We are image makers, and story tellers.
And the story you tell of your own life is a composite of the actions you take, the feelings you have, even how you dress, and the edit you make of all the information to present to the world.
Some people are calling it FaceBook.

There is another history that was written long before you decided on this one.
As Homo Sapiens, we have built-in DNA to pass on information learned to those who come after you.
With an oral history,a generational and familial tree, got passed on through the community.

The Nuclear family spread out the components far and wide so the interconnections of daily life became unknown and the family history was built on holiday fare, special occasions, and key markers such as birth, and death.

In the past century we recorded this with the tools we all know.Photos and Home Movies.
Sure, communication today makes sure we don’t miss a beat of life, some life, your life, everyone’s life.

But what about before all of this? What about your parents history,and their parents history?

For the past 20 years, I’ve sat with my family elders with a video camera. Questions about the past, their childhood, relatives, I barely knew, brought a sparkle to their eyes. And strangely enough, photos from their archives.

If you want to develop your interview skills, who better to practice with than family?
There is gold that awaits you on this trail.
Not saying that you’ll discover that Uncle Henry actually invented the windshield wiper (wasn’t that Greg Kinnear?), but perhaps that before becoming an actuary, he was an actor, performing in 40 movies.

All I’m saying is that there is a history that you have, that you may not fully be aware of, that can be passed on to others, and by using your photo/video skill sets, you can share this information in a creative, enjoyable way.

The stories may be long, the answers to questions may wander off on their own trail,
so let your edit prowess grow. Many times a door opened leads to corridors you had no idea existed.
Music and graphics? Sure, why not? Perhaps to separate, punctuate, open and close a sequence.

My tools for this include a Canon XF100 Pro Camcorder with 10x HD Video lens, Compact Flash (CF) Recording
with a shotgun mic AT 4073, a Nikon D800
with a 28-300mm
lens for capturing stills and also some impromptu copy work. Enough batteries and cards to handle a few hours of record time.

Trust me, your key subjects will most likely never go for that long, but there are are other family members that most likely will be present.

As a headset (yes, you do need one) the standard is the Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones , and I love it, but earbuds will do you just fine. Since it’s primarily voice, and most earbuds are made for music, it’s your choice. Just do a test so you know what the differences are in audio quality, from your ear and what’s goes in the camera.

The goal is also natural light, or perhaps a reflector, but a full lighting package with this subject matter can put them people off, make them nervous, and probably change the demeanor of the whole shoot.

Remember to shoot B-roll!! What the heck is that? Additional footage related to the shoot that you can cut away to, or lay audio under to give a change in the visual.
While you are shooting the interview, you can have a second camera covering a different angle of the interviewee. That can help with dramatic moments, move the visual emphasis from one place to another, give the viewer relief from looking at one thing.
I always prefer to have one camera static and another hand held and loose to give some variety.

If you don’t have a second camera, set aside some time dedicated to the environs, or hands going through a photo album, or clicking through a photo site. Perhaps just off beats of the subject or other family members. Maybe there is a table with family photos. Or they love to make a cuppa tea, and you record the process. Basically, you’ll need the options in edit to shift focus/attention.

I usually capture some flat art archives with the still camera, as well as portraits. They can be sprinkled into the video, or be used as title card backgrounds.

In this shot below, my 92 year old aunt is listing off all of the folks that had done her wrong:

Tripods or monopods are a big help, as long as they are not in the way. Obviously, with short crew, a second camera will get mounted on a tripod (or strategically clamped with a Gorillapod) And the main camera can be on the monopod for stability, yet flexibility.
I generally use the “Brian”, from 3 Legged Thing as a main, with one leg able to come off and used as a monopod.
Or the Manfrotto Monopod is great as well, but a bit tougher to pack.

We have been speaking about recording a collection of remembrances, and the same goes for more current histories.
I edited a video of my daughters life to this point as a birthday gift, and it gave her and the family a reminder of why what her life was like growing up.
There were no interviews, but scans and edits.

As a parent, son/daughter, brother/sister, or relative this is a project that can be shared and enjoyed by the whole family.

Don’t forget – this is their version of history! You still have the power of edit to get closer to the truth. Or your truth.

And when you discover that your great uncle was a circus strongman, you’ll finally realize why you like to twist iron horseshoes.
It comes naturally.

Maybe if you’re reading this at home, you know exactly where your bag is.

