0409 Recently published - Germany, Netherlands, Italy, USA

Selena in the Cowgirl hat - photographed in Vegas on a sunny bright day. Mixed lighting with the backlight coming through as she moves quickly, what a gorgeous smile and beautiful eyes. With the Metz 76 MZ 5 high power flash that has a nice even coverage across the full frame and recharges very fast, the balance in light is exceptional with the correct sensor for the Metz. It reads it very quickly by first doing a pre-flash.

Again here, with the fast change in expressions the Metz 76 MZ 5 is SUPERB in configuring the well balanced mix in lighting. The wide coverage means that the image is well lit edge to edge and allows me to focus my attention only on the subjects, their movement and expressions and where I'd like to crop.

Similar to the above images - this image as in the Cowgirl hat above with the mix in lighting. This session had a lot of very fast composition and movement. Nothing was posed and the fire rate was very high. The sequence of movement is what interests me rather than having to focus my attention on gear and gear and gear!

For most of my outdoors work I use a flash but have found that the recycle rate has to be quick. The Metz 76 MZ 5 with the external power packs cuts the recycle time down to almost immediate. Yes, sometimes the flash head fan will come on (actually often in my case as I am rapid firing) and with the Nikon SB 800 I also tend to use a Quantum Turbo Pack.

Gorgeous Lovers! Shot in very little time in Florida where I had them express their feelings for each other - yes! they were a couple! Soft external flash mixed into a shade light situation. I love the softness and sensuality of her lips. They are full and expectantly waiting for that passionate kiss!

All published in Germany, Netherlands, Italy and USA.

Images available through Corbis for my premium collection - click link here.

Eyes Wide Open

This presentation of a body of my work from a talk I gave in Southern California under my title series Eyes Wide Open. 

The theme was based on the magic of photography: 

"...the photographer's magic - the ability to stir the soul with light and shape and colour. To create grand visual moments out of small and simple things, and to infuse big and complicated subjects with unpretentious elegance. 

Through the photographer's eyes a kiss becomes a romance, a stretch of fabric is a costume of endless possibilities, a face is the book that describes a lifetime. When you see great photography you hear music... or want to... because the light dances. It's playful and full of energy...

...photographs can stand alone... as frozen moments that decorate, define, entertain and inform. " Amyn Nasser ©

Please contact me for any such talks and seminar series.

Precious Finds from the B&H Used Department

The Used Department at B&H Photo's NYC Superstore is larger than most camera stores, and much of the used gear we have in stock isn't even on display. We have what must be the most eclectic assortment of used classics, limited edition, and special purpose cameras...

B&H - great place for gear.

Metz Flash 2008

It takes an effort to create original images but take your time and try different approaches…and hey, here is an edit stage....so fire away and lock in as many images as you can...you can always edit out the ones that don’t work. Adding a flash gives your subjects suberb beautiful light!


The photographer's magic — the ability to stir the soul with light and shape and color. The light dances the soul if you do it right. © Amyn Nasser

Every form correctly seen is beautiful. The eye doesn't see any shapes, it sees only what is differentiated through light and dark or through colors. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749-1832)

Metz 76 MZ 5 - Flash

Metz Flash 2007

Metz Flash Systems - Units I have used for so many years...these flashunits are Superb!
This image: Metz on Camera, Light is calculated internally through your digital system and balanced for Hi-Lites and Shadow. The result is ContreJour...Hmm that lovely..backLight! Well, the balance needs to be subtle or otherwise you've got underexposed garbage files.


Metz 76 MZ 5 - Flash

Spike!

He was next door to me on vacation with his lovely Kay. Well, they were leaving the next day, and I wanted to get that portrait shot of him. I had less than an hour of light. So off we rushed to the beach. I found the spot where I could be higher up than he was!, so I could get the angle I wanted. My Nikon D2X fully charged with an 8GB flashcard as I shoot fast so I can capture that split second motion that is spontaneously charged with all the emotion and passion.

"Talk to me, Spike Baby! Talk to me, Go on Shout Man, go on throw me your fists, yeah, spike go baby, go baby, charge it up, bring it on, go spike, yeah, let it out! Shout! YEAH BABY!"

I fired off the camera, my finger not leaving the trigger button until I had to in order to let the camera write the data - that break was just over a minute I recall - then another round of 15-19 images fired off before I had to stop again. I used a Metz 76 MZ 5 flash plugged to the Nikon D2X, and I am feathering the flash head with white cards with my left hand, and firing with my right hand, and getting Spike to charge his fists, looking, expressning into the camera ...and flash handle edge balancing on my left shoulder....no tripods, nah!...too slow for me.

The great thing about working fast is that you capture the real essence of the person. The energy. The driven passion. That ONE split second!

Spike's in Canada somewhere on vacation with Kay and I'm sure he'll check this site somewhere sometime. Well, thanks a million, Spike!

Data: I filled up 5 compact flashcards and all the images were spot on in exposure except perhaps a couple. Jolly Good!...That's great time for curry! The Synch between the Metz and the Nikon is superb...it sends out a pre-flash to balance the light with the existing daylight. I make changes after I have seen the first shot and checked the exposure and histogram. Keep in mind that I had fill cards and a feather effect going on too. That's pretty accurate light balance.

Nikon D2X - Camera
Metz 76 MZ 5 - Flash
Lexar Compactflash - Card
VisibleDust - Sensor Cleaner! this is a great and easy way to clean your sensor!

I edit everything in Lightroom or Adobe Bridge using Camera Raw at 100% to check for sharpness using Adobe's color coding system to quickly mark off images I felt were sharp and keepers. The rest are trashed immediately (and deleted!). Cataloged using Extensis Portfolio and ExpressionMedia backed up on 3 drives and DVDs and jpegs submitted to my photo editor at Corbis. Final image - Lightly treated (ala créme!) in Photoshop.

Licensing through Corbis at www.corbis.com