Processing IMages using Blender Software. Cool Processing and Color profiles.
Category: Photography Logs
Studio Update and Self Portraits
I have some updates on the studio. I have added curtains and clothing hanger for wardrobe. I have also installed a full body mirror and a half body mirror for makeup and fitting. There is still a longway to go for this photography studio. For the mean time I took some self portraits and did some random recording to test my equipment and its response to my chosen internet provider and also the flow of work that could happen in the future.
STUDIO MIRRORS
DOING NOTHING AND THINKING SOMETHING
Do you know the feeling of having a place to do work but not have anywork to do besides buying stuff to make things better? That situtation is my situation. The studio is now ready for use with some lack but how can we get better funding if the work or demand is super low in the small mid scale of things. Do we still need studios to get signed by an agency? There are a lot of questions in mind about the industry adding Artificial intelligence to that in the area of employment, we can feel and say that work is under threat.
Thinking something as time goes by is becoming a default fot there is that thought of having the place but not doing anything in it. Each afternoon inside my studio I tend to test and do things just to feel that there is something productive going on but it is not the case. The main idea of what I want to say is if there is nothing to do thinking of doing something becomes a default when you are in the environment of a workplace.
WORKPLACE YOU OWN VERSUS NOT YOURS
Working in a place you own has some good things in it. You can take of your shirt and relax. Working in an environment that is not yours tends to make you feel like choosing time, should I speed up time in my mind or not? Speeding up time is based on the idea that, “Hey today my boss sucks and so I hope this gets done urgently so that I can have some simple errands to do and go home.” Having fun on a place you don’t own tends to be the slowing down of time. Going home after work and still having that itch to finish the job or get it done makes you feel bad and excited to go back to work the next day.
If you own the place on the other side the spectrum quadrant of progress is you might feel differently, I feel like I want to accomplish more get things done and move forward into more things I can fit inside my schedule. Paying the bills of a place or a workplace makes you utilize the workplace and do much work as you can, getting tired sometimes is no longer an option but a privilege of feeling I have done something worth a couple of days or you can say worth some cash in the future.
ANGRY GRANDPA MERCH SILLY SELF PORTRAIT
Hoping for good things in the future and for now I tested the studio continuous lights at 50w and I got these types of photos.
3 Point Lighting Recap as an Idea
BANGING OF LIGHT
Light touches another is like a union of sensations. A subject when touched by two light sources is like a good old delicious sandwich. 1 point or 1 source of light is not enough to make a good photo. 2 light sources creates a mergence of two light sources creating an extra dimensional feel. Let me illustrate this. In the day we have 1 light source that is the sun and in the night we have the moon. 2 point lighting and 3 point lighting creates the sensation of having an extra dimension impossible to our native or primal senses. Here is an example of 1 point lighting photo.
KEY LIGHT
See the light that touches the subject makes it seen with enough drama such as chiaroscuro a contrasting image that makes a person think directly to observe. Observing these types of images tickles the mind for it is normal and primal and touches the inner guts of experiencing life. It is familiar, normal and full of direct seeing or observing. It evokes the past and what is everyday life. It makes us feel and remember the day or what can be tommorow the dimension of normalcy or the mundane expressed in a drama.
FILL LIGHT
2 point lighting now creates a mergences of 2 light sources. We all know that more light creates a more quality photo. An image with more light sources in 2 positions now creates the extra dimension that most people do not experience. A house with lots of light sources is illuminated and creates a magical appearance compared to a house with one light source per room. The magic of light now is created in 2 point lighting. See the mergence of light in the face of the subject. This gives us the sensation of something extraordinary, the unfamilliar the impossible in our primal brains. This technique emerged and became the standard for most for it creates that feel of having that extra dimension beyond what is normal or the expanded drama of what is and what is possible. Compared to what is 2 point lighting it creates an additional layer of dimension that evokes and sees the future while the 1 point lighting makes us feel what is real and makes us re think the past and what is.
BACK LIGHT / HAIR LIGHT
3 point lighting is the crowning glory of graphing light, photography made this the standard and in film because it made people look like royals infront of the camera. The hair light and back light made them like the holy saints of religious culture. Think about the aura, how can a person produce an aura in the physical world? The hair light or back light made this happen, a sense of royal divinity in photo imaging. This 3 point lighting technique is used in most glamour shoots and portrait shoots to create that feel of importance and royal status even though the person is not a real royal to the nation but a royal to its people as a sub culture and a society.
Enjoy 3 point lighting and my views about it, make use of it as a creative process and expression, my claims and ramblings about light and photography is not set in stone, we are forever evolving in understanding printing and light. The graphing of light continues to evolve even if Ai is kind of winning the game let us embrace the old techniques that are neglected and forgotten in time let’s keep and recelebrate the methods for the futures to come.
