bscphoto.com blog

Not enough light…

filmisdead — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:27:44 +0000

As a general rule photographers are always trying to find their way around low light situations, some buy the fastest lens available, I am one of them. I love the ability to shoot with out a flash, everything looks more natural and it is less intrusive to people you might be photographing, but there in lies a problem. You have three things available to aid in low light shooting, a fast lens, high ISO and a tripod. Basically if you combine two of those three you can shoot something in almost any lighting condition, high ISO and fast lens or fast lens and a tripod. You don’t really need a fast lens when you have a tripod but usually the faster lenses are better quality anyway so you will get a superior image.
Here are a few examples of low light shooting with out a flash from the past week.
For more of my work from weddings and fashion to landscapes and pet portraits check out bscphoto.com

Matt Branscombe

FREE Wedding Photography!!!

filmisdead — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:59:53 +0000

As a way to give something back we have decided to offer our services FREE, to one family that can’t afford a professional photographer for their wedding.

We are also offering a photography package worth $1,800 to a second family on a very low budget for $700

-First Place Winner- $2,500 value. The selected family will receive 5hrs of wedding photography and a disc containing all the images, edited and touched up.

-Second Place Winner- $1,800 Value. The selected family will receive 5 hrs of wedding photography and a 100 page coffee table book filled with up to 200 of their favorite photos from the wedding, for the low price of $700

Email us with your stories
bscphoto.com

On Assignment at My Local Pet Store

filmisdead — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:09:16 +0000

I’ve been working with the people at All Pets Club in Branford, CT for a while now to try to set up a photo shoot for their promotion and mine as well. My wife and I love animals and I really have fun photographing peoples pets. Yesterday I went down and took some photos of people hanging out in the puppy area for the stores website. There is really a lot of interesting things that go on when people are around puppies, here are just a few shots from yesterday.
Come to All Pets Club on Valentines Day weekend to get professional pictures of your furry, feathery or scaly little friend.

Matt Branscombe
bscphoto.com

Photojournalism…

filmisdead — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:55:13 +0000

Henri Cartier-Bresson is often described as the father of modern photojournalism. Because of his work and his methods of photography people like myself have been able to take a traditional timeless style and add our own little twist to it.
I love looking through my viewfinder at the world around me and I love learning new ways to see. I am currently taking new courses in photography so that I might stay above the curve, there are so many people out there that call themselves professional photographers but very few that can catch your eye with their work. I have chosen to apply photojournalism techniques to all aspects of my photography so other people can really get a chance to see how beautiful life can be.
When you look at a photograph you either see a pretty picture or you see a story and emotion, to be able to create an image that stops the viewer and makes him/her read the picture not just glance over it is what photojournalism is all about.

Matt Branscombe
bscphoto.com

Danny Felstead in the middle of a hairspray haze

Jill Leitz and Danny Felstead in the middle of their class about curly hair

When the chair is finally empty their final work shines on stage

Squirrel’s World

filmisdead — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:15:21 +0000

It was about mid autumn I noticed that the squirrels had been bulking up a little more then usual, I mean they were easily the fattest squirrels I’ve ever seen. It’s amazing how intuitive animals can be, I don’t think it would be wrong to assume they knew we would get more snow and a colder winter than in recent years. Although the winter has been cold and snowy I still see the squirrels out taking advantage of their environment, by that I mean garbage night.

Who needs nuts and berries when you can have Christmas cookies?

Just as with most wildlife, you need a relatively long lens (at Least 200mm)to capture these amazing little creatures, even then you have to move slowly and shoot quickly. So unless they are completely occupied with eating a ginger bread house, you won’t get more than one chance to get your shot before they zip out of the frame.
Photo Tip:
Use shutter speeds over 1/250th.
If necessary use a higher ISO or a wider aperture to get your shutter speed up.

Mike Ciarleglio
bscphoto.com

On my way home

filmisdead — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:54:06 +0000

So this is going to be my first blog really not about photography, but of course I will post some photos anyway.

I had a great trip to Las Vegas. I gambled when I said I wouldn’t, and I lost. Let’s just say I lost more than I could afford. It is what it is, but I have to talk about a guy I met out there. On my first night, I met a guy on the elevator, and we bullshitted for a few minutes. He mentioned he was there alone, and I mentioned the same, we parted ways and that was that. I ran into this guy about 3 times, and we talked a little each time and agreed we should have dinner since we were both alone. So yesterday I ran into him at one of my photo shoots where he was attending, we set our dinner plans for that night and finished out our days. He asked me to a restaurant that wound up being really, really expensive. I didn’t want to say I shouldn’t spend that kind of money, so I didn’t and we sat down. I should mention that I don’t drink and, to my surprise, neither does he. So, they had king crab legs on the menu. I love king crab legs. They were $65, and the meals were ala carte, so add another $40 for two sides and our dinner was going to be expensive. At the end of a really nice dinner with my new friend, Mike Perez, I was scared to see the check. This guy who I’ve know for all of 2 hours would not let me pay for my dinner; I didn’t know what to say.

