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Category: General

Creating New Jewelry From Old

0 Comments April 28, 2016|Tony|Commercial, Fashion, Fine Art, General, Product

Ever wonder how a master jeweler takes your old jewelry and creates something completely new out of it? Recently I had the opportunity to photograph the process from start to finish for Izzy Israeli, the owner of Atlanta Diamond Design.

Izzy explained to me that in the custom jewelry business it’s sometimes advantageous to show the process used to create piece of jewelry. This helps the client understand the process they are entering and that they are paying for the precious metal, stones and the time and expertise of the designer as well.

The first step in the process is to create a CAD drawing of the piece. Once approved, a wax model is created that is used to create the mold. These images show that wax model and the total mold of the ring seen through the magic of Photoshop.

Wax Replica

Alternate view

Mold showing wax replica used in making final casting

Then a rubber compound is poured in around the wax model to create a final mold into which the molten silver is poured to cast the actual ring. Once the casting was done, the ring is polished and the jewels are set. Only then could I create the final images of the diamond ring.

Once the CAD design was approved, the process took a bit over 3 weeks from start to finish. I’ve known Izzy for a few years now and he really does create very fine jewelry designs. It was a pleasure creating these images for him!

Actor Headshots – Liz Harrison

0 Comments July 22, 2013|Tony|Commercial, Education, General, Training

Now a days in Atlanta, there seems to be a production company on every corner shooting the next release for a famous Hollywood actor or a plethora of Zombie’s skulking around an abandoned warehouse or factory looking for brains. Unless you’ve been living a really sequestered life, you realize that Atlanta has become Hollywood southeast and a lot of people wanting a shot at getting on camera. To do this, they’ll need a portfolio that shows their diversity and brings out a bit of personality.

Portfolio image.

When Liz contacted me, she was happy to make it past the first round of eliminations in a fashion model reality show shooting here. Even with the success of landing on that show, she thought her portfolio needed new images so she could get additional work. On the day of the shoot, she brought a number of different outfits and we worked together on different concepts to capture.

Reminiscent of Goldie Hawn…maybe!

Liz is a lot of fun to work with and very adventurous in what she is willing to do for the camera. Both good things when looking for work in the entertainment industry. Knowing Liz, I know she’s already used them in her acting endeavors. If you know a budding actor that wants to get on camera, tell them you know someone who can help them create a portfolio that just might help them get discovered and send them my way. At least they’ll have some good images to show!

A Little Technical Information

Both of these images were shot on a white seamless background using one strobe with an 8′ Octobox as a light modifier. The Octobox creates a very large, bright and soft light for the subject. The light fall off allowed let the background turn a light grey and that created a good separation from the background. Although make-up and hair were very well done by Liz herself, my standard post-processing was done to this image. That includes brightening of her eyes, blending and smoothing of her skin, doing a bit of teeth whitening and removing stray hair.

Why take a photography class?

0 Comments April 11, 2013|Tony|Education, General, Training

Congratulations, you’ve recently purchased a new Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera. You look over the manual and realize you may be in over your head but at least it has a program mode for use as a point and shoot camera with which you’re familiar. After a bit you begin to think that taking a photography class to learn how to use the new DSLR wouldn’t be a bad idea.

There are a number of reasons why someone would take a photography class and creating better pictures is the end result of all of them. That new camera is just a tool that is used to create pictures but if you don’t know how to use that tool properly, your pictures won’t get better…in fact they may get worse. So let’s discuss a few reasons to take a photography class.

Downtown Tampa, Fl. from University of Tampa park.

One is learning photography from someone who is in the business. They can provide valuable feedback on the pictures you make so you can improve. You can ask them generic or specific questions to aid in your understanding of photography, use of the equipment, and various techniques to capture images. Essentially gaining knowledge from their experience and expertise.

Another reason to take a photography class is to learn about the tools you use to take pictures. Why is it called a digital single lens reflex camera? What kind of lens is used for shooting sports, portraits, landscapes? What is the shutter, aperture, ISO or white balance and how are they used? How to compose a shot that has that WOW factor people like to look at. How do I hold this big camera? Learning the basic science and techniques of photography can help you to take better pictures.

