Here’s an awesome photography trick, to help you photograph a lightning strike. Don’t try this in unsafe circumstances (you be the judge). I’m no meteorologist, but getting struck by lightning is not good. So be smart.

A lightning bolt strikes Sears Tower in Chicago, IL.

Photographing a lightning strike involves using shutter speed, a basic principal of manual photography. So step up the game and stop using the auto settings already. Also, when using shutter speeds this slow, generally anything under a 1/15 of a second, support is required to keep the camera steady. Use a tripod or set it on something where it will be totally still.

1. Use a slow shutter speed. These days, most all digital cameras, whether slr or point & shoot, can do a 30 second shutter exposure. Anything beyond thirty seconds would require using the bulb mode marked with “b” on most cameras. Bulb mode simply means the shutter will remain open as long as the camera button is pressed down. In this case, however, give the photo a 30 second exposure to begin with.
2. Select aperture. The aperture should be set to something small, try F22. This makes sure everything is in deep focus and the exposure is compensated for.
3. Adjust ISO/ASA setting. Fine tune the overall image exposure, by choosing higher or lower film speed settings, to get the setting looking just right. I usually prefer to underexpose in these situations.
4. Taking the picture… be careful not to shake the camera when taking the picture. You can avoid problems by setting the timer on your camera, or using a shutter release cord.

If lightning strikes any time while the shutter is open (30 seconds in this case) it’s captured in the photo.

It still takes good timing, however, capturing a lightning strike is a lot easier if it strikes within 30 seconds vs. 1/125 of a second.

This was a fun discovery today. Thanks to google’s live auto search updates, I was able to find a message board posting from yesterday, with some cool feedback about my work and about Bob a.k.a. “Kid Rock.”

Nothing beats the strange/awkward feeling, of reading strangers talk about you and your work on Kid Rock’s Official website. But hey, thanks for checking it out guys! Rock On!

Click photo to see full size image. Kid Rock Portrait Copyright Jeff Schear Visuals. As seen on www.kidrock.com

****A COPY OF THE COMMENTS FROM: www.kidrock.com  ****

• Bob’s photo portrait taken by Jeff Schear
  bluesuedeshoe says (14 may ‘13)

  http://www.jeffschear.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=2&pi=11000&p=-1&a=0&at=0

  Photo portrait of Bob. Pretty amazing. Think you only get one look before you have to log in, so make it count, lol.
  -
  Worth scrolling around and looking at some of Schear’s other work too. Impressive.

  Filed Under: Extreme Kid Rock
  
  

Tue, 05/14/2013 – 10:53pm — Rocksavedmysoul

I love that it’s in black and white-way more intimate and revealing, and somehow fitting with the grittiness of Detroit.

Tue, 05/14/2013 – 8:22pm — TheRoxy

Hes so……..YUMMY

Tue, 05/14/2013 – 6:38pm — Cheryl J – Loga…

My new desk top theme picture. Thanks for the link.

Tue, 05/14/2013 – 3:52pm — TammyRay

good catch Blue, Thanks, and yes worth seeing his other photos too.. Very talented (and lucky) man..

Tue, 05/14/2013 – 3:33pm — Bluesuedeshoe

Thanks, guys. It is a very good pic.

Tue, 05/14/2013 – 2:20pm — Cheryl J – Loga…

Got it if you only use the actual web address then go into celebrity for choice. Nice

Tue, 05/14/2013 – 2:24pm — Rbspearman

If you go to www.jeffschear.com, you can click on photos at the bottom of the page. Then choose the celebrity category and I think Kid Rock is the 4th picture. I didn’t have to log in or have a password (maybe it lets you in one time before prompting, idk.)

Tue, 05/14/2013 – 2:38pm — Cheryl J – Loga…

Thanks got excited and missed a step

Here’s a portrait photograph I took of actor/comedian Nick Cannon this week. Honestly, not going to lie, Nick looks great in purple.

“Nicholas Scott “Nick“ Cannon (born October 8, 1980)^[1] is an American actor, comedian, rapper, and radio/television personality. On television, Cannon began as a teenager on All That before going on to host The Nick Cannon Show, Wild ‘N Out, and America’s Got Talent. He acted in the films Drumline, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, and Roll Bounce. As a rapper, he released his debut self-titled album in 2003 with the hit single “Gigolo”, a collaboration with singer R. Kelly. In 2006, Cannon recorded singles “Dime Piece” and “My Wife” for a planned album Stages, which was never released. Cannon married American R&B/pop singer Mariah Carey on April 30, 2008″ (wikipedia.com).

