tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-111870522024-03-12T16:28:36.795-07:00The Most Important ThingMarc Littmann Photography::Weddings | Portraiture | Products | Landscapes<br>
Turning Positives Into Negatives Since 2003<br>
www.littmannphoto.com | 720.272.7057Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-45342313285264620172010-03-30T22:27:00.000-07:002010-03-30T22:59:57.305-07:00How to Rock the House Despite a Blizzard<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SQO3-97jrzWo9sqjEcrtXko_asGhiEcoPi-LiHynChyphenhyphenaclxpRkUANRYVUXANlzRfmIp9aRxr6NTVrH_1diKFMAKiUYqJUf6OdR1sCyroWyoZ8HOVIEwQEfpVlAFC0UFespbM/s1600/20100323_211903_6500-Edit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SQO3-97jrzWo9sqjEcrtXko_asGhiEcoPi-LiHynChyphenhyphenaclxpRkUANRYVUXANlzRfmIp9aRxr6NTVrH_1diKFMAKiUYqJUf6OdR1sCyroWyoZ8HOVIEwQEfpVlAFC0UFespbM/s400/20100323_211903_6500-Edit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454672785020232690" /></a><br /><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ87n-Nwe4aiC7wa3u-okr5BkGeT_a1csU-YC4JZa_mZYG1GrcQOvfGDhEfKM_AGUpccOTh1i1kLTQ1RvVYdnYZXFfJ0sr62U4OPE8TNY9orV2pruoR4UYX0TuJOO0sMmH_Dl-/s400/20100323_210053_6459.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454671643197232626" /><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbzC_f_fT4Rc1UYyARuZyn58wWjzpXCtr1Hhg1ap6tFmriBfugb10PDJwT75FjLG8KuE3GsYZzxG8_iMpEdo5aZeMMafjgjtvfViMYyNyGkpY58yLh7Yjojbstb-APIS7CYqG/s400/20100323_212448_6513-Edit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454671673739065826" /><br /><br />The weather outside was frightful, but the food, ambience and music inside was sweetly delightful. That's the <img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjgsPJ106UGvVzxMvYK6JvdDP0nhMaW2WPM695IU-MI5bhtGHRA1HJIlw3oKSl34UpSy276yO_VknROBayxqDJ2XqVsKKpCuRdNcdjWHBwGYpFGu8ry_t8b4bC0EAAYIhzkVj/s400/20100323_210134_6464.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454671651173649330" />official conclusion my wife and I reached after combining a date night with shooting some pics for Nissi's in Lafayette, Colorado. But the night was not without an element of danger. Now I do NOT cancel date nights and babysitting due to bad weather, mind you. Yet as we approached Lafayette while 12" of snow an hour pounded our car, I started to have some doubts about our chances to make it to the venue in one piece.<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71zffmUnCXucK0wZiHcZQBCqXltTWe0EsSQ1FIs7MY3Y6INKI_rvn7NS-TbLRxdtiS1xfTKUlJOZ2Y9v12MDQFPszqbYoAmcnVwaCz9IZrqc4b8_m0RvXNTNjEeVko0lQsplQ/s400/20100323_213454_6344-Edit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454665931282097394" /><div><br /></div><div>But we persisted over the strong objections of my wife and we were richly rewarded. Teresa and Mark were great h</div><div>osts at Nissi's. The Kobe beef sliders rocked. Also loved the yummy ahi tuna. The place is cozy and warm, every seat in the house a perfect view of the music. And if you have never been to a FACE concert, you need to put that on your bucket list right now and get 'er done!</div><div><br /></div><div>I am no professional music critic, but the wife and I had a wonderful time. Hard to believe a human being can make such sounds without a single keyboard, instrument or other digital sound effects. The vocals brought some tears to my wife's eyes, she loved it so much. Their energy and sound and overall stage show was dynamic and fun. It was a real treat to be a part of that evening out. </div><div><br /></div><div>What else can I say? Some things are worth risking getting stuck in the snow to see. FACE was worth it. See the whole shoot <a href="http://bit.ly/a5PdDX">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Music photography is a lot of fun when there's a talented band, a great venue and excellent food. And throw in a pretty date and you can't miss!<br /><br /></div>Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-60354630092903236182010-02-14T21:49:00.000-08:002010-02-16T22:24:40.422-08:00What's In Your PC?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmoPJTrjDL1A3DXaLGONRlHsNvqARj6J7N2SDjCN8Ozvwdny_XVrFU_4kYxRRS_P6mQPzfDWz9Y4CELp3ABX-tQQdVM5sC42L0lcoASJZ6rDG2VHWDTBDpSb_ViAUDu8gGUTy/s1600-h/20100214_221056_5483-Edit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmoPJTrjDL1A3DXaLGONRlHsNvqARj6J7N2SDjCN8Ozvwdny_XVrFU_4kYxRRS_P6mQPzfDWz9Y4CELp3ABX-tQQdVM5sC42L0lcoASJZ6rDG2VHWDTBDpSb_ViAUDu8gGUTy/s400/20100214_221056_5483-Edit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438345699433902162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FH95nrRfm9OyASdUNiOyKeG-cTXK-SerYENBqrLSriAmnXg6TLTRVRqhV0mD4ckzPFzX6M8cAk2oEVXNbbajHZ_eyODM96QZgETBy3zqaMtLSjXAT7B2RjdqEsUWFXOKj-GP/s1600-h/20100214_220613_5468-Edit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FH95nrRfm9OyASdUNiOyKeG-cTXK-SerYENBqrLSriAmnXg6TLTRVRqhV0mD4ckzPFzX6M8cAk2oEVXNbbajHZ_eyODM96QZgETBy3zqaMtLSjXAT7B2RjdqEsUWFXOKj-GP/s400/20100214_220613_5468-Edit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438345691143247602" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Until I enrolled in a computer maintenance course did I have any real clue what was going on inside my computer. All I cared about is that it would run smoothly and blazingly fast. No blue screens of death nor the whirling beach ball of death on the Mac side and I was happy. <div><br /></div><div>One day we took apart motherboards and had to identify and replace a processor and cooling unit. In the harsh light of an overhead fluorescent at our workbench, still I was unimpressed. Then color contrasts started to scream out in the back of my head.<div><br /></div><div>Next day I borrowed some defunct memory modules and a motherboard and took them home and set up a shooting table. I kept my 4 year old daughter up late to be a hand model and then threw a blue gel on my background light. Then I gelled the ringlight to about 1/2 CTO (an orange-tinted gel). With my white balance set to warm the image some more, I fired away. Time to send off to the publisher to compete for next year's photo placements!</div></div>Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-19659207608703106152010-02-12T01:23:00.000-08:002010-02-12T01:38:14.174-08:00Ignite Boulder + Velvet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwABoG_kQfR0p4IPplhUksgXN7heScn1st4oXsxua8G49XFEyuzCK6cpIrIVxx6jFX24d8or_krhxpZC9cGlwjSfPJTeilP_eYdcjBhHXktB0iz0FLgzF5qodht-kJkaMbYtOr/s1600-h/20100210_222205_5057.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwABoG_kQfR0p4IPplhUksgXN7heScn1st4oXsxua8G49XFEyuzCK6cpIrIVxx6jFX24d8or_krhxpZC9cGlwjSfPJTeilP_eYdcjBhHXktB0iz0FLgzF5qodht-kJkaMbYtOr/s400/20100210_222205_5057.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437288125401430946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8u7yuvaYQUEYtTgUqYkEymhpZvIXv5wxH-mYJi-_3ZOjW4wMjjycWZvd9YiM7vNIHq4rfOBpv4ux8aysWoVeZ2Hn-KtkjPGXvpZCdHncon4Diwt2N4KdUWTOiJ1jUgkl8X24/s1600-h/20100210_202831_4774.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8u7yuvaYQUEYtTgUqYkEymhpZvIXv5wxH-mYJi-_3ZOjW4wMjjycWZvd9YiM7vNIHq4rfOBpv4ux8aysWoVeZ2Hn-KtkjPGXvpZCdHncon4Diwt2N4KdUWTOiJ1jUgkl8X24/s400/20100210_202831_4774.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437288117870129474" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_eAWtPn-T8hNKh-O8eH8nBTM7-73oiEIEaF2T1r_CbNtiRl5-OuGSYRmP2MmvXvLXtVTysK7J_Gf_JPTWatAqde5JpKA_4iwkQgLPnXPT_55lIa9UswLF4np_ZgGPCnzwZTu/s1600-h/20100210_201651_4727.