We are thrilled to announce our very first video competition. We offer you the chance to showcase your talent and skills to the world in the form of a short photography video. And you’ll get the chance to win insanely incredible prizes. Last but not least, we are sure that these video’s will help the photographic community.

Because we believe that bouncing light is one of the most powerful techniques a photographer can have in his toolbox, we decided to make this competition all about that.

What you have to do
Make a (short) video where you demonstrate your way of bouncing light. You can bounce any light of of anything. You can bounce sunlight of a Sunbounce reflector, you can bounce flash of a wall, you can bounce car headlights of a reflector made out of paperclips and highly reflective fish, … anything goes as long as you bounce the light.

To give you some inspiration, we decided to go on a mission: touring 24 hours straight with 5 photographers throughout Belgium and bounce light everywhere.

The Bounce Squad from www.squeezethelime.com on Vimeo.

In case you can’t play the video, you can also see it on YouTube.

How to Enter the competition
Just upload your video to YouTube and tag them with “lime bounce competition” and “california sunbounce”.
To enter the competition your video must be published on YouTube before the first of december 2009.

Prices
Thanks to our friends at California Sunbounce we can honor the best video’s with some truly amazing prizes.
- first prize: 2 days with one of the world’s leading wedding photographer Mike Larson. Be an assistant for Mike at one of his signature weddings in California (dates and location of wedding pending Mikes schedule and availability).  You will be able to shadow Mike at a wedding after a training session and learning a bit about how Mikes team serves his clients.
After spending some time with Mike, we can only be sad that we can’t enter the competition ourselves. On top of that your flight, stay and expenses will be taken care of too.
- second prize: A one day personal workshop with the CEO’s of LIME (Bert and Pieter). You call the shots about what this workshop is going to be about.
- third prize: a California Sunbounce Mini
- fourth prize: a California Sunbounce Micro-Mini
- fifth prize: a California Sunbounce Sun-Mover

Rules
- You can enter as many video’s as you want
- At the end of the video you have to mention (in writing) your e-mail address.
- The deadline to enter this competition is november, 30 at 0.00h CET
- By entering the contest you declare that you own the copyright on (or are allowed to use) any footage, pictures and audio you use in your video.
- Only the author of the video is responsible for the content
- We reserve the right to exclude any video from the contest if we find the content not appropriate without any notice.
- The winners will be picked based upon the popularity of the video and the findings of a panel of judges.
- The choice of the winners is final and can not be discussed or contended in any way

What are you still doing behind your computer? Get of you chair and start planning your own bounce video!

Bert is currently in Oslo, giving a 2 day workshop there but he managed to get this new video rendered succesfully before he stepped on the plane

In this movie you can see how Bert works with his flash on-camera (yes people, that iron socket thingy on top of your camera isn’t only made to fit a Pocket Wizard, Skyport, Cactus trigger, etc. It might come as a shock to many of you, but you can actually fit a flash in there AND get some nice results with it !

Take a look how Bert does it and let us know what you think of it in the comments !

On-camera flash part I - by Bert Stephani from www.squeezethelime.com on Vimeo.

In case you can’t play the video, you can also see it on YouTube.

Here is Episode 16 of LIME’s Happy Hour. As always we hope you enjoy it and we are hoping to get lot’s of feedback from all of you using the comments or by sending us an e-mail.

This episode was recorded in our Erpe-Mere offices, so the batcave-like echo you heard in the previous podcast isn’t there this week .

In this Episode :

• What’s up with LIME ? What have we been doing the past week & what have got in store for you in the near future ? This is where you’ll find out !
• Dear LIME In this section we will be answering your questions. Got a question ? Please send it to us @ dearlime@squeezethelime.com
  This week we used our Twitter network of contacts to get some questions. (if you are on twitter, make sure to add Bert & me !
• The feature segment Every week we will be talking about one specific subject. This time we’ll be talking about to Shoot&Burn or not to Shoot&Burn

You can listen to this podcast by using the player below or download it as an mp3 (right click/Save As).

Featured links in this episode :

• Canon EOS 5D Mark II Wiki
• more on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II
• Photo swabs

As photographers we love talking about gear: camera’s, lenses, lights, … There’s also a lot stuff that can’t be found in most photography stores but can make our work more comfortabel and often even save a shoot. Yes, I’m a freak, a maniac but I’m always looking for things that can make my photography better. In this series of articles I’m going to walk you through some non photography items that I find important.