In a classroom or workshop environment there is the opportunity to learn from other classmates about how they made a particular photo. If they use a technique that no one else is doing, or may be using one that you are having trouble with, they may be able to help. Plus most discussions are open and can range far and wide from the material being presented.

Finally to have fun! When you understand the basic principles of photography and composition and can use them without thinking, then you can expand and start breaking these principles to make new, interesting, and just plain fun images. And you’ll have a lot more fun with your camera because you’ll be taking better pictures and having many more keepers!

“Introduction to DSLR Photography and Creating Better Photos” is a class designed for the new to almost intermediate use who has moved up to a DSLR camera. At the completion of this class, you’ll have a good grasp of the basic principles of photography and composition. You’ll understand more about which lens to use to gain the effect you’re looking for in a picture. And you’ll have a introductory knowledge of using workflow tools to find and manipulate the pictures you’ve taken. So check out the class on the DSLR Photography Class page on this website and register soon.

Classes beginning on April 16th

0 Comments April 5, 2013|admin|General

Tony Fiorda of di Sogno photography has begun teaching his first of a series for photographers wanting to improve their skill. An Introduction to Digital SLR Photography and Creating Better Photos, begins on April 16th. The class will be held on four consecutive Tuesday’s from 7pm to 10pm. Registration begins now and the class is already starting to fill.

Atlanta professional photographer, Tony Fiorda of di Sogno Photography has been working his magic behind the camera for over thirty years. As a hobbyist first, who later turned professional in 2006. As a professional commercial photographer, he has mastered the art of turning ordinary images into works of art. Capturing images of offices, products and even executives are easy, but making them attention grabbing is where the real photography skills come into play. Tony is known for his talent in giving his photos that “WOW” factor. Now he is offering his advice and knowledge to others photographers in the Atlanta area, who want to know how.

Everyone wants to be able to capture those once in a lifetime moments in their lives, either at weddings, on vacations, new babies or just time with family. If those moments captured by your camera are flat, or not near as impressive as actually being there then sign up to learn how to make them better. This class is for anyone who has gotten their first Digital SLR camera and still trying to figure out how to capture the image they see in their mind. Tony will be demonstrating the technical power and flexibility of the DSLR camera. Composition and technique are just as important and will be covered from Tony’s experience.

“Capturing the beauty in everything and even making it better is my passion! I love taking pictures!” says Tony. “Constantly learning how to take better and better photos is what keeps the experience new and exciting every time I get behind the camera.”

Find out how to take photos like a pro. Get the camera out and get ready for an adventure with Tony Fiorda of di Sogno Photography on April 16th.

Tampa Bay Hotel

0 Comments June 28, 2012|Tony|Commercial, General, Travel

While travelling, I often shoot images to use in my portfolio and I shoot them in the way that would I shoot images to be used in industry publications and location websites.

While in Tampa, FL a couple of months ago, I had some free time and I visited the Henry B. Plant museum that was at one time known as the luxurious Tampa Bay Hotel. It was a resort built by Henry B. Plant, a railroad magnate, containing more than 500 rooms to host the elite of society around the turn of the 20th century. The grounds cover more than 150 acres and the hotel itself covers 6 acres and is a quarter-mile long. It was equipped with the first elevator ever installed in Florida and that elevator is still in use today, making it one of the oldest continually operational elevators in the nation.

During the Spanish-American War, it was the base of military operations. It housed officers and wives in the hotel and enlisted men were encamped on the spacious grounds. Even Teddy Roosevelt, his wife and his Rough Riders stayed at the hotel prior to embarkation to Cuba.

Today, the hotel (which is part of the University of Tampa campus) hosts the museum in a portion of the first floor. The rest of the building houses administration offices and classrooms for the University of Tampa.

This view, from the hotel’s garden (now called Plant Park), overlook the North River with downtown Tampa in the background.

This view is the reverse of the one above and shows more of Plant Park as well as the Tamp Bay Hotel and its Moorish Revival style of architecture.

Here’s another view of the museum entrance and the unique architecture of the building.

I highly recommend a visit to this museum if you have some free time when in Tampa, FL. It will give you a fantastic perspective of the Gilded Age of America around the turn of the 20th century.

The Power of an Image

0 Comments May 7, 2012|Tony|General, Portraits

Believe it or not, images speak. They can say many things and be very powerful. An image can say “I want you!”, “I’m in charge here!” or “Come on in, we’re glad to see you!” It takes a collaboration between the subject and the photographer to create an image that says the right things.

