Happy Holidays from Ken Doo Photography in Carmel!

Home for the Holidays. ©2011 Ken Doo

Happy holidays!  I know that many of you expect a humorous holiday greeting from Duffy, my bull terrier.  Sadly, Duffy passed this last summer from kidney failure.  He is sorely missed around the studio!  2011 has marked an extremely busy year, and I’m looking forward to a busy and exciting new year.  I am already working on new collections for portrait, wedding, and commercial clients.  New custom backdrops are being hand-painted and added to an already extensive collection of fine art backdrops in studio.  New framing options are available as are new exceptionally high quality portrait substrates.  On the event photography front, the studio will probably (sadly) be retiring its venerable Kodak ML500 printer.  The recent demise of Kodak Professional meant no longer being able to acquire media for the ML500.  There is no comparable printer to the Kodak ML500, and its replacement will require the acquisition of several event dye sublimation printers, most likely the DNP DS80.

Steve Rease. ©2011 Ken Doo Photography. Phase 645DF and IQ180; Phase 150mm D, ISO 50, f/5.6 @ 1/100. B&W converted by Capture One Pro 6.

 I am really excited about new offerings for portraiture both in studio and on location, just simply unavailable anywhere else!  : )  February 2012 will be floater frame February—with 50% off all floater frames with the purchase of a fine art canvas gallery wrapped and stretched wall portrait.  Portrait sessions need only be scheduled before the end of February to qualify.  Graphistudio Wedding Book options from  have expanded with new cover and media selections.  For more information, contact me at my boutique portrait studio in Carmel or call (831) 626-1844.   Best wishes for the new year!  ken

 

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Rebecca Cohen Yoga in Monterey…and beyond.

Rebecca Cohen Yoga. ©2011 Ken Doo Photography. Phase One 645DF and Phase P65+

I like being a photographer because I get to meet a lot of different people.   Commercial photography is no different than family portraiture in this regard, and sometimes I get to work with really exceptional people.  Rebecca Cohen is one of those exceptional people.  Rebecca Cohen is a Yoga teacher.  She is intelligent, professional, talented, and approachable.   What I find attractive about Rebecca Cohen is the passion that she has for her work as a yoga instructor.  It makes the difference between someone who simply works for a living, and someone who really believes and enjoys what they do for a living.  She has extensive training and background in Yoga, even having travelled to study in India.  Although Rebecca makes obviously difficult yoga positions look easy, she is a gifted and affable teacher working with clients from beginner to advanced.

Yes, she's really on her finger-tips! ©Ken Doo Photography. Phase 645DF and Phase P65+ in studio

 

Rebecca is currently teaching yoga out of Monterey Yoga, located at 535 Foam Street, Suite 103 in Monterey, CA 93940, although she may be leaving the area (she is part of the military family).  Rebecca also provides Yoga therapy and Thai yoga massage.  She has developed a loyal clientele following with hopes of keeping her in the Monterey area.  You can visit Rebecca’s website at http://www.rebeccacohenyoga.com/for more information and photos of Rebecca taken during our photography session.  For Rebecca’s yoga photos, I chose medium format digital, using a Phase One 645DF camera fitted with a Phase One P65+ medium format digital back with 60.5 megapixels.  I knew that Rebecca was concerned with using high quality images to represent her business.  I knew that medium format digital photography would give Rebecca’s business the most flexibility in terms of images that could be used providing the absolute best in detail and quality.

Rebecca Cohen Yoga. ©2011 Ken Doo Photography. Phase 645DF and Phase P65+ in studio.

The Phase One P65+ is a full-frame medium format digital sensor (about 2 and 1/2 times the size of a full-frame DSLR sensor!) providing 60.5 megapixels.  Recently the studio upgraded to the new Phase One IQ180 medium format digital back with 80 megapixels.  Especially in print, there is a noticeable difference in quality for both portraiture, commercial photography, and landscapes.  For more information about medium format digital photography, contact me at my boutique photography studio in Carmel, CA at (831) 626-1844.  ken

Capture Integration Returns to Carmel – Pigs in a Blanket!

