Postcards from Venice

Eating gelato, strolling across the pont di Rialto, a fresh breeze rolling along the canal.
Venice, magic.

And, beautiful backwaters.
Venice-style.

Shoot manual: tip #2: Aperture ... don't be afraid!

Aperture... it's one of those words that gives everyone learning to shoot manual the heeeeeby jeeeeebies. Why?! Let's just call them f-stops.
They really don't make a lot of sense. I'm just being honest.

But, because we doing this the super simple Cat way, I'm not even going to go into that right now.

Just for now, all you need to know about aperture is that it's all about controlling the way light comes into your lens through a hole.
A hole?

Yep, a light hole.

Depending how big that hole is can change how your photos look.

That sounds easy!

Well, it is.
And at the moment, all you need to know about f-stops is that they are the things that make the hole big or small.

Ok, ready for the video that will explain the hole a bit more ....



Watch out for the next aperture video which will be all about how to control f-stops and why they are going to become one of your best friends!

Happy shooting
x Cat

Shooting manual tip #1: THINK LIKE A CAMERA

If you haven't done it before, sometimes the very thought of shooting manual can give even the most experienced photographer the willies! And i say experienced, because the fact is that with all the bells and whistles on them, dslrs (the big cameras with lenses you can change around), micro 4/3's (the smaller mirrorless cameras that are VERY popular at the mo), and even point and shoot cameras give a person the experience of taking great shots without even really knowing what they're doing.

And over a long time, if they're good at composition, they might begin to feel pretty experienced because when the camera is doing the thinking their shots tend to come out looking pretty dang great! Cameras are pretty smart and if you have them on auto or P (The comedy setting commonly mistaken for professional but which really means program!) they will do all the hard work for you, measuring what's happening around in terms of light metering and movement and will work out a setting that will take a shot it think will look right and in the law of averages it does! And if you're happy with this, you can stop reading now no harm, no foul!.. (or perhaps if you think one of your friends might be interested in extending their photography knowledge please share this with them!)

... But, if you're like me and one day you feel you've let the camera do the thinking long enough and you're ready to take over the creative reins and develop the skills to use your camera exactly the way YOU want to then stick with me and i'll show you how. Why? Because shooting auto you have one option of how your composition will look, but shooting manual ... how many options do you have? UNLIMITED Getting excited?? Good! Well, let's go!

Shooting manual tip #1: THINK LIKE A CAMERA

"Once you take control, your creative options are limitless"

I know it's kinda obvious but if you're shooting manual you're going to be making all the decisions for each shot and making adjustments to shutterspeed, aperture, iso etc in place of your camera doing it for you. Now don't freak out. I know you thinking 'I don't even know what all those things even do exactly so how can i change them to make the images I want!!??' and, don't fear, we'll come to that. But for now I just want you to get into your mind that this is the direction we're heading. Do you want to do that? Hell yeah! Well great, we will, you are going to become your camera's brain and with that you're going to get the chance to take the kinds of pictures you've always wanted to!"


Tomorrow: Shooting manual tip #2: Aperture Share if you care about helping people unlock their camera creativity!)

Questions, comments?? Please add them below and I'll answer everything i can.

Happy shooting! Cat

The Christmas rescue package...

When Charlie boy called he said, "what's the best Chrissy pressie for people who have everything??"
It was the least I could do to help him out with special gift voucher package that he could use to spoil his nearest and dearest this holiday season.
And now, I'd like to offer the same deal to you.

For one week only you can purchase a cat brown photography Gift Voucher to spoil your friends and loved ones. This gift voucher includes a fun and organic location photo session with me, plus a large and beautiful 16x11 inch loose art print, 2 8x12 inch loose art prints and 2 5x7 inch loose art prints for only $295 (usually $431).

It could be just the perfect idea for the holiday family get together, something great for the kids, your best friend, an amazing staff gift, the newly engaged couple in your life, or for yourself!

Order by emailing catbrownphoto@xtra.co.nz and your address and the name of the person/people receiving the voucher, and it will be sent out quick smart - and you can make an easy online payment....Charles found that convenient. I'm sure you will too.

