On The Road
April, 2005
Hi and welcome to the April issue
of On The Road. These 7 images are far from the sports pictures
I usually present to you, but I hope that does not deter any of
you from the information and teaching that I cover with each image.
I enjoy photography and welcome new subjects and challenges anywhere
my career takes me while On The Road.
Several years before Mel Gibson produced
the Passion of the Christ, John Bolin, an associate pastor at
the church I have attended for 25 years, New Life Church in Colorado
Springs, produced a stage production called "The Thorn".
This production illustrating the life of Christ has been seen
by well over 200,000 people over the last few years and is a show
worthy of Broadway acclaim. With well over 700 crew and cast members,
Cirque du Sole' style acrobats depicting flying angels and demons,
and set designs that rival those of any New York stage company,
The Thorn is truly an epic encounter and a photographic challenge.
Many of you who come read my website each week are sports photographers
who encounter difficult lighting situations. Well,.....you don't
know what difficult is until you photograph a stage show and The
Thorn was a great test for the NEW Nikon D2X camera. I was asked
to do the photography for a number of uses ranging from future
Public Relations and Promotional use to possible Posters and Commercial
use. Let's have a look.....
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Image #1 Jesus and
His Disciples...This scene was lit with a classic style of
stage lighting. There was a 3 stop emphasis of daylight concentrated
on Jesus compared to the colored stage lighting that fell
off onto the disciples. If I correctly exposed Jesus the 3
stop difference would leave the disciples in total darkness.
Welcome to problem solving 101... I decided to wait for the
end of the scene when the "Fade To Black " transition
would occur. It was at that time the shaft of light on Jesus
would slowly "Fade To Black" and I would try to
capture an image at the moment the shaft of light on Jesus
and the colored light on the disciples would be equal in value.
This was a real patience game for me to wait until the entire
scene was one value of light. I took 3 images during the fade
to black sequence of which one frame was evenly exposed for
both Jesus and His disciples. NikonD2X, ISO500, 1/15 sec,
Nikon 70-200mm G VR Zoom at f2.8, WB 5600K, High ISO Noise
Reduction, Lexar 4G Flash Card, Hand Held. |
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Image #2 Satan's Entrance...While the
Son of God entered quietly, Satan's entrance was a BANG,
BOOM, show of smoke, pyrotechnics, and HELL FIRE. My conversations
with the director alerted me to the production's use of
pyrotechnics and I felt that the exposure might range 6-8
stops during those scenes. To be successful exposing this
scene I chose the Aperture Priority mode and let the Nikon
D2X do its thing. Perfect! The opening of the scene was
very dark, (ISO200 1/13 at f2.8) with dimly backlit fog
on the stage. The blast of pyrotechnics sent the exposure
to 1/1000 at 2.8 with ISO200...a 7 stop increase. Nikon
D2X, ISO200, Aperture Priority (1/1000 at f2.8), WB 10,000K
(to increase the warmth...as if hell needs an increase in
warmth), Nikon 17mm-55mm, Hand Held, Lexar 4G Flash Card.
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Image #3 The Last Supper...One
of my favorite scenes is The Last Supper where Jesus serves
Communion. This is an interesting mix of daylight on Jesus
and Judas, and colored stage lighting on the disciples. With
Jesus having as much as 2 stops more light than His disciples
I chose a position stage right hoping the back lighting on
Jesus might keep the exposure values closer for the entire
group. It did help and a nice image was captured at the moment
Jesus announced that one of His disciples would betray Him.
Nikon D2X, ISO500, 1/25at f2.8, WB 5600K, Nikon 70-200mm f2.8,
Lexar 4G Flash Card. |
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Image #4 Trial of Jesus...The production
featured fantastic stage settings including a cityscape
of Jerusalem. Here is Pilate conducting the trial of Jesus
and eventually condemning Him to death on the cross. Clearly
the most evenly lit scene of the production. The difficulty
was capturing an image with all the characters motionless
so a 1/50 shutter speed would freeze the moment. Nikon D2X,
ISO500, 1/50 at f 2.8, WB 5600K, Nikon 70-200mm VR Zoom,
High ISO Noise Reduction, Lexar 4G Flash Card, Hand Held.
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Image #5 Jesus Being Tortured...The
Thorn was a presentation "in the round" at New Life
Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This "theater in
the round " was perfect for many aspects of the production.
The torture scene where Jesus is whipped was best viewed from
above in the catwalks. This was my first opportunity to use
the multiple exposure mode of the Nikon D2X. This one image
is really 3 frames of different exposures made into a single
frame by the D2X using the NEW MULTIPLE EXPOSURE MODE. I secured
the camera to the catwalk railing and during the scene when
all characters were motionless I shot 3 frames at 3 different
exposures while having the camera set on Multiple Exposure.
