Just for purely scientific reasons… Yeah right.

Or, I just wanna try my Tele.

What do you get by combining a Tele and a big aperture? Nice bokeh, yeah that’s right, didn’t ya know? Of course you do but its always good to remember.

I remembered and decided to take advantage of this nice aspect of focal tech, ok now I’m getting cocky. I always love to shoot with a Tele lens, specially with my 70-200mm f/4 L, wow that’s a big name, yeah cause it’s a big lens and its my favourite. When shooting landscapes a Tele can help isolate details of the scenery, on the other hand when shooting a portrait the background will be totally outta focus creating a nice bokeh. That was my goal and I think I was right on the money.

We left early in the morning and headed for the beach, when we arrived there the sun was kinda shy and kept hiding from us. We waited and soon we got our reward. The sun was right behind me so there was no need for extra lighting or reflectors, we just went along and kept shooting.

Patricia had a scarf that we use to create this Arabic version.

 

See what I mean by a “nice bokeh”? The beach is right behind Patricia, and the background just blends with the foreground enhancing her natural beauty. Also, the colours of the scarf just stand out creating some strength. Oh and by the way, the scarf wasn’t my idea.

A whole lotta Sushi

Went to some friends house for some sushi, it turn out to be a whole lotta sushi and I kinda become sick cause I’m such an animal eating raw fish, I can’t stop. Everybody kept saying shoot the fish, shoot the fish, but I thought – what a heck, it’s already dead so I might as well shoot some portraits of someone eating sushi, or making it.

We were at the kitchen and the lighting conditions weren’t so good, I had to move quickly because they were also moving quickly. My target is “Rat”, the invited Chef with the golden hands loll. The reason why I choose B&W so often is cause I just love monochromatic portraits much more than colour portraits, so, for lunch I shot B&W.

Here’s Rat working is magic with the fish.

At night the lighting becomes much more interesting, I decided to take advantage of the lights beneath the cabinets and while our Chef kept on cooking I kept shooting, this time in colour. I added a small flash for some punch that I triggered via RF.

So I couldn’t shoot the sushi but I think I nailed Alfred the “Rat” pretty good.

Keep shooting,

Bruno.

Canon… You Can. :-)

Photo gear, lots of discussion about photo gear, what to use? What brand? What?… I’ve started with Canon and I stick with it, that was my logic choice in spite of what some folks might say. This weekend I decided to pass the torch, I gave my AE-1 to my Son and I’m teaching him to shoot. Aperture, shutter speed, focus, there’s lot of stuff going on but I think he can handle it, I think, I wish…

He is very curious about photography and I really hope that he learns enough to enjoy and have fun while shooting. Little bit of trouble with focus criteria but I think he’ll get through with ease.

I remember my dads old Minolta, I remember him carrying the camera everywhere but unfortunately never had the time or patience to teach me. I’m not gonna make the same mistake.

Keep shooting,

Bruno.

Experiment, and then, experiment a bit more.

I’ve been doing some experimentation regarding my photography, that’s what is all about anyway. I’ve been cropping and blending colours and adding contrast and subtracting colour, well, lets just say that I’ve been busy.

I’m also reading Joe McNally’s book called “The Hot Shoe Diaries”, and the Man says that we have to experiment, that makes me feel like a freaking scientist and that is great.

In my humble existence I have to agree with Joe, a Man has got to try and make mistakes, and God knows I make a lot. Then I look at the guys standing in this crazy monument, just standing there looking at the sea and thinking about the unknown, they made mistakes but they also gave us the world as we know it today. So I just keep experimenting, and if God forbids, I’ll learn with my mistakes… Not.

Oh and by the way this pic was made with 3 shots that I “sowed” in Photostitch, cool right? Don’t have to be a mad scientist to do these stunts.

Sometimes I take good pictures and sometimes I take shity pictures, it comes with the territory, the unknown, the uncertainty of photography.

I don’t know shit but I keep shooting.

Keep shooting guys

Bruno.

Best thing about Christmas.

We’re practically done with Christmas, it has been very different but not entirely bad like I expected, and when I think about my problems and I look at all the folks roaming around in the streets with no where to go and nothing to eat, I think to myself, I’m very lucky, and even if I cant have You with me every single day of my life, the ones that You are with me are very special.

 So, Merry Christmas popcorn, dad loves you very much and believe me when I say, you are the best thing about Christmas.

 

Merry Christmas to you all.

Bruno.

Princess Mariana.

Nothing gives more pleasure than taking pictures of people, ok I love landscapes but to be able to capture a persons look is something unique. A couple of weeks ago I went to Coimbra, I was going to do a photo session of someone really special.

When I arrived I must admit I was a bit nervous, its not everyday that you get meet a Princess . Mariana was born this month, a lovely child already showing a strong personality.

I took advantage of the ambient light that was coming from a big window in the bedroom and I just used a reflector to fill some shadows.

Mommy and her Princess.

She was looking for something or someone, it had to be Mommy or Dad.

I know who’s gonna have a great Christmas this year, and the years to come.

Keep shooting,

Bruno.

Attila the Hun.

Now there’s a problem for most photographers, taking pictures of important people may be considered a big issue and nerve racking. A couple of days ago I went to some friends house to take some pictures of their son Attila, no it’s not the Hun like I implied seconds ago, just plain Attila. In spite being an ordinary kid with a great smile and an incredible sense of humour, its always a big responsibility, will they like the pics? will I like the pics?

Enough nonsense, it was a great experience and it helped me solve this big issues, my big doubts.

Here’s a couple of pics.

And another showing off his evil look

Aren’t you afraid? I was… not.

Cheers keep shooting and have a wonderful Christmas.

Bruno Melo

Go green people.

As a sales rep I get to travel a lot, talk a lot and sometimes take some pictures . Unfortunately, not everybody that I talk to has a green conscience. People still don’t know how to recycle, and some people know how but don’t have the patience or the means necessary to do it.

I really don’t know what’s happening in Copenhagen, what our governments are deciding or if they are really interested in changing environmental politics but I do know that we can do something to stop climate change.

Lets go green guys, take the bus leave your car home, stop using plastic bags, recycling is fun. There are lots of things that we can do, so do it.

Nowadays we are aware of the planets situation but we’ve done lots of crap for a long time, I think that there’s a solution for the problem but it has to be a global cause not just a domestic issue. At least that’s what I think, but who gives a damn? well I do and that’s enough.

Keep shooting… and recycling.

Cheers,

Bruno.

Kids… gotta love’Em.

My Nephew got his hands on one of my Playboy issues, that i only bought for scientific reasons of course. I had the camera in my hands and I took the shot… I’m kidding, I asked him to hold the magazine while I prepared the shot. I cant wait to see the reaction of my Sister when she sees the picture tomorrow.

Sorry love, he’s just too easy

Cheers,

Bruno.

A bit of white.

Ok, so that’s it, I guess this is how its going to stay, less black and much more white. Couldn’t get much help from the WordPress guys but I think I managed pretty well.

Cheers,

Bruno

New Look.

I know someone that went to the hairdresser today… girl issues, and that gave me a great idea, I’m going to do a facelift to my blog… at least I’m gonna try. Don’t know much about HTML but I think I’ll give it a go. And it has to be done till the end of the day… or maybe not

Cheers,

Bruno.