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_eAWtPn-T8hNKh-O8eH8nBTM7-73oiEIEaF2T1r_CbNtiRl5-OuGSYRmP2MmvXvLXtVTysK7J_Gf_JPTWatAqde5JpKA_4iwkQgLPnXPT_55lIa9UswLF4np_ZgGPCnzwZTu/s400/20100210_201651_4727.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437288104671269154" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div>Andrew, Kath and the crew over at IgniteBoulder know how to throw a party. They sold out the Boulder Theater and streamed another 500+ people in online, making this the<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvNWQjhcj3nUwULtjToiScPOIzZ-a-tnoBTrzgoAx4sndeGC3ywIqIwdQiuRi_-WOdGFWYI7K20ykSlaKP3OtiH-Iv5kfqHTgLeHmjqCuHF34z_W4Z5tY0i2KqAupkZsWZbvH/s400/20100210_222829_5060.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437288806512817714" /> largest-attended Ignite of all time. Well done, you guys! While photographing the event last night, I learned about how to prepare for being a contestant on Family Feud from a real-life game show veteran. Learned some new Spanish vocab should I ever get stopped at the US-Mexico border. Top that with some of the neat work being done for spinal cord injured people here in Boulder. I now have 'Pam' as a secret weapon to donning triathlon attire. And most critical of all, I learned to never leave home without velvet.<div><br /></div><div>What an imaginative and informative bunch. And a heck of a lot of fun, too! See the pics <a href="http://bit.ly/bNtLtO">here</a>.<br /><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbhpLuOFbMCOjtQf1RDbSrIs-g54QsCCWTm90d51RcYxDb5cLN3hq-1e0b1e0Ub1qjsIX_WQ1swbmyS-tgogmxAGuOEMSFBFMw09lfqvWHAqHrFJmz4Wpz5z6U4xlbcEE1ukC/s400/20100210_185549_4541.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437288098719498034" /></div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYaf13ZKtV2WKlCQr_8ib0-QbPhyxaWTvte9SgP7gtxIfA7EnkwGik6sDBlCdMh5VyMp6kGiJn-9rn0HBtNifY4BJ_Cu2qVj4o5y206IvpkwR3w8nlPO5LmAP_gLDfVahLm0o/s400/20100210_202209_4748.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437288115688510322" /></div></div>Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-84552517578036170632010-02-09T23:31:00.000-08:002010-02-09T23:47:00.863-08:00Lightpainting the Town<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8UUag9lCXIBMiXG-pDtoi7LLbPMPpBq3kE6jHaFBiuvwO11WWoUrAJSz5NWJxqbTq9hSCc9KGiYalk54UOf9Dy92fhAN4WvbDWXF-KAYVW1PXkz7KAyLV7IuT-x2kL6z-GPX/s1600-h/_dsc0436brdr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8UUag9lCXIBMiXG-pDtoi7LLbPMPpBq3kE6jHaFBiuvwO11WWoUrAJSz5NWJxqbTq9hSCc9KGiYalk54UOf9Dy92fhAN4WvbDWXF-KAYVW1PXkz7KAyLV7IuT-x2kL6z-GPX/s400/_dsc0436brdr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436514751810036050" border="0" /></a><br />Ever see a photograph where you can't quite tell how they did it? Light seems to come from out of nowhere. You wonder how did those weird streaks get recorded in the picture? Or why does the subject seem to glow in funky ways?<br /><br />Take the image to the left. I shot this for a product portfolio several months back and have always liked the various bits of motion and action in the composition. What's going on in the shot to come up with this one?<br /><br />I used three lights. I blue-gelled my Nikon speedlight and fired it into the w<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi5-JKLUFTD-y8BftzshpNwRuuLF8Bvda0NS_8kEs5WOLiuUmSu2riPDv4qnHhAnowzbkWUat9jBw08d-rf6wx0CKotK0LXPItglUTk86k8ZkmaJaCcW2YpSa2-qyD7Y21Be8/s1600-h/_dsc0441brdr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi5-JKLUFTD-y8BftzshpNwRuuLF8Bvda0NS_8kEs5WOLiuUmSu2riPDv4qnHhAnowzbkWUat9jBw08d-rf6wx0CKotK0LXPItglUTk86k8ZkmaJaCcW2YpSa2-qyD7Y21Be8/s400/_dsc0441brdr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436518059666461554" border="0" /></a>hite seamless backdrop from off camera left. Then I left the shutter on my camera open another 8 seconds while I took 2 different flashlights and lit the front of the bottle for a moment, then danced their lights off of the background. Then I took one of the flashlights and illuminated the back of the bottle for a second or two. Finally, I made the arcing streaks of light emerge from the bottle top to resemble an erupting volcano.<br /><br />Also, there is the extra layer of color contrast going down in this shot. The bottle glows a warm tone, which your eye/brain complex interprets as moving towards you. The cooler blue background appears to recede away from the viewer.<br /><br />So the result? Don't know about you, but it makes me want to go crack open another BAWLS Root Beer!Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-49196958416742507212010-01-04T13:41:00.000-08:002010-01-04T22:32:01.229-08:00Using the Schwartz to Combat TMI<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkZCjaya8QcsWRERJqloJD4OiWfjmxkRvMpGsaQnU6vK5nqzj-v_vKp8oVFuP4vZ6pGqXOz6eOgK4xl2vHB1aIFZkJGpD6oc_1AQ_wJU4u11LVisKpcEtksL5OsKvMr2Eaj_V/s1600-h/20091229_161101_4295.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkZCjaya8QcsWRERJqloJD4OiWfjmxkRvMpGsaQnU6vK5nqzj-v_vKp8oVFuP4vZ6pGqXOz6eOgK4xl2vHB1aIFZkJGpD6oc_1AQ_wJU4u11LVisKpcEtksL5OsKvMr2Eaj_V/s400/20091229_161101_4295.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423009503502065842" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Non-photography topic--TMI: How much is too much information? <div><br /></div><div>Social media can be a great tool for business and personal use. There are a million blog posts singing the praises of Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. But why must we all broadcast every detail of our lives to the world? Aren't some things better left in the private sphere? </div><div><br /></div><div>We're a society obsessed with safety, from anti-bacterial soap to air bags to home alarm systems and wearing helmets on the ski slope. We show zero tolerance for kids who have toe nail clippers stowed safely in the trunks of their cars. Yet when we get online, we gush uncontrollably about the most private moments of our personal lives. No one cares about the espresso double shot you just scored at the Starbucks drive-thru. That is TMI. </div><div><br /></div><div>But there is a growing class of people who DO care about such things. They like to read about how you are on vacation in Fiji for a month. They love to know your birthdate, social security number and home address. They like to read up on every personal account they can about you. And trust me, you don't want these people in your life. Let's be smarter out there and assume that whatever you put online CAN and MAY very likely get read by someone you don't want.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some suggestions for your 2010 online experience:</div><div><br /></div><div>1) Don't accept a friend request unless you are absolutely sure who they are. </div><div><br /></div><div>2) Be very leery of Facebook requests--often these are phishing attempts to steal your login and password. Always get in the habit of checking the URL bar to see the true web address of the site asking you for your login information.</div><div><br /></div><div>3) Don't respond to a Nigerian email solicitation telling you that only you can help them claim a $10 million lottery prize. (On that note, don't board a flight with a young Nigerian male who paid $3000 cash for his ticket, checked no luggage and whose father reported him for Jihadist ties and is wearing holy underwear, Batman.