6 Portrait Lighting Patterns Every Photographer Should Know

6 Portrait Lighting Patterns Every Photographer Should Know

four common portrait lighting patterns:

• Split lighting
• Loop lighting
• Rembrandt lighting
• Butterfly lighting

Style of lighting:

• Broad lighting
• Short lighting

Redownload Mac OS X Lion

Open the Mac App Store

Hold the Option key and click on “Purchases”

Click the Download button

The installer will be downloaded into the Application folder

The User Defined Server Roles in SQL 2012

The new user defined server role is a secure and new feature added in SQL Server 2012. In versions before SQL Server 2012, we only had fixed server roles in SQL Server.

Some stored procedures used in fixed server role are not valid anymore and will be removed and replaced to support this new feature in the future.

Sample code:

USE [master]
GO
CREATE SERVER ROLE [customServerRole] AUTHORIZATION [sa]

ALTER SERVER ROLE [customServerRole] ADD MEMBER [<user name>]


ALTER SERVER ROLE [customServerRole] DROP MEMBER [<user name>]


ALTER SERVER ROLE [setupadmin] ADD MEMBER [customServerRole]

Contained databases

The main idea is to remove the independency between the Database Engine and the database. The contained databases are independent databases that do not require a login.

SaaS

Software as a service...

CSS Vendor (browser) Prefixes

CSS vendor prefixes or CSS browser prefixes are a way for browser makers to add support for new CSS features in a sort of testing and experimentation period. Browser prefixes are used to add new features that may not be part of a formal specification and to implement features in a specification that hasn’t been finalized.  It is temporary.

The CSS browser prefixes are:

• Android: -webkit- 
• Chrome: -webkit- 
• Firefox: -moz- 
• Internet Explorer: -ms- 
• iOS: -webkit- 
• Opera: -o- 
• Safari: -webkit-

Example:
Setting a rounded corner on a box:

• -moz-border-radius: 10px 5px;
• -webkit-border-top-left-radius: 10px;
• -webkit-border-top-right-radius: 5px;
• -webkit-border-bottom-right-radius: 10px;
• -webkit-border-bottom-left-radius: 5px;
• border-radius: 10px 5px;

Surround with... - SQL Server 2012

The surround with let us generate BEGIN END clauses, WHILE Loops and IF conditions easily.

 To activate this option, right click in the SQL Server Management Studio Script pane and select "Surround With..."

Insert snippet - SQL Server 2012

The insert snippet let us create code easily.

To start the Insert Snippet, right click in the SQL Server Management Studio Script pane and select Insert Snippet.

You can easily generate code to create functions, indexes, logins, roles, schemas, stored procedures, synonyms, tables and triggers.

For stored procedure, it generates code for 3 scenarios:

• the basic procedure, 
• a procedure with cursors and 
• a procedure with output parameters

How to Rap?

Rap is all about what you’re saying and how you’re saying it!


Structure
stress and unstressed syllables

Iambic rhythm (more info...)

• combination of stress and unstressed syllables
• rhythm that the words establish in that line
• rhythm is measured in small groups of syllables
• when the rhythmic flow of two lines is identical, it maks them mesh together very well

example:


Its FAIR - to SAY - I’m GRIND – in and PAV – in the WAY
DUH  – da DUH  - da DUH -  da  DUH   - da da DUH – da da DUH


and– the THINGS – you TAKE – for GRANT – ed I’m CLAIM – in  to DAY
DUH  -  da  DUH     -  da  DUH  -  da  DUH   -  da da  DUH   -  da da DUH

Double Timing

• used a lot in southern hip hop music (slower tempos used, 72bpm)
• If the tempo of the instrumental you’re rapping over is 65bpm then you rap at a rate of 130bpm – you double time it
• squeeze double the amount of stressed syllables you normally would in one line

Half Timing

• more popular in genres like Dubstep, Dance and upbeat Pop music
• If the beat has a tempo of 140bpm then you rap at a tempo of 70bpm
• This requires you to squeeze half the amount of stressed syllables you normally would into one line – in effect you half-time the beat

Cadence and Rhythm...

Filler lines are basically generic rhymes that are either used to keep the momentum going or to setup punch-lines.  But they typically don’t have the “Wow” factor of a hard hitting punch-line. 
Punch-lines are those prized lyrics that really grab your attention.  They hit you dead in the chest and leave a lasting impression.



Compression

One of the most misunderstood and most valuable tools for producing great rap vox is compression.  The function of a compressor is to reduce the peaks in an audio signal so that the overall dynamic range of a vocal performance is reduced.  Understanding and utilizing compression correctly can make your hip-hop vocals punchier, more intelligible, and most importantly, it will give them that professional feel.  Properly applied compression is extremely important for rap vocals because the rapper is normally saying a lot in a short amount of time. You want to keep a listener’s attention, and every word needs to be understandable to your audience.

