Powell Play

Digital Transitions – My first 80 Megapixel images with the Phase One IQ180

Tony Powell — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:30:18 +0000

PHASE ONE IQ CONFERENCE • MILK STUDIO

March 20, 2012

From the moment I arrived at the Phase One IQ Conference last Tuesday at Milk Studio in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, I felt right at home. Hosted by Digital Transitions, the all-day conference left me more determined than ever to make an IQ back a permanent part of my gear. Check-in was a breeze, having registered online ahead of time so I headed straight to the Hands-on IQ session taking place in Studio A, which was outfitted with top of the line Broncolor packs, heads and light modifiers.

I’d been waiting to try out this system for several years so when I held the Phase One 645DF for the first time it was as though I’d owned the camera from the start. The way it fits in the hands and the weight of the body and lens felt as if the system were a natural extension of my arms and eyes – exactly how I had hoped it would feel. The one thing I couldn’t anticipate, though, was the enormous difference in quality of the image produced by the 80-megapixel and my 21-megapixel Canon 5D Mark II. There is NOTHING like it and I’ll never look at image-making the same way again.

Photo by Daniel Sone. My first time shooting with the Phase One IQ 180! Milk Studio NYC. March 20, 2012

Click to view slideshow.

It reminded me of the first frames I made with my very first medium format film camera – the twin lens reflex Mamiya C3 - in 1995. When those scanned transparencies came back from the photo shop I couldn’t believe the level of detail and the high dynamic range that the 6×6 format offered.

Mamiya C3 Twin Lens Reflex

I soon-after bought he Hasselblad 501 CM and in so doing, found my camera of choice…so I thought. The Phase One 645DF with the IQ back has changed it all and it’s a matter of when, not if, it’ll be my next system.

Hasselblad 501CM

With the advent of the digital age in the late 90′s and early 2000′s – more and more more pressure was placed on “film” photographers to jump on board the pixel bandwagon. Outfitting my medium format gear with the digital backs that were showing up on the market at the time proved too cost prohibitive to justify the expense, so I bought my first DSLR, instead – the Canon 20D. A succession of cameras followed…the 40D, the Canon G11, the 7D for a brief time, and ultimately (2) 5D Mark IIs…all the while, waiting for the day I could afford to return to the medium format – but this time at the digital level.

[contact-form]
Filed under: Art, Events, Photography Tagged: 2012, Broncolor, Canon 20D, Canon 5D Mark II, Digital Transitions, Hasselblad 501 CM, IQ 180, IQ Conference, Lance Schad, Lena Vesel, Linnea Hart, Mamiya C3, March 20, Michelle Matthews, Milk Studio NYC, Para, Tony Powell

Fulbright/DeJong Engagement

Tony Powell — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:41:47 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

Filed under: Engagement Photos, Leisure Tagged: 2011, Black and White Photography, DC, Engagement Photos, Graham DeJong, Kalorama, Mintwood Park, National Mall, September 30, Tony Powell, US Capitol, Washington, Yvonne Fulbright

The Bitches Who Brunch Summer Soiree @ Ris

Tony Powell — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 03:00:51 +0000

Photography © Tony Powell

A fabulous brunch event for a fabulous cause Benefiting the DC Farm to School Network & celebrating the new brunch menu at Ris! CLICK HERE to see all the photos!!

: Cori Sue Morris & Becca Clara Love © Tony Powell. Bitches Who Brunch Soiree @ Ris. July 9, 2011

Click to view slideshow.

Filed under: Events Tagged: Becca Clara Love, Bitches Who Brunch, Chipotle, DC Dance Collective, DC Magazine, DJ Raha Wala, Frosting Cupcakery, Helena Andrews, Honest Tea, Neuro Drinks, popchips, Port City Brewery, Progressions Salon & Spa, Rue 14, Simply Soles, South Moon Under, Tony Powell, Venga, Winston Bao Lord, Yelp

Allie’s First Shoot

Tony Powell — Tue, 17 May 2011 06:42:18 +0000

Photography © Tony Powell • May 16, 2011

The birth of my new daughter – Alessandra Bella Wood – 3 months ago has been a blessing beyond words. Only images seem to be able to convey, with any accuracy, the beauty and profundity surrounding the arrival of our new little soul!

