ND Filters and Why You Need It

What is an ND filter? What is it for? And why do you need it? While you can do a lot in the post production nowadays, one thing cannot be replicated and requires ND filter – slow shutter movement in a bright light. Everyone knows how cool photos with long exposure look – these blurry rivers of light on the freeway, or a name written out of thin air by the glow stick. For these shots you leave your shutter speed open for 5-10 seconds of time, the setting that is impossible to shoot with in a broad day light without having your photos looking overblown or just completely white. And that is when ND filter comes in handy. In today’s quick tutorial based on “Two Minute Tips” episodes with David Bergman, we learn what ND filter is for, what kinds of it are available, and how you can implement it in your photography.

What is ND filter?

“ND” stands for neutral density. ND filter blocks the light from going through lens and hitting the camera sensor. When using ND filters, you can shoot the movement of (in this example water) anything with a long exposure and get that great smooth flowing effect.

ND filters come in different strengths. For every .3 it blocks 1 stop of light. So if you have a filter with the strength of 3, it will block 10 stops of light.

ND filters come in a fixed and a variable format. Fixed format filters have only one, certain strength number that never changes – kind of a prime lens in analogy. Variable filters on the hand are like zoom lens – you can spin it to adjust the density of the filter. While it is more convenient to have a variable filter, there are some trade offs. Fixed filters are usually cheaper and produce better quality images. Whereas variable filters might have an X – shaped shadow, especially when used on a wide lens.

What is ND Filter for?

If you want to shoot with a very slow shutter speed or wide open aperture in day light, ND filter is the only solution currently on the market. Another handy feature that is not related to its direct application – ND filter can protect your lens from dust or scratches! Since you screw it on your lens, in a potentially harmful situation that can damage your lens it is the filter that will take the hit.

Watch the full episode with David Bergman and Adorama TV:

Rogelio Gonzalez + Edwin Torres

Photographer Rogelio Gonzalez has made the right decision to try out something he has little to no experience with – working with strobe lights only in a pitch black environment. With a little help of our staff member Rogelio was able to tame the fluorescent beast and create great, balanced portraits.

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Few words from Rogelio about the shooting experience at FD:

“This was my first time renting out a room at FD Photo Studios and I got to say that it was great experience. Kevin was very kind in helping me out on adjusting the AlienBee lights when I was having trouble in figuring out how they worked. I shot with one of good friends Edwin Torres and came out with some great photographs. Overall, the shoot was a great success and I’ll definitely be booking more rooms at FD Photo Studio for future shoots. “

FOLLOW:

Photographer of the shoot Rogelio Gonzalez on his INSTAGRAM and WEBSITE for more information. Model Edwin Torres on his INSTAGRAM page.

Stage B features all black walls and ceiling, with capabilities to completely shut off the natural window light. Equipped with black, gray, and white background paper, three strobe lights and numerous modifiers for your choice this stage is all you need for a perfect, intimate, creative environment. To check the availability for this stage as well as find more helpful information about our rental please see the WEBSITE.

“FILM VS DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY” with Alex Harper

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”

Ansel Adams

Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, every technical process becomes robotized and less labor intensive. You do not need to type anymore – Siri will type it and search the query for you. You do not need to drive anymore – Tesla will take the wheel and drive you to a desired destination. With photography, an authentic ritual of putting the film into a camera, spinning the handle to “load the frame”, manually setting exposure, focus, shutter, shooting photos, and later spending hours in a dark lab developing the film – is gone.

Now you just turn the power button on, set camera on auto everything, shoot 10 images per second, and instantly have it on your computer, already pre-colorcorrectd and edited with presets in Capture 1.

For the most part the art of photography has become more accessible for people. It is easier than ever before to take photos. It is quicker than ever to finish it. Yet is it better?

In our latest interview episode of “Hard To Clean Material” Youtube series , with photographer Alex Harper we discuss perks of film photography, its application in contemporary world and some uniques features that lack in digital photography. The full interview is available of YOUTUBE. For your convenience, here is the transcript of it as well.

