Lefever Studio 2006 Review: This & That + A Few

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REVIEW.2006
This & That + A Few

Testing, creating, new equipment ... practice makes perfect.

To insure the best results for a client's need means
Ialways testing new equipment, new software, different lighting scenarios. There is no substitute for experience. That is why LeFever Studio is open to experimenting with ideas to add depth to the creative toolbox.

Inclusions of new processing and post software are DxO, Adobe's gold release of Lightroom, the CS3 Beta software and forthcoming upon release Phase One's Capture One Pro v.4. Recently added the Eizo CG211 pre press monitor and the shift over to ColorEyes calibration software for truer neutral grays than Grehtag McBeth is capable.

Often it is the smaller jobs that afford experimentation. 2006 saw many smaller client jobs as well as a few Out & About assignments that are not fully featured in the LeFeverCom News. A short list follows:

PORTRAITS

A Portrait is an interesting consideration and does not always require the person of whom the portrait is about (Jerry and Dean nostalgically represent through this faded postcard on a kitchen table). 2006 saw standard portraits pass through the double doors of the SHACK in Laguna Beach including Opera Conductor, Ben Makino (above and below), Jewelry Designer, Alejandra Valazquez (at right), Actress Maryla (top right), Designer Jennifer Becker (beneath Ben Makino), and Designer Jack Fearing Jr (smoking).

BEYOND THE PHOTOGRAPH

At LeFever Studio, digital photography is considered image acquisition - the studio policy is to acquire digital images that can be used as client assets for all sorts of image expression and identity promotion. As in the treatments above and below, images and lighting were manipulated to create an image with more impact than just a straight full color nicely lit photo. These are examples of the photo as a graphic element while still retaining a photographic essence. Here in lies the importance of preplanning with a client their possible needs and how we can meet them together creatively. Capturing the image digitally is the entry point - processing and post development for desired use are equally as important.

Expect to see more Out & About and "in the moment" portrait assignment work in 2007. February 2007 starts with a shoot in Steamboat Springs, CO, followed by a special privilege shoot at the train yards of Long Beach CA.

LOCATION

Dr Rosen photo taken on location at UCI Medical Center in Irvine CA. This portrait was for an article about Dr. Rosen and his break through back surgery covered in Forbes Magazine.

NATURE

Jeff LeFever's first recognition with the camera came with his FloraGlossia Series of flora photography. Though his interest in flora has shifted to other subjects, 2006 was still a year in which Nature played a part as subject. Local plants and flowers within a mile of TheSHACK were still captured in all their beauty and mystery (ex. above). While in Fullerton, the discovery of the Fairhaven Mortuary exposed LeFever to the cemetery grounds where some of the trees are well over 100 years old. These trees became the subject for a series of photos considering the idea of "Passage" (ex. below) and were exhibited at the first annual Fairhaven Mausoleum Art Exhibition.