Alessandra Bella Wood. Photo © Tony Powell. May 16, 2011

: Lisa and Allie. Photo © Tony Powell. May 16, 2011

Alessandra Bella Wood. Photo © Tony Powell. May 16, 2011

Lisa and Allie. Photo © Tony Powell. May 16, 2011

Alessandra Bella Wood. Photo © Tony Powell. May 16, 2011

Filed under: Photography Tagged: 2011, Alessandra Bella Wood, Baby, Black and White Photography, Lisa Wood, May 16, Tony Powell

Fighting Cruelty with Fashion! F4P Runway Show

Tony Powell — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:12:26 +0000

Photography © Tony Powell www.tony-powell.com

Check out ALL the photos HERE

Click to view slideshow.

The Fashion for Paws® (F4P) Runway Show infuses the nation’s capital with cutting edge high fashion, drawing an extraordinary crowd of VIP’s, fashion and animals lovers alike. In 2008 and 2009 Washington Life Magazine named Fashion for Paws® the best fashion event of the year and in 2010 BizBash Magazine named Fashion for Paws® the best fashion show of the year. The F4P Runway Show includes three different catergories of models walking the runway. The heart and soul of the event are the fundraising models who agree to raise funds in the weeks leading up to the event and participate in a friendly fundraising competition. The top male and female fundraiser will be awarded the title “Model Washingtonian of the Year,” on the runway on April 9th.

Filed under: Charities, Events, Nightlife, Wedding Tagged: 2011, Aba Kwawu, Adam Aloi, Allison Prescott, Andrew Weinstein, Annie Perezchica-Woods, April 9, Arash Shirazi, Blunt Erika, Brendan Kownacki, Building Museum, Carl Becker, Chantal Attias, Cheryl Romero, Chris Brown, Christine Sequenzia, Daniel Swartz, Dara Foster, Don Patron, Donna Donella, Dr. Alex Naini, Dr. Katy J. Nelson, F4P Runway Show, Fashion for Paws, Heather Guay, Janine Schnoonover, Jeff Fabrikant, Jennifer Greeson-Dunn, Jessica Gibson, Justin Magazine, Katie Osgood, Kimberly Glenn, Lana Orloff, Lindsay Suozzo, Lindsay Taub, Lisa Clark, Madeline Wade, Marielle Shortell, Marlene Hall, Marybeth Coleman, Nelson Marban, Nikki Burdine, Pamela Sorensen, Paola Gutierrez, Rachael Glaws, Rokas Beresniovas, Sandy Wu, Scott Stephens, Seyhan Duru, Shelley Tidmore, Stacey Severe, Steuart Martens, Susan Ostrowski, Syzygy Event Productions, Taryn Fielder, Todd Flournoy, Tommy McFly, Tony Powell, Traci Otey, Washington Humane Society, Wendy Gordon

April Editorial (Behind the Scenes)

Tony Powell — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 08:01:10 +0000

Credit: Maria Plutz/Tony Powell Images

WASHINGTON LIFE MAGAZINE APRIL FASHION EDITORIAL

PHOTOGRAPHER Tony Powell

MODEL Natalie Hockey

DATE Sunday, March 20, 2011

LOCATION Tudor Place, Georgetown

CLOTHING STYLISTS Krystal Ugo & Kristin Lyle

HAIRSTYLIST Warren Beautiful

MAKEUP ARTIST Leah Bassett

LIGHTING ASSISTANTS: Andrew Paterini, Daniel Gill, and Maria Plutz

Credit: Maria Plutz/Tony Powell Images

Click to view slideshow.
Filed under: Art, Fashion, Photography Tagged: 2011, Andrew Paterini, Daniel Gill, Fashion, Georgetown, Isabel Marant, Kristin Lyle, Krystal Ugo, Lanvin, Leah Sarrah Bassett, March 20, Maria Plutz, Natalie Hockey, Saks Jandel, Sunday, Tony Powell, Tudor Place, Valentino, Warren Beautiful, Washington Life Magazine, YSL

“Jeté Untamed” The Washington Ballet 10th Anniversary Dance Party

Tony Powell — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:37:59 +0000

Images and Text by Tony Powell

There are parties in DC and then there are PARTIES in DC! Last Saturday’s 10th Anniversary of The Washington Ballet’s Jeté Society (a society of young ballet patrons) Jeté Untamed was a PARTY no one will soon be forgetting!

