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MCM Comic Con Ireland 2014 - RDS - Dublin
MCM Comic Con Ireland 2014 - RDS - Dublin
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Mar, 2015Views
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OwenJFitzpatrick
September 17, 2016
Many thanks Rainmakerz - it was a fun photoshoot and I'm a big Star Wars fan.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at the MCM Ireland Comic Con 2014 at the RDS in Dublin, Ireland. I studied 35mm film photography at college in the 1980s but it wasn't until 2007 that I took up digital photography with a point-and-shoot and then a DSLR.Time
It was the late afternoon and I was fortunately out in the main plaza when I noticed a long line of Star Wars characters and photographers with tripods walking past me. I followed them to a small open air courtyard where the Star Wars characters assembled on a large steel staircase. As soon as they'd settled I started shooting.Lighting
It was a sunny day but there were numerous puffy cumulus clouds passing overhead so the Sun was constantly going in and out. As soon as the sunshine appeared you could hear the clatter of camera shutters, including mine.Equipment
This was shot handheld with a Nikon D3100 and an 18-270mm Tamron FX lens. No other equipment was involved.Inspiration
This was the first time I'd ever been to a comic convention so every shot was a first. There was a huge attendance with thousands of people dressed as their favourite sci-fi and comic book characters. It was photo heaven. I love Star Wars but I'd never seen people dressed as stormtroopers so I was determined to make the best of this press photoshoot which I'd hijacked. The woman in the black uniform looked sensational so I focused on her face and composed the shot around her.Editing
This shot was fairly straightforward to post-process. I produced a jpeg from the RAW file and, using adjustment layers, modified brightness, contrast and saturation. I had to be particularly careful with the white stormtrooper armour so as not to produce 'blown' or bleached out areas.In my camera bag
I do a lot of street photography so the first thing I pack is my 18-270mm Tamron superzoom. It's an incredibly flexible lens and gives me great reach. I also pack a Nikon SB-500 speedlight, a backup Nikon Coolpix L12 point-and-shoot, spare batteries for the DSLR and all the other equipment as well as spare Class 10 SDHC memory cards. I also pack a scarf, gloves, water and some snacks.Feedback
Take as many shots as possible. Keep shooting and adjusting the composition. Take wide shots and zoom in for close-ups. Make the very best of wonderful photo opportunities when you find them or when they are presented to you. Also, I'd never have gotten the opportunity to take this shot if I hadn't been alert to the possibilities around me. So always be alert and ready to shoot at a moment's notice.
