Dayton Art Institute shoot with Heather

My Port. 2 instructor gave me the opportunity to do an extra credit shoot. I asked her what the guidelines for the shoot were, and she replied "Shoot what you want. Shoot for yourself!" I will never turn down the option to shoot for me! For what I like!

So, I got the model. I got my assistant. I got the location and time I wanted to shoot (or so I thought!).

I picked up my assistant, Tyler, and we proceeded to head to the model's house, which is in my hometown of New Carlisle, Ohio. I thought it was going to be simple: Take 75 north to 70 east, get off on 235 north and be there in no time!

I was wrong!

70 east was a parking lot! The interstate was closed down for an hour and a half! Tyler went to see what happened, and it turned out that a car was on its side up against a wall! Don't know if anyone was hurt (I hope not!).

We finally get to the model's house, picked out wardrobe and headed out to the Dayton Art Institute!

I originally wanted to try and use nothing but a reflector. Just to see if I could stand not using my standard one speed lite with a shoot-thru umbrella. But, because the light had changed from what I originally wanted it to be, that was kind of difficult. But, it did work for a few shots.

Since I like how it looks, I reverted back to what I knew (but I will practice with the reflector, I promise!). A speed lite and an umbrella. We got some fantastic shots! Heather is a great model despite her lack of experience! And Tyler, with his experience at being an assistant with weddings, handled every issue and task with nothing but professionalism!

Great model! Great assistant! Great shoot!

Long time, no blog

A lot has happen since May of 2009.

In my opinion, my life would be better if half of it didn't happen. I will spare you a lot of details. But, honestly, I feel that I am a wiser man for it. Though, sometimes, I feel like a damned fool for all of it.

Getting back to the photography aspect of this blog...

I had a few weeks of where I was seriously doubting that my career goal as a fashion photographer was indeed for me. As in, did I want fashion to be my main career in life, or was photography as a whole meant to be more as a hobby. I was worried when this happened.

Photography is a passion of mine. Especially as an art form. I use to draw... a lot... when I was in middle school and high school until one day, I picked up my pencil, and found that I couldn't draw anymore. Shortly after that, I discovered photography. I found a new outlet for my creative energies, and it slowly became a passion for me!

One evening at work (I work for Eastman Kodak right now, in case you didn't know that), I was talking to a co worker about photography. They are an advanced hobbiest, so they know more than the average bear. While talking to her, I started to feel the passion for photography build up inside of me. It was at that moment, that no matter what doubts I have within me, that I should strive to see my goal through!

I finally have my site up! www.troycopesphotography.com Bookmark it! It is still a work in progress. I will keep adding and taking images away from it probably for the rest of my life. The main site is hosted on deviant art. They started a online portfolio service, which is free if you choose to not use your own domain name. It is a nice flash site if you are on a budget. You can link your pictures straight from your already existing deviantart.com profile, or upload all new content! Just go to www.portfolio.deviantart.com to get started! I do plan on making a facebook page for the business as well... haven't reached a decision yet.

I am also completely obsessed with Melissa Rodwell's blog! You should book mark that as well! www.fashionphotographyblog.com

Now, for the geek portion of the blog!

I can not wait to see the new Tron movie coming out in December! I plan on seeing it in IMAX 3D! The 3D trailer for it looked SO amazing!

Gotta get back to editing!