Click to view slideshow.

The organizers of the much anticipated dance party made this year’s iteration all the more mysterious by not revealing the location of the soiree until the night of the event! “Look for the fire-breathers,” was the directive when asking for info from the Ballet’s representatives beforehand. The suspense leading up to the unveiling of the top-secret, never-before-used location on the Georgetown waterfront was well worth the wait, perhaps helping to make the 10th Jeté dance party the best one yet!!

Party Chairs Ashley Taylor & Winston Bao Lord presided over the Cirque du Soleil meets Folies Bergère-like atmosphere – where something new and unusual seemed to await you around every corner as you made your way through the building’s labyrinthine layout.

Washington Ballet Artistic Director, Septime Webre, in his Sgt. Pepper best, was on hand to introduce a special performance by members of the Washington Ballet Studio Company. Former WB dancer turned choreographer, Aaron Jackson, fashioned the slightly naughty pièce d‘occasion, to the music of Lady Gaga, that sent more than a few tongues a wagging!!

Filed under: Events Tagged: 2011, Ashley Taylor, Cirque du Soleil, February 26, Folies Bergère, Jete, Lady Gaga, pièce d'occasion, Saturday, Septime Webre, Tony Powell, Untamed, Washington Ballet, Washington Ballet Studio Company., Winston Bao Lord

Pole2Pole Centerfold Shoot

Tony Powell — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:50:34 +0000

When the call came asking if I’d be interested in shooting a centerfold spread for the International Pole Dancing Magazine Pole2Pole, I jumped at the opportunity. Last week, I got to collaborate once again with my good friend, top-ranking pole dancer and Pole Pressure Studio owner, Jessalynn Medairy.

There’s an unspoken trust and mutual admiration that’s apparent each time we get together to shoot. The new main shooting space at Sly Horse Studio was the perfect location at which to shoot. The high ceilings and the ample array of in-house studio equipment easily handled the potential challenges of shooting a dancer on a 15-foot high pole.

Filed under: Art, Photography Tagged: Andrew Paterini, Centerfold, Daniel Gill, Jessalynn Medairy, Kevin Hooker, Photography, Sly Horse Studio, Tony Powell

April Rae Giangeruso

Tony Powell — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:37:34 +0000

The time I got to spend photographing American Ballet Theatre ballerina April Rae Giangeruso was an afternoon I’ll never forget! Gracious, intuitive, and abundantly talented, are just a few adjectives to describe one of the newest members of ABT.

Filed under: Art, Dance, Photography Tagged: 2010, ABT, American Ballet Theatre, April Rae Giangeruso, August 25, Ballerina, Black and White Photography, Dance, Photo Shoot, Sly Horse Studio, Tony Powell, www.tonypowell.smugmug.com

Trump Day!

Tony Powell — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:20:37 +0000

A behind the scenes peek at my photo shoot with Donald Trump • August 19, 2010 • Trump National Golf Club

One of the highlights of the summer was getting the call last week asking if I was available to photograph Donald Trump – on the grounds of his newly aquired golf course – for a Fall issue of Washington Life Magazine. The magazine’s Associate Publisher John Arundel was on hand to interview Trump and it all went off without a hitch. However, bad weather on the day of the originally-planned shoot very nearly put the brakes on the whole deal.

Sunny skies prevailed over the greens of Trump National Golf Club in Loudon County, VA, the following day, so once again all systems were go. Arriving early to the club, with my photo assistant Kate Leuba, gave us an opportunity to be fully prepared for Mr. Trump’s arrival – by helicopter! I was advised by a groundsman to hold on to my lighting equipment for dear life as he lands – that the high winds and flying debris might blow it all away. Glad I heeded his warning – I’m still finding grass in my camera bags!

Filed under: Events, Photography Tagged: 2010, August 19, Celebrity Photographer, Donald Trump, John Arundel, Kate Leuba, Loudon County, Photo Shoot, The Apprentice, Tony Powell, Trump National Golf Club, Washington Life Magazine