Alex Harper: Hi, I’m Alex Harper. I’m a multidisciplinary artist, particularly editorial photography, collages recently, but photographer overall. Ron: What brought you into photography? Alex Harper: I started when I was about 14 developing my own film, really learning how to shoot film primarily, then starting shooting digital. Ron: What is your favorite camera? Alex Harper: Simple. I’ve been using my grampa’s old film camera from the ’80s with a 15mm lens and a 75 to 200, and that thing has been awesome. It’s an old Nikkormat and I love it: the colors, the way it sounds. Ron: What about digital? Alex Harper: The digital camera, I have a Canon 6D in my left arm with my film camera’s my right arm. I love that camera so much. And then today actually I brought a medium-format camera that I have yet to use, so today’s sort of the tester, but I’m really excited about that. Ron: How would you compare film vs digital shooting experience? Alex Harper: I love that I live in a world where I get to do both, but the thing that I love about film is it just slows me down so much. I feel like with digital you just snap, snap, snap, snap, snap—or at least that’s what I was doing. And with the film it really has taught me, “Hey, slow down. Focus on each image you’re taking. Make each of the 36 exposures count and make sure your settings are correct, make sure your subject is ready, make sure everything is in place before you shoot the picture,” and that ability to refocus and re-hone in on my craft has made me find a whole another love for photography that I was missing before. Alex Harper: And digital’s incredible, that immediacy. There’s something about that too, but I think, especially people that I’ve been growing up with, we’ve primarily only shot digital, so getting to rediscover or discover for the first time that love of film, it’s like a high because you don’t know what you’re taking until it’s all developed so you just hope for the best. I think there’s something really exciting about that. Ron: Will film format ever make a come back ? Alex Harper: I really see a resurgence, honestly. I think everyone is starting to feel the same way I’m feeling about digital and film. I think the look of it is so incredible it just can’t be duplicated on digital, I don’t think. Ron: Where do you develop film? Alex Harper: Oh, I wish I had my own darkroom, but there’s this incredible place down Ventura and Sherman Oaks called 35m. Shout out to 35m. They’re the bomb. They develop everything for me in like an hour or two hours, and I’ll come in with five or six rolls at a time, so they … Like, seriously, shout out to them. You live in the Los Angeles area … This is not paid, this is not sponsored, but seriously, they’re the best, and I will always go to them. Alex Harper: To develop it’s $5, and then for the scan-to-CD it’s $10 for a roll. Ron: Where do you buy film? Alex Harper: When I first started shooting film I just would go to CVS or Rite Aid and buy a four-pack of 24-exposure Fujifilm, and honestly I love that. I love the look of those, the green of it—I love that so much. I recently started getting of course into Porta 400 because you can’t beat that. But anything, give it to me, I’ll shoot on it. I’m not snobby that way. Alex Harper: … film developed and it’s black or super green or super underexposed, and that sucks because you’re so excited about those images, but again, like I’ve been saying, the way that it slows you down and makes you focus on what you’re doing starts to solve those problems for you. Ron: Thank you so much for your answers! Alex Harper: Thanks for having me, guys.

Watch the full interview with Alex:

Veronica Lake Inspired retro photoshoot

If you do not know who Veronica Lake is, you pretty much missed a good chunk of the Golden Age Hollywood movies. Famous for her “peek a boo” hair style, Victoria Lane had conquered thousands of hearts with her undeniable charm. Photographer Sean Laine, inspired by this legend decided to reenact the past. With the model Stephanie Reed, the couple has achieved a glamorous vintage look, in stage Art 4. Few words about the photographer:

“My name is Sean Laine and I’m a Southern California photographer. I’ve been doing this professionally since 2015 with an entire life interest in film and photography. It runs in my family, my great uncle Vick Sims use to work with MGM Studios during the 1950s doing lighting and being a camera man. “

Follow photographer Sean Laine on his INSTAGRAM and WEBSITE.

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Stage Art 4, used for this shoot, is notorious for the high-key white industrial design. It has also been recently adorned with wooden floor section and a wall veneer as well as portable blinds, made of dark wood slats. The latest upgrade the stage received was a nice looking cozy egg like chair and a STAR illuminating across its shape! As any of our stages, Art 4 comes equipped with 3 strobe lights and modifiers as well as backdrop paper of black, white and grey color. Take a look at Stage Art 4 HERE for its availability and pricing!

Rap Artist DEVMO

A beautiful lady DEVMO is not just a “cute girl down the block”. In fact, her rap game has been better than your boyfriend’s since 2013! At least that what the artist claims on her Instagram profile. To up her game even further, the artist has set a cool photoshoot with the photographer Noah Diamond in stage F.

This session’s crew comprised of:

Artist/model: DEVMO

MUA: Adrienne Cheney

Photographer: Noah Diamond | WEBSITE |

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Have a listen to a preview of one of her latest tracks, “Runs in the family”

New track out with @88mphofficial Cover art by @n3rdshaman Photo by @noahdiamond Makeup by @adriennecheney Inspired by @asiamoses and @annieflatley IT TAKES A TEAM PEOPLE #RUNSINTHEFAMILY #LINKINBIO #88MPH #EDM #DEVMO

A post shared by DEVMO (@devmomusic) on Apr 6, 2018 at 11:55am PDT

StageF was used for this team’s creative session. The studio is the smallest space we currently offer for our clients. Yet it is one of the most brightest stages with the tremendous amount of natural light coming from North West. It has gained a nickname – “light box” by some of our regulars and it truly fulfills it at any time of the day from dawn until dusk. This studio also features two section laminate floor of white and dark color for your creative needs. As with any of our stages, Studio F comes with 3 strobe lights already included in the hourly rate and backdrop seamless paper installed. Take a closer look HERE.

#TBT Back to NY with Tahila Paris

It’s hard to believe that almost half of this year’s calendar dates is already crossed out. Time flies fast. Soon enough our stores will be flooded with American flags, then pumpkins, then Christmas trees with a blink of an eye.

And all you’ll do is sit and wonder “I just pulled out this swimsuit from a closet. Why am I hearing a carol from the street?” No worries, friend. I will try to push the time back a bit and do a little #ThrowBackThursday post.

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Going back to December 2017, when photographer Rajeep Brown of PepperTea Productions and model Tahila Paris had a wicked New Year’s themed photoshoot.

Rajeep Brown was very kind to share his thoughts on the session:

“It’s always a pleasure working with Tahlia, we wanted to give the shoot a sexy yet festive feel without going overboard. in either direction. We chose Art Studio 1 for the shoot and it worked perfectly for the setting.

As the 2017 year comes to an end, we decided to do a holiday themed shoot for Playboy’s CGOY Tahlia Paris. “

Here is what you need to know about the model:

“Buxom and shapely 5’4″ blonde bombshell Tahlia Paris was born on October 12, 1996 in Santa Barbara, California. Paris enrolled in a pre-med program following graduation from high school. After deciding to try out for Playboy Plus on a whim, Tahlia was a Painted Lady at the 2015 Playboy’s Midsummer Night’s Dream party and did her first nude shoot for Playboy Plus at age nineteen in December, 2015. Paris was voted Playboy’s Cybergirl of the Month for January, 2016 and Cybergirl of the Year for 2017. Tahlia enjoys surfing, hiking, riding motorcycles, and going to the beach in her spare time.”– IMDb Mini Biography By: woodyanders

Stage Art 1 was a choice of location for this session. Adorned with features like white grand piano and three step podium this stage is a tool of versatility, provider of great natural light, benchmark of industrial Downtown minimalistic design. This space has its windows facing South and West and gets beautiful direct light during the PM hours, and great open-shaded light in the morning. Using strobes? No worries, we include 3 strobe lights in the hourly rate along with black, white and grey background available. Take a look at Stage Art 1 HERE to see what equipment is included in the hourly rate, as well as its availability and pricing.

