Color Callibrating a Mediocre Monitor

Well, I’ve grown a bit spoiled in my use of good monitors/displays.

I recently put a less-than-great-monitor on a second machine and could not believe the awful quality of imagery I was seeing. There was no way I could edit any photography with this monitor. It’d be like looking through a green gel at everything.

I made a noble attempt to correct the issue with the display controls but I was honestly shooting in the dark. I’m no engineer. I don’t know the precise physics of light and color and LCDs.

Today I am much happier as I pulled out the Datacolor Spyer 3 which has been my consistent tool of good measure for my high-dollar monitors. Amazingly, in a few minutes I was able to follow the onscreen instructions and get this tired monitor into a decent state of being.

Now, I still don’t trust this display to do my photo editing and color correcting but at least I’m not seeing green all the time now.

So, hats off once again to a useful little tool which has been well worth the price. Now I wonder how awful other people’s displays are … does my work look green to you?

-Kyle

Morning Light. Early Bird.

Sometimes I have to slow down a little and remind myself why I chose photography as a career – particularly when I’ve been as busy as I’ve been the past few weeks.

The day to day business activities can many times overshadow what I really enjoy about photography. The answer? Getting up at 5 am this morning was the shot in the arm I needed.

It’s amazing how beautiful God’s creation is when all is still and the day is breaking. Gradually things come to life. Rabbits. Birds. Hawks. … and in this case … Leiper’s Fork.

There you have it. That was my early morning today. Now I need to get back to work … I’ve got to get ready for an architectural shoot next week as well as a full day of food photography.

Life is good.

- Kyle

Cleaning of the Temple

Well, this isn’t something you see every day.

I was driving back from a food photography client appointment and saw this … so I had to grab my 300mm (and trusted 16-35mm) and capture a few frames. The sky was really doing some fun things so I grabbed a polarizing filter as well.

This is a Mormon / Later Day Saint temple here in Franklin, TN. It’s an interesting structure from the outside.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

- Kyle Dreier

Dangerous Photography

Over the years I’ve managed to avoid many of the physical dangers of being a commercial photographer. Sure, there’s the paper cuts from sending invoices and the occasional burnt tongue from power lunches, but yesterday delivered a blow equal to that of Rocky Balboa.

Most architectural photography assignments land me in relatively benign situations. There are times where I might be dangling from the edge of a building, walking on a steep roof or even navigating a dark mysterious basement. I’ve been in questionable places at questionable hours. (Oh, and contact with poison ivy … but that’s a whole other story.) Who would have thunk that photographing the new headquarters of the Nashville Opera at the Noah Liff Center would have produced a bloody fat lip, two loose front teeth and the headache of the decade.

Enter me, surveying the wonderful light coming into their Patron’s Lounge. I’m captured by the break in the clouds that are producing nice clean light shining through the skylight ceiling and casting sharp shadows with the typography on the perimeter.

In full-stride and mid-sentence I am stopped dead in my tracks by … what was that! Oh, I remember, we closed (and cleaned) the large glass doors for the previous shot. Ouch! A bit dazed, I receive sympathy and ice from everyone around me … my assist, my clients and some of the opera staff who come from their offices after hearing what sounded like a 175 pound man hitting a 4 x 7 foot glass door.

From examining my pristine face-print on the previously invisible glass door I could see that it was likely my less than shy chin that saved me from greater damages. One of my first thoughts (aside from “what was that!”) was “darn, no more corn-on-the-cob for me this Summer.” Ironically, my wife prepared corn on the cob for dinner last night. Needless to say, I had corn-off-the-cob.

Rotier’s Hamburger – Nashville

I received an assignment from Charlotte Magazine in North Carolina to photograph a famed burger from Rotier’s in Nashville, TN. How could I resist … that’s a dream assignment!

This is one of the outtakes from the food photography session. You’ll have to wait to see the selected food photographs until it is published.

Rotier

I sure love being a food photographer in Nashville.

- Kyle

Food. Test. Shoot.

I’m long overdue for a post to the bog, but things have been beyond busy.

