Andrew Spencer Photography

Kaikoura Real Estate photography

There is an interesting mix of architecture in Kaikoura. I get to sample the diversity when I photograph properties for a couple of the astute real estate agents in town. There is everything from cutting edge architectural masterpieces to contemporary seaside baches to 1950s designs from the state house era.

One thing that makes Kaikoura different for photographing houses and properties is that almost everywhere you go there is a view of the ocean or the mountains. When I think of the photography I have done of houses in the city I really do enjoy the big vista of Kaikoura as a backdrop.

I usually get the tricky jobs, the houses with big windows that let the bright sunlight stream into huge living areas, contrast that real estate agents with Fuji pocket cameras are never going to deal with and I am constantly telling them to do the selling while I make the marketing material.

Using lighting, a variety of lenses and having good local knowledge for when to photograph, along with efficient post processing systems I can usually (weather dependent, and I call the shots on when I photograph) deliver images very quickly and cost effectively. All images are delivered as a print and web copy on CDROM. I am about to trial a flash drive exchange system for file delivery with my key clients in a bid to do our bit to save the planet. I shudder when I think of all the CDROMs sitting around or thrown out after marketing programs.

A guy a few days ago asked me how I was going to make a photo of his kitchen with the Seaward Kaikouras in the background and sun pouring through the windows. I told him I would rather be dealing with sun and mountains than a next door neighbours clothes line and that he had forgotten what a beautiful place we live in.

Kaikoura Realty – Joe Van Rooyen

Harcourts Kaikoura – Janice Dreaver

CRT Kaikoura – Kathy Thompson

Bayleys Kaikoura – Robin Gibson

Tags: amp, architectural masterpieces, astute real estate, baches, beautiful place, bright sunlight, cdroms, clothes line, exchange system, few days, flash drive, images, kaikoura, local knowledge, marketing programs, neighbours, photo, pocket cameras, post processing, processing systems, real estate agents, seaward kaikouras, van rooyen, weather, web copy

iDataBack – an iPod app road test

With the release of OS Version 3.0 the iPod Touch and iPhone now have a ton of useful apps. An iPod is almost an essential tool for contacts, calendars, to do lists, time logging, the odd game and music too!

There are some great photography specific apps also and I noticed a new release called iDataBack a few days ago and thought it worth a look. The idea is you use this app to record your data when you’re shooting with your film camera. I enjoy shooting a bit of film, it’s like my day-off photography – a little bit of indulgence. Sometimes I’ll revisit something I saw and re shoot it with film and other times I’ll head off on a film shoot expedition. Doesn’t matter what film, I’m not fussy about what goes in the camera and it can be slide or print, pro or chemist shop, the camera doesn’t seem to mind either.

iDataBack is like carrying your notebook with you but with the convenience of being quick and accurate to log your shoot data. My first impression was there in no instructions, I soon realised it’s so simple you don’t need any.

First you make an entry for your new film.

For each frame add your exposure data and add a remark if you desire.

Input of settings is quick and easy.

When your film is full, email the data to yourself.

All seems good, so how did it work on the job?

First I will say this app is a great idea and has a ton of potential for people like myself who don’t mind phaffing around with gadgets and find pushing buttons quicker than pencil and paper. It is also far quicker and more accurate than writing. Film shooting is a lot more methodical for me now than it was pre digital, every shot is planned and carefully captured and if I’m not using iDataback I’m going to be writing capture info in a notebook anyway. But, it feels like  version 1.0 software and I really hope the developer intends to carry on with the job to make it a great bit of software.

So what’s good about iDataBack.

Great idea!

Quick data input.

Auto date stamp at entry time.

Auto frame count.

It’s a dairy of your film shoots.

Entry field for remarks about capture.

Easy export for data use or print. Input data into scanned files or print and store with negs.

..And why iDataBack falls short of the job.

Instructions, or at least an introduction or developer name. Maybe even a splash screen at startup.

Need preferences to set input to full, 1/2 or 1/3 stop settings on Aperture and Shutter.

Could have a lens info data field.

Input settings should default to last used setting instead of 1/60 and F/4 each time or have a preference for default.

Export data should be be more IPTC friendly. Maybe choice of export format would be useful.

Seems to be a bug in remarks input where it is stuck on numeric keyboard sometimes.

Remarks don’t get included in email export of data.

So the conclusion is.

It annoys me when developers have good ideas like this but release their goods half cocked. This software has great potential for folk who love to shoot film and like to integrate some data into the analogue workflow for later file handling.
I only hope the software writer doesn’t think he’s done with his great idea. I’ll use it because I think it is very useful even as is, if it can be developed as suggested it will be super duper!

UPDATE!

iDataBack has had a major rework, all the features I dreamed would be great are now implemented and it is one very useful app for film shooters. Nice work.

I will write an updated review soon as I get some time.

Tags: amp, apps, calendars, chemist shop, exposure data, few days, film camera, first impression, gadgets, great photography, indulgence, iphone, ipod, little bit, love, new film, new release, odd game, os version, pencil and paper, photo, pushing buttons, shutter, time logging

The Hairy Mussel Co – live tank shoot

The Hairy Mussel Co is an innovative company of cool Guys who have worked out how to distribute fresh, live green-lip mussels to folk who enjoy fine food. I’ve done a bit of work for them and I love them! They are go-getters with the good old kiwi can do, never say die attitude, an inspiration to the rest of us.

Thing is, they’ve developed this mussel tank that will fit in retailers shops and it needs no power to run, has a small footprint. You just put the mussels in, fill up an ice box and you’re good to go. Too easy. Yeah…as long as you’re not a photographer! The Hairy Mussel Co need some promo images, this tank is as shiny as your retired father in law’s car and I was having nightmares about capturing images of it.
I thought of putting one of these tanks on the beach somewhere and using a 200mm lens to  keep myself from being reflected off every sparkling piece of it. Turns out that wasn’t an option and we had to make photos at Cuddon Engineering in Blenheim, they are the clever people who turn dreams into tangible assets.

So, rethink on the photo shoot. Solution – huge light source by shooting a strobe through a diffuser panel, a little bit of fill with an umbrella and try to eliminate any bright ambient light  with another diffuser. And used a blue background in case we decided to cut out the tank.

Result – beautiful! What a work of art this mussel tank is, almost as delectable as the product that’s going to be in it. I adore mussels!

The Hairy Mussel Co

Tags: 200mm lens, ambient light, blenheim, blue background, cool guys, fine food, footprint, green lip mussels, images, innovative company, kiwi, light source, little bit, love, mussel, nightmares, photo, photo shoot, promo images, strobe, tangible assets, umbrella, work of art, yup