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Wishing you all a wonderful 2010--ring it in with peace and joy. And love your neighbor just do so wisely. And may the Schwartz be with you! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-81966903390337519732009-11-29T06:24:00.003-08:002009-11-29T07:38:33.278-08:00The Stratford at Flatirons Portrait Sessions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KmnRPrHFI2NK5j0-74GyCXSnWshb9c2qh2iWvsXUVEM83_Gg_eKM_vxk5fGUBPcsTFqwjyeuqB-yf-xlwjvIzQ58by-mMH5yFgxFGTu0gwYTCPLw9oW8F2mPsO7rEec4eXxJ/s1600/20091127_122203_3693.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KmnRPrHFI2NK5j0-74GyCXSnWshb9c2qh2iWvsXUVEM83_Gg_eKM_vxk5fGUBPcsTFqwjyeuqB-yf-xlwjvIzQ58by-mMH5yFgxFGTu0gwYTCPLw9oW8F2mPsO7rEec4eXxJ/s400/20091127_122203_3693.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409550260707937122" /></a><br />I must confess--I totally want to move in to Stratford at Flatirons--this is absolutely the nicest and most luxurious senior living residence I have ever seen! <div><br /></div><div>We had a great time working with Kathy and the crew on Friday. We set up a portrait studio and then made instant prints from each of the sessions. For the technically-minded, here's a look at how it all worked. To just go right to the images from the whole session, just go <a href="http://bit.ly/5yTDlZ">here</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Backdrop: 12' painted canvas mounted on backdrop frame system.</div><div>Lighting: 1 Photogenic monolight and 2 Nikon SB-800 speedlights. Each had an umbrella light modifier.</div><div>Display: Samsung 23" monitor</div><div>Computer: Mac Mini </div><div>Printer: Sony UL-150 dye sublimation printer</div><div>Capture software: Sofortbild for Mac. </div><div>Viewing, editing and printing software: Lightroom 2.5</div></div>Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-14411025046467664432009-11-15T07:52:00.000-08:002009-11-15T08:08:26.042-08:00How to Turn Your Desktop Scanner Into an Artist's Tool<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_Yd6qENCFEhV9p7SgNny9-BmIdXJ-r7GyVaBOdeaYBSfuTSa3SXfKEabSA5XVBwUs4pP26dpEViwT7LYb4HkOY5x-ixx_LbDiOejhpuo15CqZEKMHZw4gckbFatYJavGUgf6/s1600-h/coffee_brdr_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_Yd6qENCFEhV9p7SgNny9-BmIdXJ-r7GyVaBOdeaYBSfuTSa3SXfKEabSA5XVBwUs4pP26dpEViwT7LYb4HkOY5x-ixx_LbDiOejhpuo15CqZEKMHZw4gckbFatYJavGUgf6/s400/coffee_brdr_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404359627571586978" border="0" /></a>I am working on a new portfolio for a restaurant with locations nationwide. They requested new images to be displayed in their lobbies based on a global cuisine theme. So to go beyond my normal style of work, I tried to think outside the black box of my normal cameras for something different. How to create an image of something without a camera? Since I am not a painter, I ruled out painting and drawing an image. That is when I remembered I had another camera already sitting on my desk--my scanner/copier. Within minutes every interesting food item I could think of was about to be dumped on my flatbed scanner.<br /><br />My favorites are the coffee beans and the tulip below. I really love the depth of field (or lack thereof) found in the scanner--it is great for making sharp copies of text lying on a sheet of paper. It needs no more depth than that thin surface. But add an object with three dimensions and they tend to be sharply in focus at ony one point. Everything else falls off and gets soft.<br /><br />I either used the pull down document cover or created my own white surface. You could also use other colors, as this will end up being your backdrop as the scanner looks up to capture the image.<br /><br />Then I did some heavier work in Photoshop to ge the colors and tones and contrast where I wanted them. To give a richer feel and to accentuate the softness of the texture.<br /><br />Play around with it and see where this tool can lead you--lots of fun!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6J7ks7yJLWkdi1Ud3_nzwt-rOhg4KdrMOc6ljOmwumuEuLdMpRk_KDDVkaYiJu85lKw6oy3uHljFLEBVlc4zQRo5fAx_EugEtZ3frHUH21cBs3whFqFPD-6nfKp_QV-Jyxrj/s1600-h/noodle&craisins_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6J7ks7yJLWkdi1Ud3_nzwt-rOhg4KdrMOc6ljOmwumuEuLdMpRk_KDDVkaYiJu85lKw6oy3uHljFLEBVlc4zQRo5fAx_EugEtZ3frHUH21cBs3whFqFPD-6nfKp_QV-Jyxrj/s400/noodle&craisins_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404359632476497890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfjBn6h6cIDC5rIRcs1jRrtd1Scqj582hu5r8Zj05WfOx_1b1oAOxbf2MKlklZ5mbNfOF7-rA2uTeE4x1Wrn2bJhyphenhyphen_c1S1kQjiU6_-VRVmtJ1KJfaJxdJ0NgsZXSvEo7DXkUM/s1600-h/tulip_brdr_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 371px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfjBn6h6cIDC5rIRcs1jRrtd1Scqj582hu5r8Zj05WfOx_1b1oAOxbf2MKlklZ5mbNfOF7-rA2uTeE4x1Wrn2bJhyphenhyphen_c1S1kQjiU6_-VRVmtJ1KJfaJxdJ0NgsZXSvEo7DXkUM/s400/tulip_brdr_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404359641429120578" border="0" /></a>Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-50885764982342203482009-10-30T00:04:00.000-07:002009-10-30T00:09:04.246-07:00Vintage Neon, Boulder Theater<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5T0NhFZs1RKnzdvVV7ppZGRgO7y_C014WNOHpYJ4AgyybTGGE9uZ3R4un9glUVfCI_ST99qrrulRH0zi_GMgqKaRtExry1J81yfT_mHkmZa05RaYTM_4kWfnv4FYYHYw-HvE/s1600-h/dsc_4916.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5T0NhFZs1RKnzdvVV7ppZGRgO7y_C014WNOHpYJ4AgyybTGGE9uZ3R4un9glUVfCI_ST99qrrulRH0zi_GMgqKaRtExry1J81yfT_mHkmZa05RaYTM_4kWfnv4FYYHYw-HvE/s400/dsc_4916.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398286562404220626" border="0" /></a><br />Stripped out the color and boiled this awesome old vintage neon sign to its elements. Simple line drawing done by running a glowing edges filter in Photoshop, then inverting the image colors and then adding a border from an old Polaroid A. I love how the texture of the facade lettering jumps out. Never forget watching this sign get pumped full of water by the fire department in Boulder as an electrical short in the sign could have burned the whole place down.Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-57063859734147467362009-10-21T09:35:00.000-07:002009-11-16T06:08:54.606-08:00Three Styles, One Portrait Session<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwDWfbZztkwW38Dbxrm4_k3B02n3fEHaaoc0v8u4VRUSEXxm4mteE3IBgySzjbwzF5V9llIK1IrzUOuHX9f1kYhPl4kIjBuzkhkmFr6LTlMXSYA02E_49TAxhVCbgqfKqp6f6/s1600-h/colette+collage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwDWfbZztkwW38Dbxrm4_k3B02n3fEHaaoc0v8u4VRUSEXxm4mteE3IBgySzjbwzF5V9llIK1IrzUOuHX9f1kYhPl4kIjBuzkhkmFr6LTlMXSYA02E_49TAxhVCbgqfKqp6f6/s400/colette+collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395099361567825010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfWb4S2AKOF19_AczS9T0349Q3EKhyTQIJIZpkpH4kqU2qwtCRO1jU7E-qr74kxzP09oPvvRy_5UX08M9Uz9ahnEBVLva577Yt9RoVVggrnCeSz70ieM4M_MQOmCWVLmXjv5J/s1600-h/_DSC7033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfWb4S2AKOF19_AczS9T0349Q3EKhyTQIJIZpkpH4kqU2qwtCRO1jU7E-qr74kxzP09oPvvRy_5UX08M9Uz9ahnEBVLva577Yt9RoVVggrnCeSz70ieM4M_MQOmCWVLmXjv5J/s320/_DSC7033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395095563685927906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIOk6Je9rXV-WKtzSOlRrPtxxg0EijCfHS3kH54b6XdPSS-lvbdL7VMB9yqtHTjVBOYG3CaEOKNdbVCy59s6n_UulYLMxcVLh_d-U7UJHJcCxjrK118wtWHQJhPdTWqJZOFuD/s1600-h/_DSC6969.