When Pierre came in to the studio for his executive portraits, he had a challenge for me. He wanted images that were friendly and casual but conveyed a tone that said “I’m the expert.” As a successful franchiser, they had to convey his friendliness, approachability and confidence; images that could be used in magazines and newspapers or in corporate communications.

By finding a pose that fit the criteria and having him change only his expression we captured images that expressed those messages.

Successful people like Pierre come to me for their images because they want them to say many things and I can help them create the images that express exactly what they want say.

Spotlight Video Interview

0 Comments January 30, 2012|Tony|Commercial, Education, General

An interesting thing happened to me at a meetup…a video was produced!

Last week, in the sponsor spotlight section of the meetup “It’s a Great Day for Business Atlanta”, I was interviewed by a group panel consisting of Louis Agudo, Lorrie Todd, Todd Wilson and Eric Romero.

This meetup group supports small businesses by showcasing established and emerging small business owners to reveal their secrets of success. One of the ways they do this is by creating videos, shot by Randall Philips of PDB Group Ventures, to add to their blog, website or just leaving it posted on YouTube to increase their internet presence.

In this linked video, you’ll discover a few interesting bits about me, my approach to commercial photography, why I created di Sogno Photography and started teaching a course on photography.

Those were some great questions and I want to say thanks to Louis, Lorrie, Todd, Eric and Randall for creating this video. If you’re interested to know more about the meetup, check it out at meetup.com. In the meantime, it’s back to creating images for my business clients for me!

Holiday Party

0 Comments December 29, 2011|Tony|Commercial, General

On the 17th of this month I again had the pleasure to shoot the MedAssets holiday party at the Country Club of the South. It was a great time and attended by more than 500 people. Covering the entire CCS clubhouse there was plenty of food, entertainment, gaming tables and dancing. The images below are of the event decorations that were put together by Paul Brummer of Rooms in Bloom, the theme this year was meant to resemble a mountain ski lodge.

This post will probably be my last for the year so I want to take a moment and say thanks to all of you who follow my blog and to wish you a happy and prosperous new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

from

Ann & Tony

di Sogno Photography

Gather Round Your Troops!

0 Comments December 1, 2011|Tony|General

Hello everyone! I’m doing something special for our military members this year and you can help me. I want you to imagine what it must be like to be in the military and stationed overseas – far from your family and friends during the holidays and unable to get home.

Now imagine with the press of a button ‘teleporting home’ and being surrounded by your friends and family, seeing their smiles and reveling in their holiday greeting to you by watching it come to life as a 360° virtual tour. Don’t you think that’d be a great feeling?

I’m joining other professional virtual tour photographers who are creating special holiday greetings for our military. I’m looking for families and friends of soldiers, sailors, marines or airmen who would like to create a special greeting for their special someone at no cost to them. I’ll post it on my hosting site, and they can then send their special soldier a link to view their personal holiday greeting.

If you know someone who would like to create one of these greetings, please pass my card or connect us in an email; I’ll take it from there.

Thanks!

I can hardly wait!

0 Comments November 28, 2011|Tony|General

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday and aren’t too stressed about being in the Christmas season and all that brings. For me, it’s almost here and I can hardly wait. No, I’m not talking about Christmas like Alvin, Simon and Theodore; I’m talking about teaching the Introduction to DSLR Photography and Creating Better Photos course starting tomorrow night (11/29). As a reminder, it’s a total of 12 hours training for $149.00 and spans four nights over two weeks, Tuesday and Thursday of each week.

I’m gathering the presentation, the textbooks, the projector and screen and even a lot of my equipment in one place so I don’t forget anything. I’m really looking forward to meeting all of the attendees in the class and being able to transfer knowledge and techniques that will help them understand their camera and create better photos. They’ll get a lot of information each night and go home with a 70 page book that can be a reference for the future.

Yes, there’s still time to register if you or someone you know would be interested, and yes, it will be repeated after the first of the year for those that might be getting a new camera from Santa! So, as far as the course is concerned, hurry fast cause I can hardly wait!

p.s. I promised not to tell who, but I know there are some LUCKY folks out there because Santa has already picked up some tickets for next years classes to hand out as gifts.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

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