This post was sparked by finding the perfect pair of photography trousers a couple of weeks ago. I was so happy that I found some pants that fit all my requirements and my big ass. I realized that I spend a lot of attention to build my photographers wardrobe that I decided to list what I find important and what I use. Clothing protects you from the elements, carries some of your equipment and plays a part in your image. It’s a smart thing to wear clothes you are comfortable in and fit all your needs (that may be different from mine).

I work a lot on location in very different conditions and I’m not afraid to lie down in the dirt, climb a tree or walk several miles to get the shot. So it’s not a surprise that I get a lot of my clothes in outdoor shops. These days those stores also sell clothes that don’t make you look like Rambo. There are lots of brands that make highly functional yet good looking clothes. Some of you might want more trendy clothes than I do (probably so) or need more formal clothes for their work. A good quality suit is much more comfortable than a cheap one, so it might be worth the investment. Professional bodyguards often wear suits that are designed like sportswear but look like … a suit. If someone needs it, chances are someone makes it.

SOME OF MY STUFF:

- shirts: I want my shirt to be lightweight, reasonably wrinkle free, transport transpiration out and still look good. My favorite shirts are from Columbia and Haglofs.

- trousers: My Fjallraven Greenland trousers immediately felt like the pants I had been looking for for years: comfortable, strong, big pockets and sturdy belt loops. The fabric is breathing and seems to be pretty dirt repellent. After a few days in these pants, I bought some more Fjallraven pants and if they should ever stop making pants, I’ll make sure I buy enough to last through my life.

- shoes: Most photographers spent a lot of time on their feet, so wearing something decent is a very good decision. I have shoes, sandals, and boots from Teva, Timberland, Geox and Boreal.

- jackets: I believe in dressing in “layers”. it makes it easy to adapt to the conditions you are in. A thin fleece jacket from the North Face and my trusty Jack Wolfskin rain jacket go with me pretty much everywhere.

So what have you found to be good photography wear?

Here is Episode 15 of LIME’s Happy Hour. As always we hope you enjoy it and we are hoping to get lot’s of feedback from all of you using the comments or by sending us an e-mail.

We recorded for the first time in the new studio, don’t be surprised if it sounds like we recorded it in large cave.

In this Episode :

• What’s up with LIME ? What have we been doing the past week & what have got in store for you in the near future ? This is where you’ll find out !
• Dear LIME In this section we will be answering your questions. Got a question ? Please send it to us @ dearlime@squeezethelime.com
  We’ll be talking about licensing, making it as a wedding photographer, albums, shooting film, …
• The feature segment Every week we will be talking about one specific subject. This time we’ll be talking about where to find inspiration for poses.

You can listen to this podcast by using the player below or download it as an mp3 (right click/Save As).

Both Pieter and I had some extremely busy weeks but that doesn’t mean we forgot about LIME. In fact we have been doing lots of work behind the screens.

First of all, we planned some new shooting days. The concept is to take a small group of photographers (usually 4) on a shoot. It’s not a workshop but because the group is so small there’s lots of time for individual guidance. This is your chance to learn a lot while shooting portfolio pictures in a relaxed atmosphere with a small group of like minded people.

Here are the new shooting days:

- May, 24th: A real life engagement session - In Brugges by Pieter Van Impe

- June, 4th: Forest Fashion by Bert Stephani

- June, 15th: Guerrilla City Fashion by Bert Stephani

Our previous shooting days where booked up really fast, so if you want to be part of one, don’t hesitate to book.

On May the 23rd and 24th I’ll be giving a 2-day Portrait Lighting on Location workshop in Oslo, Norway. Since I’ve never visited Oslo and it’s high on my list of cities to visit, I’m extremely thrilled to do this. I really want to thank LIME-reader Martha Lewicka for taking care of the organizational part in Oslo. I love doing workshops abroad but it’s really only possible with a lot of local help, so thanks a lot Martha.

The Workshop:
On Saturday, we’ll start out by going over the basics of light. We are going to learn to recognize good light and shape bad light into good light. In the afternoon we are going to learn how to MAKE the light with small flashes and mix ambient light with flash.
Bert will also discuss equipment choices and will squeeze in lots of tricks of the trade. With lots of real life examples and mini-shoots, we’ll make the theoretical part easy to digest.

On Sunday, you’ll get the chance to put everything you’ve learned into practice on a location shooting day. You will get some fun assignments, that you will work on in small groups under Bert’s guidance.

You don’t need experience with flash, tons of expensive gear or a degree in photography to benefit for this workshop. A decent knowledge of the basics like shutter speed / aperture and the motivation to improve your photography, is all you need.