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIOk6Je9rXV-WKtzSOlRrPtxxg0EijCfHS3kH54b6XdPSS-lvbdL7VMB9yqtHTjVBOYG3CaEOKNdbVCy59s6n_UulYLMxcVLh_d-U7UJHJcCxjrK118wtWHQJhPdTWqJZOFuD/s320/_DSC6969.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395095558097762274" border="0" /></a><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWSsVg2CJmiPHYxalCDclwHRsXoNi1Kj2hyphenhyphenKmTmnDZEk9uFUviDQNWK4GClCpkBe0KLw5UPvZEWdFM4oHzNcPe05VATWvHg3eiAvhoo7Aja3O2WVpMv0mwUk7lKA7X4pCLKAn/s320/_DSC6949.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395094922728049250" border="0" /><br /><br />On a recent shoot I sought to capture an extremely diverse feel across the 60 minutes we spent shooting. The e<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Bkh8QXiLHqFJwdNGXN8HmRT6naAgjcssfvkPCddnhJCsqVmZahXCVVdvDWmAZ81_h_y6X8xKL8u7SasrKjk6SS5TeWEF_YNAZGrwLkI9Rt-F94mSYXVDtVZOQK37y81Or1aX/s320/_DSC7098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395096948144367058" border="0" />nd result shows it this clearly--from sunset lighting on my subjects' faces to off camera flash fill to near darkness with flash. Finally I shot a quick series without flash, allowing the ambient light reflecting off the lake to paint my subject's face. And how starkly different the shoot turned out--beyond consistent wardrobe, it looks like we shot on different days and locations, yet all was done within a 50 yard radiu<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wJm2bmBvUuHRolwyay99KBwwkPZuOLEZXtQ2jHzhfbhSSMXI-Ob8ZzwcN-FvAVaDGtunCbXQhSsyBqfxvsbOO2-HjcImZyPybPI8O1lhw8rKcfywFTN0czZvQrTi40f358Oy/s320/_DSC7082-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395095566206910338" border="0" />s across in less time than it takes to watch an episode of 'Flash Forward'.<div><br /></div><div>The light shifted so fast we could hardly sit still--throwing rocks in the lake is way too much fun, but we quickly moved on and did the group pose on the big rocks on the shore.<br /></div><div><br />Then we played some more and then ran up to a park bench for a few more shots. A group posed then the final series with just my client's son and no flash, just post-sunset skylight bouncing off of the lake. Then we jumped on a small pier and shot with off-camera flash and dialed in the ambient sunset light to really pop.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the end, we created a whole series of unique compositions. And by scheduling the shoot around a span of time where the light would be most dynamic, we made plenty of special moments to choose from for wall portraits.<br /></div><div><br /></div>Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-53326749056343911762009-10-13T14:31:00.000-07:002009-10-14T15:02:27.628-07:00$50 Portraits for 15 minutes<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZvMNA5nXNAQ8LmNe5xpipts0_Chv8ICmaytFE1r-XP5aqGbcbO2v1ZtoL40vTmiq-OnJ6UxbP7PD5m1H93YUVWo44db609fbLv5RBw3zDM1ndE6inKIKJR2LxeyOkxYOaPFn/s400/marc_shootout_brdr_sm_turn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392202557996380914" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiJsY6_ZXjawgpSp-GaO0IMAqySsOfGv4NWELfccJQRUzc5CBcXlThpx6j2zDKfJfdItv-6lKihSLnXcjCXfD2oKqUoRiCRhWQrS47qYOmH2yu7bTz7Vbo2zqX32hj44ioNQE/s1600-h/20071020_016.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiJsY6_ZXjawgpSp-GaO0IMAqySsOfGv4NWELfccJQRUzc5CBcXlThpx6j2zDKfJfdItv-6lKihSLnXcjCXfD2oKqUoRiCRhWQrS47qYOmH2yu7bTz7Vbo2zqX32hj44ioNQE/s320/20071020_016.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392576729180449426" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcvdSG-JjDwKOC2OR4RoQWOmdS0tw6eQA1ZAOUGBiSgtuPqsNoxHeRhbyOlctsabeLUCb9qq0F2nJ7N4kJFGaGYkiL-TPGStpoIBpRhVGUGYWgew4AYbccQFfayssiWvc2DPi/s1600-h/20071020_055.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcvdSG-JjDwKOC2OR4RoQWOmdS0tw6eQA1ZAOUGBiSgtuPqsNoxHeRhbyOlctsabeLUCb9qq0F2nJ7N4kJFGaGYkiL-TPGStpoIBpRhVGUGYWgew4AYbccQFfayssiWvc2DPi/s320/20071020_055.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392551012686747010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRL1setN4sVT14ETvLrWPkf3hUCU862TY1jmBvdWdkaLzRRxCrulhdi5OGudljoBuHoXQDwlWx2eX1EdGHDCCFXQKYZXoBOthdmLkoGY2w6w1aiqee8gu-DIUBBdmpSz6d2DO/s1600-h/20071020_049.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRL1setN4sVT14ETvLrWPkf3hUCU862TY1jmBvdWdkaLzRRxCrulhdi5OGudljoBuHoXQDwlWx2eX1EdGHDCCFXQKYZXoBOthdmLkoGY2w6w1aiqee8gu-DIUBBdmpSz6d2DO/s320/20071020_049.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392551005250674850" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5ADTICIUfnyh6tKJRmmBpkwZgkZJJ4vkP-tuOQ4DvGBJMxWgZpAsMt9iToRY3QYg__PnuiVN2KAds_eh3t4unyHBRsMZtSZu4Ayawd3utBUW9jMedWQNlqfLVjq0ieY5jke4/s1600-h/marc_shootout_brdr_sm.jpg"><br /></a>Just in time for the holiday<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxKKsRARe4XwU-vXinP0dvkKUK8vgl-DVyhZtSo1fjUEp93T3ytGYtk8ILv2cXSATMOPhyphenhyphen_aHcs6wvYAY27pouCus7lWIe1NOg7IIUnhdvlIRDBoMAHHLU3th7eIUFOkCNoiO/s320/20071020_094.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392576223425687170" />s, we are holding the first official Marc Littmann Photography<a href="http://bit.ly/5byQS"> Great Portrait Shootout</a> this weekend. What you get: 15 minute portrait session under the fall foliage in Boulder. A set of 8 wallet prints and a 5x7 print.<div><br /></div><div>You'll also have option to get a sweet 20x30 canvas gallery print of your favorite image, a </div><div>box set of Christmas cards and a DVD with the files.</div><div><br /></div><div>What'll it cost you? $50 bones. You heard right--just $50 big ones. So </div><div>with a tiny time and money commitment, you can make off like a bandit (or an outlaw) at the Great Portrait Shootout!</div><div><br /></div><div>Buy your session ticket <a href="http://bit.ly/5byQS">here</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-32375533644336499732009-09-21T23:12:00.000-07:002009-09-22T00:05:28.659-07:005 Good Reasons to Visit San Francisco with a Camera<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd4XhGvY23-GD5DgVn9qVqPJ5eW2sl98TuckWjlER6oSDbgslxvYPHCoAA4NiPQgBGDl4J9jiMrcpwMt-On6fd_G8m8TScXcovrAqN8WrVgLsF4I9xzOtXRpeEJIAegADWgga/s1600-h/dsc6386_brdr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpd4XhGvY23-GD5DgVn9qVqPJ5eW2sl98TuckWjlER6oSDbgslxvYPHCoAA4NiPQgBGDl4J9jiMrcpwMt-On6fd_G8m8TScXcovrAqN8WrVgLsF4I9xzOtXRpeEJIAegADWgga/s400/dsc6386_brdr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384171735272324386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />5. Autumn Moon Festival in Chinatown. Stumbled on this one over the weekend. Dad and I walked several SF districts after arriving b<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ9WMtMBYLVimeXk-ipxVeFrEOIiA8J5W1ZduE7dlk4wcKnN9EQ-xaYn21RK0TxWllpEy0lUpdZIyvIsc8NRV4OUlKtxAkimclpAXjcuzqbd9T48U6ycyoCI5ya7khbEdXXyK/s1600-h/_dsc6196brdr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ9WMtMBYLVimeXk-ipxVeFrEOIiA8J5W1ZduE7dlk4wcKnN9EQ-xaYn21RK0TxWllpEy0lUpdZIyvIsc8NRV4OUlKtxAkimclpAXjcuzqbd9T48U6ycyoCI5ya7khbEdXXyK/s320/_dsc6196brdr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384183532649934658" border="0" /></a>y Amtrak fro<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisMkbFVv1tx6CD65XN-4FRqsGXZjUaVNKfls5n-BWSh1i1fe0y38ShA0Z9SrulaHG_qCsbRFcMBhrpR7rwrIrKUSlxmX64JeE0uqCM1Nx6HLJbbM6rBRtgPuqVOwO1SOY-FlJ/s1600-h/_dsc6156.