Well, needless to say, I was stuck in Vegas for a day and a half more than I should have been, and we hung out, ate, and went shopping like a couple of queens.

I’m now sitting in the airport waiting to board my flight home. I don’t have any pictures from today, but here are a few of my favorites from the airport in Philadelphia where I had a 4.5hr layover on my way here.

Thanks to Mike Perez and check out his Website at perezsalonandspa.com, or if you are in the Rockville, MD area check him out. He is one hell of a guy.

Matt Branscombe
bscphoto.com

And here are a few from behind the scenes at Redken Symposium 2009

Stuck in Las Vegas

filmisdead — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:09:26 +0000

I was flown out here by Redken for their Symposium Fashion Show and teaching convention. I was supposed to leave at 10am on Tuesday, they decided they wanted me to do a photo shoot with the models so they asked if I could stay an extra day. I just found out my flight isn’t until 11pm on Wednesday. This SUCKS!!!!!!!!
Since know I have to bide my time and I already lost $200 playing Craps I took the opportunity to take a few pictures.
Here are a few photos I took at 3am wondering the streets of Las Vegas.
And a sunset just because.

Matt Branscombe
BscPhoto.com

Redken Symposium 2009

filmisdead — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:03:10 +0000

I’m In Las Vegas right now for the worlds largest hair styling teaching convention. There are over 10,000 people in atendance and it’s really something else. I was hired to come out and document the behind the scenes stuff, shoot the runway shows and photo shoots with all 300 models.
I arrived here on Saturday afternoon and got right to work. Last night they had a huge grand opening variety/fashion show which was amazing, being that I was one of two photographers hired for that event I felt really awesome. All the models are really sweet and beautiful of course and the stylists and designers are also really nice. I’m taking a few mInutes to myself right now but I have to get back to work soon. I’ve shot aLmost 2000 images so far and I haven’t even started the high fashion shoot yet. This is intense. More to come and pictures too.

Matt Branscombe
bscphoto.com
Just a taste

A Beautiful Sunset on a Cold Day

filmisdead — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:05:55 +0000

Everyday I drive over the Q bridge into East Haven, and I look out over the fuel depot that sits right on the Quinnipiac river, and I see the most beautiful sunsets behind such a harsh landscape of pollution and contamination. Today I was about an hour early for sunset, so I decided to stop and take some pictures.
Let me start by saying it was 15 degrees out, and I was standing on the middle of a bridge. Needless to say, I wasn’t prepared for the extreme temperatures. After an hour of snapping away waiting for the sun to get lower, my fingers were about to fall off, and the police arrived.
Just a note: people call the police when someone is pointing their really long lens at any kind of factory, but they get extra nervous when you’re taking photos at, near, or around an oil depot.
I stood beside my camera as it sat atop my tripod, warming my hands with my mouth, watching four young cops walking down the sidewalk of the bridge towards me. I tried not to look suspicious as they looked at me looking at them. I knew they would come, and I knew why they were there. So, to answer their question “What are you doing?” I said “Look at that,” as I pointed to the sunset. I went on to explain myself and gave them each my business card. I have to say that they were surprisingly nice since their first thoughts when they received the call was they might get to bust a terrorist.
Well it was cold, but it was beautiful.

bscphoto.com
Matt Branscombe

product of a five to nine.

filmisdead — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:00:07 +0000

I’ve been wanting to do this for a while now, but couldn’t find the right day or enough energy to wake up before the sun. After a long day at Bosco’s Bridal Fair I was so tired that i went to bed fairly early. I woke up at about four and just couldn’t fall back asleep. Finally at about five I thought, with fresh snow and lots of energy this is the perfect day. So I packed up all my gear and a few snacks and headed out. little did I know what I was in for. After a one hour hike to the top of the face of sleeping giant that usually takes only ten minutes I was exhausted, but ready and right on schedule. I set up few shots that would compliment the low contrast and evenly lit landscapes. It is best to shoot scenes that include the sky, the hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset. These are referred to as “The Magic Hour”. After sunrise there are still plenty of things you can do as well. So when the sun came up I used it to my advantage. For about another hour or so I explored the area finding subjects that were back lit, using long shadows for artistic effect, and shooting close ups that needed the sun for better contrast. The only disappointment was seeing deer tracks but no deer. Now for the trip down, and I do mean trip. It was actually harder then going up, but I made stops and took my camera out couple of times. All and all everything went well, and for any one who likes to shoot landscapes, I would recommend getting out there for” The Magic Hour”.

Mike Ciargelio
bscphoto.com