In terms of compressor settings, I like to run some very mild compression on the input signal to tame some of the audio peaks and then tighten that up with some moderate compression on the output signal.  For hip-hop vocals, I like to start with a ratio range of 2:1 to 4:1 and an attack of 7 to 10ms.  If you are one of those “speed rappers” you might  want an even quicker attack time of 3 to 5ms and a higher ratio of 8:1.  In regards to the release time, a quicker setting will give you a tamer vocal while a slower setting will give you a punchier rap vocal. 

EQ

EQ-ing is a lot less difficult to understand than compression and can be a great tool for getting your rap vocals to cut through your mix.  Again, this is important because your hip-hop vocalist is typically saying a lot in a short amount of time, and every word must be understandable.  As a rule of thumb, if you have to do major EQ-ing to achieve the desired tone you might want to go back and experiment with your mic placement and vocalist orientation (to the mic).

How to Record Rap Vocals

Night Photography

The essentials:

• tripod,
• remote and
• gloves

Techniques:
Zooming

• changing the focal length while the shutter is open
• position your hand on the zoom ring prior to beginning the exposure, you will avoid the camera shake when coming in contact for zooming and ensure a smooth zoom

Light Painting
Timing and patterns

• shot events that are not supposed to appear together (e.g. three colors of a traffic light)

Tip:
Lock the mirror

Lightroom Catelog

Lightroom catalogs do slow as the catalog sizes increase.  It isn't noticable until you reach around 15,000 + images within a single catalog.

It is recommended to do the following for big catalog from time to time to optimize the catalog efficiency:

File –> Optimize Catalog...

Lightroom Previews

Render 1:1 Previews for all of the images: it will save enormous amounts of time during developing since Lightroom will no longer have to pause to render a preview when moving from image to image, or when zooming into an image.

Library –> Previews –> Render 1:1 Previews –> Build All

Hell

Take everything bad that has ever happened in your life, roll it all into one experience, and make it permanent. All the pain, all the disappointment, all the failure...all the hatred, all the bitterness, all the fear, all the anxiety...and experience that to the full, and then add this: there's no hope. It cannot, it will not ever get better.


If this is hell, are you going to do something to avoid it?

Lightening Backgrounds in Lightroom

Lightroom can do a quick job but won't be as good as Photoshop (and a good extraction tool such as Vertus Fluid Mask would be the best combination to use).

• Develop module
• Click Adjustment Brush
• Size Brush A so it is big enough to paint over the background
• Add a small feather : 15
• Enable Auto Mask
• Density : 100
• Click to paint over the background with the brush (when you lift the brush, you will see the Adjustment Pin.  Make sure the cross hair in the middle of the brush stays on the background and then the Auto Mask feature will ensure that the brush doesn't paint over anything but the background)

• To see the painted area, press the O key and a red overlay will appear

• For fine area, it's more "efficient" (i.e. quicker) to size the brush very large so the center can be positioned over an area of the background and the rest of it extends over the wispy fine (e.g. hair) area.  It might help to significantly decrease the density to around 30 so that you only partially select the background in the fine area.

• Return to 100% density and continue to work in the other background and making sure to avoid the fine area.

• Adjust the settings for the Adjustment Brush.  Increase the exposure and brightness until the background is white

Make sure the foreground color should be different from the background color to have the best result.

Happiness and Sadness

"The big difference between human happiness and sadness? Thirty-seven freakin' vibrations."
- Michael Tilson Thomas

(the difference between the major and minor chords)

Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack

Install this compatibility pack if you would like to open, edit, and save documents, workbooks, and presentations that were created in the newer versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Scroll down to see instructions and system requirements.

Download Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint File Formats

GarageBand for IPad - BlueTooth headset

If you are using a BlueTooth header, you need to go to Settings and turn on "AirPlay - Bluetooth" which will send sound from GarageBand to AirPlay and Bluetooth devices.

Beauty Retouching

Lines and Wrinkles:
Using Photoshop® to eliminate lines, wrinkles, and skin blemishes with the Patch Tool and the Spot Healing Brush Tool.

• Duplicate the original photo (layer) to a new layer for the Patch tool
• Use the Spot Healing tool on a new (empty) layer

Eyes:

• Duplicate the original photo (layer) to a new layer for the Patch tool
• Use the Spot Healing tool on a new (empty) layer
• Clone Stamp Tool

Three-Point Lighting for Portrait Photography

An overview of a classic three-point lighting setup used in portrait photography.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzvHEBm6VZs&feature=fvwrel

The back light as hair light:

The back light as aim light:

Flash Unit on Light Stand Setup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2y5JuNO1Uo&feature=channel&list=UL

the adjustment handle of the adapter will be on the right facing the umbrella.