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisMkbFVv1tx6CD65XN-4FRqsGXZjUaVNKfls5n-BWSh1i1fe0y38ShA0Z9SrulaHG_qCsbRFcMBhrpR7rwrIrKUSlxmX64JeE0uqCM1Nx6HLJbbM6rBRtgPuqVOwO1SOY-FlJ/s320/_dsc6156.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384183524779005826" border="0" /></a>m Denver. Tried the fish balls--once was enough, if you get my culinary drift. But the copious red colors, brilliant rich textures and sheer size of this Chinatown transported me right back to my time in Yunnan Province in SW China many years ago. And the purple eggplant here was succulent, at least my camera thought so.<br /><br />4. Italian celebration in Washington Square. Lagunitas IPA and the free bottlecap pins were an added bonuses (boni for plural?). The guy who tossed pizza doughs as part of a performance stole the show--how the heck did he do that? Deep fried calamari and penne with salsiccia---multo bene!<br /><br />3. Tuk Tuk Thai Cafe off of Washington Square. A quick walk up Columbus Ave brought us to this highly regarded Yelp favorite. Never had I tasted so many complex flavors in Thai food. The panang curry sauce was deep. Tastebuddies screamed for more Gai Tom Ka soup--sweet and tangy yumminess! And the green tea and coconut ice cream paired with the deep fried banana post-meal rocked. No pictures please--just concentrate on the culinary ecstasy in front of you.<br /><br />2. Grace Cathedral and Coit Tower. Grace's politically liberal inner walls were way beyond my comfort zone of mixing politics with religion (a whole wall was dedicated to the United Nations and its massive logo), but the architecture was breathtaking and the stained glass reminiscent of St. Chappelle in Paris--<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5alynQeL7lJ9vUUH1UNu7WhJw7u-jjxlg6gv7F84CVbi9BY7TwMn8SqVDkN1wPvUeeUR0LDKaSf4t_P3jn9bBAwR3yiOItlFpn2bzjKfaGZhNE7dn0VaHnL2fE5-CyY8F6io/s1600-h/_dsc6311.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5alynQeL7lJ9vUUH1UNu7WhJw7u-jjxlg6gv7F84CVbi9BY7TwMn8SqVDkN1wPvUeeUR0LDKaSf4t_P3jn9bBAwR3yiOItlFpn2bzjKfaGZhNE7dn0VaHnL2fE5-CyY8F6io/s320/_dsc6311.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384178089568562210" border="0" /></a>shamwow, man! Coit Tower yielded stunning views surrendered only after steep climb up a very tall urban hill. 31 percent road grades in this town are mind-boggling. Favorite was my <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfD8G2tcxd9javN7-oaD8iNMuSW5CWxPcDu0Y_b7lYFoJOu86iLI4IA2HK5rzzBgn54VDIIcmkGcv_7MsHGJkwFRjFTQ9BuGMGyRFRF-j_WMTZkwk3lObJ0dApr2x8FDO2W6h/s1600-h/_dsc6284.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfD8G2tcxd9javN7-oaD8iNMuSW5CWxPcDu0Y_b7lYFoJOu86iLI4IA2HK5rzzBgn54VDIIcmkGcv_7MsHGJkwFRjFTQ9BuGMGyRFRF-j_WMTZkwk3lObJ0dApr2x8FDO2W6h/s320/_dsc6284.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384178098897900274" border="0" /></a>fisheye composition laying on my back looking straight out the top of the tower.<br /><br />1. Riding our bicycles across the Golden Gate Bridge. This one should be #1 with exclamation points. 8 miles to Sausalito <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5URkCDYhTiHuU3wsOGDxmYG1DHN_GzEIIDBjjATGHjei6elUs1CpJ5sq2VHJhL0O2W17617WpCsjCp_wLsQkLvJSTHJGTxKdDL8YwHiel0Ytp-p7bvuNrzCbVt4M1qhGX54Vs/s1600-h/dscn4057.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5URkCDYhTiHuU3wsOGDxmYG1DHN_GzEIIDBjjATGHjei6elUs1CpJ5sq2VHJhL0O2W17617WpCsjCp_wLsQkLvJSTHJGTxKdDL8YwHiel0Ytp-p7bvuNrzCbVt4M1qhGX54Vs/s320/dscn4057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384178773018646370" border="0" /></a>(named after conservative Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito? Highly unlikely in Nancy Pelosi's backyard). So stunning. Magnifique. Just plain old cool. Fog bank rolled in and turned the red giant into a gaseous nebula of fuzzy mist shrouding a riveter's dream. Will never forget that experience as long as I live. New toll station assesses a $100 fine for anyone caught without a camera here.Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-66423321918093591472009-09-01T08:40:00.000-07:002009-09-01T08:48:20.390-07:00Circular Reasoning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SKPZ9qud8-8ltf84IsVKmsgO2fLux-Y4IqIeg0rwnlsYTbkv9dgpqthOsqC37ooV-dyI4XVgJrexbAkeGbWI-NDI5H2E9otoIKPExAty_YMeGhFlL13bdZJv318LqdSnVM-G/s1600-h/circle+collage_small_twitter+design.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SKPZ9qud8-8ltf84IsVKmsgO2fLux-Y4IqIeg0rwnlsYTbkv9dgpqthOsqC37ooV-dyI4XVgJrexbAkeGbWI-NDI5H2E9otoIKPExAty_YMeGhFlL13bdZJv318LqdSnVM-G/s400/circle+collage_small_twitter+design.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376526168683515602" /></a><br />I once read a photographer's book where he would teach his students to look only for a certain shape to photograph. Like squares, triangles, or even wavy lines. OR he would have them throw out a hula hoop and wherever it landed, they would have to make 25 compositions either of macro objects within the hoop or to shoot outwards without leaving the hoop. Really forced you to start looking for patterns and finding that same unnecessarily beautiful detail that also adorns places like the Grand Tetons or the Horsehead Nebula a few jillion light years away. So here is my fun attempt at a composition of circles I shot one morning near Boulder, Colorado. And I did decide to convert it to my Twitter home page, too, cause I liked it so much.Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-16535095128064235362009-08-25T16:48:00.000-07:002009-08-25T16:53:46.367-07:00Like Sand Through the Hourglass...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiej9PrGsWkDcB3U79uExz-JuQIY4YCOmfF7AYkVLoUPX0PnSjZimWYIBZAY9hKaKGn-QkUdyZjvySCQ2joprlLPRlzz1D8PdEivmnQoQ-qo2G1BsblYKOhews5KXdVPOGP6ZZH/s1600-h/sand_mandarin_woman0228.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiej9PrGsWkDcB3U79uExz-JuQIY4YCOmfF7AYkVLoUPX0PnSjZimWYIBZAY9hKaKGn-QkUdyZjvySCQ2joprlLPRlzz1D8PdEivmnQoQ-qo2G1BsblYKOhews5KXdVPOGP6ZZH/s400/sand_mandarin_woman0228.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374052878902572466" /></a><br /><br />Forgot all about this image--every so often I rummage through the archives of older projects and fun things I experimented with and say 'that was kind of cool--what was I thinking?' All I know is that this is called "Sand Mandarin Woman". It is the mandarin character for 'woman' and the pink striated backdrop that looks sort of like muscle tissue is beach sand from Sanibel Island, Florida. Let me know if you can see the lightning shape in the picture. Or the crab.Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-59188169742735660812009-08-24T20:39:00.000-07:002009-08-24T22:37:45.978-07:00Every Day is Goggle Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8EIfoEwmGjKrQ7kWsbX_fs6QgF0sbVqZJbWLjkuoBcxMVz6rz7oyDg0KmjyyPMONluJJsatn2mygxWFGpVH9kC7sNoNRdc5xJAL_FM76hPGpmn4W7vixYnRwkd9WL8NNqxfp/s1600-h/_DSC0048.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8EIfoEwmGjKrQ7kWsbX_fs6QgF0sbVqZJbWLjkuoBcxMVz6rz7oyDg0KmjyyPMONluJJsatn2mygxWFGpVH9kC7sNoNRdc5xJAL_FM76hPGpmn4W7vixYnRwkd9WL8NNqxfp/s400/_DSC0048.