Fractal Orgone Pyramid Idea
Hello this is a blog post about the Orgone Infinity Concept Shoot, it is composed of a Citrine sphere stone, a Pyramid Orgone and two mirrors. The basic idea is to just create an infinite look or evoke and expansive feeling when you see the photograph, seeing the artwork behind orgone items I figured this will be a cool blog post.
CAMERA AND LENS
I will use a Nikon Entry level 3500 camera for this one, a low budget concept shoot for the website. Lenses I used are 11 – 50mm AF-P and 70 – 300mm AF P kit lenses. The two lens usually is with the d3500 camera as a package. AF-P lenses has good AF response and focusing system.
FIGURING IT OUT
The basic idea was in my head due to going to barber shops. As a kid it is amusing seeing an infinity effect on a face to face mirror, you see multiple versions of the same thing it is trance inducing while getting a haircut, experiencing that made it memorable. I decided to create something of that nature and used the orgone pyramids I bought months ago. I placed it in a pattern like manner and took a photo. It looks good now lets duplicate this and make this like a sea of orgone pyramids.
THE CHALLENGE
First problem I had is how do I take a photo of the infinity when my camera is too big. If I buy a big mirror that would be really expensive. Taking the photo with a camera on the right or left side to be erased in photo editing was an option but doing it seems hard. I can’t fit the camera inside the frame and the only camera I have that is small is the Nikon sb5100 point and shoot. My phone was an option but its quality is not that good in my mind.
NOT ENOUGH MINERALS
Not having enough money to buy a micro camera (go-pros) or even do the amount of work necessary to materialize my imagination I decided to work around the subject by changing angles taking sample photos making the most of what I can capture just to get a feel on what will be possible and what approaches could work.
Camera placement and angles was explored, sometimes adapting to the condition is a better option than buying your way into a desired situation. Film making made me realize that quick.
TAKING THE PHOTOS
Doing my thinking for a couple of days before doing my formal shoot and concept I decided to slack and just have fun doing the shoot, it took me a couple of hours to finish my shot by just taking multiple focused exposures and using the infinity concept as a peripheral rather than my main focus. Taking good photos over obsessing with the idea. I still managed to get some infinity effects on camera but I will not publish all of it in this website. You can contact me to see it via email contactus@martinbelgica.com
Here is a Gallery of some Images I took with some processing.
ORGONE INFINITY
Produced in MJB STUDIOS
Produced by Majos Belgica
Camera : Nikon 3500
Lightsource : 50watts Bulb
Lens : Nikkor AF-P DX 18 – 55mm
and AF -P DX 55 – 300mm
Choice of Beer : What We drank 2022
What kind beer do you drink? Me I drink all types and kinds but my favorite of them all is the ‘Super dry’ brand of San Miguel unfortunately I didn’t drink it this year because I no longer drink that much due to yogic reasons.
Out of habit and boredom lets take photos of empty beer bottles we drank last 2022.
Pale Pilsen, Heineken , Red Horse, Engkanto and San Mig light.
Our brands are Pale pilsen, Heineken, Red horse, San Miguel Light and Engakto Green Lava.
Last year was an okay year it came out well, health wise ending with me being covid positive and surviving it, money wise it sucks, paying debt and getting nowhere. Stagnation is common space during 2022. What made 2022 a good year I guess it was when it went by with no one getting hurt although We lost somebody 2022, a relative in her old age and I think it is proper and right that I do not talk about it. Overall 2022 was an okay year, not a great year but just an okay year.
BEER IMAGES
By the way my update on the studio is we have now new wall panels installed. and for that I can say it deserves a beer.
Honestly this is me writing just to fill up the 500 words target. I am super lazy like a super saiyan on hibernation. Goku post eating a number of bowls.
So here it is the San miguel Light.
A very tasty beer for the pussified mind. This is for the ladies but men still do drink this brand of San miguel for they are already married or their gf said so, imaginary or not. San Miguel Light tastes like a good beer that is diluted in sparkling water. It is definitely for the ladies and gentis.
Next Beer is the Heineken the German brew.
I like the Heineken for it tastes like good old beer,malt, lager or whatever drink that tastes like bitter sweet rice. This brand is a straight gulper. It tastes like a solid smooth grain on a sparkling brew that takes you to a place of thirst quenching and gives you a buzz. It is always a go to brand for good drinking. It tastes superb and lasts you a good tolerable hang over.
Next beer is the Red Horse. This nasty sweet beer is a power house.
Red horse Beer is a Gin beer taste with lots of sweetness. This drink is for the one who wants to get wasted. Drinking 4 of these will make you drunk on your shoes and a couple of bottles more you will be dropping or puking sisig or whatever you ate during or before drinking. Red Horse beer has a good taste but also has a very powerful toxication effect. You decide if you want to bloat and get drunk go indulge. I also recommend this to college kids who wants to get laid. Just remember to buy your ‘manoy cap’ better safe than sorry. The Hangover experience is sharp.