But what about the other night when you were covering that event?
The manager of the facility told it would be cool to leave your main gear bag over in the corner. No one goes there. And besides, they’d be there the whole night.
You suit up with your cameras, gear belt, and a small bag with essentials.
Those mini crab cakes are tasty, and you’re getting the shots needed, plus more. Then you see that lucky strike bonus shot: A second floor wide angle beauty of the whole event.
Heck, yeah! Good call.
So you go back to your camera bag. Hmmm..left it right here…..manager seems to have stepped away.
The sweat starts to build in the areas you hate that it builds. WHERE..IS..THE..BAG????
If you’re smart, you had placed an iFi Smart Tag T4.0 tracking unit in the bag.
You pull out your smartphone and go to the iFI app, click “Find It” and if the bag is 30ft away or more, you will be emailed a Google map to its location. You can add a beep so you can follow the beep as well, but there’s a tip off to someone lifting your gear.
So maybe someone at the venet just moved your bag to the coat check room, since there would always be someone there. And maybe they couldn’t find you to let you know.
Your phone tells you the new location. The beeps (you can turn on and off from the phone) confirm it all.
Whew.
Originally designed for your keys OR your phone, I liked to add a photogs touch.
made for IOS and Android. New one coming shortly that will do both on one unit.
$30.00
Scenario #2:
While out of town on assignment, my apt manager called me to ask if someone was in my apartment.
I had no clue. Could easily be a family member.
They assured me they’d check in the morning.
Hmmmmm…
Time for some security cameras.
After going though a ton of research, the features needed were clear: sound, remote operation, zoom, pan.
Foscam had a great deal on what looked like the perfect fit. Night vision, too!
Set it up. Kinda. always had some glitches. Called customer service. Many times.
They told me it was my fault it wasn’t working. My network was messed up. They even had me change the name of the network.
Unplugged the camera, and put it back in the box. After 4 total hours of trying to set it up, I was done.
The I saw the Dropcam HD .
OK, this thing was not cheap.
$150. per unit.
Then Amazon had a special during the holidays for $100.
Burned once, figured let’s give this one more shot.
Woah!This is the simplest unit I had ever seen.
Take it out of the box, set-up on your computer in 4 minutes, then pug into an out in your home.
Done. Really.
OK, you do need to download the app to your smartphone. Control the unit wherever you are. And you can turn off the “record” light.
Motion Detector which send you alerts on the phone, HD quality is the best I’ve seen, and affordable monthly plans for recording the footage.
By the way, did you know that many burglars pick these thinsg up, look at it before they disconnect it?
Yeah, then you had a darn fine portrait of them.
there is a feature that I have not much use for: a microphone.
Do you say” Hey, stop robbing me! Put that down!”
I was informed by the company that it’s more as a baby monitor, or maybe keeping rover off the couch.
Anyway, I ended up with 3 so far.
Even travel with one. Why not?

© Sal Veder
The horror of war has been presented to us in it’s most naked form since the time of Matthew Brady’s images of the Civil War.

The advent of the fairly new art of photography, coupled with the endless amount of bloodshed of the North V South war, gave the public one of their first realistic views of the cost of war.
With the growth of the photographic technology, and the photographers drawn to the endless conflicts, the War Photographer evolved.

The current show at the Annenberg Space for Photography come with most of the iconic images throughs the wars, and depending on your age, you will most likely see the single images that changed your personal perception of war.
Because of theses generational touch points, this show may be the most emotionally searing exhibit that The Space has shown.
As your mind fills in the space before or after your generation once you glimpse the single, telling image, one thing becomes abundantly clear: We have have been at war forever.
You can call it conflict, peacekeeping. protective, occupied territory. war is hell.
The exhibition does have some of the lifestyles of the soldier, with C rations, govt issued clothers/gear.
Even a hot of Elvis, when he was drafted.

The photographs run the range to ensure that every frame is not the worst parts of war, complete with body parts. The exploration goes deeper, and shows those of us who may not experience the armed forces first hand.

The iconic images are there: including Joe Rosenthal’s Old Glory Goes Up on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima and Alfred Eisenstaedt’s V-J Day, Times Square, New York, Eddie Adams’ image of the execution of a Viet Cong prisoner on the streets of Saigon, and the Pulitzer Pirze winning Nick Ut photo of the girl and her village running from the Napalm drop.

It’s hard to see, but you are drawn to it. It’s our history.

The genius part of the exhibit are the videos. For the first time, you get to hear the stories of the war photographers.
When you look at the images, imagine the person on the other side of the lens.
And when you know that it was a pretty wide angle lens, think again: what makes the photographer make the images and not jump in?
It’s a hard question and this video helps you make some sense of it all.
The protected press are not as protected as in the past. The danger of life and death are real and suffered daily.
But no war photographer I’ve ever met, has been maimed or damaged by the weapons of war, and didn’t want to go right back out. It seems to be a calling.

DO not miss the video.

This is not just a patriotic show, nor a display of death and destruction. It is an exhibit that will stay with you for a very long time.

Pick up the book at the front desk for your home. More there than could ever fit on a wall.

We’ve said it before, but thank you Wallis Annneberg for your continued support of photography, and bringing important exhibits such as this to Los Angeles.

