First Shoot w/my new camera

As you all know my purchase of my Sony A200 was delivered to me in early December and the unit did not work. I was very upset! I personally took it back to get it replaced so I would not have to go through the 10 days of waiting on the post office, and what if the unit fail again, I can't. So I take it over there and being that it is the worlds largest camera store, it took a while to get customer service to help me, but I was patience, being I have the love of the Lord, I waited, and waited. Finally the guy shows up to look at the unit and ask what's wrong with it. I said, it won't come on! He ask me if I charge the battery, DUH!!?? So he goes through a series of back and forth with the unit and after all that, he ask, What do you want to do? HUH!!?? I want you to give me a working camera! So he looks for a A200. He find one like I ordered and then he says to me, You have to pay the state tax on it being that I am picking it up from the store. Well you know I said that I was not paying anything being that I burned gas and payed tolls to get there I thought it was an insult. So he made it so that it look like I purchased the camera and that was it. I made a comment about it on Twitter and the rep from the store responded. I told him what happened and he was very concerned about my situation and made it right by sending me a $25 gift card. That was very nice of him and I am happy with my camera. The photos above are of my model Sade. She bared frigid temperatures for the shoot. It was shot on my balcony with a single strobe through the window and a diffuser. The setting were ISO 100, 1/20, F/5.6,w/18-70 lens. I adjusted to exposure in Lightroom because it came in a little dark for my taste. The weather was a bit rough, we have a blizzard warning so I knew we will have enough snow for the shoot. But it was a great shoot. So until we meet again, Let your light shine!

My New Camera

There is nothing like getting something new from the store. You can not beat the feeling of making a purchase and getting the product and using it. But how about if it does not work. I bought a camera from a well know store in Manhattan, NY.. A Sony Alpha 200 just like the one here. I tried not to be to excited about getting to use it, so I calmly charged the battery and made sure it was good and charged. Put the battery in the following day and -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NOTHING! Camera did not come on and I have a Party to shot on this following evening. I really can't say how I felt when I saw no lights, no sound, NOTHING! Sorry. I thought since I will be shooting again that I would let you guys know what's going on here at Fotoconcept. Mayhem has begun, but I am on top of it though. I refuse to let it rule. So I will be going over to the city and see if they will be so kind as to give me a replacement being that this one is a DUD! Sorry. I will be blogging this so I don't keep no unwanted frustration festing in me. As soon as I get the word about how they treated me over there I will let you guys know. The name of the store? I won't say, maybe this is an isolated incident, but still it's messed up. They have a fine rep, But come here now, you got to do better.

Film Camera

Hey gang. I had a blast with my film camera and I have yet to take a roll and get it developed. On one roll I have a couple of shots of Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller on location in Queens,NY. Now going to the drug store to get the rolls developed has been a problem because when I get home from my day job I don't have the energy to go to the drug store. But I will be dropping off some of this film so I can see what I shot. Today I made a purchase, I bought a Sony A200 DSLR so I can get back to shooting for profit. By next week I will be back in action. I am so excited about this and I can't wait. I bought it from B&H in the used dept. They have a good selection, but I am a Sony man being that I own a Minolta, this way I don't have to by new lenses and gear. So I can just keep it moving. So stay tune as I get my old clients and find new ones to get Fotoconcept on the map. See you all soon.

Going back to basics.

I guess you are really saying to yourself,"What is Fotoconcept going to do next?"Well it seems that I had to get a new camera. My DSLR power switch was broken and being that it's a Minolta, getting it repaired is going to be tedious. So I went online and found me a film camera, Minolta of course so I can still use my lenses, and now I am in the process of starting over with film. I notice that a lot of places don't develop film. One place, I will not say, said it will take a week for my images to come back. But I have a place that will have them for me in a day. This is going to be interesting shooting film instead of digital. Kinda takes me back to when I was in high school shooting black and white and was not able to see the shot instantly from the back. The anticipation of getting them back from the developer and seeing them will bring back the old days. Keep an eye out, I plan on shooting my model Zekea Steward in my upcoming shoot. "Stay in Focus!"

What!

Hey everyone. I guess you are wondering where is Fotoconcept. I have been trying to find my brand. Something that would say,"Oh yeah, that's Fotoconcept's work". So far I have'nt found it. I have no critics that has an eye for art. It's very hard to judge your own work. So I hope that one day someone will step up and let me know if it's good or bad. So to what ever fan I have feel free to email me or respond to this post if you find a photo that tickles you fancy. The Photoshop that I am using is really great,( PSE8) and learning to use it is a snap. I just have to get out and shoot more. I guess because of the lack of support I just don't shoot what I need to have a brand. The photos I have here are photoshoped. I think that web and graphic design is a pretty fun gig. The fireworks was something I learned in a issue of Popular Photography, (July 2008) the fireworks was shot in New Jersey and the foreground is the Brooklyn Bridge (You know where). The process was pretty easy, so now I won't freak out when I can't catch the fireworks on the Hudson. I can put fireworks anywhere now. The shoes was a friend's wife shoes off of Facebook. He took a shot of them, I cropped out one and used the other. Honestly I think it is find work, For someone who did'nt take one lesson or has a BA,PHD,or a Masters, I think I did good. So until next time. Grace and Peace.

This year we were giving out plates of food to the people who may not have a Happy Thanksgiving like the rest of us. The gesture was so rewarding. We went to three destinations and handed out 100 dinners. I was also happy to see that we were not the only ones helping out, may G-D bless them for their effort. This Christmas we will be back out to hand out more plates for the people. See a need fill a need. Let's fill the world with LOVE, and let them know that G-D is with them.

My new umbrella set-up

Recently I received in the mail my new wireless trigger system for my speedlite set-up. I got the idea from this website Strobist.com. They deal with only speedlite set-ups, and how to light your subject as cheaply (economically, or how ever you want to say it) as possible. With this system I can shoot out doors with out bulky batteries or extension cords. With this system I am able to do more, just like the big name photographers with their big budgets and fancy equipment. I now have the power to produce great photos at low cost, sounds good right, "I KNOW!!" I ordered my trigger, and speedlite bracket from Ebay. I have two of everything so I can have a key and fill light to work with. I have a shot of my grandson sitting on his play chair modeling for me. I can have that dramatic light look and be free to shoot without wires. I highly recommend you to go and become a strobist, the results are outstanding, even in the rain. When I have more shots I will post them. See the Light, Be the Light, Capture the Light! (All shots were taken w/a shoot through umbrella)