Next on the list is the Pale Pilsen. The best beer in the world based on my taste buds.
I have tasted quite a number of beers from my teen years till today, look at it as a normal beer drinkers perspective from Eagles to tigers, buds to diablos. I think you get what I mean. The taste of the Pale Pilsen is right on the money, it tastes like beer, feels like a beer and gets you buzzed up like a beer. A bitter sweet balance of the perfect taste for beer drinkers. It makes other beer brands look like they lack what Pale Pilsen has. Authority and a solid jab. It doesn’t knock you out but it does make you feel hit and still capable.
Last beer on the list the Engkanto Green Lava.
A filipino start up brand that can be considered an okay and interesting beer. It takes risks like a brewer on acid. The beers doesn’t taste bad nor good it tastes different. My tastes buds are not yet adapted to their flavors, it is like a college beer that you drink for fun but not for a relaxing evening to take you to states of rest. This drink has a good aroma with a lingering bitterness and a hidden sweet spot when you drink it. I recommend it to college kids who wants a fun night, not for middle aged men or real belly gulpers.
That is my blog post for this week………… ciao
Studio Moments for 2023 Pre Purchasing
Hello 2023. The 50 watts bulb for the cheap softboxes just came. Price is like 5 dollars per bulb, around 500 Philippine pesos. I tested it to see if it will work compared to continous light Yungnuo. I am having struggle to complete my budget for this small studio. My purchasing month will be march and before I can use the studio for projects it will take time, for now let me show you some of the pictures the studio can produce pre purchasing of equipment. #Hardtimes.
I took my Video light and plugged the softbox. It looked like shit.
But lets still check on how the lights would look based on a wall background rather than a Cloth or paper backdrop.
NIKON COOLPIX SB5100
I used 2 cameras for testing, the Nikon point and shoot sb5100 and my Oppo Reno6. Oppo has good exposures while the old Sb5100 is kinda struggling with the Auto Focus so I had to take a number of shots just to get something in focus.
Old Nikon Cameras can still produce good images but you can tell the developments from modern coolpix cameras that sb5100 is very old. Last photo for the Nikon Coolpix.
The light was received okay using the coolpix but not as good as newer Coolpix cameras. My exposure meter was right on the middle not overexposed but just right.
OPPO RENO 6
The Oppo Reno6 had better exposures but the quality is much more less in terms of texture and pixel. The technology and Ai of the oppo produced better looking pictures but with less quality.
I had fun with the Oppo its focus system was better and it was just tap tap tap. A very usable device to take decent portraits for Social Media and blogs. Who needs a Bridge and a point and shoot?
“I still prefer point and shoots though. Shhhhhh….”
Mobile Portraits is fun. I am not into portrait photography but sometimes I take photos of family and friends. It is not my forte but it is also a fun style or type of photography. Taking portraits is also one of my lack in terms of photographic imaging and style. I am planning to venture in depth with this style in the future. Portrait photography is also the unescapable image for everybody wants to be photographed and be seen in a rectagular space or square. It brings memories or maybe just pure vanity.
I can’t post family portraits here or portraits I took cause it feels weird to post family pictures specially if it is your family. I can post maybe some simple portraits just for reference on how I take portraits. One is landscape square and one is a traditional portrait.
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY NAHHHH!!!
Some say that cropping is done not on the joint but I just think of it this way, do not crop out of context of your shape. That is my simple rule but if you do not like my rule then shit. I suck at portraits. I just prefer to crop in context of the shape. A round face must be contained what is within that round face must be expressed. It is that simple cropping rules can go to the trash bin but most of the times cropping rules still fit with my technique I just don’t like thinking of it.
SELF PORTRAITS
Self portraits is just selfies. It is challenging and fun and so the only thing I can do with it is to practice my posing, my gestures and my directing as per models. To know how to direct a model is to slightly know how it works.
So to end this blog is to just say lets hope this studio goes somewhere in the future and produce good photographs to be published and be seen by the people who supports it.
New Year FIreworks 2023
Happy new year everyone. 2022 was not a blast but a transitionary phase extending 2021 post covid paradigm to 2022. Now that it is 2023 the question in my mind is what will be this year? My plans this year is to open the Majos Studios for work and fund it for film and photography jobs. I basically need a couple of million pesos to make this happen with an estimated quarter of a million annual expense. Where will I get the money? I still do not know where to get it based on current economic demands and situations. Photography has been challenged for the past 3 years, everyone seems to be doing photography for fun and imagery is evolving into a more metaverse metafi type of way. Images are no longer for the moments but for the rarity and aesthetics. This is a downside for me for I prioritize the moments over the quality of the photo, or is it me being lazy.
