Ask & Ye Shall Receive
by Samantha ~ July 2nd, 2009. Filed under: miscellaneous magic.Remember I said I was doing a Q&A? I meant it. It just took me awhile.
† From Techphilospher :
Cruel Intentions release What do you do to support youself? Are you making a living from modeling and photographer or do you have some sort of regular job?
I’ve always considering saying that you are an artist just means that you are too lazy to get a real job, so yes, I am an artist. Right now all of my income comes from photography, as I have taken a step back from modeling for the time being. I also blog with Nixon at Haute Macabre, but as of yet, we are not making any profit from it.
If you were going to buy a relatively inexpensive zoom lens for a Canon XSi to take pictures of birds and other far away things, what would you buy?
Guilt by Association video I’d save my pennies and get a slick piece of glass! I mostly shoot with a Canon 24-70
, and they run around $1300. Worth every single penny, though.
Any chance you are coming to Wizard World Philly this year? Do you know any SG’s who are?
I am not attending that show, but I WILL be at Comic Con in a few weeks in San Diego. I have no idea who will be at the Philly convention, but I always did have a great time at the Wizard World shows, so you should try to make it over there. And – if you’re in Philly, go check out the Mutter Museum. I have not had the chance to go, as every time I find myself in Philadelphia it’s on an incredibly tight schedule, but I hear it is delightful.
Are you still watching Battlestar Galactica?
The Morgue movies Nope. I got completely bored with it about 2/3rds through Season 1. Liam is still watching though, and keeps telling me that it gets super awesome, but I lost interest. I’d fall asleep during every episode, which is never a good sign.
Tentacle porn? Really?
Uh… yeah. I never got around to watching it though, and just deleted it because I needed some room on my hard drive. Tim has it, and I’m visiting him next month, so maybe I’ll check it out at his house. I’m not really one for porn, but it seemed like it would be full of the lols.
† From TC :
NYC Accent – did you have it bad? Do you still have it?
I have spent nearly 30 years covering it up, but it on occasion slips out. I can’t seem to say the word “drawer” (it comes out like “draw”), and depending on how fast I’m talking or whom I’m talking to, it definitely creeps in.
Who comes up with the theme for a shoot – you, the girl, or both?
Well, it’s a bit of a group effort, really. I tend to avoid “themed” shoots, since I feel like if you don’t execute it perfectly, it looks like crap. Most of the time, the model will present to me her ideas, and I can then figure out if it’s logisitically possible. If it is, we go with it, and if not, I try to figure out a way to make it work. Honestly though, I really prefer just shooting raw, simple things. I like to focus on the model rather than using a ton of props or effects, since a lot of times the girl can get lost in all that.
Do you own your own lighting or do you rent / borrow / steal? What do you use? Were those your Alien Bees?
Good fuck, I WISH those were mine. They were Cymagen’s, since I couldn’t fly with my kit (it would totally fall apart being handled by the luggage guys). More of then than not, I shoot with natural, diffused lighting, but when I do need extra fill I have a really basic hot light kit.
Did you know any made guys?
Not that I know of, but then again, you never ask about work.
† From Bob : The Fog ipod
Why “Fractal”?
The Art of War video I could go off on a long winded explaination that I made up after the fact, but really, it’s just because fractal_reality was my email address when I applied for SG. Back then, in early ’03, the site was so small that I never thought it would mean anything. In retrospect, I probably would have picked something a little less esoteric.
Sicilian Witch? Literally as in Wiccan, or figuratively as in a permutation of “wise woman”?
A bit of both, actually! My friend Del dubbed me that one night, but I was actually raised Wiccan. My mom converted to it when I was about 9, but I haven’t practiced in ages.
What camera do you use to shoot your sets? What’s that gizmo attached to it?
I shoot with a Canon 5D, and usually use the 24 – 70 lens I mentioned earlier. I occasionally use a 50mm 1.8 The Village dvdrip Dead Calm full movie , but the former is much more versatile. The thingy on top of the camera was a transmitter gizmobobber for remotely firing the strobes. It made me feel all fancy, using all that grown up equipment.
If you didn’t find this terribly dull, I could do it again sometime! Next time I shall find photos to insert, but I am being far too lazy at the moment.
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July 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 PM
i hope the 24-70 is a f2.8 ;)
then everything is covered ;)
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Yup, indeed it is.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Thankyou for taking the time to answer those questions. I rarely find anyone from back east.
You might want to look at Midwest Photo Exchange. I like this place – its local, I try to buy local if they are close on cost, and they know their stuff. I use their strobist kits (flashes).
http://www.mpex.com/page.htm?PG=Strobist%20Kits
My only complaint is that the flashes use aa batteries, and they deplete rapidly. I was considering alien bees (400 series), but not everything I do is indoors, requiring an external power supply (and that is pricey).
I have moved around the country quite a bit, I can mimic local accents quickly. I now pronounce drawer as “drawr-er”.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Thanks very much.
You are nice.
Cheers
Tim
July 5th, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Fractal doesn’t strike me as esoteric at all, but is rather appropriate to your wide-ranging interests. :)
July 7th, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Thanks for the answers!
I know that lens are where to invest the $ so I will have to start saving up for a good one.
Next time I am near the Mutter Museum I’ll have to send you a postcard, I have not been since I was in school.
July 9th, 2009 at 5:30 AM
If there weren’t any ethical issues, would you get Chicken tattooed ? And if so, with what ?