Capture Integration will be returning to Carmel February 19, 2011 for Pigs in a Blanket.  Doug Peterson will be teaching a Capture One Pro 6 class at my boutique portrait studio in Carmel.  Depending on the weather, we may try and venture out to photograph the local area sites, followed by breakfast at the Wagon Wheel.  Pigs in a Blanket optional!  As may be expected, there will be a lot of the latest medium format digital equipment to see and try.  Call (831) 626-1844 for more information.  ken

PhotoMedia Interviews Ken Doo Photography on the Medium Format Digital Advantage

A few months back I was contacted by James Martin, a professional photographer and reporter for PhotoMedia Magazine.  Jim is a talented photographer and experienced with medium format digital photography as well.  PhotoMedia had asked Jim to write an article documenting the resurgence in interest in medium format digital photography.  Consequently, Jim spoke with me and a few other authorities in the field.   You can read the online version of the article at http://www.photomediaonline.com/?p=2248 .  There are actually two articles,” The Return of the Medium Format Carmera” and “Medium Format Advances.”  This issue of PhotoMedia will remain on newstands until February 2011.  

This family portrait on the beach in Carmel became a gorgeous 30x40 museum gallery wrapped canvas. Medium format digital produces a visible difference. Phase One 645DF, Phase One P65+ digital back, Mamiya 150mm D. ©2010 Ken Doo Photography

There has always been a image quality difference between 35mm and medium format.  In the days of film, the larger real estate offered by medium format offered much high quality portraits, albeit at a slower pace than its faster and more nimble 35mm cousin.  Although medium format film processing was more expensive,  a medium format film body was not much more expensive than a professional 35mm film body.  It actually was pretty nominal.   Enter the era of digital:  35mm based DSLRs offer much higher performance than their predecessors, and though may be considered costly, not nearly at the sometimes stratospheric level of initial investment as a new medium format digital back.   The difference in initial investment between the two formats is no longer even close, with some medium format digital backs eclipsing the $40K mark. This is a substantial premium considering that even top DSLR bodies are currently in the $8K range.  One thing certainly has not changed:  bigger is better.  And the larger real estate of a medium format sensor simply offers better image quality. The difficulties in producing large sensors (up to 2.5 times the size of a full-frame DSLR sensor) has made the initial price of entry into medium format digital expensive.   Despite the recent recession, medium format digital industry leaders Phase One (Mamiya/Leaf) and Hasselblad continue to thrive offering systems costing many many times as much as a well-equipped DSLR system.  Even venerable Leica and Pentax have entered the medium format digital field.

Red Reeds in Yosemite. Phase One 645AF, Phase One P65+, Mamiya 35mm. More landscapes images by Ken Doo may be viewed at http://www.houseoflandscapes.com

Serious artists and professional photographers undertake photographic assignments for clients prepared to offer and deliver more than what is needed with hard-work, equipment, skill, and experience.  They promise to deliver more than what the client expects.  There is no doubt that a photographer can shoot with less, but the nature of the field and competition demands that professionals offer clients more.  For a client’s special day, event, or business endeavor, there is too much at stake to risk using anything but the best and most reliable photography equipment.  Simply stated, Medium Format Digital delivers.

Forbidden Rock by glass artist Becky Alexander. Phase One P30 MDFB. Ken Doo Photography.

I still use Canon DSLRs where I find they may be more aptly suited.  But in terms of photographic enjoyment, nothing satisfies me more than working with medium format cameras.  Although the initial investment is high, the cost over time negates the overall costs of photographing with medium format digital equipment.  It is not unusual for DSLR users to upgrade their camera bodies every 1-2 years, whereas even older generation medium format digital backs continue to produce astounding image quality and provide much more latitude for pushing, pulling, and retouching.  Blasphemy?  Hardly.  In truth, the only real significant change has been better performing camera bodies.  In terms of image quality, sensor size is just like the old days of film:  bigger is better.   I am passionate about my photography and enjoy offering my clients what I truly believe to be the very best through medium format digital photography.  Visit my boutique studio in Carmel to see the difference!

For more information on medium format digital, portraiture, weddings, and commercial photography, contact the photography studio in Carmel at (831) 626-1844.  ken

Monterey County Artists’ Studio Tour Weekend (a peek)

The Monterey County Artists’ Studio Tour was held last weekend, September 25-26, 2010.  Despite the unusually hot temperatures for the area, the tour was a lot of fun!  Artist Chris Love helped me out in my studio and also had her works on display.  This year marked the first time that I have joined the Studio Tour and displayed my landscape work.  Most of my images were displayed in the main studio area and showroom, while upstairs I had several large medium format digital panoramic images (up to eight feet long!) on display under plexiglass.  Here’s a glimpse:

A Tribute to Trees on display. Both matted and framed prints remain on sale through October 2010.

A few more from Banff, Jasper, and Pfeiffer....