At the conclusion of the third frame the D2X combined the
3 frames into one single frame and automatically compensated
for the image/exposure overlap. AMAZING! The stage was ISO500,
1/30 at f2.8......the ring of standing Centurions and citizens
of Jerusalem were ISO500, 1/10 at f2.8......and the audience
was the third exposure at ISO500, 1/3 at f2.8. Once the D2X
combined the 3 frames and compensated for the overlap of exposure
I had a frame that clearly revealed the entire scene and the
venue. I used a Nikon D2X set on the Multiple Exposure mode
(You can choose up to 10 multiple frames...I chose 3), ISO
500, 1/30, 1/10, 1/2.5, Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye Lens, High ISO
Noise Reduction, WB 7000K, Bogen Super Clamp and Bogen Magic
Arm, Lexar 4G Flash Card. The characters held this position
for about 7 seconds while the narrator told the story of the
price Jesus was about to pay for mankind. This 7 seconds gave
me the time I needed to make the 3 separate exposures and
complete the multiple exposure single frame thanks to the
D2X. This is a new option for the photographer who uses digital
and I am just learning how to use the multiple exposure more.
Reading the D2X manual and experimenting with multiple exposure
imaging will help you to further understand this new feature. |
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Image #6 The Crucifixion...The crucifixion
of Jesus was perhaps the most difficult scene to capture
of the entire production. The "Moment" to be captured
was not Jesus hanging lifeless on the cross but the instant
He took on the sin of the world. This was an action moment
and paramount to the body of images I was capturing for
the Thorn's creator and producer, John Bolin. A single shaft
of stage lighting was all I had to work with. The cross
was set into motion on the circular stage that revolved
in a clockwise circumference at a walking pace. The movement
of the cross was not the only motion I had to contend with.
At some point during the scene Jesus would quickly lift
His body and cry out as the sin of the world became His
instead of mankind's. To capture the peak action/moment
at 1/15 would be difficult. I felt the Nikon 200mm f2 G
VR lens would be the best solution. Nikon D2X, ISO 500,
1/15 at f2, Nikon 200mmG VR f2 with VR set on Active mode,
WB 6500K, High ISO Noise Reduction, Lexar 4G Flash Card,
Hand Held. The VR (vibration reduction) feature really helped
stabilize the image.
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Image #7 The Resurrection...This was another difficult
exposure as pyrotechnics would again be a factor. Jesus would
emerge alive from the tomb. His appearance is accompanied
by a blast of pyrotechnics approximately 40 feet in front
of Him and 8 stage lights placed inside the tomb directly
behind Him. The Son of God deserves the best and the flash
of light and pyrotechnics sent the Aperture Priority exposure
as high as heaven itself. No doubt this blast of light was
similar to that which the apostle Paul experienced on the
road to Damascus...but that is another book of the Bible.
I chose a position stage right to avoid any pyrotechnics obstructing
my view and any flare from the lights in the tomb. Nikon D2X,
ISO200, Aperture Priority EV+1 (1/1600 at f 2.8), Nikon 70-200mm
VR Zoom, WB 5600K, Lexar 4G Flash Card. I used an EV +1 to
slightly over expose the Aperture Priority exposure as I believe
Jesus would have appeared brilliant white. |
Well....I hope you have enjoyed this
edition of On The Road. I love this kind of assignment and encourage
all photographers to take on work that will challenge them. The
Thorn presented many new photographic situations that exercised
my problem solving skills. It is the difficult situations that
help you to mature as a photographer and as a person. Until next
month On The Road...............Adios, Dave
September,
2008 (click here)
Olympians, Weather and Workshops
August,
2008 (click here)
Camp Life
July,
2008 (click here)
Lightpainting the Southwest
June,
2008
The Kentucky Derby
May,
2008 (click here)
A Southwest Tour
April,
2008 (click here)
The Endless Winter
March,
2008 (click here)
PMA Show in Las Vegas!
