Local Photographer ... Wow

[Isaak Brodsky]

Before I became some tedious academic, I fancied myself a young international man of mystery, idealistic, well read, well endowed with the weight of bohemian artistic knowledge and experience on my side.

Even as a high school student, I was a serious study of photography at Carnegie Mellon University. Excuse my enthusiasm, but I have found another serious photographer locally.

Jason Arbogast runs a studio in Ginown City, just outside Futenma Air Station. His eye for line and form and for capturing honest emotion is incredibly sharp.

What a technician. I found him on a Google Search and took my wife and daughter to his studio for a session.

He is totally unlike most other photographers local or otherwise – absurdly over-priced and typically pretentious. The modest fees are entirely reasonable, if not low, for his exceedingly high level of skill. He’s also friendly.

His no-frills approach to capturing excellent images is really quite refreshing. It is not often that I have not had to try and clear away a photographer’s ego just to get at the real person behind the camera. With Arbogast, none of that high-falutin bull is necessary.

Check ’im out at http://www.kidzpikz.com/default3.asp

Cheers, ib

[dweener]

Very nice.
My favorite is the 2nd picture in gallery 1.

[Isaak Brodsky]

Yeah, i agree, it's a good one, but my favorite is probably the second shot in gallery 4.
Cheers

[dweener]

Its a tie. They are both beyond anything I could do!

[Courtney]

I have looked over his site before, and i agree that they are good shots! I have come across many local photographers simply for insperation! =)
Im battleing rightnow with indoor compesition and his gallery of studio shots have givin me alot of ideas!

[usmc_pfc_awol_bcd]

Ian Broudy,

Thanks for showing us this photographer's work. I went through the galleries trying to note a few that I liked best, but there were just too many. His subjects' eyes in these photos were amazing. I wonder what type of camera he is using?? Of course, I will admit that this guy has a keen eye to capture some awesome expressions, but I was just wondering about the camera he uses because I am in the market for a new digital.

[Isaak Brodsky]

PFC AWOL,

My wife was so pleased with his camera work that she wants me to set up another session sometime this spring, when the weather warms up, maybe on location at some castle ruin, or some other place like that.

I agree, his ability to capture just the right look is impressive. I wish I had that kind of intuition. I may be able to find out what sort of camera he uses. I'm fairly sure it's a Canon but am unsure precisely what model.

I thought I saw contact information on his website. You might consider asking him. Don't know really.

Hope this helps. Cheers, ib

[okisteve]

Ian Broudy,

Thanks for showing us this photographer's work. I went through the galleries trying to note a few that I liked best, but there were just too many. His subjects' eyes in these photos were amazing. I wonder what type of camera he is using?? Of course, I will admit that this guy has a keen eye to capture some awesome expressions, but I was just wondering about the camera he uses because I am in the market for a new digital.

AWOL - having the greatest fancy digital SLR in the world won't make your pictures great. 50% is in the composition, maybe 30% in lighting, and the last 20% is the techie stuff. OK, maybe it's nice to have a good fast zoom lens to capture what you see, but... Thats my 2 cents as a longtime photographer. It's about your own eye and mind, and how you use the camera, not the gadget itself.

[Courtney]

WELL said Okisteve!
I agree that a good pic is mostly about the photographer.
But if your shopping around..i would go with a canon. I have a 35MM canon rebel T2 and just got a canon rebel XTi, which im in LOVE with! I love having the option of a film and a digital, but it makes for one heavy, large camear bag to lug around! LOL

[usmc_pfc_awol_bcd]

Courtney,

Thanks for the advice to go with Canon. My dad has a few Canon digital SLRs. His advice was to go with a used Canon 20D. Supposedly, this camera has a lot of pro features. As for lenses, I wouldn't know where to start, but I've heard that a nice zoom can cost more than the camera itself. Decisions, decisions.....

[usmc_pfc_awol_bcd]

Gallery 4, the last picture...........I love how those blue colors are swirling in the photograph. Do you see what I am talking about? I wonder if that was added with software after the shoot.

Also in Gallery 4, picture 4 is adorable.

