Charlotte, North Carolina International Airport
HDR photograph
Reaching Out of the Darkness
This photograph didn't make the cut for day 008 of my Project 365. It definitely proved a few concepts I was trying to produce though, so it wasn't a total loss at all. Trial and error is the only way to improve my skills as a photographer.

Shot with the Nikon D200 in Commander mode
AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
SB-700 flash triggered using Nikon CLS @ 6 o'clock below the subject w/Rogue Flash Bender
ISO 250
Aperture f/18
Shutter 1/200sec
Adobe Photoshop CS5
Adobe Lightroom 3.4
Don't Ever Forget
Tomorrow's success depends on how well you learn from your past.
Project 365: 106/365 - Creative Inspiration
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography. 

I got the idea for this shot from fellow photographer and friend, Troy Hod Images @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tehimages/6043787281/in/photostream/.  Troy did a night shoot with a reflective umbrella and I knew that I had to give it a try too at some point.  Tonight was as good a time as any.  I had gotten off of work at around 5:30pm and it was dark outside, so that reduced my options as to who or what I was going to photograph.  I had been thinking about this shot for months.  It was pretty windy outside which made holding my Westscott 60" umbrella difficult.  I like how the shot turned out, this is my favorite of the 38 that I snapped in my yard.  During the process of taking the photographs, I started thinking of some new ideas that I'll most likely try out later.  I definitely wasn't trying to clone Troy's photograph, but it made me think about trying something I hadn't thought about before.  Isn't creative inspiration one of the strengths of Flickr?  Flickr motivates the photographer in new and creative directions that cause the photographer to innovate.  I'll be the first to say that I don't really care to duplicate the works of others.  I do like trying to figure out the anatomy of how a photographer shot and lit a subject though.  When I see a photograph that I like or catches my eye, I'm trying to reverse engineer how the photograph was taken.  Yeah, that may be crazy, but it is one of the ways of how I learn to shoot better.  So be patient if I ask you a few questions in the comments section of your photograph.  I'm asking questions because I like what I see, and desire to learn a little bit more about photography which has no boundaries when it comes to what you can learn.  I'll throw a critique in every now and then, because I think it is healthy to get honest feedback from other photographers too.  When you see one of my photographs,  I want to hear about what you like or dislike about my photograph.  How would you have shot or lit my subject?  Maybe you would have your used your Elinchrom Quadras instead of the SB-700 that I have.  If you have something to say that may make my next photograph even better, please don't hold back.  I'm striving for perfection with my Precious (my D200's name).

One point I wanted to hit on tonight before I go, is the importance of trial and error.  As a photographer, you can't be afraid to fail.  Keep shooting, take what you read, or what is told to you, and go out into the wild and apply it.  Work through a light problem.   Challenge yourself to only use one flash on a subject and see what happens.  Stepping out of the box has benefited me greatly.  Starting the Project 365 and later starting a 100 Strangers project have both helped me as a photographer, artist, and person.  Breaking out of my comfort zone, especially with the 100 Strangers has been a good thing.  In my opinion, a photographer needs to be able to socialize and interact with their subject on some level beyond turn this way, or raise your chin, or can you turn your torso to the left a little bit.  

I've ranted enough for tonight.  Thanks for tuning it.  See you tomorrow at the same time and place!

P.S. I really do enjoy working with shadows which are intentional in this photograph, LOL!

Nikon D200
ISO 100
AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
Aperture f/5.0
Shutter 1/8sec
SB-700 1/4 power up inside Westscott 60" umbrella
3 Yongnuo RF-603 triggers used this shot (one on camera, one on flash, and one used as wireless shutter release)
Shattuck
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography.
Mo' Better Blues
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography. 

This photograph is from my jazz themed photo shoot with Mrs. Jackson.  The photo shoot went well and I was pleased with the final photographs.  This photograph captures the essence of the shoot, and the beauty of jazz.  The atmosphere & concept of the shoot definitely reminded me of the movie Mo' Better Blues by Spike Lee.  If you haven't seen Mo' Better Blues, go rent it, it's a fantastic movie.  

As a photographer, I've learned that you have to be ready for any situation that can arise.  Murphy's Law states that "anything that can go wrong will go wrong."  If you encounter a problem on a shoot, you have to work through.  I definitely had to overcome some challenging hurdles with my equipment and lighting on this shoot, but it was a necessary learning experience.
Project 365: 033/365 - Unspoken Words
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography.
Project 365: 062/365 - My Neighbor's Truck
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography.