February,
2008 (click here)
At the Ballet
January,
2008 (click here)
One Week of Work
December,
2007 (click here)
A Look Back at 2007
November,
2007 (click here)
Traveling
with the New Nikon D3
October,
2007 (click here)
High Country Journey
September,
2007 (click here)
Walking
On The Road
August,
2007 (click here)
Speedway
Thunder from PA
July, 2007
(click here)
"Arlington National
Cemetery"
June, 2007
(click here)
"Kentucky Derby Day"
May, 2007
(click here)
"Mexico Trek"
April,
2007 (click here)
"Egypt Trek"
March,
2007 (click here)
Transit Mix
"Images From the Air"
February,
2007 (click here)
Ice Climbing in Ouray
January,
2007 (click here)
2007 Year in Review
December,
2006 (click here)
People of Willoq, Peru
November,
2006 (click here)
Lexington, Kentucky TREK
October,
2006 (click here)
Training for the Mr USA Title
September,
2006 (click here)
"The International Golf Tournament"
August,
2006 (click here)
"Tour of Champions Documentary"
July,
2006 (click here)
"Northern California, the FBI and Clint
Eastwood ..."
June,
2006 (click here)
"The 2006 Kentucky Derby"
May,
2006 (click here)
"Off the Road Picture Sales"
April,
2006 (click here)
Ladies Olympic Figure Skating
March,
2006 (click here)
Torino Italy and the 2006 Winter Olympic Games
February,
2006 (click here)
"Hey Dave, are you going to the Winter Olympics in Torino
and What Equipment Do You Take?"
January,
2006 (click here)
The Holiday Tea with Tchaikovsky
presented by Colorado's Classical Youth Ballet
December,
2005 (click here)
Landscapes at Pebble Beach:
a look back at 2005
November,
2005 (click here)
Lightpainting Landscapes
NFL Football
October,
2005 (click here)
3 Day Photography Workshop
Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, North Carolina
September,
2005 (click here)
Michelle Kwan
August,
2005 (click here)
International Gymnastics Camp
July,
2005 (click here)
the Men's US Open Golf Championships
June,
2005 (click here)
The Kentucky Derby
May,
2005 (click here)
Nevada Photojournalism Day
April,
2005 (click here)
John Bolin's "The Thorn"
March,
2005 (click here)
Indoor Track and Field
UC Irvine's Paul Spittle and
the Sports Shooter Academy
with Nikon's new DX2
February,
2005 (click here)
Broncos Football:
Denver vs Indianapolis
the US Figure Skating Nationals
Portland, Oregon
College Basketball:
Colorado State vs Air Force
January,
2005 (click here)
Broncos Football:
Broncos VS. Dolphins
Assignment work:
Wrestling
December,
2004 (click here)
A look back at 2004
November,
2004 (click here)
Rich Clarkson's Photography at the Summit Workshop &
Moose Peterson's Digital Landscape Workshop Series
October,
2004 (click here)
Whitewater Kayaking
Gymnastics and more
September,
2004 (click here)
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games
Athens, Greece
August,
2004 (click here)
A look back at some wonderful Olympic moments
July,
2004 (click here)
USAFA Graduation flyover
US Olympic Training Center - Swimming and Gymnastics
June,
2004 (click here)
Last Month the Masters, this month The Kentucky Derby......I
love my job
May,
2004 (click here)
Masters at Augusta National
April,
2004 (click here)
The American Cup Gymnastics
NIKON COLLEGE WORKSHOP
March,
2004 (click here)
Indoor Track and Field
Women's Freestyle Wresting
Rhythmic Gymnastics Nationals
The Glass Flower Ceiling at the Belagio Hotel in Las Vegas
February,
2004 (click here)
College Basketball
Women's Waterpolo
Olympic swimmers on their way to Athens
January,
2004 (click here)
NFL Football
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals
A look back at The Greenbay Professionals
December,
2003
Monday Night Football the Sports Shooter Workshop and Luau in
LA
November,
2003
Photography at the Summit workshop
October,
2003
Portraits to workshops to stock image sales
September,
2003
Lightpainting in Banf
The World Gymnastics Championships
August,
2003
International Gymnastics Camp
July,
2003
Thunderbirds
Gymnastics
The Sports Photography Workshop with Rich Clarkson
Velodrome Cycling, More
June, 2003
The 129th running of the Kentucky Derby
White water kayakers
The Champions on Ice tour
May,
2003 (click here)
PBR Rodeo
Chris Shivers and Little Yellow Jacket ride for $1 Million
April,
2003 (click here)
Nikon's featured speaker at PMA in Las Vegas
American Cup Gymnastics
USAFA Women's Basketball
USAFA Swimming
USAFA Boxing
NCAA Fencing Championships
March,
2003 (click here)
USOC's Titan Games
February,
2003 (click here)
Air Force Basketball
Pro Football Pre-Superball Stock Sales
Swimmers train at the Swim Flume at the USOC
Much more!
January,
2003 (click here)
Diving at the Air Force Academy
Denver Broncos VS. The Arizona Cardinals
Olympic Hopefuls Lenny Krayzelberg and Tom Molchow practice
at the USOC