THE CHAMBA EFFECT
I like the chamba effect it surprises me and increases my sensitivity towards my photography, sometimes a good moment is just nearby, getting your camera ready to shoot is a fun feeling. In a photography most of the time the value is seen in post rather than during the shoot or during the capturing of moments. A lot of things are happening during a shoot that your mind cannot precisely see value, even if you write everything down and create the image piece by piece in a studio, values starts to emerge during post. The contemplative effect of processing for me made me realize that as a fact. I may be wrong but my style of photography taught me that.
Exploring the chamba effect this 2023 will be lessened due to me opening up a studio. This will be a challenge for me for I need to think of ways to create value not based on what is happening but based on what will according to my fixed sets of elements inside a small studio. I am thinking to start with the glamour project but that could lead to women and dating. I read some glamour photography books but it doesn’t hit me well, I feel like Paparazzi photography is a better thing to do, chasing celebrities is fun. I wish myself luck on this Portrait photography studio project. I will post a full tour of the studio in the future.
THE STUDIO
The studio ideally will be composed of 2 50sqm apartments but I can only rent 1 as of now. 1 studio will be for portrait photography and the other will be for music and video production. My longterm plan is to purchase a property and make it a production studio. The studios will be small but in time I hope I can get a 300sqm to 500sqm place where I can do my photography and get higher paying projects. as of now this is just in my head and 10% on paper and assets. Let us see what will happen.
NEW YEAR 2023
All I can say is this New Year 2023 will be a hard one and full of handling errand such as purchasing, budgeting and getting things together so for now lets just look at the fireworks and hope for the best.
3d Layering to 4d Video Experience
The big question in mind is how do we enjoy 4D rendered footage. Theoretically 4th Dimensional Videos are videos that is shot either in two angles or 2 types of exposure and is merged into one to be watched or percieved. 4d footage is not enjoyable layers of footage or imagery can create confusion towards the perceiver or watcher.
Here is an example of a 4d footage. This type of footage works for video presentations and marketing reels and stock footages.
It is very confusing to watch. Inverted media with low saturation layered upon tweaked white balance and tint creates good imagery but is very confusing. The problem I want to solve is How do we fix the problem of confusion? One solution is to seperate the layers and display it in two windows. Video directors see the screen this way but usually this is for production purposes not as a final cut or for broadcast, some music videos do display this but it is for adding ornamental elements to the music rather than giving context and meaning. The confusion problem still remains but it is lesser.
THE POWER OF CHOICE
I think the entertaining factor in the 4d experience of video is the power of choice, you have 2 types of exposures or even more and the watcher could decide to focus on an element of the video rather than the whole. Left media or right media? Top media or bottom media? The perceiver decides. The power of 4d is more experiential and choice driven.
Is 4d film making ideal or 4d production styles ideal for mass media consumption? I am still observing what can happen in the future. Stimuli, stimuli and more stimuli!
The magic of 4d media is you can experience the scenario in a more expansive way implying that the footage 1 played with footage 2 is happening at the same time just like a CCTV. Layering both creates a merged imagery that is confusing, seperation of footage creates a choice driven experience. Having the choice to look at the point of view of 1 can make you interact mentally with the footage by taking your eyes to footage 2 when action happens. This is entertaining to watch but is kind of overloading the brain with information. Video directors and security people can handle this much information but the normal viewer I think cannot. It is up to the future of watching media to decide if people are ready for this type of style of publishing media.
THE 4D INDUSTRY STANDARD
I can say that the industry does put Augmented Cinema as a 4d experience. Augmenting the experience via VR or diversed theater experience can create that pheriperal choice I said earlier, this style fixes the confusion by putting a parallel experience based on a 3d film footage. If 4d cinema is Augmented reality designed as a parallel then this will fix the confusion problem, moving towards a different view of 4D but with similarities can work. Cinematic 4D can be different to Psychaunatic 4D. I ate and Shit at the same time merging back to sitting and watching TV that is 4d to me augmenting my eating by expanding experiential stimuli of my eating alone can be a start in exploring 4D. Can we argue with the industry standards? Yes we can.
Can we win? Nope cause we are all contributing factors towards this evolutionary way of displaying images and sounds. We all win in the end.
Fireworks 2022
It’s been 2 years of keeping that tradition of taking photos of fireworks when the end of the year comes, my 2021 firework photos got deleted due to storage errors. I lost a lot of photos since 2014 and when I say a lot i mean really a lot like years of work and practice. I always felt like quitting this photography and imagine gig. Anyways 2022 is a New year lets hope for the best. I am writing this 2022 december cause I am such a liar.
Myphone WX2 Pro Photo Samples
Self Portraits were Uploaded on instagram but due to Social Media Frenzy I bailed out and deleted everything, just bear with my laziness and hope most people get back to their senses. It is much worse than you can imagine. The frenzy is way beyond human mundane thinking. The world is insane. Think tech hysteria with a twist.