This is a B&W HDR photograph of my neighbor's truck.  Unknown to me at the time, my neighbor needed some photographs of his truck for his business.  I was more than happy to take several HDR photographs of his truck for him and use one of the shots for my Project 365.  Killed two birds with one stone (or Nikon) by getting my 365 shot in and helping my neighbor out with a nice photograph of his rig for his company.

Now I have to plan for the photograph for Day # 63.  A Project 365 is daunting in scope, but so rewarding in meeting the everyday challenge of taking a nice photography.  It has been a fun journey so far.
Project 365: 063/365 - Kure Beach, North Carolina
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography. 

This HDR photograph was taken at Kure, Beach North Carolina.  I had a hard time deciding on which photograph to use for today's shot, I took quite a few that I really liked.  One of the challenges of a Project 365 is picking the photograph of the day when you take a bunch that you like.  "There can be only one" - Highlander
Project 365: 072/365 - The Burgaw, North Carolina Fire Department
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography.

This is a black & white HDR photograph of some of the fire trucks at the Burgaw, North Carolina Fire Department.  I hope to revisit the fire station to take some more up close photographs of other items and people there.  There is so much to photograph at a fire station.  I used 5 bracketed shots to create the final HDR photograph.
Madi
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography.
Project 365: 104/365 - Brothers
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography.

It was a pleasure to photograph Keon, Jalen, and Donte again.  They are always down for photographs and this pose jumped right in my head from out of nowhere.  Turned out to be the best idea for a pose all day.  These brothers are closer than close, they are always together.  I'm honored to call them my friends!  Keon (left) and Donte (right) are identical twins.
Project 365: 109/365 - 100 Strangers - 020/100
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography.

My original reason for being downtown was because I had wanted to try to take an HDR photograph of the inside of the Copper Penny sports bar.  I had finished photographing 4 subjects and was leaving the guys from FOX26 that I just snapped pictures of when I see Ethan walking down the street with his dog Barley.  I couldn't resist, I had to ask Ethan if he'd mind if I took his photograph.  Ethan asked me if I was with the media or not I guess because I was walking down the street with m camera, tripod in hand, and moving away from the FOX26 van that I just left.  I told Ethan that I wasn't with the media and proceeded to explain my photograph project to him. When Ethan told his name, I immediately thought about Mission Impossible and told him he had cool name.  I took the shot of Ethan and Barley, thanked Ethan for his time, got his email address, and gave him a business card.  When I had asked Ethan if he had an email address, he said the photograph was a good idea and that he'd send a copy to his mother.  Ethan was downtown with Barley looking for a nice location to meet and interact with people and play for his kalimba instrument for money.  I had never heard of or seen a kalimba until tonight.  The kalimba has a real unique sound to it.  While preparing to take the photograph of Ethan and Barley, and gentleman by the name of Sketch walked by us.  Ethan had recognized Sketch and said hello.  Sketch stopped for a minute and shared a few pleasantries with Ethan.  I tried to exploit the opportunity to get another photograph of a stranger, so I asked Sketch if he would mind if I photographed him.  Sketched declined to allow me to photograph him because he has a thing about taking pictures.  Before heading to my goal for the night, I asked Ethan about what kind of dog was Barley.  Ethan told me that Barley was part boxer and Australian shepherd mixed with a little bit of gangster.  Ethan was right about Barley, he was definitely holding things down with his sweat jacket on.  How cool is it when you see a dog wearing a zipped up sweat jacket?
Project 365: 107/365 - Harrel's Department Store
Harrel's Department Store is located in the town of Burgaw, North Carolina and has been in business for over 55 years now.
100 Strangers - 015/100
© 2011 Eric Adeleye Photography.

Buckey is a native son of Wilmington, North Carolina.  I didn't get to spend much time talking with Buckey.  There is a story behind those sunglasses just waiting to get out.  Keep a look out for this up and coming rap/hip-hop talent from the streets of the port city!
Paul's Place
Lista
Refusing to Crack Under Pressure!
The Future Is Waiting for Me
Madi
Hope
Shattuck
Shattuck
100 Strangers - 018/100
100 Strangers - 003/100
100 Strangers 006/100
Beale St, Memphis, Tennesse
Wilmington National Cemetery
Raise 'Em Up for the Groom - Beale St, Memphis, TN
Charlotte International Airport
HDR B&W photograph.
Some Friendly Advice - Beale St, Memphis, TN
Microphne Check, One, Two, One, Two!
Concept Photograph
Nicole
Nicole
123/365 - The Grind Continues...
My journey along the Project 365 has been amazing so far.  It has been stressful at times, but the Project 365 has propelled me into new areas of photography and creativity that I hadn't ventured into.  If you haven't done a Project 365, you are truly missing out on a self development project that will make you into a better photographer.  I'm using my camera ever day, non-stop.  My skills in post processing in Adobe Photoshop CS5 are growing.  One of the only ways to improve as a photographer is through the fires of experience.  Get out there and take a photograph today, it doesn't matter what you shoot, just as long as you do something with your camera.
125/365 - Nicole
* Shot with Nikon D200, WB: Flash, Aperture: f/8.0, Shutter: 1/125sec
* AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G lens
* Cybersync triggers used to fire Photogenic Powerlight 1250 strobes
* 2 x Photogenic Powerlight 1250 strobes @ 1/8 power to the left & right of subject, aimed at 
   white  paper background
* 1 x Photogenic Powerlight 1250 strobe @ 1/4 power overhead at the center of subject, point
   down at 45 degree angle, fired into 60" softbox
* Location: Fred Norris Photography Studio in Burgaw, NC
112/365 - Making Strong Moves
<b>Stop Talking</b>
© 2011 Eric H. Adeleye

