THOMAS SCHOENWEITZ

Its all about Digital

Thomas — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:39:51 +0000

I came across this article where Gunleik Groven, a videographer and photographer from Norway who takes apart and compares the RED1 MX and Arri’s Alexa. While I am also interested in video gear and equipment what is most interesting to me is the theory he explains behind the digital picture itself, dynamic range, color temperature / white balance and noise. Check out his great comparison here.

OUWLRC Development Squad 2011

Thomas — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:40:07 +0000

My recent VIdeo-Work I did for the Oxford University Women’s Lightweight Rowing Club (OUWLRC). After re-designing and re-building their entire web-presence, this is the first of many new videos for recruitment of new squad members, sponsors and fans.

The video was shot over three days with a Canon 5D Mark II and a GoPro HD Hero. The initial plan was to use it merely as a test-shooting for future productions, but we were all so pleased with the initial results that we just decided to use it for the DevSquad.

April // Update

Thomas — Mon, 02 May 2011 11:52:41 +0000

Some wonderful and colorful images for spring from the studio and outdoors shot in April. Thank you to springwater Group, Elena, Ernesto, Jasmina and Kristin.

Zack Arias on CreativeLive

Thomas — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:33:08 +0000

Zack Arias is up on CreativeLive again right now! He is talking about the Ins and Outs of being a photographer, but also about composition and lighting. Check it out here for free or buy the course right now with a great discount while the course is still running.

Model Posing 101

Thomas — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:09:57 +0000

In preparation of our next Studio Session on May 8th, here some modeling / posing basics.

We will also be having a strobist track. Check out Videos here and here.

Oxford Studio Session 3//2011

Thomas — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:39:53 +0000

Thank you again to all the participants of our third Studio Session on 20/3/11, the second session in 2011.

Thank you very much to our lovely models Sasha, Chloe and Agata for sharing this day with us. I think the results speak for themselves.
After two more technically inclined sessions, this one was all about model-interaction and posing. With the help of our stylist Max and lots of props and outfits we really brought things to a different level.

Lighting setups were kept to a minium this time, with only one (on white) or two lights (on black) with umbrellas and a bit of hairlight for separation. On the white background I used a 5ft umbrella about 3 meters from the model to the side or 45°/45° Rembrand style.

Find some BTS shots below.

More pictures in the Studio Sessions Flickr Group.
If you would like to participate in our Studio Sessions, just visit the Oxford Photographic Society on one of their weekly meetings and talk to one of us.

Fashion Photo Shoot with Jade

Thomas — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:08:23 +0000

Thank you to the lovely models Jade and Marcel, and the wonderful stylist Kristin for this wonderful shooting.

We were shooting at the Stundenhotel München, using only a small lighting setup with one Profoto light and a beauty dish. Lighting was kept simple to allow us to go through multiple settings and locations in the hotel in only 2 hours time.

Oxford Studio Sessions 2//2011

Thomas — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:29:50 +0000

Thank you again to all the participants of the second OPS Studio Session on 13/2/11, the first session in 2011.

This time we had a lot more photo- and lighting-theory, talking about the basics of light, different styles and angles of lighting, as well as a the different lighting modifiers. On the other end we had Dave and Sasha helping us out in a kind of a free-style-area where everybody could just enjoy themselves shooting more freely under Daves and Kims professional guidance.

We will include lighting diagrams here soon, to make it possible for everyone to disect the setups and recreate them.

Here are some of there results as well as BTS shots.

One light, umbrella

One light, softbox

One light, umbrella and reflector

More pictures in the OPS-Studio Flickr Group.

Oxford Studio Lighting Workshop 2010

Thomas — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 23:07:47 +0000

I am glad to say that the OPS Studio Lighting Workshop was a great success.
You guys were awsome. I know I am not always easy on you, and we went through pretty much everything from lighting basics to equipment with a lot of hands on shooting after that to practise what we just heard.

We had set up two different scenarios, one with a white background and a large softbox with a hairlight, and one with a dark cloth background, a softbox and an umbrella.
It has been a great experience for me, I am thrilled so many of you came to join in, try something new and have a good time.

I am sure we will make this a regular thing, and I am looking forward to seeing your great images and going more in depth when we have our next meeting in 2011.
Also I would like to say Thank You to the City of Oxford Silver Band who were so kind and let us use their space.

More Images here!

Help Portrait Oxford 2010

Thomas — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 05:54:05 +0000

On Saturday I was very lucky to be part of Help Portrait 2010 in Oxford. The people at OXSRAD supported us by providing their location to us and helping us out wherever they could. Frank, James, Dave, JP and Mel and myself as members of the OPS were photographers on location. We had two setups prepared, one with Profoto Studio strobes and one with two Canon Speedlites.

I think it is safe to say WE HAD A BLAST!
Here are some of the Behind-the-Scenes shots.

The event really opened my eyes to the problems handicapped children face on a daily basis. School photography is really difficult for these kids, as they don’t get enough time and attention from the photographers to fulfill their needs and to make them feel secure.

Of couse we had a lot of fun ourselves. Here are some of our Light-Test and Setup-Test Shots.

See you next year!