Pricing and location info
The first day of workshop will take place at P-Hotels in the centre of Oslo, at Grensen 19. On the second day we will be exploring different locations in a walking distance from the city centre. On both days the workshop will start at 10:00 and finish around 18:00.

To celebrate first classes with Bert in Norway this workshop is temporarily offered at the introductory price of 1800NOK*. This offer is valid till May, 9th, 2009. After this date the price will be 2200NOK*.

*All prices including VAT.

If you are interested in attending this workshop, please contact Martha at martha@lewicka.eu or +47 94249112 as soon as possible to secure your seat.

BERT STEPHANI is an internationally known professional photographer, mostly known for his creative portraiture, commercial work and his lighting style. Bert is also a passionate teacher who’s frequently asked to conduct workshops, seminars and lectures in Belgium and the rest of Europe. Bert doesn’t believe in ’secrets’ and is always willing to share everything he knows.

Here is Episode 14 of LIME’s Happy Hour. As always we hope you enjoy it and we are hoping to get lot’s of feedback from all of you using the comments or by sending us an e-mail.

In this Episode :

• What’s up with LIME ? What have we been doing the past week & what have got in store for you in the near future ? This is where you’ll find out !
• Dear LIME In this section we will be answering your questions. Got a question ? Please send it to us @ dearlime@squeezethelime.com
  We’ll be talking about depth of field, hair light and the 70-200 L IS f/2.8
• The feature segment Every week we will be talking about one specific subject. This time we’ll be talking about multimedia. These days the soft- and hardware is available for every photographer. Mixing photography with video, audio, tekst, … may not be interesting for every photographer out there but like it or not, it’s here to stay.

You can listen to this podcast by using the player below or download it as an mp3 (right click/Save As).

We all know mr Murphy, more importantly his law : “If something can go wrong, it will go wrong”. Whether it’s a fashion shoot, a family session or a wedding, sooner or later Murphy will get the drop on you, right ?

We’ve all been there : the shoot is in full force, you are in the zone. Everything is going to plan and one amazing image after the other is being written to your camera’s memory card. Than BAM !!! The card is full, the batteries of your camera fail, a flash unit isn’t firing anymore, the model falls on her face and breaks her nose, etc.

Can this be avoided ? No, not really. One day something will go wrong. Hopefully it will be on a personal project, but if mr Murphy does his job right, it will happen on your most important project of the year…

It happened to me last Saturday : I was shooting my first wedding of 2009. The Christian ceremony is halfway through and the big moment is getting closer : the exchange of vows & rings. I check my CF card in both camera’s : enough shots remaining. Church was darker than Dracula’s tomb so I was using flash on one camera : flash is ready for duty, filled with freshly charged batteries. The priest invites the couple to stand up, hold hands and promise each other eternal loyalty. I slowly sneak closer. The groom looks deep into his brides’ lovely eyes, he takes a deep breath and starts to talk. The bride exchanges a beautiful loving look with her husband to be. My finger instantly presses the shutter button, the mirror claps open, light falls on the sensor and the beautiful moment is eternalised in a digital version on my CF card. NOT … Apparently the freshly charged batteries decided not to provide sufficient power to the flash and the result was an underexposed image. I quickly turn the flash off and on again. The flash powers on but the ready light stays out. Thank you mr Murphy !

So that’s it, the most important moment of the day and the couple only gets underexposed shots … Well, not really. In anticipation of what might go wrong I quickly grab the backup set of AA batteries I put in the pocket of my camera belt the night before, switch out the batteries and keep on going like nothing happened. Take that Murphy’s law !!!!

Yes things can go horribly wrong, but being prepared for the worst allows you to counter most situations. Your client is paying you good money to make sure you are able to handle the assignment, why else would he hire a pro ?

Key to holding Murphy at bay is experience and preparation. Experience comes over time, but preparation is something you have full control over, even when just starting out. Make sure you have backup gear ( a backup camera, a spare flash, fresh sets of batteries, a spare lens in case one get’s damaged, the number of a photographer friend in case you can’t make it or need someone/something to help you out, a backup location in case the first one isn’t accesible, a second model in case one bails on you, etc). Specific situations demand specific precautions/preparations and yes that takes quite a lot of time to work out, but keep in mind that once you have your backup plan for a specific situation, most of it can be recycled into the new backup plan for a new assignment.

Having thought beforehand about what can go wrong and how you would solve it will help you keep your cool in case something really does go wrong one day. You will feel more self confident, less affraid and in control.