How to create Soft Light In Small Spaces with Miguel Quiles

At Adorama TV, photographer Miguel Quiles presents his cool series of educational videos called “The Breakdown”. In this episode Miguel decided to implement a challenge in the working environment and shoot a session in a very small space, 8 feet by 6 feet in size. Although most studio spaces, including ours, provide stages much bigger than 6×8, if you ever find yourself in a “tight situation” like this one, you can still make great photos in a soft, window like ambient, light.

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EQUIPMENT

Miguel uses Sony 6500 and and fast prime lens Sony 50mm 1.8. His trigger is “radio control wireless commander Sony FD-WRC-1M” and his receiver is “wireless radio control shoe mount flash Sony HVL – F60RM”. His light is Profoto 3′ Octa. All that can be easily ordered from Adorama website.

SETUP

In a small space the difficult part is to create a big source of light. Some soft boxes like PLM umbrella might take up half of the stage’s size which makes it practically useless. But do not worry, Miguel knows exactly how to handle theses situations. Using just a small 3′ octa, he points the light towards the white side of standard V-flat away from the model, so the light could bounce back on the model but now with much wider distribution. Thus, we imitate the big reflector and get that nice soft “ambient” light.

It is also worth noting that the wall on camera’s right is also painted white and thus also serves as reflector and bounce as a fill light on model’s face, almost eliminating all shadows.

The model for the shoot was Weronika Raczkowska

Follow photographer Miguel Quiles on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK.

Watch full episode on Adorama TV:

The Gypsy Shack Collective & its creatives

Working alongside various professionals from your field is an undoubtedly mutually rewarding experience. Truly passionate seasoned photographers usually are eager to share their knowledge and experience with fresh recruits. In this atmosphere of togetherness we can witness the great progress to be made by most participants. And so can The Gypsy Shack Collective, a talent agency that organizes regular workshops for talents in the field and greatly contributes to the wellness of photo community! So what is The Gypsy Shack Collective about?

“TGS is a collective and now talent agency that wants to bring opportunity to people who are both members and non-members – we had around 40 creatives throughout the entire day networking, shooting and meeting new creatives from the area. We want people to expand their portfolios, challenge themselves, and try things they haven’t tried before while meeting other inspiring and exciting creatives who are likeminded. “

Find out more about TGS by following them on INSTAGRAM or by visiting tgscollective.com

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This workshop session comprised of:

Photographers: Joey Mendoza Juan Balderas Rebecca Karta Veronika Gretchman Natalie Dunn Christian Acosta Daniel Woods Models: Alex Morehouse Makayla Johnson Mark Young Ryan Padilla Toria Webber

Here at FD, we now have 21+ stages to pick from. The TGS workshop mostly have taken place at the Art stages, distinguished by its beautiful unique props and adornments. Equipped with all of the same great gear that’s included with all of our studios – strobes, light modifiers, radio trigger, and paper backdrops – it’s a wonderful place to be able to achieve different looks all in the same place. Visit Stage Art 1 on our website to learn more.

Stages Upgrade: Hill 4 & Hill 5

Jungle Style photo studio available for rental in Los Angeles

Few other cool updates were recently finished in stages Hill 4 and Hill 5. Although these are minor details and do not change the overall perception of those stages much, the butterfly effect might hint that even the smallest change might cause widest ripples. Now let’s be specific.

Hill 4

Remember stage Hill 4 had that red wall that separated a “storage” from the main floor? Well, now it is yellow. Again, small changes – big effect.

Besides this update, Hill 4 is still a “jungle stage” that comes with great-leaf wall and a blue scooter.

Hill 5

Hill 5 has also been enhanced with one wonderful prop – the upright piano. Although we cannot guarantee its musical quality, its looks sell.

Have a look at our availability for Hill 4 and Hill 5 and book your stage now!