Rain Catcher
So one day while taking a nice afternoon nap I was awaken by a small tapping sound coming from outside my window. I shrugged it off as my pillow was so inviting...
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So one day while taking a nice afternoon nap I was awaken by a small tapping sound coming from outside my window. I shrugged it off as my pillow was so inviting, but as the noise grew louder I had to peak out the window. At first glance it looked like any other day of rain, but as my freshly awaken eye's focus closer I knew it wasn't just any rain. It was raining glorious coffee!! I rushed to grab as many jars and containers as I could, taking just a moment to snap this photo as proof. During all the chaos I slipped on a coffee bean and bumped my head. I had to sit down as my head was throbbing. The next thing I remember was opening my eyes on the couch, the pain must have caused me to pass out and when I awoke there was no more coffee on the ground. When I asked around about this marvelous event everyone looked as if I were crazy. I began to question if it really happened! Then I remembered the photo! Rushing to my camera with lightning speed I was overjoyed to find the single shot I took. This photo is proof of the day that no one remembers when it rained coffee!
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Aug, 2013Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in my living room on the dining room table :) When your crunched for space you make do with what you got, and I don't have a professional studio so I'm always trying to improvise and re-purpose different locations to accommodate each image.Time
To catch coffee rain you have to wake up very early in the morning right before first light. Nah just kidding, this was taken in the afternoon right after coming home from a long day at work.Lighting
When composing my images I like to have the light highlight and really set the mood for the image, and in this case also freeze time. Usually I shoot with a single Westcott Apollo soft box because of the excellent light quality. In this image it was set to the left of the frame to highlight the glass jar and provide just enough light to fall off the right side of the frame to give it a interesting look. I also like to CTO gel my flash to make the images feel a bit warmer that the harsh bare flash. I had my wife and sister on coffee duty and surprisingly it only took 3 tries of them dropping handfuls of beans onto the table before we got the shot.Equipment
This image was shot with a Canon 650D and a "Nifty fifty" 50mm Canon 1.8 lens. I also used a Westcott Apollo Softbox with a Canon 430ex strobe inside gelled with a 1/4 CTO.Inspiration
I really enjoy creating images that set a mood or invoke interest with utilizing everyday objects. Coffee is also a very big influence in my life ;) so it gets a good spotlight in my work. Who doesn't like to see good images of coffee! In this image I wanted someone to picture what it would be like if it could rain coffee beans. Everyone would setup their jars and barrels outside their homes and collect glorious coffee beans. The ground and air would have that rich coffee smell after a fresh rain and everyone would be charged with a fresh buzz.Editing
In this image I used Lightroom to adjust exposure levels slightly and set a slight color tone to provide a nice warm feel.In my camera bag
My gear setup is simple and is my goto equipment for most types of shoots. First it's my handy Canon 650D, while not "pro" it definitely gets the job done. I have found that the camera does have some play into taking good photographs (better low light, less noise, etc) but prior to this I only shot on a 8 year old Rebel XT that took phenomenal photos that most couldn't believe came from such an old outdated camera. So I am firm believer in the camera doesn't always have to determine the quality of the image. Next in my bag is the Canon 50mm 1.8 prime, it's an all around EXCELLENT lens and I recommend it to anyone wanting a good quality low priced lens. It also really helps develop your photo "eye" by making you create interesting angles and move more to get the shot. Another great all around lens I carry with me is a Tamron 24-75mm 2.8, it's a fast spot on lens for walking around with. In my strobist bag is always a Canon 430ex flash with radio poppers and a pack of gels, a Westcott apollo soft box with compact light stand. This setup was first put together due to inspiration from the guys at lightenupandshoot!Feedback
I think the best advice in photography is to just shoot. Take ideas in your head and try and materialize them. You will be surprised on the types of images you can create with very inexpensive items around the house. The worst shot is the one not taken :)