Take the time to go over things, prepare for the worst, and mr Murphy will get his ass kicked if he shows up on your shoot !

Pieter

LIME is quite a commitment for both Pieter and me. The time and energy we put into our bastard child, becomes a bit too much at times to be honest. But when we hear that we played a small part in the progress of a LIME-reader, we forget about all the late hours and feel extremely proud and happy.

Guillermo Calderon is a young photographer from Mexico. We chatted a few times on Facebook and he told me about his new project “Soaked”. I encouraged him to go on with the project and when I saw the results I was stunned. In short you could say that his project is about photographing formally dressed people in a bath tub. But it’s about much more. The project gave Guillermo the chance to expand his network, he got lots of attention online and squeezed a magazine article out of it too. He’s also going to publish the project as a book (we’ll keep you posted on that).

Check out the behind-the-scenes video:

Here’s what Guillermo has to say about “Soaked”:

My name is Guillermo Calderón and I’m a Photographer from Mexico City. I’m 25 years old and  since 1999 photography has been my motto.  Since then my main influence  has been the Internet, I usually don’t remember photographers names, that’s a pitty, I’m sure I have lost great work references. I love the work of Annie Leibovitz as well as the work of many blog and flickr photographers, I love to photograph people.
I worked at a school for 4 years teaching photography to kids. It was a great experience having  kids from 12 years old to 18 learning from me,  and even greater, me learning from them. In total I had 6 groups each year, and I met each group 3 times a week. I also work on the school’s yearbook, so each year more than 700 students, teachers  and personnel were in front of my lens. This changed my view from landscape photography towards people and event-journalism type photography (which includes landscapes)
I never had formal photography education, I was almost a Mechanic Engineer, but I went through with Communication Science at the visual media area. This gave me lots of theory that I enjoyed a lot. I do apply that to my photo business but not that much to my images. I think my work, is more documentary-like.
On November 2008, I was unemployed, I wanted to do something on my abundantly spare time, and also I wanted to do something with my photography. I thought about documenting a persons or a couple’s life, but nobody offered the way I wanted to. Then I turn my head into portraits, I looked into Richard Avedon and other authors, I thought about phographing a large number of friends and known persons. Thought about white background, or going to theirs houses, the second was to invasive and I would have little control over it. So I returned to the white background and instead of doing it vertical, it ocurred to me that changing to horizontal would give me a great deal of new expressions. Searching for references I found a cat on a tub and that was it. My white background would be my bathtub or a bathtub. Then I thought about inducing some situations and thats was almost clear for me, dressed people inside a bathtub should be interesting, but dressed soaked people inside a bathtub would give me more variety on the images.
At first  inviting poeple was difficult. I had to convince them about the project. Also I didnt know if each person should be in a different bathtub or not. Maybe I could use showers also.  With the 4 first session it was clear that only one tub would do a great job and it would be easier for me to make two or three appointments daily some days.  I only had some very clear scenarios 1.- My girlfriend on the tub. 2.- A couple 3.-A pregnant friend or her with the baby 4.- 5 BIG friends wearing suit, and one image of  all of them inside, they would be the only ones with full suit inside that tub. There where no other ideas than just the idea of inviting people. There was the idea of exhibition and book printing.
Today I’ve photographed 34 persons inside that tub and theres a big list of people wanting to get inside, but for this project I will only let 50 go inside. The project has been already a great  campaign thats making people know me and my work. I have been required 4 times more for model books, some weddings and other things, and this has given me 3 job interviews with 3 highly know magazines (haven’t take them yet).
I think the lesson on this is to take advantage to the equipment you have and do something,  make yourself be known, let your ideas be known. Show peope of what you’re cappable of, not just talk about it. I think  of photography more like a service, you will please people with a nice service, with nice images and sure they can be art also.
For this project I use:
1 Laptop, 1 Camera Body, 1 Wide angle to normal lens ( although at first I had a 50mm 1.2 and a telephoto zoom nearby) 1 CF card ,1 strobe, 1 model release for each person, and some liters of water for each person also….. and of course the bathtub. The key was the idea, knowing my limitations and keeping it simple.

I didnt give details up there  about my equipment beacuase I think is not decisive, although it helps to have the right equipment for the right assingment. I could have use  a  point and shoot like the Canon G9 ( which I own) but the shutter response would keep me away form decisive moments and faces. Instead I left the G9 for the backstage time lapses and promoting my work.

Guillermo Calderon

I think this project is very inspiring and wish Guillermo all the best with it. You can find more at his Flickr page, his blog, his site and his youtube channel. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter.