camera – Mid Tn Outdoors

Capturing Unforgettable Moments: How I Photographed My Daughter’s Senior Prom Pictures Using My Canon 5D Mark II

Prom night is one of those special moments in life. It’s full of excitement, nerves, and happy tears. For many parents, these memories matter just as much as their child’s. I wanted to capture every smile, dance move, and emotional hug on my own camera. Choosing to photograph my daughter’s senior prom instead of hiring a pro was a big decision, but it paid off. The Canon 5D Mark II turned out to be the perfect tool for creating stunning images that will be treasured forever.

Camera Selection: Why the Canon 5D Mark II is Ideal

The Canon 5D Mark II is a workhorse for capturing clear, detailed photos. Its full-frame sensor produces sharp images with rich colors. That sensor also performs well in low light — perfect for outdoor dances or dimly lit venues. The camera’s advanced ISO capabilities let me shoot with little noise, even in darker settings. Compared to other cameras in the same class, this model strikes a great balance of quality, affordability, and ease of use. So, for prom photos, it’s a top choice.

Timing and Light Considerations

Timing is everything. The best natural light comes during golden hour — just before sunset. We timed our outdoor shoot then for warm, flattering photos. Indoor shots needed careful use of camera settings to avoid grainy images. If possible, I scheduled some time when the lighting would be ideal, reducing the need for heavy editing later.

Setting Realistic Expectations

Not every shot has to be perfect. I aimed for a mix of candid moments and posed photos. Sometimes, raw, spontaneous laughter makes the best memory. It’s all about capturing genuine happiness, not just looking perfect.

Conclusion

Taking prom photos with the Canon 5D Mark II gave me creative control and beautiful results. With good planning, understanding camera settings, and some post-processing, I created images my daughter will cherish forever. It’s a rewarding experience to capture these milestones yourself. If you’re thinking about doing the same, don’t be afraid to try. Your camera can turn fleeting moments into lasting memories — all it takes is a little preparation and patience. Start planning your own prom shoot today, and make memories that last a lifetime.

Worrier Games

Our high school JORTC competed in the Worrier Games this weekend. So I grabbed up my Canon 5D Mark II and 24-105 L Lens and took off to the field to capture the moments.

Most of these kids are our future military and judging by the what they were leaving on the field and I mean leaving it out there.

They were also were putting feet to the track also. I would say these young men and women will be great fighters for our great country.

Harman Phoenix 200

So I finally got to shoot a roll of Phoenix 200 while in Chattanooga TN recently.

I was quite surprised by what I got. The color is very bright and very sharp. Can it be a little punchy, sure yes but it has a cool vibe to it I think.

Halation, yep it has it and it is proud of it. In fact they will tell you it is going to be there so that there is no surprise it is there.

My final take on this film is really cool vibe with punchy color and a very artistic vibe to it. I will be picking more of this up for future shooting and would recommend it for anyone.

Harman Phoenix 200 was shot on a Pentax P30 using a 28-70 zoom lens.

Got a New Video Camera

Come check out the new video camera. It is state of the art, with some amazing technology built in.

Duck Hunting with my Canon 5D MarkII

Duck hunting can be an exciting and challenging activity, and capturing the moment can be just as rewarding as the hunt itself. With the Canon 5D Mark II camera, you can capture stunning images that showcase the beauty and power of these waterfowl.

The Canon 5D Mark II is a professional-grade camera that features a full-frame CMOS sensor, which produces high-quality images with exceptional detail and clarity. Its advanced autofocus system allows you to track moving subjects, such as ducks in flight, with ease. Additionally, the camera’s high ISO capabilities enable you to shoot in low-light conditions, making it ideal for early morning or late evening hunts.

When using the Canon 5D Mark II for duck hunting, it’s important to take into account the environment and lighting conditions. Shooting in RAW format can give you greater flexibility in post-processing, allowing you to adjust exposure and color balance to achieve the desired result. It’s also recommended to use a telephoto lens to capture close-up shots of the ducks in flight, while maintaining a safe distance from the birds.

Overall, the Canon 5D Mark II is an excellent choice for capturing the excitement and beauty of duck hunting. With its advanced features and capabilities, you can create stunning images that will be cherished for years to come.

Point and Shoot, Shoot Out!

So, I have been looking for a good point-and-shoot 35mm camera to tag along on trips. So I found two point-and-shoot cameras, loaded them both with Fuiji 200 color film, and went out and about shooting my heart out.

Test Photo 1

Now I am not going to talk about the cameras as of yet, there will be a video coming for that. I will also say this may not be the final pick between these two cameras either. I have had my eye on another camera. But for now, these will do.

Test Photo 2

Between these two cameras one seems to be a little sharper than the other, see if you notice between the two shots above. Both have fixed lenses so the is no zooming in and out. That may be something I may have to think about going forward, do I want a point-and-shoot that zooms, or is it a fixed focal length that I want?

Test Photo 3

Test Photo 4

Also, note in test photos 3 and 4, you will notice there is a built-in flash, there are common on all the 35mm point-and-shoot 35mm cameras out there from the 90s to early 2000s. That is what a lot of people are looking for from night-time or indoor pictures to a single flash fire on analog pictures.

Stay tuned for the YouTube video very soon. I am working it now and may have it up by the weekend.

MTO Productions

What is MTO Productions you might ask, well short answer is it is my production company I am starting. One of the things I love to do is edit video and photography. The second thing I love to do is play with tech and gear for filming and photography. I also like buying older tech and making it work in todays world of more advanced gear out there. I also like going over what myself as a one man crew uses to capture my adventures. So come check out what I have going on over there and let me know what you think. Link will be below.

Who is MTO Productions

First Shots with Canon K2

So coming soon will be a video on the MTO Productions channel taking a look at the photos shot by the Canon K2. I will have to say that I am quite impressed by the photos. Now I was using Fujifilm X-tra 400 in this batch, not a fan of the green hue it can produce. The next roll will be Kodak Ultramax 400. But I like using a more budget film for the first roll to make sure it works. So below I will leave a couple of examples of what we got. Now will also say I let CJ shoot the majority of the roll.