Jul 1, 2010 | Random Thoughts
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I’ve done a whole lot of interviews of late and one common question is, “What’s your favorite image?” The honest answer doesn’t ever seem to satisfy the interviewer but it’s the truth. My favorites tend to be ones that I’ve recently captured and for one reason or another, fascinate me. The Corsair I posted earlier today is a good example. While I didn’t recently capture it, the elements of design the ass shot presented just stuck with me until I figured out how I wanted to finish it to bring that out.
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Here are two more examples. The Crested Caracara above was taken just a couple of weeks ago in TX. Why is that a favorite right now? It’s the same reason the photo of the A-10 Warthog taken in Feb at the I understand where the interviewer is coming from when they ask the question, but what might be my favorite most likely will not be other’s favorites for one simple reason. I have an emotional investment in the photo. Favorites IMHO don’t have to be Pulitzer Prize winning photos, not even ones you want to put on your livingroom wall. They are simply clicks which represent to you, that moment in time the best and stretch your imagination and passion. And more then likely, tomorrow I might just be locked onto some other image I find in my files while pulling images for clients and that will become a favorite. I just don’t see how, if you shoot a lot like you should be, you can have just one favorite. If that’s the case, I think there is something really wrong. I mean, if you didn’t like the photo, why did you take it in the first place?
Jun 9, 2010 | Random Thoughts
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A real common and very valid question is, “Why don’t you have photo business stuff on your site?” Encouraging folks to get in the business is something we do all the time. I mention “the business” quite a bit here on the blog. So why isn’t there pages and pages and blog after blog of business on the site? We have taught a number of business workshops over the years, the current being Base Camp. They all have been 4-5 day long workshops. Four to five days because it takes that long to just get through the basics of getting a wildlife photography business going. Looking at the stats and receiving the questions asking questions just answered a week prior on the blog, we know the vast majority of folks don’t search the site for past information. The bottomline is, I could put the information here but it one, wouldn’t get read in order and completely and two, would be obsolete so fast I would be constantly updating something that isn’t getting read except by the one person pointing out it was obsolete.
This doesn’t mean for a heartbeat I don’t think YOU can make it in the business. If I can, any body can which is why we have conducted business workshops for the last twenty years. But if you want to learn this stuff from me, you’re going to have to spend some time with me and that for many is more scary then going into business. I sure wish I could right a couple of eloquent postings and give you all the answers, but its just isn’t that simple.
May 20, 2010 | Random Thoughts
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My dear friend RC has told me many times that when in NYC, I need to go to the Top of the Rock. Well we finally made it up there this trip, along with a hundred other folks which is what makes it so fun. As you can see, there are large panes of glass to keep you in. There are slots between them where folks line up to make their shots. I couldn’t help myself but photograph them.
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And the view itself, it doesn’t suck! This is looking down the island and as you can see, the Empire State Bldg is smack dab right in front of you. Now having a good to great sky doesn’t hurt, this is a good sky. Going to the other side of the deck you look right down on Central Park. It’s pretty impressive!
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Having seen RC’s photos from up here, I knew I wanted to be up on top at twilight as the lights of NYC come on and the last rays of the day slip away. We ended up spending almost an hour on top watching folks, watching the view and just enjoying making images. It’s a location that I can highly recommend to you when you’re in the Big Apple!
Photos captured by D3s, 50AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
May 18, 2010 | Random Thoughts
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If there is one thing Sharon & I LOVE to do (and now we have Stephanie hooked), is sitting in the triangle in front of Flatiron Bldg and just watch people go by. We did that for three hours this day and just had a ball. There is an art “exhibit” now in place which consists of 31 life size, naked statues of himself placed around the roof tops of the plaza. At first, we were sucked in looking for Waldo and then once we found them, watched others as they discovered them. Then a group dressed up in horror costumes went down the street to promote a new movie. Then there is just the clouds dancing through the views in the buildings.
This is our shade for the time and it in itself I felt desired a click. You might think the umbrella was flashed to make this photo. But that’s not the case. This is a 1 image HDR to bring out the blues and the shadows. And of you look very carefully, you will see three of those crazy statues on the roof tops. Great light, Starbucks, great company and a camera, the perfect recipe for a perfect afternoon!
Photo captured by D3s, 18AF on Lexar UDMA digital film
May 18, 2010 | Random Thoughts
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We went tourist mode over the weekend, sharing some of our favorite NYC stops with Stephanie. We had to go to the 86th and 102nd floor of the Empire State Bldg. We’ve been up there for sunrise and sunset so decided to go up for highnoon. I looked up looking for either King Kong or Joe McNally but found only a cool shot.
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One thing NYC affords is great people watching and, great people photography. The Pigeons perch on the ledges of the Empire and at times come right up to folks. These kids being kids had to see how close they could get. I just wondered, who’s was watching who?
Photos captured by D3s, 50AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jan 5, 2010 | Random Thoughts
Yeap, I get this question quite often. “I mean really, can’t you just move on?” I’ve posted a few times how I’m a not a graceful looser. I really hate having somethings beat me. This is a classic example of just not being satisfied.
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Yeap, they are just bubbles in my morning cup of joe. 30yrs ago in school I flunked that coffee bubbles assignment, “Your bubbles are lifeless and the lighting flat.” I got the glycern, soap and straw and blew into a cup of hot coffee until blue in the face and no matter what I did, my bubbles sucked. And to this day when I see bubbles in a cup of coffee that failing grade smacks me right in the face. No, this photo isn’t any better then that original F. It’s just a simple daily reminder that I can do better if I want to. It’s all up to me, not my gear, not my post processing, it’s up to me to take the time to make it happen. I will at some point in time wipe that F off the slate, today is just not the day and tomorrow morning, I’ll be reminded once again to try a little harder.
Photo captured by D3s, 105VR (ISO6400) on Lexar UDMA digital film