I’ll leave most all of the landscape images on display in my boutique photography studio in Carmel through the end of September (including a five foot near life-sized print of a lovable grizzly cub) and then it’s back to portraits, weddings/events and commercial photography!  More landscape photography ventures on planned—and plenty more new images to be displayed at next years Monterey County Artists’ Studio Tour!  Thank you to those that participated during the studio tour, and if you missed the tour and would like to see what you missed, give me a call to visit the studio!  kmd  (831) 626-1844

www.kendoophotography.com

www.houseoflandscapes.com

Metallic Fine Art Paper Added to Giclee Printing Media Selections

Creating a custom icc printer profile for Sugar Cane Fine Art Paper in my boutique studio in Carmel, CA

I have been printing my own portraits and landscapes for several years in my boutique studio in Carmel, CA.  Printing in-house increased efficiency and quality control of products offered by my studio.  It allows me to offer my clients a higher quality product and a greater range of the finest archival fine art papers, canvas, and substrates available.  The studio also provides high resolution photographic copywork for artists and produces giclee prints, or fine art reproductions, for artists on a variety of archival papers and canvas.  Photographic copy work is done with digital medium format, using a Phase 645DF and Phase One P65+ medium format digital back.  The P65+ is currently the highest resolution full frame medium format digital back with 60.5 megapixels, and produces approximately 350 megabyte 16 bit TIFF digital files.  Archival printing is with pigmented inks and on select fine art substrates up to 44 -inches in width.  Custom icc printer profiles are generated by me in studio, including expanded custom profiles with custom grays to insure better shadow detail and exceptional black and white images.

Beginning this month, Ken Doo Photography in Carmel, CA is adding a new metallic paper to its growing selection of fine art media.  The new metallic media shares similarities with Kodak’s Endura Metallic paper but I am now able to print in studio beyond Kodak’s 30-inch width limitation, up to the maximum of my printer’s 44-inch capabilities!  The metallic fine art paper is a smooth shiny surface with exceptional gloss and depth.  The new metallic media looks great with both color and black and white images, and I am looking forward to using this new fine art paper for both my portrait and wedding clients.  I will be adding a special infra-red converted camera to the studio soon, and anticipate that black and white infra-red portraits will look exceptional on this new metallic fine art paper, particularly for my wedding clients and engagement portrait sessions.

Visit the studio to see samples of this new metallic media and other available fine art papers and canvas!  Other fine art medias available include Baryta photographic papers, Sugar Cane, Bamboo, Cotton Elegance Velvet, and Lyve Canvas.  Printing in studio gives me confidence that I am providing my portrait, wedding, and commercial clients the highest quality products, and consequently, I limit the media substrates that I offer as the finest fine art papers and museum gallery-wrapped canvas that I believe are currently available. 

Photographic copy work using Digital Medium Fomat for artists is available in studio and on location.   Call or visit the studio regarding giclee fine art printing and reproduction for artists.

For more information contact the studio at (831) 626-1844.   kmd

Capture Integration in Carmel – 2nd Annual PIAB Part II and Other Misc. Ramblings

Last week marked the end of the Capture Integration in Carmel workshop, otherwise known as the 2nd Annual Pigs in a Blanket.  As promised in part two of this series, I’ve included some of the images created over the course of several days shooting at Alcatraz, Muir Woods, the Sutro Baths, Carmel Mission, and south towards Big Sur. Many more images are available for viewing at my boutique photography studio in Carmel, and I will also post additional images on my landscape photography website.   As I write this, Don Libby of Iron Creek Photography in Tucson, AZ is just getting home from his extended travels with his new Leica M9, having photographed Yosemite, Lone Pine, Death Valley, Mono Lake, among others following the workshop.  All I can say is that Don is really really pleased with the addition of the Leica M9 to his Cambo RS and Phase One P45+ medium format digital back!

Alcatraz at Night. Phase 645AF, P65+, Mamiya 35mm, ISO 400, f/4.5 at 1/4oth

The CI in Carmel workshop really is a great opportunity to meet other like-minded photographers, socialize, learn, and try some of the latest digital photography gear.