[Isaak Brodsky]

Agreed. I doubt highly, though, that it was photoshopped in as Jason expressly told me that he doesn't not use this software to get the effects he's looking for. It's just all lense and all intuition.

[socalheart]

He seems so young, but really has a knack for capturing children on film. Once piglet can hold her head up, we'll probably try this guy based on your recommendation. Danke.

[okisteve]

Gallery 4, the last picture...........I love how those blue colors are swirling in the photograph. Do you see what I am talking about? I wonder if that was added with software after the shoot.

Also in Gallery 4, picture 4 is adorable.

It looks like the kid was running. He must have panned to track the subject and also used a low f-stop to blur the background further, both of which make it look swirly (the ocean?).

My problem nowadays is that it's just too easy to set the camera on A and shoot away.

[dweener]

AWOL - having the greatest fancy digital SLR in the world won't make your pictures great. 50% is in the composition, maybe 30% in lighting, and the last 20% is the techie stuff. OK, maybe it's nice to have a good fast zoom lens to capture what you see, but... Thats my 2 cents as a longtime photographer. It's about your own eye and mind, and how you use the camera, not the gadget itself.

Come on man....ive been saving up for a nice camera, just because I believed that it would make me a good photographer..........
Now, i will have to find some other advert to believe.....hmmm...i heard axe body spray turns you into a male whore, i will try that

[Courtney]

oh yes, that is what really bugs me, i finally talk hubby into getting me the nice camera i want, and now the lens im dieing for is about 50$ short of the orignal camera price!!!!!!!!!!

[usmc_pfc_awol_bcd]

which lens do you want?

[Isaak Brodsky]

Dude also has a blog with some choice featured pics'.

Good way to comment on his work and exchange ideas about photography.

http://kidzpikz.blogspot.com/

[okisteve]

35 mm. focal length is the equivalent of ??? in a film camera?

[usmc_pfc_awol_bcd]

I have been studying this camera stuff pretty intensly this past week because I am dying to buy a digital SLR. From my readings, I have learned that there are full-frame DSLRs and cropped-frame DSLRs. I have my eye on a used Canon 20D, and this camera is 1.6 factor cropped, which basically means, for example, that a 35mm focal length on a 20D would be the equivalent of a 56mm lens on a film camera. 1.6 factor means that all lenses will be 60% longer in focal length, so if you add 60% of focal length to a 35mm lens, you get 56mm.

However, the photographer does state that he is using a Canon 5D and that is a full-frame sensor, so there is no cropping. Thus, a 35mm lens on a 5D would be the same focal length on any film camera.

From the looks of this guy's set-up, his camera alone is $2000+, and that 35mm lens runs for about $1500.

Some people will go any length to have the best toys.

[Isaak Brodsky]

... His advice was to go with a used Canon 20D. ...

I just bought a 10D. The processor is huge. It's just a bad-ass camera. I've snapping my index finger out of joint. I'm not sure I'll ever need another camera.

Maybe I'm just a bit exuberant about my new purchase.

[usmc_pfc_awol_bcd]

Ian, indeed, the Canon 10D is sweeto. I've seen them go on ebay for around $300, but when they first retailed. they sold for over $1500. I'm pretty set on the 20D, but when my tax return comes back, I may just splurge for a 5D, but then I won't have any money left over for lenses.

[I Am Luna]

Do you order your lens from America or get them locally?

[usmc_pfc_awol_bcd]

From my understanding, the only way to save money on lenses is to get them from Tokyo. The Okinawan camera stores are a lot more expensive than Tokyo ones. I think it goes 50/50. Some are cheaper here in Japan, but you can also find some cheaper from USA sellers on eBay.

[Isaak Brodsky]

dude also has a blog of his work.

got some really cool flash images too. pretty impressive stuff.

http://kidzpikz.blogspot.com/

[I Am Luna]

We need a photography clique here.

[Isaak Brodsky]

We need a photography clique here.

you like photography too? i've really been starting to get into it in recent years. i really wanna learn the ropes of it. daunting.

if you like good random stuff, check out http://pixdaus.com/http://pixdaus.com/

cheers, ib

[Courtney]

I AGREE luna!!! =)