Klyment.com - Journal - News

2008.12.11: New Business Cards

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:45:15 -0500

I still owe this blog a lot of writing for which I already have content. However, I think that this note is worth sharing before I get to the other stuff.

My first roll of business cards. Fuji Sensia 200 (consumer film . . . purchased at half price from McBain Camera Kingsway because it was expired). The idea is to hand off two adjacent frames to potential clients. One frame would be an original sample of my work and the other would be my logo and contact information. No simulated film effects on paper, no copies . . . the original positive film.

This scan shows how one of the business cards will look like. Each business card is unique and has no duplicate though I am scanning them to keep an archive of what has been produced and I intend to eventually start a log of who gets these cards.

Another shot from the roll. This part of the roll was very curly and unlike the standard film holders, the Microtek Artixscan M1's glass film holder doesn't have a pressure plate or anything to keep the film flat so the scan is distorted and light is hitting different parts of the film very strangely. Contrast and colour balance adjusted differently for this scan.

This wasn't shot on film but it was shot immediately after shooting the last frame on the roll. Shot with a Nikon D300 and the same lens that shot many of the frames on the film camera, the AF Micro-Nikkor 60/2.8.

An underexposed frame resulting from my failure to connect the sync cord to the camera. Hahah . . . I prefer it over the properly lit images from the same look.

One of the reason why I am hired is for my quick turn around of images and high yield. Quick turn around is a product of getting most things right with lighting and capture so that minimal, if any, additional processing is required and high yield offers the client more content for the same amount of time or less shooting time and image bulk to sort through to get what they want. How do I prove that I am confident in my work straight out of camera and my yield? Give clients unaltered, original pieces of film. A 36 exposure roll yields eighteen business cards assuming that everything works out. A roll of film is normally about $14. Processing only without mounting through Don's Photo is a shade under $10 a roll so each business card's production cost is about $24. However, I managed to find a large cache of expired film at McBain Camera. On top of that, a bulk spool of slightly expired Provia 100F happened to be available. 100foot spools tend to be half the price per frame of pre-rolled film. And McBain Camera's policy for selling expired film is to sell it at half price so I am getting a total of about 75% off of the film cost. Leanna's still my preferred business card model so she'll be featured on pieces of the new business card concept for the foreseeable future. I realize that he likely won't see this entry but I'd like to thank Leanna's father for lending me his Nikon F-301. I don't own any 35mm film bodies that are worth shooting anymore so the F-301 has made this first roll possible.

2007.05.07: Quick Update

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Mon, 07 May 2007 05:29:54 -0400

After an extremely busy week during which I left my voicemail box full and untouched I finally decided to empty it. I'm getting back to e-mail slowly, a piece at a time. The week was booked pretty solid with large format printing, shoots, and discussing business with a new-found colleague in the printing industry who also does importation and distribution (who's professional relationship with Jonathan's father hold several similarities to my relationship with Jonathan . . . which, contrary to what Jonathan's girlfriend believes, I am not Jonathan's second girlfriend . . .). Anyhow, a few photos with more details to follow.

Christina's and Aaron's shoot. I refuse to call it an engagement shoot even though the primary reason to schedule this shoot was to prepare a photograph for this couple's wedding invitation. Concept and transformation of a large industrial warehouse into this set by the couple. Drop me a line for their contact information if need a set built. Bowens Quad X 3000 x2. One positioned to the left of the frame powering a Quad head boomed above Christina with a Plume Wafer 75 and 40degree Lighttools Soft Egg Crate. Another behind the background fabric with grid and barn doors on reflector to illuminate some elements in the background. On the right, Plume Wafer 140 w/ 30degree Lighttools Soft Egg Crate pitched about 7' off the ground and tilted down about 15degrees to illuminate around Aaron and his area. Another Quad head w/ barn doors hidden behind the desk to illuminate some of the canopy and the divider behind Aaron. Shot with a Nikon D80.

Jonathan and Evan surveying a set shortly before we were kicked off of it. If you ever want to use the top floor of the Edmonton Centre East parkade be sure to contact Oxford Property Management M-F 8am-4pm at 780.426.8400. Rollei 6008 AF w/ Schneider AF Xenotar 80/2.8 PQS HFT and Phase One P20 digital back.