The new Leica M9: the perfect MFDB complement

Phase 645AF with Phase P65+ and the new Leica S2 with 70mm lens

I did get to try out the new Leica S2.  This new offering from Leica is more similar to a DSLR, but with a much larger 37.5 megapixel sensor, placing it much closer in medium format digital territory.  The S2 is self-contained like a DSLR, and the body does not have a removeable digital back like its Phase counterpart.  For those new to the world of medium format digital, the S2 offers yet another platform to consider.  But for those that already have a medium format digital camera platform, the S2 is much less attractive.  And for me, quite bluntly, the S2 just didn’t feel right in my hands, and struck me as being cold and sterile.  Others in the workshop either loved the feel of the camera or disliked it.  Those smaller in stature enjoyed the S2, finding that the camera body was easier to hold than the heavier and thicker Phase One camera platform with a digital back.  And I can see how the S2 fills a niche.  I wasn’t a fan of the S2 menu layout, but then again, I’ve been using Phase One MFDBs for years now.  Compared to the Canon 1Ds Mark III or Nikon D3x, I’m sure that the comparatively spartan rear of the S2 would not be difficult to master.

Big Sur Coastline. Leica S2 with 70mm; ISO 160, f/2.4 at 1/4000th

But what do the images taken with the S2 look like?  That’s what is most important right?  I found that when used in abundant light, the S2 produced absolutely stunning images.  Just simply wow.  Leica is known for its quality lenses, and the big 70mm Leica lens does not disappoint.

Muir Woods with Dave Gallagher. Leica S2 with 70mm; ISO 160, f/2.4 at 1/60th

Cropped section of above image. Leica S2. Amazing clarity and detail with the Leica 70mm lens.

Now the bad news.  Unfortunately, the Leica S2 doesn’t perform as well in low light situations.  And the once stellar performance gets ugly when the light gets dim.  Real ugly.  Maybe I should qualify my comments.  In an age of relatively inexpensive DSLRs such as the Canon 5D Mark II, which are capable of quite respectable images at 1600 and 3200 ISO, it’s rather easy to demand more.  And there certainly haven’t been any exceptions, not even for medium format digital.  And true to form, newly released medium format digital backs such as the Phase One P40+ and P65+ are capable of producing good quality images at higher ISOs.

Leica S2 and 70mm; f/2.4 at 1/90th; ISO 640 equals yuck!

At ISO 640, images produced by the Leica S2 looked mushy. I took a quick photo of fellow photographer Rafael Hernandez  and the lack of detail and mush became even more apparent.  I processed the Leica images in Capture One Pro 5.1.  Alternatively, I also tried processing the images in Adobe Photoshop CS4 ACR, but the images from ACR were noticeably noisier and C1 Pro is simply the better raw processor.  We also noticed weird discolorations or anomaly on the back of the S2 LCD viewing screen.  Rafael later determined that this was caused by a bad JPEG viewing algorithm, but with no apparent effect on the final digital image files generated.  A firmware update should cure this anomaly on the LCD, and maybe Leica can improve high ISO image performance by firmware as well.  A clean 800 ISO image file is not asking for much considering the current high ISO performance of recent  MFDBs offerings from both Phase One (P40+ and P65+) and Hasselblad (H4D)—which are also available for sale at a lower price of entry than the S2.

Leica S2 at ISO 640 mushy!

Crop of above image; Leica S2 at ISO 640 mushy and loss of detail

I don’t doubt that Leica will sell many S2 cameras, for what it does well, it does exceedingly well.  But $28,000+ for the Leica S2 (body and 70mm lens) is quite a bit to invest, and certainly will give pause to many particularly considering that other medium format platforms, such as the Phase one P40+ and H4D40, are actually less expensive, albeit a bit bulkier, and minus that shiny red logo.  If I had money to burn, I might be inclined to buy a Leica S2 myself—just because.  But professionally, the S2 is not suitable for me.  Doctors and dentists are lining up now…..  ; )      [Note:  My comments here are not meant as a pixel-peeping review; rather they are my limited observations with the S2 during the workshop.  Hell, it could be fraught with user-error, so go out and grab an S2 and try it yourself…]  Okay, enough rambling….

Garrapata Beach; Phase P65+, ISO 50, f/32 at 3 secs.

Pfeiffer Beach; Phase P65+, ISO 50, f/32 at .8 secs

Carmel Mission Window; Phase One P65+, ISO 100, f/4 at 1/320, Mamiya 120mm D

Carmel Calla Lilly; Phase P65+, ISO 100, f/4 at 1/180, Mamiya 120mm D

Don and I really enjoyed hosting Capture Integration in Carmel, and working with Dave Gallagher.  It seems quick, but we’re already discussing plans to formalize future medium format digital workshops—keep an eye out!  For more landscape images visit my landscape website,  www.houseoflandscapes.com .  For more information, including future Pigs in  a Blanket endeavors, contact Ken Doo at (831) 626-1844; www.kendoophotography.com