Order by Dec 22 to get yours in time for the big day!

x Cat

Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle - latest photos!

I just love summer! Bang it's here - the waves are more crystal, the bbq's are crackling and there's a buzz in the city! On the photo front it's been biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzy!
Want to see what I've been up too?
Well, it's been DIFFERENT.
That's the only way to put it...one day it's marketing pix for a retirement village (let's just call it RymanHealthcare - is anyone NOT working there at the moment!!??), the next night it's up till the wee smalls shooting DJs ... For a medical centre I also had to shoot someone being stitched up, for REAL. I'm not good with blood - but I was very...errr professional .... and clicked. I'm not sure if you want to see those pictures though!
I've also been taking lots of Christmas photo orders which has been cool because piccies are a family's lifeblood I think.
The house is burning and what do you save? The TV? The car?
Nope, it's the photo albums.
Just something to think about.

Anyway, I've put a selection of my latest snaps for you to see!

Also next week I'm going to start the cbp Christmas rescue service.
Say no more.
You'll just have to wait and see.

PS Have I mentioned lately how much I love my clients! They are THE best. F'real.
Yes I'm talking about you - I know you're reading this!
PPS Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle

Recent photos by cat brown photography 

The gorgeous Amess family

The super talented and lovely DJ HAT rocking the Jagermeister Bus

Dr Brian Gibson - 3RiversMedical is on the way!
















Kiri Te Kanawa Retirement Village .... 

The beautiful Stallmachs

These guys made my day!
The wonderful YKids ...awwwwwwww
so lovely - and such a ridiculously fun shoot.
Thanks Bex for your wonderful whoopee cushionery skills!

And from the pages of Italian Vogue .... it's Anne Young-forever and Joe Meredith
Just stunning!


















Take it easy :)
x Cat

 

Mo' Billboards Mo' Music!

Labour MP Moana Mackey is the only person I've actually sung with while photographing (ok, well I did sing 'I'm a Rhinestone Piglet' to Camille and Stuie French's kids but I'm not counting that!).

THE TROLLEY SONG 'from Meet me in St Louis' and performed originally by Judy Garland isn't the obvious choice of song for a photoshoot, but then again if you're going to sing a song with your client you might as well aim for one that has associated song effects as part of the melody (DING DING DING goes the trolley...) Here's the song if you want to risk it!

And full disclosure it's not really the first time we've played or sung it together...but that's ANOTHER story.

Moana Mackey, on a Gisborne corner near you!

From the streets of Rio

catbrownphotography.co.nz
Just fresh back from a month soaking up the sun and family goodtimes in Rio, my buddies from Brazilbeat Soundsystem caught up with me on Friday for a photoshoot prior to their long hot session of music and touring which will be coming up for them this summer 2011/2012.
I've known DJ Mara and MC Nego Beto ever since they started coming to NZ back in the late 90s.
Back then I was a baby newspaper reporter and they were both still living overseas, but came to Gizzy to visit family in NZ.
I was sent out to write a news article about them: Beto had set up Reggae MTV in Brazil and had done lots of cool stuff like touring with Bob Marley's Wailers as a percussionist which I thought was pretty rad. At the time Beto spoke practically no English and Californian Mara, who had done a peace corp mission in South America when she hooked up with Beto, did all the translating.
At some stage I threw a cockroach at Mara because she was asking all the questions instead of me!
I was never a very good journalist and I'm surprised she still talked to me after that. What a cheek.
Since then BBSS have played all over in NZ touring regularly up and down the country at heaps of festivals, playing at Rhythm and Vines and Homegrown and keeping themselves sane with the occasional stint back in the US and Brazil!
If they're in your city this summer go and check them out. Brazilbeat.org
Big thanks to the super Becks Burt who was my photo assist extraordinaire during the shoot and also  Jasmin Weiss dos Santos who took our group piccie! Thanks Jas!

Here's a couple of my fav pics from the shoot:

How big is that smile! MC and percussionist Nego Beto

the perfect innercity backdrop - DJ Mara and MC Nego Beto

MC Beto and DJ Mara

The crew!