Kyle and Lamp, originally uploaded by mark.mortensen.

Another image from the modeling test shots for Kyle. The lamp came from my living room (aka studio) and Kyle thought it would look interesting in the images.

Technical Ramblings: Shot on white seamless paper with two AlienBee B800s pointed at the background. One Bee on either side of the paper with some home made barn doors in an attempt to stop the blow back. The third AlienBee B800 is in a large softbox camera left. Post work included some sharpening in Lightroom then off to Photoshop for the Totally Rad Actions; Oh Snap! (no Defog layer applied), Ying/Yang (to lighten the bottom portion of the background), Select-O-Pop (on the eyes).

Rug II, originally uploaded by mark.mortensen.

Closer detail on the rug from my house.

Technical Ramblings: Rug is hung up on my seamless paper background support stands and lit using two AlienBee B800s in large softboxes. Only some contrast adjustments in Lightroom.

Uploaded by mark.mortensen on 26 Feb 09, 9.37PM MST.

Rug, originally uploaded by mark.mortensen.

I have a rug in my house that I bought a few years ago. Finally got around to photographing the patterns. I’ve always found the patterns interesting.

Technical Ramblings: Rug is hung up on my seamless paper background support stands and lit using two AlienBee B800s in large softboxes. Only some contrast adjustments in Lightroom.

Uploaded by mark.mortensen on 26 Feb 09, 7.53AM MST.

Kyle, originally uploaded by mark.mortensen.

Another image from the model test shots for Kyle this past weekend. This would be his sad and somber look. Also it was getting near the end of the shoot and both he and I were tired.

Technical Ramblings: This image shot against my living room wall with two AlienBee B800s in large softboxes. The strobes are very close on either side of the camera. Some sharpening in Lightroom (I’m seeing that I need to apply more sharpening with my 5D II than with my 40D). Then a trip to Photoshop for (you guessed it) some Totally Rad Actions; Oh Snap! (no Defog and the contrast only at 50%), Burn Out! (only the edge burn).

Uploaded by mark.mortensen on 24 Feb 09, 9.52PM MST.

Kyle, originally uploaded by mark.mortensen.

Did some test shots for a model today. I had done Kyle’s senior portraits earlier this year and he came back for test shots. This is one of the images from the beginning of the session. The entire session lasted about 3 hours, which is about 1 hour too long. I’m learning as I go along as I don’t have anyone to teach me this stuff.

Technical Ramblings: Two AlienBee B800’s with home made barn doors pointed at the white seamless backdrop. The other AlienBee B800 is in a large softbox camera left. Postwork in Lightroom included some sharpening and then to Photoshop for my Totally Rad Actions; Oh Snap! (no Defog applied)

Uploaded by mark.mortensen on 22 Feb 09, 6.38PM MST.

Me, originally uploaded by mark.mortensen.

I’m getting my “studio” (aka living room) ready for a shoot tomorrow. Got a couple of modeling students coming for some test shots. Been wanting to get technique of a portrait next to a wall perfected and with the equipment I have I think I’ve got it about as good as I can. Can’t seem to get the soft shadow on the wall to disappear. I’ve seen other portraits where the shadow is not so soft. I’m thinking they are using a beauty dish from AlienBee.

Technical Ramblings: Two AlienBee B800s in large softboxes tight on either side of the camera. Post work after Lightroom adjustments (some sharpening and touch ups to my pretty face) in Photoshop using the Totally Rad Actions; Oh Snap! (no Defog layer), Burn Out! (adjusted the burn area)

Uploaded by mark.mortensen on 22 Feb 09, 12.05AM MST.

Jessica and Addison, originally uploaded by mark.mortensen.

Working through some old portrait sessions and realized I haven’t posted any images from this session with Jessica and Addison. Jessica is a friend from work and wanted some fall portraits. So we went up to Chautauqua in Boulder, CO, USA and got lucky with the weather. This image is my favorite from the series.

Technical Ramblings: I used an onboard Canon 580ex on either -2 or -3 ev for just a tad of fill. Learned that trick from Neil van Niekerk. Post work after Lightroom exposure adjustments in Photoshop CS3 using the Totally Rad Actions; Technicolor Dream World.

Uploaded by mark.mortensen on 18 Feb 09, 9.26PM MST.

Train Car HDR, originally uploaded by mark.mortensen.

I’m in Idaho Falls, ID USA for this week to spend time with my kids. Went out this morning to capture some sunrise images of a wind farm up on the hills. On my way back to the house I came across these train cars outside a potato packing house. A couple evenings prior I attended a local photography club meeting that featured James Neeley (great HDR photographer) and it inspired me to do some more HDR work.

Technical Ramblings: Three images -2,0,+2 ev merged in Photoshop CS3 then tone mapped with Photomatix. Also applied some additional tweaks in Photoshop using the Totally Rad Actions; Oh Snap!, Highlight and Shadow separators, Lights On (just lightened up the train car).

Uploaded by mark.mortensen on 14 Feb 09, 10.40AM MST.

Sean-ta, originally uploaded by mark.mortensen.

A little while ago I was taking images of a friend’s daughters and he had a Santa outfit. With some persistence we got him into the outfit and in front of the camera. What else can I say?

Technical Ramblings: Three AlienBee B800s. Two bare bees pointed at the white seamless backdrop. I need to get some barn doors on those lights because I’m getting some light flare in my images from the light bouncing off the white background. I have the subject about 8 feet in front of the backdrop. Limited space in my living room where these were taken. The other AlienBee is in a large softbox camera left. Post work in Photoshop CS3 using the Totally Rad Actions (go figure right?); Oh Snap!, Prettizer and Ying/Yang (to lighten the white foreground).

Uploaded by mark.mortensen on 12 Feb 09, 8.51AM MST.

Star and Rivet Heads, originally uploaded by mark.mortensen.

A rusted white star and two rivet heads of a coal train car located outside of Sinclair, WY, USA.

Technical Ramblings: No strobes on this image. Just a hand held shot. Post work using the Totally Rad Actions; Oh Snap!, Punch Out!!!, Burn-Out (just the edge burn)

Uploaded by mark.mortensen on 10 Feb 09, 9.00AM MST.