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373750792104902690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FcJKZA3ru-O9ashO840z8JG43lF5iM2HyT5gJ71mSGb-fU2ZmNF-Mus3h_ANDAriCJ3UOn7lDFRFHVvPfIeVV8GE-u3f3GWJe92YItldjDtKDf6YkQuoiRY5xjOzhkAWa8D5/s1600-h/_DSC0045.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FcJKZA3ru-O9ashO840z8JG43lF5iM2HyT5gJ71mSGb-fU2ZmNF-Mus3h_ANDAriCJ3UOn7lDFRFHVvPfIeVV8GE-u3f3GWJe92YItldjDtKDf6YkQuoiRY5xjOzhkAWa8D5/s400/_DSC0045.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373750783219491010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6my4SGzjn9UYZnR6g6a5spTajcKv43UhKkpECapkUhxy9oCt38BybU9cCl04vOTNaKcf80PlhzLYq5FnfAswlr2e87-q-NGAj4BUPxKMCp1mqwiFa_7Hd7ydZ_DoHyklSu86g/s1600-h/_DSC0044.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6my4SGzjn9UYZnR6g6a5spTajcKv43UhKkpECapkUhxy9oCt38BybU9cCl04vOTNaKcf80PlhzLYq5FnfAswlr2e87-q-NGAj4BUPxKMCp1mqwiFa_7Hd7ydZ_DoHyklSu86g/s400/_DSC0044.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373750768168398226" /></a><br /><br />Forget ever trying to get Ellie's goggles off--she not only swims with them on, but loves to eat, play, take a bath and even sleep with them on. Can't believe this one started preschool last week. Hope her teachers don't mind the goggles! These aqua-tinted scenes put her underwater in our living room without having to build an indoor pool--always a $mart move in uncertain economic times.Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-90714223909363552982009-08-24T19:50:00.000-07:002009-08-24T20:33:41.905-07:00Broker Headshots<img style="text-align: center;float: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 64px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQVqQ1gsT5O7WgInyObaeN74qWJXBPOGyYcPtm6qTWieh-QmIBFj8yG8ahmkZM5Koo13Ep2-wDjZLgmrNLHAQrr1GFeTu2TNSzNZDe0m2GSJvpLaw19OPTB-jGCTFcrGAPyn7/s400/CGBanner2008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373733404597429218" /><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9T4Upjvz4r0R1KflngLG8qPP-tCCpdbju_hL5DUiuYXucNadBbgJZYCq0RLLkYZBYbRYghTVcuw2B4YH4NFCDuMxLebfXK7pgN5sVP4Zi9RQz2yEovHgXkuggNGYUiNcG3Ue6/s400/cologroup+banner_headshots.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373739076359996914" />We posted up broker headshots for the Colorado Group this week. <a href="http://bit.ly/3nBYjj">Here</a> is a link.<br /><br /><br /><br />The architectural detail shots in the upper right corner of each page are ours, as well. Doing broker headshots does differ from environmental portraits. You get 2-3 minutes per person with the quick headshot. Environmentals usually run from 20-60 minutes and are much more creative and dynamic. But there is a place for each.Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-25971032056006437702009-08-24T15:41:00.000-07:002009-08-25T21:55:53.981-07:00Anyone Want a Neon Sign?<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72vCJTcScgbUj2LmRBe8EQHoNHGLlBDucYpmXDT2y-38IhALDE9p51R_G0CbHR43HsbmGdmkCs_3INNN2asaxuhK-1Pm8WVbxIwer5fWfE5u6-mXfaO6HJInnnpfz5jkhCpVW/s400/_dsc0988.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373703732883731122" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRdeR9OylIYu7f3JjtkaidtqAVfqXyf6X9Q79UKSL3ersFiZHa36W1h6WCz8I6iemXGXgCSIzMOfKltq-Wd9EPSa93EuOhAywpt2gkI1jzsWsdoGs3w0yl470yBj2DGAYMDUE/s1600-h/_DSC0313.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRdeR9OylIYu7f3JjtkaidtqAVfqXyf6X9Q79UKSL3ersFiZHa36W1h6WCz8I6iemXGXgCSIzMOfKltq-Wd9EPSa93EuOhAywpt2gkI1jzsWsdoGs3w0yl470yBj2DGAYMDUE/s400/_DSC0313.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373715593539774130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPzy3UuS_uWqC2GWogOHushGxWDXlLdmy_ulv4Tccwt4WkdsOHbcPg8qh23Hsm0iIK290qk6SjYvxu0ROKsGVXXnjNQ-1IbO607iBJ7BdaJQoD3McNrIgZR_Bqty_FazqKym_/s1600-h/_DSC0171.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPzy3UuS_uWqC2GWogOHushGxWDXlLdmy_ulv4Tccwt4WkdsOHbcPg8qh23Hsm0iIK290qk6SjYvxu0ROKsGVXXnjNQ-1IbO607iBJ7BdaJQoD3McNrIgZR_Bqty_FazqKym_/s400/_DSC0171.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373715585708843282" /></a><br />I detoured off I-70 last Sunday--too much traffic and needed a break from drive from Glenwood. Enroute to the Idaho Springs java place, I saw a vintage neon sign being torn down. I shot this sign last fall when it was still intact (first image). By the way, I love the richness and grunge texture encrusting these old neon signs, intact or lying forlorn across a soon-2-B-gentrified property. But the Peoriana Inn has seen better days and the sign out front sure could use a new home. It would be fun to have my own vintage neon sign retirement home be a great place for 'seasoned' signs to spend their final years in dignity? I know there is the neon sign graveyard just off the strip in Vegas, but there are so many other striking signs beyond the realm of the casino sign. Time to start getting land and a some sign inventory!Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-6341555859192116542009-08-24T14:16:00.000-07:002009-08-24T20:38:31.812-07:00Senior Session with Casey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnroyIQE4CEpn99KGuYIgVIuEkd8BNkVd0XMwf1YyJkad57SJdcsYWYP5iNSUqSA_Thm9Hbvs931742-mMMQU0wnY5YgV__ZsxvNRyj6Xp-7-A9WY4888kZ_P2GzPaX8cnMAPw/s1600-h/20071010_240brdr.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnroyIQE4CEpn99KGuYIgVIuEkd8BNkVd0XMwf1YyJkad57SJdcsYWYP5iNSUqSA_Thm9Hbvs931742-mMMQU0wnY5YgV__ZsxvNRyj6Xp-7-A9WY4888kZ_P2GzPaX8cnMAPw/s320/20071010_240brdr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128357129118660642" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />There really is a different feel to shooting senior portraits versus a wedding. With a bride and groom as a couple, I find it can be quite easy to put them at ease in front of the camera, as they have each other to play off of. But with a solitary portrait, especially high school seniors, it usually takes a little bit longer to break the ice and to get in the zone for being photographed. But the results are fun and very individualized, especially when you let them play! Casey is a pretty dedicated skateboard enthusiast, braving his share of broken bones yet not giving up one of his passions.Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-52480838942364751252009-08-24T10:41:00.000-07:002009-08-24T10:42:29.381-07:00Peyton's First Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw5q2rAm_jnX__SaCVdPVFLMJbogw4ck3330QrO69e_oQkfKf41Q_IoF6InCMlgiY2WHqwnq-iGA0Ac4Z1aw9v-__401-vTcI6bV2KBhIR-ddv5DwbPe9KopkWnhU9Ww4OJbw/s1600-h/peyton_kenzie_mama.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw5q2rAm_jnX__SaCVdPVFLMJbogw4ck3330QrO69e_oQkfKf41Q_IoF6InCMlgiY2WHqwnq-iGA0Ac4Z1aw9v-__401-vTcI6bV2KBhIR-ddv5DwbPe9KopkWnhU9Ww4OJbw/s400/peyton_kenzie_mama.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373587074498830466" /></a><br /><br /><br />Baby Peyton showed up for her first portrait session Friday morning. She was very prepared, looking cute and swaddled like a burrito, her skin perfect and not a hair out of place. For being just 4 hours old, she certainly has it all together! Catch the whole shoot <a href="http://bit.ly/EVtKH">here</a> to see just how ridiculously good looking she is!Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-1627246218834018352009-08-19T11:00:00.000-07:002009-08-20T11:07:20.031-07:00Urban Funk in a Corporate Portrait Session<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPwq3NHXvc59gNbz-p0MFsjOQmdFN4sDQTPta37Rms0mtiD_-6LpdxyNpl8jB2kFqw495D5zt6BMC8VZEZ8U_nNxGgk_HX_q1Z_ARHU0SSi8mtdSQBx4D1DtHd1q2L3X2IbAW/s1600-h/20090716_094102_2806-Edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPwq3NHXvc59gNbz-p0MFsjOQmdFN4sDQTPta37Rms0mtiD_-6LpdxyNpl8jB2kFqw495D5zt6BMC8VZEZ8U_nNxGgk_HX_q1Z_ARHU0SSi8mtdSQBx4D1DtHd1q2L3X2IbAW/s320/20090716_094102_2806-Edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363401600565633362" /></a><br />Got to hang out and shoot a <a href="http://bit.ly/298Zna">portrait session</a> for an attorney friend recently. Jodi is a great lawyer starting up a new law firm in Denver and wanted to create something special and not so stuffy for her new corporate image. So we loaded up and took a few clothing changes down to Pearl Street in downtown Boulder, Colorado and made a whole new look for her. This is not the traditional feel of a conservative lawfirm. And I love it! My guess is her existing and future clients will love it, too. Bright colors, scratchy and rich urban grit come standard here...stuffiness and boring sold separately.Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-75813571860163707782009-08-05T08:45:00.000-07:002009-08-05T09:50:02.660-07:00Collages and Clusters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVmvY2tTMQDs8gUU3SCdz7lu7PhhYFjhF45oPFYFhxr3N5wIvPaGlbM0AIbxBYWsnh-8anfckHNgE8Mp6WScpgEncZQ4a_GHrdbM86H1QL72o5NbyIKuq5tWmei6n1j8NTrtp/s1600-h/collage-boardmount-white.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVmvY2tTMQDs8gUU3SCdz7lu7PhhYFjhF45oPFYFhxr3N5wIvPaGlbM0AIbxBYWsnh-8anfckHNgE8Mp6WScpgEncZQ4a_GHrdbM86H1QL72o5NbyIKuq5tWmei6n1j8NTrtp/s400/collage-boardmount-white.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366507946699777618" /></a><br /><br />I put this collage together from a collection we shot for a Boulder commercial real estate firm. The task was to photograph several architectural structures around the city and then create a display for their office lobby and hallways. We had previously done a collection of our landscape images, but the architectural images were to complement the natural scenes with some man-made vistas. If you are around The Colorado Group's offices on Iris and the Diagonal Highway in northeast Boulder, step in and check it out. And they rock in the commercial real estate market, too.Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-60108395976869176392009-08-01T20:39:00.000-07:002009-08-01T20:46:52.944-07:00Love This One...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I45I9ORI0zKZKDKEF6PKdd-PgSOI9CxQFGS_e3eiQLtE4ZVssOh9FrF332Ji180OljZx8u6-vm9KQj9elNLmdku-i7GWRQhZwZF6QuVlCODisCKNa9iZBhUtjvYb0CV1l4Cj/s1600-h/20090717_162755_3461.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I45I9ORI0zKZKDKEF6PKdd-PgSOI9CxQFGS_e3eiQLtE4ZVssOh9FrF332Ji180OljZx8u6-vm9KQj9elNLmdku-i7GWRQhZwZF6QuVlCODisCKNa9iZBhUtjvYb0CV1l4Cj/s400/20090717_162755_3461.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365207491208921378" /></a><br /><br />Short of shooting a wedding in the Himalayas, you won't find too many wedding venues straying from sea level as much as Ten Mile Station in Breckenridge, Colorado. Perched on the slopes of this stunning ski town at almost 11,000 feet above the ocean, bring extra oxygen bottles for your guests (and even the hired help!) But Colleen pulled this pose off in high style (and without supplemental oxygen), combining strength, beauty and fashion. Love the weighted hip that forms such an appealing S-curve and shows off the dress--FABULOUS!!Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-74363535642866310822009-07-29T11:43:00.000-07:002009-08-24T21:21:45.733-07:00Wedding Testimonial from Camilla & Ryan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNYjw7l3kpXUdEURY7CPRdMJzESDk1iHjXZtn3fy19hDf9hhnE9tmcpjzqbPi3wYT1SVtfGkRmMcz9b-kWeIlT2KzQIZsbsRjAnrz9H64PwXfI3dmctcUmY-7K852O6zIPE0L/s1600-h/20090523_180128_0238.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNYjw7l3kpXUdEURY7CPRdMJzESDk1iHjXZtn3fy19hDf9hhnE9tmcpjzqbPi3wYT1SVtfGkRmMcz9b-kWeIlT2KzQIZsbsRjAnrz9H64PwXfI3dmctcUmY-7K852O6zIPE0L/s320/20090523_180128_0238.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363958226979947074" /></a><br /><br /><br />Thank you to Camilla and Ryan for their kind words about us. We had a fun day shooting their wedding in downtown Boulder. My favorite line is at the very end of their comments (an inside joke about liking us so much that they promise to use us for any future weddings of theirs! Here is what they had to say:<br /><br />Ryan and I got married on 22nd May, and had our wedding reception on 23rd May 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. I knew that photos were one of the most important parts of the event, and I wanted to find a photographer I could trust. I have to admit that I was very nervous about the photos, and wanted them to be artistic and meaningful and reflect the beauty of the occasion.<br /><br />I spoke to Marc on the phone and found him so easy to talk to, and when we met for coffee to discuss what we wanted he was just as laid back and enthusiastic about his job. You could tell that he loved being a photographer and took a great deal of pride in his work.<br /><br />Marc used to coach Ryan's soccer team and had been a family friend more more years than Ryan could remember. I felt instantly very relaxed discussing this important occasion with Marc. He seems to grasp almost immediately what we wanted to capture from the photos and the style of the occasion. And he made the groom feel at ease when Ryan discussed sepia tones and black and white images.<br /><br /><br />Ryan and and I arrived early for a small private photo shoot before the reception began. I was so nervous when we arrived. I had never had a photo shoot or worked with a professional photographer like this. Never mind that Marc had suggested going down Pearl Street at one of the busiest times of the day, and in addition to that, it was the Boulder Creek Festival. <img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9Lz3VKRTW4NPNcPv8oeOT8b8C_8xgLNyihJyyJUOaLqCixVV-12uQvw9BH1hRNjLHpAnV62YlSDOjlv0OyAc7fi7f2Gofybhz59amb25oGzx1dfrsQIonQ9yb1ky9M1t_-Wc/s320/20090523_180639_0257.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373751671061578498" /><br />But as soon as Ryan and I saw Marc he made us feel instantly at ease. He was so excited about getting the right photos for us that it gave us the energy and confidence that we needed. Instead of being embarrassed and nervous about having out picture taken on a busy downtown street, with people watching, and sometimes cheering, we managed to get into the spirit of things and were grateful that the crowds were so happy for us. OK...I still felt a bit embarrassed, but I also enjoyed myself.<br /><br />When we got back to the party everyone had arrived and Marc just went to work. He seemed to strike the right balance of natural photos with posed ones. He worked very well with both families; managing to get the photos that pleased them, as well as staying alert to what Ryan and I wanted.