Are you going to stop talking about,
And just be about it?

Quit talking about how you are going to do this and that,
Because all you really need to do is just do it.

Are you going to put up,
Or just shut up?
Because if you are not going to do anything,
Then do me a favor,
Take your time wasting,
Space violating,
Action-less self,
Abusing oxygen I could be using,
Out of the range of my ear drums,
And if you can’t get far enough away from me,
Then maybe you can do us all a favor and just shut up.

*****

This photograph was shot outside at night in my front yard with two speedlights. My Nikon SB-700 is behind me, the Quantaray PZ-1 is to the subject's right, pointing down at a 45 degree angle at 1/8th power.
128/365 - Can You Hear What I See?
Can You Hear What I See?
© 2012 Eric H. Adeleye


Can you hear me?
Beware my cry,
My D200's roar has no limits,
No light shall escape the grips of my shutter,
Creativity bows to my command,
The camera scribes the beauty & trials of life upon the sensor,
Capturing every moment like a black hole strangles light,
Turning fleeting memories,
Into immortal moments frozen in time.

The fury of an artist rages beneath my skin,
Can you hear the voice of my camera?
Can you comprehend the hunt for the next creation that never ceases?
The desire to consume 1,440 minutes a day with my camera overtakes me,
The climax of this hunger to create,
My camera's thirst is unquenchable,
The voice of photography cannot be contained,
The artist can no longer be silent or censored,
Because I hear you,
As you holler out from within me!
Nicole
Britany
© 2012 Eric Adeleye Photography.  All rights reserved.
Candi
© 2012 Eric Adeleye Photography.  All rights reserved.
Candi
© 2012 Eric Adeleye Photography.  All rights reserved.
Candi
© 2012 Eric Adeleye Photography.  All rights reserved.
The Eye of the Photographer
This is how I see the world as a photographer.  I'm constantly looking at everything as a potential photograph.  A moment that has been waiting for me to capture it with my camera.  Part of the creative process is envisioning the final photograph in your mind before you take the first picture.

© 2013 Eric Adeleye Photography. All rights reserved.  http://www.eaphotography.us/blog http://www.facebook.com/EricAdeleyePhotography

Nikon D200, AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G lens, Aperture: f/11.0, Shutter: 1/200 sec, ISO: 800, five Yongnuo RF-603 triggers, Alien Bee B800 @ 1/24 pwr with 51" PLM silver umbrella, Nikon SB-700 speedlight @ 1/8 pwr 17mm zoom, Nikon SB-910 @ 1/8 pwr 18mm zoom, two large Rogue Flashbenders, one each speedlight.  Processing done with Adobe Camera Raw, Adobe Photoshop CS6, and HDR Efex 2 to add the HDR effect to final composite image.
Project 365: 302/365 - I Refuse to Hide
© 2012 Eric Adeleye Photography.  All rights reserved.

I am Photographer.  I tell stories with my camera, and capturing history every chance I get when I press the shutter button.  My passion is to create, preserve, and share the moments I witness.  If you don't like what you see, change the channel.  Don't throw stones at what you fear to understand or cannot create.  Every artist has a voice, I refuse to allow mine to be silent.  Deal with it or keep it moving!
Before the Shot
© 2012 Eric Adeleye Photography.  All rights reserved.

This is a composite of two photographs.  Both photographs shot with Nikon D200, AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G lens, aperture: f/3.2, shutter: 1/160 sec, ISO: 100, no flash.
A Father's Sacrifice
Hearts Apart http://www.heartsapart.org
Hearts Apart
© 2013 Eric Adeleye Photography.  All rights reserved.
Preparation