April 2019 Featured Photographer

Blog Category:

Featured Photographer

Doll Type:

Other Doll (Not Listed)

Content:

Photography

Click picture for full size and for gallery

Our Featured Photographer for April 2019 is BillMartin9029

Meet Hiyoko

Given all the great photographers who have been featured here at Cover Doll, it's a surprise, an honor and daunting task to have been selected to submit some photos of Hiyoko. She's my first and only doll (6YE 150D, X19 head), arriving in July 2018; and my decision to buy a doll was certainly driven by the great photos I saw at TDF.

I'm not exactly new to photography, I did B&W photo (incl. darkroom) and film work professionally in the early to mid 1970's. Life and career proceeded down a very different path and I hardly touched a camera for 40 years! But, I'm a TOTAL NEWBIE when it comes to digital - I'm still struggling to get a handle on basic editing in Photoshop Elements!

Hiyoko has been a terrific model and I'm thankful both to her and TDF for motivating me to get back to doing photography. In my youth, I always thought the world looked better through a camera lens and on ground glass. No longer have the ground glass, but I still get a thrill when, after the shutter clicks, that image of Hiyoko appears on the LCD viewer. Those are moments when I feel Hiyoko and I are about the same age. (If only!)

Equipment

I use a Canon EOS Rebel T6. It came with a 18-55, F3.5/5.6 zoom which I seldom use. I purchased a f1.8 50mm; and a f1.8 85mm, and still need to pick up a 28mm. I like the depth of field options these lenses allow; and, as I try to use just available and natural lighting when possible I need those faster lenses. I also purchased a LED ring light with a diffuser which does a nice job when I need to pick up the overall light level. Looking at some multi-light kits and maybe backdrops and green screen - if I ever figure out layers!

I included several pics (I like doing portraits) from a few different setups and two simple, grab and shoot candids of Hiyoko - those moments are most fun. My goal is trying to make images that are 'well composed' - employing subject placement, angle, color and light. Hope you enjoy - I'm loving it, thanks! More of Hiyoko in her album:

Hiyoko & Bill

Note from the Editor: Each month we will feature a different photographer's work. We invite doll owners and manufacturers alike to participate in this new monthly feature. Photo shoots must meet a minimum quality level. If you do not meet that level we are happy to work with you, critique your photos and help you to raise the bar on your photography. Good photo shoots can be had with low cost digital cameras. It is all in the technique.

Submit your inquiries and sample entry photos to featuredphotographer@coverdoll.com