<br /><br />Marc had to go away the next day to a family funeral and so I expected to get some of the photos the next week. But we got them on the Monday after the Saturday reception. When we looked at them we were transported back to that wonderful evening with our friends and family and the magic of celebrating our wedding with them. The quality of the photos was so good, and the composition excellent. But apart from that everyone looked like they were having so much fun and so at ease with Marc taking their photograph.<br /><br />Marc was a joy to work with and one very talented photographer. When it comes to wedding photos I think that half of the battle is understanding what the bride and groom want out of the photos. And Marc did this effortlessly. Ryan and I have both agreed to hire Marc for our next weddings!Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-63858352657383961182009-07-29T10:41:00.000-07:002009-08-24T21:25:48.348-07:00Photographers: How to Choose a Sunglasses Tint<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5ic7p0AVOk6pmL_mUU2tNTbvAzU2dRMgeB-JwMJJPjhhPC4buQrTP2pSgYb80WNNwDzLjjcSJoRVXIkxhMWAMIFbH0QwP1r09a18UDQcTXg4CkYXnLCDRm0C_wZpnFXHPFvF/s1600-h/drive-in_3446.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5ic7p0AVOk6pmL_mUU2tNTbvAzU2dRMgeB-JwMJJPjhhPC4buQrTP2pSgYb80WNNwDzLjjcSJoRVXIkxhMWAMIFbH0QwP1r09a18UDQcTXg4CkYXnLCDRm0C_wZpnFXHPFvF/s400/drive-in_3446.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372110067294945922" /></a><br /><br />After getting my eyes dilated during a routine eye exam yesterday, <a href="http://www.bouldervision.com/">Paige Paddock</a>, my eye doctor, gave me some good feedback about the benefits of which tint to choose for sunglasses. I needed to make a new pair, as my prescription just changed again. Another friendly reminder from the big guy upstairs that I will be turning 40 in a few weeks and that gravity sucks big time on all of our eyes. Enough to gradually cause my eyes to develop astigmatism, pulling my eyes out of visual alignment. Time to move to zero gravity--is there a cabin available on the promenade deck of the International Space Station? Might need it soon...<br />But here is what she had to say on which color tint to choose:<br /><br />---------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Gray and Gray-Green tints:</span> The most common type of lens color. Transmits all colors evenly without changing value of color. Light enough not to impair vision, yet dark enough to provide overall protection from glare. Excellent for bright sunny days. Grey tint is best for bright light situations like water sports because it blocks out the brightest of the sun's rays.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Dark Amber or Brown lens tints:</span> A warmer, slightly brighter lens than the gray. Especially good at blocking the blue light commonly found in diffused light such as one might experience on a cloudy day. Brown/Amber can improve both contrast and depth perception, reduce glare and is a good all-around choice if you live in an area with changeable weather patterns. Brown is great for applications where distances need to be constantly judged, like tennis or golf or skiing or other sports requiring acute visual perception and contrast differentiation. Brown is also best for lower light situations, like fishing in the late afternoon or early morning. Brow<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq1bH9pOotDSvHHI7OToUcGAsalyWaCeFpJvo8ffU5pq7DZk8g9hGSoJVDOrEb269A6Uel2SBm7toEgXpmBB9TAG99P-JkSW1uj1IrHzGbzKmXW-U6A7WijTpQXSuAeQzN3yC/s320/_DSC9140.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373752775857798594" />nish tint lens helps highlight the different contrasts in green colors and enhance visual acuity on the golf course.<br />--------------------------<br /><br />I would also add that polarized lenses are a major obstacle to professional photography. Any of you who have shot weddings or any portrait session outdoors on a sunny day while wearing polarized lenses know that you can not view your LCD on the back of your camera. So you have to go with your regular glasses and squint. For long bridal formals, eye strain gets to be a big problem. It is because the LCD screen is also polarized that when the 2 polarizations (glasses and the LCD) intersect, you won't see a thing on your LCD screen. So I will be switching to a tinted lens this time, most likely a brown/amber color.<br /><br />Nikon/Canon: any new technology on the way that will improve the polarization on LCD screens so this won't be a problem in the future?Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-25260036929655263892009-07-29T09:44:00.000-07:002009-07-29T10:20:28.804-07:00Touching the Pretty Stuff: Blue Lake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUOiBdG5h04Z7Ju-433a16XqvPZpQK3GdSx1YYqVhiyZTEk9Tua5mspbch7du6zwZkbykgzIXsuLz1QOl73EvxdOAN7CwViGQ_iMYdPqMlYAX162CPBV_L0yGHT3eOLOG_NlN/s1600-h/blue_lake_pano.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUOiBdG5h04Z7Ju-433a16XqvPZpQK3GdSx1YYqVhiyZTEk9Tua5mspbch7du6zwZkbykgzIXsuLz1QOl73EvxdOAN7CwViGQ_iMYdPqMlYAX162CPBV_L0yGHT3eOLOG_NlN/s400/blue_lake_pano.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363932798684192354" /></a><br />Did some experimenting with different post processing techniques. Cropping images into a medium format aspect ratio in a few of the landscape images with flowers in foreground. Playing with vintage styling, too. But that said, there was very little to do to improve upon what we had to work with up at Blue Lake this weekend. Ever notice that ringing in your ears from the overwhelming silence in the high country? If you have experienced this, you will know what I am talking about--a truly wonderful thing, full of peace. Then the sound of a distant waterfall ricocheting across thousand foot high walls of sheer granite. Tiny air bubbles trapped in the blue-green ice as a giant slab slowly makes its way to the east side of the lake. The piercing chirp of a marmot lazily checking us out from his perch 20 feet away. The melody of a peace-loving cluster of mosquitos as they gracefully whisper in my ear, drawing a bloodmeal from my neck. Aaaahhhh, the sounds of summer in the high country of Colorado!<br /><br />See the images <a href="http://bit.ly/42AIZ">here</a>:Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11187052.post-91280550298430061122009-07-01T20:25:00.000-07:002009-07-20T18:56:14.724-07:00An Unnecessarily Beautiful World:: The Gallery<div id="PictoBrowser090720195605">Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer</div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.db798.com/pictobrowser/swfobject.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"> var so = new SWFObject("http://www.db798.com/pictobrowser.swf", "PictoBrowser", "420", "485", "8", "#ffffff"); so.addVariable("source", "sets"); so.addVariable("names", "Unnecessarily Beautiful World"); so.addVariable("userName", "marc littmann photography"); so.addVariable("userId", "24527009@N00"); so.addVariable("ids", "72157594560350469"); so.addVariable("titles", "on"); so.addVariable("displayNotes", "off"); so.addVariable("thumbAutoHide", "on"); so.addVariable("imageSize", "medium"); so.addVariable("vAlign", "top"); so.addVariable("vertOffset", "0"); so.addVariable("colorHexVar", "ffffff"); so.addVariable("initialScale", "off"); so.addVariable("bgAlpha", "10"); so.write("PictoBrowser090720195605"); </script>Marc Littmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04348711133135821452noreply@blogger.com0