.....
LightIf you know of a good spot, consider the lighting. Is it great at 10AM and crappy at 4PM? Timing is important.
I know that no one will answer this, but it isn't any worse that hearing people talk about their 'turbo envy' problems or how some Americans feel so inadequate.
Carry on....
so obviously you want to see if anyone is reading this LOL......
YES - LIGHTING is EVERYthing!!!
some of the best pix are taken with 'dramatic' lighting; ie either early or late in the day. Both times give different qualities. So aside from a select few, that means LATE in the day, right?
Those beautiful pix you may have seen are taken either with a HUGE (like KINGSIZE) bed sheet type light reflector (beside or 'all around' the camera' that will help show detail and even out the lighting levels. A flash on the camera will help too, but typically they are automatically controlled and read all light levels and so probably are too weak to provide much fill.
If you have access to a good ole manual flash (the bigger the better!) or even two, they can be used with better results as they won't be the new-fangled thyristor, etc types that shut themselves down when they see enough light coming back etc etc etc. Way back in a previous life I spent a couple of years taking photog so I learned a FEW - only a few - things... (you notice I am not working as a photographer.....
)
Anyway
all that being said, I think Gary is right; we could prob come up with about 3 or 4 really good spots and get setup for that. I MIGHT have a flash setup that could help out: 2 or 3 manual flashes MAYBE with an electronic eye that will trigger them remotely (have to find that too!). I am sure a bunch of people here can come up with some really good suggestions and then check them out. Maybe we can find out what the hourly modelling rate is for the waitresses from one of the meeting places.....
...ok ok.
Doing a setup like that takes time and coordination and would work well for a nice group shot, so everyone should start thinking about possible locations. Most likely we will want it to be into the spring enough that there are buds on the trees etc and the grass isn't dead and brown and so on.
So here is a suggestion for a place:
The self-proclaimed "Lilac capital of Ontario or Canada or the World" or something is Franktown; directly west of Richmond about 10-15 (?) minutes. The lilac bushes are out in full bloom (again IIRC) BEFORE the May long wknd. Grass is green by then, salt is well washed off the roads and it gives people time to get their cars ready. I suspect we could find a couple of good sites there.
Ashton is on the way (sort of) and it has some nice old buildings (I think?) that might provide a nice backdrop. Maybe there is a riding stable out there somewhere that would be a third possibility; nice horsey environment. I was surprised how cooperative and willing people were when they were asked politely to 'use their places/props'. So ask and ye might receive!!! It works!
An industrial site ie with a quarry and a big earth mover as a backdrop (don't shoot a yellow car, tho! LOL) might interest someone; get thinking outside the box a bit! Maybe Champlain overlook in the Gats; but timing/lighting will be CRITICAL there for the best possible shot;
A fire hall but you prob need to know the local volunteers for that kind of cooperation;
Etc etc etc.
Maybe a group shot at the racetrack?
lots of places.
NEXT?
Author