Using a Reflector for Fill Light

Portrait Photography. Using a reflector to create fill lighting and reduce contrast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td-AvvX3xTA&feature=channel&list=UL

One Light Portrait Setup

Portrait photography: Using One Light to Create a Classic Portrait.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQxF80lpIV8&feature=related

• Camera & Flash on manual Mode (starts with 1/8 power)
• ISO: 100
• Aperture: f/4.0
• Shutter Speed: 1/250
• the flash is 45 degree to one side of the subject, pointed down at 45 degree as well
• the flash is 3ft away from the subject head
• with only one light source, increase the distance between the light source and the background will make the background darker
• take test shots and looks for hot spot (which is the over-exposed area that will be difficult to repair)
• 4.0    100    1/8 (starting point)
• 4.0    100    1/16 (too bright)
• increase the distance of the light and the subject (too bright)
• 2.8    100    1/8 (too dim)
• 4.0    200    1/8 (too dim)
• 4.0    100    1/4 (too dim)

DNS Cache

Your computer stores a list of IP addresses connected to various domain names. This list is generated as your browser requests DNS (Domain Name System) records from your ISP’s preferred DNS host.

Typing the following command in the Command Prompt that will save the result in a text file (dnshistory.txt) on C drive.

ipconfig /displaydns > c:\dnshistory.txt

Open the file on the C drive using Notepad (or any Text Editor). This file will contain a list of domain names accessed by the computer. Flushing the DNS now and then is also a great way to get over certain sites that may appear to be more sluggish than usual.

You can flush the DNS cache by typing the following command in the Command Prompt.

ipconfig /flushdns

iPad Camera Connection Kit

You can connect USB mic, USB keyboard, USB thumb drive to the USB port.

• Ignore the warning saying the device is not supported
• USB MIDI keyboard is working fine with Garageband
• USB Mic is working fine with Garageband but it seems the quality is not that great compare with using the same mic with my MacbookPro.  I am going to try to convert an XLR mic to USB and see if I can get a better quality
• USB keyboard is working fine but you cannot input Chinese characters
• USB wireless keyboard is working fine (I tried the wireless combo and the mouse, of course, is not working.  I also tried the mouse with TeamViewer connecting to a Windows computer and the mouse is not working with the cursor.)

You can also import photos on SD, micro SD card with the card reader

• you need to import the photos / videos before you can view them, therefore, won't able to treat the card as external drive
• the files should be in the "DCIM" folder
• Jailbreaking iPad will allow you to view the photos and videos directly on the SD card

IrfanView - Nikon Raw Viewer / Conventor

You can use IrfanView to view and convert the Nikon RAW format to other format.
You can download it from here: http://www.irfanview.com

Viewing the files:

• IrfanView has a Thumbnails option: "C:\Program Files (x86)\IrfanView\i_view32.exe" /thumbs 
• It works as an image browser and the Windows Explorer
• You can preview all the RAW files in thumbnail instead of open them one by one. 

Converting the files:

• You can open an image and select "Save as..." from the File menu
• For Batch conversion, press "B" in either the image view or thumbnails view to open the Batch conversion window.  The following image will give you an idea how to do it 

Clear Browser History in Chrome

While in Chrome, press CTRL+SHIFT+DEL.
Choose "the beginning of time" in "Obliterate the following items from", and select just the browser history:

Android Cantonese Voice Input

Enable the Voice Input:

• Home
• Settings
• Voice input and output
• Voice recognition settings
• Language
• Chinese, Yue (Hong Kong, Traditional)

Whenever you see the mic icon, tab on it and you can use the voice input.  This is not as good as Dragon Dictation on iPad and the Hong Kong special characters are not available.

If you are not using the Android keyboard, the mic may not be available on the keyboard.

Enable the Android Keyboard:

• Home
• Settings
• Locale and text
• Select input method
• select the Android keyboard

Head to Head Camera comparison

A good website to compare camera: http://snapsort.com/compare

Importing Loops into Garageband for iPad

We can import AIFF, WAV, CAF, ACC, MP3 and Apple Loops into Garageband for iPad:

• open iTunes, go to your Devices, select your iPad and go to Apps
• Scroll down and click on Garageband in your Apps list and then hit the 'Add' button to select the files
• Launch Garageband on iPad and tap on the Loop icon, and select Audio Files tab, tab and drap the file to the track

Only Apple Loop will adjust the tempo and key.

Free Apple Loops

Create / convert the audio file to Apple Loops using the Apple Loops Utility (comes with Logic Pro, Soundtrack Pro or Final Cut Pro).

more info...