelry house in Paris.  The brand was celebrating its 400th anniversary.  I had this idea to take a picture of a girl and a guy in their jewelry.  They were a bit of surprised because the jewels are normally worn by a woman.  The results were fantastic.  I liked the images a lot so I decided to continue the story.  That is what inspired my exhibition L’Homme Couture.

Is this a gender free exhibition?

We should be beyond labels.  If you think about fashion history, men were extravagant.  During the Greek and Roman empires, the Renaissance, and the 17th century men wore jewelry and make up.   Now everyone wears suits and sports clothes.  It is boring!  I am a fashion photographer.  Except some details, it is all the same.  I wanted to show something different, something to make people react.   There is no label on this.  I am a man born in the 1980’s.  There were all these pop groups from David Bowie and Duran Duran who wore make up and stylish clothes.  Suddenly in the 21st century, all is conservative.

What attracts you to the male form?

I like muscled guys but thin.  Fashion models are quite long.  I was fashion photographer for women at first.  When I came back from living in Montreal for a time, an agency contacted me to shoot a girl and guy for a test.  The agent liked the images of the guys.  After that I was getting booked to shoot male models.  Other agencies in the city started sending me only male models.  I was boxed into the reputation of working well with men.  I have been doing it for 10 years.  I do editorials with female models but with men time is not constrained.  I can shoot fast and explore other elements.  With female models there is more time needed to set ups on the hair and make-up.

What style of photographer are you?

Portraitist first then I am a fashion photographer.  For me the person is more important than the clothes.  I like character and attitude in front of  the camera.

L’Homme Couture is on display at the W Hotel Paris until January 3, 2018.

Part 2 of the Brice Hardelin interview will be online soon.

For more information go:Brice Hardelin

Categories
Editor Fashion

Brice Hardelin at W Hotel Paris

https://www.facebook.com/1544948045/videos/10213792997769548/

Read the Black and Paper exclusive interview Coming soon.

Categories
Fashion Feature Travel

Brice in Paris L’Homme Couture

The W Hotel Paris Opera is having an exhibition from Parisian photographer Brice Hardelin titled L’Homme Couture.

Black and Paper got an interview and tour of the collection.  The interview is coming soon.

 

Categories
Fashion Technology

Hasselblad Review

hasselbladHasselblad X1D Review

How did you start as a photographer?

I became a photographer by chance.  I was studying International Relations in Paris, then panning to go to London to study law but as fate would have it I had a good friend who was a photographer.  I began assisting him then fell in love with the camera and photography.  That is how I started my career.

What camera do you normally use?

I have always used Nikon cameras,  usually I work with the D750 and the D810.

You tested the Hasselblad X1D, What where your initial feelings about the camera?

I was curious when the opportunity arose to see how the mirrorless medium format performed because I knew the reputation of the brand. When I have important commercial shoots and the budget allows I place Hasselblad on my wish list, great image quality.  However, I was never hands-on with a camera because I let my assistants do all the necessary adjustments and settings.

Testing the X1D I was very hands-on.  It feels great, light, the ergonomic grip is comfortable.  Usually, I use a neck strap because I do not want to risk letting the camera drop out of my hand, especially one that costs 9400 euros.

I found the camera setting menu very well edited.  It felt like I did not have to go through as many camera settings in the menu as I do with my Nikon.

I really enjoyed the touch screen for viewing and settings, very simple.

zzb7027771How fast can the X1D shoot images?

The camera is fast but focusing can be difficult.  Maybe I was doing something wrong but the lens I was using (XCD 90mm f/3.5) only had one focal point. I had to focus on the model and then reframe the image while my finger was pressing the shutter button half way down.  I am used to the Nikon focal multiple point system.  I found this annoying because it resulted in unfocused pictures.

Using a Medium format camera was there a higher level of expectation?

Yes! The expectation was higher and I was not disappointed.   The images were sharp.

Was the Camera Interface Intuitive?

Before reading the camera manual I wanted to see how intuitive the camera was for a new user.  The camera interface is adaptable quick, ready to usage for a short period of time.  I was able to make adjustments and began shooting.   The manual was good for referencing, very complete.

The Auto Focus Mode

The Auto Focus was very fast, perhaps faster than my Nikon.  I was shooting in low light but I had no problems with the setting.

ISO Mode

Shooting in low light I sometimes had to shoot as high as 6400 iso but I did not lose the image sharpness.  The grain quality was acceptable when blowing up an image 100 times in Photoshop.

Battery Life

This was my biggest disappointment.  I went through a fully charged battery after only shooting 500 images.  Luckily there were extra batteries in the test kit.  For outdoor shooting where there is no access to electricity the camera is a disadvantage.

The fashion production you shot with the X1D, how did the camera perform?

zzb7027553Overall I enjoyed shooting with the X1D.  I could use high ISO settings in addition to opening the aperture to 3.5.

I was happy with the results I produce with the Hasselblad X1D.

 

Dale Grant is professional photographer, instructor, and Black and Paper contributor.

For more information: www.dalegrantphotography.com