Totally unedited photo from Baker Optical's most recent shoot . . . it just happened that the lighting used illuminates every hair on a model's neck . . . she's definitely not this hairy-looking in person. Sorry. =( Styling: Charissa Harychan. Model: Larissa. Makeup: Elecia. So many details and so much stuff shot that I can't remember who made these frames anymore. 2xBowens Quad X 3000 power packs, two Quad heads from the back modified with Plume Wafer 75's and Lighttools 40degree Soft Egg Creates. Light from above modified with a Lightrein 36" octagon. Backdrop light cast with the 7" Bowens grid reflector, 40degree spot grid, and a basic snoot. Nikon D2x w/ 135/2 Defocus Control Nikkor.

Blue Willow Restaurant's most recent shoot. Thanks to Patrick Mah for helping break the mould when it comes to awful Asian food photography (i.e.: photos of Asian food, not Asians shooting food . . . Dong does great food shots). Special thanks to Sarah Chung for help with shot styling and Aaron Yakem for helping eat (and ocassionally help with the shot ). Nikon D80 w/ 17-55/2.8 AF-S DX Nikkor. Two Wafer 75's . . . one from top left of frame and the other from bottom of the frame to fill.

Julie and Trevor. Due to miscommunication from my end we were without professional makeup for this shoot. Sorry, everyone. This photo was actually shot by Ellison Richmond. I remember teasing him about his very unfilled frame composures but many of his shots turned out very well. Hahah, Julie and Trevor have matching eyes. Rollei 6008 AF w/ Schneider AF Xenotar 80/2.8 PQS HFT and Phase One P20 digital back.

Unedited shot from a shoot which wrapped up six hours ago. Kevin Gillese and Arlen Konopaki of Scratch had this new concept that they wanted to try for this year's promos for their improv comedy troupe. A huge thanks to Breeanne and her father who own Colchester Stables for hooking up the team with Bailey and a great shooting location. Bowens Explorer 1500 battery-powered pack with two Quad heads. One head is in the top left of the frame with a Bowens Softlite 15" parabolic reflector mounted without grid diffuser. Other is positioned near lens axis with a basic Bowens grid reflector. Cropped from a square frame from the Rollei 6008 AF/Phase One P20/Schneider 80/2.8 combination.

2007.05.01: Canvas coating in stock again soon!

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:03:20 -0400

The long-awaited replinishment of my canvas veneer is at hand - shipment due Wednesday morning. Sorry for the delay and thanks for your patience . . . all matte printing orders that require this veneer along with the scheduled switch back to glossy black on the Epson 9800 will be complete within the next two days.

2006.09.20: Photokina, Cologne, Germany

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 17:43:43 -0400

September 28th to October 1st, 2006 I shall join an estimated 160,000 people at Photokina, a biennial imaging event with over 1,500 exhibitors. The event takes place at Koelnmesse, arguably the premier exhibition grounds in all of Europe. The event opens on the 26th but I leave Edmonton the afternoon of the 28th and arrive 6am September 29th. I have confirmed that there will be fee-based wireless internet access available on the fair grounds and I shall be bringing a few cameras along with my laptop to provide semi-regular updates to my weblog hopefully lending insight to items of interest from the point of view of a working photographer and large format digital print maker with a background in desktop and enterprise computing. Check out Photokina's website and the associated exhibitor list. If you have a specific request for information about technology slated for exhibition please e-mail me or leave a comment on this entry and I shall try to accomodate your request.

University Silent Art Auction March 9, 2006

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:49:46 -0500

The graduating classes from the 2006 Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Fine Arts programs at the University of Alberta are holding their annual Silent Art Auction March 9, 2006 and the event runs from 6:30 to 10pm that day. The art auction will be located on the third floor of the Fine Arts Building (112 St. and 89 Ave.) If you have any questions you may send them to bdes_grad[a]hotmail.com. Proceeds benefit the graduating BDES and BFA students and there will be food and prizes. Or something.

Postcard designed by Vikki Wiercinski.

1500 copies of this 4 x 6" card were printed on the Xerox Phaser 7400 on Unisource's Save-a-tree 100% post consumer waste, non-chlorine bleached card stock.

Using Unisource's Eco Audit calculator, you can see the reduction of environmental impact this paper decision has made. While the papers are designed for offset press some work well in laser printers and Unisource offers a conversion service to cut sheets from offset sizes to more common digital printer sizes. The cost for this service is usually about $20 per paper type in an order and the paper overall doesn't cost a lot more than most quality virgin computer papers. I'm watching for some large format inkjet products to be released with a 100% recycled base. Thank you to Gil Bilodeau of Unisource Edmonton for introducing me to this line of paper.

