I just recently finished a photoshoot downtown and I feel that I’m getting a good grasp on off camera lighting. What I love most about it is that there is minimal photoshop on my end.

I have every model hold up a grey card for me and I use that as the custom white balance which helps get the correct color in the camera. That way I save time editing the photo to the correct color and applying it to every other photo. Grey cards are relatively cheap and there are different kinds where the accurate ones are more on the expensive end.

My main, and only, light source is a vivitar 285 on a light stand shooting through a translucent umbrella. Attached to it is a pocket wizard synced to another pocket wizard on my camera. The flash is set to 1/4 and 1/16. I’ve often relied on the vivitar more than my canon flash. It’s just awesome with a sweet price tag. My next purchase will be a second flash head and pocket wizard.

Thanks to Taelur for modeling and Mae for doing the wonderful makeup.

I’ve started to produce higher quality image CDs for all the paid assignments I’ve come across. The process is fairly simple. In photoshop I set up the images I’d like to use for the front, insides and back covers.

What’s really nice is that I also have a template for the actual cd that sticks right to it after the images or video has been burned. The quality is exceptional as long as your prints are high resolution printed on a semi professional printer.

To top it off, I include a seal which I heat with a hairdryer that results in a similar look to wrap you tear off a DVD you buy from Best Buy. Overall, I’m impressed with this new system as it’s highly customizable and allows me to be completely flexible.

Hollister Co. Has live video feeds of Huntington Beach. I think it’s a nice implementation for the beach type clothing store.

Looks like my site was down for the night and through the morning. I’m glad my hosting company, eleven2, was right on top of it. They’ve always been great with support and that’s what counts the most. I was making some changes to the domains I have under my account and I guess photosbyrowell.com got mixed up somewhere in there but all is good now!

As I promised, here are five awesome photos of Eli during his celebration. Isn’t he the cutest little baby you’ve ever seen? He has those large wondering eyes, looking at me and wondering what in the world I was doing with such a large device in his face. Luckily, he did not cry and just took in all the attention. Thanks Doris for inviting me!

On July 26 2008, Eli Conner OCon was baptised at St. Gregory the Great in Poway. The church itself is absolutely beautiful, at least one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in San Diego. Upon entering the church you approach the Holy Water in a large stone bowl. It’s slightly over flowing with Holy Water and when you lean over and look at your reflection you will see a halo around your head. Pretty awesome! The baptism itself was fairly short and I managed to snap a few portraits of the people who attended. I’ll be showing just the guests and the baby, Eli, will come in Part Two.

If some of you don’t know, I’ve been watching which foods I eat alongside a healthy dose of exercise. Today’s lunch probably does not fit into that diet. For those that do not know, Nozomi is a Japanese/sushi restaurant over on Convoy St in Kearney Mesa.

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I ordered a BBQ shortrib lunch and Barbara, my beautiful girlfriend ordered an awesome salad. Forgive me, I forgot what it’s called. You can read my review on yelp but I do recommend this place if you want some good food.