I am very grateful for abundance of work these days, particularly with the news that airs nightly. Honestly, I think this is a great time to be in business for yourself … despite the unfair taxation. I digress.

Today I was putting together a few test shots for a potential client. This is probably my favorite way to shoot … loose parameters, flexible deadlines, and food. (disclaimer/confession: I did not sample the subjects, however I was highly tempted … these pepper jellies smell awesome.)

Raspberry Pepper Jelly, Blackberry Pepper Jelly and Strawberry Pepper Jelly.

Blackberry Pepper Jelly

Blackberry Pepper Jelly

That’s all for now.

-Kyle

Architectural Assignment

I was in Lexington, Kentucky the first part of February shooting for a large architectural firm from Nashville. Thankfully we were there before the huge ice storm crippled that part of the state.

This particular architectural photography assignment was to highlight an extended care facility which was a complete redesign of an existing structure. This particular architect client joins us on each shoot with the marketing director and the lead interior designer for the project.

I enjoy being an architectural photographer. It certainly has its challenges but that’s really what keeps it fun. This particular assignment we had to shoot into the wee hours of the morning when the residents were asleep. It made for a long day, but we all hung in there.

For me, my day started at 6:30 am loading gear into my SUV. I picked up my assistant at 8 am. We drove to Lexington and were setting up for the first shot by 1 pm. By the time we got our shots, packed up gear and checked into our hotel it was 1:30 am. But, we shot everything we needed.

It’s kinda funny how different skills overlap. We actually had to create some fake ice cream for one of the shots. We turned to the old powdered mash potatoes and Crisco for this task. It’s not my favorite recipe for fake ice cream but it did the trick for what we were trying to do. (My favorite recipe involves a bag of confectioners sugar and frosting. More at the another time.)

So, here are the results. Nothing glamorous but certainly what we set out to capture.

Stay tuned for the next shoot …

- Kyle

Shooting Product

I continue to push myself in my photography. I’ve found that I prefer to look at things from different perspectives – philosophically and literally.

With photography it’s so often a combination of “thinking” and “looking” simultaneously. I know, this sounds a bit deep for “just taking product photos” but I prefer to be a little deep … otherwise my work would be boring and I would then lose interest.

So, all that being said (and thought), here are a could of product shots I did yesterday. I’m pleased with the forced perspective (thanks to me TS-E lens) and with the split tonal effects (b&w plus a little tint).

Rowenta Iron - Product Photograph

Rowenta product photograph

I am certainly enjoying what I do.

– Kyle

Food. Photography. Red Pony.

I’ve recently shot a number of dishes for Red Pony Restaurant in downtown Franklin, TN. Here are a few of the shots. There are others but I have yet to fully process them.

Sushi from Red Pony - Franklin, TN

Shrimp - Red Pony - Franklin, TN

My only disappointment was that I didn’t get to taste what you see. It sure was tempting though. I can, however, vouch for their creme bruleé … and I’d be thrilled to vouch for it again, and again, and again.

If you’d like to see more see my food photography section of my portfolio.

You can also track me via my FaceBook Nashville Commercial Photographer page.

Cheers.

- Kyle Dreier

Mexican Food – SOL (sun) Style

Having grown up in Texas I’ve long searched for the perfect enchilada here in the Nashville, Tennessee area. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. My wife and I have been here since 1998 and have yet to find what we would say is the perfect Mexican food experience.

In all honesty, it’s really not fair to any establishment here. Even if the food were equal to or better than that which we grew up on it’s likely it wouldn’t be “as good” since it’s not being served/consumed in the Lone Star State.

What’s all this have to do with my food photography? I was pleased to experience the tastes of SOL Restaurant while on a recent shoot in historic downtown Franklin, Tennessee … where I now call home. Franklin, not SOL Restaurant.

Herein are a few shots from our day … and the benefits for being a food photographer.

Shrimp Appetizer at SOL

Tamales from SOL Restaurant

Fresh, handmade guacamole made right at your table.

Mexican dessert - Churrros.

Once again, enjoy!

- Kyle Dreier