New old news: car fire

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 02:09:05 -0500

Dong forwarded these photos to me just over a month ago so I suppose there's nothing new about this news. But that makes four consecutive entries starting with "new". Here's the story as quoted from my request to Dong for commentary:

"Well, it was the middle vehicle that started to smoke up just as the family pulled up and parked their van. Apparently the smoke came from the undercarriage . . . The vehicle to the left of it was a dark green Honda Odessey, one of our docs car and the other one was a pathfinder, one of our senior therpists car. The whole thing was whack!"

Dong also adds that "[t]he photos were taken with a piece of shit 2.0 MP HP camera. Piece of shit is an understatement."

From left to right: Nissan Pathfinder (Senior therapist's vehicle), what's left of a dodge caravan (client vehicle that started the fire), doctor's Honda Odessey. There's a cop and a fire investigator checking out the client vehicle.

A look inside of the client's vehicle.

Doctor's vehicle.

Senior therapist's vehicle.

Interesting unrelated stuff

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 02:56:30 -0400

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Oct2005/20051012_3025.html

I can see the university spinoff company's tagline now . . . Less human, more bomb!

Live blog on location in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 00:38:03 -0400

http://mgno.com/

The guy's in an office tower with internet access and diesel generator backup with an OC-3 connection. Possibly one of the few buildings with electricity and internet connectivity in the area. Talk about up time!

His fiance is a professional model and she's on OMP. She's hot, check out her page:

http://www.onemodelplace.com/model_list.cfm?ID=85637

Brian Zinchuk Nominated

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 05:54:01 -0400

Brian Zinchuk, the only photojournalist with whome I semi-regularly communicate, was just nominated for three provincial newspaper awards in the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association Better Newspapers Competition:

Best News Story - Norma Jean Mooswa kills six at Cochin sentencing
Best Hard News Photo - fatal semi accident at Battleford, semi jumps overpass
Best Columnist of the Year

He also adds that of the twenty four awards available at this level to him and his newspaper, his newspaper, Battlefords News-Optimist was nominated for nine awards and he was a significant contributor in the pieces involved in two of the other awards: Best Front Page and Best Overall Paper.

I referred to Brian in a previous entry and he's also commented on it. I'm sorry Brian, you've told me before and you've repeated it . . . which newspaper do you work for again? I did a Google search for your name but it came up in some of the oddest places, the first hit was a link to this blog. Congratulations, Brian. Good luck with the awards.

Edited: Added the formal name for the newspaper competition and also the name of his newspaper.

Fire at Hub Cigar Store/Funky Buddha on Whyte Avenue

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 04:27:12 -0400

I can't say that I saw the fire with my own eyes but there was a lot of smoke around Whyte Avenue at about 1am. The smoke was spewing out of the top floor of a building that I believe houses The Funky Buddha and Hub Cigar. The Funky Buddha is a pub/restaurant-type establishment and Hub Cigar sells a variety of cigars as well as many specialty publications, mostly magazines, of international origins. I submitted some of these photos to the Edmonton Journal. Perhaps the photo editor may find a use for them.

Running into this photo opportunity was not planned. I was heading out to meet someone on my way home and, having a shoot today I had brought my camera to the studio. I avoid leaving my camera equipment in the studio so I brought it with me expecting to head home right after my meeting. Whyte Avenue around Calgary Trail was blocked off by police and fire trucks as well as some other emergency response vehicles. I parked my motorcycle, grabbed the S2 Pro and the 70-200/2.8 VR and started shooting. All photos were taken at F/2.8 and ISO 1600.

40% off fabrics at Shirley Potter's

nospam@example.com (Klyment Tan) — Wed, 19 Jan 2005 22:00:53 -0500

Not sure of the exact spelling of the store name. Anyway, Shirley Potter's appears to be seeking a new warehouse-like location to move to in order to combine all three floors of the current floor into a single-floor building. While they are planning a move, ALL of their fabrics are priced at 40% their regular prices. I was told by an employee that they may continue reducing prices until it is all gone but only up to a point where it would be more profitable for them to sell the fabric than to make costumes from it. I just picked up some irridescent, shear, chiffon-like fabric for about $8/m which is roughly what it would cost at Wal-mart for a narrower width and poorer-quality material. The store does not appear to have a website. I believe its address should be about 106 St. and roughly 102 Ave. in Edmonton.