WAR/PHOTOGRAPHY: Images of Armed Conflict and Its AftermathHours:
Wed-Fri: 11am – 6pm
Sat: 11am – 7:30pm
Sun: 11am – 6pm
Mon – Tue: Closed

Location:
Century Park
2000 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
tel: 213.403.3000

Aperture has been creating some very cool events in the past year,(Daido recreates Xerox book) and this one is huge.
One of our favorite photographers, Martin Parr, is having an exhibition of work at Aperture Gallery in NYC.
The opening day, from 9AM to 6PM, Mr. Parr will be shooting portraits of the attendees against an appropriate background.
Nope, not free. Actually $400. But when else would you be able to get your portrait made by Martin Parr?

PORTRAIT SHOOT AND BEACH PARTY
WITH MARTIN PARR

WHAT: Aperture presents an all-day portrait shoot and beach party with the one and only Martin Parr, in conjunction with the release of the beach-bag-size edition of his monograph Life’s a Beach and the related exhibition at Aperture Gallery. This is a rare opportunity to have your portrait taken by Mr. Parr; join us to have your picture snapped or to pose with friends, family, or even your cherished pets.

Parr will shoot beach-themed portraits throughout the day in a temporary studio space at Aperture Gallery. Feel free to bring your own props or favorite objects, or have fun with the beach toys on hand.

Limited to ninety-six portrait slots, each commission guarantees you one personal 8 x 12 inch portrait taken and signed by Martin Parr. Studio time will be scheduled in the order of booking, and you should arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to your slot. On the day of the shoot you may purchase additional images from your session or upgrade to larger prints at additional cost. The signed original photographs will be available for pickup at Aperture Gallery beginning Tuesday, May 21, or can be shipped directly to you for an additional charge. Purchase is non-refundtable.

While you’re waiting for your close-up, sip Dark n’ Stormy® cocktails, provided by Gosling’s Rum, while you view the Life’s a Beach exhibition.

WHO: Martin Parr is a key figure in the world of photography, recognized as a brilliant satirist of contemporary life. Author of over thirty photography books, his photographs have been collected by museums worldwide, including the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, New York’s MoMA, and the Tate Modern, London. A retrospective of his work continues to tour major museums around the world since opening at the Barbican Art Gallery, London, in 2002. Parr is a member of Magnum Photos.

WHEN: Saturday, May 18, 9:00 am–6:00 pm

WHERE: Aperture Gallery and Bookstore
547 West 27th Street, 4th Floor
New York

ADMISSION: Portrait Shoot: $400 for a signed, one-of-a-kind portrait by Martin Parr
Exhibition and beach party: Free and open to the public.

SPONSORSHIP: The event is made possible with support from Canon U.S.A., Inc., Gosling’s Rum, and Mondrian Soho.

Click here for the event info EVENT INFO.:

I’ll be honest: been trying to get to this AIPAD show for years.
Knowing the general tone behind it is the collecting of the finest of vintage photography, it’s an enriching experience to see almost 80 galleries display in an elegant setting such as the Armory. There was a sprinkling of new media and contemporary photography as well.

Most of the West coast shows are relegated to transformed convention centers. This regal architecture puts you in a proper mood.

At the preview, guests were treated to a bit of the bubbly to start the hopeful shopping tour.

Highlights for us:
*The Halsted Gallery showed a brilliant cross section of some of the most iconic images in photography.( booth 106)
*Staley-Wise brings an au courant show for the seasoned and new collector with Bert Stern Marilyn Monroe, plus more form the Mad Men era (booth 210)
*Robert Klein Gallery had not only some new Julie Blackmon, but some painterly, beautiful, still lifes that stopped every one. (booth 310)

*Daniel Blau Gallery had a unique collection of iconic press photos, complete with printing notes or copy headlines from the pub on the images. Not great prints in the purest sense of the word, but true history as the original intent of the photographs is celebrated. (booth 400)
* PPOW Gallery – This work has 2 phases: one is a hand built snow globe scenario, the second phase is a photograph of the scene.
A must see part of AIPAD, have a look at the book at the booth as well.

One of our favorite photographers, Elliott Erwitt was also in attendance, making his way through the booths, while saying hello to old friends.

A little opening nosh for the opening night- tasty sliders with homemade chips.

There is so much to see and yes, purchase (it is a art fair) that it’ll take a few hours to make your round.
Do not forget the stacks at many of the dealer booths, because sometimes the gold is hidden there.

Some great talks on Saturday as well, so get your schedule set.

Wait, before we forget: DO NOT MISS- 798 Gallery with the latest photo from Yao Lu. We first saw his work at Paris-Photo a few years a go and his use of materials to create classic imagery is astounding. it says booth 216, but may have moved

The show is sponsored by AXA, the art insurance people, and the have set up a SPACE with an set of images from Ai WeiWei.
Plus some important info about protecting your photographic art investment. Super Storm Sandy decimated many works of art as well as collection values. Be sure you are insured!

AIPAD
Park Avenue Armory
Park Avenue at 67th ST.
April 4-7th, 2013