Here’s some interesting photos…(click image to enlarge/show 6 looks) photographed…. CHICAGO, IL – MAY 03: A model walks the runway at the School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago Presents: ‘The Walk’ at Millenium Park on May 3, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Schear/Getty Images)

See all runway images on Getty Images.

Here’s some yoga concept images, from a recent photoshoot at TruHarmony Yoga. Makeup & Hair by Shannon O’Brien Makeup Artist. Photography by Jeff Schear Visuals.

Yoga

Photo of model Coco Rocha, published in March 2013 issue of MARIE CLAIRE (Rocha photo by Jeff Schear).

For Cavallari and fashion company Chinese Laundry, I  photographed the launch of her new women’s footwear line. As she interacted, paparazzo roamed behind aisles of clothing, trying to snap a few photos. Some fun photos resulted, especially ones of  a youngster in a Cutler jersey. (Click photos to enlarge)

Ever since its invention, the camera has been a tool for making love immortal. From the pocket tintype portraits of soldiers during The American Civil War, to the digital engagement pictures that come across facebook every .023 seconds. It’s the human condition to want to immortalize and share that special person in our lives.

Here’s some tips on getting portrait photos of your one and only, without the drama:

• 1. Photograph them doing something they love. It’s easy to capture the fun loving essence of your soul-mate, when they are comfortable and having a good time. The smiles are natural, the joy is genuine.
• 2. Know their insecurities and work around them. This sounds like a no brainer but it’s literally the key to the photo kingdom. If your special someone hates their left/right ear proportions, can’t stand that 1 mm childhood scar above their eyebrow, the left side of their face, etc. Then avoid the problem areas. Take it from their “favorite side.” Selectively use angles and the distance between you and the subject to get the shot. Avoid the insecurities and you won’t get caught before you even get out of the gate.
• 3. They always think they look fat, learn to work with it. Whether it’s the size of their arms, their chin, the body in general, it’s always a touchy issue. Even some celebrities I work with are insecure on levels the likes of which have never been seen. Do me a favor and learn this, always shoot from a higher angle. Find a step stool, safely stand on a chair (not a swiveling chair, I have stitches that proves it isn’t a good idea), even have the subject sit down and photograph them while standing up. This is magic for solving body perception issues. It will make someone look better almost every time.
• 4. Take pictures of different expressions. Have them smile at the camera, smile looking away from the camera, looking pensively at the camera with curious eyes, or even try a candid. Love is complex, expressions should reflect it. Fake personality on the wrong person creates an awkward photo. Some people just don’t look good smiling from tooth to tooth. Find that essence that makes your heart flutter.
• 5. Don’t retouch. Photographers are always falling on this double edge sword, when it comes to taking photos of their love . Personally, I won’t retouch photos of my signifigant others. Why? It’s the worst feeling ever, having someone you love, begging you to retouch their photo. They look over your shoulder as you take away the wrinkles, the bags under the eyes, the blemishes. It’s the ultimate “I love you, but here’s how you should look in a perfect world” trap. You can’t win, seriously, i’ve tried. Remember…people like to be retouched, they don’t like to watch you retouch them.

Love is easy to feel, it’s harder to capture in a photo. The point of these tips isn’t to hide who someone is or what they really look like. Rather, it’s about positioning yourself to create something real, lasting, and overall makes someone feel loved.

Because life is hard, I am not special. Inside my brain there is no seal of approval, on my arm no mark of greatness. I’m only ordinary. But being ordinary is what makes me extraordinary.

Don’t be confused when you become wary. Or let your heart ache over your troubles. If life wasn’t hard we wouldn’t have a word for desicion. In a world free of burden there are no such things as sacrifice or regret. Beauty only exists in an imperfect world.

It’s loss that inspires an artist to create something of seeming permanence. Struggle that strengthens the resolve to improve. Hatred that poisons the blood, so that we can see what is truly pure.

Life Is Hard

Don’t wish for a life of ease, or extravagant wealth, or endless sun and blue skies. I’ve seen the true face of happiness, and it’s not in the reflection of a priceless sports car. Or next door, hidden between the marble pillars of a mansion overlooking the ocean. Sometimes the most extravagant things are just extravagant masks, hiding the emptiest and loneliest spaces and faces.

Be grateful your life isn’t easy, or perfect. I’m glad my life is hard. Grateful for painful decisions, the haunting feeling of not knowing whether or not the right choice was made. It’s just life. No amount of pretending will ever alter the truth that we are human. The greatest gift is what you’ve had all along. The time you’ve been given on this earth. Everything else is just an illusion. The only reality is what we choose to do with our time.

I am not ordinary. Inside my brain there is something extraordinary,  on my arm a mark of greatness. But being extraordinary isn’t greatness. Greatness is born out of the struggle. Because life is hard.