Rangefinder Magazine
January 2006

Click Here for printable version of this article.

Please accompany your questions with a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish an immediate reply. Alternatively, you can email me at: bhurter@rfpublishing.com.

From: Ed Shields
edshields@mac.com
I periodically need to produce high-quality albums for events and/or documentary work, probably no more than 15 or so a year; at least to start. But I need the album layout to be quite flexible, especially with regard to mixing text and images. I’m investigating several alternatives.

If you are a Photoshop user, this may be the best way to go as it is very flexible where text is concerned. In addition, there are a number of album template systems available for working in Photoshop that help upgrade the album to a design tour de force. Two companies I know of that offer template systems are Yervant’s Page Gallery (www.yervant. com.au/about.html) and Martin and Ryan Schembri’s You Select It (www. youselectit.com). Both are quite good and create beautiful results.

From: Violette Czukor
viczukor@webtv.net
What color gel (colored transparent acetate filter) should I use for sunset? I have a Nikon N80 35mm SLR camera. Please help me out if you can.

Kodak Wratten gelatin filters and Kodak acetate filters (available in 3-, 4- and 6-inch square sizes) are separated into seven groups by color or function: yellows; oranges, reds and magentas (the group from which you’d probably select your sunset filter); violets, blues and greens; Color Conversion (cc) filters; light balancing filters; and a miscellaneous group. The website listed below has a description of each of the filters sold and would be useful to you in selecting the right filter for your task. Visit: www.optex int.com/sales/kodakgel.html.

From: Kelsey Kittle
kkittle@gmail.com
I’m a staff photographer at my university’s photography studio. We do graduation portraits. I’m looking for information and resources as I plan to open my own portrait studio after I graduate college.

You need to read everything you can get your hands on and get as much experience as possible before you open your studio. Toward the first end, visit: www.amherst media.com and search for “portrait.” You will find dozens of good titles on everything from portrait posing and lighting to marketing and business operations. You might also check out www.billhurter.com, as I have a number of good books, including the The Portrait Photographer’s Guide to Posing and Portrait Photographer’s Handbook, 2nd Edition.

In addition, I would suggest you work for another studio or two after college. This way you will earn valuable experience, both technical and business-oriented, that will help you through your first several years of running your own studio. Best of luck!

From: Phil Barbalace
phil@philipkent.com
For years I have used a slide projector to project slide proofs to my portrait clients for selling wall portraits. The projector is 12–14 feet from the screen, behind the seated clients, and projects from 16x20 to 30x40-inch images. I cannot find a video projector with a “long-throw” zoom lens that will do what the slide projector does. All video projectors seem to come with a wide projecting lens where you have the projector just a few feet from the screen and in front of the clients. This is undesirable and companies selling these things have no answers. This is keeping me from doing high-end portraits digitally. Appreciate any suggestions you might have!

There are a number of long-throw lenses available for digital projectors and there is also considerable debate and discussion about them. See www. projectorcentral.com for more information. Mitsubishi makes a number of longthrow zooms ranging from 2.5–3.5 to 3.4-5.2 (www. mitsubishi-presentations. com). Navitar (www.navitar.com) is the world’s largest maker of aftermarket projection lenses. Navitar’s NuView lenses are specifically designed for larger rooms and long-throw distances.